Dick Morris, my fellow columnist for The Hill, believes that the Republicans will win control of the Senate and Democrats will be obliterated and could lose up to 74 House seats, as he wrote on this page last week.

These forecasts of the destruction, humiliation and obliteration of Democrats may be the toast of the town in conservative media, but they are also the driver of Democratic turnout that will exceed expectations. They dramatize the distemper of a Republican Party that has moved so far to the right that it has blown its chance to take control of the Senate, and possibly the House.

There is stirring among the Democratic base and rising concern among moderates who look at what Republicans would do, and ask, as Butch asked Sundance: Who are these guys?

Consider the case of Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Texas), who may well be the greatest champion of active-duty troops, military families and veterans in Congress. Edwards is in the fight of his political life, but what does his Republican opponent Bill Flores propose? Flores wants to privatize veterans' healthcare!

This may be the worst idea in memory. The notion of threatening the healthcare of American heroes provided by the Veterans Administration, and making them dependent on the kindness of private companies, is a rotten idea whose time will never come.

Speaking of bad ideas, what has Social Security ever done to Republicans that they constantly insist on privatizing it?

When Republicans and Democrats on the commission investigating the BP oil spill believe BP is stonewalling, how many voters agree with Senate Republicans who used partisan tactics to prevent the commission from having the power to get documents they need?

First certain Republicans apologized to BP. Now they want to protect BP from the commission. Voters who agree with this, raise your hands.

Speaking of elections Republicans are blowing, how many voters agree with Sharron Angle in Nevada, and a growing number of carried-away Republicans in other races, that jobless workers do not want to find jobs?

Which Republican consultant suggested that the GOP should tell credit cardholders they need less protection from banks?

Republicans promise homeowners, with the foreclosure crisis escalating into a new scandal, that if they vote Republican, homeowners would have less protection from banks, and banks would have more power to foreclose!

If there is one sure way to mobilize the Democratic base to vote, and to alienate independents fed up with partisanship and gridlock in Washington, it is to tell voters that if they vote Republican, there will more partisan warfare from House Republicans, more subpoenas, more gridlock. Do voters want a rerun of the Clinton impeachment?

Republicans are actually promising an abuse of power before they have power, if voters give them power!

Certainly Democrats have problems and will lose seats. But the 2010 election has tightened as voters have paid closer attention, and will tighten some more. America is an unhappy nation. America is not an extremist nation.

Every time a Republican predicts the GOP will win the Senate and 70 seats in the House, more Democrats become scared stiff and decide to vote, and more moderates worry about partisan gridlock and the arrogance of Republican power.

[Please crosspost your comments to The Hill, where this blog entry also appears.]

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About author Brent Budowsky served as Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen, responsible for commerce and intelligence matters, including one of the core drafters of the CIA Identities Law. Served as Legislative Director to Congressman Bill Alexander, then Chief Deputy Whip, House of Representatives. Currently a member of the International Advisory Council of the Intelligence Summit. Left goverment in 1990 for marketing and public affairs business including major corporate entertainment and talent management. He can be reached at Brent Budowsky served as Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen, responsible for commerce and intelligence matters, including one of the core drafters of the CIA Identities Law. Served as Legislative Director to Congressman Bill Alexander, then Chief Deputy Whip, House of Representatives. Currently a member of the International Advisory Council of the Intelligence Summit. Left goverment in 1990 for marketing and public affairs business including major corporate entertainment and talent management. He can be reached at brentbbi@webtv.net