And, I Want a Fire Truck and a Puppy and Hot Wheels and...

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) just compiled its target list for this cycle. Like a kid who makes out his list for Santa, despite Pop losing his job, the NRCC is greedy, unrealistic and likely to be disappointed.  How unrealistic is the NRCC?  Well, so unrealistic that NRCC is more likely to get a lump of coal than the seats it is targeting.
 
According to Roll Call (subscription required), "The National Republican Congressional Committee is targeting 23 Democratic incumbents, including several freshmen, and one open seat." The only Californian included on the list obtained by Roll Call is Jerry McNerney.
 
The NRCC's efforts this cycle have been plagued by record-level GOP retirements -- 29 and counting. Republican House Members have been jumping ship faster than third class passengers on the Titanic. Republican officials are so alarmed at the rate of retirements that they persuaded one retiree, John Shadegg from Arizona, to reconsider his decision. Shadegg did just that. 
 
And, to compound problems, the NRCC is embroiled in a finance scandal. The former treasurer of the NRCC is under FBI investigation and the NRCC's books are under scrutiny. 
 
If tons of retirements and an FBI investigation aren't enough, the NRCC has done an anemic job of fundraising.  January cash on hand at the NRCC was $6.4 million compared to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's $35.5 million.

There's more...