D.C. insiders, political gurus, and American newsmakers offered The Daily Caller their pre-election predictions based on one question: What do you think the most surprising result will be when we wake up, post-election, on November 3rd?
Here is what they said:
Ed Crane — president of the Cato Institute:
“Barack Obama will still be president.”
Jennifer Rubin — Pajamas Media editor and blogger at Commentary’s Contentions:
“The most surprising result will be that we won’t know control of the Senate.”
Jim Treacher — resident blogger at The Daily Caller:
“The only thing that will surprise me is if liberals don’t huddle under Christine O’Donnell’s loss to shelter them from the GOP storm.”
Grover Norquist — president of Americans for Tax Reform:
“Unlike 1994, there will be both a Republican and a conservative majority in the House. Republican victories in state legislative and gubernatorial races will allow Republicans to control redistricting to add an additional twenty House seats to Tuesday night’s haul, good for the next decade. This election will certify the death of Keynesian economic theory (government tax and spending can stimulate the economy) just as the fall of the Berlin Wall confirmed the death of Marxist Leninism.”
Greta Van Susteren — Fox News host:
“All the recounts and/or legal challenges”
Dr. Laura Schlessinger — radio talk-show host:
“My biggest surprise in this election season would be to find out that all military votes were counted; votes from deceased and non-citizens and incarcerated felons were not counted; nobody filled out ballots in advance; unions did not threaten their constituents to vote a certain way; no television “news” service trumped up embarrassment for the candidate of their non-choice; conservative women candidates were not called bitches or whores; no candidates lied; no last minutes back-room deals were made and no monies changed hands for votes or endorsements; activist groups did not act hysterical about a gaffe to tarnish anyone’s character; nobody stood in front of polling places to intimidate potential voters; the people’s voices are heard.”
Herman Cain — former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, radio host, and potential 2012 presidential candidate:
“If Barney Frank loses and here is why. A few months ago Barney Frank was very arrogant about his chances of winning and today he is in a political fight of his life for the seat. Then, when you consider the fact that a long term incumbent Barney Frank had to loan his campaign money — in this late date — that says that even he is worried about getting re-elected.”
Ron Bonjean — partner with the public relations firm Singer Bonjean Strategies and the owner of The Bonjean Company:
“The most surprising thing is that America wakes up and now has a 50-50 Senate tie.”
Deroy Murdock — media fellow at the Hoover Institution:
“I predict that on the morning of November 3, we still won’t know the whole story of what happened on Election Day. Among vote-fraud woes, absentee-ballot irregularities, government-neglected (and consequently delayed) military ballots, and other shenanigans, it could be days or even weeks until Election Day’s results are all in. Maybe then, maybe, America will give itself a reliable voting system. It should include photo IDs required of all voters; purple ink on voters’ fingers to deter and prevent repeat votes; voter rolls scrubbed of dead, relocated, and disqualified people; and absentee ballots only for those who cannot reach the polls on Election Day. And early voting must end. Casting ballots before all the debates have occurred and the commercials have run is like trial jurors deliberating while witnesses still are testifying. What the Hell is the hurry? Vote on Election Day, and then we all can see who won!”
Luke Russert — NBC reporter:
“That the GOP will have picked up 6 House seats in Ohio.”
Marjorie Dannenfelser — president of the Susan B. Anthony List:
“The dramatic change in the substance of women politicians turns 1992’s Year of the Woman on its head. The many wins of pro-life women on Election Night is proof that the modern women’s movement made a disastrous mistake when it placed abortion at the center of its movement and policy agenda. The numbers to watch on election night, in this regard, will be the losses among liberal pro-abortion feminists and gains among conservative pro-life women. The seismic shift in the percentage of pro-life women in Congress, as compared to pro-abortion women, is indicative of the general trend toward pro-life and a return to the pro-life roots of the feminist movement. The future for pro-life women in politics looks bright.”
Clint Howard — Hollywood actor and recent star of a number of conservative campaign videos:
“This isn’t funny, this is true. We will all wake up Wednesday morning, and we will come to discover that Texas has secretly voted to secede. Governor Perry is right at the tip the spear on that one.”
Ed Kutler — senior partner at Clark & Weinstock:
“I think Angle wins but it will be very close. Unions are working hard on the ground on this one and the gaming industry squarely behind Reid. I think Fiorina and Whitman struggle in California. The only reasons Whitman is making it a race is less the gazillions she is spending and more due to her opponent — Jerry Brown.”
Gary Johnson — former New Mexico governor:
“I don’t think there are going to be any surprises. Not that there aren’t going to be individual races that are just, ‘holy cow! Sharron Angle actually won!?’ And apparently she is going to win.”
Matt Labash — senior writer at the Weekly Standard and Daily Caller advice columnist:
“Most surprising result on November 3rd: Jon Stewart’s sincerest wish will come true. Partisanship as we know it will have ended. Civility will reign. Sample dialogue: Republican lawmaker: ‘You pass your legislation first.’ Democratic lawmaker: ‘No, you pass your legislation first.’ The lion will lay down with the lamb. Joy Behar will lay down with Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Then will roll over on her, and crush the life out of her. Then the ladies of The View will barbecue and eat her. Sherri Shepherd will ask for extra ‘slaw.”
William Temple — renown Tea Party mascot:
“I think the most surprising result will be how complete the sweep will be by Tea Party candidates across the nation. I’m predicting a 60+ seat victory in the House, and 8 or 9 seats in the Senate. Pelosi is gone. Reid is gone. Rubio wins in FL. Miller wins in AK. OH and PA go to the elephants. And most importantly State legislatures turn over, and a large majority of governorships. Huzzah! The new fight against the ‘new’ government begins on Nov. 3.”
Craig Shirley — president Shirley & Banister Public Affairs:
“I’ll be surprised if the GOP establishment and the Tea Party movement are not locked in a steel cage match battle to the death by the afternoon of November 3rd.”
Amy Siskind — president of The New Agenda:
“Women voters, for the time since 1982 when exit polls were taken, will favor Republican candidates. In an effort to keep women voters, the Republicans will purposely put a woman on their 2012 ticket – either Palin/Gulianni or a victorious Mama Grizzley in the VP slot (Whitman, Haley or Martinez). Also, Liz Cheney will become RNC Chair in 2011 when Steele steps down.”
John Zogby — chairman and chief insights officer for Zogby International:
“If Kendrick Meek books tickets to New Hampshire and Christine O’Donnell books tickets to Iowa.”
S.E. Cupp — The Daily Caller senior reporter:
“That Carl Paladino will be my next governor.”
David Boaz — executive vice president of the Cato Institute:
“Two Cato Sponsors and one Cato book author are elected to Congress in blue states.”
Brent Bozell– founder and president of The Media Research Center:
“Contrary to conventional wisdom, we will learn that the Botox-induced smile on Nancy Pelosi’s face isn’t permanently chiseled.”
People for The Ethical Treatment of Animals:
“In 2010, with initiatives on the ballot such as Missouri’s Proposition B—a bill that would sharply curtail the number of puppy mills in the state by limiting the number of dogs that could be kept for breeding to 50 while guaranteeing the dogs very basic care—we would be surprised if people didn’t jump at the chance to help animals by supporting measures such as this one, which would help stop the overpopulation of dogs and cats. We are hopeful that this bill will pass and believe it will.”
Roger Stone – political consultant
“Haley Barbour wakes up with enough Republican Governors to emerge a solid dark-horse in the Presidential contest.”
Rita Cosby – TV host and bestselling author:
“John Boehner’s tanning salon staff will be on hiatus this week as he’ll be busy measuring the drapes and carpet in Nancy Pelosi’s office.”