"Broken Glass" Republicans. "Cut-and-run" Republicans.

Why are we doing this? Cannibalizing each other, I mean. We've got two and a half weeks to pull this thing off, and it's certainly not helpful for us to buy in to the NYT, WaPo, CBS, et. al. idea that massive swaths of Republican voters are staying home on November 7. Where's the evidence? Aside from the anecdotal type, there is none. If you're so taken in by anecdotes, here's one for you -- every Republican baser I know, social conservative or economic conservative, will vote on November 7 -- and they'll vote R.

So please, knock it off.

Speaking of base motivation, here's an excerpt from Ken Mehlman's memo that came out today --

There are ways besides polls to measure the intensity of the Republican base, and those also indicate that GOP voters are strongly engaged. Fundraising, for example, is often called the 'first ballot' for the simple reason that supporters only donate when they are involved and enthusiastic. That is why we are excited that the RNC received support from 362,000 new donors this cycle. We've averaged 8,256 contributions for each deposit day so far this year. We just announced that September has been our best financial month of the entire cycle. Our supporters know how important this election is, and their financial support shows it.
Volunteer enthusiasm is another key measure of intensity. Again, every indication here is that our base is working hard for victory in the 2006 election. Republican volunteers have contacted more than 14 million voters this year, and more than 7 million since Labor Day alone. We have made 1 million voter contacts every week for the past five weeks, and for six weeks we have surpassed the number of contacts we made at comparable times in 2004, a presidential election year.

Who are all of these Republicans that are staying home on Nov 7th or not voting for a Republican? I don't know a one and the Republican I know are so PO'd by the hype they'll vote if they have to wade 5 feet of snow for miles to get to the polls. That is the truth of the matter, the rest is hype by the anti-American media types and the losers in the democ'rat party. Ignore the idiots. Pick up the elderly in your neighborhood and give them a ride to the polls no matter who they vote for. Don't ask and don't tell. Be a true American and a true Republican.

There are several sources for this new "discouraged Republican" meme.

First of all, the Democrats and their allies in the fMSM have spread it with the presumed intent of it becoming a "self-fufilling prophecy" and depressing GOP turnout.

Next, some non-Republican naysayers, such as "small-l" libertarian Glenn Reynolds, nativist fringe nuts like Pat Buchanan and Paul Craig Roberts, and others have adopted it. Reynolds has probably just accepted the "conventional wisdom" on the matter, as he says a GOP loss could be a bad thing. The others don't support the GOP anyway and are hoping for a loss.

Finally, some conservatives, including some prominent bloggers, have also bought into it, and perhaps think they can enhance their reputations by announcing it early.

The very idea that "values voters" would become so "discouraged" by one congressman who was forced from office that they would stay home and allow the libertine and anti-values party to take power is, frankly, ridiculous on its face.

Similarly, as disgusted as conservatives may be with excessive spending, pork barrel earmarks, the failure to enact tough immigration legislation, etc., they all understand that Democrats would be MUCH worse on all these issues, and the Democratic weakness on national security and terrorism would place us at great risk.

Staying home would be stupid. Democrats and media types project that onto conservatives and religious people, because that is how they see us.

Of course, they see themselves as enlightened and patriotic, which calls the question: just WHO is stupid here?