There are some fun articles out today, which show the growing panic in the GOP about November 4th. We as Democrats have waited a long time to see the Republicans squirm like this. Over the next 23 days, we've got to finish the job and make their worst electoral fears become reality.

Across the country, Republicans are both trashing and abandoning their nominees. I'm seeing GOPers trying to assign blame solely to McCain. But, it's been Republican policies that have gotten us into this mess. And, their party's leaders have no ideas for getting us out. John McCain is like most other Republicans. They all share the blame. It's finally caught up with them.

Today's Los Angeles Times has yet another article with Republicans expressing displeasure, anger and frustration with McCain and Palin -- and fear about their election prospects:

 Quote:
The financial crisis has turned the last three weeks into a crucial and possibly decisive period in the presidential contest -- a time when many Americans have taken a new look at each candidate and then moved toward Democrat Barack Obama.

Like a wave, the crisis has washed over other factors in a contest that had seemed to be a dead heat, moving enough voters to give the senator from Illinois a consistent lead in polls nationwide and in key battleground states, including Florida, Virginia and Ohio, where President Bush secured his reelection four years ago.

Republican officials in several states say they fear voters have judged McCain and Palin harshly in how they reacted to the financial downturn. Obama, meanwhile, now looks like an acceptable alternative to many voters who had been hesitant to pull the lever for him because of concerns about his untraditional background and relatively recent appearance in national affairs.

"If you looked at some of the decisions that Obama's made, and the consistency and levelness that he's had in these trying times over the past few weeks, in my opinion he's blown McCain away," said ["Florida salesman and staunch Republican" Mark] Wagner, 47, of suburban Tampa.

In addition, Wagner disapproves of Palin's refusal to cooperate with a state legislative investigation that found she had abused her power as Alaska governor, and he calls McCain's recent attacks on Obama's character and past associations "disgusting."

"McCain was supposed to be the steady hand with experience," he said.

Some Republicans report hearing of similar conversions in Ohio, Indiana and North Carolina, and they fear that the change is irreversible. Voters who have been blaming Bush and Republicans in general for the financial crisis now seem to be tying it around McCain's neck as well.

Rep. Mark Souder, an Indiana Republican, said he was looking at an "Obama tide" in his district and wondering about his own reelection: "Can I withstand a firestorm?"


For some perspective, Souder is a seven-term Republican congressman. He won his last race by a 54% - 46% margin. In 2004, his district voted for George Bush by 68% - 31% margin. In that district, the GOP congressman is worried about the "Obama tide." If it's happening in Souder's district, it's more than a tide, it's a tidal wave.

The GOP base is demoralized. They sense defeat. They're afraid. They're on the ropes. What should we do? HIT THEM HARDER. \:lol\: