[Kazan]

With the direction of the Trump admin, the Dems are headed toward retaking the House in 2018

How much do you want to bet that doesn't happen?

It's all about the economy and economy is getting better. It will get even better if tax cuts are passed.

Stop being negative jackass. It's annoying.

[9YearLurker]

The economy and the stock market have been doing well based on expectations of Trump fulfilling his campaign promises.

But there’s gonna be some rough adjusting there if Trump continues with his leftward shift. If Trump’s base isn’t energized for 2018, the House will go very easily—and Trump has already shown his interest in trashing the Freedom Caucus.

[Dave W]

Well. It is true that the party in the White House loses seats in the midterm elections. It is unusual when the party in the WH does not lose seats such as 2002.

The outside party is often energized for hundreds of reasons (hatred is just one) and the party in the WH is often satisfied, so they don't go to vote, or they are mad that Trump isn't doing exactly what he says he was going to do and so in a fit of anger, do not vote.

Considering the nonstop 24/7 negative news coverage and since most people now think Russia interfered with the election, the repubs will lose one of those two seats.

[Dave W]

Let me add another thought. You asked the poster to stop being a negative jackass and I ask you to stop being a jackass Pollyanna.

We don't know if the economy is getting better. The jobs report was a downer and I might mention that not only was the jobs report way below expectations, the prior three months jobs reports were adjusted downward. Car owners have the highest percentage of over 90 days of nonpayment since 2008. I am not aware of a 1st quarter GDP report, so we don't know.

The stock market is not the economy and the Fed is raising interest rates for the first time in 8 years. They have now raised them twice and will be raising them regularly according to their notes. Of course, this causes interest on the debt to increase and our deficit to increase. The Fed raises interest rates only when Repubs are in office. It appears this is their current mo.

[ZULU]

I agree. Getting really tired of Nick Carraway posting all this anti-Trump stuff. The Hill is as vile as the Washington ComPost or New York Slimes. But he keeps posting this kind of crap.

[nathanbedford]

9yearLurker's negative scenario is not at all far-fetched if there is a schism in the Republican Party. The beginning cracks were exposed by the pathetic failure of healthcare reform. The problem with healthcare reform was that Trump sided with the Rino Republicans in an attempt to bamboozle conservatives into believing that they were actually reforming Obama care.

Rino care merely reflects the common understanding between Rino Republicans and Donald Trump that no entitlement, especially including healthcare, can be reformed. Worse, Trump has shown himself willing to enact new entitlements and add debt to a nation now $20 trillion in debt when there is every indication that interest rates are to rise. Unable to reform healthcare, unwilling to reform entitlements, eager to impose new entitlements on the taxpayer, in a rising interest environment, a schism in the party is not entirely unlikely.

Against that you cite an economy that is getting better and there are many indications that it is. But there are also threats. Rising interest rates would be devastating. Failure to enact tax cuts would be more than disappointing, it would trigger a re-evaluation of the market and change its entire psychology. The stock market might well be topping and that prop might become a liability. Heavy handedness of trade reform might well result in a recession or worse if a trade war ensues. The idea that the economy will march along a straight line toward ever better days belies history and we might consider whether a recession is simply overdue.

So we have on the one hand potential schism in the party because Trump is not made clear yet whether he is going to govern as a conservative or whether he is going to be an eclectic and because no one knows, repeat no one, where the economy is going.

Stop being negative jackass. It's annoying.

If a Republican in this district in Kansas loses, it is time to panic or at least rethink a lot of assumptions. So, no, I do not think as you evidently do that 9yearLurker is a jackass but I do find it annoying that you say so.

[USS Alaska]

Stop being negative jackass. It's annoying.

The lurker can't help it, he is what he is. A know nothing jackass that should go back to lurken because like a loud mouthed brat, he should sit down and be quiet.

[DoodleDawg]

It's all about the economy and economy is getting better. It will get even better if tax cuts are passed.

Pass Trumpcare and all bets are off.

[Tamatoa]

Thank you. So many here on FR need safe space lately. They are easily sway by the propaganda spewed out by the mainstream media daily. Some here should disengage from politics and enjoy life.