That article is a joke. It begins with sloppy journalism via a leading query: "How big will the Republican losses be in November?" This puts for certain that there will be GOP losses in November. It cites as evidence that in the 6th year of a presidency the controlling party has lost seats in the House every time but once in the past century. Yet in 2002 the GOP gained seats, and in 2004 they gained seats as well, both of which were anomalies. Why does the GOP HAVE to lose seats this time around? Perhaps the Post WANTS them to lose seats...

Given that these intellectually devoid statements serve as the journalistic "hook" for this particular piece, I'm inclined to think of the Bellwether project as nothing more than liberal media bias. If this "project" is going to analyze accurately the political climate and issues of the upcoming election, perhaps it should be more balanced in its approach.

I'm not a friend of the big spending GOP by any means, and the neocon vision of America that has persisted for the past six years has led me away from the Republican Party to the LP. But I think it is unfair and even preposterous to attempt an examination such as this with a preconceived idea of what will happen. If it was up to these clowns, poll questions about the President's approval rating would be, "How bad do you think the President is doing?" rather than "Do you approve or disapprove of the President?"

Others might disagree here, and that's fine. The key races are a starting point for research, but I find it hard to escape from the fact that this is poor reporting from the beginning.

the Post is a lib rag, a excellent paper, but it has a liberal bias. Anyone that has read it knows this and accounts for it when they read it.

Right. The Post and the NY Times alternate between who can be the most liberal, with the LA Times occasionally tossing its hat into the ring.

Historical attributes aside, that the project immediately assumes that the GOP will lose seats is enough to suggest that the entire project is flawed; accounting for that from the beginning denies the fact that an improper avenue has been taken from the outset. Did you notice how many of those contested seats were Republican incumbents versus Democratic challengers? Surely there are Democrats who are in trouble, too, but suggesting that beyond Jefferson and Mollohan would be to go against the premise that the GOP MUST lose seats and thus not make any gains.

Might as well go to MoveOn.org for analytical observations.

Before I support ANY candidate INCLUDING Libertarian, I provide the following "litmus test":

• Sign a pledge that he will actively support the shut down and de-certification of the Federal Reserve System and PERMANENTLY ban central banking, only Congress should have the power to coin, distribute and create money.
• Return us to the Gold Standard with backing for currency.
• Return the Federal Bankruptcy Laws to the pre October 1995 standard.
• Apply usury laws to banks, lenders and Credit Card Companies.
• Repeal the War Powers Act and return to Congress to its Constitutional responsibility to declare war.
• Repeal the Patriot Act.
• Stop the domination of the Democratic and Republican parties over our political system by allowing ALL parties to equally and fairly participate in the process including National Debates.
• Return America's gold to Fort Knox and have it audited
• Have Congress and the IRS, in a public forum; reveal the law that makes it mandatory for Americans to pay a direct, unapportioned tax on their labor.
• Support the repeal of the 16th Amendment, or as it was never legally ratified, jettison it from the Constitution.
• Make computerized voting illegal in all 50 states, paper ballot only.
• Keep the internet free and out of the control of large institutions
• Rescind the law called the Real ID Act so Americans never have to carry a National ID Card.
• Make it illegal to implant RFID chips in human beings unless it is completely voluntary, reversible and restricted to a sole purpose. Or Court Ordered as a replacement for an ankle bracelet, to be IMMEDIATELY removed upon completion of the sentence.
• Mandate all GPS technology to have a complete Off Switch, which cannot be remotely activated for all adults over 18 years of age.
• Reinforce that part of the Social Security Act making it illegal to use that number as a form of personal identification.
• Repeal NAFTA, CAFTA and GAT.
• Close the internment camps being constructed nationwide.
• Educate juries to the fact that they have the right to determine the law as well as the facts of a case.
• Educate juries to the fact that they are not obligated to follow the instructions of a judge.
• Establish and ENFORCE bonding for ALL public officials.
• Enforce oaths of office for ALL public officials.
• Stop Globalization because it is the path to a one world government.
• Protect our borders.
• Restore the environment.

I will not support any candidate who does not support these basic positions. That includes those who refuse to respond.

In all probability I will be sitting this election out.