Democrats' Vanishing Future

National Journal ^ | May 21,2015 | JOSH KRAUSHAAR

[Hojczyk]

Hillary Clinton is not the only Democratic comeback candidate on the 2016 ticket. Senate Democrats are betting on the past to rebuild their party for the future.

One of the most underappreciated stories in recent years is the deterioration of the Democratic bench under President Obama's tenure in office. The party has become much more ideologically homogenous, losing most of its moderate wing as a result of the last two disastrous midterm elections.

By one new catch-all measure, a party-strength index introduced by RealClearPolitics analysts Sean Trende and David Byler, Democrats are in their worst position since 1928. That dynamic has manifested itself in the Democratic presidential contest, where the bench is so barren that a flawed Hillary Clinton is barreling to an uncontested nomination.

But look more closely, and the reliance on former failures is a direct result of the party having no one else to turn to. If the brand-name challengers didn't run, the roster of up-and-coming prospects in the respective states is short. They're also facing an ominous historical reality that only two defeated senators have successfully returned to the upper chamber in the last six decades.

[Lake Living]

Thank you! You saved me the trouble.
Ridiculous article.

[ryan71]

Yep.

[Buckeye McFrog]

If the Dems are running behind next fall, they’ll trot out a student loan forgiveness scheme and it will be Game Over.

[Billthedrill]

The Democratic party has swung so far to the left that its strategic concentration is more on maintaining power than it is on winning elections, which in this form of government is exceedingly dangerous. Activist government is authoritarian government is totalitarian government, and the establishment within both parties that has come to regard this as a modus vivendi, the citizen be damned.

Their game is to make the government, not necessarily the party, unassailable. Party elections devolve to media-fueled celebrity contests that have little effect on overall policy, or on the growth of a stifling, overarching governing class. What is necessary is not just the sea-change demand of Tea Party advocates, but the actual execution of policies that will meet those demands with more than lip service, in the face of entrenched media interests who will be shrieking for more power, more control, more safety for the obedient and punishment for the disobedient. We have a lot of work ahead of us and much of it promises to be ugly.

[kabar]

I do not subscribe to the theory that Democrat control over America is a foregone conclusion. Seven million fewer people voted for Obama in 2012 and he would have lost but for a weak candidate who could not bring himself to punch hard. 2016 is different.

Obama received the two highest vote totals for President in American history. 69.5 million in 2008 and 66 million in 2008. Romney received 1 million more votes than McCain and still lost by 5 million votes.

Where did you come up with that bogus 7 million fgure?

Here are the facts.

There is a reason there are sop many Republican candidates in 2016, and that is because they all know there is a strong likelihood that a republican will win in 2016.

You and they are delusional. Take a look at the electoral map and tell me what states Hillary will lose that Obama won.

[GOPJ]

Really - how can they do it then?

[Salvey]

Yes. Circumstances as described by the writer don’t count. They are building a large voter base (permanent majority) for whom issues be damned; it’s all about the freebies that are being offered to these disparate groups in return for their votes.

[GOPJ]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3292163/posts

Check out #17

[buckalfa]

"The Democratic party has swung so far to the left that its strategic concentration is more on maintaining power than it is on winning elections, -- "

You drilled down to the core of the matter. Democrat control of government and institutional bureaucracy is so entrenched that the progressive agenda will continue to be advanced despite the political party in control. Demography will only seal the deal.

[epow]

If only this article could be true!! I don't know of anything I would be more thrilled to see happen than the demise of the Democrat party as a dominant contender in national politics. IMHO the demise of the Democrat party that my parents and grandparents really believed saved the US by ending the Great Depression is the only thing that could save the US now. Well, on 2nd thought there are a few things that would make me just as happy or even happier, but I can count them on the fingers on one hand. Seeing either Cruz or Ben Carson taking the oath of office on the Capitol steps would be one of those fingers.

But to step back into the dismal real world I have to say that unless God Himself takes a hand in the next election that won't happen. The American people of today are too gullible and easily deceived to see through the false image of the Democrat machine that is depicted 24-7 on TV and by the leftist media in toto. Historically the old bread and circus routine is almost always the winner in politics

[EQAndyBuzz]

Doesn’t matter. National Journal is making an assumption based on an honest look at the Democrats. The Democrats lie, cheat and steal so that look is null and void.

[bert]

what about DeBlasio? Isn’t he an up and commer?

Then there is Governor what’s his name of Virginia......Isn’t he pretty special?

[Jean2]

It certainly looks that way to me. After all they are getting lots of help from the GOP.

[MeshugeMikey]

[Obadiah]

Well, I’ll let you do your own Google search on the 7 million figure. BTW, your link simply shows vote totals, nothing more.

Yes, I understand you think I’m delusional. Perhaps, but you don’t seem to understand how a few vote swings here and there could significantly change the electoral map from the historical map your presented.

Hey look, I’m okay if you are certain Republicans will lose in 2016. That’s your opinion and you’re certainly entitled to it. It’s okay to be wrong sometimes.

[mjp]

the dum party will never die. There will always be enough parasites and white guilts to keep it alive and thriving

[notdownwidems]

We are down to the short strokes folks - 2016 is our last chance

With their vote fraud machine kicked up, I'm afraid it is too late already, my FRiend; however, that doesn't mean we shouldn't go down fighting!

[um1990]

OK, trying to be optimistic here... Look at Table 4, and compare 2000 to 2012 “Pct Republican”... While a generally negative trend, it’s not as sharp as may be expected, with some positive movement.

I believe people want to be lead, and we have not had a true conservative leader in some time. Those numbers could be moved, the same way supposed public opinion has been moved recently on a number of issues. Hearing Ted Cruz lately, I have had a shred of political hope in a way I have not for a long time, that he may be a transformational leader.

[shove_it]

There must be a lot of old school Democrats - military vets, small business owners, working people, Christian pro-family/pro-life people, etc. who aren’t with the current extreme left/commie direction of their party - I guess we call them ‘Blue Dogs’ now. These people should be more attracted to the Conservative message we’re trying to promote. We need to have a 2016 candidate who will reach out to these American and bring them in as was done with the Dixiecrats.

[itsahoot]

losing most of its moderate wing as a result of the last two disastrous midterm elections.

Which is why they are now importing their voter base, Americans are no longer needed.