Comments on: GOP Myths Fall Short Of Reality

Voters Side With Democrats On Terror, Economy; Scandals Doomed Republicans

[energyecon]

Well it all turned out to be another 'Enron' - the permanent Republican majority, Karl Rove 'Boy Genius', and the 72 Hour Plan - another house of cards that collapsed when tested against reality.

[jbdragoo1943]

This election is a perfect example of how the mainstream media has helped change the political landscape and for the worse. Just as their advertising is effective in changing perceptions (why else is the over $100 billion in TV spent annually?)
Where this article is very specific is regarding
"corruption".

If a message was presented 10,500 times versus 805 times what story would be remembered by most of us?
Well look at the following and tell me that MSM bias was effective:
Do a google news search on the following:
http://news.google.com/news?q=&num=100&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&sa=N&as_qdr=all&tab=wn

Results1 - 20 of 20 for Gary Studds Massachusetts.
Results 1 - 100 of about 805 for William Jefferson Louisiana.
Results 1 - 100 of about 10,500 for Mark Foley Florida.
Is it any wonder that
Forty-one percent of voters named corruption as an extremely important factor in their House vote, more than any other issue. Of those saying corruption was an extremely important issue in their vote, 60 percent voted for the Democrat House candidate, compared to 36 percent who voted for the Republican House candidate.

At least 13 seats that switched from Democrat to Republican involved Republicans mired in scandal.
Proof of how effective the MSM was in supporting the Democrat agenda

[Syndicate]

With everything going against the Republicans the democrats could only muster 51% of the vote. Thats sad. So if the economy had been a little better or Iraq had shown a little more progress or if Foley kept his thingy in his pants.... The Republicans would still run the show. I still think the Democrats are being set up for an '08 fall. But hey now the Democrats have to kiss Liebermans as s.

[dkosklondike]

I need to point out a jarring blemish in an otherwise fine article - the misnaming of the Democratic Party.

I would hope that you, as someone who writes for a living at the highest levels of the public discourse would adhere to the rules of grammar especially in cases like this - where the incorrect and non-standard usage is clearly being pushed to advance a political agenda. If we can not agree on the meaning and syntax of the language, and adhere to those agreements, then there is little hope that the national dialog can be improved, in spite of the best efforts of writers like yourself. The meaning and use of Democrat and Democratic is settled.

[morague]

Good article spoiled by a gross error.

It is the Democratic Party! Sheesh. Perhaps if everyone started calling the opposition party the Republic Party we'd get some fairness?

The only reason the media & pundits use the wrong terminology is the disparage Democrats - either that or it's ignorance & honestly, I'd hate to think it is ignorance.

Mr. Best, please correct your article unless of course, you really meant to disparage Democrats.

[Matt in NYC]

In good American English, "Democrat" is the noun and "Democratic" is the adjective. If you don't think it makes a difference, consider the very different sound and feel of a "Jewish lawyer" and a "Jew lawyer." Right-wing types have been trying to promote this offensive usage; CBS should not collaborate with them.

[powwow500]

Prof. Best,
Democrats are called the Democratic Party. We are not the Democrat Party. The latter is an insult and a tip-off that the writer is trying to insult the Democratic Party.

Thank you for noting this and changing your verbiage.

Nancy Smith
Chicago

[lynnek2405]

Mr. Best, while I agree with the thrust of your article, I would suggest that you use the correct names for the two major political parties, Republican and Democratic. Thank you.

[LionMage1]

In the article, I saw the following line (repeated in a fast facts side-bar): "At least 13 seats that switched from Democrat to Republican involved Republicans mired in scandal." I don't mean to seem pedantic, but these seats switched FROM Republican TO Democrat, not the other way around. Few, if any, seats in the House or the Senate switched from Democrat to Republican, since the overall number of Democrat seats increased and the overall number of Republican seats decreased.

[jimj1800]

Mr. Best, the correct usage is "Democratic Party," not "Democrat Party."

The latter is a pejorative made popular by Newt Gingrich and Frank Lutz as a pro-Republican branding device, which both of them have freely acknowledged.

In the future kindly use the traditional and correct usage of the name "Democratic Party." They're in the majority now so it's really the least you can do.

[frankly6]

This is a very good article.