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lunatica

(53,410 posts)
Mon Feb 10, 2020, 06:31 PM Feb 2020

Why we must focus on winning the Senate

We have to realize the Republican Senate is the base of Trump’s power, not the MAGATs. The MAGATs are not his enforcers, law makers, policy enablers or his true power. They’re only his attack dogs, to be used for every whim of his to keep power. Right now he’s busy also loosing them on his own party members, effectively striking fear into the rest of the Republicans. The result is their power is his power, wrested from them by using fear. Fear not only for their jobs, but probably for their lives, including for the lives of their family members. An enraged mob isn’t going to fight fair or stop to consider what they’re doing. All it takes is one crazed MAGAT to kill dozens of people in Trump’s name. The Republicans know this.

We need to flip the Senate. Even more than we need to get rid of Trump. This year our work must include backing much more than our own State Senators. We must back Democratic Senatorial races in many states, especially those who are running against the heavy weight Republicans like Mitch McConnell. Many of us know this, but it’s important for all of us to know this.

If we do this then even if Trump wins the election he will be a truly Lame Duck president from the beginning of his second term. If he has a Republican majority again he will just speed up his dictatorial domestic policies. If he is up against a solid Democratic Congress we can stop him, or at least keep him extremely limited in his options.

And we must proceed even on the assumption that Trump will cancel the elections. Our social net services depend on his ouster, or just hobbles his power. Our healthcare services are imperative to keep and expand. Our civil rights are at stake too. We must also put a stop to the runaway appointment of conservative judges and the SCOTUS nominations of more people like a Kavanaugh. We need many fronts and multiple strategies in this election because it could be our last real election.

43 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Why we must focus on winning the Senate (Original Post) lunatica Feb 2020 OP
Yes, Yes, a million times Yes....Doug Jones was already endangered Fresh_Start Feb 2020 #1
I've donated to Amy McGrath lunatica Feb 2020 #5
if you have time but not money Fresh_Start Feb 2020 #7
That's a great idea lunatica Feb 2020 #10
even if McGrath doesn't beat Moscow Mitch, taking the majority neuters him Hermit-The-Prog Feb 2020 #26
Yes. It'll kick him off the leadership in the Senate lunatica Feb 2020 #29
Recommended for the excellent analysis. guillaumeb Feb 2020 #2
We have to start considering the worst case scenarios now. lunatica Feb 2020 #8
100% Right On! leftieNanner Feb 2020 #3
Ultimately, this is bigger than the WH. AtheistCrusader Feb 2020 #4
Almost all the Senators voted to acquit... kentuck Feb 2020 #6
Exactly! They voted to please him, not to do the right thing. lunatica Feb 2020 #9
That seems like a very good reason to kick them out.. kentuck Feb 2020 #11
And state legislatures. TwilightZone Feb 2020 #12
K & R liberalla Feb 2020 #13
I've been saying this for 9 months now... SKKY Feb 2020 #14
You're absolutely right lunatica Feb 2020 #15
Kick lunatica Feb 2020 #16
Absolutely right! northoftheborder Feb 2020 #17
I absolutely agree! llmart Feb 2020 #18
Yes. lunatica Feb 2020 #19
. lunatica Feb 2020 #20
Impeach Him Again!!! wnc hillbilly Feb 2020 #21
That's a definite possibility since he keeps breaking the law. lunatica Feb 2020 #22
The impeachment in the House was a success lunatica Feb 2020 #23
The struggle continues lunatica Feb 2020 #41
I disagree that it's more important than getting rid of Trump democrattotheend Feb 2020 #24
A Democratic President would be obstructed worse than Obama was lunatica Feb 2020 #27
Agreed. edbermac Feb 2020 #25
Yes. We've seen them do all of it. lunatica Feb 2020 #28
I love the sentiment but small point of fact ... the Magats are a bigly source of IQ45's power mr_lebowski Feb 2020 #30
The MAGATs are important lunatica Feb 2020 #31
Trump winning and a Democratic Senate is an extermely Wabbajack_ Feb 2020 #32
That would be the ideal outcome lunatica Feb 2020 #33
Also folks can help register voters and consider supporting Greg Palast who's leading the fight to JudyM Feb 2020 #34
k&r TeamPooka Feb 2020 #35
Every person here should adopt a Dem Senate candidate. Funtatlaguy Feb 2020 #36
If any of those candidates come up short of funds lunatica Feb 2020 #37
Yep. Funtatlaguy Feb 2020 #38
Even if we flip the Senate Trump couldn't be removed. Kablooie Feb 2020 #39
If Mitch and his leadership group are replaced the lunatica Feb 2020 #40
Minority Leader McConnell has a lovely ring to it. 11 Bravo Feb 2020 #42
Retired forever due to humiliating landslide opposition votes sounds even better. lunatica Feb 2020 #43

Fresh_Start

(11,330 posts)
1. Yes, Yes, a million times Yes....Doug Jones was already endangered
Mon Feb 10, 2020, 06:35 PM
Feb 2020

and then we voted to impeach. So if you can help Doug, please do.

I think Arizona match is already well funded.

I want to get rid of mitch so bad, I can taste it. Amy McGrath is going to need time and money to get rid of him.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
5. I've donated to Amy McGrath
Mon Feb 10, 2020, 06:46 PM
Feb 2020

Fortunately my state is solid blue so my small amount can be spread out to other Senatorial candidates. I live on a fixed income which means I better fight tooth and nail to keep my Social Security income and my Medicare!

Fresh_Start

(11,330 posts)
7. if you have time but not money
Mon Feb 10, 2020, 06:50 PM
Feb 2020

after primaries postcards to voters should have volunteer opportunities. I fund your postcards and postage if you'd like to do that.

I did a primary race for super tuesday for california already.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
29. Yes. It'll kick him off the leadership in the Senate
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 12:39 AM
Feb 2020

Which I’m also fine with. Preferably though, let’s just kick his ass out.

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
2. Recommended for the excellent analysis.
Mon Feb 10, 2020, 06:35 PM
Feb 2020

The MAGA hatters are Trump's brown shirts. We must work to defeat his enablers because they are his foundation.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
8. We have to start considering the worst case scenarios now.
Mon Feb 10, 2020, 06:54 PM
Feb 2020

Just as many of us surmised he would do, Trump just doubled down on his determined power grab. Let’s get over our shock, accept he is determined to be our dictator (what else does he want to be if not that?) and get focused on what we can do.

leftieNanner

(15,124 posts)
3. 100% Right On!
Mon Feb 10, 2020, 06:35 PM
Feb 2020

I saw a recent report that The Orange One is considering putting Sekulow on SCOTUS if a spot opens up. He might have trouble getting him through the Sena…. Oh who am I kidding? Mitch would shove anybody in there to please His Rotund-ness.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)
4. Ultimately, this is bigger than the WH.
Mon Feb 10, 2020, 06:38 PM
Feb 2020

If we had the senate, Trump would be packing his shit right now. Election 2020 would be about a humiliated Mike Pence, rather than Trump, and Pence can't fire up Trump's base.

kentuck

(111,103 posts)
6. Almost all the Senators voted to acquit...
Mon Feb 10, 2020, 06:49 PM
Feb 2020

...and not to have a fair trial. They voted for no witnesses and no evidence. They should have to answer for being cowards and traitors.

TwilightZone

(25,471 posts)
12. And state legislatures.
Mon Feb 10, 2020, 07:13 PM
Feb 2020

With Trump packing the courts, the only way to stop some of the egregious nonsense being passed on the state level is to take back state legislatures wherever possible.

But, yes, I agree that the Senate is vitally important.

SKKY

(11,811 posts)
14. I've been saying this for 9 months now...
Mon Feb 10, 2020, 07:33 PM
Feb 2020

...if we focus our efforts on the Senate, the WH has an excellent, probably likely, possibility of following suit. And even if Trump somehow pulls this thing out and stumbles into a 2nd term, a Democratic controlled house and Senate would be an excellent firewall. JMHO...

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
15. You're absolutely right
Mon Feb 10, 2020, 07:44 PM
Feb 2020

I’ve been talking about it too. We need to get as persuasive as we can. Many people are not really savvy about how the power dynamic works in Washington. It’s pretty evident in the kind of posts and comments you see on DU. People forget that the Presidents are not supposed to have more power than the other two branches of government, so they focus on him, not realizing there’s more than one way to fight.

So keep posting!

llmart

(15,540 posts)
18. I absolutely agree!
Mon Feb 10, 2020, 08:20 PM
Feb 2020

Hopefully we can do both, but let's not get so focused on the presidential race that we ignore the Senate. My Senators are both Dems, so I've been sending money to the important ones like Amy McGrath, Sara Gideon, Mark Kelly.

wnc hillbilly

(2 posts)
21. Impeach Him Again!!!
Mon Feb 10, 2020, 11:54 PM
Feb 2020

"If he is up against a solid Democratic Congress we can stop him, or at least keep him extremely limited in his option."

AND IMPEACH HIM AGAIN, SUCCESSFULLY THIS TIME!!!

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
23. The impeachment in the House was a success
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 12:23 AM
Feb 2020

It was the indictment in the Senate that failed. That’s why we have to flip the Senate.

democrattotheend

(11,605 posts)
24. I disagree that it's more important than getting rid of Trump
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 12:25 AM
Feb 2020

Trump is a danger and an embarrassment to this country. I would like to flip the senate but if I could only pick one I'd have a Democrat win the White House and the Republicans keep the Senate. But ideally we get both.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
27. A Democratic President would be obstructed worse than Obama was
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 12:34 AM
Feb 2020

The House has passed 400 bills and sent them to the Senate. The Senate has ignored them.

Why would we not fight to have a Democratic President and a Democratic Congress?

edbermac

(15,941 posts)
25. Agreed.
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 12:30 AM
Feb 2020

If we have the House and Senate, Trump is DOA.

If we have a Dem President, then Moscow Mitch will do everything he can to fuck them over.

 

mr_lebowski

(33,643 posts)
30. I love the sentiment but small point of fact ... the Magats are a bigly source of IQ45's power
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 12:39 AM
Feb 2020

If Trump was polling at 35% and only 55% with Repubs, the Repub Senate wouldn't be sucking up to his every whim.

With him polling at just over 45%, and over 90% with GOP voters ... the GOP Senators are terrified to cross him.

The Magats are critical to his power.

Wabbajack_

(1,300 posts)
32. Trump winning and a Democratic Senate is an extermely
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 12:51 AM
Feb 2020

Unlikely proposition. We need coattails from a top of ticket victory to win the Senate, zero states split tickets in 2016.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
33. That would be the ideal outcome
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 01:00 AM
Feb 2020

and hopefully with some focused work on our part we’ll get a Democratic President and Congress. But we should all also fight outside our own states in order to get it.

JudyM

(29,251 posts)
34. Also folks can help register voters and consider supporting Greg Palast who's leading the fight to
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 01:19 AM
Feb 2020

get republican-purged voters back on the voter rolls (just won that GA victory you might’ve read about!). http://www.palastinvestigativefund.org/

We desperately need to GOTV.

Funtatlaguy

(10,879 posts)
36. Every person here should adopt a Dem Senate candidate.
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 01:56 AM
Feb 2020

Pick one of these states and make donations and phone calls for the Dem nominee.
Arizona, NCarolina, Maine, Colorado. Those are our best hopes to beat a GOP incumbent.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
37. If any of those candidates come up short of funds
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 02:02 AM
Feb 2020

it would be a good idea to post about here so people can do one time donations. I think it might well become necessary this election.

Kablooie

(18,634 posts)
39. Even if we flip the Senate Trump couldn't be removed.
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 02:08 AM
Feb 2020

Unless we flipped 20 seats.
Still no Republicans would vote to take out the trash from the WH.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
40. If Mitch and his leadership group are replaced the
Tue Feb 11, 2020, 03:03 AM
Feb 2020

dynamics might change. Mitch obviously has a lock on the power structure and if he’s replaced by Amy McGrath who is completely different then that’s one seat that changes completely. She is much less likely to be a Trump cultist. If this happens to a few Trump loyalists then things change. Romney may not be the lone republican with a sense of decency and patriotism.

The Republicans could possibly stop being a solid pro Trump block. A few changes could change everything.

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