Legal Commentary

Bloggers estimate Dem House losses. Agree that more Obama question times would be good

By David Kopel

Last week?s National Journal poll of political bloggers asked for an estimate of House Democratic losses in the 2010 election. While the answers are reported in clusters of 10, the median estimate for the Left appears to about 20 seats. The median on the Right was in the mid-30s. I estimated 38, adding ?Could be less if the congressional leadership and Obama correct their course, but they do not seem inclined to do so.?

Question 2 asked the Left if Democrats would benefit politically from another televised Q&A session by President Obama with House Republicans. Seventy-eight percent of the Left expected Democrats to benefit. Right-leaning bloggers were asked if Republicans would benefit, and 57 percent said yes. I was in the majority: ?All Americans would benefit. All Republicans are Americans. Ergo, Republicans would benefit. The metric of success should not be partisan benefit, but rather national benefit.?

Full post as published by The Volokh Conspiracy on February 08, 2010 (boomark / email).