Current Affairs General US politics (ie, not POTUS related)

[abelard]

It has been a long time since Democrats have been in charge of Florida, and I thought a dose of it would be a bracing reminder for Floridians. I didn't vote for him, but I was much more focused on the Senate race. Both were a very close run thing, and recounts or the request for same are to be expected. It's not really over yet.

There is a deep well of cynical GOP humor about car trunks and Democrat recounts. (see: Al Franken)

as 2000 reminded us, you boys are more than capable on that score

I wonder if yous'll follow the North Carolina playbook now, given how competitive things have suddenly become?

 

[BirkenheadBlue]

It has been a long time since Democrats have been in charge of Florida, and I thought a dose of it would be a bracing reminder for Floridians. I didn't vote for him, but I was much more focused on the Senate race. Both were a very close run thing, and recounts or the request for same are to be expected. It's not really over yet.

There is a deep well of cynical GOP humor about car trunks and Democrat recounts. (see: Al Franken)

I think it's probably best for Republicans not to be TOO cynical about recounts when it comes to Florida... wouldn't you say?

 

[DanEFC92]

 

[LinekersLegs]

Target rich environment but Zinke would be a good place to start...

 

[verreauxi]

This is what we are up against.

We need to understand this phenomenon before we can realistically do anything in 2020 and beyond.

And many of my friends (and wife) that are farther left than me don't get this. And I fear this will only exacerbate this death spiral we find the country in.

This "divide over culture," as mezzrow puts it, is a pseudo-controversy, just like gay marriage. You have some whiny college kids making ham-fisted claims about inclusivity, and (sometimes) over-reaching claims about freedom of expression, and the Right's response is "holy cow, our culture is collapsing because sex isn't necessarily binary and I might have to change my language and pronoun usage..." So rather than make some adjustments to their vocabulary, or accept that there might be a safe-space for trans folks on a college campus within 80 miles of where they live--neither of these things remotely affecting their lives in a negative way--instead, they vote for the most empirically racist, sexist, corrupt, self-interested, xenophobic president in history.

Madness.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Pretty sure Trump will end up in the 30s but I'm guessing the point you're making would still stand.

Honestly it's hard to say either side really won or lost. Both had things go their way that they'll point to as victories but there are huge losses on both sides as well. The Dems need to go at Trump with some kind of plan in the House so it doesn't look like they've gone crazy trying to catch him.

Pretty clear wave by popular vote figures


But that means less if the extra votes are all concentrated in specific areas, especially with gerrymandered districts.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Pretty clear wave by popular vote figures


But that means less if the extra votes are all concentrated in specific areas, especially with gerrymandered districts.

It is but unfortunately popular vote numbers don't equal power. And the Republicans have consolidated in the Senate and that is a victory any way you slice it. It's annoying because they get their power in the Senate from a lot of small states but that's the way the government is designed.

 

[DanEFC92]

 

[DanEFC92]

 

[BirkenheadBlue]

Target rich environment but Zinke would be a good place to start...

That guy's job is basically just shooting fish in a barrel.

 

[BirkenheadBlue]

It is but unfortunately popular vote numbers don't equal power. And the Republicans have consolidated in the Senate and that is a victory any way you slice it. It's annoying because they get their power in the Senate from a lot of small states but that's the way the government is designed.

Poor design.

Yes the Republicans grew their majority in the Senate, but it really makes very little difference (for the next 2 years at least). Winning the Senate was always going to be almost impossible for Democrats this cycle - it was just an awful, awful map for them this time round.

 

[LinekersLegs]

It is but unfortunately popular vote numbers don't equal power. And the Republicans have consolidated in the Senate and that is a victory any way you slice it. It's annoying because they get their power in the Senate from a lot of small states but that's the way the government is designed.

Yep, its the same thing as Clinton and Gore winning the popular vote but losing the electoral college.

However on the bright side it does mean that, even in what is a pretty good economy, there is a message that resonates with a lot of people - just need to figure out how to make it clearer.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Poor design.

Yes the Republicans grew their majority in the Senate, but it really makes very little difference (for the next 2 years at least). Winning the Senate was always going to be almost impossible for Democrats this cycle - it was just an awful, awful map for them this time round.

Yes and looking way ahead to 2020 it does look a bit better but now they have a bigger gap so it'll be tough then too

 

[TheBigIguana]

Yep, its the same thing as Clinton and Gore winning the popular vote but losing the electoral college.

However on the bright side it does mean that, even in what is a pretty good economy, there is a message that resonates with a lot of people - just need to figure out how to make it clearer.

There is a real chance that the economy doesn't work for them in the next two years either. The growth to this point is unsustainable and at the very least may slow down. A true recession is a possibility as well. If that is what they want to hang their hats on it could be problematic.

 

[BirkenheadBlue]

Yes and looking way ahead to 2020 it does look a bit better but now they have a bigger gap so it'll be tough then too

It's a long road back in the Senate, but that was always likely to be the case. GOP basically shot par in the Senate - they were always gonna pick up seats. Could have been worse, to be honest.