The Ecstasy, the Agony, the Midterms

I am very happy with the result. It applies brakes to Trump’s erratic navigation of the ship of state (I’m not a sailor so I don’t know what is the proper nautical equivalent for this metaphor). It acts as a rebuke to the crazy right-wingers and evangelicals. On the other hand, it is a also a rebuke to the crazy left-wingers, socialists and pedddlers of identity warfare. Pelosi whom I greatly respect will be the Speaker and if anybody can bring Trump to heel, it’s her. The Congress won’t be able to raise taxes and the President won’t be able to invade a country whose location on the map is a mystery to him. The economy will be doing well and the stock market will go up. There is much to be said for governmental paralysis.

I'm pretty sure that it is too optimistic to say that "a politician's sexual orientation is almost a non-issue for voters". I think that it effectively looks that way, but it would be more accurate to say that it is a REDUNDANT issue: any voter who has a problem with a gay politician will also have policy issues to never make them vote for him anyway. To my mind, that's not quite the same thing as a non-issue. That said, the issue going from being disqualifying to redundant is clearly a great, wonderful step forward.

If he's such a "deep thinker," why does Kerrey unconsciously accept and promote the Republicans' framing as a Grand Old Party? Sorry, Mr. Bruni, not buying any of this.

I would go further and have a post election series of rallies by Obama a few months down the line raising the Caravan issue with the message: "you've been duped. The Caravan was never an issue. Don't let them dupe you again."

"The leftists in Honduras who set the caravan in motion cost us Senate seats in Missouri, Indiana, Arizona, Nevada and perhaps Texas." No mention of course of the the U.S. role in creating the conditions that the caravan was escaping from.

"Representative Beto O’Rourke, the Texas Democrat who tried to unseat Senator Ted Cruz, the Republican incumbent." As for me, I'm tired of the endless push to populate elected seats with White men. In Texas we put up a clear message, "White privilege is over." Texans want diversity and we will vote until we get it. Viva Ted.

Senator Kerry's advice is spot on! Aside from forming a working group from the key states he mentions, his mention-finally-of lifting the cap on income for Social Security is long overdue. I often wonder if most people are even aware of this cap-because if you are not making $120,000 a year, you do not reach the cap and therefore do not receive in increase in your net pay once the cap is reached. It is time to do away with this. The Democrats need to put together simply understood plans to save social security, medicare, and the Affordable Care Act. They need to produce television and digital ads which are shown all over the nation to present the facts. They did not do this in 2010 and the Tea Party controlled the narrative. We cannot let this happen again. Facts, facts, facts. State the truth over and over. State the problem. State how the Democrats propose to fix it. Advertise. Give speeches. Do town halls. Use the same verbiage. Go on every show-including fox. Be out there. Do not let Dumbo Donnie control the message. We need to start fighting back in the same way we just took back the House. A strong, simple, consistent message in language people understand. Expose the truth. Don't argue with Dumbo, just state the facts over and over and again. Keep at it. Don't give up and don't give in. We can do this. Remember: the Truth will set you free.

Texas' other senate seat will be up for election in 2020. Beto, go for it!

If Democrats come up with a policy to confront illegal immigration they'll remove the biggest barrier so many Americans have in voting for them. They should be open to the dismantling of birthright citizenship which the Chinese have been scamming for decades; Trump has never said a word against Chinese birthing houses. Personally I've always thought, of all the hordes of people wishing to immigrate to the U.S., Salvadoreñians should be given preference since it was the U.S. that destroyed their country.

I have been reading about the great Beto for months now, but the fact is he lost to a man most of the world thinks is a hypocritical slimeball. Over 4 million Texans supported Lyin Ted for one reason or another. If Beto can't beat Cruz, how could he beat an honest human? Oh right, Trump did it.

Both David Leonhardt and Michael Tomasky have columns currently about the huge problem Democrats have connecting with rural voters. Much of it is the same kind of problem Democrats have with blue collar voters in general. Democrats have become the party of urban elites, but it doesn't have to remain that way. I have submitted many comments about this very issue, and sometimes they don't get printed (I'd like to know why). Tomasky's column makes some excellent points about what is of critical interest to rural people. Start paying attention to the economic problems of rural people and what they need. Look at the ballot issues that have passed in the states and you can see what the peoples' concerns are.

On raising Social Security income cap and cutting tax rate at for low and middle income people -- what a WONDERFUL idea! On immigration: Real reform that is humane, orderly and legal. And enforcement of labor norms -- hold employers accountable. The two issues are connected.

Even though Democrats regained control of the House (crucial for our democracy to survive the next two years), I think Trump really won the election. He proved that his slash-and-burn campaign style, filled with lies and demagoguery, worked on enough people that what should have been a blowout elections for Democrats was far less. It almost takes a landslide for Democrats to overcome the advantage that Republicans have because of gerrymandering and voter suppression. Without a hard-hitting, articulate and popular candidate who can handle Trump's combative campaign style, Democrats have little chance of beating Trump in 2020.

I think there are signs that Democrats are out of touch with swing voters in states that they need to win. The Andrew Gillum defeat in Florida was a huge loss for progressives. The Democrats went too far left with Gillum in the primary, and paid a price in the general. The liberal coastal base is obsessed with race and gender politics, Russia and Trump's alleged crimes. Many of the culture war issues that are precious to the base are vote losers in the heartland states that need to be won in order to take power in Washington. The only people who care about Russia are political obsessives, and they tend not to be swing voters. What sometimes works with swing voters in the heartland are kitchen table issues like healthcare, wages, jobs and college debt. Democrats should forget the culture war and focus on making life better for middle and working class Americans. Moderate Democrats did have successes on Tuesday in overthrowing hard right state governments in Wisconsin and Kansas.

Mid term elections show that unless you stand up to Trump and go toe-to-toe with him, he will roll over you with his opinions. Like most bullies and cowards, he will back down from a fight but he makes you commit to the fight first before he will back down. SO DON'T BACK DOWN. PUSH IT TO THE LIMIT ON CONFRONTING TRUMP, INCLUDING PROTECTING THE MUELLER INVESTIGATION.

A suggestion for my democrat friends: forget the whole Beto thing - it's sort of weird, like a political Shaun Cassidy poster. And despite an insane amount of money and running against a Republican who angered his own party, he still lost.

Unfortunately Beto O'Rourke did not beat Cruz, the most hated senator by both parties. He has another chance to win by defeating Cornyn. I hope that he will run again. Intellect, combined with charisma and good manners are sorely lacking in the Republicans Party on Capitol Hill.

The Dem should work on Health Care ,Immigration and shinning light on all the bad moves of the Trump's administration ;don't lose your time with Trump himself to the exception of some inquiry in the laundering money by his businesses .The economy will suffer a lot following most of Trump's move; put the light on it !

Bob Kerrey's advice regarding Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and maybe Ohio is critical. Looking at the Electoral College it is difficult to find better Trump-state targets - NC, GA are longshots and Florida clearly cannot be relied upon based on yesterday. I fear that if there is no Dem strategy while Repubs focus only on those states they need, we're headed toward winning the popular vote by millions in 2020 while continuing to lose in the critical states. Michael Tomasky's column today also shows us how terribly difficult it will be to take back the Senate in 2020 - these states also represent one of the narrow paths to getting the Senate back by 2022 - seats in WI, PA. Dems must focus on these states in every way, shape and form

The midterms were one small step ahead for democracy and one giant leap ahead for Democratic women. As for the rural vote, I don’t believe it will swing significantly to Democrats unless and until Trump and Republican policies inflict an intolerable level of pain on these voters. The fact that a charismatic and well-funded candidate like Beto was unable to defeat one of the most universally reviled political figures in the nation tells me that serious inroads in red states by democrats are at least several years in the future. Bottom line, or democracy is still hanging by a thread.

I woke up this morning, read some of the news, drank a cup of coffee, black, no sugar, thought awhile, look out the window at Atlanta's city lights. Then smiled. Democrats had a good night, we didn't win it all, but we sure as heck got ourselves back on the path and aimed in the right direction. We have some great presidential candidates, and a House of Representatives that I'm confident will introduce solid legislation that will resonate with most of the citizenry. Onward to 2020.

I appreciate Mr. Bruni's arguments, but it seems to me that he, like many media members, is fascinated by the strategy and conflict of politics and ignores the principles that drive Americans to participate. Yes, Democrats need to win swing-states, but is that worth de-emphasizing the policies and rhetoric that are important to the vast majority of Democratic voters? Rather than crafting a message that minimizes controversial topics, Democratic politicians need to use their platforms to convince voters that the policies of inclusion, environmentalism, and economic reform that progressive activists are pushing for are in fact in the interests of the vast majority of Americans.

Letting Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin delegations set the House agenda is a good idea. How about adding Texas, Florida, and Georgia delegates? The Democrats' bi-coastal supporters have a huge stake in building an agenda that would open up the unnaturally red South too.

Hey Editors: "Ecstasy" "rejoice"? Are you kidding me. Some semblance of relief maybe. But is the only choice false "hope" or melodramatic "despair." There seems to be some progress for those of us who want to reclaim this country from Trump and his ilk, but there is much work to be done. Further, much damage has already been inflicted, in terms of the courts, climate change, de-regulations, international relations. I know deluded optimism is the American way, and probably sells papers and invites clicks. But I'd welcome some hardscrabble realism.

I want Beto to run for Senste again in 2020, either against Cornyn or who ever the Rs nominate. He came too close not to try again. This country is split down the middle. White rural and well to do suburbs against every else. The suburbs are shifting as they realize the Rs are doing the bidding of the 1%, the ultra religious right, and increasingly the white nationalists. How long will intelligent people hold their noses to vote for the likes of Donald drumpf, Steven King, et al? Such is the federal system.

Democrats won real victories Tuesday night---but we wanted a moral victory too, and that escaped us.

I want Beto to run for Senate again in 2020, either against Cornyn or who ever the Rs nominate. He came too close not to try again. This country is split down the middle. White rural and well to do suburbs against every else. The suburbs are shifting as they realize the Rs are doing the bidding of the 1%, the ultra religious right, and increasingly the white nationalists. How long will intelligent people hold their noses to vote for the likes of Donald drumpf, Steven King, et al? Such is the federal system.

Frank, we now have an insurance policy, the House. Let Trump be Trump. When your Enemy is destroying himself, just stand back and watch. He WILL eventually implode, and take his fervent Collaborators with him. In the meantime, the best thing possible is to ignore him, and actually laugh AT him. His ego could never handle the insult, it’s a lifelong affliction, his Achilles heel. Guaranteed.

I do not care if we have a stalemate with a GOP Senate and a Democratic House. We no longer have a government consisting entirely of the no agenda Republicans who all laid down for trump. Dems can outline an agenda now regardless of how the Republicans react and let Donnie throw his hissy fits. Sooner or later America will tire of the GOP's lack of performance.

"I still wish for the day when the Republican Party as a whole gets to where many Republicans are individually and privately and treats L.G.B.T." Ha! That won't happen, because the Republican party is out to exploit the worst and most intolerant aspects of the human psyche for the purpose of gaining votes. It already has your tolerant friends. It does not want to sacrifice the intolerant ones by softening its platform, does it? The problem with finding common ground with rural Republicans is one of simple human ethics, equality, and compassion; areas that Democrats are not (and should not be) willing to abandon or compromise on. The fact is that the Republican party has aggregated the lowest of the low, pandered to and stroked them, and winked at their disgusting, rabble-rousing and hate-driven tactics. These people have the bit in their teeth now, thanks to an anachronistic electoral system. But reaching out to them in the hopes that they will disavow their blatant racism and their identity with the oppressor would be pointless. We wouldn't win their votes anyway, and we would betray the decent people we represent. We have to simply bowl them over with votes and unflinching, consistent determination. We will work obsessively to frustrate their odious agenda at every turn. Keep the pressure on, be ingenious and resourceful, and they will eventually crumble.

What I can take away is that in just a couple of election cycles the Democratic party has had its' core change from a Socialist on its fringe to having an abundance of true Progressives leading he charge. There were minorities, women and all sorts of people being fearless and winning. More will do the same. As they do, the country will as well.

Mr. Bruni wrote: "In 2010, two years into Barack Obama’s presidency, Democrats lost 63. Obviously, Republicans under Trump didn’t do nearly that badly." Perhaps because Trump & the Republicans didn’t do nearly as much?? Let's review Obama’s and the Democrats' legislative accomplishments during his first two years in office: 1. The Stimulus Bill — combination of tax cuts & large spending increases. 2. "Cash For Clunkers." 3. Bail-out of General Motors and Chrysler. 4. Aid for first-time homebuyers. 5. The "American Opportunity Credit" and "Lifetime Learning Credit." 6. Affordable Health Care Act. And for all that (and probably more I've forgotten), the Democrats were rewarded with Republican obstructionism in Congress and the Koch Brothers-financed Tea Party Movement backlash ("keep your government hands off my Medicare!"). Apparently in 2010 many voters bought the notion that "the best government is that which governs least." Well, no, to me, the best government is that which governs _best._ And that's what Obama and the Democrats gave post-financial crisis America exactly what it needed — the best, not the least.

Excuse me, but there are far more people that live in big cities than rural America. The problem isn't making the rurals feel like they are being listened to. The problem is that big city voters aren't properly represented by Congress. I get so sick and tired of the worn out line that big city elites don't respect country values. You mean like we don't respect voter suppression, guns in grade schools, separating children from their parents, discrimination against gays, privatization of schools, destroying the environment for the sake of corporate profits? You mean stuff like that? There are such things as American values, not big city or rural values. And chief among those is respect for the rights of the individual over the rights of the corporation and specifically the rights of the minority. Gay people get to eat cake too. Black people get to vote at nearby polling centers. Your kid doesn't get shot at school. When the Constitution was written, the framers never in their wildest dreams thought that there would be such large population differences between the largest and smallest states. We now have entire states that could fits inside one suburb. One borough of New York City has more people than North Dakota. If rural America wants to stop all that big city socialism, then let's stop agricultural subsidies. Let's stop farm price supports. Let them have a taste of real capitalism. Let the free markets truly rule. Vote for that N. Dakota.

We still have to deal with the Cabinet members and their dirty deeds. While all of us are distracted they continue their work of discarding any rule or regulation that might help the working poor, the environment, health care, housing, voting rights, pubic education, consumer rights, etc., etc., Here is hoping that instead of telling us about Trump's latest tweet, the media will keep us abreast of issues that make a difference in citizens lives. It is time to shine a light on what is really happening while Trump distracts us.

"They do not need to impeach him; they need to defeat him!" Taxpayers and voters have little power, if any, when it comes to the impeachment process. But defeating the opposition is something EVERY American can achieve by simply voting. So little skin in the game has never been more powerful nor important than merely voting the knucklehead out of office. I love the fact that hopefully my vote will and does count for something big, important and possibly a game changer.

Coastal progressives have seriously lost their way (read Ken Wilber's "Trump and a Post Truth World".) House Dems need to abandon their hubris and adopt a beginner's mind in solving the nation's biggest problems. Bob Kerrey's suggestions seem as good a place as any to start the process but only engage those that will be received well by the vast majority of average Americans - even those in Trump's base, eg healthcare and drug cost reductions for all instead of insurance subsidies for some at the expense of higher costs for others.

I think we have seen the future--and it is Beto, Stacey and Andrew. I hope the Dems will have their input and chops as we move forward to offer the country an authentic alternative in 2020.

" take the cap off income that is taxed for Social Security and use the money to cut the payroll tax for everyone else". This doesn't help the long term stability of Social Security or help the nation's senior citizens who desperately need increased social security raises so they aren't eating in food banks and worrying about paying their bills.

Unequal representation in voting now drives cultural segregation in the US.

Removing the cap on payroll taxes beyond its current absurdly low limit is fine, but if you cut payroll taxes for other workers, you don't fix any SS shortfalls, and you wind up hurting seniors.

Bob Kerrey is very smart and has some interesting ideas. The only problem is that there's a Republican Senate and a Republican President. The advice that the House needs is what battles to pick with Donald Trump to end his authoritarian reign of executive overreach. And, the House does have a unique Constitutional right to control tariffs and can and should act to end Trump's trade war that is harming farmers in the Midwest (even though they voted for him) as well as auto workers also in the Midwest. This might be more effective in restoring the "blue wall" in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin than would a health policy that would never be enacted.

Our country is divided, split, sundered. President Trump's base may be ecstatic today, but the Democrats have suffered the agonies of de feet! Three great candidates -- one for the Senate in Texas and one each for the Governorship of Florida and Georgia -- fell afoul of the Trump net. God knows Beto O'Rourke, Andrew Gillum and Stacey Abrams gave more than their all. Scary over the past few weeks to see that the victors of these three battles (Cruz, DeSantis, Kemp) were red-meat Trump-sychophants. Trump stumped for them and bragged that they won. Oh well, the Red Grapes are probably sour anyway!

Guess the Tennessee results show that score in the game of Orange vs Swift is 1:0. Agent Orange continues to hold the Old White Rural Men demographic firmly in his grip. A former Republican called them "undereducated poor white men". And therein lies the problem. "Elites" continue to denigrate what is a sizeable chunk of the American population. Orange Man continues to exploit their predicament and insecurities with pure and unadulterated demagoguery. If that situation persists Orange Man will earn a second term. He is despicable but he does have a feral sense how to make a quick unethical buck, and by extension secure votes with quick unethical lies. Ben Nelson is absolutely right. Dems should forget about investing him and reinforcing the rhetoric he has proven works beautifully for him. Let him be, but figure out what to do about "poor white undereducated America". There is more of them voting than LGBT and minorities. And in a representative democracy this matters. If you want to help the minorities you need to be in power. And to be in power you need to (mostly) address the concerns of the majority.

Gerrymandering continues to rule the day in North Carolina, where the GOP captured 10 of 13 House seats, while the Democratic House candidates received around 105,000 more votes than GOP candidates across the state.

What a strange turn of phrase: "exerting more and more dominance over suburbs and over the college-educated Americans" For the record, no politician or party is exerting dominance over me.

One thing is reassuring. While all the pundits are asking themselves "what does this all mean?", the Street is happy with the apparent gridlock to come, and the Dow is up 1.5%. Why? Because the best thing is when politicians are mired in their own muck and gridlocked, while the rest of the country can go about their merry ways and make money. Gridlock = stability.

Nice column. The country and certainly myself were buoyed by yesterday's Democratic successes. I am very glad and thankful. Democratic candidates were just terrific, and it's hurtful some of those lost. We had better find a way to use these people and keep them and their bases strong. But one thing deeply concerns me and others. The Urban/Rural divide is perilous in my opinion. Dems must make inroads into rural America before we are truly in a place to strongly and justly govern. Both Health Care and myriad Infrastructure jobs are the key to gaining rural trust.