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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM
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Well, 23 Democratic seats plus 2 Independents, though the Republicans have shifted so much that almost every non-fringe candidate is either a Libertarian or Democrat by default. Bernie Sanders should have little trouble, but Lepage is making a serious push to replace Angus King with a Republican.
edited 4th Jan '17 7:29:56 PM by ViperMagnum357
@We're going to be in trouble if Trump doesn't start doing everything at once: Given the shit we've already seen I think our social programs are going to be slashed and burned before 2018 rolls around. That, coupled with the massive attacks we're going to be seeing on minorities and the blatant corruption could put the GOP in a tricky position come 2018.
Was going to mention that hate crime in the Race and Racism thread (still might). I initially thought it might be fake because of the framing of the original tweet but saw it was true from googling "Chicago kidnapping" as opposed to "BLM Kidnapping".
My reaction is ugh on several accounts- the horrific nature of the crime, it happening in my home city, and the inevitable backlash.
I also do have to note that AFAIK, none of the reported hate crimes since Trump's election have involved physical violence, or at least not this level of violence.
Pssh. That's drastically underselling both parties, Zephyr.
Because the Dems are currently in a position to give angry, disenfranchised voters somebody to blame. That's never been a tricky position to translate into support. And because you're implying the GOP didn't work like hell for their victory in 2010.
You're not getting my point. If the Republic is damaged badly enough, then it won't matter what the public wants. The threat of authoritarianism is very, very real, and in authoritarian states the will of the people doesn't mean jack shit. My worry is that by 2018 (let alone 2020), our elections will have turned into complete farces though voter suppression, gerrymandering, propaganda, and possibly outright criminal election rigging on the part of the GOP.
"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent.""We don't have to hold onto every seat we have, we just need to gain more than we lose. If all 8 Republican seats are flipped, we can afford to lose a few Democrat seats. It'll be difficult, certainly, but since when has 'being difficult' ever been a valid excuse to give up?"
I just don't see that happening. These are the GOP states:
- Arizona
- Wyoming
- Nevada
- Texas
- Tennessee
- Nebraska
- Utah
- Mississippi
None of these look like states where Democrats could win in. Nevada, maybe, but the rest, probably not.
edited 4th Jan '17 8:18:48 PM by CrimsonZephyr
"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."It's a daunting prospect, no question about that. I'll be the first one to say that. But at the same time...we gotta try. One of the only bright spots of hope post-election has been seeing the rising tide of outraged citizens concerned about the nation's future, many of them determined to now take a more active role in politics, both local and nationwide. And if the upcoming legal battles regarding voter suppression and racial gerrymandering go the way they should, we might suddenly find ourselves with something approaching a level playing field.
I think my signature basically sums it up. This is a chance. We've got to grab it.
"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."Zephyr you're honestly starting to come across as depressed with your blind insistence of seeing everything as negative and all gains as impossible.
The Dems shouldn't be crippled and leaderless by the middle of 2017, never mind November 2018. Hell they won the popular vote this election.
As for Senate pick ups, when minority turnout jumps right back up as a responce to the Trump crack down on minorities combines with voter apathy now that the Republicans are to blame for everything and the fact that those who rely on the VA, Medicare, Medicaid or Obamacare will have been personally shafted by Trump, I wouldn't rule out any state. Nevada, Arizona and Texas with Utah possibly even going to an independent Mormon candidate.
“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ CyranArizona and Texas have the potential to be competitive- the only reason Arizona wasn't competitive this year is because John McCain is one of the few sane GOP senators left with a notable amount of name recognition, and Texas meanwhile is showing signs of drifting towards swing state status. There's enough anti-Trump sentiment in Utah that it may be possible for a miracle to happen there.
edited 4th Jan '17 8:36:47 PM by Gilphon
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Well, the issue is its more or less out of the democrats' hands how damaging to functional democracy the Trump Administration is; the degree to which the GOP dominates American politics hasn't been seen in nearly 100 years, and I've yet to see anything that suggests the GOP will put their foot outside of a few neoconservatives, many of whom have already been won over by him talking tough on China.
Say, guys, what do you think of instead of SC justices getting lifetime appointments, it's instead described as "A Supreme Court Justice Shall only Serve for a Generation." In this case a Generation being 18-20 years, or Three Senate Terms, or 4.5 Presidential Terms. Applies to all.
Completely impossible to change now, but food for thought, if we're fixing some of the lasting effects of our woefully outdated Constitution.
New Survey coming this weekend!Hell, if the Democrats hadn't run Clinton we would have won this election. All we need is a plausible leader to galvanize the undecided electorate (apparently about half of them). There are plenty of possibilities
. Elizabeth Warren would have crushed Trump.
Now, if Trump turns out to be smarter than we think and doesnt screw up the economy too badly, then the dynamics change. But that would have to mean he backs off of his extreme rhetoric (which I dont put past him).
I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
She was one of the problems. When both candidates went into the race with record low approval ratings, something has clearly failed within both of the parties. In the democrats case it's simply the lack of any particularly appealing candidates, and not a fresh face in sight for miles.
The primary base of the GOP on the other hand has become radicalized to a significant degree, and even with the party pushing down as hard as they could on the scales, they weren't able to stop Trump from winning the primaries.
edited 4th Jan '17 9:24:40 PM by CaptainCapsase
It's still possible that another candidate could have won instead but frankly I feel that's a somewhat pointless discussion. Clinton was who we had and no matter what anyone thinks she was supremely qualified for the position.
Clinton has a low approval rating in part because Bernie was being an idiot during the primaries and tearing her down at every opportunity.
edited 4th Jan '17 9:23:49 PM by Kostya
No, people really, really didn't like her even before the primaries started. Though by all means blame Sanders, and especially keep blaming factors that were beyond the party's control like Russia and the FBI. I expect the GOP will continue dominating government at all levels until the global economy implodes and a real fascist takes power.
edited 4th Jan '17 9:28:55 PM by CaptainCapsase
People disliked her but Sanders certainly didn't help. If he hadn't been so vitriolic his later support of her probably would have won over more Bernie or Bust types.
edit: Are you implying that outside factors like the FBI and Russia weren't a part of Trump's victory?
edited 4th Jan '17 9:29:21 PM by Kostya

Hard fights are fights that Democrats will lose. I'm expecting a backbreaking defeat in 2018 — the electoral math isn't on our side. Running the board in 25 separate elections and flipping some Rs is basically impossible. We would have to be a different party, in a different country, operating under a different political zeitgeist. As a party, we don't have a leader, a direction, or a future.
edited 4th Jan '17 7:20:32 PM by CrimsonZephyr
"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."