VA-05: SurveyUSA: Hurt (R) leads by 8

[Tender Branson]

51% Robert Hurt (R)
43% Tom Perriello (D)
  2% Jeffrey Clark (I)
  4% Undecided

Already voted: 59-34 Tom Perriello (D)

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=14b89c0d-f1d0-4476-8990-5c1feb721d11&c=77

[Landslide Lyndon]

So apparently their that had him 30 points up were garbage. Nice to know.

Also, if Perrielo could lend some of his balls to the other Democrats running all over the country then their majorities would be much safer.

[Rowan]

Yeah because the Democrat's problem is that they aren't embracing the Obama agenda closely enough.

[JulioMadrid]

Yeah because the Democrat's problem is that they aren't embracing the Obama agenda closely enough.

yeah, the problem is that people who don't like obama won't vote for democrats in swing district, they'll vote republican. and there are some democrats trying to pick up voters who strongly dissaprove of obama and they are really forgetting that there's still a liberal base that maybe stays home and costs them the election

[Capitan Zapp Brannigan]

Yeah because the Democrat's problem is that they aren't embracing the Obama agenda closely enough.

Actually yes, yes it is. While they would still lose some blue dogs, if the Democrats throughout the past 2 years had put up a strong united front and hadn't broken ranks they would be doing much better.

[Skill and Chance]

The central mistake the Democrats made this year was not finding unity on more centrist measures in the face of unified conservative opposition.  After the unanimous GOP opposition to the stimulus package, Congressional Dems should  have really pushed their caucus for unanimous support on each of Obama's future initiatives (health care, energy bill, etc.).  If it won't be unanimously defended, even in the most conservative districts, then it doesn't come up for a vote.  No publicity until they have negotiated a final version and no petty disputes within the caucus on things like the public option that are off the table in swing districts.  Make the bills a bit more moderate than they actually were, but make it very clear that, at the end of the day, if you have a D after your name and you vote against HCR, or climate or financial regulatory reform, then you might as well become a Republican because you will never get a dime of funding or campaign support again.  This is what the GOP threatened for any defectors in their caucus, and it worked.  Even Cao fell into line.

[Landslide Lyndon]

The central mistake the Democrats made this year was not finding unity on more centrist measures in the face of unified conservative opposition.  After the unanimous GOP opposition to the stimulus package, Congressional Dems should  have really pushed their caucus for unanimous support on each of Obama's future initiatives (health care, energy bill, etc.).  If it won't be unanimously defended, even in the most conservative districts, then it doesn't come up for a vote.  No publicity until they have negotiated a final version and no petty disputes within the caucus on things like the public option that are off the table in swing districts.  Make the bills a bit more moderate than they actually were, but make it very clear that, at the end of the day, if you have a D after your name and you vote against HCR, or climate or financial regulatory reform, then you might as well become a Republican because you will never get a dime of funding or campaign support again.  This is what the GOP threatened for any defectors in their caucus, and it worked.  Even Cao fell into line.

LOL!

[Former Moderate]

The actual mistake Democrats made was passing highly controversial legislation in the most drawn-out, tortured way possible. And they did it at the same time the economy was tanking, which made it appear as if they had horrible priorities.

It felt like "Mission Accomplished" all over again.

[Capitan Zapp Brannigan]

The actual mistake Democrats made was passing highly controversial legislation in the most drawn-out, tortured way possible.

The major stuff like Healthcare, Financial Reform, Cap and Trade, Card Check should have been done early on and quickly, and then a quick pivot to the economy. And the Democrats should have actually defended the bills they passed instead of running away from them, which has hurt them immensely.

[Gravis Marketing]

The actual mistake Democrats made was passing highly controversial legislation in the most drawn-out, tortured way possible.

True, but only part of that was the fault of the Democrats--chiefly Max Baucus and Ben Nelson. The rest came from Republicans skillfully dragging things out using the filibuster.

[Landslide Lyndon]

The actual mistake Democrats made was passing highly controversial legislation in the most drawn-out, tortured way possible. And they did it at the same time the economy was tanking, which made it appear as if they had horrible priorities.

It felt like "Mission Accomplished" all over again.

A health care reform bill that closely resembled a plan passed by a Republican governor (and presidential hopeful), and John Chafee's plan from 1993 is considered "controversial".

Uh, okay.

[Senator Sbane]

The central mistake the Democrats made this year was not finding unity on more centrist measures in the face of unified conservative opposition.  After the unanimous GOP opposition to the stimulus package, Congressional Dems should  have really pushed their caucus for unanimous support on each of Obama's future initiatives (health care, energy bill, etc.).  If it won't be unanimously defended, even in the most conservative districts, then it doesn't come up for a vote.  No publicity until they have negotiated a final version and no petty disputes within the caucus on things like the public option that are off the table in swing districts.  Make the bills a bit more moderate than they actually were, but make it very clear that, at the end of the day, if you have a D after your name and you vote against HCR, or climate or financial regulatory reform, then you might as well become a Republican because you will never get a dime of funding or campaign support again.  This is what the GOP threatened for any defectors in their caucus, and it worked.  Even Cao fell into line.

I think a lot of people don't like the health care bill precisely because it was created in this fashion. Good public policy was put second and politics was put first. A healthcare bill with a public option wouldn't have been a more liberal or conservative bill, it would have been a more effective bill. That is what America needs right now. The Democrats played politics and they got burned. Republicans will undoubtedly do the same thing, as you already alluded they are, and will get burned for it too. Expect several wave elections in the coming years until one party gets it.

[Senator Sbane]

The actual mistake Democrats made was passing highly controversial legislation in the most drawn-out, tortured way possible.

True, but only part of that was the fault of the Democrats--chiefly Max Baucus and Ben Nelson. The rest came from Republicans skillfully dragging things out using the filibuster.

This is also true. Any objective observer has to concede that the Republicans were a major thorn in the side of getting anything done with them filibustering EVERYTHING. And those same people who wants things to get done now turn around and vote Republican.

[Skill and Chance]

The actual mistake Democrats made was passing highly controversial legislation in the most drawn-out, tortured way possible. And they did it at the same time the economy was tanking, which made it appear as if they had horrible priorities.

It felt like "Mission Accomplished" all over again.

That's precisely my point.  Go for quick action and unanimity on more moderate proposals.  

[Sibboleth]

The actual mistake Democrats made was passing highly controversial legislation in the most drawn-out, tortured way possible.

True, but only part of that was the fault of the Democrats--chiefly Max Baucus and Ben Nelson. The rest came from Republicans skillfully dragging things out using the filibuster.

This is also true. Any objective observer has to concede that the Republicans were a major thorn in the side of getting anything done with them filibustering EVERYTHING. And those same people who wants things to get done now turn around and vote Republican.

The job of the opposition is to oppose. The trouble with certain parts of the Democratic Party is that they don't really understand that.

[Skill and Chance]

The actual mistake Democrats made was passing highly controversial legislation in the most drawn-out, tortured way possible.

True, but only part of that was the fault of the Democrats--chiefly Max Baucus and Ben Nelson. The rest came from Republicans skillfully dragging things out using the filibuster.

This is also true. Any objective observer has to concede that the Republicans were a major thorn in the side of getting anything done with them filibustering EVERYTHING. And those same people who wants things to get done now turn around and vote Republican.

The job of the opposition is to oppose. The trouble with certain parts of the Democratic Party is that they don't really understand that.

If more of your guys vote against it than the number of their guys that vote for it, you're doing it wrong. 

[Senator Sbane]

The actual mistake Democrats made was passing highly controversial legislation in the most drawn-out, tortured way possible.

True, but only part of that was the fault of the Democrats--chiefly Max Baucus and Ben Nelson. The rest came from Republicans skillfully dragging things out using the filibuster.

This is also true. Any objective observer has to concede that the Republicans were a major thorn in the side of getting anything done with them filibustering EVERYTHING. And those same people who wants things to get done now turn around and vote Republican.

The job of the opposition is to oppose. The trouble with certain parts of the Democratic Party is that they don't really understand that.

If more of your guys vote against it than the number of their guys that vote for it, you're doing it wrong. 

wtf Republicans aren't interested in compromise.

[Skill and Chance]

The actual mistake Democrats made was passing highly controversial legislation in the most drawn-out, tortured way possible.

True, but only part of that was the fault of the Democrats--chiefly Max Baucus and Ben Nelson. The rest came from Republicans skillfully dragging things out using the filibuster.

This is also true. Any objective observer has to concede that the Republicans were a major thorn in the side of getting anything done with them filibustering EVERYTHING. And those same people who wants things to get done now turn around and vote Republican.

The job of the opposition is to oppose. The trouble with certain parts of the Democratic Party is that they don't really understand that.

If more of your guys vote against it than the number of their guys that vote for it, you're doing it wrong. 

wtf Republicans aren't interested in compromise.

Then unanimity for the Dems is absolutely essential.

[Dgov]

And those same people who wants things to get done now turn around and vote Republican.

I don't think you understand this election cycle.  People don't want things to get done if they're going to be done in the way that the Democrats are doing them right now.  This is the prime reason the whole "party of no" campaign message the Democrats used failed.  People don't like the Healthcare bill, and are punishing the Democrats for going ahead with it anyway; they're not voting Republican because they think it will help to get things done.

The "Republican aren't working with us" line also falls apart if you consider that the Democrats had complete control of the legislative process and could pass anything they wanted without any Republican help (which they eventually did).  The whole purpose of getting Republican votes in the first place was to gain bipartisan cover if the whole thing went under.

[Senator Sbane]

And those same people who wants things to get done now turn around and vote Republican.

I don't think you understand this election cycle.  People don't want things to get done if they're going to be done in the way that the Democrats are doing them right now.  This is the prime reason the whole "party of no" campaign message the Democrats used failed.  People don't like the Healthcare bill, and are punishing the Democrats for going ahead with it anyway; they're not voting Republican because they think it will help to get things done.

The "Republican aren't working with us" line also falls apart if you consider that the Democrats had complete control of the legislative process and could pass anything they wanted without any Republican help (which they eventually did).  The whole purpose of getting Republican votes in the first place was to gain bipartisan cover if the whole thing went under.

Democrats did not have complete control of the legislative process after Scott Brown.

[Dgov]

And those same people who wants things to get done now turn around and vote Republican.

I don't think you understand this election cycle.  People don't want things to get done if they're going to be done in the way that the Democrats are doing them right now.  This is the prime reason the whole "party of no" campaign message the Democrats used failed.  People don't like the Healthcare bill, and are punishing the Democrats for going ahead with it anyway; they're not voting Republican because they think it will help to get things done.

The "Republican aren't working with us" line also falls apart if you consider that the Democrats had complete control of the legislative process and could pass anything they wanted without any Republican help (which they eventually did).  The whole purpose of getting Republican votes in the first place was to gain bipartisan cover if the whole thing went under.

Democrats did not have complete control of the legislative process after Scott Brown.

yes, but they did for 6 months prior to that, which is more than enough of a window in my opinion.

[Senator Sbane]

And those same people who wants things to get done now turn around and vote Republican.

I don't think you understand this election cycle.  People don't want things to get done if they're going to be done in the way that the Democrats are doing them right now.  This is the prime reason the whole "party of no" campaign message the Democrats used failed.  People don't like the Healthcare bill, and are punishing the Democrats for going ahead with it anyway; they're not voting Republican because they think it will help to get things done.

The "Republican aren't working with us" line also falls apart if you consider that the Democrats had complete control of the legislative process and could pass anything they wanted without any Republican help (which they eventually did).  The whole purpose of getting Republican votes in the first place was to gain bipartisan cover if the whole thing went under.

Democrats did not have complete control of the legislative process after Scott Brown.

yes, but they did for 6 months prior to that, which is more than enough of a window in my opinion.

It would have been possible if Democrats exhibited hive mentality, but they don't. Republicans on the other hand....