2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forum250 seats
52 seats.
This wasn't just losing. This was EPIC DEFEAT.
250 House seats. Historic in scope. It would take, AT LEAST, 2 EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL, election cycles to overcome these numbers.
54 Senate seats. And growing. There are 22 rethug seats up in 2016...almost all of them in solid red states. There is little to no chance of serious gains in the Senate in 2016.
In short, Democrats could be out in the cold for a decade or more.
A win here or there MEANS NOTHING. they have a super majority in the House. a couple of DINOs will get them 60 votes in the Senate.
Democratic apathy has sowed the seeds of ruin.
FUCK the fucking republicans. All hail our corporate masters!
We all stood, stoney, as we took in the scope of the destruction we sowed.
Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)The damage is nearly unrepairable because the Republicans can hurt us a lot over the next few years, not to mention SCOTUS appointments.
But hey, that's what Americans want, so be it.
still_one
(92,396 posts)Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)they'll push this "it's Obama's fault" meme all the way through to the end.
I can hear it now: "Obama refuses to compromise after Americans gave Republicans a congressional mandate".
The worse of it: DUers who go along with it and blame Obama, too! That hurts like hell.
UGH! I feel sick!
still_one
(92,396 posts)power in order to change things. If they remain "timid" because they fear losing their career politician jobs, then it is up to we the people to elect new people to replace them
Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)activism. Now, I'm seeing DUers demonizing the BOG forum (I am not a member and never post there, to be fair).
People were angry with Bill Clinton. At the time, many believed Al Gore to be weak and timid. John Kerry wasn't popular.
But I swear to God, despite all those shortcomings, I've never seen a Democratic board turn against a Democratic president. I've never seen that up until now.
They even have names for anyone who dares try to defend the president on anything--even if that person, like me, admits that she doesn't agree with everything the president has done.
And again, we are sitting here wondering why we lost.
The Democratic base didn't turn out in high enough numbers. But why should they if even the Democratic Party establishment runs away from their president. And, the corporate media is gleefully cheering on the Republicans.
I believe that we lost Maryland tonight due to genuine apathy. People don't care if the corporate media and Democrats themselves don't stand for anything. Why should the voters?
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)still_one
(92,396 posts)means a financial meltdown, or losing their life savings, destruction of Social Security, and healthcare, then so be it. Some folks obviously have had it too good on the backs of those who fought for labor rights, social security, medicare, women's rights, etc., and they will just have to fight those battles again when it gets bad enough for them. If your scenario holds it will mean a lot of pain for a lot of people.
However, I don't think it will. Congress has a 19% approval rating. To me that doesn't mean the people will be chomping at the bit to elect their republican saviors. The republicans will be vulnerable, red state or not
Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)...and they WILL shut it down, everyone should feel pain, including the old white folk who vote Republican but receive their social security and medicare benefits. No more of that! It can't just be federal employees feeling wrath. Americans need to feel it, too!
still_one
(92,396 posts)hurt, but most of all, Congress should be the first to feel the pain if they do that
Corruption Inc
(1,568 posts)Just look ahead, change we can believe in. LOL.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)here is a prime example...
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)When's the last time they used that line???!!!
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)underthematrix
(5,811 posts)check out this amazing article. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-increasing-reliance-on-white-voters-may-not-spell-electoral-doom-just-yet/2014/08/03/04f0c85c-1b21-11e4-ab7b-696c295ddfd1_story.html As an African American, this definitely makes more sense than my original theory of voter fraud even though i know voter suppression and fraud probably played some role. But I think this makes a lot of sense.
mgcgulfcoast
(1,127 posts)Mistwell
(569 posts)"NBC News projects the GOP will hold a 250-185 seat advantage, with the probability of error plus or minus four seats."
JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)Reter
(2,188 posts)Have they ever had 250?
angrychair
(8,733 posts)They will likely hit 250...no that has not happened before that I am aware of...