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 ...
The LSM pundits are having a field day, but if you have a race after a scandal it’s not unusual to have the scandal’s party underperform in an election. They’re all going to be surprised when this “Blue Wave” they’re salivating over turns out to be a Blue Drip.
Yep...Trump said this guy talks like a conservative yet will bow down to queen belowsea. Everywhere above the Mason-Dixon line is basically a write-off. How did those surveyors know this way back when?
Doesnt anyone on our side drive around with cast ballots in the trunk of their car. or find them in the a ll basement of some voting precinct?
There is only one item the RATS will be running on in the mid-term 2018 elections - IMPEACH 45. They have nothing else, absolutely nothing on the national level at least. Auntie Maxine has made it clear she and Grandma Piglosi are the ones to speak truth to the little plebs.
Even below the line in some places. MD isn’t looking too good (never has). VA is starting to crumble (used to be different). NC went for Obama once. FL is very often a nail-biter. The national party really has to get some candidates who are young and attractive and can carry the message.
Things I take from this election are, first and foremost..., run a good candidate. Lamb from that perspective was the winner, young, charismatic, ex-Marine, spoke of the middle not of an extreme. Saccone was a bland non exciting candidate.
As usual, the party in power loses seats as it just is part of the American electoral process as we never give anyone too much power. Check and balance.
Troubling to me however is the union wave of support Lamb got even in the wake of Trump defending the steel business. That would be an area we should be winning, MAGA, Tariffs, Jobs. Why did that not matter enough?
And from a different district, because of the gerrymandering court decision.
lol. The excuses on the loss begin....now. The reason for the loss is that Republicans are not motivated to get out of bed to vote. No other reason.
“Seems like Lamb ran to the right of Saccone in many ways.”
Yes, his stated platform is Republican-light and he has promised to be his own man in Washington, not a Pelosi clone. If he were to win, will he keep his word?? The political pressures are great. The DNC is very persuasive and the odds are he will fall in line with all the other democrats. Would he keep hos word?? I think not!
It’s the candidates, stupid!
PA 18 is nearly 100% white. If illegals were bussed in they would stick out like a sore thumb. Somebody local would/will report it.
No it isn’t. It is lazy Republicans. The candidate in PA-18 was a big time Trump supporter. Obviously voters weren’t willing to vote.
You are correct.
Like Alabama a sex scandal will have negatively impact the incumbent party.
Murphy’s scandal was particularly damaging. Supposed Pro Life candidate impregnates mistress and pushes for abortion.
Other factors:
Saccone was a lackluster candidate who ran a poor campaign.
Lamb pretended to be a “conservative” Democrat running from Sanders and Pelosi.
These Special Elections ALWAYS favor the motivated party. Democrats are more motivated.
Having said all that Republicans had better start to unify and rally behind Trump.
Our Supreme Court in PA has no jurisdiction to redraw ANYTHING.
It is solely a function of the House legislature. That map SHOULD be overturned. We’ll see??
Lamb ran as a Republican with a D after his name. They studied the Manchin playbook. Pro Life, Pro Gun. Eventaully he’ll have to side with Pelosi on some things, and the PAGOP will hang him on it. If Lamb ran as a Bernie Bro, he’d have gotten trounced.
Heard a good talking point last night-—Talking head said, paraphrasing-How many Connor Lamb’s can be out there for the D’s to take the house?
In democrap land—I think probably not very many? they’re too far far left these days.
Exactly.
Better question is “How long do the candidates have to PRETEND to be what Lamb says he is?”
“””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,”””
Hopefully, we will have a better candidate, if PA18 is still in existence.
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