Currently there are at least 73 US Congressional seats at risk of changing hands. Almost all (66 of 73) are held now by Democrats. With over 15 million unemployed Americans, it is the unemployed voters who just might make all the difference who wins in November.
According to Wikipedia: "On November 2, 2010, halfway through President Barack Obama's first term in office. Elections will be held for all 435 House seats, representing the 50 U.S. states. Elections also will be held for the delegates from the District of Columbia and four of the five major U.S. territories. The only seat in the United States House of Representatives not up for election is that of the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, who serves a four-year term and will next face election in 2012."
37 U.S. Representatives will retire at the end of their current term and 5 vacancies will be filled by special elections before November. Congressional Quarterly projects the Democrats will take 219 seats, the Republicans 180, and they consider 29 races too close to call.
Even more races from California to New York could become competitive by November as voters look to blame someone for the sluggish economic recovery and take out their frustration on the Democrats who run the government. With 73 US Congressional seats at risk, enough seats are in play that Republicans could gain the 39 they need to reclaim the House.
The problem with this situation is, President Obama is just beginning to turn around the American economy. If the "Party of no" should reclaim the majority in the House, chances are the Congressional House Session next year will be as unproductive as the Senate has been this year.
What can America do to prevent this? The Progressive, Liberal movement in America needs to really energize their base, by swinging away at the Republican record of stagnation. For the most part, GOP members of the House and Senate have done everything possible to stall legislation that would improve American lives substantially.
Independent voters are always the 'Wild Card' in any election. Voters cannot allow their anger to override their intelligence this November. With only 2 months until Election Day, Americans really need to educate themselves about the voting records of those competing for office in their districts. Do not allow the 'fluff' and lies from Fox News to make your decision for you.
Anger can be a good thing, if it propels you into action. The Republicans with their long record of deregulation, tax breaks for the rich, 2 unfunded wars and failed economic policies responsible for the mess America is in today; the big question is: do you really want the GOP in a power position again, allowing them to finish off the American middle class for good?
Comments
Just to throw my 2 cents in-
The predicted toss-up races for NewHampshire’s two seats in the US House of Representative; currently held by two democrat incumbents, now look more favorable for the democrats than ever, for some of the following reasons:
1) NewHampshire has a large number of registered independent voters that tend to vote for democrats.
2) Unemployment is actually greater in NewHampshire than publicized. This is because a significant percentage of NewHampshire voting residents actually work in Massachusetts, and file their unemployment claims in Massachusetts as well. Thus the state has many more unhappy unemployed (some even homeless) voters than counted, that will most likely vote Democrat.
3) The State of NewHampshire is one of the most educated states in the US, as its voting population holds a higher percentage of bachelor degrees, relative to other states in the rest of the United States. Equipped to make intelligent choices for our country’s future, NewHampshire voters are smart enough to know:
- the Republican party is responsible for the mess our economy is now in (and the country as a whole),
- the Republican party is obstructing progress in Congress, where the Democrats are trying to make things better,
- the Democrat party, is the party in Washington DC that will provide its citizens the best future.
4) With the Tea Party continuing to embarrass itself with “Psycho-Talk” (threatening to resort to use of 2nd amendment remedies, etc), and NH Republican endorsement by Sara Palin; it looks all the more certain that
the Democrats will win and maintain their control of all NewHampshire’s seats in the US House of Representatives.
What is going on in your toss-up state election?
I tend to agree with your assessment of the coming elections.
test comment?
Every seat is AT RISK until it is done and over with. Should look up and see who is polled to determine validity of where each state is right now. How many unemployed and homeless are included in the polls.... I have faith, they will get to the booths on election day however! :)
The Democratic Party - what's left of it after all the chicken-sh*t fence-sitters have wiggled over to the conservative side of the aisle - needs a Frankenstein event. It was electrified, energized when McCain-Bimbo fell short in '08 and then the reality hit in January '09: What the f%$k did we WANT this for? Sheesh. How long did that euphoria last? A month?
Instead of answering every fire in every media outlet every day and/or pouncing on any GOP hiccup, the Democrats need to have a bitches and gripes session, air it all out, and then have the POTUS order them all to STFU and know that if you're not on board, you're staying home. Obama is the LEADER of his own party. You'd never know it. They came in together, they can all go out together.
I mean, why pay any legislator at all during "service" in a lame duck session? Why pay them to take more time off than any normal American? To campaign? What are they campaigning for, or better, what are they campaigning against?
1) Dubya is gone although his "legacy" unfortunately remains. What he couldn't screw up, he shat on.
Let him go. He's a distraction, his "legacy" is not one any more. Ask any parent whose son or daughter will never return home again because of Iraq and A-gan if they wouldn't like several private moments with Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld. War may be good for business, it's a life-mare for families.
2) Despite the enormity and positioning of GOP-owned media, stop worrying about the two flamers who warbled at the Capitol last weekend. If John Stewart, MSNBC, the NYT, Crooks and Liars, All247News, the Examiner, the WaPo (sometimes) and unions are our best and only cheerleaders, embrace them and exalt THEIR coverages.
3) October 2nd in Washington, DC...march on the Capitol. Be there. Get there, Sleep there, Cheer there. Ed Schultz and AFL-CIO are spear-heading a charge for progressives to put this train back on the tracks, full speed ahead, damn the GOP. Blacks, Latinos, unemployed, underemployed, teachers, union folks, and the rest of the silent majority. Women, especially!!! Young voters, absolutely!!! If you want your dreams to come true, you have to wake up first.
4) Might as well embrace FleaParty morons...they just might take votes away from Republicans, not Democrats. If the God's the issue, we're part of the answer. Democrats don't burn churches and synagogues. We don't spray paint Judao-Christian cemetaries and mausoleums with swastikas and 666. Republicans believe that Anita Bryant, the two morons on the mall, James Dobson, and Jimmy Swaggart are examples of Christ on Earth.
5) Get a sponsor. Someone who believes in you. Someone who has seen what this crisis (and lack of benefits) has done to you (and your family). Ask them to sponsor your trip to the March. You WILL pay them back by labor. Paint their house, gardening, leaf blowing/raking, baby-sitting, volunteering for something they hold dearly, house/pet-sitting, car pooling, snow shoveling....whatever. Until the debt is paid and your bond strengthened. The devil is alive and yours alone if you're suffering. You are the only one to decide how red hot the devil is. P*ss on him. Put him out. Come East 10/2/10.
God Bless all of us.
Pepper99, Satan is alive and growing stronger every day, Any religious God fearing person can see this is true, but any true God fearing person who reads the bible also knows it is not time yet. We can and will conquer this, and this march just may be the resolution we are to have, and place government back where the people want it.
Ease up, "Anonymous:" I was referring to "inner demons" not inner sanctum or covens or demonic worship, et al. I was referring to those innate devils we ALL have - peccadilloes, itches, idiosynchrasies, foibles, triggers - NOT anything above or below the Earth. I didn't capitalize _atan, you might have seen otherwise, IDK. There are more than enough nut jobs in the news these days taking extreme liberties about religion. That ain't me, McGee. See you in DC.
7 Spending Tips From Frugal Billionaires
by Jean Folger
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Carlos Slim Helu (Carlos Slim), a telecom tycoon and billionaire with well-known frugal tendencies, has a net worth of $60.6 billion, according to Forbes. Assuming no changes in his net worth, he could spend $1,150 a minute for the next 100 years before he ran out of money. To put this in perspective, he could spend in 13 minutes what a minimum-wage earner brings home after an entire year of the daily grind.
Granted, the world's billionaires (all 1,011 of them) are in the debatably enviable position of having, quite literally, more money than they can possibly spend, yet some are still living well below their means, and save money in surprising places. PROOF, END BUSH TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY!!!
we need some help here in Warren, MI the place my girlfriend works at called Asset Acceptance has recently recruited 30 India'ns and plans to recruit 20 more thats a total of 50 additional outsourced jobs to India due to the advances in telecommunications! This madness has to stop any company outsourcing needs to be exposed and boycotted! She is the sole provider as I have had no employment and my unemployment benefits ended in March! Any customer service like X-Box (my sons) that you call is India n, I DONT EXCEPT THEIR BROKEN EXCUSE FOR ENGLISH IF ANYONE GETS HABABEBO ENGLISH THEY NEED TO REFUSE IT AND SAY I CANT UNDERSTAND YOU!!!!!!!! ANY JOB BY PHONE OR COMPUTER WILL ALL BE DONE OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IF WE DONT DO SOMETHING, LIKE FINE THE COMPANIES!!!!!! PLEASE EXPOSE THEM!!!!!! Thanks and God Bless, you are my voice so you have my ear!!!!!!!!!!!
On AOL I just read 10 hints to find a job; one of the hints stated: sell your hair, eggs, sperm, etc. to put food on your family's table. Does this sound like Congress? Not only are we the unemployed lazy bums looking for a handout but now we can supply the world with our body parts to save our families from starvation. This will only double the population of lazy bums and low lifes in America. Surfs and slaves mentality will work for the rich for a minimum wage.
Vote the President and Congress out of their offices.
RECEIVED A SUGAR COATED EMAIL FROM CONGRESSMAN LIPINSKI IN ILLINOIS AND RESPONDED THE FOLLOWING DAY. I AM SO FED UP WITH CONGRESS AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO THE UNEMPLOYED THAT I COULDN'T STOP MYSELF IN REPLYING TO HIS EMAIL.
Congressman Lipinski:
Thank you for your email. It sounds like you worked very hard to pass the bill HR 4213 but it does not give me the confidence to vote for you and keep you in office any longer. I feel that you, the President and the other Congressmen and Congresswomen have ruined our economy and lives of many, many people in America. Middle class America is quickly disappearing. Spending money on big banks, Wall Street, foreign countries and the war put America into financial ruins. I have sent many emails to you and received an email of thank you and that you absolutely agree that we should have the extension. No other encouragement or details on how you are going to try and push another bill for the extension. You and other Congressmen and Congresswomen have not participated or showed any interest in extending the unemployment compensation. Vacations are more important to you instead of helping the people who put you in office. The problem with Congress is that no one listens and cares about the unemployed. Do you actually think that I would vote for someone who does not listen to me and millions of other Americans that are suffering and slowly burying themselves into financial ruins. It is election time and I know exactly why you sent this email but please do yourself and your staff a favor, don't send any more emails to me. I pray that you are out of office after the election. Every email I will receive from you in the future will be deleted. You have failed as my Congressman.
Sent: Thu, September 9, 2010 5:55:37 PM
Subject: A message from Congressman Daniel W. Lipinski
September 9, 2010
Dear Friend:
Thank you for contacting me to share your support for extending unemployment benefits. I appreciate your views on this important issue that affects millions of American families and apologize for any delay in my response.
The recent economic recession has cost too many Americans their jobs, including nearly one million people in Illinois. Unemployment insurance has provided a lifeline of security for those struggling to find work, care for their families, and pay the bills. Although nothing replaces a good-paying job, providing basic support for families out of work through no fault of their own is the decent and right thing to do. While I recognize the need to address the country's federal budget challenges, extending unemployment benefits is an emergency measure and represents an investment in the wellbeing of the American workers during this difficult time.
I have supported extending unemployment benefits for Americans who are out of work during this recession. Most recently, I helped the House pass the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010 (H.R. 4213), which became public law on July 22, 2010. Previously, I cast my vote in favor of the Continuing Extension Act of 2010 (H.R.4851), which President Obama signed into law on April 15, 2010.
Because the recession's devastating effects continue to impact millions of American families, Congress must continue to act on multiple fronts to put Americans back to work and support our recovery. I strongly believe that America must lead the charge to encourage economic growth and create new industries through investments in education, innovative research, and new technologies, as well as work toward restoring our national commitment to manufacturing. In the medium and long term, these investments will produce much-needed jobs and put Americans back to work.
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future regarding this or any other matter of concern. Additionally, I invite you to visit my website at www.lipinski.house.gov to learn more about my work at home and in Washington as well as to sign up for e-newsletters.
Sincerely,
DANIEL W. LIPINSKI
Member of Congress
DWL\SL
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