From Congress to state capitals, the last six years have taken a huge toll on Democrats' fortunes.

[KoKo]

By George E. Condon Jr.

His Party Is at a Low Point, and Obama Seems Passive

It was a surprising performance for a president who had just suffered such an electoral wipeout, almost totally lacking in the anger of Harry S. Truman after the 1946 election, the determination of Bill Clinton after the 1994 election, or the contrition of George W. Bush after the voting in 2006. Instead, there was a passiveness and a resignation. And some recycled platitudes about the greatness of the country. Most striking was a reprise of the message he sent so inspiringly in the 2004 Democratic National Convention address that established his national reputation. "I continue to believe," he said Wednesday, "we are simply more than just a collection of red and blue states. We are the United States."

When he took office in 2009, any political map of the United States was much more Democratic blue than Republican red. That was true across the board from the White House, to the Senate, the House, governorships, and state legislatures. Today, in the wake of Tuesday's defeats, all those maps are predominantly crimson.

The numbers are sobering for Democrats, demonstrating both how far the party has fallen and how difficult it will be to climb out of the current hole. Almost all the attention has been focused on the loss of the Senate. But the damage to the party is considerably deeper than the top of the ballot and considerably dispersed from Washington.

The numbers tell the story: In 2009, Democrats had 60 senators, when you include the two independents who caucused with them; in 2015, they will have 45. In 2009, Democrats had 256 members of the House; in 2015, they will have 192. In 2009, Democrats had 28 governors; in 2015, they will have 18. In 2009, Democrats controlled both legislative chambers in 27 states; in 2015, they will control only 11. In 2009, Democrats controlled 62 legislative chambers; in 2015, they will control only 28 (with one tie and two still undecided).

The impact of the carnage in state legislatures on Obama's watch is hard to overstate. This is where the future classes of mayors, governors, and members of Congress are bred. This is where the boundary lines are drawn for congressional and legislative districts. This is where party leaders come from. And this is where the rules are made for party primaries and election laws are set.

According to Tim Storey at the National Conference of State Legislatures, what we saw on Tuesday was an almost unprecedented "Republican wave," which he said, leaves "Democrats at their lowest point in state legislatures in nearly a century."

http://www.nationaljournal.com/white-house/his-party-is-at-a-low-point-and-obama-seems-passive-20141105

[Peacetrain]

1. There is a over step phenom.. that I think the republicans

will fall prey too...

[upaloopa]

2. They left out many of the reasons repukes

have the current advantage. Start with the Supreme Court decisions like Citizens United and over turning parts of the voting rights act. The media is constantly making Obama the goat.
When Obama took office things were more fair and even.
Obama is not solely responcible for repub victories if at all.