To those who hate the opposition regardless of which side you lean towards. How did you and your family do when that party controlled both houses of congress and the Whitehouse?
The reality is it didn't matter much either way. Stop following the shiny object and hold your representatives accountable regardless of whether it's a (D) (R) or (I) in front of it. Please don't tell me you actually believe special interests don't supersede whatever policy position you favor. If you believe that the true power structure has already won. Reelection of incumbent politicians is anti democracy. Term limit them before they get malignant.
Money has corrupted our democracy and we are the lemmings headed over the cliff because that's what keeps the system in power over all of us. They pit us against one another so we stay fragmented.
Good ideas don't have a partisan bent, good governance is not ideologically driven. Money buys messaging and a divided house cannot stand. When you criticize the people you disagree with on policy, do so by offering an alternative policy immediately following that critique or criticism. Remember that eventually your political party affiliation will be in the minority. Win your argument with intellect not ignorance.
The reality is it didn't matter much either way. Stop following the shiny object and hold your representatives accountable regardless of whether it's a (D) (R) or (I) in front of it. Please don't tell me you actually believe special interests don't supersede whatever policy position you favor. If you believe that the true power structure has already won. Reelection of incumbent politicians is anti democracy. Term limit them before they get malignant.
Money has corrupted our democracy and we are the lemmings headed over the cliff because that's what keeps the system in power over all of us. They pit us against one another so we stay fragmented.
Good ideas don't have a partisan bent, good governance is not ideologically driven. Money buys messaging and a divided house cannot stand. When you criticize the people you disagree with on policy, do so by offering an alternative policy immediately following that critique or criticism. Remember that eventually your political party affiliation will be in the minority. Win your argument with intellect not ignorance.
1
I really want to like Donald Trump, I just can't do it. He and his opponent are offensive on so many levels. I'm disgusted beyond belief, we the people had better learn that the differences between the two parties are virtually negligible in the grand scheme of our lives. Regardless of who wins this election cycle, do any of us truly believe our lives will be changed significantly?
The dishonesty and inability to truly say what she truly feels is not unique to Kelly Ayotte. It's a disease that sadly afflicts most politicians as they perform their electoral kabuki dances.
I loathe Trump but his one redeeming quality is he says what he truly feels. If only at the moment. It could change tomorrow. And both positions will be inane. But forthrightness is appreciated. And in short supply.
I loathe Trump but his one redeeming quality is he says what he truly feels. If only at the moment. It could change tomorrow. And both positions will be inane. But forthrightness is appreciated. And in short supply.
1
Saying what you truly feel requires (a) self-insight, and (b) integrity. You've seen evidence that Trump possesses these qualities?
Is it possible that Trump says what he perceives his audience wants to hear, and the audience views this as forthrightness due to plain old confirmation bias?
Is it possible that Trump says what he perceives his audience wants to hear, and the audience views this as forthrightness due to plain old confirmation bias?
It will be interesting to track the anti-Trump senators after the conventions. It's possible that a Cleveland catastrophe will fortify their anti-Trump positions (one devoutly wishes), but it's also possible that party spirit will wash them back into the Trump camp. A strong, unified Democratic convention emphasizing liberal goals and ideals will have some effect as well. How they backtrack on their rhetoric of independence may have some journalists reflecting on VEEP.
As Mr. Draper implies, the election will be an interesting test of the intestinal fortitude of our nation, as well. Do we believe in the ideology undergirding American Exceptionalism, or is American Plutocracy about to come of age? Is the Constitution a living document, or mere branding?
As Mr. Draper implies, the election will be an interesting test of the intestinal fortitude of our nation, as well. Do we believe in the ideology undergirding American Exceptionalism, or is American Plutocracy about to come of age? Is the Constitution a living document, or mere branding?
1
There's little good news if this Congress survives "The Donald." The GOP, rid of him, will then revert to being the same old party of Mitch McConnell/Paul Ryan, the Stupid Party of obstruction, racism, ignorance, Koch brothers, coal, the end of free school breakfast programs, dumb militarism, "privatizing" Social Security, woman-hating, vaginal probes and "real rape." No good news there. None at all.
1
I hope people like McConnell, who made a career out of impeding Obama, gets the boot.
3
I hope they are unseated this time, finally. They have held American Presidents hostage, and with their avowed love of the NRA and gun industry they have armed Americans who may not have even had a grievance before but who are now in a very difficult time and we will I believe see more violence until we implode. I think it is coming to the place where the Police will refuse to do what they do because they do not wish to be a victim. And this will all be the will of the Republican Representatives from what I can see. I am so nervous thinking now about what the Convention will result in. And Donald Trump is one of the reasons things have escalated to this point. Guns and now factions who hate, armed to the teeth.
The GOP money is not on the sidelines. With a house and senate willing to act as they have towards Obama, it is shear lunacy to think that if Clinton wins that the GOP legislature will change its methods. This vast amounts of money will have an impact. It will mobilize the base. If Clinton wins and the GOP remains in charge of the house and senate (small caps intentional, unfortunately) we will see a Supreme Court with 5 Justices.
A friendly political press is almost as crucial to the political survival of these Republican incumbents as the billion-dollars-plus in dark money pouring into the states and filling the airwaves with toxic propaganda on their behalf.
Luckily for the Republicans, Beltway political reporters--lacking a learning curve even as our polarized nation teeters into violence, inequality, and dysfunction largely thanks to Republican tax policies and obstructionism--continue to embrace horse-race coverage and "both-sides-ism" and to normalize the right's unhinged power politics.
They also continue to demonstrate a dislike for the Democratic standard bearer more visceral and more damaging than anything we've seen since they went after Al Gore in 2000.
They should be--but aren't--giving headline coverage to Republican extremism. And they are largely ignoring what may end up being the political story of the century: the GOP's voter suppression blitzkrieg, currently underway in every Republican state in the union (including several rich in electoral college votes).
In the end, Illinois' Mark Kirk is more vulnerable than, say, Wisconsin's Ron Johnson, Florida's Marco Rubio, or Ohio's Rob Portman, not because Trump is such an odious candidate that even the Times can't pretend he's the chap we'd all like to have a beer with (although he is just that awful): but because in Illinois, Republicans aren't in charge of purging the voter rolls and won't be in charge of counting the votes.
Luckily for the Republicans, Beltway political reporters--lacking a learning curve even as our polarized nation teeters into violence, inequality, and dysfunction largely thanks to Republican tax policies and obstructionism--continue to embrace horse-race coverage and "both-sides-ism" and to normalize the right's unhinged power politics.
They also continue to demonstrate a dislike for the Democratic standard bearer more visceral and more damaging than anything we've seen since they went after Al Gore in 2000.
They should be--but aren't--giving headline coverage to Republican extremism. And they are largely ignoring what may end up being the political story of the century: the GOP's voter suppression blitzkrieg, currently underway in every Republican state in the union (including several rich in electoral college votes).
In the end, Illinois' Mark Kirk is more vulnerable than, say, Wisconsin's Ron Johnson, Florida's Marco Rubio, or Ohio's Rob Portman, not because Trump is such an odious candidate that even the Times can't pretend he's the chap we'd all like to have a beer with (although he is just that awful): but because in Illinois, Republicans aren't in charge of purging the voter rolls and won't be in charge of counting the votes.
Two horrible candidates. The difference is, one is an outsider, and one was overwhelmingly supported by the party establishment. So in my view, it is the Democratic Party that looks worse, not the Republican Party.
Republicans quoted here, such as Marco Rubio and Kelly Ayotte, need to get over themselves. What on earth makes them think that they are better than Donald Trump? What positions do they hold that are different from his?
As the article implies, Trump has already seen through them. He doesn't really care if they get elected or not. He's dealt with politicians for too long to have any respect left for them.
As the article implies, Trump has already seen through them. He doesn't really care if they get elected or not. He's dealt with politicians for too long to have any respect left for them.
"He's dealt with politicians for too long to have any respect left for them."
And yet he now wants to be one. He has no respect left for himself?
And yet he now wants to be one. He has no respect left for himself?
1
From my prospective, I am wondering if the Democrats can survive Hillary Clinton.
This Illinoisan will be voting for Tammy. As much as I admire Mark Kirk's stand against Donald Trump, my hope is to see the Democrats win the Senate (actually both houses of Congress would be nice). This obstructionist Congress has caused so much delay and discord. Yes I know it has happened with both parties, but to decide early on during President Obama's first term to block him was extreme and obscene.
There are dedicated members of Congress though we seem to not hear about them because of the likes of Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan. How nice it would be if more members of Congress were willing to reach across the aisle. I will miss Susan Collins when she leaves because she is a voice of reason while the Tea Party has caused irreparable harm to the government.
For me, the eye on the prize is the Supreme Court. We need a ninth Justice on the Court so that it can operate efficiently. A vote for Donald Trump would bring us closer to the end of Roe v. Wade. As it is, state legislatures are slowly and quietly chipping away at it. We need to make sure it doesn't happen and a Democratic Senate would ensure that.
I believe that both DT and the present Senate leadership have created an atmosphere which will make it difficult for a careful voter to vote Republican. I can't imagine DT having any coat tails in this one. Nor does the Republican Party Platform add anything to the mix. What were they thinking?
There are dedicated members of Congress though we seem to not hear about them because of the likes of Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan. How nice it would be if more members of Congress were willing to reach across the aisle. I will miss Susan Collins when she leaves because she is a voice of reason while the Tea Party has caused irreparable harm to the government.
For me, the eye on the prize is the Supreme Court. We need a ninth Justice on the Court so that it can operate efficiently. A vote for Donald Trump would bring us closer to the end of Roe v. Wade. As it is, state legislatures are slowly and quietly chipping away at it. We need to make sure it doesn't happen and a Democratic Senate would ensure that.
I believe that both DT and the present Senate leadership have created an atmosphere which will make it difficult for a careful voter to vote Republican. I can't imagine DT having any coat tails in this one. Nor does the Republican Party Platform add anything to the mix. What were they thinking?
1
Just watch the 2018 Midterm under President Hillary. It is gone be a Cruz-like invasion. Democrats are gone lose everywhere. Might be worse than a Trump presidency -I think.
You can say whatever you want about the individual positions that these so-called moderate Republicans take, but in the end all of them, including media darling Susan Collins, cast their vote to organize the Senate as a Republican. That vote is in fact by far the single most significant vote that each of them casts every two years. Collins, Kirk, Porter, Ayotte and all of the other supposedly "moderate" Republican senators all voted in 2015 to make McConnell the majority leader and to make the idiots Inhofe and Shelby important committee chairmen. No other vote they cast caused as much harm to the country, no other vote or votes they make on individual issues makes up for this awful vote, and they will each repeat that awful, unforgiveable vote if they are reelected.
Who cares
The last 30 years have been a special interest auction in Washington,both parties.
The last 30 years have been a special interest auction in Washington,both parties.
Perhaps Donald will take down with him some of the blockheads that currently populate the US Senate. We can hope.
Republicans are finally reaping what they have sown. Tomorrow, they will stand by and declare what they are really about by crowing Donald Trump--a racist, tax dodging, say anything to get elected, xenophobic, misogynistic, war hungry, gun loving, pathological liar-- their nominee and standard bearer. Wow. And when he loses will they spend months soul search, again? Before they start that round of introspection, I hope someone tells them they should first cultivate a soul.
1
I plan to do something in November I've never done before: vote a straight Democratic ballot. I am sick of Donald Trump, I am sick of Paul Ryan, I am sick of how weak, spineless and clueless the Republican Party is, and I want them out. I may not be a member of the Koch family, but I can contribute to candidates, too, and I plan to do all I can to show the Republican Party that with Trump they have finally gone too far.
3
Me too, MsPea. I have overlooked and made excuses until I am sick of it. Once I stopped defending, I don't know how I ever could have. I want the misogyny gone. I want the racism gone. At some point I may come back, but I will have to see changes.
1
McCain acknowledged, “If Donald Trump is at the top of the ticket, ... no doubt that this may be the race of my life.”
No the big test for McCain was whether he would kowtow to the man who insulted him and his fellow POWs to better his chances at an nth term in the Senate. He lost that battle utterly.
Once famous for his courage, McCain is now just another Trump trophy. It's Palin and Trump that he'll be remembered for, tragically.
No the big test for McCain was whether he would kowtow to the man who insulted him and his fellow POWs to better his chances at an nth term in the Senate. He lost that battle utterly.
Once famous for his courage, McCain is now just another Trump trophy. It's Palin and Trump that he'll be remembered for, tragically.
1
No, it can't. Evan Bayh is running to regain the seat he retired from six years ago. He is an exceedingly careful man and one can be certain he would not be doing this without polls telling him he has a far better than even chance. If that seat can be turned then there is no way the Republicans will keep a majority. It is a Democratic bonus no one would have expected even three months ago.
As to why Susan Collins remains a Republicans, only she and her consciences know.
As to why Susan Collins remains a Republicans, only she and her consciences know.
Does the GOP deserve to hold the Senate? No, they most certainly do not and the voters will show them the door come November. Obstruction at such a massive scale will be strongly rejected.
If he would break the GOP I am all for him. Third party have - zero chances neither does Proportional Representation. So if Trump can break the 2-party-winner-take-all-lesser-of-2-evils system of what America calls democracy, amen.
Bob Corker is a hard-working senator who doesn't fall into the "vulnerable" category, but it made me sick to see him brown-nosing around Trump. Ambition can make people act like fools.
Trump will turn out more whites of the trailerhood while simultaneously also turning out more Democrats (not for Hillary, but against Trump). Thus, a Democratic state will go more Democratic and a Republican state more Republican. 2010 was abnormally Tea Party driven and you can't have an Illinois Senator who is a Republican in a normal year elected, much less if you run against a high-profile veteran who is in lockstep (uhm...) with the Democratic machine. Sorry, Kirk, time to look for a job elsewhere, embrace the free excellent health care and the decent pension at 62. The job wasn't as bad as it could have.
Despite what Trump calls himself he is not a Republican. He is a free ranging lunatic who doesn't hear, or care about, anything but his own voice. His coronation this week at the Republican Convention will be the culmination of decades of GOP self inflicted disasters ranging from Goldwater, to Nixon, to the collossal blunder of the war in Iraq, to the demagoguery of radical right talk show hosts to the obstructionism of McConnell and the House Republicans and now to a con man who will finally lead them over the cliff, taking many of this year's GOP candidates with him. Let us hope this party is in its death throes and that out of it will come a party that really cares about all Americans and is prepared to lead this country into the future.
1
The current GOP is about White men fearing that when they are no longer in the majority, and non-Whites are garnering power, that Whites will be afforded the same savage treatment that they have been handing out for centuries.
I hope there is a clean sweep of all the aisles of Congress from the bought
by Koch et al...and Citizens United is overturned.....
We need to retrieve our democracy from the clutches of the self serving .01
percent.
I hope Hillary will choose Bernie....as a running mate...someone whose motive
are undeniably honest...
by Koch et al...and Citizens United is overturned.....
We need to retrieve our democracy from the clutches of the self serving .01
percent.
I hope Hillary will choose Bernie....as a running mate...someone whose motive
are undeniably honest...
With the dems insisting on nominating Clinton, any independent or moderate republican that feels compelled to vote for her out of disgust with Trump is going to be more likely to split their ticket and vote for down ticket republicans, especially if they think Clinton is going to win. And any angry democrats lured to voting for Trump are probably going to split their ticket and be more likely to vote democrat down ticket. Everybody not wedded to straight party line regardless voting for their lesser of the two evils and hedging their bets. So either way four years of even more divisiveness than we have now, whether you believe that is possible or not (Clinton is not going to be charming the repubs over drinks, unless she gives away to store to show that she really can get things done).
I suspect if Trump becomes President but the Senate reverts to Democratic control, we will see (yet another) reversion of the rhetoric of "Obstructionist Congress." The Republicans will accuse Democrats of obstructionism, while Democrats will be trying to curb whatever nonsense Trump will be up to (building the Great Wall of China, I mean, America, for example.)
1
"When I asked him recently whether the party’s maintaining its majority in the Senate meant anything to him, he replied: “Well, I’d like them to do that. But I don’t mind being a free agent, either.” That exchange perfectly encapsulates Trump - he always has a ready response but he has no clue regarding the structure and operation of the federal government. He REALLY believes that the president is some kind of CEO to which everyone in the House and Senate must defer. As Obama what it's like to deal with two hostile houses of Congress.
1
I'm pretty sure that HRC will win the presidency and the Dems will retake the senate:
* Trump's campaign only goes down hill. This convention looks like a disaster, even without violent demonstrations or floor breakdown inside. Presuming Trump continues to run the most incompetent campaign in modern history -- it will suppress Republican turn-out. Most down-ballot candidates depend on the Presidential candidate and "ground game" to drive turn-out ... kills a lot of down-ballot candidates even if they are not hurt by the with/against Trump problem.
* It's now fair-game to run away from Trump. No party unity exists, and rallying around Trump or the platform is suicide for many candidates. Some voters will not "get on board" whatever the candidate's message is -- Trumpers particularly.
* Trump's problems, and the party's problems, are likely to mount. HRC is past the emails. Trump isn't past Trump U., or a lot of things.
I think the Senate will flip, but the question is the House. And while I'd love to see it, the Gerrymandering is so strong that the GOP will probably keep it. But ... the amusing thing about that is assume that the Democrats pick up 10 seats or so (not enough to flip the House) Paul Ryan's job turns into the job-from-hell. He'd need to chuck the Hastert rule out the window and court Democratic votes to pass anything, and the Freedom Caucus would shoot him in the back just they way they did Boehner.
* Trump's campaign only goes down hill. This convention looks like a disaster, even without violent demonstrations or floor breakdown inside. Presuming Trump continues to run the most incompetent campaign in modern history -- it will suppress Republican turn-out. Most down-ballot candidates depend on the Presidential candidate and "ground game" to drive turn-out ... kills a lot of down-ballot candidates even if they are not hurt by the with/against Trump problem.
* It's now fair-game to run away from Trump. No party unity exists, and rallying around Trump or the platform is suicide for many candidates. Some voters will not "get on board" whatever the candidate's message is -- Trumpers particularly.
* Trump's problems, and the party's problems, are likely to mount. HRC is past the emails. Trump isn't past Trump U., or a lot of things.
I think the Senate will flip, but the question is the House. And while I'd love to see it, the Gerrymandering is so strong that the GOP will probably keep it. But ... the amusing thing about that is assume that the Democrats pick up 10 seats or so (not enough to flip the House) Paul Ryan's job turns into the job-from-hell. He'd need to chuck the Hastert rule out the window and court Democratic votes to pass anything, and the Freedom Caucus would shoot him in the back just they way they did Boehner.
1
Oh, those poor Republican politicians. For more than thirty years THEIR party has systematically and deliberately adopted policies that have politically alienated voters and economically ravaged workers and their families. NOW these representatives and senators fear that their meal ticket is in jeopardy and can't quite understand why. They blame Trump, but they ought to take a hard look in a mirror--and recall the adage: "what goes around comes around."
The Republican Party platform that party insiders are working on right now is even crazier and more offensive than Trump. How do candidates distance themselves from that?
As a center left voter in Europe, it took me a few years living in the US to understand the intricacies of American domestic policies in a two party system. After I became a naturalized citizen about 25 years ago if first felrt some politics are indeed local, and sometimes split my down ballot ticket accordingly..
Since the election of 2000 I have changed that habit. Even if a Republican running for dogcatcher were much nicer than his Democratic counterpart, I will always vote straight Democrat for the sake of my adopted country, and can't understand that such large numbers of those at the bottom of the economic ladder constantly vote against their own interest.
Since the election of 2000 I have changed that habit. Even if a Republican running for dogcatcher were much nicer than his Democratic counterpart, I will always vote straight Democrat for the sake of my adopted country, and can't understand that such large numbers of those at the bottom of the economic ladder constantly vote against their own interest.
1
If only Mitch McConnell could go down with the SS Trump.
They (Republicans) still act and believe that they are the true party of America and will "cling" to power by whatever means possible. Of course, this now includes accepting Trump as their standard bearer. They pine painfully for the White House this November. The best hope for the rest of us is that (a) Trump will lose and maybe (b) they will lose a Senate majority in the process.
The Republicans in the Senate have inflicted real damage on the country. I could go through the whole litany of how they have blocked everything, compromised on almost nothing, etc. The crowning and most recent shame, and indeed a direct threat to our democracy, is their refusal to allow a vote on a Supreme Court nominee. They are almost desperately lost in their quest for power, and apparently only really listen to the tapes running over and over in the echo chambers of their mind on how the country is on the wrong track and how the Democrats are just awful. Sooner they're voted out the better for all of us.*
* PS: I admit that I exaggerate in referring to "they" as if all Republican senators are the same. Don't get me wrong. There certainly are many very good men and women who are currently Republican senators, like Jeff Flake or Ben Sasse, for example. But for every Jeff Flake or Ben Sasse there are five hopeless people like Charles Grassley or Mitch McConnell.
The Republicans in the Senate have inflicted real damage on the country. I could go through the whole litany of how they have blocked everything, compromised on almost nothing, etc. The crowning and most recent shame, and indeed a direct threat to our democracy, is their refusal to allow a vote on a Supreme Court nominee. They are almost desperately lost in their quest for power, and apparently only really listen to the tapes running over and over in the echo chambers of their mind on how the country is on the wrong track and how the Democrats are just awful. Sooner they're voted out the better for all of us.*
* PS: I admit that I exaggerate in referring to "they" as if all Republican senators are the same. Don't get me wrong. There certainly are many very good men and women who are currently Republican senators, like Jeff Flake or Ben Sasse, for example. But for every Jeff Flake or Ben Sasse there are five hopeless people like Charles Grassley or Mitch McConnell.
Just to add a few more names on the "hopeless" Republican senators list: Don't forget to include Imhoff, Alexander, Lee, Cornyn, Vickers, and (how could I have forgotten them both?) Cruz and Rubio. On the "maybe OK" list I would hold out some hope yet for John McCain, very little for Lindsey Graham, and none for the dearly exited-right third musketeer, Joe Lieberman.
Honestly, both political parties deserve to fail- the question is whether Wall Street and special interests lobbies be there to bail THEM out or will they wait and see if something better comes out of the ashes? Interesting times for sure.
1
May Trump drag down every Republican candidate to where they belong, i.e. out of office.
"Can the G.O.P. Senate Majority Survive Donald Trump?"
I sure as hell hope they disintegrate. They are all a bunch of worthless obstructionists. Over 7 1/2 years of not doing their jobs. Get 'em all out.
I sure as hell hope they disintegrate. They are all a bunch of worthless obstructionists. Over 7 1/2 years of not doing their jobs. Get 'em all out.
1
The election, given the current demographics and Trump's very limited appeal beyond uneducated white males, is Hillary Clinton's to lose. But, as a "Feel the Bern" Democrat who worries about her consistently poor judgment, she must pick either Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren as her running if she wants to win and win by a large enough margin to defeat vulnerable Senators like Mark Kirk and retake the Senate and appoint a liberal justice to the Supreme Court. Only Sanders and Warren can generate the enthusiasm and positive energy that Sec. Clinton needs to win and, as her opponent says, "win bigly." With numerous very vulnerable Republican Senators like Kirk and Pat Toomey in Pennsylvania, it will take a large turnout to accomplish this. Moreover, Sanders and Warren, as true populist progressives, will minimize Trump's phony progressive, anti-trade appeal to blue-collar Democrats in important rust-belt swings states like Pennsylvania and Ohio where Sen. Rob Portman is also vulnerable. So, my hope is that the G.O.P Senate Majority will not survive Hillary Clinton's choice for a running mate.
I would think the Democrats should be just as or even more worried about Hillary at the top of their ticket.
3
Dear Republicans in Congress - you broke the system, you own it. For years you sat by and watch your party veer off the tracks with a relatively small band of extremeists at the helm. For the last year you sat by and waited for Trump to self destruct. Now we re all left with the mess. My best hope is a landslide Trump and downticket loss. We need a quality center-right party in this country --it would make the Democratic party better - but we dont have it. Looks like better prospects for starting the R-party over then fixing this one.
1
I hope that Trump is as unpopular as some GOP down ticket politicians fear. However, given the recent polls and the weaknesses of Clinton, I think that the most important task for a liberal, or just a person with conscience, is to make sure that sociopath like Trump will not gain the White House. It will be a major mistake if Trump would narrowly win the presidency and the senate would remain in GOP hands by a few seats. From the GOP platform, it is clear that Trump will go as far right as his most loyal supporters want him. Losing the Presidency and the Congress, the court will likely go far right in four years. Checkmate. Progressives will not recovery in a couple of generations.
What do you mean "Survive Donald Trump". He is going to win in November. Look at the polls. He hasn't even spent a penny and they are neck and neck. There is nothing to survive.
The problem for Republicans is that Trump represents too well what their party has become. The last polling showed 77% support for Trump by Republicans and more recent polls seem to indicate that support is growing within their party. Trump may be racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, and a war head, but that is a reasonable representation of what the Republican party has become over the past 40 years. This is not a recent development or a case of Trump hijacking the Republican party. He has taken advantage of what the party has become and is only speaking to the party's base in language they understand and appreciate. Maybe the minority of Republicans that are upset with Trump should contemplate their own roles in their party's current state. Kirk has been ineffective. Rubio is an empty suit. Jeb Bush has been ineffective. Ayotte has been has become a political chameleon.c Mitch McConnell has been complicit, etc, etc. They have all been happy to have the votes of the Trump base and have been willing to play to their anger and prejudice with ambiguous language, but not so ambiguous that the message was not received by a crowd that is not able to comprehend a message that is too subtle. The best thing for the country would be if they all lose by a wide margin.
By grudgingly supporting Mr. Trump -- a man obviously unfit to be President -- Rep. Ryan and Sen. McConnell have exposed themselves to the nation as men willing to place party and personal concerns above the best interests of their country.
Honorable men placed in their jobs would have resigned their positions long ago.
Honorable men placed in their jobs would have resigned their positions long ago.
2
The most important question is whether America can survive Donald Trump. This guy could become our next President.
If Trump is elected, I suspect that the Republican Party will flourish for a while, but then be crushed by the unpopularity of their policies and their President. But the damage to the Supreme Court will be more lasting.
If Trump is elected, I suspect that the Republican Party will flourish for a while, but then be crushed by the unpopularity of their policies and their President. But the damage to the Supreme Court will be more lasting.
The mystery to me is how the GOP has survived for so long.
Trump is just the latest and perhaps ugliest manifestation of the party's long history of discrimination, of denigrating women and minorities, the disabled, the otherness of our president, denying the vote, gerrymandering themselves in office for the rest of time, denying civil rights, denying spending on education, infrastructure, its blind support of the NRA despite insane gun violence and utter mayhem guns cause us all, and oh, I'm so tired of the GOP's wrongs.
People have long voted against their own self interests and some will do so again by voting for Trump and his republican party. The ones who disavow him now let him in the door, let him get away with his delusions, insults and enabled his ego overdoses. Why?
Do we dare hope that the scales will fall from republican voters' eyes and they will suddenly see how destructive the GOP is and has been? Well, we can always hope. Even if only just the people Trump has insulted vote against them, there is hope. If only voters would be similarly dissuaded by the Ryans, McConnells, McCarthys, and the entire do-nothing-but-harm republican Congress and throw them out.
Trump is just the latest and perhaps ugliest manifestation of the party's long history of discrimination, of denigrating women and minorities, the disabled, the otherness of our president, denying the vote, gerrymandering themselves in office for the rest of time, denying civil rights, denying spending on education, infrastructure, its blind support of the NRA despite insane gun violence and utter mayhem guns cause us all, and oh, I'm so tired of the GOP's wrongs.
People have long voted against their own self interests and some will do so again by voting for Trump and his republican party. The ones who disavow him now let him in the door, let him get away with his delusions, insults and enabled his ego overdoses. Why?
Do we dare hope that the scales will fall from republican voters' eyes and they will suddenly see how destructive the GOP is and has been? Well, we can always hope. Even if only just the people Trump has insulted vote against them, there is hope. If only voters would be similarly dissuaded by the Ryans, McConnells, McCarthys, and the entire do-nothing-but-harm republican Congress and throw them out.
1
When I think of the GOP I think of the Iraq War and moral bankruptcy.
The same people who thought going into Iraq was a great idea, think the same thing about Trump.
One has to wonder which is worse?
The GOP ticket is like a terrible bran muffin: Plump and Dense.
The same people who thought going into Iraq was a great idea, think the same thing about Trump.
One has to wonder which is worse?
The GOP ticket is like a terrible bran muffin: Plump and Dense.
Chicago Guy, plenty of people who voted for war in Iraq do not support Trump. Hillary Clinton, for example.
It really is not the most effective use of advertising dollars to link Senate candidates to Donald Trump. Instead the Democratic challengers should make the Republican Senators run on their own records. How many times did they vote in lockstep against any proposal from President Obama? How many times did they not push for confirmation of judges from their home state? How many times did they fail to do their job just so that Obama would not be associated with a successful policy? Being associated with Donald Trump is just the icing on the cake but should not be the primary argument for returning these jokes to Capitol Hill. In debates force them to answer for the votes they cast or failed to cast for the last 6 years.
"But Goldwater held himself largely blameless for the outcome of the 1964 election. It was his own party’s fault, he asserted, for demonizing a conservative vision that would, 16 years later, be validated by Reagan. “By the time the convention opened,” he wrote of his fellow Republicans, “I had been branded as a fascist, a racist, a trigger-happy warmonger, a nuclear madman and the candidate who couldn’t win.”
Barry Goldwater was a piece of garbage disguised in a human-like body...just like Donald Trump.
Barry Goldwater was a piece of garbage disguised in a human-like body...just like Donald Trump.
Elected officials:
You will be remembered for whether you stood up to this menace or gave up your dignity for him. Choose wisely.
You will be remembered for whether you stood up to this menace or gave up your dignity for him. Choose wisely.
"John McCain, whose valor as a prisoner of war Trump has mocked (“I like people who weren’t captured,” Trump told an audience in Iowa last July), this year finds himself once again struggling to avoid a primary upset at the hands of a more conservative challenger;"
John McCain the POW deserves are respect and honor.
John McCain, the politician who supports the presidential candidate who mocked his service, deserves to be defeated in a landslide.
John McCain the POW deserves are respect and honor.
John McCain, the politician who supports the presidential candidate who mocked his service, deserves to be defeated in a landslide.
If you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas. Some of these senators have consistently had extreme positions. Sen. Ayotte for example said in a questionnaire that she would permit guns in schools, permit fully automatic weapons, and permit domestic abusers to have guns. She has supported the end of Roe v. Wade abortion rights for women. She tried to pass a torture amendment. So her Trump support is part of a pattern.
Perhaps Sen. Kirk and others are more moderate, but the choice of Trump at the top of the ticket speaks volumes about the current Republican Party.
Personally I think all Republicans should use Trump's hair pattern as a Rorschach blot test and inform voters what they see. The results would tell us a lot about their psychological profiles.
Perhaps Sen. Kirk and others are more moderate, but the choice of Trump at the top of the ticket speaks volumes about the current Republican Party.
Personally I think all Republicans should use Trump's hair pattern as a Rorschach blot test and inform voters what they see. The results would tell us a lot about their psychological profiles.
If Democrats cannot win in 2016, they are totally incompetent. I can find five seats pretty easily:
(in order of switch-ability)
Illinois
New Hampshire
Wisconsin
Pennsylvania
Ohio
I do think that the last two will be dog fights -- all races, actually, will be close but the last two are very close - but I think Democrats will win this year. Trump is a disaster in diverse states and in highly educated states.
(in order of switch-ability)
Illinois
New Hampshire
Wisconsin
Pennsylvania
Ohio
I do think that the last two will be dog fights -- all races, actually, will be close but the last two are very close - but I think Democrats will win this year. Trump is a disaster in diverse states and in highly educated states.
Barring an October surprise that sticks, the writing is on the wall for Trump. The toxic infighting in the GOP will likely hurt them elsewhere as well. This implosion is more potent and spectacular than anything the democrats have managed to deliver in recent history. All this despite the polarizing brand that Hillary represents.
If the down-ticket candidates seeded the environment that nurtured Trump, why should their fate be separated from his?
Republican Senators will support leaders who deny global warming, whether they are the majority or the minority. Nothing they can do, and nothing that they are, no honesty or decency or dedication to their constituents, can make up for this.
5
If D.C. had room for only two GOP senators, I would nominate Mark Kirk and Susan Collins. On the other hand (and especially if Trump were to win the election--- pardon me while I spit up), this country will absolutely need to have the Senate safely in the hands of Democrats. Ergo, this is no time to settle for the reelection of a few good men from the GOP. Illinois citizens, please vote for Tammy. Along with Hillary.
46
In an interview with "the Don" tonight he said "he's the only one who got it right on Iraq" after he said he was against it. Yes, except 75% of Americans. Kiss the ring - there's on one else in the world but him in his addled mind.
11
The Koch brothers alone are spending nearly $9 BILLION on "down ticket" candidates, meaning senate, U.S. House, governors, lieutenant governors, attorney generals, state legislators, county and city councils, school boards, judges at all levels - anyone they can buy. That is where the other BIG democracy-destroying money is going also. They apparently could care less who is in the White House until 2020 when they have the "lessers" wrapped up - then I expect to see Paul Ryan as their "golden boy". We MUST stop them this election if we care about restoring democracy in America. It's easy to see who they're supporting - anyone who's spending a lot of money, doesn't claim a party affiliation and/or has the endorsement of corporate and business leaders. If you get a lot of robo calls and see slick print and expensive television advertising and/or see a lot of interviews on television and radio do not vote for any of them or we'll find ourselves living in a country we do not like.
51
"The Koch brothers along are spending nearly $9 BILLION on "down ticket" candidates ...
Where did you get that number? Several sources (NY Times, USA Today, Politico reported in January that the Koch brothers political budget for 2016 was $889 million. A lot of money, but net even one tenth of what you said.
Where did you get that number? Several sources (NY Times, USA Today, Politico reported in January that the Koch brothers political budget for 2016 was $889 million. A lot of money, but net even one tenth of what you said.
It is almost amusing watching Republican Senate candidates squirm when Trump speaks, if it wasn't so important to the country. The Repubs are trying to have it both ways, when they agree with Trump they want to be close and when they don't agree with him, they cannot get away fast enough.
17
The GOP just has to continue to villianize Hillary pitilessly and Trump and the GOP will have it all.
7
There you go Democrats. Do you stand for something, or do you let Republicans drive you to hell.
20
It is pathetic that this is Trump's only tactic. Unfortunately for him and the GOP ticket, the Emperor-to-be has no clothes. His own negatives will bury him in this election.
"Crooked Hillary" isn't working. It's far beyond pot-calls-kettle-black. If the GOP had run a non-billionaire who looked like a decent person and who could release their taxes ... then the GOP might stand a chance. But Trump will drag the party down to the worst defeat it has had in a long time, possibly worse than Goldwater.
Trump is the biggest liar and grifter in American electoral history ... and it is all coming out.
Most people don't appreciate that there are two separate suits against Trump over Trump-U: Low, and Cohen. The first is a class-action fraud/consumer-protection suit. The second, Cohen, is RICO. Trump is hoping for summary-judgement to dismiss the RICO charge ... tomorrow, July 18. Even if the RICO charges are dismissed, the Trump-U trial on Low will be right before the election.
There are several other legal suits and even an explosive criminal complaint against Trump that the mainstream media are not covering ... yet. It's Trump and the GOP that is now wringing its hands wondering if/when a bomb will go off in its face ... and there are so many out there.
Gretchen Carlson v. Ailes is not going to do the GOP any good either.
Trump is the biggest liar and grifter in American electoral history ... and it is all coming out.
Most people don't appreciate that there are two separate suits against Trump over Trump-U: Low, and Cohen. The first is a class-action fraud/consumer-protection suit. The second, Cohen, is RICO. Trump is hoping for summary-judgement to dismiss the RICO charge ... tomorrow, July 18. Even if the RICO charges are dismissed, the Trump-U trial on Low will be right before the election.
There are several other legal suits and even an explosive criminal complaint against Trump that the mainstream media are not covering ... yet. It's Trump and the GOP that is now wringing its hands wondering if/when a bomb will go off in its face ... and there are so many out there.
Gretchen Carlson v. Ailes is not going to do the GOP any good either.
To answer the question posed by the article, for all our sakes, let's hope not.
28
I sincerely hope the Senate Republican majority does not survive.
Any Senator who has supported Mitch McConnell is just as bad as those who now support Trump. McConnell has been the turtle-head of obstructionism ever since Obama was elected.
We need to get to the polls and express our dissatisfaction....
Any Senator who has supported Mitch McConnell is just as bad as those who now support Trump. McConnell has been the turtle-head of obstructionism ever since Obama was elected.
We need to get to the polls and express our dissatisfaction....
159
For Democrats inclined to parrot Republican talking points on Clinton, some examination is in order. Trump gets it: telling you all things are "rigged" is a great success. But Bernie did not mean to providing marketing talk for a con man.
https://medium.com/@michaelarnovitz/thinking-about-hillary-a-follow-up-2...
teaser:
"simply stating that you are against Hillary because she’s a ”pathological liar” or “war criminal” is not an argument, and it’s not a position. It’s just an insult pretending to be discourse. And while you are entitled to your opinions, you are not entitled to respect for those opinions."
"I’m interested in people who take a position and then communicate it with logic and reason. In other words, people who actually try. And I’m particularly interested in those people open to the possibility that maybe, just maybe, there are things they think they know that they don’t. Because quite frankly, it seems clear to me that the Internet is full of people who know all kinds of things about Hillary Clinton that they don’t actually know."
"the beginning of my real education was the acceptance that many of the things I already knew I didn’t really know at all. ... bring ... open-mindedness and humility to our political discussions, because politicians and their policies are often not nearly as black & white as so many people want to believe. And quite frankly, reality does not always conform to the narratives we create for the politicians we love or hate."
https://medium.com/@michaelarnovitz/thinking-about-hillary-a-follow-up-2...
teaser:
"simply stating that you are against Hillary because she’s a ”pathological liar” or “war criminal” is not an argument, and it’s not a position. It’s just an insult pretending to be discourse. And while you are entitled to your opinions, you are not entitled to respect for those opinions."
"I’m interested in people who take a position and then communicate it with logic and reason. In other words, people who actually try. And I’m particularly interested in those people open to the possibility that maybe, just maybe, there are things they think they know that they don’t. Because quite frankly, it seems clear to me that the Internet is full of people who know all kinds of things about Hillary Clinton that they don’t actually know."
"the beginning of my real education was the acceptance that many of the things I already knew I didn’t really know at all. ... bring ... open-mindedness and humility to our political discussions, because politicians and their policies are often not nearly as black & white as so many people want to believe. And quite frankly, reality does not always conform to the narratives we create for the politicians we love or hate."
36
This is a most excellent comment, and I thank you for it.
"Can the G.O.P Senate Majority Survive Donald Trump?"
Let's hope not. This majority includes leader Mitch McConnell, who decided his topmost priority was not to deliver upon his oath of office, represent his constituents, or otherwise help government serve the public interest, but simply to prevent a 2012 Obama re-election. It also includes senators who fell in line with McConnell on his self-revised job description, rather than disavowing it as a conflict with the chamber's actual objective of legislating some (heaven forbid, maybe even bi-partisan) accomplishments. While it's clear that allegiance to benefactors, lobbyists and party hierarchy lured the senate majority away from its actual purpose, that is in no way forgivable.
Trump is but a symptom, not the malady itself. If any of the other 16 primary candidates had leadership and vision equal to their personal ambition, Trump would not be the nominee. The GOP is overdue for a reckoning. This was supposed to have occurred after Romney's defeat, but somehow they couldn't implement the obvious, logical measures to make the party more inclusive -- perhaps because at its core, inclusiveness runs counter to its nature. The newly drafted platform -- with its insistence on revisiting issues already adjudicated by the Supreme Court -- is evidence enough that what a sizable majority of the party prefers is not a route to the future, but a time machine to an era beyond which we've already progressed.
Let's hope not. This majority includes leader Mitch McConnell, who decided his topmost priority was not to deliver upon his oath of office, represent his constituents, or otherwise help government serve the public interest, but simply to prevent a 2012 Obama re-election. It also includes senators who fell in line with McConnell on his self-revised job description, rather than disavowing it as a conflict with the chamber's actual objective of legislating some (heaven forbid, maybe even bi-partisan) accomplishments. While it's clear that allegiance to benefactors, lobbyists and party hierarchy lured the senate majority away from its actual purpose, that is in no way forgivable.
Trump is but a symptom, not the malady itself. If any of the other 16 primary candidates had leadership and vision equal to their personal ambition, Trump would not be the nominee. The GOP is overdue for a reckoning. This was supposed to have occurred after Romney's defeat, but somehow they couldn't implement the obvious, logical measures to make the party more inclusive -- perhaps because at its core, inclusiveness runs counter to its nature. The newly drafted platform -- with its insistence on revisiting issues already adjudicated by the Supreme Court -- is evidence enough that what a sizable majority of the party prefers is not a route to the future, but a time machine to an era beyond which we've already progressed.
42
Cannot wait for this election to be over. Maybe then it will stop.
This article is just one more in the endless deluge of media blather on the negatives of Trump. Not as much trouble is taken to disclose the dismal lies of Mrs. Clinton.
The whole nonsense Is sickening. No one seems to care that these two horrendously bad candidates represent the downfall of American leadership.
Never mind that we are forced to cast our votes in acquiescence for who might possibly be a scratch of a scintilla less horrible than the other.
Worse still - we're even beginning to rationalize this as a good thing. How absolutely frightening!!
This article is just one more in the endless deluge of media blather on the negatives of Trump. Not as much trouble is taken to disclose the dismal lies of Mrs. Clinton.
The whole nonsense Is sickening. No one seems to care that these two horrendously bad candidates represent the downfall of American leadership.
Never mind that we are forced to cast our votes in acquiescence for who might possibly be a scratch of a scintilla less horrible than the other.
Worse still - we're even beginning to rationalize this as a good thing. How absolutely frightening!!
11
The campaign must evolve to talking about issues and specifically how each candidate proposes to solve them. Only then can voters make a rational choice. Flying insults may be entertaining for awhile but, hopefully, the public will tire of this approach and opt for the candidate who can explain how our many problems can be solved.
Oh yes, the dismal lies of Mrs. Clinton! It almost makes me wish for the old talk about free Obama phones.
Mary Sue - Sure Hillary is a liar, but Trump is an abject liar. Will I take a liar who is well versed in policies necessary for the functioning of this country or a narcissistic abject liar who has little to no knowledge of policy and I fear deems not to learn.
Thank you very much but I'll take Hillary. Do I believe that she learned her lesson with the email fiasco, yes. Will she do it again, no? Would Trump in the same situation, probably.
Thank you very much but I'll take Hillary. Do I believe that she learned her lesson with the email fiasco, yes. Will she do it again, no? Would Trump in the same situation, probably.
Yes, "The Donald" is a major issue in this campaign, but the Democrats need to understand that they need to stand for something more than just "Stop Trump."
National polls show that many voters are very uncomfortable with Trump, but that is also true of Clinton. And when asked who it favors, the electorate is still far from decided. Close to half of likely voters say they favor Trump, so the demonization of Trump by both Democrats and much of the media has not convinced them.
If Clinton and the Democratic Party establishment decide that a negative "Stop Trump" campaign is all it needs to win, then it will face a tougher than necessary fight this year.
Worse, assuming they do win in November, it's likely they will just congratulate themselves and won't learn anything. It will be back to the same old "1%-friendly" policies that allowed the insurgent candidacies of both Trump and Sanders to be so successful.
What will happen in 2020 and Trump is not on the ballot? Some many think that the GOP will still be discredited. That's what many, including myself, thought after Obama's win in 2008, but we know how that turned out.
If the Clinton and the Democratic establishment fail to do much besides save us from Trump and don't begin to seriously represent the majority of Americans, even if it costs them support from wealthy donors, they will almost certainly lose in 2020.
The underlying problems and discontents revealed by Trump and Sanders will not magically go away.
National polls show that many voters are very uncomfortable with Trump, but that is also true of Clinton. And when asked who it favors, the electorate is still far from decided. Close to half of likely voters say they favor Trump, so the demonization of Trump by both Democrats and much of the media has not convinced them.
If Clinton and the Democratic Party establishment decide that a negative "Stop Trump" campaign is all it needs to win, then it will face a tougher than necessary fight this year.
Worse, assuming they do win in November, it's likely they will just congratulate themselves and won't learn anything. It will be back to the same old "1%-friendly" policies that allowed the insurgent candidacies of both Trump and Sanders to be so successful.
What will happen in 2020 and Trump is not on the ballot? Some many think that the GOP will still be discredited. That's what many, including myself, thought after Obama's win in 2008, but we know how that turned out.
If the Clinton and the Democratic establishment fail to do much besides save us from Trump and don't begin to seriously represent the majority of Americans, even if it costs them support from wealthy donors, they will almost certainly lose in 2020.
The underlying problems and discontents revealed by Trump and Sanders will not magically go away.
14
If the Democrats win this election, they will have won the popular vote in six of the last seven presidential elections. By the year 2020, no voter under the age of 40 will even remember the last time there was a successful and popular Republican President in the White House. With the share of the white vote declining every four years, it is clearly the GOP, not the Democrats, who have some serious soul-searching on their hands.
With Hillary as their candidate, the only thing the Democrats have is stopping Trump. Hillary is the second most disliked candidate in the history of polling. So you have to go after the most disliked candidate.
Regardless of who is elected President, I am more concerned with the 2018 elections than the 2016 election. Remember the 2014 elections!
For a republican senator, distancing yourself from Trump is probably a smart move these days. Trump fans that turn out to vote will appreciate the "go it alone" sentiment.
It's also conceivable that some "Trump fatigue" will set in by the time the election rolls around. His strategy of throwing bombs to gain free media in lieu of raising funds for traditional advertising requires that his "bombs" remain newsworthy. He is competing with is own novelty at this point, and it remains to be seen if he can keep it up.
In a way, the Trump factor might actually force some candidates to take honest stands on issues that they otherwise would have avoided. At the end of the day, candidates should be judged on their own merits, not because some holder of higher office threw some sunshine their way, so it could be a hidden bonus of the Trump circus.
It's also conceivable that some "Trump fatigue" will set in by the time the election rolls around. His strategy of throwing bombs to gain free media in lieu of raising funds for traditional advertising requires that his "bombs" remain newsworthy. He is competing with is own novelty at this point, and it remains to be seen if he can keep it up.
In a way, the Trump factor might actually force some candidates to take honest stands on issues that they otherwise would have avoided. At the end of the day, candidates should be judged on their own merits, not because some holder of higher office threw some sunshine their way, so it could be a hidden bonus of the Trump circus.
14
If Trump's candidacy leads Republican politicians like New Hampshire's Kelly Ayotte to hone her focus and loyalty to her state and what she can do for her NH constituents, than that's a definite positive thing. If a major consequence of this year's presidential election turns out to be the decline and eventual fall of the two major political parties, than that would be the silver lining to this year's chain of events.
14
So what do you propose? This system has worked until now. The fall will be created by people like Trump...like Senators of the Republican hard right. It will not be because a system has not worked. It only does not work now, but if you took the time to look at other countries you might then see that it has worked well...until the current fanatics took over. We need people who can see both sides when things like the Turkish situation occur. Not a robot of one opinion, that is "we are better." We need to see what our own opinions have wrought and see which ones were wrong. With a Trump there is no wrong, with some gun carriers they are always right...that is when things tilt to a dangerous perspective.
The virtually certain Trump disaster in November should result in some basic
rules changes by the GOP if it does not chose to see its extinction.
From a management standpoint, the presumptive GOP nominee, who appears to have more support from the leaders of the KKK than from the leaders of the GOP certainly is a charismatic, who appears to have virtually no mastery of the basics of organizational effectiveness.
Some of the most outstanding managers tend to be dull and boring as sand.
Mr. Trump has certainly invigorated that demographic of non-Hispanic whites lacking college education that research by Nobel Laureate Sir Angus Deaton disclosed have experienced half a million early deaths from suicide as well as overdosing of drugs and alcohol.
From an organizational standpoint, there appears to be a strong correlation in the declines of both General Motors and the GOP. Both have taken paths that are materially different from what their served markets have indicated preference for.
General Motors at one time had a global market share of 53% of autos sold. Its market share is now in the 11% range and its only profitable lines are its light trucks.
The Republican Party has positioned itself to lose control of both the Senate and the House and may see the 45th President name three associate justices to the US Supreme Court who may still be serving in the year 2050.
As Michael Reagan lamented, his father would not be able to gain the 2016 GOP presidential nomination.
rules changes by the GOP if it does not chose to see its extinction.
From a management standpoint, the presumptive GOP nominee, who appears to have more support from the leaders of the KKK than from the leaders of the GOP certainly is a charismatic, who appears to have virtually no mastery of the basics of organizational effectiveness.
Some of the most outstanding managers tend to be dull and boring as sand.
Mr. Trump has certainly invigorated that demographic of non-Hispanic whites lacking college education that research by Nobel Laureate Sir Angus Deaton disclosed have experienced half a million early deaths from suicide as well as overdosing of drugs and alcohol.
From an organizational standpoint, there appears to be a strong correlation in the declines of both General Motors and the GOP. Both have taken paths that are materially different from what their served markets have indicated preference for.
General Motors at one time had a global market share of 53% of autos sold. Its market share is now in the 11% range and its only profitable lines are its light trucks.
The Republican Party has positioned itself to lose control of both the Senate and the House and may see the 45th President name three associate justices to the US Supreme Court who may still be serving in the year 2050.
As Michael Reagan lamented, his father would not be able to gain the 2016 GOP presidential nomination.
15
Trump 'imperiling' 'the Republican down ballot?
No, gratefully, Trump will be the reason for decimating the entire
GOP ballot.
Trump will, indeed, be the blustery instrument to convert the
U.S. to more full social responsibility, and action, as lead by
a Democratic president and legislature.
Poetic justice, unwittingly engineered by the fool Trump and
the fool GOP.
No, gratefully, Trump will be the reason for decimating the entire
GOP ballot.
Trump will, indeed, be the blustery instrument to convert the
U.S. to more full social responsibility, and action, as lead by
a Democratic president and legislature.
Poetic justice, unwittingly engineered by the fool Trump and
the fool GOP.
23
It could be even further decimated if the GOP, would support their own policy position on guns, and allow open carry throughout the convention!
I'm usually not much of a political junkie, but this year I'm lovin it. This will be the most entertaining presidential race since....since...ever. It'll be fun for me as an AfrAmerican man because I believe Hillary will ultimately win easily.
There just aren't enough ignorant, desperate, racist "whites" left in the USA to "take US back" or "Make America White Again". Right?
Http://HumaneCom.com
There just aren't enough ignorant, desperate, racist "whites" left in the USA to "take US back" or "Make America White Again". Right?
Http://HumaneCom.com
24
I hope for the sake of the country that the GOP majority in the Senate does not survive. I hope the Republican Party is utterly defeated and that Donald Trump has to declare bankruptcy again after the election. The lot of them deserve to be relegated to the dustbin of history.
45
For Kirk and the other GOP senators facing the voters this fall, DJT is only one problem. I'll be writing to my own Senator (Toomey) to ask him about his support for the antediluvian GOP platform. Not that I'll be voting for him, unless he renounces it. Odds?
13
Can the Senate G.O.P. Majority Survive Donald Trump?"
I sincerely hope so!
I sincerely hope so!
5
I hope the GOP succumbs, breaks up in two or three followed by the Dems and in the long long term by a modern representative democracy. Till then on to the 2020 election.
First of all hats off for a well written piece by Robert Draper. Brilliant concept, brilliantly executed, I think. As I read, it came to me that the dynamic between Trump and the fair weather Republican Senate candidates is the " every man or woman for themselves" ethos animating the G.O.P. these days. The Randian survival of the fittest mentality espoused by Trump and echoed by his most tenacious supporters will I hope return the Senate to the Democrats next November.
17
Hopefully they all lose. For the last 6 years all they have said is 'no' to everything. It's all politics all the time. Ron Johnson doesn't have a prayer, thankfully the people of Wisconsin will get a real Progressive back in Russ Feingold, he and Bernie were the 2 Senators that voted against Iraq.
Hard to feel sorry for anyone from the party of the gNOp.
Hard to feel sorry for anyone from the party of the gNOp.
50
Well, given how little the current GOP Senate majority has actually done in recent years ...
17
More to the point, can the planet survive any more years of Republican denial of reality? They've even got some Democrats going along with them. We don't need more stinking guns and wars, bigotry and blaming victims.
But even a successful military dictatorship a la Trump cannot change the accelerating consequences of poisoning our water, earth and air and treating our planet as an infinite dump and cornucopia of cheap stuff to exploit (including cheap humans).
Money isn't everything, and the dirty endgame is rapidly approaching.
If you don't think it's true, have a look: www.timetochoose.com
But even a successful military dictatorship a la Trump cannot change the accelerating consequences of poisoning our water, earth and air and treating our planet as an infinite dump and cornucopia of cheap stuff to exploit (including cheap humans).
Money isn't everything, and the dirty endgame is rapidly approaching.
If you don't think it's true, have a look: www.timetochoose.com
29
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the weather is about the take a hand. Should be interesting! You could get superstitious about this. Every time Republicans deny reality, reality pokes its head in ...
2
For example, from another source, the only thing keeping this at bay is the extreme rapidity with which we are altering our planet, so we're in a "hiatus" caused by the catchup brakes:
"It is no mystery where all of this melting is coming from: Global carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere is now consistently over 400 ppm, which means we are literally rewriting the history of the planet. The last time there was this much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, it was between 15 and 20 million years ago, at which point temperatures were between 3 and 6 degrees Celsius warmer than they are now, and global ice sheets had melted to a point where sea levels were between 25 and 40 meters higher than they are now (the Greenland Ice Sheet did not exist), according to a 2009 study in the journal Science.
"To put that another way, we are locking in between 120-190 feet of sea-level rise, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's worst case predictions for temperature rise, over the long term.
"As dramatic as the current changes are, they pale in comparison to what studies warn is coming our way."
"It is no mystery where all of this melting is coming from: Global carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere is now consistently over 400 ppm, which means we are literally rewriting the history of the planet. The last time there was this much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, it was between 15 and 20 million years ago, at which point temperatures were between 3 and 6 degrees Celsius warmer than they are now, and global ice sheets had melted to a point where sea levels were between 25 and 40 meters higher than they are now (the Greenland Ice Sheet did not exist), according to a 2009 study in the journal Science.
"To put that another way, we are locking in between 120-190 feet of sea-level rise, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's worst case predictions for temperature rise, over the long term.
"As dramatic as the current changes are, they pale in comparison to what studies warn is coming our way."
3
Yeah, it's pretty hard to work up much sympathy for these Republican Senators. I hope their reluctance to support the top of the Republican ticket is indicative of some inside knowledge about the final outcome of the election. You would never know that Mr. Trump is in danger of losing and bringing down the Senate with him if you just paid attention to the negative drumbeat in the headlines and coverage of Mrs. Clinton.
36
The third of the Senate up for re-election is the third elected in 2010, two years into the Obama Presidency and in reaction to everything that happened in those two years. It should be clear that the same electoral passions as existed then do not exist now, regardless of Trump. Trump or no Trump, the GOP was going to suffer Senate losses of some significant level. Maybe its a reaction to how useless those Senators, claass of 2010, have been over the last six years.
89
I don't believe the words "Republican" and "class" should be used in the same sentence.
15
2010 was a non-presidental election. Lots of the enthusiastic, younger voters only vote in presidential elections. The GOP has more consistent voters who turned out.
Lesson learned? Every election matters, not just the general, if you want you ideals to see the light of day through legislation.
Lesson learned? Every election matters, not just the general, if you want you ideals to see the light of day through legislation.
14
Republicans need to realize that after 40 + years of playing every race card, every dog-whistle of fear and every anti-intellectual snark imaginable they're now faced with the fruits of that labor - Donald Trump. They can't run away from the simple fact that Trump is their party and they, to be members of that party need to be Trump. It's isn't much fun when your leader doesn't do dog whistle and lays his hate and ignorance out without shame or hesitation is it? Well, he's your very own Frankenstein's Monster you better get used to it.
110
AnObserver - "Republicans need to realize that after 40 + years of playing every race card, every dog-whistle of fear and every anti-intellectual snark imaginable"
Please! The Democratic Party is the winner in not only playing the race card but playing every other card in the deck. The gender card, the assumed gender card, the immigrant card, the ethnic card, the religious card and the whole panoply of "multi" cultural cards. There is no united in the Democratic Party just distinctly different groups labeled by the party elite and pitted against each other for scraps from their rulers.
And fear, you want to write about fear, just read the various descriptions of Republicans written by Democrats in these comments. An excellent example is the use of "Frankenstein's monster" in your comment above. Democrats push fear of the Republican more than they fear Islamic terrorists or the hordes of invading illegal aliens. Next time you want to comment on Republicans, cards and fear try looking into that party mirror first.
Please! The Democratic Party is the winner in not only playing the race card but playing every other card in the deck. The gender card, the assumed gender card, the immigrant card, the ethnic card, the religious card and the whole panoply of "multi" cultural cards. There is no united in the Democratic Party just distinctly different groups labeled by the party elite and pitted against each other for scraps from their rulers.
And fear, you want to write about fear, just read the various descriptions of Republicans written by Democrats in these comments. An excellent example is the use of "Frankenstein's monster" in your comment above. Democrats push fear of the Republican more than they fear Islamic terrorists or the hordes of invading illegal aliens. Next time you want to comment on Republicans, cards and fear try looking into that party mirror first.
7
'Republicans need to realize that after 40 + years of playing every race card, '
What parallel universe do you live in? The Democrats are the ones who constantly play the race and gender card. Whose riling up Black Lives Matter and the current racial problems we're having? What party does Sharpton and J Jackson belong to. Eight years of Obama hasn't helped.
What parallel universe do you live in? The Democrats are the ones who constantly play the race and gender card. Whose riling up Black Lives Matter and the current racial problems we're having? What party does Sharpton and J Jackson belong to. Eight years of Obama hasn't helped.
7
The Electoral College favors rural (red) states, the GOP is great at turnout and uses the fake crisis of fraud to suppress votes, so yes, there is a risk that all 3 branches will end up in the red column. For those who don't think Clinton deserves active support, consider that the Supreme Court will either be right-wing or moderately liberal for the next 20 years (and as we have seen, we need a Dem Senate to hold hearings on nominees). Here's the case for Clinton: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/open-letter-sanders-supporters-scott-s-sm...
38
Thanks, Scott, for the nice summary of points to support Clinton. Well done!
9
"Can the Senate G.O.P. Majority Survive Donald Trump?"
I sincerely hope not.
If the G.O.P. majority in the Senate were to survive, it likely would do so because Trump was elected president. With the House securely in G.O.P. hands, then the G.O.P. would be empowered to exercise ideological control at the federal level.
Moreover, a Justice Scalia clone would soon be appointed to the Supreme Court.
Much of the nation could then go the way of Kansas, where, under Gov. Brownback and the ideologically driven G.O.P. majorities in the state legislature, a full-blown experiment in right-wing radical governance has been underway for some time.
As indicated in a number of recent NYT's articles, this experiment is having disastrous consequences for the citizens of that state.
During this election cycle, my greatest fear has been that a G.O.P. sweep
of both the executive and legislative branches would result in the
"Kansas-fication" of the nation--an outcome even more ugly than the term I just coined.
"What's the Matter with the U.S.A" might soon be a bestseller to rival Thomas Frank's "What's the Matter with Kansas".
I sincerely hope not.
If the G.O.P. majority in the Senate were to survive, it likely would do so because Trump was elected president. With the House securely in G.O.P. hands, then the G.O.P. would be empowered to exercise ideological control at the federal level.
Moreover, a Justice Scalia clone would soon be appointed to the Supreme Court.
Much of the nation could then go the way of Kansas, where, under Gov. Brownback and the ideologically driven G.O.P. majorities in the state legislature, a full-blown experiment in right-wing radical governance has been underway for some time.
As indicated in a number of recent NYT's articles, this experiment is having disastrous consequences for the citizens of that state.
During this election cycle, my greatest fear has been that a G.O.P. sweep
of both the executive and legislative branches would result in the
"Kansas-fication" of the nation--an outcome even more ugly than the term I just coined.
"What's the Matter with the U.S.A" might soon be a bestseller to rival Thomas Frank's "What's the Matter with Kansas".
59
The Republicans have seen a larger than life image of themselves in the Donald They have seen the enemy and the enemy is them. If they are afraid of themselves, they should not wonder why voters will be running away from them.
24
The Republican party long ago ceased to be a legitimate governing party and has instead served as more of a nihilistic anti-governance party that advances only the interests of the super-rich.
It's time for it to be smashed back to its constituent atoms, from where it can rebuild as a legitimate Center-Right party.
It's time for it to be smashed back to its constituent atoms, from where it can rebuild as a legitimate Center-Right party.
145
Answering the question posed by the title, I sincerely hope not. While it could be amusing to see these Republican Senators bob and weave, trying not to fall off the spinning log, the stakes are too high. What strikes me about their predicament is that not one of them whose seat is at risk seems to have any courage, character and integrity. If they did, based on the subtext of what they say, they would denounce Trump and risk losing their seats for the good of the country. In other words, do the right thing. They are just another gang of corrupt, self-interested politicians. I hope they all lose big-time.
94
America's culture wars have helped the Republican Party retain both US Congress and the Senate for last several decades. I don't see how that is going to change any time soon as the author falsely suggests. There are many political powerful groups on the left have inadvertently helped the Republicans. In a closely contested election I still see the advantage is with Mr. Trump and the Republicans Party...
3
Tweedle-Mike & Tweedle-Don,
Since Ike all smell Republi-Con.
Since Ike all smell Republi-Con.
14
We need a two party system. Those that aren't Democrats and who want a viable other party need to gird their loins and start a new party. The GOP can't be saved from itself.
14
It is long past time for the Republican Party to go by way of the long extinct Whig Party!
6
Trumpism has brought out of the shadows the working class Americans who have shifted to the Republican party. They are motivated voters and have propelled Trump into the nominations against all odds and predictions. The Democrats have very scientifically focused on the key states and demographics they need to win the presidency, but that may not be enough to win control of congress in the face of dedicated blue collar voters.
7
Those blue-collar Trump voters were, for the most part, a plurality, not a majority, of registered Republicans. In most of the primaries Trump ran against multiple opponents and, although he got the most votes, he didn't get a majority of votes. Also, I think it's a safe bet that blue-collar anger at the Republican establishment extends to incumbent Senators. Many of those angry Trump voters who do make it to the polls may very well skip voting down ballot. This may be especially true with incumbents who are less than enthusiastic Trump supporters.
3
"In a close race like this one, I think that actual interaction with voters matters." Sen. Kelly Ayotte
This is hubris taken to new levels. it's a legislator's duty to have "actual interaction with voters." Sen. Ayotte's statement should become a Democratic talking point about how the GOP values party over country.
This is hubris taken to new levels. it's a legislator's duty to have "actual interaction with voters." Sen. Ayotte's statement should become a Democratic talking point about how the GOP values party over country.
42
The illustration reminds me of the bull on the Merrill Lynch log — and bull is a constant thread in both candidates' campaigns. Both of them are social aberrants who grate on my nerves.
Bon appetit!
Bon appetit!
2
A china shop reference seems appropriate at this juncture.
1
However nice a Republican candidate might seem personally, however much their stance on this or that might seem to jibe with Hillary Clinton, know this:
They will all vote to make Mitch McConnell majority leader. They will all oppose the right of a Democratic President to nominate a distinguished moderate to the Supreme Court. They will all oppose progressive legislation, just as they all opposed passage of the Affordable Care Act.
They will all vote to make Mitch McConnell majority leader. They will all oppose the right of a Democratic President to nominate a distinguished moderate to the Supreme Court. They will all oppose progressive legislation, just as they all opposed passage of the Affordable Care Act.
259
Amen, brother David!
3
This piece claims that "Ayotte’s Senate victory in 2010 probably would not have occurred without the endorsement of Sarah Palin, who dubbed her the Granite Grizzly." But in the 2010 Republican primary, Ayotte was the establishment candidate who narrowly defeated the Tea Party candidate, Ovide Lamontagne. In parallel, bear in mind that social conservativism has zero traction in New Hampshire, where religiosity is the lowest in the country, and where Obama/Biden beat McCain/Palin by 54% to 45%. In fact, New Hampshire passed its same-sex marriage law in 2010, the same year you're arguing that Palin's endorsement helped Ayotte win. I think you're wrong, and that it was Ayotte's fiscal conservativism, her authentic home-state identity, and voters' concerns about the Democrats' Wall Street ties (and notably the TARP!) that were decisive. I voted against her, but we can at least try to understand her appeal from the perspective of her supporters in a way that acknowledges the unique culture of this state, which in many ways really does not fit the Red/Blue model that pundits from away try to project onto us.
22
That's the big question yet to be answered- will the GOP survive "the Donald?" and does it deserve to (dangling a participle I know. JGAIA
8
Jerry, the answer is no! Mercer is beautiful, really the only area I like up in your 'neck of the woods'.
3
I just want to see the latest data on the Senate races...
ie...this group predicts 60-40 dems over reps.
this poll..predicts 53-47 dems...
That is all I want....Can the Times do that...in a short, concise way?
ie...this group predicts 60-40 dems over reps.
this poll..predicts 53-47 dems...
That is all I want....Can the Times do that...in a short, concise way?
7
Given Mr. Trump's penchant for doing anything that boosts his own ego, and the workings of the underground Republican machine to avoid him, we may soon be witness to a completely new twist on the election results. If Trump loses in November, then the GOP remains intact for a few more years, potentially retaining control of the Senate and House. But if Trump wins, he may decide to decline taking office - since his only incentive to enter the race was to show he can win it. In that case the Vice-President steps up. Let's see who he picks as his VP nominee as a likely right-wing conservative booster - more likely Gingrich than Christie. And of course, if both Pres and VP decline, guess who's next in line - Paul Ryan as SOTH. Interesting fantasy?
2
I feel very sorry for John McCain. At the same time I feel very disappointed in him. Even after being insulted by Trump, perhaps for the sake of Trump voters, he still refuses to condemn and oppose Trump. So to John McCain it is more important to get those Trump voters' votes than to do the right thing. I am so disappointed.
71
John McCain unleashed Sarah Palin and all that that implies upon this nation. He deserves everything that rains down upon him.
48
"Hillary Clinton. She’ll say anything, and change nothing. It’s time to turn the page. Paid for by Obama for America."
3
If Hillary "changes nothing" as you predict, why would that be? Is it for lack of clear, defined policy proposals? No. Is it because she's made ridiculous, un-researched and often contradictory promises off the cuff like Trump? No. The problem with changing things lies with the Congress. If she wins and the Congress remains a Republican majority, then she may not accomplish much, not matter how good her ideas are. This is what has happened to Obama.
And this is the strange irony: so many Trump supporters say they want real change, and yet they champion a Republican candidate who has picked a stolid party-line conservative midwesterner as a running mate. Conservatives by their nature aren't interested in change. So what exactly are his supporters expecting?
And this is the strange irony: so many Trump supporters say they want real change, and yet they champion a Republican candidate who has picked a stolid party-line conservative midwesterner as a running mate. Conservatives by their nature aren't interested in change. So what exactly are his supporters expecting?
Maybe!
Draper uses a migraine turned cluster headaches, a painful neurological condition, as an apt metaphor. As someone familiar with this debilitating and excruciatingly painful form of migraine, my message of hope is that like cluster headaches, Trump will evaporate, almost magically, one bright morning in November.
10
i do not see how the G.O.P. senate can survive the platform set forth by the republicans. the platform is full of hate, makes it clear that the grand ole party does not wish to follow the teachings of our Constitution and certainly does not follow the teachings found in the Gospels and of Jesus.
69
People vote for candidates, not platforms or policies. I would bet very few (other than party nerds) have ever seen the official platform of their chosen party.
8
Republicans may not be geniuses when it comes to problems like global warming or gun control. But they are street smart when it comes to politics. And what they are coming up with, is not strident opposition to Trump. Even if they hate Trump, their dominant survival strategy is to paint Clinton as a liar and a thief. And probably soon as a witch. They actually don't want crazy Donald to win, but they are reckless enough to risk his success, if that's the only way to save their own skins. Or so they think. May November be the deluge to wash away the Republican sins.
39
In this article,there was a mention of Charles Percy,Senator from Illinois.Long ago and far away,I thought he was a good man.Still do.He was a Republican I am a Democrat.Still remember his child was killed by Richard Speck.I do not remember Mr. Percy calling out names for political votes.
Please correct me if I am wrong
Please correct me if I am wrong
6
I grew up in Illinois when Dirksen and Percy were senators. I was never a republican, but I had, and still have, great respect for them. They supported the passage of the Civil Rights act, which had a roughly equal number of votes of support between parties. That was the end of 'The Party of Lincoln'. Racist southern dems jumped ship and provided a political opportunity for the repubs. Modern senators have one eye on the polls and the other on the campaign war chest. That leaves no eyes for statesmanship and governing. BTW, Valerie Percy was murdered right after Speck and the murder has never been solved.
5
GOP Senate majority was probably done for with or without the Donald.
They're defending a lot of seats,
They're defending a lot of seats,
8
"Can the Senate GOP Majority Survive Donald Trump?" is an important question for the GOP establishment.
An even more important question for the entire nation is: Can the U.S. Two party system survive Donald Trump?
An even more important question for the entire nation is: Can the U.S. Two party system survive Donald Trump?
13
Great insight and perspective on "The Donald's" impact on down ticket races. My only suggestion is that the clever Trump "weight graphic" is not nearly big enough.
1
You created Trump with the assistance of the disrepute FOK News, and now you have to live with him. Bye, bye!
12
The problem is the whole country may have to live with him.
They say people get the government they deserve.
They say people get the government they deserve.
1
I'm a center-left Democrat on most counts, but one who wishes we didn't live in such a politically binary world. A GenX female voter who lives in the City of Chicago proper. I voted for Mark Kirk in 2010 and donated to his campaign because he was running against a woefully underqualified Democrat (Alexi Giannoulias) whose main qualification was that he used to play pickup hoops with Barack Obama. I've been wrestling this year with the possibility that the Democrats could gain control of the Senate if a few seats like Kirk's flipped. Should I vote for Tammy Duckworth (another Democratic candidate who doesn't impress me and who's had her share of screw-ups par for the course for a Democrat in IL) just so the Democrats can have a better shot of taking control of the Senate from the clutches of relatively awful people like Mitch McConnell? For me, the answer is no. I can't bring myself to reject Mark Kirk after he's done many of the things I expected and demand of a moderate Republican, all outlined in this article: Assertive support for marriage equality and for protections against LGBTQ discrimination; votes and sponsorship of sensible gun control measures; willingness to break with his party on an item by item basis rather than just toeing the line; and rejecting Donald Trump by refusing to endorse him. I feel like Kirk kept his bargain with me from 2010 and deserves to be re-elected.
5
Hopefully, the GOP Senate majority cannot survive a Trump presidential campaign. Hopefully, the Trump presidential campaign is a LOSER, whatever happens in the Senate elections.
But assuming for one second that Trump won and the Senate flipped to the Democrats, Trump thinks he can go it alone if the Senate were majority Democratic? (The concept of Trump winning and the Senate flipping to a Democratic majority seems highly unlikely on its face.). The man is a complete ignoramous when it comes to politics. He would get no appointments confirmed, no treaties consented to, no budgets passed unless he relented to Democratic demands. And THAT is about as likely as the Sun rising in the West.
But assuming for one second that Trump won and the Senate flipped to the Democrats, Trump thinks he can go it alone if the Senate were majority Democratic? (The concept of Trump winning and the Senate flipping to a Democratic majority seems highly unlikely on its face.). The man is a complete ignoramous when it comes to politics. He would get no appointments confirmed, no treaties consented to, no budgets passed unless he relented to Democratic demands. And THAT is about as likely as the Sun rising in the West.
49
The only one I feel bad for is Mark Kirk. All the other ones are simply reaping the whirlwind that they helped to sow.
25
If he is a Republican, then he is promoting the idiocy that the GOP stands for. Is he willing to proceed with the nomination of the open seat on the Supreme Court? If not, he deserves to be defeated.
21
Yes, actually, Mark Kirk not only met with Merrick Garland, but was the first Republican senator to call for confirmation hearings and a vote on his nomination.
12
As most folks know by now, trump is in this for trump.
He has no concern for public service. He has no concern for the American people.
He is an aberration on the American political landscape that will be erased soon. But in doing so, he will harm the Republican party, a party I once respected.
He has no concern for public service. He has no concern for the American people.
He is an aberration on the American political landscape that will be erased soon. But in doing so, he will harm the Republican party, a party I once respected.
35
Maybe your Highness can enlighten the rest of us as to why Trump is in this race for himself. Trump has nothing to gain by running for president. He's reached the top of the business world and only stands to lose a lot of his considerable wealth by doing this. HRC on the other hand, is clearly obsessed with power. She's been running for president for two decades and hitched herself to Bill just to ride his coattails to the White House.
1
Do you have any evidence to support your contentions, or are we to assume your statements about Secretary Clinton are true because you say they are?
7
what money to lose? his actual wealth or what he claims? and you should really see a doctor for treating your rather severe case of Clinton Derangement Syndrome
Dangerous Donnie Drumpf is not the only reason NOT to reelect your Repuglican congressperson, although his grifter behavior is a pretty good reason, all on it's own. (Birds of a feather flock together.) Your Repuglican congressperson has cheated you out of fair representation and national progress. He/She has refused to do their jobs. He/She has lead our country down to road to renewed bigotry, wasted and ruined resources, aly betrayal, dangerously broken infrastructure, almost complete obstruction in Congress, loyalty to companies and wealthy patrons, voter rights denial, millions of guns in the hands of the irresponsible, and a host of other crimes that are not actually the fault of Donnie Drumpf. They have committed their own transgressions that should never again be rewarded with continued employment in Congress. Kick them all to the curb and let's get on with the business of running our faltering country, and maybe take another whack at greatness.
193
"They have committed their own transgressions that should never again be rewarded with continued employment in Congress." Amen my Brother ChesBay. In my view Congress is a failed institution and should be subject to term limits. Stand-up American electorate and look, listen and heed. You are being run over by the privileged and the political. You are NOT being represented you are being abused.
13
I understand how uneasy these candidates are about keeping the Senate Republican with Trump at the top of the ticket but what have they done, on their own, to merit keeping their jobs. What great accomplishments, besides keeping the lights on, can they point to? What have they done to help the lives of anyone who is not a CEO or a fundraiser? If you were to make a list of the things they've championed and put it next to a list of the things they have obstructed during Obama's tenure I would hope they would lose the Senate with Abe Lincoln at the top of the ticket.
122
" ...but what have they done, on their own, to merit keeping their jobs." They obstruct, they do not represent the American electorate. They receive major salaries and pensions but they do not represent the American electorate. They are Politicians, not representatives. They are self-serving, not serving. Regrettably, the American electorate is asleep at the wheel or Congress would be turned upside down and subject to term limits when they came down.
16
Disappointingly thin analysis, I'm sorry to say. Time Magazine style. Nothing new here, nothing readers don't already know, just some quotes from two campaigns. How about some data, a real look at constituencies and numbers? How about covering the other seats most in play? Disappointing. This comment isn't for publication--just a plea for richer reading from the Times.
19
As an Illinois voter, I was glad to see our senator stand against Trump. But if Kirk was not up for re-election, would he have spoken out against Trump? Sadly, I don't think so.
110
How right you are. Kirk has done the polling and raised his finger to the wind and thought yes, my best chance of re-election is going against Trump. That's all it is, political calculation. Doesn't take these guys long to figure out that the way to a career in Congress is 1) constantly raising funds from the money boys 2) never speak without poll testing your response and 3) never vote in a way that can come back to haunt you.
That's it. The three rules of a long and prosperous career in Congress. Sad but it has become what the voters have let it become. There's far too much apathy, far too many people don't pay attention or know the issues, and far too much tribalism. We get what we deserve I suppose, I just wish I didn't see the suffering that so many are subjected to because of that.
That's it. The three rules of a long and prosperous career in Congress. Sad but it has become what the voters have let it become. There's far too much apathy, far too many people don't pay attention or know the issues, and far too much tribalism. We get what we deserve I suppose, I just wish I didn't see the suffering that so many are subjected to because of that.
18
As to the illustration, I vote for the game of Bridge: One No-Trump.
24
Why not broaden the question and examine the respective penalties to the country that would result from the election of either candidate, and then decide whether you would rather cast our lot with the Greens or the Libertarians. Other than that, just hold your nose and make your mark for the Dems or the Repubs !
2
Read Adam Gopnik's piece in the most recent New Yorker, and you will see why a helluva lot of us can vote for HRC breathing in smoothly. Greens are anti-science and anti-sensible policy, and Libertarians are anti-government. Both are "deepities" in the sense that they sound good on the surface, but show themselves as rotten as soon as you scratch away the top layer.
11
This is not the first time I've heard these claims about the Greens. So yesterday I downloaded and read the entire Green platform. There is not one speck of anti-vax sentiment or anti-science sentiment. To the contrary, the platform takes a logical and progressive stance on issues related to health care, climate change, and many other issues. The Libertarians may be for small government, but they're also socially liberal, as opposed to the GOP, which wants small government for businesses, but very large government for medical care (prohibiting choice, free speech) and for social issues (marriage, rights, bathrooms). There are many good points in these minor parties' platforms that it would be of benefit to air in national debates, which likely is the key reason they will never be permitted to participate and challenge the two ruling parties.
This election is basically the GOP as the dead ruins of the Confederacy trying to make a comeback. No vision, no optimism, no place for women as equals, no ability to champion the young, no pride in the diversity of America. It is the party of cynical old men who see their power on the wane. I hope it is finally stomped out by the American voter and something worthy rises from the ashes.
330
We will find out in November whether it is stomped out, or fully arises from the ashes with its comb-over new fuhrer demanding more party discipline within the reichstag.
The Ayotte-Hassan race is probably the real bellwether. And if I were Hassan I would tie Ayotte not only to Trump but also to the man she voted for as Majority Leader - Mitch McConnell, the Obstructor-in-Chief.
239
Of all the GOP senate candidates, Marco Rubio is the most damaged and impossible. The bankruptcy of Florida's Republicans is made blatantly for all to see -- no candidate better than Rubio?
Rubio was exposed as the brainless sock-puppet of a billionaire, mouthing the same no-solution slogan to every question -- Chris Christie humiliated him.
Rubio said he wasn't going to run, and now he is. He said he hated the senate because so little got done, and now he wants to return to it?
Rubio is running on almost nothing beyond "elect ME" and name recognition. He's trying to run away from Trump, without alienating the Trump vote, waffling on almost everything else too.
His ability to get elected may depend on the strength of the NRA (for him) in a state now polarized by the massacre at "The Pulse," and the willingness of Latinos to ignore his positions and vote for him on heritage.
Murphy is not a strong candidate and is vulnerable to charges being an opportunistic switcheroo (republican to democrat), and of "what the heck have you done to be senator" too -- but he did beat Allen West in a Republican-leaning congressional district, and Florida is a state where no politician seems to survive for long.
Murphy's memorable actions in Congress have been to support the XL pipeline and trying to block a Dept. of Ed. attempt to rein in abuses by for-profit "universities." One wonders what he thinks of Trump U.
You can bet this will be a stinker of a senate race.
Rubio was exposed as the brainless sock-puppet of a billionaire, mouthing the same no-solution slogan to every question -- Chris Christie humiliated him.
Rubio said he wasn't going to run, and now he is. He said he hated the senate because so little got done, and now he wants to return to it?
Rubio is running on almost nothing beyond "elect ME" and name recognition. He's trying to run away from Trump, without alienating the Trump vote, waffling on almost everything else too.
His ability to get elected may depend on the strength of the NRA (for him) in a state now polarized by the massacre at "The Pulse," and the willingness of Latinos to ignore his positions and vote for him on heritage.
Murphy is not a strong candidate and is vulnerable to charges being an opportunistic switcheroo (republican to democrat), and of "what the heck have you done to be senator" too -- but he did beat Allen West in a Republican-leaning congressional district, and Florida is a state where no politician seems to survive for long.
Murphy's memorable actions in Congress have been to support the XL pipeline and trying to block a Dept. of Ed. attempt to rein in abuses by for-profit "universities." One wonders what he thinks of Trump U.
You can bet this will be a stinker of a senate race.
17
This is a state the re-elected the criminal (de facto if not de jure) Rick Scott as governor. I'd be surprised if Rubio loses - to Murphy if he can survive his resume embellishments, or even Grasyon the hedge fund manager.
Stinker of a race indeed.
Stinker of a race indeed.
10
To Trump, everyone who criticizes him or opposes him is a loser.
If Trump loses in the fall, he will forever in the public's mind be a "Loser".
If Trump loses in the fall, he will forever in the public's mind be a "Loser".
32
RE: "If Trump loses in the fall, he will forever in the public's mind be a "Loser"".
And loser will be an epithet that he deserves!
And loser will be an epithet that he deserves!
1
buk buk BUK! The sound of the chickens coming home to roost!
55
Ok so we now start looking at the various aspects of American "democracy" that come into play in this election year, other than whether Trump / Hillary is a good / bad person.
The Senate is certainly in play, and there is a decent likelihood that the next President (together with the Senate, in its confirmation role) will get to appoint not only 3 or 4 but possibly a full majority of 5 members of the Supreme Court.
This is one of those years where the elections are more likely than ever to have enormous, lasting consequences.
However, whatever those results, it has become more and more clear over time that the "Connecticut compromise" at the Constitutional convention is perhaps the most anti-democratic, and anti-progressive mechanism in our governmental system. Madison implied that the compromise was one of necessity, not of well-constructed political theory. And regardless of the judgments made in the 1780s, separate judgments were made (or avoided) over time as to the wisdom of admitting new states (especially those with rural, disproportionately lower populations) under the same terms - with 2 Senators like all other states.
We now have ended up in a place where Wyoming has the same power in the Senate as California although it has 1/65th of the population. This disproportionality is expected to increase over time. This is just patently ridiculous, and will spell the demise of our nation if it continues this way.
We need a massive constitutional change.
The Senate is certainly in play, and there is a decent likelihood that the next President (together with the Senate, in its confirmation role) will get to appoint not only 3 or 4 but possibly a full majority of 5 members of the Supreme Court.
This is one of those years where the elections are more likely than ever to have enormous, lasting consequences.
However, whatever those results, it has become more and more clear over time that the "Connecticut compromise" at the Constitutional convention is perhaps the most anti-democratic, and anti-progressive mechanism in our governmental system. Madison implied that the compromise was one of necessity, not of well-constructed political theory. And regardless of the judgments made in the 1780s, separate judgments were made (or avoided) over time as to the wisdom of admitting new states (especially those with rural, disproportionately lower populations) under the same terms - with 2 Senators like all other states.
We now have ended up in a place where Wyoming has the same power in the Senate as California although it has 1/65th of the population. This disproportionality is expected to increase over time. This is just patently ridiculous, and will spell the demise of our nation if it continues this way.
We need a massive constitutional change.
56
We need only a minor constitutional change, namely the composition of the senate. There are several possibilities, but none of them are revolutionary.
2
We now have ended up in a place where Wyoming has the same power in the Senate as California although it has 1/65th of the population.
***
Couldn't agree more, I think about this all the time. It is crazy, there are less than 500,000 people in WY and over 40 million in CA and they're rep. equally, it's preposterous.
***
Couldn't agree more, I think about this all the time. It is crazy, there are less than 500,000 people in WY and over 40 million in CA and they're rep. equally, it's preposterous.
6
The Republican senators imperiled themselves be choosing to be the party of 'No.'
38
To you headline question: No.
10
Update to your question: No to Senate but also a very likely Dem majority in the House. I have talked to several people today and they tell me that they are not even going to Cleveland. Another factor, it seemed to me that the Bernie Sanders endorsement of HRC today picks up lots of support that she did not have. If they both hit the trail and continue with what I heard to day, I think the Dems can sweep the election.
It is the economy again but this time the Dems will really have to show that they can create livable wage jobs. The best bet is infrastructure but the new minimum wage should create a stronger economy.
We can start a special program to harness solar energy in space and beam very cheap electricity to Earth. This will give a lot of jobs to engineers. We also might be able to create jobs in Coal, natural gas, and coal country to use the cheap electricity to make synthetic gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from air and water. The space solar can be an internationally funded program and we can make and ship refinery components all over the World. Denial of global warming is the Achilles heal of the GOP.
We can also create a new Maglev industry to ship 300 Maglev passenger and freight carriers all over the World. See www.magneticglide.com for concept. Superconducting Maglev was invented by Drs. James Powell ad Gordon Danby 50 years ago but it has been opposed by the airline industry and others but its time has come because of global warming.
It is the economy again but this time the Dems will really have to show that they can create livable wage jobs. The best bet is infrastructure but the new minimum wage should create a stronger economy.
We can start a special program to harness solar energy in space and beam very cheap electricity to Earth. This will give a lot of jobs to engineers. We also might be able to create jobs in Coal, natural gas, and coal country to use the cheap electricity to make synthetic gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from air and water. The space solar can be an internationally funded program and we can make and ship refinery components all over the World. Denial of global warming is the Achilles heal of the GOP.
We can also create a new Maglev industry to ship 300 Maglev passenger and freight carriers all over the World. See www.magneticglide.com for concept. Superconducting Maglev was invented by Drs. James Powell ad Gordon Danby 50 years ago but it has been opposed by the airline industry and others but its time has come because of global warming.
4
I'm not in Virginia, but I would vote for you, seriously. Great ideas, call Terry and Tim, they could use the help.
4
I applaud Mr. Kirk for refusing to roll in the mud to win the pigs, but his "moderate" stand is solely self-interested. The truth is, Mr. Kirk is fighting for his life.
In the heat of a white-knuckle race, he has been distancing himself from his fellow Republicans - supporting a vote for Merrick Garland, rejecting Trump, refusing to attention the convention.
Where was Mr. Kirk when his party voted to repeal the ACA for the 62nd time on Feb 2nd, Groundhog Day? When his party refused to raise the federal minimum wage to a meager $10.10 an hour in 2014?
American citizens deserve leaders who don't sway with the wind. Rejecting an racist egomaniac when you're down in the polls isn't courage.
In the heat of a white-knuckle race, he has been distancing himself from his fellow Republicans - supporting a vote for Merrick Garland, rejecting Trump, refusing to attention the convention.
Where was Mr. Kirk when his party voted to repeal the ACA for the 62nd time on Feb 2nd, Groundhog Day? When his party refused to raise the federal minimum wage to a meager $10.10 an hour in 2014?
American citizens deserve leaders who don't sway with the wind. Rejecting an racist egomaniac when you're down in the polls isn't courage.
160
Perhaps GOP senators should think less about Trump and more about the approval rating of US Senate, which is abysmal. In fact, while I'm not sure, I believe that Trump's 31% approval rating is still 10% ahead of Senate.
43
"Let's face facts. Trump speaks his mind..."
Yes, Trump speaks his mind and it lets us peer into that mind in a way few politicians have ever allowed. And it is not a pretty sight.
Yes, Trump speaks his mind and it lets us peer into that mind in a way few politicians have ever allowed. And it is not a pretty sight.
118
No, it's far from clear that he does actually speak his mind. He doesn't seem to possess the habit of self-reflection. His mouth opens, something comes out...that's not the same as speaking one's mind.
Republican's, the nation is embarrassed of you too. Not only are star Republican's too embarrassed to be Trump's VP candidate or even admit supporting Trump, they're too embarrassed to show up at their own convention. My god what an absolute train wreck.
45
>>>"[Ayotte, R-NH] also points to her vote for the Senate’s bipartisan immigration-reform legislation in 2013 — a position that ended her support from Palin, who called her a “flip-flopper” — and says that today, as she put it to me, “I want to be in the camp of solving the problem.”
That was one of the most irresponsible piece of legislation the Senate ever passed. It would have nearly tripled legal immigration, to the equivalent of one and a half New York States per decade, while doing nothing to stop illegal immigration.
To be sure, it included a national, mandatory E-Verify, to be implemented five years after the rest of the bill. But the bill was written such that E-Verify would have been suspended if legally challenged, until resolution--probably another several years at least, by which time there would have been a whole new cohort of illegal immigrants demanding amnesty. And you know that La Raza and the ACLU would challenge E-Verify.
That was one of the most irresponsible piece of legislation the Senate ever passed. It would have nearly tripled legal immigration, to the equivalent of one and a half New York States per decade, while doing nothing to stop illegal immigration.
To be sure, it included a national, mandatory E-Verify, to be implemented five years after the rest of the bill. But the bill was written such that E-Verify would have been suspended if legally challenged, until resolution--probably another several years at least, by which time there would have been a whole new cohort of illegal immigrants demanding amnesty. And you know that La Raza and the ACLU would challenge E-Verify.
5
How can a woman, any woman, like Sen. Ayotte possibly vote to defund planned parenthood?
''In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends''. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Vote the R stands for religion,racism,repugnant, and ridiculous party out of office.
''In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends''. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Vote the R stands for religion,racism,repugnant, and ridiculous party out of office.
188
Dear Mr Trump, it's not about you. It's about our nation and the world. If you can stop thinking in terms of you and think in terms of us, some good might get done. Until then, only loss will follow the Republican hopefuls.
19
Donald Trump is so toxic that he could likely drag the entire GOP ticket down all by himself. But I know I'll also be voting against the House Republicans and their interminable, expensive and fruitless anti-HRC investigations, Paul Ryan's heartless and unworkable Obamacare "replacement" plan and, especially, the National Rifle Association's apparent ownership of the Republican Party. No wonder the GOP is trying to distract us from what today's Republicans stand for. #ImWithHer
309
Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of people. They place party over their oath of office, not to mention allegiance to the country and its Constitution.
If this were 1942, they would be correctly seen as seditious and more likely traitorous. The authoritarian mindset on view tonight at Nuremberg on Lake Erie was more that of the Axis Powers than anything else. The GOP would correctly be seen as a branch of fascism, and dealt with accordingly.
What caused the American voter to forget this between 1945 and today?
If this were 1942, they would be correctly seen as seditious and more likely traitorous. The authoritarian mindset on view tonight at Nuremberg on Lake Erie was more that of the Axis Powers than anything else. The GOP would correctly be seen as a branch of fascism, and dealt with accordingly.
What caused the American voter to forget this between 1945 and today?
The bigger question is not whether the GOP senate majority CAN survive Donald Trump but rather where it SHOULD survive Trump. Clearly the answer is no. Like it or not Donald Trump is the un varnished personification of the GOP with all the code words and veneer of pretending to be something other then party of hate, lies, ignorance, and hypocrisy.
99
The Republican party and its leaders have been part of the problems and not solutions in this country for years. They asked for and deserve a person like Trump. They will own the consequences of their actions for years to come.
56
If the Americans reelect a Rep. majority in the senate, I guess this is the kind of government they deserve. A government that will vote only on bills to put a Dem. President down and without any care for the well being of the people. Congratulations America, your Senate has reached a new low and if you give them back a majority, so have you.
80
Oh, these poor, poor republican senators are lamenting their association with the party nominee. I guess I really should work up some sympathy for them, but I can't. They have been a vital party of the "Party of No" actions defining the current republican party. They have not broken with their leadership. They have been the most useless and inactive party in the Senate in many years. And NOW they want us to believe they are effective despite Trump being on the ticket. Heck no. Like it or not, they are all "Trump Republicans."
I'm guessing come November 9, the republicans are going to have lost control of the Senate (it is likely to be with the Democrats holding 60+ seats, in fact). They might also lose the House (a harder task, but certainly doable despite republican gerrymandering for "safe" seats—it's happened before).
After November, the only hope for the republican party is to split into two (much like the Whigs did in 1854). The "GOP" can be made up of the Tea Party and evangelicals who've pushed the party to a rightward extreme (and helped to bury it). Its spiritual leader can be Donald Trump. The other party, the "New Republicans," can be like the republican party I dimly remember from my youth, when there were honorable republicans (Percy, Javits, Rockefeller, Dirkson) in control of the party. Perhaps Senator Kirk can be this party's spiritual leader. Maybe Mitt. Maybe Senator Graham.
No matter what, it's time for the party to split. One of them will die though.
I'm guessing come November 9, the republicans are going to have lost control of the Senate (it is likely to be with the Democrats holding 60+ seats, in fact). They might also lose the House (a harder task, but certainly doable despite republican gerrymandering for "safe" seats—it's happened before).
After November, the only hope for the republican party is to split into two (much like the Whigs did in 1854). The "GOP" can be made up of the Tea Party and evangelicals who've pushed the party to a rightward extreme (and helped to bury it). Its spiritual leader can be Donald Trump. The other party, the "New Republicans," can be like the republican party I dimly remember from my youth, when there were honorable republicans (Percy, Javits, Rockefeller, Dirkson) in control of the party. Perhaps Senator Kirk can be this party's spiritual leader. Maybe Mitt. Maybe Senator Graham.
No matter what, it's time for the party to split. One of them will die though.
164
Where do the Corporate Business interests fall in this split? To my mind, they represent the true Republicsn dominant force that prides itself on being the Party of Reagan.
3
In other words, he's an independent using the Republican party apparatus to run for President.
And the party let it happen.