2014 congressional races

Many progressives fear that conservative Democrats are working with Boehner, McConnell and the Republicans to undermine the inviolability of Social Security-- the Third Rail aspect-- by including Chained CPI in a so-called "Grand Bargain" which would see the GOP give a tiny bit on taxes-- raising taxes on the rich slightly which could be easily lowered as soon as they regain power-- in return for forever decoupling Social Security from the Third Rail.

I can picture DCCC Chairman Steve Israel, an "ex"-Blue Dog from Princesses: Long Island, drooling when he saw the MoveOn/PPP survey a couple weeks ago for CA-31, the new Inland Empire district southeast of L.A.

Last year, with no help from the DCCC (unless you want to consider negative help of Steve Israel calling wealthy donors and telling them to not "waste" their money on Rob Zerban), Rob Zerban came closer to defeating Paul Ryan than any Democrat had before. Ryan represents a swing district in southeast Wisconsin, WI-01 (Kenosha, Racine, Janesville, Muskego, Elkhorn and southern Milwaukee suburbs like Oak Creek and Greendale.

Former Congressman William Hughes with son, Bill, Jr.Why bother focussing on LoBiondo? There are many districts in red-leaning and even solidly red congressional districts in the hands of Democrats. There are almost no Republicans in blue districts. In California Gary Miller and David Valadao both won because of failed DCCC recruiting and both will probably lose their seats in 2014.

I always flirt with death
I could kill, but I don't care about it
I can face your threats
Stand up tall and scream and shout about it

I think I'm on another world with you
I'm on another planet with you

You always get under my skin
I don't find it irritating
You always play to win
I don't need rehabilitating

Another girl, another planet
Another girl, another planet

Space travels in my blood
And there ain't nothing I can do about it
Long journeys wear me out
Oh God we won't live without it

Another girl is loving you now
Another planet, forever holding you down
Another planet

Did Ted Cruz's McCarthy-like agenda help build a wave for the Democrats?The 2014 midterm elections are over a year away and there's plenty that will happen between now and then. The Democrats need a net gain of 17 seats to take back the majority.

Time to say good-byeCNN's latest polling was all bad news for the Republican Party, but in a general kind of way.

So what's left after the Republican shutdown of the U.S. government? A slowdown in economic growth, $150 billion in lost GDP, 900,000 lost jobs and a $24 billion bill to American taxpayers first and foremost. But now Ted Cruz has a million of more names and email addresses on his potential donor list (his phony-baloney petition to repeal the Affordable Care Act).

Anne Kuster ran for Congress twice-- both times as a grassroots progressive and both times with super-prioritized support from progressive organizations both in New Hampshire and nationally, despite having worked as a Big Pharma lobbyist. In 2010, she lost her first race, 48-47% against conservative incumbent Charlie Bass. Two years later, in the 2012 rematch, and with President Obama's coattails in play, Kuster beat Bass 50-46%.

James Lee WittArkansas freshman Rep. Tom Cotton is one of the most radical right extremists in the House and is considered a major mover-and-shaker in the GOP sabotage of the U.S. government and the American economy. When you hear talk about radicals unwilling to compromise and who are willing to drive the economy right over the cliff, Cotton is foremost among them.