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Why It Doesn't Matter Who the Winner Is in PA-18
realclearpolitics ^

Posted on 03/14/2018 6:27:30 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27

As of this writing, Democrat Conor Lamb is clinging to a lead of roughly 600 votes in the special election for Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District. There are probably not enough uncounted votes out there for Republican Rick Saccone to pull out the win. It also really doesn’t matter much, one way or the other (unless you are a Democrat living in the 18th who feels strongly about having a Democrat represent you in Washington). Here’s why: The House is increasingly polarized. There was a time that a narrowed House majority for a party would make for interesting politics in Washington, because enough members of each party could often be persuaded to vote for the other party’s agenda and truly complicate matters. No more. The House is for all intents and purposes a parliamentary-style democracy, where members of a party support their party’s agenda. There are exceptions (looking at you, Freedom Caucus), but generally speaking, Republicans vote for Republican policies. In other words, reducing the GOP majority from 24 seats to 23 is likely to have a minimal impact on actual legislation in the House.

(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Pennsylvania; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: 18thdistrict; braking; conorlamb; election; fakenews; pa2018; pennsylvania; ricksaccone; saccone
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1 posted on 03/14/2018 6:27:30 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Don’t kid yourself every election matters and must be studied.


2 posted on 03/14/2018 6:29:57 AM PDT by gibsonguy
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Whoever wins, will have to run for re-election in November..................


3 posted on 03/14/2018 6:33:05 AM PDT by Red Badger (The people who call Trump a tyrant are the same people who want the president to confiscate weapons.)
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To: Red Badger

And will have an actual voting record
Not just promises


4 posted on 03/14/2018 6:34:20 AM PDT by silverleaf (A man who kneels for the national anthem doesn't stand for much of anything)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

AND, oh by the way, this seat is up again in November (this year) and Conor Lamb will have to move into the newly redrawn district if he’s to run again.


5 posted on 03/14/2018 6:34:24 AM PDT by harpu ( "...it's better to be hated for who you are than loved for someone you're not!")
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Seems like Lamb ran to the right of Saccone in many ways.

Not a system the Democrats are likely to utilize in the general elections.


6 posted on 03/14/2018 6:34:35 AM PDT by airborne (I don't always scream at the TV but when I do it's hockey playoffs season!)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

I have to laugh at this. If it were a dem who was behind by 600 votes, we would all be counting down the seconds until the recquisite number of votes magically appeared. The Dems certainly would be manufacturing them. The GOP?!? It is insurmountable!! Game over!!


7 posted on 03/14/2018 6:36:37 AM PDT by FlipWilson
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To: ChicagoConservative27
.. reducing the GOP majority from 24 seats to 23 is likely to have a minimal impact on actual legislation in the House

Agreed.

Not to mention that while seeing DJT on the stump again was a treat, Saccone just didn't come across as having the kind of magnetism that would draw lukewarm voters to the polls.
Which of course speaks more to the abject laziness of lukewarm voters than to Saccone's personality, but still . . .

8 posted on 03/14/2018 6:38:01 AM PDT by tomkat
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Maybe the democrats will take a page from the Republican election handbook — run right and government left.


9 posted on 03/14/2018 6:43:19 AM PDT by odawg
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To: ChicagoConservative27
Ironically, the politically biased Democrats on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court eliminated the 18th district in 2018 during their recent “redistricting by judicial gunpoint” ruling on the assumption the Republican would win yesterday. So, in all likelihood Lamb will be a Congressman without a district come November. He has two bad choices either run against the sitting Republican in the now much more Republican western district for which is probably much too moderate, or run against the sitting democrat in now much more democrat eastern district for which is probably much too socially conservative.
10 posted on 03/14/2018 6:43:24 AM PDT by apillar
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To: silverleaf

Unless he abstains or votes ‘present’ for the rest of the year................


11 posted on 03/14/2018 6:43:52 AM PDT by Red Badger (The people who call Trump a tyrant are the same people who want the president to confiscate weapons.)
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To: silverleaf

Unless he abstains or votes ‘present’ for the rest of the year................


12 posted on 03/14/2018 6:43:53 AM PDT by Red Badger (The people who call Trump a tyrant are the same people who want the president to confiscate weapons.)
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To: gibsonguy

The Democrat Supreme Court in PA has redistricted the 18th District out of existence. If he wins, Lamb won’t be a resident in their newly-drawn district.

This election was a huge waste of money and time. Why did they do it? Because the Demorats saw a chance to challenge Trump’s claim to be a winner and voters fell for a telegenic guy who said he will vote like a Republican. Of course he’ll vote with Pelosi, because all Democrats vote with their leadership.


13 posted on 03/14/2018 6:46:02 AM PDT by txrefugee
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To: Red Badger

Mr Lamb has only a few months to tout himself as some crusader for justice
Recognizing that democrats put him in office I doubt he’ll take up the sword against his party


14 posted on 03/14/2018 6:49:35 AM PDT by silverleaf (A man who kneels for the national anthem doesn't stand for much of anything)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Trump gives them tax cuts,steel and coal jobs and they vote against his man. Never,never, underestimate the stupidity of the voters.


15 posted on 03/14/2018 6:50:43 AM PDT by Dr. Ursus
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To: ChicagoConservative27
Josh Cornett 🚨 ‏ @therealcornett 🚨BREAKING: Atleast 7 different bus company employees have contacted various Philadelphia news agencies claiming they bussed in illegals to vote in tonight's #pa18 election. Each bus had Democratic chaperones onboard...developing #Pennsylvania #SpecialElection

🚨BREAKING: Atleast 7 different bus company employees have contacted various Philadelphia news agencies claiming they bussed in illegals to vote in tonight's #pa18 election. Each bus had Democratic chaperones onboard...developing #Pennsylvania #SpecialElection pic.twitter.com/uCQlTKoiFX— 🚨Josh Cornett🚨 (@therealcornett) March 14, 2018


16 posted on 03/14/2018 6:51:27 AM PDT by fatima (Free Hugs Today :))
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To: ChicagoConservative27

Yeah, it was so unimportant that Trump went and held a massive rally and endorsement event for Saccone.

These special elections are pointing out 2 things to me: (1) Hillary was an even bigger drag on all the Dem candidates in 2016 than even I thought, and (2) the Dems are energized and turning out bigly.

The GOP better get their act together before the fall campaigns start in earnest, or they’re going to have the butts handed to them all across the country. If they keep running away from Trump and his policies, Nov ‘18 is going to be ugly.

BTW - I don’t know Saccone or Lamb. Really don’t know much about either ones’ history, following or platform. But the moment I saw video and pictures of each candidate, I thought Lamb would win. Saccone fits the caricature of a Republican candidate: middle-age (or older) white guy, with bad-hair and a bad suit - the epitome of a small-town, local politician. Lamb looked clean-cut, ex-military, and more polished in a navy suit and tie - and clearly younger and more energetic. Just these differences likely counted for 10x the vote margin.

So add bad optics to my regular complaint of bad messaging with the GOP and their candidates.


17 posted on 03/14/2018 7:01:16 AM PDT by Be Free (I believe in gun control. The more people that control their own guns, the safer we'll all be.)
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To: Be Free

It’s true. You can look at two candidates, and without knowing anything about them, can generally pick who will win by their appearance.

That’s pretty much how shallow most voters are.


18 posted on 03/14/2018 7:02:39 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: gibsonguy

Yes, good for Lessons Learned. But, remember, this is the RNC we’re talking about.

Oh and don’t forget the need to bump up cable news ratings!!!!!


19 posted on 03/14/2018 7:04:29 AM PDT by ReaganGeneration2
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To: ChicagoConservative27

I would love to win a PA-18, Piper Super Cub..... oh wait this is different....never mind


20 posted on 03/14/2018 7:05:36 AM PDT by stickandrudder (Another Bitter-Clinger! God-Family-Tribe)
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