DCCC

Not even factoring in Pelosi saddling the DCCC with the most incompetent loser in the organization's inglorious history, the midterms are all set up for a Republican triumph. Conventional wisdom will point out that the president's party "always" loses the midterm following a second term victory and that Obama's popularity is sinking fast-- among Democrats as well as others.

Tuesday, conservative polemicist Byron York was worrying the Republicans could lose the House in 2014. And if the Democratic Party was even vaguely competent, they could.

John Barrow-- anti-immigrant Blue Dog (GA)Politically, the battle over immigration reform in pretty black and white, right? The Democrats want to reform the system. The Republicans don't. If only it could break down that neatly! The genesis of the immigration problem is tied up in wealthy corporate interests-- primarily backers of the GOP-- who want cheap labor and lots of immigration to drive the cost of labor down and dilute the power of unions.

Steve Israel has ZERO interest in races like these that pit progressives against powerful senior RepublicansWith the political demise of the Blue Dogs after the 2010 midterms, DCCC Chair-- and "ex"-Blue Dog-- Steve Israel made his top priority not winning back the House in 2012 but restocking the Republican wing of the Democratic Party with corrupt conservatives.

When the Democrats controlled the White House, the House and, briefly, the Senate, did they raise the minimum wage to the point where someone could call it a living wage? Not that I recall. But now that they know it's impossible to do because of an obstructionist Republican Congress-- and with the midterm election campaigns kicking off-- they're making a loud ruckus.

Michigan could be a very fertile hunting ground for the DCCC. All that stands in the way is its own chairman, former Center Aisle Caucus big-shot and founder who refuses to allow the DCCC to target any of his former frat brothers, no matter how detestable they are.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) knows he's safe from a serious challenge in the 2014 midterms, though he doesn't represent some blood-red Mississippi or Utah congressional district. MI-04, in fact, went for then-Senator Obama in 2008, 50-49%.

When I was president of Reprise Records I hired a guy to be the first online promotion man in the music business. People thought it was the funniest, kookiest thing they had ever heard. Online was just some silly gimmick that would never take off. The reaction was as if I had hired someone to be a promotion man for Mars, Venus and the moon... you know, just in case.

Jennifer Garrison-- Steve Israel's kind of DemocratEarly in June we warned that DCCC Chair Steve Israel-- be sure to watch Bravo's Princesses: Long Island which is about his district to understand Israel's mentality-- was trying to recruit Ohio's Sarah Palin, Jennifer Garrison, to run against Bill Johnson.

But it isn't Boehner that keeps Ros-Lentinen in office; it's Debbie Wasserman SchultzLast week, Nate Cohn did a superb analysis of how the GOP is blowing it's chances to thrive politically in purple Florida, a state with a mighty 29 electoral votes.