Posted on 12/14/2017 9:19:53 PM PST by Kaslin
Republicans should not be disheartened by Roy Moore's loss in Alabama, because the election had little to do with Doug Jones -- and probably even less with Donald Trump or the Republican agenda.
Don't get me wrong. It's quite troubling that the GOP's thin Senate majority just became anorexic, but this election by itself is not a predictor of a Democratic rout in 2018. Republicans could sustain substantial losses, to be sure, but the Alabama election doesn't make that foreseeable.
Roy Moore was a uniquely problematic candidate with more baggage than many Republicans believed they could excuse. Though it is remarkable that a Republican candidate lost in crimson-red Alabama, it is also noteworthy that even with his problems, he came close to winning.
The vast majority of Alabama Republicans did not want to sit home or to vote for Jones, because they understand the magnitude of the stakes before us. Yet enough of them did. Apparently, the fact that he would have doubtlessly voted as a conservative at a time when every single Republican vote is critical wasn't enough to overcome the sexual allegations and other concerns about Moore for these voters.
Also, America's political situation is particularly fluid, and there are too many variables and important events yet to play out for us to reliably forecast the 2018 election results. One savvy politician told me this week that he could see Republicans losing the majority in both houses in 2018 -- but he also wouldn't be surprised if they were to actually gain seats if the economy remains strong and Trump's agenda continues apace.
Democrats have more Senate seats to defend in 2018 (26) than Republicans (eight), 10 of which are in states Trump carried in 2016 -- five by double digits. Even CNN concedes that the electoral map "still clearly favors Republicans." But like other liberals, they are counting on Trump's supposed unpopularity and soaring passion in the Democratic base to offset any GOP advantages.
Moreover, prudent analysis has to factor in the adage that people vote with their pocketbooks -- even young people, the demographic reputed to be least enamored with President Trump. A Bank of America/USA Today Better Money Habits survey conducted before the 2016 election showed that 65 percent of voters ages 18 to 26 would base their votes more on economic policies than on social issues.
Economic indicators are decidedly positive now, and notwithstanding Barack Obama's delusional post-presidential assertion that he deserves the credit for it, it's hard to dispute that Trump deserves the lion's share of credit.
The economy is humming well above 3 percent -- a threshold the Obama malaise architects had already written off as no longer attainable. Unemployment is way down, and the stock market is surging significantly above impressive Obama-era levels.
This is real growth, as opposed to the fake growth Obama defeatists were touting when the economy was stagnating at 1 percent. And it can be traced to Trump's actions and the attitude he carried into office, just as Obama's stagnation can be traced to his business-hostile bearing.
Trump is bullish on America, the free market and American business. Entrepreneurs have responded accordingly, as have consumers. (Look at Christmas season sales already this year.) Trump has also been aggressive in rolling back stifling bureaucratic regulations across the board, and no one should underestimate the impact of his decision to back out of the Paris climate accord -- or his support of the coal and natural gas industries.
Trump also tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to substantially revise, if not wholly repeal, Obamacare, and he is determined to try again. He and congressional Republicans have done a better job so far with the tax reform bill. Though it is imperfect and not the bill I would craft if I were king, it would meaningfully improve the existing law and is very close to being passed.
If it passes, I believe we'll see even more growth and far more revenues than the experts -- the same ones who predicted that our days of 3 percent growth were over -- are forecasting.
Yes, things could so south, especially if Trump and Congress are unable to move the tax bill and other major items of legislation before the 2018 elections, but I'm feeling upbeat.
My main concern is chaos within the Republican Party. The angst toward Trump among many Republicans is palpable, and unfortunately, a disproportionate number of these opponents are influential in the media.
I understand the naysayers' disapproval of Trump's style and various other complaints. But I don't understand why they won't acknowledge the positive developments that are occurring during his presidency -- even if they have too much pride to give him credit for them. I get (and sometimes share) their distaste for his tweets, but it's baffling that they won't concede that on policy, at least, he has been far different from -- and almost entirely better than -- what they gloomily warned he would be.
He's not governing like a so-called populist nationalist, and he certainly hasn't advocated liberal policies as many feared. No matter what you think of Trump personally, he is advancing a largely conservative agenda.
Unlike some of Trump's perpetual critics, I don't worry that Trump is going to usher in an era of alt-right dystopia or that the country is going to descend into Bannonism -- whatever that means. The critics shouldn't fear that Trump will forever taint the conservative movement or that America will descend into darkness.
America was descending into darkness under Obama's eight years, and that process would have accelerated into warp speed had Hillary Clinton been elected. So could we please lighten up and support the president when he's advancing salutary policies, which is often, and go into 2018 with a spirit of warranted optimism?
Yes.
I have sure seen a lot of posts, claiming this or that reason, for his loss.
The reason he lost, is the GOPe abandoned him. The same GOPe that is completely sold out globally, sending US manufacturing to our largest threat, go forward. China.
That is what happened. The GOPe is completely sold out.
Trump stood up for the guy. But a lot of the GOP sold him out.
THEY are the reason. Don’t forget the ones who opposed him. Do not forget.
They are the reason a democrat won.
What happened is the same thing that happened in VA and NJ and is happening other places - Democrat turnout is very high for off year elections. In VA at least I read where they used some very sophisticated data driven techniques for getting young voters to the polls. In AL it was largely about blacks.Democrat turnout is driven largely by their hysterical rhetoric about Trump getting their base whipped into a frenzy.
Meanwhile the Republican turnout has been closer to the typical off year election turnout.
That in a nutshell is what is happening right now. Hopefully the RNC and Trump’s people are taking this in and developing some kind of sophisticated game plan to drive up GOP turnout. But the Democrats methods are emotion driven. Trump can talk about the economy, manufacturing booming etc., but that doesn’t get people emotional. He could talk about how the Dems are blocking the wall. But the GOP candidates would have to talk about it as well.
To me the thing that could and should get Republicans angry is that the Democrats are going to impeach Trump and are coordinating on a big lie (Russia collusion) because they cannot accept that they lost the election. This is scary stuff. But as we know lots of Republican politicians don’t want to go there.
The bottom line is they have to come up with something and all get on the same message, but history suggests the GOP is incapable of that.
What a crock of crap. The gope did that great man in and needs what is about to happen to them. They disserve it. 100%. Lying whores but that is not what got him.it was power hungary leftist gope bastards. Get ready for a blood bath now . Republicrats won. But we lost a hell of a fine senator..
Do not ever vote for. Republican again unless McConnell resigns.
The Cochran fiasco showed once and for all what the GOPe is all about. They will never go for a true conservative even if they did not have any baggage. Guess what, the Dems know this intuitively and so here comes the baggage barage each and every time. Our Gope ‘leaders’ cower and half support the Dem agenda anyway, so we are in a stranglehold. Even if we win an election we have then a Senate always with 5 Rinos itching to go the Dem way, so we are hamstrung there too. Just thank the Lord Trump is trying to push on and not just go along.
good points.
I think that’s too simplistic. They all pretty well hate Cruz, but I can’t imagine any of them are rooting for him to lose next year.
The difference is that while they think he’s an ahole, he doesn’t say or do toxic things that they’ll be made to answer for. They aren’t Democrats. Menendez can have sex with underage prostitutes, but the media will see to it that it doesn’t even get reported let alone demand that other Democrats answer for it. Whereas, every single Republican will be smeared with Roy Moore’s actions from 40 years ago, and there are few charges more toxic than a 30-something year old man hitting on girls in their mid teens. I don’t like the hypocritical battlefield, but this is the environment we have to operate in or we lose.
If this were a midterm general election, Moore’s candidacy would have done incalculable damage. Look at Todd Akin’s comments about rape 5 years ago. All of them including Romney and Ryan disavowed them, but they still used him to trash them all. McCaskill was on life support, and he rescued her. I don’t think Romney would have won anyway, but I bet there were some marginal seats that we lost with his drag on the party.
The Democrats will take both houses of congress in 2018. Republican voters have nothing to vote for, congressional Reublicans are a joke. Democrat voters are enthusiastic and motivated, riding a wave on Trump and the Republicans unpopularity. If Mueller is able to cook up something to hang Trump with, it will be a massive blow out.
The “Fat Lady” has yet to sing!!!!!!!!!!!
He was a terrible candidate.
The GOP will hold the House and pick up seats in the Senate.
The problem is the propaganda machine running in this country. It is not the candidates, it's the fact that the propaganda machine can spread lies faster and more effectively than a candidate can combat it with the truth.
Look up "Macaca."
The propaganda machine is, and has been for a long time, the problem. If we don't take it over, we should be working on destroying it.
Do you realize that the rats want to impeach President Trump? But as an obvious never Trumper you are okay with it. You are an idiot who should not be allowed to vote
I think your post is spot on. They thought the presidency was firewalled off from us ever winning it again - especially to a vulgarian like Trump, and their level of shock and fury cannot be overstated.
I hope the Mueller investigation finishes collapsing before the election so Trump can declare them a bunch of liars who have committed themselves to overturning the election by any means necessary. He needs to say that their intentions are to regain control of Congress to impeach him over whatever the next lie is that they pull out of their asses. He needs to tell the troops that they have to go out and vote to protect him and their voting franchise because these lawless psychopaths are trying to steal it from them.
If you think I’ll vote for some third party candidate, who has no chance what soever. You better think again. I only vote for Republicans like I always have,
There was nothing wrong with him as a Candidate for Alabama. He would have been a Terrible candidate in New York, or Portland Oregon, but in Alabama he was just fine the way he was.
The problem is a couple of kook bitches accused him of serious charges, Our party immediately acted as if those charges were proven, and then proceeded to help the Democrats stab Roy Moore in the back. Alabama's other Senator, Richard Shelby, went on the air and urged all Alabamans to not vote for Roy Moore.
And he almost pulled it off anyway.
The problem was the lying accusations and the backstabbing, not the Man.
Yes they will
In Alobama, Bannon was defeated by the swamp.
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