Republicans Unraveling All Around
Several news stories show that the Texas and national Republican parties are in deep deep trouble in 2008. I would be very concerned to be a Republican in Harris County this year. It has to be troubling indeed to see this once dominant party fall away to irrelevance.
First, there's the special election in Louisiana that just finished up. In it, Don Cazayoux, the Democrat, beat Woody Jenkins, the Republican, for an open seat that had been held by Republicans since 1974. This is after Hurricanes Rita and Katrina had depleted the Democratic base in that state considerably. And, the Republican had tried to tie Cazayoux to Barack Obama in a negative fashion. Remember, this is the second special election that Democrats have won recently in strong traditionally Republican strongholds. Bill Foster won former House Speaker Dennis Hastert's seat in Illinois in March of this year.
Second, in this recent article, a new study shows that trial lawyers are no longer perceived as the complete bogeyman they have been over the last several election cycles, and Republican tactics of associating Democrats with them may not be as effective. The author notes:
Third, Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) is calling on Republicans to seek "real change to avoid a real disaster," and warns of impending national Republican electoral doom. Newt sees the writing on the wall, and he wants nothing to do with it.
Fourth, here in Texas, it is becoming clear that the entire state is becoming disenchanted with the Republican Party. A recent Rasmussen Poll showed that Democratic US Sen. candidate Rick Noriega trails Republican incumbent John Cornyn by only four points, 47-43. This is a statewide poll, which means that Rick Noriega must be leading John Cornyn significantly in Harris County.
With all of the great candidates the Democrats have been and are fielding in Harris County, it looks like it's a bad bad year to be a Republican.
Political advertising paid for by Mike Engelhart, 4402 Holt Street, Bellaire, Texas 77401 in compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act.
First, there's the special election in Louisiana that just finished up. In it, Don Cazayoux, the Democrat, beat Woody Jenkins, the Republican, for an open seat that had been held by Republicans since 1974. This is after Hurricanes Rita and Katrina had depleted the Democratic base in that state considerably. And, the Republican had tried to tie Cazayoux to Barack Obama in a negative fashion. Remember, this is the second special election that Democrats have won recently in strong traditionally Republican strongholds. Bill Foster won former House Speaker Dennis Hastert's seat in Illinois in March of this year.
Second, in this recent article, a new study shows that trial lawyers are no longer perceived as the complete bogeyman they have been over the last several election cycles, and Republican tactics of associating Democrats with them may not be as effective. The author notes:
So, when Republicans inevitably drag out the old, tired line about trial lawyers, the may "misunderestimate" the public who appears to be on to them.But the public attitude is changing, according to Republican pollster Bryan Eppstein, who has been tracking this issue for several years for the Texas Medical Association.
In his most recent voter survey, trial lawyers dropped to third — behind health insurance companies and drug manufacturers — when respondents were asked, “Whom do you blame most for the high cost of health care in Texas?”
Third, Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) is calling on Republicans to seek "real change to avoid a real disaster," and warns of impending national Republican electoral doom. Newt sees the writing on the wall, and he wants nothing to do with it.
Fourth, here in Texas, it is becoming clear that the entire state is becoming disenchanted with the Republican Party. A recent Rasmussen Poll showed that Democratic US Sen. candidate Rick Noriega trails Republican incumbent John Cornyn by only four points, 47-43. This is a statewide poll, which means that Rick Noriega must be leading John Cornyn significantly in Harris County.
With all of the great candidates the Democrats have been and are fielding in Harris County, it looks like it's a bad bad year to be a Republican.
Political advertising paid for by Mike Engelhart, 4402 Holt Street, Bellaire, Texas 77401 in compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act.
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