2018 was an increase for the dems but it was less than the average increase for the opposition party at a midterm election. So not really all that zippy. Obama lost a lot more than Trump in his first midterm but was still re-elected. But I see that that is all you got to work with so milk it. But, as I said, not really very zippy. In addition, the new dems who were elected had to run as moderates- not a good sign for the progressives. Yeh, I know AOC etc, but that was a primary election and not a net increase for dems.
In terms of pure voter turnout democrats were off of the charts and independents swung big time. The only thing that cushioned the number of seats won was gerrymandering. Interestingly, Trump doesn’t show signs of losing the swing voters he won in 2016. Where is hemorrhaging support is among white women. And, if the Dems can get their act together, he will face record levels of dem turnout.
Well, that was true of 2016 "if dems got their act together" they would have won. There is no doubt that there is a massive pent up demand for dems to show up and do some damage. I dont know how they are going to work it just yet, and guess what, they dont either. As I said, I dont think that the midterms showed that there is necessarily a green light for the party to put up a far left progressive and everyone is going to show up for that. It was easier to make that decision for your local congressthey. Some were able to vote for more moderate congress rep which many did at midterms. But in a presidential race if you has far left nominee, everyone is watching the same movie and has the same choice to make, versus local district elections where you have a mix of winners and losers. Having said that, I still think that Poca is a far, far more formidable candidate for Trump- not because of her ideology but because she is functional. You must at least be functional before you get to the ideology or it does you no good. Joe does not pass that test, and his campaign is an ungodly slow-roll. You have chided me a few times about secretly being afraid of Biden. Man, are you wrong. Put him on the ticket and the conservatives will vaporize that fucker and leave him a pile of drool everytime he tries to respond. The Indian girl is capable of going out on the hunt. She at least advances to the level where people are evaluating her ideology, not her record player and stock coupons. But as I also said, I dont know whether that alleged wave of dems and independents are all going to be fired up for someone as lefty as she is. Yeh, I know, she would run toward the middle in the general, blah, blah, blah. Yeh, a candidate can do that within reason but she has some genies on record that you cannot stuff back into the bottle.
This is the exact point I have been trying to get through Tony's head. 2018 means nothing if the Dems can't produce a viable nominee. Like Texas is gonna turn blue. When pigs fly.
Put Tony on ignore and "problem solved." You know, like when your "check engine" light comes on and you just put a piece of duct tape over it. Problem gone.
Tulsi is a highly useful and interesting candidate. She challenges the prevailing dem-dnc dud trance state. We know that as a binary thinker, you evaluate the value of candidate soley in terms of whether they will become president or not. Guess what, Bootyplug adds value too but he is never going to become president. Let's just agree that there are quite a few dem candidates who are not useful and do not add value to the distillation process as we go along. Too nuanced for your binary mind? Thought so.
You’re arguing that Dems needed to moderate to get 2018 candidates elected but the most moderate dem candidate won’t get elected because he will get vaporized by conservatives. I don’t know if the country is in the mood for a wild General Election, they just may turn away from that stuff Trump has been beating them over the head with for almost 5 years now. Or, not. I know I’m sick of Trump not taking any responsibility and looking at policy through a Russian lens but that may be what you want. I don’t know.
Well let’s be honest about who is a so called viable candidate. Will democrats vote for Gabbard, no. She would not win a general election. What about Warren? Is she a viable candidate to win the presidency?