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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy we must focus on winning the Senate
We have to realize the Republican Senate is the base of Trumps power, not the MAGATs. The MAGATs are not his enforcers, law makers, policy enablers or his true power. Theyre only his attack dogs, to be used for every whim of his to keep power. Right now hes 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 isnt going to fight fair or stop to consider what theyre doing. All it takes is one crazed MAGAT to kill dozens of people in Trumps 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 its 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.
Fresh_Start
(11,330 posts)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)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)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)I have limited mobility so I could help that way.
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,355 posts)lunatica
(53,410 posts)Which Im also fine with. Preferably though, lets just kick his ass out.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)The MAGA hatters are Trump's brown shirts. We must work to defeat his enablers because they are his foundation.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)Just as many of us surmised he would do, Trump just doubled down on his determined power grab. Lets 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)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)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)...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.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)kentuck
(111,103 posts)In my opinion.
TwilightZone
(25,471 posts)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.
liberalla
(9,249 posts)SKKY
(11,811 posts)...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)Ive 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. Its 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 theres more than one way to fight.
So keep posting!
lunatica
(53,410 posts)northoftheborder
(7,572 posts)llmart
(15,540 posts)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.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)wnc hillbilly
(2 posts)"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)He thinks no one can touch him.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)It was the indictment in the Senate that failed. Thats why we have to flip the Senate.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)democrattotheend
(11,605 posts)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)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)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.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)Theyll be even worse the next time.
mr_lebowski
(33,643 posts)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.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)But as his attack dogs. The MAGATs didnt acquit him. The Senate did.
Wabbajack_
(1,300 posts)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)and hopefully with some focused work on our part well 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)get republican-purged voters back on the voter rolls (just won that GA victory you mightve read about!). http://www.palastinvestigativefund.org/
We desperately need to GOTV.
TeamPooka
(24,229 posts)Funtatlaguy
(10,879 posts)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)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.
Funtatlaguy
(10,879 posts)Kablooie
(18,634 posts)Unless we flipped 20 seats.
Still no Republicans would vote to take out the trash from the WH.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)dynamics might change. Mitch obviously has a lock on the power structure and if hes replaced by Amy McGrath who is completely different then thats 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.