General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsStop the self-flagellation about the Senate
Seriously, if you're surprised at how the Senate turned out, you're living in a fantasy. Look at the map. Really look at it. What happened?
Republicans won in reliably red states.
The president's party lost in purple states.
You don't need Nate Silver to tell you that that was always the most likely outcome last night. So chill out.
About that.
But you want to whine, scream, cry? Forget the Senate: go to town on the governors races, where we performed shamefully. We lost three -- three! -- true-Blue states, and we failed to dislodge three of the least popular governors in the country (two of them in reliably Blue states, too). That's appalling. That demands an explanation.
And I'll give you an explanation: the GOP is smarter about this than we are. Look at DU today. Even today, it's all "Obama Obama Obama." "Don't be a lame duck, Obama!" "Will Obama use the veto?" "What will Obama say?" We want a stronger party? Here's a suggestion: forget about Obama. Worry about governorships, where the GOP is killing us. Worry about state houses, where the GOP is killing us. But check the fucking Daddy fantasy at the door; the presidency is, in many respects, the least important part of this equation, and the fact that we know how to win it (and will again in 2016) doesn't mean jack squat if the GOP controls the states.
We need a party focused on winning at all levels. The fact that we -- Democrats! -- have been disproportionately focused on a handful of elite offices, while the authoritarian crypto-fascist GOP builds support at the state level is beyond embarrassing.
merrily
(45,251 posts)Depending upon how conspiracy theory one is, chalk it up to the natural order of politics in modern America or to how "they" arrange it.
BTW, I've seen, in posts here, flagellation of liberals by whatever the other group of DUers is, flagellation of members of various generations, flagellation of Republicans, etc. Don't recall seeing a a lot of SELF-flagellation posts, though. To the contrary, I've seen a lot of self congratulatory posts.
belzabubba333
(1,237 posts)Dawgs
(14,755 posts)It ain't going to hurt anything.