I am not predicting that Democrats will sweep the elections in both the House and the Senate. But political science findings over the years confirm that when people are discontented they shift parties.

It doesn't matter what Democrats say they are FOR. Voters will vote for them because they are AGAINST what the majority party has done.

People don't vote for something so much as they vote against something.

Elections are referendums on the past. As V.O. Key noted in The Responsible Electorate (1966):

Critics of the American party system fret because the minority party does not play the role of an imaginative advocate heralding the shape of a new world. In truth, it gains votes most notably from among those groups who are disappointed by, who disapprove of, or who regard themselves as injured by, the actions of the Administration. The opposition can maximize its strength as it centers its fire on those elements of the Administration program disliked by the largest numbers of people.

Given the lengthy list of what's gone wrong recently--Iraq, Katrina, budget deficits, out of control spending, etc.--voters are naturally inclined to favor Democrats.

The election is not so much about the Democrats as it is about the Republicans. Before a single campaign ad was broadcast the Republicans were in for a shellacking.

Stephen Kislock - 11/2/2006

With the Federal government mandating "Electronic Voting Machines", what ever the format, Networking Machines or Stand Alone Machines, it's the SOFTWARE, that will determine the Winner.

HNN - 10/31/2006

Michael Waldman was speaking on NPR the other day. He's the foirmer Clinton speechwriter who's now at the Brennan Center at NYU.

He noted that Republicans are cponcerned with fraud in elections, Democrats in voter suppression. He went on to say there's one difference: there's no real evidence of widespread fraud (meaning unqualified voters voting) but there is plenty of evidence of voter suppression.

A third category is tampering with the ballot box. It may be a serious problem. We'll see.

Stephen Kislock - 10/31/2006

Who Counts the Votes?

UnLike the Lottery, you do not have a Paper Tickets saying You WON!!!!!!!!