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Midterm Elections: Can Dems Win House or Keep Senate?

>p> Update 10:24 pm: Congrats to Colorado Governor Jared Polis who won a second term easily tonight. I'm glad to see that Sen. Michael Bennet also won re-election, and of course, our indefatigable Congresswoman Diana DeGette.

Florida gets its first Gen Z Democrat. 25 year-old Maxwell Alejandro Frost, won Val Demings's Orlando house seat. He describes himself as a young, Black Latino who is focused on "gun violence, climate change, abortion rights and Medicare for all." Democrat Demings, unfortunately, lost her bid to take over Marco Rubio's Senate Seat.

*****Original Post*****

There was a total lunar eclipse last night and early this morning. Did you miss it? Here's a handy little webpage that tells when it was visible in major cities.

It seems like there is a consensus in the media that the Republicans will take the House. The difference is in the number of seats they win. There are presently 222 Democrats and 213 Republicans in the House. Some predict a 15 seat gain for Republicans. I think it will be less.

The Senate could be a toss-up. Right now it is 50/50. Even one seat lost is a disaster for Dems. Biden will have lame-duck status for the next two years. [More...]

I haven't been very interested in these mid-terms so far. I don't see them as a referendum on Donald Trump. I think Trump has been so marginalized by his ouster, all he has now is a bullhorn. That's why he's making his big announcement next week. He is just trying to grab a piece of the spotlight to remind people he's still here. I see the voter switch to Republicans as being more a rejection of Joe Biden and Democrats. The country is still having serious economic problems, COVID is still with us, everyone is griping about this or that and it seems like the best way to turn things around is to vote for the other guys. Trump is a grain of sand until he gets a national platform back to disingenuously espouse his agenda.

Whichever Democrat consultant decided that "protecting democracy" was a good advertising theme for the Dems should be fired. Voters don't care about that -- they care about whether they can feed their families, buy a first or bigger house, get health insurance, and have faith that the bridge they cross on the way to work won't collapse for lack of funds spent on our infrastructure. Some care about abortion. As for masks and COVID-19, the Dems lost the battle to have them viewed through a scientific lens, rather than from the lens of the ignorant who believe the issue is political and a restraint on freedom.

The Republicans have also been making a big outreach to Latino and Hispanic voters. They already have an edge with those who came here from Cuba and Venezuela where their livelihoods were destroyed by so-called leftist or communist dictators. But can they garner the votes of those from Mexico and Puerto Rico, who haven't faced such trauma?

Older citizens should be out voting en masse, with GOP House members threatening Medicare and Social Security. Anyone who relies on or cares about those programs should be first in line to vote. You snooze, you lose.

The New York Times has this chart of when the polls close in each state. You do need to vote.

From my vantage point, I see other countries that surpass the U.S. I read tweets by leaders of countries that are actually about accomplishments, rather than battles with legislatures and obstructionist political opponents. I see citizens of these countries who are filled with pride about where they are from.

I don't see that here. For four years the country's ship was steered by a madman. For the last two years, it's been steered by a man so old and set in his ways that he doesn't turn left or right, he's just in a state of enertia. He doesn't inspire. He doesn't radiate hope. He's not someone we believe in. He's like a placeholder for those of us who hope there are better things to come.

I suppose the real question is what will today's election results mean for 2024. Is there a Democrat out there you hope will run and you think can win? I'm all ears.

< Thursday Night Open Thread | Boebert v Frisch - Colorado's 3rd District >
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  • Display: Sort:
    I'm liking (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 08, 2022 at 04:41:43 PM EST
    Josh Shapiro

    This is exactly the right answer (5.00 / 4) (#54)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Nov 13, 2022 at 01:12:18 PM EST
    I was watching this.  It was great.

    Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro (D) said that his Republican opponent, Doug Mastriano, has not called to concede the race after major media outlets projected his loss on Tuesday night, The Hill reports.

    Said Shapiro: "I mean, who cares if he calls, right?"

    He added: "He doesn't get to pick the winner, the people pick the winner. And in a resounding way, they made clear that



    Parent
    Agreed (none / 0) (#3)
    by KeysDan on Tue Nov 08, 2022 at 08:51:22 PM EST
    on Josh Shapiro.  An under-reported effective Governor is JB Pritzker.  He was re-elected to a second term (called within minutes of poll closing).  Pritzker brought financial stability, bolstered liberal policies, and provided leadership during the pandemic for the  state of Illinois.  A billionaire philanthropist supporting a range of causes including education and heath.  

    Pritzker speechs around the country have been very well received, and have drawn the ire of many Republicans --so feisty and critical of MAGATs.

    Parent

    Agree. I watch Pritzker closely (none / 0) (#5)
    by Towanda on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 12:45:27 AM EST
    with a son and his family in Illinois, and the guy is impressive -- in part because he is decisive, which get good things done.

    Parent
    Michelle Lujan Grisham is the projected (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by desertswine on Tue Nov 08, 2022 at 10:16:09 PM EST
    winner in the NM gov race.  Not even very close.  And to think I was worried.  There is even a chance that all of our congressional reps could go blue.

    Shapiro and Fetterman for PA. (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Chuck0 on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 08:07:13 AM EST
    Mastriano, of course, will not concede.

    Doesn't matter (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Zorba on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 08:54:47 AM EST
    If he concedes or not. It just makes him look like an immature brat.
    If he loses, he loses.

    Parent
    Mastriano will concede (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by Peter G on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 11:15:34 AM EST
    when and if Jesus tells him personally to concede.

    Parent
    Until Bernie Sanders concedes (none / 0) (#10)
    by Towanda on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 08:19:41 AM EST
    we cannot cast stones.

    (Yeah, he still hasn't conceded the 2016 primary.)

    Parent

    Sweet (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 08:30:52 AM EST
    93% reporting

    Adam Frisch
    Democratic Party
    50.6%
    149,421 votes

    Lauren Boebert
    Republican Party
    49.4%
    145,946 votes

    A Boebert loss (none / 0) (#20)
    by MO Blue on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 12:12:03 PM EST
    would be a wonderful thing.

    Parent
    is boebert final? (none / 0) (#22)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 01:00:30 PM EST
    I saw last night Frish was leading by a few hundred votes but only 75% of the vote was in. Pitkin (Aspen) was like 90% against her but they only had 9,000 people voting.

    I really hope she's defeated for good.


    Parent

    Not final yet (none / 0) (#24)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 02:11:28 PM EST
    95% (none / 0) (#29)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 10, 2022 at 10:03:37 AM EST
    Adam Frisch
    Democrat    156,746    +50.01%50.01%

    Lauren Boebert*incumbent
    Republican    156,682    +49.99%49.99

    Parent

    Abuse of the system (5.00 / 2) (#35)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 10, 2022 at 06:33:49 PM EST
    I'm really tired of the bobblehead refrain (5.00 / 2) (#52)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Nov 12, 2022 at 07:57:34 PM EST
    that no one could have imagined or predicted that democrats would possibly increase their majority in the Senate and keep control of the house.

    Actually I did.  

    They just called NV (5.00 / 2) (#53)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Nov 12, 2022 at 08:10:07 PM EST
    We win.

    And I recall (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by MKS on Mon Nov 14, 2022 at 01:05:57 PM EST
    back in the day, you predicted Harry Reid would get re-elected when all the pre-election polls showed him down by 5 points.

    All hail the Capt.

    Parent

    Like I said Trump is not the problem (5.00 / 1) (#82)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 16, 2022 at 11:10:01 AM EST

    Trump Still Enjoys More Support from Republican Voters
    November 16, 2022 at 11:35 am EST By Taegan Goddard 87 Comments

    A new Politico/Morning Consult poll shows that 47% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say they would back Donald Trump if the Republican presidential primary were held today. By comparison, 33% said they would back Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

    No other prospective candidate received above 5% in the poll, save former Vice President Mike Pence, who stood exactly at that figure

    The proto fascist cult is and will continue to be.  Democrats and sane republicans should start calling out the support for this mad man.  

    Why are these people supporting him ater all we have seen.  Pointing out, to the cult, that they are a cult and will be treated like one.

    They can't expect help from the idiot media.

    Im waiting (5.00 / 1) (#88)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 16, 2022 at 12:50:31 PM EST
    for the media to start their tour of midwest diners again.

    Parent
    I (none / 0) (#91)
    by FlJoe on Wed Nov 16, 2022 at 04:48:54 PM EST
    think Hillary called them out 6 years ago, many Democrats have since, all of course getting mixed reviews(at best) from the idiots.

    With few notable exceptions the "sane" Republicans kept a low profile at most taking shots at the man not his base, they can all count. Even now that the knives are out everyone of his potential challengers know they have to tread lightly.

    Parent

    Get ready for the (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 16, 2022 at 07:29:55 PM EST
    Select Committee on Cat Boxes in Middle School

    Parent
    Good (5.00 / 1) (#93)
    by FlJoe on Thu Nov 17, 2022 at 07:06:52 AM EST
    the crazier the better, show the American people what loons they are.

    Of course I won't hold my breath waiting for the media to lecture them on what's really important.

    Parent

    Herschel Walker, (5.00 / 1) (#96)
    by leap2 on Thu Nov 17, 2022 at 10:25:30 AM EST
    check.

    (Thomas Bishop)

    Are apologies to Ginni in order? (5.00 / 1) (#98)
    by KeysDan on Sat Nov 19, 2022 at 02:35:48 PM EST
    Could it be Alito? The NYTimes reports that a former anti-abortion preacher, Rev. Rob Schenck, alleges that Alito leaked the outcome and was  the author of the 2014 Hobby Lobby case to wealthy donors to anti-abortion causes, at a private dinner at the home of Justice and Mrs. Alito.

    The Reverend, now a whistleblower, sent a letter to Chief Justice Roberts after learning that the Court was investigating the source of the leaked draft of the Dobbs case, in which Roe v Wade was overturned. He had not had a response from the Chief Justice.

    Alito denies that he leaked, in advance, the outcome of the Hobby Lobby case claiming that the dinner at his home was just friends getting together. The Alito's had been guests at the wealthy Ohio couple's vacation spot in Jackson Hole and Alito had gone on a hunting trip with the donor.

    A part of the anti-abortion reverend's plan was to exploit access to Justices and develop "stealth missionaries" to influence decisions.  Schenck used the Alito information to plan for the release of the Hobby Lobby decision and to gain the good graces and improve funding capabilities, with the evangelical owners of Hobby Lobby.

    The entire article merits a read--the Alito allegation pales in comparison to the general corruption described.

    If this is true (none / 0) (#99)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Nov 19, 2022 at 05:05:13 PM EST
    Don't know how that would be established but, if it was true will/can anything happen to Alito?

    Seems like a big deal.

    Parent

    It's a new (none / 0) (#100)
    by KeysDan on Sat Nov 19, 2022 at 06:19:21 PM EST
    revelation.   Impeachment is the only remedy and that is not going to happen with the fascist House.  Maybe, just constructive harassment.  

    Parent
    constructive harassment (5.00 / 2) (#101)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Nov 19, 2022 at 06:29:14 PM EST
    He and his spouse should never have an undisturbed meal in public as long as he lives.

    Parent
    Pretty encouraging first exit polls (none / 0) (#1)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 08, 2022 at 04:40:27 PM EST
    on abortion.  60% say they were angry about Dobbs.  The same say abortion should be legal.

    58% of the early vote was wmen.

    Looks like (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 07:55:11 AM EST
    Dobbs made the difference

    Parent
    Yeah (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 08:15:25 AM EST
    and all those people poo pooing the concerns of women and saying oh, they will forget by the time November rolls around need to take a seat.

    Parent
    Glad that many Dems ignored (none / 0) (#21)
    by MO Blue on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 12:15:18 PM EST
    the naysayers and kept hammering away on abortion. I wish they had all campaigned harder on the Republican's very public verbal threat to Social Security and Medicare.

    Parent
    Many messaging issues. (5.00 / 3) (#26)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 02:16:27 PM EST
    IMO we did better than we campaigned.  Mostly.

    Parent
    The much-ballyhooed Red Wave ... (none / 0) (#6)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 12:55:25 AM EST
    ... proved to be an overhyped washout. MSNBC has projected that the new U.S. House lineup will be 219 R, 216 D plus or minus 13 seats in either direction. In short, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democrats have a fairly decent shot at retaining control.

    Out here in the West, Arizona voters took a good look at their state GOP's recent hard-right turn and kicked Republicans to the curb, up and down the ballot. If present trendlines hold, Democrats will sweep all statewide races, win 7 of 10 U.S. House seats and take control of both chambers of the state legislature.

    Aside from the GOP, which whiffed big time tonight, the big losers appear to be our east-coast-centric media pundits, who were predicting doom and gloom for Dems and now have egg on their faces. And nowhere did they blow it bigger than in Arizona.

    The GOP was simply too much crazy, even for the AZ. It's looking like it's not even close. Arizona is going to turn blue, at least for this cycle. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema better rethink playing footsie with the GOP.

    Aloha.

    UPDATE: They're still counting in AZ, ... (none / 0) (#17)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 10:48:55 AM EST
    ... so my initial exuberance last night may have been premature in some races. But there's still no question that the GOP's far-right turn was not the slam dunk the party leadership and faithful hoped it would be. Across the country, voter turnout was much higher than expected and Democratic candidates performed well above the media pundit class's prognostications.

    Speaking for myself only, I think the Republicans' racism, misogyny and penchant for autocracy tended to drown out whatever message they were trying to convey about inflation and high fuel prices. Their vicious personal attacks on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, particularly in the immediate wake of the brutal and politically motivated physical assault on her husband, likely proved counterproductive in the campaign's waning days.

    And that's because hatred and intolerance are generally not a winning national political strategy. It probably prompted millions of American voters to take a stand at the ballot box for democracy and basic human decency.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    They ballyhoo about just (none / 0) (#23)
    by jondee on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 01:28:34 PM EST
    about everything these days, don't they?

    They should just change the name to the Ballyhoo Party at this point.

    Frothing at the mouth about "wokeness" and gender dysphoria like they're the signs and wonders mentioned in the Book of Revelations.

    DeSantis butt-boy Meathead Rogan was spreading the news about the upcoming "Red Wave" just a couple of weeks ago.

    Parent

    All three ballot measures in my state lost (none / 0) (#12)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 08:34:39 AM EST
    Including legal weed.  Sad.  But the other three were all terrible.  I would rather they all fail than they all pass.

    Also it will be on the ballot again next time.  This has been known for a while.  NORML actually was against passing this one because they thought it favored large growers too much.  They were saying wait.

    Maryland (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Zorba on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 08:57:10 AM EST
    Passed legalized recreational pot. You can also grow your own, although only two plants.

    Parent
    It also passed (none / 0) (#16)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 09:09:10 AM EST
    In MO.  Which is 15 miles away

    Parent
    Um (none / 0) (#13)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 08:35:23 AM EST
    All 4 ballot measures

    Parent
    Many in our NAACP community (none / 0) (#19)
    by MO Blue on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 12:04:27 PM EST
    Believe that our amendment to legalize pot in MO will favor large growers and keep smaller growers out of participating in this lucrative business.

    IMO, those who opposed our amendment waited much too late to state their objections. There was little or no stated opposition based on this concern when I voted several weeks ago.

    Parent

    I heard this for a while (none / 0) (#25)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 02:14:56 PM EST
    I voted for it anyway.  Mostly because there was another ballot question that specifically made it harder to pass ballot measures.

    That issue lost fortunately.  My thinking was pass it if you can and change it later.  Lots of very surprised people here today.

    Almost everyone seemed to think it would pass.

    Parent

    Maybe we should move to Kansas (none / 0) (#30)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 10, 2022 at 11:59:47 AM EST
    Not really joking.  I can't move to Mexico.  But I could move to Kansas.

    What's Going On in Kansas?
    November 10, 2022 at 12:48 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 36 Comments

    In his book, What's the Matter With Kansas, Thomas Frank described Johnson County as one of the "most intensely Republican places in the nation."

    The Kansas City Star reports it "is now a Democratic stronghold."

    "The shift away from Republicans began more than a decade ago but has been speeding up in recent years, leading Johnson County to vote for President Joe Biden in 2020 after narrowly backing former President Donald Trump in 2016. The county's blue shift culminated this week in a midterm election that delivered big wins for Democrats - including providing votes crucial to reelecting Gov. Laura Kelly."



    Parent
    That article concerns Kansas City, not (none / 0) (#31)
    by Peter G on Thu Nov 10, 2022 at 01:38:40 PM EST
    Kansas as a whole. State-wide, Kansans just elected the notorious hard-right liar, voter-fraud fright-monger and anti-immigrant crusader Kurt Kobach as Attorney General. At the same time, I concede, Kansas did re-elect their Dem governor Laura Kelly.

    Parent
    It's a process (none / 0) (#32)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 10, 2022 at 02:11:21 PM EST
    Michigan (none / 0) (#33)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 10, 2022 at 03:51:14 PM EST
    looking better too.  

    Parent
    51 (none / 0) (#27)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 09, 2022 at 04:33:19 PM EST
    If you look at the data for

    AZ

    and for

    NV

    winning both these seems possible to likely.

    That would make GA frosting and less stressful.

    Amen (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Nov 10, 2022 at 05:17:12 PM EST
    We here in GA are so exhausted and are resting for a minute until it's time to get back to work but it sure would be nice not to also have the whole weight of control of the senate on our shoulders.

    Parent
    In Pennsylvania, we did our part (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by Peter G on Thu Nov 10, 2022 at 08:13:02 PM EST
    by flipping a Senate seat (thus arguably creating that little cushion), and resoundingly rejecting the Christo-Fascist candidate for governor. We may even have flipped one house of our formerly gerrymandered state legislature which, if true, will block the worst state-wide legal threats. Relieved, honestly, that it's not on us now.

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#37)
    by FlJoe on Fri Nov 11, 2022 at 05:13:08 AM EST
    your state did an excellent job of fighting the fascists, my state just rolled over over them.


    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#38)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Nov 11, 2022 at 05:52:33 AM EST
    Kudos to the people of PA for their part in all this.

    Parent
    If we win both Western states (none / 0) (#39)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Nov 11, 2022 at 10:15:12 AM EST
    I think we will, it will be very interesting to see how many people come out to vote for Herschel just because they think he should be a senator and not for control of the Senate.

    Parent
    Surprising to me (none / 0) (#40)
    by jmacWA on Fri Nov 11, 2022 at 11:17:19 AM EST
    Because in my district the Democrats didn't even bother running someone for general assembly.

    Parent
    This is surprising (none / 0) (#28)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 10, 2022 at 08:27:21 AM EST
    It sort of feels like everyone just wants to move on.  Keri Lake has not lost yet so......

    The Most Surprising Thing About the Midterms
    November 10, 2022 at 9:16 am EST By Taegan Goddard 14 Comments

    Jonathan Bernstein: "There were no significant disruptions at polling places. If there was voter intimidation on Election Day, it was small-scale enough that it barely registered. There was nothing like the widespread, organized operations by extremist groups as many feared. Losing Republican candidates conceded their races as the losing candidates in democracies normally do. I'm sure there are plenty of conspiracy theories out there about why Republicans overall did worse than they expected, but they don't seem to have made the leap into the mouths of party politicians or partisan media that reaches most voters."

    "The main post-election reaction seems to be a very normal argument within the GOP about what went wrong and which party faction or strategy or former president is to blame. That, and I very rarely say this about Republicans, is what healthy parties do. Of course, it's still early."



    One down (none / 0) (#41)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Nov 11, 2022 at 04:03:32 PM EST
    According to Dave

    He's seen enough: Dave Wasserman of The Cook Political Report declared early Friday that Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) defeated his Trump-backed Republican challenger Blake Masters in Arizona's key U.S. Senate race.



    And this seems like a good sign (none / 0) (#42)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Nov 11, 2022 at 05:55:00 PM EST

    Adam Laxalt Preparing to Ask for Recount
    November 11, 2022 at 6:01 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 77 Comments

    Nevada Senate candidate Adam Laxalt (R) is preparing to ask for a statewide recount as his race against incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D) goes down to the wire, the Daily Mail reports.



    Parent
    The NV is dead even (none / 0) (#43)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Nov 11, 2022 at 05:59:07 PM EST
    New from CNN

    she is 1/10 of 1% behind.

    Parent

    Count every vote of every eligible (none / 0) (#44)
    by Peter G on Fri Nov 11, 2022 at 08:10:24 PM EST
    voter, is all I can say.

    Parent
    MSNBC (none / 0) (#45)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Nov 11, 2022 at 09:04:10 PM EST
    Just called AZ

    Parent
    Predictions (none / 0) (#46)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Nov 11, 2022 at 09:06:06 PM EST
    are that tonight CCM will take the lead and continue to grow the lead because of where the outstanding ballots are.

    Parent
    I love the rabid right is turning on Cheeto (none / 0) (#47)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Nov 12, 2022 at 10:25:33 AM EST
    But I think it's becoming something of a diversion and distraction.

    It's allowing them to avoid any consideration of the idea everything they stand for, to the extent they stand for anything, is repulsive and or frightening to large parts of the electorate.

    We should probably help them live in this delusion.

    We will (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Nov 12, 2022 at 05:42:27 PM EST
    see if it lasts. They turned on him over Jan 6 for a nanosecond.

    They truly have no clue as to how toxic their stances on issues are.

    Parent

    They don't care about treason (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Nov 12, 2022 at 07:49:47 PM EST
    They don't care about anything but winning.
    We always knew that?   Eventually they, enough of them anyway, will get tired of losing because of Cheeto.

    That's the conversation now.  They are saying out loud if we don't dump this guy will will keep losing.  And they are correct.

    IMO many will welcome an indictment as the excuse they need.

    Parent

    Yes (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Nov 13, 2022 at 04:01:29 PM EST
    eventually they will get tired of losing.

    However it wasn't Donald Trump that picked Kari Lake to be the GOP nominee or any of the other whack jobs. It was the grassroots and therein lies their problem. The GOP establishment is looking for a scapegoat and Donald fits their bill but the problem is just so much larger than Donald. I mean you and I back in 2015 IIRC said the problem wasn't Donald. He was just the symptom. It's years of these people being fed conservative BS in an echo chamber that has created this monster. Donald was just able to be the greatest BS farmer.

    Parent

    Still (none / 0) (#56)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Nov 13, 2022 at 05:12:09 PM EST
    I greatly desire to see him kicked to the curb.

    For whatever reason.

    Parent

    Apparently (none / 0) (#57)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Nov 13, 2022 at 05:52:54 PM EST
    the DOJ & Garland is weighing an indictment against right now. They really need to just GO AHEAD. Will that make Republicans cling to him more? Either way a trial around the 2024 election is not going to help the GOP even if they don't nominate Trump.

    Parent
    What makes this "apparent"? (none / 0) (#63)
    by Peter G on Mon Nov 14, 2022 at 06:31:56 PM EST
    Them what knows won't talk about it, and them what talks about it don't know. If you ask me.

    Parent
    Glen Kirschner (none / 0) (#65)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 14, 2022 at 06:49:33 PM EST
    is the one that reported that.

    Parent
    And just today, according to the NYT, (none / 0) (#64)
    by Peter G on Mon Nov 14, 2022 at 06:37:06 PM EST
    Autocrats tend to depend upon ... (5.00 / 1) (#87)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Nov 16, 2022 at 12:42:45 PM EST
    ... the trumpeting of success, triumph and achievement, whether they're real, perceived or completely illusory. Trump promised the hard-right that if they followed him, they'd taste victory. The media compounded it with baseless forecasts of an impending Red Wave, which obviously never materialized at the polls last week. Autocracy becomes a lot less palatable to folks when the autocrats are on their heels and playing defense.

    Parent
    Stranger thing have happened (none / 0) (#48)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Nov 12, 2022 at 12:34:35 PM EST

    The House Math
    November 12, 2022 at 11:50 am EST By Taegan Goddard 238 Comments

    David Wasserman notes the Democrat has been projected or is likely the winner in 212 races, while the Republican has been projected or is likely the winner in 217 races.

    The are six true Toss Ups left: AZ-1, AZ-6, CA-13, CA-22, CA-41, and WA-03.

    Democrats must run the table on Toss Ups to get to 218 seats and the majority.



    We just picked up an upset in WA (none / 0) (#50)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Nov 12, 2022 at 07:15:19 PM EST
    The "projected" republican majority shrinks by the hour.

    Steve Kornaki just outlined a scenario where red has 217 and blue has 217 and controll of the house is determined by the ranked choice race in Alaska.

    Which means it won't be decided until December.

    Yikes

    The only good cult member is...... (none / 0) (#59)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Nov 14, 2022 at 03:18:12 PM EST

    Covid Deaths Probably Cost Republicans the Midterms
    November 14, 2022 at 12:51 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 150 Comments

    Jonathan Last: "So again, lots of factors were at play. Including one that doesn't get talked about much: excess Covid deaths. There's been an ongoing study of the Republican resistance to the Covid vaccines and the preliminary findings suggest that post-vaccine, Republicans accounted for about 80 percent more of the excess deaths than Democrats. Part of this is because of vaccine hesitancy; part of it is because of the age profile of voters."

    "I'm not going to burden you with the math here, but if you want to read up on it, the data is quite striking, all the way to the county level."

    "To take just one example: between January 2021 and this month, 9,400 people in Nevada died of Covid. The data suggests that the majority of these people would have been Republican voters. Keep that number in mind."



    I was kind of musing (5.00 / 2) (#60)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Nov 14, 2022 at 03:25:00 PM EST
    to myself that COVID deaths might contribute to reduced GQP voters. I'm glad I survived to vote in these mid-terms.

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    Neal Katyal just said something interesting (none / 0) (#61)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Nov 14, 2022 at 05:43:19 PM EST
    he said he thought the Senate should and probably will take over the Jan 6 investigation if the Republicans get to 218.

    That makes sense to me.  Any thoughts about that from lawyers?

    Same thought had occurred to me (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by Peter G on Mon Nov 14, 2022 at 06:30:26 PM EST
    the day before yesterday. Why not?

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    Carvill today was talking about the circus (none / 0) (#66)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Nov 14, 2022 at 06:59:08 PM EST
    that's coming in the house leadership election.  Matt Gaetz and a couple of others are saying no Kevin.
    Kevin is reportedly talking to democrats in an attempt to get 218 votes.  If that's true he has to be giving them assurances of no impeachment or other freak show stuff.
    Carvill said the speaker could well be someone outside the House.  Tulse Gabbard has been mentioned.

    I have to say politically for us going into the presidential election in charge of all three branches is not optimal.
    Politically a republican run freak show might be.

    They will certainly pass the debt cieling in the lame duck so they can't do much real harm.


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    They already (none / 0) (#72)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Nov 15, 2022 at 06:28:08 PM EST
    had a vote and Kevin had 31 votes against him. Any D would be an idiot to cut a deal with that snake after his Benghazi committee that fed lies to the public. Large Marge is supporting ole Kev so there's another reason NOT to vote for him.

    Some D's are suggesting Liz Cheney. Oh, that would be delicious for the GOP to have to be under her rule for 2 years. All she would need is Dems and then a few Republicans and voila speaker.

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    I doubt Liz (none / 0) (#74)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 15, 2022 at 07:51:07 PM EST
    would want the job.  Who would.

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    Nancy Pelosi made the job look easy. (5.00 / 1) (#89)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Nov 16, 2022 at 01:05:14 PM EST
    Of course, she possesses a necessary skill set that many GOP congressional leaders appear to lack, which is the ability to count and corral votes and build consensus. She never schedules a measure for a floor vote on Third Reading of Final Reading unless she can first count to 218 in the affirmative. She also has an uncanny ability to pick the pockets of GOP leaders by identifying those members of the GOP caucus who are most likely to break with their Republican colleagues on select issues.

    When John Boehner and Paul Ryan were Speaker and Mitch McConnell was Senate Majority Leader, they - like Pelosi and Chuck Schumer do now - controlled the agenda for their respective chambers. And yet, a number of GOP initiatives, some of which were high profile, died on the House or Senate floor because leadership put the measure up for a final vote without first securing the necessary number of votes for actual passage.

    And once a bill dies on the floor of the House or Senate, the legislative process has to start over again from scratch. Usually, as in the failed attempt to repeal the ACA, there's really no appetite to go back to the drawing board.

    Understanding the fundamental basics about legislative functions and the accompanying protocol of governance has not been a strong suit with Republicans in general.

    Aloha.

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    Plans (none / 0) (#95)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 17, 2022 at 10:09:08 AM EST

    Sometime around noon, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will walk out onto the House floor to take her final bow after 19 years as head of the Democratic caucus with a speech about passing the torch from one generation to the next," Puck reports.

    "But instead of riding high into retirement, as has long been assumed, or becoming ambassador to Italy--a diplomatic posting the White House has been holding open for her--Pelosi will announce that she plans to stay in Congress as a backbencher, roaming the halls in a sort of emeritus role and helping to guide Democrats through their turn in the minority."

    "The decision to step down from leadership was reached over the weekend, as I reported on Monday, after Pelosi crafted a retirement speech with the help of the celebrity historian and presidential biographer Jon Meacham, a favorite of the Democratic elite, including Joe Biden, for exactly these types of moments.

    I'm very glad she is staying.  I think the next 2 years are going to need same steady experience.

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    This seems (5.00 / 2) (#97)
    by KeysDan on Thu Nov 17, 2022 at 10:40:13 AM EST
    to be the right decision, both stepping down from leadership and remaining in the House.  

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    Why Should the Senate Bother? (none / 0) (#68)
    by RickyJim on Mon Nov 14, 2022 at 07:17:01 PM EST
    It seems to me that if the House committee gives the DOJ what they have, it should be enough.

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    Because (5.00 / 2) (#69)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Nov 14, 2022 at 07:39:06 PM EST
    the work is not done.

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    They are about to (none / 0) (#67)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Nov 14, 2022 at 07:00:03 PM EST
    send Kari Lake to the unemployment office.

    Done (none / 0) (#70)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Nov 14, 2022 at 07:49:01 PM EST
    And done.

    The only big race left is AG.  The dem is 4000ish ahead.

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    An underplayed story for Democrats ... (5.00 / 4) (#71)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Nov 15, 2022 at 09:03:33 AM EST
    ... by the U.S. media this midterm has actually been their performance at the state level, taking back control of the state legislatures in both Pennsylvania and Michigan.

    The media's other overlooked story, of course, has been the Russian military finding itself on the ropes in Ukraine. A disastrous autumn culminated in the loss of Kherson last week, the only regional capital they had held in that country.

    And hundreds of miles north near Svatove, over 4,000 hastily drafted and poorly trained Russian conscripts reportedly lost their lives this week alone in battle after being thrown in the front lines under-armed and poorly led.

    President Biden's gambit in rallying NATO to support Ukraine in the war has been a masterful foreign policy accomplishment. The media has instead chosen to focus on GOP calls for an audit of the $60 billion in U.S. military and economic aid given Ukraine.

    We have a truly mediocre media that's a fool for scandal and controversy, real or imagined. And that's a problem.

    Aloha.

    Aloha.

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    It really is (none / 0) (#73)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 15, 2022 at 07:47:42 PM EST
    I thought it was bad before the election season but for months before the election I could not watch cable news for more than about 49 seconds.
    The coverage was appalling.  Stupid shallow.  Media like a cloud of gnats.

    I think your comment was before the major F'up today in Poland.

    Not great timing happening while a G19 meeting mostly about Russia is underway.

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    Russia is still at fault for the incident ... (none / 0) (#90)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Nov 16, 2022 at 01:15:39 PM EST
    ... in Poland yesterday. Let's please remember that were it not for that onslaught of 60-90 Russian ballistic missiles fired against civilian infrastructure, that Ukrainian air defense SAM would never have been launched.

    Sometimes, technology fails. The Russians accidentally struck their own city of Belgorod with a couple of wayward missiles two months ago, likely because the rockets' guidance systems failed to engage properly.

    Aloha.

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    Well Trump is running (none / 0) (#75)
    by MO Blue on Tue Nov 15, 2022 at 08:51:34 PM EST
    Republicans think his early announcement will hurt Walker in the run off. I truly hope they are right.

    Also, the Republican Party will not be picking up the tab for his legal bills.

    He could care less about Herschel (5.00 / 1) (#78)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 16, 2022 at 07:38:06 AM EST
    He is doing this because he thinks it will protect him from prosecution.  
    Listening to the peanut gallery on CNN last night they seem totally willing to go with that meme.

    I mean he IS, they eagerly opined, the front runner for the nomination of "one of the 2 major parties"

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    On the cover of the NYPost (5.00 / 1) (#79)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 16, 2022 at 08:08:14 AM EST

    FLORIDA MAN MAKES ANNOUNCMENT

    here it is

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    The actual story in the Post (none / 0) (#80)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 16, 2022 at 08:38:49 AM EST
    Was on page 26

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    MAGAGA (none / 0) (#81)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 16, 2022 at 08:41:35 AM EST
     "make America great and glorious again"

    they should have left it at

     make America great and glorious

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    IMO (none / 0) (#86)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 16, 2022 at 12:04:50 PM EST
    Trump declaring or not declaring will have no effect on Walker's senate race. Walker is the problem here and they just don't have the guts to say it. Well, Walker and their own voters are the problem because their voters nominated Walker.

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    Well Trump is running (none / 0) (#76)
    by MO Blue on Tue Nov 15, 2022 at 08:51:34 PM EST
    Republicans think his early announcement will hurt Walker in the run off. I truly hope they are right.

    Also, the Republican Party will not be picking up the tab for his legal bills.

    The end of Western Civilization (none / 0) (#83)
    by Chuck0 on Wed Nov 16, 2022 at 11:15:32 AM EST
    begins in Mar-a-Lago.

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    It's like a gift (none / 0) (#84)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 16, 2022 at 11:22:17 AM EST
    of toxic waste.

    It's great news for progressives.  I think the end of the Republican party might begin at MaraLago

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    One of the things democrats worry about (5.00 / 1) (#85)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 16, 2022 at 11:28:12 AM EST
    is that in 2024 democrats will have many more seats up for reelection than republicans.  

    much hand wringing

    Trump could give the Republicans a final FU by making sure we keep the Senate.  In a bad year.  Again.

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    Sorry for the double post (none / 0) (#77)
    by MO Blue on Tue Nov 15, 2022 at 08:52:33 PM EST


    It's a pickle (none / 0) (#94)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 17, 2022 at 10:05:09 AM EST

    If the Justice Department decides to indict him, Trump would be the first former president charged with a federal crime. And it would be under the auspices of the man who beat him for the presidency in 2020 and may run against him again in the 2024 election.