GOP tried to recruit hero pilot 'Sully' Sullenberger for 2010 bid

By GottaLaff

The Rushpublics tried to sully Sully:

Republicans earlier this year tried to convince hero Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger to run for a congressional seat in California.

Sullenberger, a registered Republican whose textbook landing in the Hudson River in January was labeled a miracle, made it clear through his business manager that he was not interested, according to multiple sources familiar with the effort

The GOP wanted Sullenberger, 58, to run against Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.), the second-term congressman who represents Sullenberger’s hometown of Danville.

Republicans hoped the hero who saved all 155 of his flight’s passengers and crew by landing in the Hudson could help them retake a seat that long had been in the GOP’s control. [...]

"Capt. Sullenberger has repeatedly stated that he has no desire to run for office," said Alex Clemens, a San Francisco publicist who represents Sullenberger. The captain is happy with the job he has trained his whole life for, Clemens said.

He has not donated money to political campaigns over the last two decades, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, but he has been involved with his union.

His hero status remains unsullied.

GOP "Death List" Predicts Democratic Blowout in the House

I'm almost feeling sorry for them, almost. Click on the link to read about some of the victims.

Voter displeasure with the war and economy, coupled with Sen. Barack Obama's popularity, has the House GOP running for cover. Even though polls have shown that Americans don't like congressional Democrats any more, a new internal GOP tally of House races suggests a Democratic route that could keep the Republicans in the minority for decades. A document provided to Washington Whispers from a House GOP official shows that they could lose a net 34 seats. That means the Democrats would have a 270-165 advantage in the 111th Congress. In the Senate, Republicans expect to lose also but to keep up to 44 seats, ensuring their ability to stage a filibuster.

Democratic gains, GOP bloodbath

By GottaLaff

Absolutely horrific days on Wall Street (-678.91 at 8579.19 today) are having a cumulative affect on the elections: As the talking heads on MSNBC just said, the economy trumps race. Let's hope that's the silver lining:

As grim as things look at the moment for John McCain's chances at the White House, the horizon is even darker for House and Senate Republicans trying desperately to avoid huge losses across the country this fall.

As we noted in a story for the Post over the weekend, Republican strategists closely following the battle for Congress are bracing for major losses -- the result of a severely damaged Republican brand combined with the late-breaking economic crisis that has redounded to their party's considerable detriment. (Make sure to read Peter Baker's excellent piece in the New York Times magazine about retiring Virginia Republican Rep. Tom Davis's frank assessment of the miserable state of the GOP.)

And now comes a column from Stu Rothenberg [...] which [...] declares that the GOP stands on the precipice of an electoral "bloodbath."

Writes Rothenberg:

"While Democratic gains both in the House and Senate could still grow or shrink, for Republicans, the end of this movie won't be pretty, no matter the ultimate number.

We could see a new modern floor for House Republicans made in November, and it's likely to be in the 170s, if not the upper 160s. Given the realignment of the Reagan years and the GOP's advantages coming from the last redistricting, this is an incredibly low level."

[H]e says that 60 seats are now within reach while projecting gains of between 20 and 30 seats in the House. [...]

And, remember: While McCain still has the power to change his situation -- as a presidential nominee he can directly affect the news on any one day between now and Nov. 4 -- House and Senate candidates have little ability to fundamentally alter the national narrative. That's bad news for anyone running downballot with an "R" after his or her name.

And he adds this:

In the latest updates, Charlie Cook now says Democrats are positioned to win between six and eight Senate seats and 15 to 25 House seats. "At this stage, the most relevant question would seem to be: 'How big will the train wreck be for the Republican Party up and down the ballot in November,'" writes Charlie.

I find it interesting that our trolls have nearly disappeared since the latest poll numbers have been reported. Coincidence?

Electoral map already shifting to Dems at Congressional level

By GottaLaff

Welcome news:

Rhodes Cook: "One of the more intriguing questions of this 2008 presidential campaign is whether the virtually static electoral map of 2000 and 2004, with its bright red and blue shadings, will stay roughly the same or undergo dramatic rearrangement. If recent congressional elections are a guide, bet on the latter -- and that's a good sign for the Democrats."