Reply #4: the reps were surprised, but i wasn't -- only because [View All]

as a senior, i can say with absolute authority that a lot of people (now i'm NOT saying that about ANYONE on DU) seem to think that all seniors lose their ability to reason, become incapable of seeing BS, etc. for instance, have you ever heard, perhaps on a stupid TV drama, a nurse talk to an elderly person in that sing-songy, you-must-be-an-idiot voice? i'm starting to experience it in the checkout lines at the local grocery store. if i'm feeling particularly combative, i remind the little guy/girl that *i'm old but i'm not stupid.* all that said, it never surprised me that seniors tanked the reps at the town halls. hell -- a lot of the comments/questions were wonderfully thought out and really well presented. this is just my opinion.

the questions i have are:
1. will the repub catch-22 last? will some joker come up with something to distract *us*? used to be someone just started a war or something. :sarcasm:
2. will dems keep their feet to the fire (via messaging, although i think Wasserman-Schmidt (sp?) gets it)
3. will dems go over-the-top with ridicule/messaging that it could ultimately turns off independents? (there are still 18 months to go!) i thought the pushing-grandma-over-the-cliff ad was funny, but it was also pretty ghastly ...
4. now that mitch mcconnell has loosened the repub dog collar when it comes to the forced vote in senate, will it work to the repub advantage or help continue the catch-22?

my biggest fear is #3. Nov 2012 is a LONG WAY out, in US politics, that is.