Do the democrats think that the republicans will be punished in 2014 if we go over the fiscal cliff?

It looks to me as if you're not actually asking a question, but you do raise an interesting point.

I can't speak for ALL Democrats -- I doubt anybody can. But from what I've read, some them apparently are hoping that the GOP will be blamed if the government goes over the fiscal cliff, yes.

The precedent that some people look to is the budget standoff between Bill Clinton & Newt Gingrich in the late 1990s, when Gingrich basically threatened to let the government shut down if Clinton didn't cave in on some budget issue or other. Clinton met Gingrich's bluff, the government did shut down for awhile, and the GOP mostly got the blame.

Whether it would work the same way this time is an open question, I think.

Given the way redistricting has put most members of Congress, liberal or conservative, in very safe districts where they have much support from like-minded constituents, you may be right in your prediction.

Maybe both the Democrats and the Republicans will have their reelection chances unaffected by failure to avert the fiscal cliff.

I guess the crucial question here is how would your scenario affect the independent swing voters who are important to both parties in close elections.

-- from a democratic socialist who reads

The economic cliff is forcing the GOP to control. they might now no longer sit down on their palms. they are being compelled to act or destruct. LMAO, the democrats of the civil war are the GOP's problem now. The Democrats you're speaking of have been racists and tension out of the Democratic occasion in 1948. The have been the Dixie Democrats. They grew to become republicans without the place else to bypass. examine you historic previous, lol. thank you for the help!

You so ignored that 53% of America will blame the Republicans for the fiscal cliff and only 20% blame the dems.

By all means ignore everything. Cut your own throat.

Thanks for that thought. I have given a few lectures at TEA party meetings. We control primaries. I was feeling down about this coming disaster. Actually, if we don't cut spending all the tax cuts in the world won't help us with hyper inflation. John Maynard Keynes is perhaps the most destructive "non-dictator" of the 21st century without the distinction being born in the 21st century. Keynesian economics = Obamanomics has a built in inflationary drive. With inflation, debt doesn't matter.

My thoughts. Since Obama wants to play hardball, the republicans should simply attach huge spending cuts to apply instantly for one tax bracket at a time. If he wants tax cuts let him pay for them with bigger spending cuts.

For instance Republicans should offer tax cuts for the lowest bracket in exchange for cutting all spending for Nat. endowment for the arts, Nat. education assn., Public TV, ... etc

Tax cuts for the second lowest branch in exchange for de-funding ACORN and specific parts of the EPA ...

Is this "the actual situation" just like Romney was supposed to win with 320 electoral votes? Or is your "data" unskewed like unskewedpolls.com?

Because the image of the Republican party was severely damaged by the debt crisis and this will be no different. People want leaders who care about our standard of living, not their ideologies.

Wrong. The Republican Party is done. You can thank the far right fringe for that.

Obama will run the Democrats into the ground....count on it..

If it wasn't for Republican gerrymandering they would've already lost more seats in the House.

I think on some level they know this. Their politicians are the ones who seem oblivious to it.