CNN

I don't think it will be that bad. While the Dems may not be building voter confidence, the Republicans aren't either. Obviously, the Republicans need to eat a little more humble pie before they come back into power again.

It will be a crushing blow for the democrats but a great positive for this country. Barack and his friends are trying to satisfy all of their friends on the far left. The problem with that is the country is center right and to make such a drastic"change" is not the direction this country wants to go. People are starting to see that Barack is a phony and he truly is a far left radical that only appeals to the outer fringe of this country.

Not too bad. While folks may not all be happy with them, Democrats have not committed the atrocities seen by BUSH, Cheney, the GOP and the Neocons out there. It is still early in the game and the jury is still out regarding Democrats.

HD in Phoenix, AZ

If the Republicans make gains in the next election, it means that the electorate has not been paying attention to what's important and has been listening to the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Glenn Beck instead.

I don't know the answer, Jack. Only time will tell. If voters go for the party of NO, well there is no hope for the good ole USA. What I want to know is why are Republican members of Congress making trips to Honduras? And no one is saying anything in the media about it. They are doing this on the tax payer's dollar. This is an outrage and should be stopped. Americans are suffering because of unemployment and these incompetents are taking trips to support a military coup d' etat!! Our government does not recognize this government, but Republicans are defying the President. Some might call it treason.

I don’t think that they will be as bad as some of the polls are making the numbers out to be. But then, polls are notoriously bad.

In the latest Gallop poll, the number surveyed was 1013. That is less than 0.00001% of the approximatedly 150,000,000 million registered voters. A sample of that size is less that optimal for predicting anything other than how little faith anyone has in any poll!

Except for Kucinich and Grayson – the only Democrats with a SPINE,
it will be a bloodbath.

Which will mean this country is completely doomed since the American sheeple will vote for the freakish Republicans again and not other, new progressive Democrats.

Say good-bye to what few rights and freedoms we still have left if that happens. The American Taliban will go on a tear and shred The Constitution once and for all.

Bye, bye American Pie.

Hi Jack;
Everybody is still in shock over the Obstructionist in DC and how much tax money they are spending not getting anything done. There are only six Democrats whose seats come to mind, but I'll be "bluedog gone" if I'm gonna tell the right wing.

No Dems don't have anything to worry about yet, let's just see how the open government voting on healthcare shows, and then we'll take names and clean HOUSES. Independents and Green party members are lining up, but for this ruthless crowd, WE the people need some "NADERS" to shut the ones who caused these problems, mouths up.

Republicans in 2010?
Dream on! Ha!

I don't see where it really matters anymore. Democrat, Republican, same thing. They work for the special interest money. Not us.

Willard Gatzke
Canon City, CO

I find what the election system has become, to be abominable. It is absurd that a high ranking official must concentrate on becoming re-elected after two years in office, after all, we don't use the "Pony Express" anymore. I would prefer elections to have limited funding for advertising, etc., funded by the taxpayer as opposed to lobby and special interest groups, with the campaigns starting several months before the election, not several years.

Jack I am a strong democrat, but the republicans will have a nasty campaign next year. There will be a lot of mud slinging, it want look pretty. The democrats might lose 5 seats

David
Martinsburg,WV

65% want the public option, and they can't even get that in the argument anymore!! What does that tell you?

I AM A DEMOCRAT
But, what is the point in electing more democrats in 2010 if
the devil damn democrats we now have do not have the guts
to pass some kind of health-care. Just trying is not
good enough, Mr. President. We want it now. Jack, go to my web site internetfreepress.com, and you will find the solutions to all of America's economic problems. Please, I would like to run my ideas through your
great mind. You are one of a few News people that seems to have their devil damn head screwed on straight. Thank you!

I think if Democrats don't stop cramming ridiculous bills down our throats and socializing the country, they are going to be booted out at a dizzying rate. As you can see by the Independent voting shift, people do not want the kind of change they are proposing and do not approve of the job they have done to date. It is increasingly apparent, we need a stronger Republican presence to balance the power in Washington. having one party control both the Executive and Legislative Branches is dangerous. A large segment of the population is not being represented.

A President cannot always be popular. The President is always abused. If he isn't, he isn't doing anything. You can always amend a big plan, but you can never expand a little one. I don't believe in little plans. I believe in plans big enough to meet a situation which we can't possibly foresee now.

So please give me all that GOP OR BLUE DOG BS why we can't have health care with a public option again.

America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand .THE Senate is the most un-American thing in America bought and sold.! Republicans are no good, lying bastards. They can lie out of both sides of their mouths at the same time, and if they ever caught himself telling the truth, they would lie just to keep their hand in.
You and I are stuck with the necessity of taking the worst of two evils or none at all. So-I'm taking the the disorganized Democrats as the best of the two .The GOP is impossible.
Jerry Denis Sullivan
Minden Nevada

Will be AND should be bad for the Democrats because they became so wrapped up in this healthcare reform debacle that they forgot one important thing! ITS THE ECONOMY, STUPID!!!. Now this country has 7 Million unemployed Americans and a jobless rate approaching 10%. How in the hell could the President pick up the football and attempt to run for a touchdown BUT didn't know where the goal line was or which way to run to get there. The Democrats shot themselves in the foot by believing their own press releases. Shame on them because the healthcare reform will a albatross around their necks for some time to come, when all along the # priority is the Economy & JOBS JOBS JOBS!

They can turn out the lights. The majority party is over.

It won't be bad at all... the Dems will continue to rule the roost, as it should be.

Probably very bad, and deservedly so since they don't have the cajones to stand up to the reps. I guess it was a lot easier and simpler when they were on the outside and could complain without having to actually do anything- just like the repubs. are doing now.

Obama has accomplished NOTHING and the Dems in congress has helped him do NOTHING. They might as well pack their bags if the next 12 months go the same way for the Obama Administration.

It doesn't really matter anymore. Big business owns our government and until we do something to take it back it doesn't really matter who sits in what seat, as we've seen with the absurdity of health care "reform."

Jack, it is extremely apparent that having the same party, regardless of which party it is, control both the Executive and Legislative branches in destructive. Power needs to be balanced to ensure one sides ideology doesn't railroad the whole process. This is evidenced by the utter lack of a willingness to compromise or even bring both sides to the table in Congress. We need the people's interest matter again.

Jack,It should be pretty bad since we are loaded in Congress with inepts ,shysters,and con artists,problem is that they will be replaced with inepts,shysters,and con artists!

Mid-term Elections are going to be bad for Democrats AND Republicans!!!!!!

Bad? says who? Perception will change drmaticly as soon Obama signs health Care reform bill late this year or early next year.

All these so called experts will have to eat their words. wtach how quickly things will change as soon health care bill passes. Dems might actually be in a lot better shape then originally thought.

Port St Lucie, FL You can feel it in the air...change is coming

Honestly, I think the 2010 midterm elections will be good for the Democrats. That is, if people voting use any of their common sense while in the voting booths!

How soon we forget. If the voting public is smart, it shouldn't be bad at all for the Democrats.

Steve
Atchison, KS

Too bad we can not vote out both parties. Elected officials go into office with good intentions and they forget what got them elected. Established term limits are needed.

Horribly. Hopefully we will get total gridlock and neutralized both evil parties.

All I can say is they might as well run roughshod over the minority now like the Repubs always do, and get passed whatever they want to pass now, because the aren't going to have a majority after 2010.

Pelosi better be looking for a new job.

Jack,
I hope that the Democrats lose heavily in the 2010 midterm election. They promised so much, blamed the Republicans for their years of controlling Congress, and they still have nothing to boast about. Unemployment is still rising, they can't make a decision on Afghanistan, and they are back to their "tax and spend" attitude.

It will be a slaughter. What no one wants to admit is that the only reason the Dems got back into power was because people hated George Bush. It wasn't that they wanted any of the radical and socialistic ideas that the Dems were pushing, they just didn't want Bush. Too bad the media won't report any of this.

I wish I could vote to kick out all the "BUMS" but waiting in line to get into the Congress are a line full of pre-qualified crooks. Why vote the "BUMS" out for new "BUMS"? At least we can predict what these crooks are going to do.

The Democrats may lose a few seats in both the house and the senate but they will not lose their majority. Remember, your poll almost just as many people voting Democrat as Republican. The party in power usually loses seats in the midterm elections. I think you guys at CNN are blowing this poll way out of proportion.

It'll be like 1994.

The pundits are usually wrong, just like in the last election. The Democrats will gain seats. The Republican party is toast.

Foley, al. They"re making their beds, they"re going to have to roll over often......

Jack, It doesn't matter which party is elected. We have turned into a country of liars and thieves. Nancy from Toms River

I would love to see the Democrats voted out of every state.
They have done nothing constructive and Pelosi has to go.

Jack, 2010, will favor democrats because the tragedy of Reaganomics and Bush, which allowed the greedy to rape the economy, will remain a current event in voter’s lives for decades to come. Wall Street is on a Bull-Run because of Obamanomic’s transparency and as Americans begin returning to work in 2010, people will be better off and be more secure than they ever were under Republican deregulation.

It will be very bad because of the republicans scaring seniors again.

Here's one 70 year old Independent who will never voter republican again. Their disrespect for the president and their unwillingness to work with him confirms my reasons for voting for Obama in the first place. They have become religious right wingers and that's not a party I want to be associated with..too inclusive. An x-republican

Absolutely everyone I speak to has absolutely had it with the elitist, patronizing and non-rational thinking of the democrats. 2010 will come and it can't come fast enough for most to get these liberal bastards out of office.

Calamitous. The Dems will lose at least 41 seats to turn majority leadership over to the GOP. It is all based upon enormous deficit spending and incompetence by House leadership.

A train wreck, and deservedly so. If Congress couldn't pass anything substantial with an overwhelming majority in both the House and the Senate–and the White House–they deserve to lose.

The midterm elections are next year. That is one year from today and the economy, country and social environment will be much, much different. The Republicans still won't have a plan or a leader so I think it will be a mute point. Healthcare is going to get passed this year and the economy is stablizing. People are fickle and change day to day. lAll of the Obama haters that elevated him just one year ago are now the same ones tearing him down. It's amazing to watch and also very sad. He hasn't been there a full year yet and he is criticized more than any other new President that I can remember and I have been voting for a long time. I wish him well but remember this comment one year from now...the Democrats will be just fine possibly in an even better!

The better question is how bad will it be for Obama?

The American People have been awakened and vehemently oppose the misguided liberal agenda of Obama and the Democrats.

The mid-term elections in 2010 will be a landslide victory for conservatives - and for freedom and liberty!

The Democrats will loose seats to be sure as every time any party gains a 'super majority' they loose seats in the next election. But they won't loose anywhere near 30 seats because of a simple fact;

People hate both houses of Congress. But they like their individual Congressmen and women as well as their Senators.

On top of that we are more than a year away from an election and if the economy should turn around, jobs are on the upswing and we have a new and solid health-care system for the middle class, the Dems are sure to do far better than today's polls would suggest.

Jack,

Who really cares about that right now? We have a war, iran's nuclear facility, health care, and Letterman to worry about.

Jack your question should be: how bad will the 2010 midterm elections be for the American people? And shame on you for propagating the polarization of our country with democrats and republicans, left and right, liberal and conservative. Not everyone identifies themselves with one side or the other side of the two-headed monster that is our federal government.

As long as our election process favours those in power and marginalizes third parties we the people will continue to be abused and our liberties will continue to be diminished.

vote out all the people who were in office in 2008.both democrats and rep.

Rich
Glen Oaks, NY

It's too soon to be sure of anything at this point. America is a big ship that was about to fall off a flat Earth. It's just taking a long time to turn this thing around.

It could never be bad enough as long as Pelosi is the Speaker.

This was the same question a couple of years ago when the Republicans were in trouble which should explain why it doesn't matter which party is in control. Democrats & Republicans represent 5% of the people in this country, the same percentage that has all of the money.

Jack that all depends on who you ask. If you ask a Democrat then they'll say it's not going to be as bad as everyone says while a Republican will say that this will be a massive shift with the Republicans taking back over both halves of congress and later the presidency, then repealing everything Obama has done. Personally I don't think the voters are as stupid as the Republicans think nor will be as happy as the Democrats think. The democrats will loose some seats while the Republicans won't gain as many as they would like.

Maybe Obama and Oprah will hop on Air Force One and fly to each of their congressional districts the day before and lobby for them

I think if they keep playing this game of not holding to Democratic principles it will be bad. I think they need to take a look at what happened last fall and take the agenda back because if they appear weak the losses will be greater.

That depends on how Congress does between now and the elections. Based on what's been happening, if I was the Republicans, I'd be worried.

Dems will lose the super majority before they can capitalize it, but still be in charge. There will be no major legislation for the next 2-3 years.

Jack. The Democrats will lose seats if joblessness continues. No matter which good decisions President Obama has already made or will make in future, people need and want to work. It seems they believe he does not have the ability to get back what was lost before he came into office. The die is already cast.

Barbara

I'm a democrat and won't vote democrat. Obama and the democrats have not honored what they promised in their campaigns!

Jack if the Democrats continue down their do nothing road, they'll be put out by the road. The ongoing fear campaign that the Republicans are waging will unfortunately sway voters to their side. Obama needs to do healthcare to save a dozen seats.

It couldn't be bad enough for this senior citizen . The Democrats have overreached as usual and have created a "health care crisis" where none really existed. The Democrat's quest to expand the power of the Federal government will be met by strong opposition at the ballot box. Farewell to the "Blue Dogs" and other pseudo-conservative Dems.

There's no question that our country is more polarized than ever before in large part due to the policies of the Obama Administration. The Democrats will be suffering severe losses during the 2010 midterm elections as a result and they wil be wondering why they're without a chair after the music stops playing.

When you jam something down the throats of the public expecte to be treated the same. I have never seen so many people in government that don't appear to know what they are doing in my lifetime. It is scarry and pathetic. The public will respond.

It won't be so bad for either the Democrats or the Republicans.

I am sick of the the two party, corrupted system!

It is time for a CHANGE as OBAMA has previously stated.

That is why I will be voting for the Independent Party.

People are not stupid. Republican congressmen will vote against any health care bill the democrats submit, so the republicans will be seen as the party of "no". They are not interested in helping this country move forward, only in furthering their political fortunes. I have faith that Americans will see through this cynical plan and come out and vote for the democrats in Nov of 2010.

Lewis Black once said at his show that the Republicans are the party of bad ideas and the Democrats are the party of no ideas. I think the Democrats being in power for the past four years has proven Black's point. The Democrats cannot evevn agree on enough to come up with one health care bill. America is tired of a Do-Nothing Congress. At least with "bad ideas" good things happen some times. With no ideas, nothing happens.

BAD, as in B-A-D. If the Dems can get a health-care bill passed that includes a public option, they'll be my heroes forever and get my vote for sure next year. If they can't, even with a majority, then they'll prove themselves to be as emasculated as I feared and I'll cast my vote for the Republicans. At least the Reps take decisive action, even if it's wrong.

Won't be bad at all Jack. Democrats may lose a few seats, but do you honestly think that there are enough idiots out there to put the Republicans back in the majority. Not even if they wanted to, we will see to that. Wishful thinking Jack, but I hate to disappoint you. We've seen how a lot of these polls work, and we've also seen the predictions by CNN for president Obama during the election, and we know how that turned out.

Pretty bad, but whatever happens it couldn't be bad enough. The democrat party has been taken over by socialists and in some cases outright Marxists. They have over-mortgaged America's future, and there is more long-term economic damage to come before they get heaved out in 2010. Not to mention their having all but abandoned America's security. People are finally waking up to this, thank God, but the economic and security bills will still have to be paid dearly for generations.

Maybe the real question is: How bad will the 2010 midterm elections be for the country? If the Republicans have a net gain of 1 seat, they will claim a complete repudiation of Obama policies by voters and declare their mandate. Perhaps they'll try to create a new "Unamerican Activities Committee".

If a viable 3rd party were an option, then I think the Dems would be in even worse shape. In any case, my wife & I are independents and at this point I can't imagine voting for any Dem that isn't conservative middle of the road and willing to stand up for their beliefs. The biggest thing helping the Dems are the far right GOP candidates.

It won't be so bad if the Democratic Senate and House finally comes together and support the President agenda and realize that they rule both houses and pass a two or three significant piece legislation. Otherwise it's the return of massive stupidity once again for another eight years, a path that this country always seem destine to repeat.

After the Republicans, the Tea Party, and the Medical Health Insurance Companies took away my and other Middle Class American Citizens only hope for Affordable Medical Health Insurance coverage by destroying the Public Option, I will not vote Republican.

The Republicans are the ones along with the Medical Health Insurance Companies who defeated the Public Option, which was my only hope for affordable medical coverage.

I see the Republicans as the ones who will loose. Only an employee for the Medical Health Insurance Companies or a fool would vote Republican.

What will it matter if Republicans gain back seats next year? There is very little substantive difference between the two parties anymore. No matter which party is in charge, the centralized state wins, and liberty loses.

Jack, a year in politics is a lifetime. I have barely caught my breath from the presidential election and was hoping to bask in victory for a little while longer! By 2010, the economy could be better, healthcare reform passed, almost out of Iraq, and whatever else will come our way. It could be OK for Democrats, please spare me the anguish right now.

How about we wait a year and find out?

There has been effort made to discredit the
President and thereby throw the Democrats
into a bad light for mid-terms. The party has
a lot of work ahead of it if it wants to hold those
seats.

Jack, I'm confused. The Republicans did not take care of one problem facing this nation during their 8 years in power. They ran up a huge debt on a war designed to put the oil companies in charge of Iraq's oil and to give us a base between Iran and Israel. Now, the Republicans do NOTHING but vote as a block in opposition to anything the Dems try to do. Dems don't all vote as a block so, unless the Dems are allowed complete control of both houses(like the Republican'ts had) we, as a nation, will never see any resolution to healthcare reform, clean energy, equality, immigration reform, border security,etc. How the Republicans can get a single vote is a joke. They ONLY look out for the corporations and lobbyists who line their pockets. The middle class is doomed by continuing to support the current Republican party.

I can't imagine people being so stupid as to vote for the narrow-minded red-necked conservative Republicans over the open-minded, liberal and totally sane Democrats.

Who needs more in Congress or the Senate of the views of the bunch of Bush people in there now. Have we not learned a lesson from 8 years of the worst administration the nation ever had....George W. Bush. Have we learned nothing about having 2 unnecessary wars started up by a fanatic like George W. Bush.
Have we learned nothing from the Bush recession, or the dirty tricks the Republicans are pulling to stall legitimate health care reform?

If people do vote for Republicans just out of frustration, they mmight as well vote for Bozo the Clown. Voting for a Republican is like throwing your vote away.

People need to ask themselves "what have the Republicans done to help the average person in America?" If you do this, the Republicans will lose more seats next year and they should. This summer showed the true value of the far right and they are anti-american and useless.

If the "say no" republicans get voted in again then it just shows how uninformed the voters are!! People that listen to Beck and Limbaugh don't get the facts just lies – and that scares me!! The Dems would stand a better chance if they would get a back bone, unite behind Obama and get healthcare with a public option (that polls show 65% of voters want), I'm sick of the dems fighting each other!!

Bad... but, rest assured, the Republicans will find a way to "Screw" that up as well. Both parties are out of touch... it's time for the average amercian, not the frenge on the right, or the left to take back this great country!

If the Democrats can actually unify and pass some of the legislative "change" America wanted in last year's election, then they will be okay. If they continue to undermine their own platform–as they often do–then 2010 will be a tough year for them.

Bad for the Democrats, neutral for the country.
Having the President force rush the bipartisan health care bill, and then go way too slow on sending troops to where they are needed seems a little backwards, though, and can't help his foreseeable future.

It's going to be real bad for the Democrats in 2010 but it will be great for our country!

Judgement Day – November 2, 2010 – Glenn Beck does speak for me.

Who else are we going to put in ? The "down the party line " republicans ! We need a third party but from what I am seeing is the republicans are now calling themselves independants and are spouting the same ole stuff. What we need is term limits on these "lifers" and that will fix our problem with these knuckleheads !

It's hard to say, Jack. The American people are so fairweathered that if anything- ANYTYHING -good happens tomorrow, the polls change. Everything is about right now. The truth is, no matter who is the majority is, nothing will get done. Congress isn't about representing the people who put them in place, not when the payouts are coming from organizations like big pham.

Jack,
I do not agree with the numbers you presented. There is no possible way Congress' job approval rating could be that high.

In all honesty Jack, it doesn't really matter who wins in 2010. If the numbers of Republicans and Democrats are anywhere near even, nothing will get done. Congress will be perpetually stalled by petty partisan squabbles and finger pointing, just as it is now, completely unable to get anything done.

The midterm elections for the Democrats will only be as bad as our tax money can buy. They managed to shift a $1M grant for fire prevention from the New Orleans Fire Department to ACORN just yesterday in spite of a Congressional ban of such "gifts". I know that ACORN will have to go train someone on fire prevention but none-the-less it should be worth a few thousand maybe even a million votes even though New Orleans' population is down around 800,000.

We'll have to wait until the 2010 elections to remind Democrats that they were suppose to work for us. We need to vote in a new majority not of Republicans or Democrats but new faces. We can hope that some newcomers will look out for us instead of special interest groups at least in their first term. We need term limits!

I cannot believe that we are already speculating on an election that is nearly 1 year away. Apparently, based upon the past 8 months, we have definitely become a very impatient country because Obama was barely in office before you were talking about 2012 candidates.

How about we look at this 6 months from now and then debate how the "just say no" party will do in 2010??

Jack; I don't think it will be that bad, if at all, as long as Americans are not short minded and remember we gave Republicans a chance, now lets see what the Democrats have to offer and give it a chance to work.

Hopefully it will be bad enough for them to take their heads out of the sand and ask 'Why'. As one of the estimated 52% of Americans who pay taxes, I am not happy with their thinking that it is free money. I can't afford them.

Not to bad, I think most people realize neither party is any good, it's an even race.

If the war in Afghanistan turns around, if the economy shows tangible improvement, and if the healthcare debate becomes a distant memory, then I think the Dems will not fare badly. We will NOT see a repeat of 1994. The Republicans don't have a New Gingrich this time around. In fact, they have no leader. Their party is in shambles, and for that they have no one to blame but themselves.

What goes around comes around. And the beat goes on. Democrat...Republican...all the same it seems. I'm so mad at the Republicans. I gave to them a couple of times and and now I have a banana box full of donation requestions. The only reason I don't shred them is because one envelopes contains a real dollar bill. Seriously..it seems things just remain the same with a different lable. Now I'm not sure that even a credible 3rd party would matter next year.

The Democrats have abused their majority and have all but destroyed this country. I will actively campaign against every Democrat in my local, state, and national jurisdiction, and I am not alone.

Jack,

It will all boil down to what the economy is doing. If the economy is the same at election time as it is today then the blood bath will begin.

You can't expect to hold congress if your policies keep unemployment at 10% no matter what the DOW is doing.

It will be the same for Obama, if the economy is still sucking wind when his election comes up, then welcome to the new Prez.

Considering Cafferty declared the gop dead. If they win half of the seats, I would consider it a message about big gov't not being favored.

Apparently independents and elders have short memories. Remember 2000-2006? The GOP ran both houses of congress and the white house. Please look at our current situation. Can't we ever learn from history. The wars have now passed the 1 trillion $ mark. The recession, these wars and the financial corruption of the corporate/military complex could have been avoided. Stop protecting big oil, insurance companies and wall street. The American people all must adhere to laws or suffer the consequences. That should apply to everyone. Exxon/Mobil and Haliburton are not exempt.

What's the point of even voting anymore? Really, Jack, what difference does it make? Democrat or Republican, neither cares about the citizens of America. They care about how much money they can raise and how many perks they can scam. Everyday, it becomes more apparent that our representatives could care less about the American people. I, for one, am tired of all of it. When only the rich and powerful can manage to get elected, what chance do any of us have?

The midterm elections shouldn't worry the Democrats too much. The midterms will, like the 2008 election, show the Republicans that they are out of touch with the majority of the country and probably reality itself. Here's to hoping that someone interupts Joe Wilson with a scream of "You lose!" in the middle of his concession speech at the end of the next cycle.

I don't think it will be half as bad as the GOP would like to see it. Any one can see that it's all in the Republican plan to keep as much confusion and discord going to make the democrats look like they don't know what the're doing and its well know that they don't want President Oboma to succeed. However, the democrats need to step it up and take control because people are tired of the dems looking like the weaker party. The way it's going now, we might as well have voted the republicans back in. We got to step it up and make things happen. Bring out troops home, now! Democrats, stay the course, we don't want to go back down the road we just got off.

Since the Democrats seem to be running around the halls of Congress like a bunch of monkeys, all the Republicans need do is field a slate of candidates that are just one step above the mentality of a trained ape and it'll be a landslide. Even if they don't, I'm betting all my worldly possessions, including my little dog Spot, that the Democrats are gonna get creamed.

Gary Boyd, Scottsdale, Arizona

If anyone votes for a GOP candidate in 2010 after watching the destruction of the country by these same yokels after 8 years, then you get what you deserve.

Hopefully it will be very bad for ALL incumbents, since very few of them have taken the time to listen to their constituents. Democrats and Republicans alike are ruining our country with runaway deficits, pork barrel spending, and legislative inertia. We have real problems here, but our elected officials have failed to address them. If we really are a representative democracy, then we owe it to ourselves to elect true representatives of the people who will do the people's work.

jack, there both the same party, maybe the difference is republicans love war and put fear into peopleand dumb!!! the media makes people change there minds, so anything could happen by next year.

It's going to be bad...Dems will keep the Seante, but lose the House. Dems are going to spend us into poverty for generations.

They should clear the House and start over.

Anything less will not do......

I think that the Democrats are in for a real shock. The American people have voiced their opinion so loudly on healthcare that congress would have to bury their heads in the sand not to hear it. We do not want an overhaul of the sytem. We want to fix what's broken and keep the rest in tact. And to turn a blind eye to the economy in order to promote a social agenda does not sit well at all with the public. I think that there will be a big flip in control in the house come 2010.

Democrats, you got what you want by having full control of the government. But, at this point, you are not being any smarter than us Republicans when we had control. No restraint from either party!

last I saw the Republicans were sitting at a mid 30% approval rating so why anyone would think that the Democrats would be involved in a bloodbath come 2010 is beyond me.

I don't think they will lose that many seats, due to the fact they are recovering from a rebublican mess. Any independent or senior that are persuaded to go the other way, blame yourselves if this country goes in the toilet. And lastly, if we keep the media quiet it might go okay, because as of late they only been a tabloid.

It is not about returning to power, at least for the voters it should not be. Any time one party has total control of congress, as we are seeing now, the basic premise of checks and balances no longer functions.

The three branches of government were meant to act as limiting agents on one another. The two-party system that has our country in a stranglehold effectively bypasses those checks and balances. We now have a legislative branch that is toeing the line for every decision the executive branch hands down. The parties themselves, I do not care if it is Rep or Dem, are the very source of the deterioration of our republic.

Liberal or Conservative becomes irrelevant when confronted with a nameless, faceless entity that wields power over virtually every aspect of the average person's life. We have no means of recourse against the decisions and judgments of this entity and there is no governing body regulating them. To quote "who is watching the watchmen" or "who will police the police". In this instance, there is nobody.

Try to focus on the actual problem rather than the talking points coming from both sides of the same coin we call the two-party system.

Don't believe this junk! They may lose a few. But, it will not be many. The Republican brand is poision everywhere but the South- generally speaking of course. In fact, if they lose anything it will probably be some Blue Dogs and that is a good thing.

Conservatives have been obstructing gloriously, to inspire failure and improve their chances in the upcoming elections, much to the detriment of the people of this nation!

After the past three years with Reid and Pelosi (and Dodd and Frank), giving us unemployment that steadily increased from 4.6% to 9.8%, with no end in sight, who in their right mind would vote for a Dem?

(When Repubs controlled both houses, they took over with the unemployment rate at 5.7%, and steadily lowered it to 4.6%.)

Jack, I'm an independent and I've certainly had enough of all this "change". We're in a deep recession. And what does this administration do? It pulls out the credit card and spends like there's no tomorrow. I would rather have the old crowd back...at least we had jobs back then!

Who cares? These politicians represent nothing other than their own sense of entitlement and desire for power.

Everything democrat is good everything republican is bad. Now will you post my comment please???? Republicans are bad Democrats are good. Please post!!! Please!!!

Commander Don – Goodyear AZ

Politic memory is very short lived in this country. If the mood in this country is postive just prior to the voting, incumbents on both side of the aisle will return to their jobs. But if the job market and the economy are still sick, the ruling majority party (Dems) will take the hit at the polls.

As a democrat, I must admit that Obama and the "Supermajority" in power have been a major disappointment. I really had high hopes that some significant changes could happen, but clearly this is not to be. Looks like business as usual. So, with that said, what does it matter what happens in 2010? I probably won't even bother to vote anymore.

Jack,
Many Americans are extremely unhappy over "where" our country is headed. As a result, it is going to be an extremely bad election for Democrats next year and many seats will be lost. Many Americans are very unhappy with Congress, the planned takeover of heathcare, cap and trade, the deficit, etc, etc, and this dissatisfaction will be reflected at the polls in 2010!
Thank you – RRR
Albuquerque, NM

Democrats are in charge in both houses. That statement means nothing. The statement that means something is this (and it should be repeated over and over again in the media): conservatives have the majority in both houses, conservatives have the majority in both houses, conservatives have the majority in both houses. It is wrong that the media doesn't constantly remind the public of the Blue Dog, conservative Democrats.

The 2010 elections will be great for the Democrats. The recession started last year. We will be in a recovery next year when the mid terms roll around. Obama was elected at the perfect time to take credit for the recovery. Kind of like Reagan in the early 80 & Clinton in the early 90s.

The Dems have obviously accomplished nada. As long as Obama keeps company with do-less Socialists like Pelosi, this will continue. While there was an initial surge by the component of our society looking for handouts, responsible hardworking citizens realize that Socialism only works until you run out of people to take money from.

Jack it will not be bad at all. Democrats just need to battle back the party of NO, with the facts and the truth. And Americans really need to pay more attention to what is being sad and research the truth for themselves. This is a democracy for Christ sakes. It is our responsibility to hold our government responsible by researching what is being said and making our voices clear with what we want.

It's about time. The republicans under George Bush Jr was one of the top administrations of all time. He took a country that was under attack and put a defense in place that has stopped multiple attacks from multiple points of origin since then. Not a single attack has occured on US soil since then. Only problem is that people won't appreciate it until a bomb goes off in their back yard. This day is probably getting closer with all the evil people being let loose from Guantanamo under the geniuses in charge right now.

Jack,

Rumors of the Dems demise are greatly exaggerated. The Republicans are masters of smoke and descise . They are the Stonewall experts that have mastered ways to scare the old, stupid,
less informed and in general the hipocritical . If there is a chance for War... spend more. When it comes to us... spend less.
Their carefree approach to big Finance and big military have left us basically pennyless. Now when it's time to educate, and take care of healthcare and our basic needs they are out to lunch.
Again the masters of let's make the stupid, old, and hiporitical afraid of it and focus on who to blame for it are hard at work. The less informed and easy to scare will go for it and they desirve to be without
good healthcare. The rest of the English speaking look at us and laugh along with the rest of the informend world population. Too bad.

I'm not betting against the DEMS b/c the conservatives are loud and angry ........I can't in good conscience vote back in a party that has for one year villianized the fire truck that has come to put out the fires.......I'm 30 yrs. old and I'm engaged....They say only the elderly and angry vote in mid term elections.....that will change this upcoming year!!!!! The GOP doesn't deserve power back at all.......

2010 can't get here fast enough. The Democrats have a dominating control of both chambers, the white house and the supreme court and have done what? NOTHING!!!

The Democrats can not work together with their own party and they talk about reaching across the aisle! Give me a break...the Left doesn't know what the Left is doing.

I can't speak for all BUT FOR ME...if you are a DEM you are OUT....Second in line are the incumbents..I want someone who has the BALLS to stand up for ME. I am really looking forward to 2012 when I can help get the MOB out of the "Big House".

BHO......you need to keep the moving van on stand-by,

The Obama Presidency is imploding and Congress is out of control with spending, deficits and stupid legislation. Keep it up, and the Dems will be out of power quicker than you can say "I told you so!" America is still a right of center country, and the Dems ignore this fact at their peril.

If the Dem's pass Health Care, this Union member will vote Repub.

If the GOP keeps voting NO to what the American People need, we'll all vote NO to their re-election.

There's no way I would vote for the party of NO. They have demonstrated that power is more important than the welfare of America's citizens.

I think the GOP will lose seats in all areas of the country other than the evangelical South.

Democrat, Republican, it doesn't matter, the dogs and cats are sleeping together!

Does the word 'Waterloo' ring any bells?
President Obama was given a mandate by the American public & handed a fillibuster proof Congress to fulfill his campaign committments. Instead, Congress has been in gridlock over every difficult piece of legislation – we seem to only hear about shouting episodes, scandals (sexual & ethical), and how many Members have financial disclosure/tax evasion investigations underway. Meanwhile, the President seems to place more importance on lobbying for City of Chicago for 2016 Olympics.
If the American public decides to punish the party in power for the performance of the past year, the Democrats have set themselves up for huge defeat.

Okay, I'm naive, but I cannot for the life of me see how this country can vote Republicans back in to power.

As long as the media continues to disproportionately broadcast the baseless whinning from the most ignorant and/or divisive members of our nation (i.e. Tea baggers and Town Hall cryers), more and more will forget that this is not Obama's recession – before Obama took office, Allan Greenspan stated that we were headed towards the worst recession in over 100 yrs (yes, that would mean worse than the Great Depression of the '20s and '30s). But as soon as Obama was sworn in, Limbaugh and co. began referring to 'The Obama Recession". Ignorance abounds. Fools pin the rising unemployment rate on Obama yet it's not yet half bad as was predicted by the prognosticators, before Obama even took office. Jack – maybe you can remember to place the blame squarely where it should be. On the worst abusers i.e. primarily, the GOP!

It should be horrendous. The Democrats control every branch of government with a filibuster proof majority in both the House and Senate, and nothing is getting done – zip nada, boink.

Jack, Americans are beginning to understand that we need a balance of power between the parties in the three branches of government - otherwise we see no results. The Dems are afraid to go it alone - and that is proof enough for me that we need to toss a few of them out

Dear Jack,
I don't think the 2010 elections will be bad for the democrats at all.
In fact, when health care reform passes in November, and the american people see how the republicans did nothing to help pass this important reform. The republicans may loose even more seats.
I'm going to do my best to vote out any republicans here in Arizona!

The turn-around is a reflection that the American public is seeing how much 'socialism' the Democrats and 'progressive liberals' are trying to impose on our nation. Also a noteworthy observation is, without ACORN // SEIU and others in control of the vote, we get an accurate look at the voting public.

I think the democrats will do alright because it's almost sure that a health care reform bill will signed before the end of this year. The seniors will get behind the party then because they'll not be worried about their health care. The democrats will be in a good position to accomplish a lot of things that have been neglected during the Bush administration.

I don't know who Obama is pleasing, it's certainly not the left (that's me). But his centrist, leftist or rightist views won't make any difference to voters. All the voters will notice is that all of their problems haven't been solved so they'll vote for the other party. Dems will lose 25+ seats.

Well, by counting who could possibly be happy with Obama and Dem after all they haven't done AFTER all they promised US, you would BE FINISHING counting potential votes for Democrats MUCH QUICKER!!

There is barely a problem we have in America today that wasn't caused by in a large part by the Republicans. Obama and the Dems haven't been perfect, while much of the Right has been truly monstrous, spewing lies, fermenting hate, passing the buck, and suffering from Alzheimers.

The Dems may lose some seats, they may gain some seats – as the pendulum of public opinion goes back and forth, but I would be very surprised if it was a disaster for them.

The Democrats could lose considerable in the House, but they can afford to in the House. The real question is in the Senate. Also will this be seen as a referendum on Nancy Pelosi's leadership rather than the President?

For pete's sake, it's October 2009, isn't it a little early for this conversation?

Well, let's see what Obama has accomplished:- never mind, Saturday Night Live just gave a very complete and accurate report.

I love how 46% for Dems, 44% for Reps is now referred to as a virtual tie, but when the Reps were in charge with basically the same numbers it was considered a clear cut support for all things Rep... You kill me. How about this. Just for "Kicks & Giggles". Lets admit both sides have made mistakes, both have members that embarrass us, members we applaud, and members we will not remember 5 minutes after they have left office. Now that we have settled that debate on who ie prettiest, lets get to the brass tacks of working out the problems. Everybody take a 10 minute "time out" and realize that if the people in charge don't start really working for the common good as are going to see our country end up being a footnote in history. Which will most likely read something like this "What a marvelous nation, the bread basket of the world, leaders in industry, freedom, human rights, went bankrupt and could not sit down and work out what should have been a "Walk through the Park" for them. Just sort of fell apart and never recovered...

The Republican and Democratic parties are two heads of the same gargantuan money-wasting rights-destroying monster. For some real change in the right direction let's actually clean house and put in a Libertarian & Independent majority. That would throw a wrench into the gears of logrolling, corruption, graft, special interest business as usual.

Jack,
The election is a year away. Remember when the 2008 presidential race was going to be between Giuliani and Clinton? Heck, wasn't McCain ahead of Obama in the polls at one time? Let's all stop trying to call this one a year early.

Historically, the party in power loses seats in mid-term elections. But with US politics so corporate money and special-interest driven, who knows. Our government will continue to be ineffective and basically worthless until lobbying is made illegal, campaign contributions are made illegal, and all government elected officials have a one-term only limit. Then, and only then, will the people have a chance at actually being represented by their elected officials.

For both parties, this has been the worst Congress in my recent memory; just a bunch of bickering slugs who accomplished damn near nothing. I am now of the opinion that those elected to the House of Representatives should be limited to one term to eliminate the tendancy to focus all of their thoughts to re-election. And the Senators seeking re-election are not all that much better.

Gary's comment is:

Jack I think people and trends and poles blow with the winds, and
change directions from day to day. So I don't put much faith in poles
that talk about mid term, we have alot to do between now and then.
And most anything can happen.

History repeats itself. In 1994 Republicans used health care reform
to become the majority in congress, and they are at it again. The blame lies in August with the conservative Democrats who erronously believed by they were saving their jobs by joining the Republicans in that endeavour. They're too stupid to realize that the Republican
party is going to run their own against them anyway and now they
will lose their liberal and moderate base.
Les Mich.

I hope the Democrats do lose some ground – even if the Republicans don't regain 'control' per-se, gains on that side would be beneficial. The founding fathers structured our government to have 'checks and balances' which with this current Democratic autocracy has gone out the window (how could it not with one-party rule?). There's no effective counterbalance to the far-left liberal influence in government right now. I do not believe that the liberal agenda being pursued un-checked is going to produce positive outcomes for our country. Much of what is being pursued has no hope of positive outcome when it's mostly based on incorrect principles.

If only we had some counterbalance to the liberal-left media influence flooding the country!

Not bad at all...what is the alternative? Put the GOP (Got 0 Plans) back in charge? I think not.

it want be bad you cant clean up this mess in a few months it took 8years to make it so it want be taken care if over nite

There will hardly be any change. As much as people criticize Congress, it is always the other people's Congressman who is a dodo. Everyone thinks their Congressman is great and will continue to vote him/her in. Until people see their own Congressman as the problem, change will not come.

Please save us from the party of "charge it!"

Passing on our troubles to our children and THEIR children will not garner us any votes as another "greatest generation." Quite the opposite in fact, thanks to the Dems.

Totally depends on the economy, if it gets better then the dems are safe, if it gets worse they're doomed. Nothing else matters since the general public seems unable to remember anything out of the current news cycle.

I would not be surprised to see the Dems lose control of both houses. They have had well over 2 yrs. since gaining control of the congress, and have little to show for it. I think voters are going to expect a better report card from their elected officials.

If that means putting the GOP back into office, then I think that is highly likely to happen.

In 2012, Obama is likely to have lost his lustre (mostly rhetoric), and if the GOP or independents can muster a good enough candidate, they will likely have a good shot at the WH as well.

Really need a Ross Perot type.....someone who is not a professional politician, but knows their way around the world, and can be a "get something done" person.

The American people are tired of the antics of Reid, Pelosi and Franks
and it will show in the mid-terms. Republicans too, will see a little upheaval. Voters are tired of not being represented.

I think the media is making this into something it isn't. I expect the composition of the House and Senate to not change much after the mid-terms. The Dems may even pick up a Senate seat.

History says that the party in power will lose seats and that trend will continue. BUT it will not be the slaughter that Republicans will be looking for, especially if the Democrats pass Health Care reform. Yes, this will be a balancing election, but because the Republicans have not been helping themselves out with their vitriolic rhetoric and lack of new ideas, they will not gain enough to even come close to taking back the House or Senate. My prediction is a 10-20 seat loss for the Democrats.

Jack,
You must be a really young man not to know this is the fickle political heart of America....in 1992 Clinton and the Democrats were on top of the heap...then in 2000 thru 2004 the GOP took over the heap, then in 2006-2008 the Democrats came back.....

Like one parent punishing a child when the other is not home.....over time the party who is NOT in power becomes the 'beloved underdog' and America loves an underdog. Perhaps a true third party would temper this political pendulum.

As a democrat, I think they will get housed in the midterms. Who is going to run out to support a party that can't get past tea baggers and death panel arguments?

What difference does it make – all in power need to pack up their briefcases and get ready to move on. No one listens to general America – they give them names, make fun of them, label them – they all need to go. Our debt is so bad – it is heartbreaking.
Of course it will be bad – I want Independents with no baggage and one term for all elected
My dream!

November 2010 is a lifetime from now, and any discussion about how a party will be doing is way too premature. Most people still vote their pocketbook. As the federal stimulus starts flowing through the economy and jobs hopefully begin to return with it, that will change many voters attitudes.

They should be in trouble! The Democrats are doing a really good job at handing power over to the GOP. The question will be what they have to campaign on in 2010. You really can't campaign on failures and debt. Just ask the Republicans in 2006...

Travis
Canton, Ohio

Even if the Dems keep the house by a few seats look for Pelosi to step down. Her arrogance and narcissism are staggering, and are hurting the Dems badly. She has been the worst speaker of the house in recent memory, and perhaps the worst ever.

I have a strong hope that the Democrats will survive the 2010 midterms. It will be difficult, of course, but I believe that the hope that President Obama constantly speaks of, or as Lewis Black beautifully put it, "lactates", will carry over once more in another important election. If there are not enough Democrats in Congress, this nation will continue to be at a stalemate and the major issues will simply be argued about rather than actually fixed.

Amy,
Tulsa, OK

You can tell who the commentators here are. The liberals are the ones saying the Dems will be fine because no matter how bad they are, they'll never be worse than Bush/Cheney. The conservatives are the ones saying the Dems will be thrashed because Obama's true radical colors are now showing. These comments are meaningless and a wash because none of these people would ever consider voting for the other side anyway. As an independent, I had high hopes for Obama and the Dems. What I've seen thus far is a lot of Dem in-fighting, Obama making (a LOT) of speeches but doing absolutely nothing, and Republicans being cut right out of the legislative equation. I have seen a MASSIVE surge in federal spending (I thought Bush's spending was bad, but this is ridiculous) and a laundry list of new taxes being proposed to pay for it all. No thanks. I had hope and I wanted change. This isn't the change I hoped for. Very disappointing.

For the Democrats? It'll be a bloodbath. For us? Business as usual. The pendulum will swing the other way, we'll elect people from the party not currently in power, and they'll fail to represent us just like these guys. Government of, for, and by the people has become little more than a pipe dream, but we're too well-distracted and apathetic to rise up and actually do anything about it. Until a third party gets into the game, the score will always be 1 vs. 1, tie game, everyone loses.

Just the fact that you are announcing it will be an upset is good news, Jack! We can only hope!!!!

Although this is a question better asked a year from now, I think the Republicans will make small gains in the House (8-10 seats max). The Senate is tougher to guess since many of the races are still forming. Both sides have difficult seats to defend (Arkansas and Colorado for the Democrats, New Hampshire and Ohio for the Republicans) along with some other states which could go either way (Louisiana, North Carolina, Connecticut, Nevada). The main point here is that, although there are several loud rightwingers here today bragging that 2010 is 1994 redux. Dream on. The Republicans are soooo much less popular today than back then. As much as you'd all like to, the eight year period before last January 20 will not just magically disappear from the memory of the American electorate. Not for a very, very long time.

Republicans-Democrats you mean there is a difference

Democrats won't do well at all because the Democrats in the house and senate haven't supported their president. They've listened to special interests instead of their constituants and have joined the "no vote" Republicans, which has in turn madeg things tough for the man I stood in line for 5 hours to vote for .... because I agreed with what he wants to do for the American people. As a result, during the midterms, those of us Democrats who support Obama will stay home and not vote. Why bother? As usual the party will shoot itself in the foot, not take advantage of having a popular president in office, and in fact will drag him down with them.

Jack, it depends on you you're referring to. For the rank-and-file Democrats, it will be a horrible mid-term if the same weak-kneed representatives who are too darn afraid to go "Republican" on the Republicans. That is, play the same sort of hard-ball the GOP has mastered, minus the gross abuse of the truth. For elected Democratic leaders, it shouldn't be so bad. After all, who will the rank-and-file Dems turn to to unseat the weak who now represent us? A Republican?!? i think not. 2010 will be simply be another frustrating election for us Dems. Can't win with our leaders, can't win without 'em. And the GOP agenda of disruption, disinformation and denial just keeps inching forward.

We will send Obama back to the depths of hell (Chicago) in 2012. In 2010 we will first destroy his "evil" minions. Then the light and hope of capitalism shall once again shine over this fair land and the misery and failure of socialism shall fade...until once again the voters are fooled during an economic challenge.

I strongly suspect that the Dems will pick up a few 2020 seats. I like many independents will never trust the Republicans again. 34,397 Americans aged 17-64 have died so far this year because they lack health insurance. My college aged daughter , who "aged out" of my employer's health insurance plan, has no health insurance. My older asthmatic daughter who was laid off at 15 years at a Fortune 10 company in January , 2009 , has no health insurance . To the party of NO I say "no thanks."

I think you are very premature in your assumption that the midterms will be bad for the Democrats. As a moderate conservative, I have seen nothing constructive offered by the Republicans who appear more concerned with bringing down President Obama than addressing the real issues facing our country. I don't agree with all of Mr. Obama's ideas but I certainly admire his willingness to take on difficult challenges. Rather than throw rocks at a passing train, it would serve us all better to get aboard and help determine where this train will end up.

I want people with the spine to work for Americans not Iraqis. I want national health care, us out of Iraq, and us winning in Afghanistan. I would also like a job???? Bush took mine and I am still working three partime jobs waiting or solid work. The only question I have is what progressive and or Democrat to vote for. The Republicans party, for me, is dead.

You failed to discuss how the Republicans have damaged their influence with minorities. Their comments about Sotomayor and covert activites to paint President Obama as a socialist while comparing him to Hitler. Also, Republicans have painted themselves as proxy for health insurance companies by offering we stop and start over discussions about healthcare reform. Another republican ploy to slow things down in the hopes they will gain more seats in congress to kill healthcare reform. Republicans should change their name to the lip service party. That's all I see them doing for us. They serve the extreme far right when most of the country is in the center.

That remains to be seen a year from now, this question is too speculative at this time.

The polls do not reflect the actual public option. it did not account for those who has cell phones only. Before you vote, ask yourself, what did democracts or repoblicans stands for? and how will their stand affect my family or our Country.

Jack, it depends on who you're referring to. For us rank-and-file Democrats, it will be a horrible mid-term if the same weak-kneed representatives who are too darn afraid to go "Republican" on the Republicans – that is, play the same sort of hard-ball the GOP has mastered, minus the gross abuse of the truth – get elected. For elected Democratic leaders, it shouldn't be so bad. After all, who will the rank-and-file Dems turn to to unseat the weak who now represent us? A Republican?!? i think not. 2010 will be simply be another frustrating election for us Dems. Can't win with our leaders, can't win without 'em. And the GOP agenda of disruption, disinformation and denial just keeps inching forward.

Why would anyone vote for the GOP? It's a broken, malfunctioning party still stuck on the same ideas that led us to all the crises we are going through right now.

It won't be bad at all. It's all bull. Obama and the democrats have done an outstanding job from the catastrophe that was heaped upon them by the corrupt and incompetent George W. Bush and his administration. Let's not forget that Bill Clinton left Bush a surplus and Bush squandered it on his rich cronies. The American people know that and it will take 40 years before the Republicans can ever hope to bounce back.

In the end, will it really matter? There's not a policy that can be made by either party that will not be so discredited by the other side, that public opinion will shift away. People are swayed by celebrity and catch phrases. I may think Republicans are wrong about many things, but at least they fall in line. Individuality is a good thing, but when people are mad enough to give you a "super" majority, you cannot allow opportunities to pass. Both sides are slaves to their campaign contributions, and sadly, cash rules and will always rule the legislation.

They will get hit hard in some areas but overall won't be bad. The right has used the Lee Atwater/Karl Rove smear tactics and they have worked magically for them so far this year. With a media icon as the leader of the Republican party they will continue to fall until they reach their demise. However, the Dem's need to get their $hit together and quit bickering among themselves, the President (and I'm sure he is) should be ashamed of his party, controlling both houses and nothing has been done.

Unless the White House acknowledges the validity of "tea parties" and stops belittling opposing points of view to administration policies the Democrats will lose badly. Rule number one: never underestimate your opponent. Rule number two: pride goeth before the fall.

Mr. Cafferty, I hope you are not in trouble with your superiors for daring to post such question. Anything reflecting a possible adversed outcome for the Democrats is sort of committing treason for some news outlets.

Sorry, but Congressional Democrats are acting like kids in a candy store. Despite having full reign over the candy store, they're all crowded together in one aisle fighting over the Twizzlers.
That's not leadership. That's pathetic. I was also VERY VERY disappointed that they shut down the proposal to post the health care bill online 72 hours before the vote. Why? What are they trying to hide? And also, disappointed that they voted to allow Charles Rangel to retain his chairmanship of the House Ways & Means Committee. I mean, c'mon. Why not just come right out and say "Hey! We don't mind corruption and criminality if it's one of us doing it". Good grief.

Time for real 'CHANGE' in 2010! Never thought I'd be wishing my life away, but the Dems have got to go as soon as possible!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your question asumes we're "bad", and it's a democrat loss.
Standing fact, we have to focus on the Senate, so we ride it out. Maybe we'll kick some booty, and shrink your base to 13 colonies?

The Dems have held a majority in Congress for the past 3 do nothing years. They rammed through a bloated boondoggle of a "stimulus" package without reading it and then mocked the American electorate for us expecting them to take the time to know what they're voting on. They blocked stricter oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and built a wall of protection around them before those two entities started off the economic collapse and then instead of holding themselves at all accountable, all they can do is point their fingers across the aisle. They have shown no interest in the interests of the American people...only interest in political bullying and revenge. Not a great track record for them. Kick 'em all out and vote for independent non-party affiliated candidates! The Parties only care about the Parties.

not bad at all, no one has done a darned thing to be mad at.

I think the Democrats will pick up a net Senate seat, and probably stay pretty even in the House. Despite rising questions about Obama, the squinty-eyed Republicans don't have any answers except "no."

Democrats out of office and ACORN staffers in jail. Now THAT is change you can believe in!

We can only hope that Nevada kicks Reid out. He's been a complete embarrassment (not as bad as Pelosi, Rangle, Waters, Waxman,...). There are bad politicians on both sides, but the democrats are far worse. With all the corrupt policies that Obama is forcing through, we need more opposition to keep the Executive branch in check.

Jack, All Democrates and Republicans who voted for the "Porklus" bill and are supporting socialist health care WILL BE THROWN OUT OF DC come 2010.

It will be interesting to see how they spin their losses to put the blame on GWB!. But then I'm still waiting for someone to tell me what GWB did that was so bad!

Once again the polls are wrong. Did no one over the age of 30 learn from the previous election? The youth run this country. And they do NOT get polled.

Unfortunately, I do see some losses by democrats just because many people are listening to the ongoing misinformation from opposition groups/politicians/entertainment news media. What has been disturbing in this campaign was that people were actually believing it despite the facts debunking the myths, particularly Palin's deathpanels.

Obama's improvements in the polls is encouraging. I take that to say the level-headed people are starting to listen to facts rather than opinion. In addition, the republicans are not showing many gains. Democrats might lose some ground but that does not translate to republican gains. I just find it hard to believe that independents would feel uncomfortable enough with democrats to move so far to the right to justify voting republican. More and more they are really just coming across as the Party of "NO".

Gee let's for vote for Republicans? Have people lost thier mind's? Jack where do I get that magic grape juice that makes these people so smart after 8 years of screwing up America. Vote Republican? Not in this life time until they learn to care about America before themselves.

It will be bad. The health care planning process has been bitterly divisive and many independents, myself included. believe it is a sure sign of a failure to organize a plan before it is proposed. No excuse for that.

The dems will hold their own as long as they can keep their health care reform bill a secret.....That is why they do not want to make it public...THE DEMS ARE NOW THE PARTY OF NO...like..(no way are we going to make it public)..They know that they would lose a lot if we saw what they are trying to push thru..

Name me one thing the Republicans have done that have helped he country in the last 9 years (other than having Bush leave office). Seriously, they are the party of No, the party of Hate and the party of Discrimination. They have no constructive ideas and the only thing they espouse is hatred of the other sides' ideas. The Dems are far from perfect as we all are, but they at least have ideas and are trying to make a difference.

The Democrats are suffering in the polls because they're showing themselves to be a bunch of dithering weaklings who refuse to address critical national problems. Large majorities of the public want a health care reform with a public option, but the Democrats are scared off by "tea baggers" and "town hall" thugs organized by Republican corporate interests.

The public is far ahead of the Democrats when it comes to the big issues. They want real change. If the Democrats won't deliver it, then the hell with 'em.

I don't think it will be any worse than the historical trend because everyone is still so polarized. Those who like Obama, and voted for him and the dems, will hang in there and those that hated the idea of an Obama presidency will pretend that they are at the head of some "movement" to take back the country. In the end–the historical trend holds!!

We need checks and balances that are not currently present in Congress.The American people are smart enough to recognize that and I believe they will level the field in 2010. We don't need to be railroaded by either party. The current administration's frantic pace to establish change is based on the ability of one party to ram legislation through with little resistance. The republicans don't have the numbers to stop or slow the process. The American People, however; have been very vocal in opposing several issues including healthcare which was obviously not well thought out. Several dems understand the 2010 threat to reelection. They can go further left now to pass unpopular legislation or cautiously drag their heals to gain support at home. This means, of course, that they are actually listening to their constituents. How about that...maybe the system strategically laid out by our forefathers works even with our determination to destroy it... We need to focus on important issues; the most important,our nation's resolve to win or leave Afghanistan.

I will never vote republican again. Ever. The Bush years were terrible for this country, and now all the Republicans seem to want to do is act like little children at the expense of all the hardworking people in this country.

No public option, no re-election. Simple as that.

Both parties have been hijacked by the fringe elements on the left and right. Start with the ultra-liberal leadership in the House and Senate as it is totally out of touch with the moderate middle, which represents the true center of both parties.
It's times to vote out those members that scream across the aisle, rather than reach across the aisle looking for consensus.
Throw them all out until we get back to the moderates whether they be Republican, Democrat, or Independent.

Democrats out of office and ACORN staffers in jail. Now THAT is change you can believe in!

Ian
Carrollton, TX

Like the player that gets the penalty flag, its the last man throwing the punch. The President has chosen to take on multiple mega dollar issue in a very rapid fashion. We went from the sky is falling and we are entering into a "Depression" to looking at health care bill with a cost at almost 900 billion. What happened to the future soup lines.

The problem is most people can't digest more than their Cheerios at any given time. The average attention span is nano seconds. Welcome back moderate Democrats.

Retention will be higher than these polls sugest. America's view of congress is usually always low but views of people's own represenative is usually high

People are dumber than dirt. Anyone who would even think of voting republicon after what they did to our nation is in need of serious mental help. I can see maybe not voting Democrat if you are unaware of all they have accomplished - it is pretty hard to get people to comprhend the importance \of what didn't happen - Democrats averted a second Great Depression, but that is hard to wrap the mind around - but giving republicons another chance to royally f over the United States is pure insanity.

I really don't think the Dems are going to be hit that bad. The GOP royally messed up the country When GW and the GOP controlled WH and both houses. I believe the country at least in the North and Midwest and western states will view the GOP as obstructionist. The GOP while in power could not wait to approve anything that GW wanted passed. And least we forget the record number of scandals that happened under GOP control. Regardless of how you feel about the Dems and there are certainly alot to be unhappy with there poll numbers are still higher then the GOP.

With the health care package sure to pass, a drawdown in Iraq, and the economy improving, the democrats do not have a thing to worry about.

Republican Party is the party of greedy Corporate America and the greedy rich. Just think of the 8 years of Bush and Republicans – Iraq War & Afghanistan War they did not want to pay for so they cut the corporate tax and the rich taxes, Tax breaks for outsourcing American jobs so more jobs left under Bush term than ever before and even with 10% unemployement-Bush is to blame, healthcare costs rising yet still today they don't want to change much, $4.00 gallon gas prices, Wages stayed mostly the same for working Americans while Corporate America got huge wage and bonuses and they wanted to privatize Social Security...just to name a few...
Obama and Democrats are not perfect but they are trying to fix the things screwed up by the Republicans – the GOP lies and swiftboat tactics will stop change which Americans voted for in 2008 and it will take longer than 2 years to fix what took 8 or more to screw up...

It could be really bad unless Americans wake up to the fact that it was laissez-faire Republicans who led us to the brink of Great Depression II and Dems who pulled us back .Heaven help us if the GOP regains power. Remember: they wanted the markets left alone to "self-correct"?

We should all know by now that it depends on how Americans perceive they're doing financially. Why waste time debating?

I do not believe it will be bad, especially if the Republicans continue on their present path. Obama is trying to upright a ship that has been sinking. One has to have a vision on how to do this and the conviction to get it done. Obama is trying. If he does not let all the negative press get him down, I am convinced that he will do it.

II think it will be a crushing blow that will signal the end of the failing Obama presidency.

The country is suffering from sticker shock of the outrageous left wing agenda driven spending of this president and the democratic congress.

Obama will loose the independents, central minded Democrats and solidify republican support.

Now for some sensible government.

Any wise and reasonably minded American can sift through the dust and see that Republicans are now a party with a new name, NOP, instead of GOP. Or, how about GNP for Grand New Party, comprising Limbaugh, Palin and Gingrich? I think 2012 should feature Palin as President and Gingrich as VP, and then American will be rid of extremist republicans, whose only function in Washington is to erect reoadblocks. Obama will come out with flying colors. Just watch it, and Republicans will be forced to eat their words.

Mid-term elections might lose some seats for Democrats, but that is normal. Who knows, they might even gain seats if health Reform Bill is passed, as it looks like it will be. THE NOP is trying hard to ensure that the Health Reform Bill does not become law. It will be a death knell for the NOP or GNP.

For all of these people who really think that having a one term limit would be a good thing, please answer me this---–If a representative never has to face the voters again, what is their incentive to even do anything in Congress except look for another position to run for? This has been seen everywhere that they have imposed term limits at the state level! And even when there are term limits higher (say a few terms), what is the incentive for a challenger to run when facing an incumbent when they can just wait a few years for an open seat? The answer: NO ELECTORAL COMPETITION EXCEPT IN OPEN SEAT ELECTIONS! The system you are proposing would be so much worse than people think.

Further more, you want people with no experience at all? Not to call most of you hypocrites or anything but wasn't that one of the main qualms you conservatives had with Obama throughout the whole campaign?

the only high ranking democrate who will probably learnt their fate that day are madame speaker and majority leader Reid. they still did not have answers of where the Gitmo detainees should be released to. And with nancy the CIA sagga is still linger in some peoples' mind and she has to deal with it in san frans. when election come

Dream on. Repugs will still be pummelled. No one wants these lunatics running this country any more. They have lost their way...

Obama and Dems will still win.

Personally, I'm an independant, and would like to see rep and dem hold equal number of seats. This would force more cooperation betweent he two parties, instead of the rediculouse situation we have now. Pardon my spelling

It's funny there are so many Dem bashers out there and blaming them for the sky falling, while only in office for a little over 9 months. I guess the last 8 yrs of one of the worst Presidents in U.S. history was just a dream. I understand why the super rich would be mad because they don't get as many sweet tax breaks, but the working class...you really think it's ok that people that make millions of dollars per year pay less of a percentage in taxes...I think not.

Once the public gets there head out and realizes that it would take 12 days to spend $1 million at the rate of $1/second, 24/7, and at the same rate it would take over 31,000 YEARS to spend $1trillion- Maybe some good will come from the next election

Why are we Americans so damn impatient?? It's been barely 9 months of democrats ruling both branches and here we are talking about how it's time to change quarterbacks again. I guess because they haven't fixed the global economy and won 2 wars quicker than what would even be possible – you're saying, "TIME'S-UP!! "

Stimulus: $787 BILLION down the drainl.
Health Care: Control Congress and the White House and can't get it done? Are you serious?
Cap & Tax: Disaster for what – global cooling?
Gitmo: Lofty talk meets real world
Afghanistan: Paralysis by analysis. Man up Obama!

Repubs (and I hope Independents) will gain some seats. Democrats have had Congress since 2006 and what do we have to show for it? Besides massive debt piling up at an unsustainable pace? And maybe a few roads, bridges, and a turtle crossing in Florida? And a scary entitlement program coming down the pipes called healthcare? Hasn't entitlement turned a generation of folks into lazy, economy-draining leeches?

Are you kidding! The 2010 Mid-Term election is 100 lifetimes away.
It is way too early to even think about them!

The reason the Dems are losing the confidence of the people is because they're acting like Republicans...beholden to the corporations, dithering about public option and in general acting like they are center-right. No matter how many times the GOP claims that's where America is, issue-based polls always show the people are a lot more left than their government. They want a government-funded health care option. They want more controls on the banks and other corporations that are making their lives so miserable. If the Dems start acting like true liberals they will give people something to vote for. Out with guys like Max Baucus, in with more guys like Sherrod Brown.

How bad depend on healthcare reform and rather or not President Obama stops playing nice with the Republicans and those Democrats who want to be obstructionists.

I don't think he'll take a hit because it is out there for all to see that the problem has been the so-called Blue Dog Democrats who are not listening to the people and the Republicans whom haven't offered up a plan themselves.

My vote does not matter. I live in Texas where the GOP is in charge. I always vote and I always cast for the guy that looses. Case in point the Democratic idiots that are running for Govenor.
Most of the voters out in the real world don't think about elections until a few months before election day,and then only because those horrible adds are everywhere.
The President has been in office for less than a year, and fixing the previous occupants screw up will take more that a year or two. You can't pass out all of the money to the top 1% of the people and then expect them to just hand it over when the people want it back. They have cronies and Republicans and lobbiests, to see to it that they hang on to it.
Wanting some of the money back to pay for the American peoples health care is such an outrage to them. How dare those low lifes that don't work want a fair health care system.
I think that the real people of this country have more sense than the polls give them credit. Change will come and the country will swing farther left before the guys on the right get another shot at it. The party of NO right now is really doing some damage to themselves, Here is to Olympia Snow. She may keep her seat but the guys with the word NO, on their hands for everything will find the Birthers and the Tea Party supporters may be loud but they only have one vote each. The quiet ones are the ones that swing the elections. You might try using some sense and try to get some work done. This country asked for some change and the GOP thinks the status quo is just Okay.

I'm a 53 year old ex-Democrat. Ex because Dean, Reid, Pelosi, and Kennedy changed the rules and railroaded Clinton in the last election AND because Bush and "the bunch" were not on the table.

I'll will vote Democrat only when there is not an Independent but never ever will I vote Republican, The entire party should be disbanded, out-lawed and jailed.

Dang!!! how quickly we forget.

Hopefully the mid-terms will be REAL bad for Democrats. They have had control of our Congress since January of 2007, and it has been a disaster since they took over. It is time to hold them and their radical agenda accountable.

If we had term limits in Congress, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Good luck getting the morons to vote themselves out of office, but it needs to happen.

WE need election finance reform !
Get rid of the special interest money and make a tax player funded election. 8 month campain at the most. Networks should have to donate a certin amount of air time to Campain adds and debates.
More partys and idea's to be giving fair air time. The way we have been doing it is ruining our country !

I a former Republican, now an Independent am furious with Congress mostly made up of paid representatives of Corporate and Wealthy interests. Money all of it should be banned from the legislative process. If the Supreme Court rules that Corporations can support positions and therefore legislators with uneaqualed piles of cash you can kiss our Democracy Goodby. It is already teetering!
Jim Los Angeles

I fear that Democrats are going to lose their majority, but I hope that people will realize that it isn't the Democrats causing all of the chaos around Washington. I just hope that Health Care Reform is passed before the midterm, or it might not get done at all.

The 2010 election will set a record for losses by the majority party. I doubt that the Democrats will maintain their majority in the Senate, and I suspect they'll lose 100 to 125 seats in the House. Frankly, I'd like to see us vote out all incumbents, as I believe them all to be criminals of the highest order.

Alas, however, we will install a huge heap of right-wing kooks, and our national race toward self-destruction will pick up pace.

I don't think it wll be that bad, it's all my Senators fault, lincoln and ross,while they was playing patty cakes with the republicans, and now blanche have 7 republicans running against her in arkansas, ross have quieted his heels alittle since he see whats going own with blanche, and if they lose the election they deserved it.

You people are all focused on the party. What is wrong with you? This country has become so partisan and self destructive because people are not people anymore. They are red or blue. Republican or Democrat. Why don't we try something new (like thinking for ourselves) and vote in the person who is best for the job? Do what is best for the country. This country would have a whole new generation of politically minded and active people if we had term limits and put people in office that are there because they love this country instead of those that have no other valuable skills because politics is their business. It used to be a passion and an honor. Now it is power and a paycheck. Get over yourselves a change is coming, the question is how will you affect it?

We have seen consistently that, even as approval ratings for Congressional Democrats and Pres. Obama have gone down, that the approval ratings for Republicans have not gone up accordingly.

There will be the traditional loss of seats for the President in power that is usually seen during the 1st mid-term election of a first term president. The Democrats will hold their majority, but will go back to 2006 levels, versus 2008.

Keep in mind a lot of the Republican seats turned Democrat only barely, and are typically in districts that lean or are safely Republican.

The Dems will take a beating for the same reasons the Republicians did–they have stopped paying attention to independents who are the swing votes. Independents are mad as hell at both parties–what they really want and need to fix this country is their own party–so they take out their anger on whoever is tone deaf at the moment. The Dems had better get a hearing aid real fast.

I think the Democratic losses could be huge unless they get real action on stuff - they are in danger of being branded "The Party of Talk"

With the spirit of baseball in October in mind, I think we should " throw da bums out"!

Let's see now. There are 35 seats needed to block all the corruption that is spewing forth from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and the Hill. Republicans and Democrats have their own political action committees, play golf, take vacations on our dollar and vote how they want. Yes Congress will change in 2010. Normal people are fed up with the flamboyance, self idolatry of what we have become as a standard bearer country.

It used to mean something to be an American. Now the Koreans and Chinese laugh at us and call us DUMB Americans. I suppose all of the 'Stans do the same. I know the French and Italians snicker. All the little 'Taters in South America are creating communist alliances with Mother Russia.

What wrong with this picture? We have no spines. All talk and no substance. Congress the light is on and no one is home.

It makes for good drama to build this up but honestly I think it's still way, way too early to tell. How the healthcare debate plays out and how the economy is doing mid next year will be the biggest factors

Jack, the way things are going in Washington it looks like doing away with the two party system would be the best for all. All they do is fight each other and never get any thing done. It happen every day of the year. All they do is argue and nothing gets done. Thanks, I watch you every night
Brad

Given the size of the Democratic majority & the GOP's success at gerrymandering in recent years, I'd be surprised if they didn't pick up 20 seats or so, maybe a few more in the House & maybe 1-2 in the Senate. But for all the conservatives chortling with glee out there, remember, Democrats made huge gains in 1982 & yet St Ronnie was still reelected two years later.

In short, the GOP will win a symbolic victory, but nothing more. Makes sense since all they're good at is symbolism. We've already seen they haven't the faintest idea when it comes to governing.