And Brandon Finnegan has never, it seems, lived in Pennsylvania. The part of California he lives in is called the Inland Empire, which, were it a state, would be a swing state.
1
It's interesting to me that they think Pennsylvania is such a swing state.The last presidential year it went Republican was 1988, which was also the last presidential year that California and eight other states went Republican. And nobody thinks of California as a swing state.
1
Excellent article & purpose of the group! Too many Trump supporters & Republicans are in denial! You cannot deal with a political parties demise if you cannot look at statistical information clearly. That is the major problem that the Republican Party is facing. From economic policy to votes. Cherry picking data to support policies that don't work. A major problem for Republicans. Even their pollsters have that problem. You cannot have a strong political system of competition without it. Kudos to the the group for finding common ground instead of distortion & blind anarchy. It is an acknowledgement of fact & not vitriol. The political argue nets are not apples & oranges ,but rocks & time travel, no common dialogue of facts.
2
I guess my question is, what does this have to do with partisan politics? Nowhere in the article or interview was there a mention of "rigged' elections. So how does this group reconcile being a conservative org. with no conservative agenda. It makes no sense. The notion of doing to be better than AP is fine. But AP isn't partisan, so again, why the conservative affiliation?
2
Interesting that this group could be the shut-off valve for Trump and Session's claims of a "rigged election." Does Trump even know this group exists?
Personally, my only concern is that the AP, over the years, has agreed to release results when appropriate, meaning when the polls in other areas of a state or nation as a whole vote, so that knowing the outcome does not suppress voting. Will this organization be similarly responsible in its reporting?
Personally, my only concern is that the AP, over the years, has agreed to release results when appropriate, meaning when the polls in other areas of a state or nation as a whole vote, so that knowing the outcome does not suppress voting. Will this organization be similarly responsible in its reporting?
3
Bill
I am one of Brandon's volunteers and I speak for myself, not Brandon. But in all the races I have participated in collection vote data, not once was the winner announced before the last poll closed. Integrity.
I am one of Brandon's volunteers and I speak for myself, not Brandon. But in all the races I have participated in collection vote data, not once was the winner announced before the last poll closed. Integrity.
2
Not clear why a new organization is needed to call races even sooner than others have in the past. Let's all just calm down and wait for the ballots to be counted.
And more importantly, let's require all jurisdictions to have paper ballots that can be audited and recounted if necessary. The warnings about Pennsylvania's vote computers getting hacked should be taken seriously, since they have no paper records to back them up.
And more importantly, let's require all jurisdictions to have paper ballots that can be audited and recounted if necessary. The warnings about Pennsylvania's vote computers getting hacked should be taken seriously, since they have no paper records to back them up.
6
The TRUMP SMOKESCREEN in and about Pennsylvania is worthy of serious attention.
1. GOP yelled at the top of their lungs "Republicans have "fixed" Pennsylvania " with new suppression laws...
2. Trump keeps focusing on the Cities ( he thinks he has a computer fix to win them). When he does he will have said the opposite, that the fix was against him, providing cover for his own fix.
3. Pennsylvania has NO RECOUNT/PAPER TRAIL.
Watch if Trump does far better than the polls in suburban polls and somehow wins Pennsylvania.
4. It is clear that Pennsylvania is a blue state, all of the polls say so, any type of TRUMP win should be held in massive suspicion. It is over covered, it has constant confusion on the wishes of the voters....it has become pivitol because the FIX is in. That FIX can only be in the Republicans favor. The state clearly is a Democratic stronghold. Beware of being distracted. Too many polls clearly show Democrats winning.
1. GOP yelled at the top of their lungs "Republicans have "fixed" Pennsylvania " with new suppression laws...
2. Trump keeps focusing on the Cities ( he thinks he has a computer fix to win them). When he does he will have said the opposite, that the fix was against him, providing cover for his own fix.
3. Pennsylvania has NO RECOUNT/PAPER TRAIL.
Watch if Trump does far better than the polls in suburban polls and somehow wins Pennsylvania.
4. It is clear that Pennsylvania is a blue state, all of the polls say so, any type of TRUMP win should be held in massive suspicion. It is over covered, it has constant confusion on the wishes of the voters....it has become pivitol because the FIX is in. That FIX can only be in the Republicans favor. The state clearly is a Democratic stronghold. Beware of being distracted. Too many polls clearly show Democrats winning.
2
It is hard to determine any "trending" from the 2016 registration figures as the Trump phenomena boosted voter registration changes to Republican because the vast majority of our states have closed primaries.
Many Independents and Democrats (primarily in the south) who were reliable Republican voters for years had to re-register to be eligible for the Republican primaries.
They do not represent Republican gains as much as they simply clarified their voting propensities.
This factor is demonstrated clearly in Florida where some counties with Democratic registration advantages had histories of voting for Republican Presidential and Gubernatorial candidates by substantial margins.
Then comes Donald Trump running in a Republican Primary and they find out they cannot vote for Trump unless they become Republicans.
Their registration changes appear exaggerated as those Republican voting Democrats become Republicans.
When 75,000 Democrats switch parties to Republicans it looks like a 150,000 change as each person is one less Democrat and one more /Republican.
There was no real change in how these 75,000 voters will vote but the numbers look like a drastic change.
Many Independents and Democrats (primarily in the south) who were reliable Republican voters for years had to re-register to be eligible for the Republican primaries.
They do not represent Republican gains as much as they simply clarified their voting propensities.
This factor is demonstrated clearly in Florida where some counties with Democratic registration advantages had histories of voting for Republican Presidential and Gubernatorial candidates by substantial margins.
Then comes Donald Trump running in a Republican Primary and they find out they cannot vote for Trump unless they become Republicans.
Their registration changes appear exaggerated as those Republican voting Democrats become Republicans.
When 75,000 Democrats switch parties to Republicans it looks like a 150,000 change as each person is one less Democrat and one more /Republican.
There was no real change in how these 75,000 voters will vote but the numbers look like a drastic change.
6
Mr. Finnigan is a refreshing voice, indeed--may the tribe of non-reactionary, inter-culturally competent, policy-focused, scientifically-minded, alt-right rejecting conservatives increase! Having lived and voted for 30 years in the Philadelphia area, I'm not sure that Pennsylvania is/will be trending red [Toni's comment, citing Nate Silver's analysis from May--which has shifted markedly since then], if only because of the synergy of two factors Brandon lifts up: the non-college white voters (urban and rural, either party) of the state are plentiful but decreasing, and the non-white residents (especially younger) are, and will continue to, increase. This trajectory--a version of which was clearly foreshadowed in the Republican National Committee's post-mortem of the 2012 Romney defeat--bodes well for a healthy Democratic party long term, and is going to be considerably accelerated by a Clinton blowout (+8 percentage points of the popular vote) of Trump. PS I couldn't be happier!
5
When the Republicans lost to Obama last time a group gathered for a press conference and said they lost because Romney wasn't conservative enough...later they mentioned that they had to do better with Latinos, too. They did neither. I wonder what their excuse will be this time? They bred this guy out of the worst of their fear mongering, support of the radical religious right and often subtle racist language. Not all Republicans are bad, but they have picked a loser this year....or at least I hope so!
7
It's utter fantasy that Republicans will become more competitive in PA.
All you have to do is look at recent statewide elections. 2014, we elected a Democratic governor, the only state in the country to turn the governor's mansion from red to blue. In 2015 statewide elections, including for the state Supreme Court, Democrats won every single office in a clean sweep.
Pennsylvania is a microcosm of what is happening across the country. Old white working class and increasingly Republican areas are simply aging and dying off. Places where population is growing are uniformly attracting more educated people. Allentown is the best example - what used to be a blue collar town full of mills and factories, employing tens of thousands of workers, is now a regional tech hub employing tens of thousands of people with degrees, many of them advanced, working in advanced manufacturing and health care. Those people are not voting for an increasingly racist and regressive Republican, that I can tell you.
All you have to do is look at recent statewide elections. 2014, we elected a Democratic governor, the only state in the country to turn the governor's mansion from red to blue. In 2015 statewide elections, including for the state Supreme Court, Democrats won every single office in a clean sweep.
Pennsylvania is a microcosm of what is happening across the country. Old white working class and increasingly Republican areas are simply aging and dying off. Places where population is growing are uniformly attracting more educated people. Allentown is the best example - what used to be a blue collar town full of mills and factories, employing tens of thousands of workers, is now a regional tech hub employing tens of thousands of people with degrees, many of them advanced, working in advanced manufacturing and health care. Those people are not voting for an increasingly racist and regressive Republican, that I can tell you.
11
Wait, what?
As long as the Republican Party encourages no science and racism, it will never win in Pennsylvania.
It's going to start losing in Arizona and Georgia, and Texas.
It's going to start losing in Arizona and Georgia, and Texas.
16
Two comments:
1) I hope Mr. Finnigan and crew can do something to corral the "poll watchers" in PA that Trump is promoting - which look like "voter intimidators" to me since voter fraud is a nonexistent problem in PA (and across the country).
2) How is it that Canada manages to report its voting results instantly - and accurately? Is Mr. Finnigan following their lead?
1) I hope Mr. Finnigan and crew can do something to corral the "poll watchers" in PA that Trump is promoting - which look like "voter intimidators" to me since voter fraud is a nonexistent problem in PA (and across the country).
2) How is it that Canada manages to report its voting results instantly - and accurately? Is Mr. Finnigan following their lead?
10
Great that Finnigan has found a sponsor for his new reporting group. But how is he going to do this?
The voter intimidation that Trump has pushed since midsummer is going to be a major problem, unless there are police or national guards stationed at every polling place, which is hardly practical?
The voter intimidation that Trump has pushed since midsummer is going to be a major problem, unless there are police or national guards stationed at every polling place, which is hardly practical?
3
The PA Democrats (who contacted me because I'd said I could be available to volunteer) told me they have "voter protection teams" working on that. I didn't get any more information than that, but at least they're doing something.
Yeah, armed men at the polls isn't intimidating.
Brandon couldn't be more wrong about Pennsylvania trending red. While it is true in non presidential years that republicans are often a majority on election day, there are so many untapped left leaning voters in Philadelphia and I suspect Pittsburgh, that this will be a reliably blue state for at least the next 20 years. Obama and Trump have both made certain of that.
as for me personally, I wish that the republican party could be a true center right party,a s sit wa sin my youth. what i see now is a crazy party, with no interest in knowledge science or progress, and a more centered on that consistently moves tot he right to ensure winning elections. Wouldn't it be great to have a center right and a center left battle for votes, then compromise to achieve what we all need?
as for me personally, I wish that the republican party could be a true center right party,a s sit wa sin my youth. what i see now is a crazy party, with no interest in knowledge science or progress, and a more centered on that consistently moves tot he right to ensure winning elections. Wouldn't it be great to have a center right and a center left battle for votes, then compromise to achieve what we all need?
16
One word: gerrymandering. Until districts are drawn impartially, polarization will continue to be the order of the day.
If you let legislators draw their districts, they'll draw them SAFE. We do and they did. Then the only thing they have to fear is a primary challenge and primaries are where the party extremists tend to dominate, so they'll either become more extreme themselves or be replaced. Rinse and repeat.
If you let legislators draw their districts, they'll draw them SAFE. We do and they did. Then the only thing they have to fear is a primary challenge and primaries are where the party extremists tend to dominate, so they'll either become more extreme themselves or be replaced. Rinse and repeat.
2
I am a left leaning individual who can vote Republican if a) they start believing in science; b) become socially liberal; c) propose reasonable taxation; d) less war hawk; e) sensible immigration reforms; f) propose real improvement to Obamacare or work to implement it; and g) focus on alternate energy.
May be it is too much to ask so on second thoughts I will stick with Democrats.
May be it is too much to ask so on second thoughts I will stick with Democrats.
42
It is interesting to me that so many assume conservatives do not "believe in science". Why is that? Is it because so many conservatives are skeptical of global warming. I am skeptical of whatI call the Grand Unified Theory of Global Warming.
That theory is 1) The earth is warming 2) Warming is human caused 3) The warming is catastrophic 4) Only by giving more power to government can it be stopped by 5) Levying big taxes on the economy in the form of carbon taxes
My I be skeptical of any of these positions and still believe in science? Is that allowed?
That theory is 1) The earth is warming 2) Warming is human caused 3) The warming is catastrophic 4) Only by giving more power to government can it be stopped by 5) Levying big taxes on the economy in the form of carbon taxes
My I be skeptical of any of these positions and still believe in science? Is that allowed?
Consider which of those portions of the theory are scientific, and which aren't. (1) and (2) are scientific, and if you disagree with those, you do not "believe in science".
For (3) "catastrophic" is your word. For (4) giving the government more power is your concept. For (5) "big" is again your word.
Acid rain was controlled by taxing emissions, and the taxes were not large. To deny that is to deny the science.
More abstractly, you are denying us the ability to cooperate to protect the commons as a communal resource. Government came into existence because people wanted to cooperate to use scarce resources in an equitable fashion. If we don't cooperate to prevent over-fishing, we all lose in the not-so-long run. Charging a fee to use the commons, or charging a fee to internalize the external costs of using the commons, is an effective market oriented way to cooperate.
Plus, "the earth is warming" is a bit simplistic. Coal-fired power plants are hazardous to our health due to the particulates spewed into the air. Carbon dissolving into and acidifying our oceans is not a good outcome. We can no longer treat the atmosphere and oceans as infinite sinks that can absorb our trash. Our world population long ago grew too large for that.
For (3) "catastrophic" is your word. For (4) giving the government more power is your concept. For (5) "big" is again your word.
Acid rain was controlled by taxing emissions, and the taxes were not large. To deny that is to deny the science.
More abstractly, you are denying us the ability to cooperate to protect the commons as a communal resource. Government came into existence because people wanted to cooperate to use scarce resources in an equitable fashion. If we don't cooperate to prevent over-fishing, we all lose in the not-so-long run. Charging a fee to use the commons, or charging a fee to internalize the external costs of using the commons, is an effective market oriented way to cooperate.
Plus, "the earth is warming" is a bit simplistic. Coal-fired power plants are hazardous to our health due to the particulates spewed into the air. Carbon dissolving into and acidifying our oceans is not a good outcome. We can no longer treat the atmosphere and oceans as infinite sinks that can absorb our trash. Our world population long ago grew too large for that.
With apologies to politicos, its hard to see why getting election results quickly is important to the rest of us. The sole exception is counting that drags on for days rather than hours, and that's a problem with counting, not reporting.
Doesn't change the results and those inclined to believe the election is rigged won't be persuaded by getting the results sooner.
I gave up watching election night coverage years ago - and I think my blood pressure is the better for it.
Doesn't change the results and those inclined to believe the election is rigged won't be persuaded by getting the results sooner.
I gave up watching election night coverage years ago - and I think my blood pressure is the better for it.
10
We live in the far west! We want election results when the voting is done, not a moment earlier! And I agree, not watching does lower one's blood pressure...but can we stand to look away this year?
1
Rereading the article, Republicans in PA must be quite different than my red midwest state. He and his wife would be barely tolerated outside of a larger city and the invective spewed by Trump is a common theme. One has only to look at the Republican party platform to show that Mr. Finnigan has a long way to go to change the Republican party.
13
Pennsylvania social and political culture has for centuries been dominated by the Quaker ideal of "consensus." Radical or extreme ideas or actions of any kind are abhorred. Pennsylvanians strive to maintain a "peaceable kingdom" by staying to the middle of the road.
At best, this allows progress in tiny incremental steps. At worst achieving consensus requires the acceptance of a mediocrity that stifles creativity.
Also, a very high percentage of Pennsylvania residents are native born Pennsylvania - a higher percentage than in any other state.
At best, this allows progress in tiny incremental steps. At worst achieving consensus requires the acceptance of a mediocrity that stifles creativity.
Also, a very high percentage of Pennsylvania residents are native born Pennsylvania - a higher percentage than in any other state.
4
The problem is that Trump isn't a parody of anything. Conservatism is a parody of Trump.
5
Republicans might carry Pennsylvania, but Democrats will carry North Carolina, and perhaps Georgia and Arizona. If you're solely going to depend on demographics changing, you're making the fatal mistake Donald Trump made: If you're going to depend on changes in your favor, you can't ignore changes that favor the other party.
Yes Pennsylvania is getting more red. But other states are getting more blue. North Carolina is now a backstop for Clinton, a state that's only gone blue once, but is growing more diverse, more college educated, basically more blue. Other states are not far behind it.
Secondly, in order for Republicans to win elections, they have to win the general election, but first the primaries. The three legged stool of the Republican Party is at war with itself. As you even mentioned, some want no amnesty, others want open borders (or at least more open). Same with so many. Social conservatives want to roll back LGBT rights or at least institute legalized discrimination. Businesses don't. You have to fundamentally reform the primary process or you're never going to win the general election.
Admitting you have a problem is the first step to solving it. Until you do that, you're never going to. And a shifting electorate means you're running out of time, that even if you finally get one white whale, another one is going to sink your boat.
Yes Pennsylvania is getting more red. But other states are getting more blue. North Carolina is now a backstop for Clinton, a state that's only gone blue once, but is growing more diverse, more college educated, basically more blue. Other states are not far behind it.
Secondly, in order for Republicans to win elections, they have to win the general election, but first the primaries. The three legged stool of the Republican Party is at war with itself. As you even mentioned, some want no amnesty, others want open borders (or at least more open). Same with so many. Social conservatives want to roll back LGBT rights or at least institute legalized discrimination. Businesses don't. You have to fundamentally reform the primary process or you're never going to win the general election.
Admitting you have a problem is the first step to solving it. Until you do that, you're never going to. And a shifting electorate means you're running out of time, that even if you finally get one white whale, another one is going to sink your boat.
17
Republicans might carry PA? Are you looking at special Trump-approved polling?
6
Agree. The three legged stool seems to be roughly:
* Christian fundamentalists who want to reduce religious tolerance and tolerance for the sexual and gender preferences of others;
* White racists that want to reduce tolerance of other races.
* Business owners that want to pay sub-par wages and which don't want to pay for the shared resources (clean air, clean water, ...) that they use. They value short term profits above sustainable, more rapidly growing profits.
None of these are sustainable ideals, and all must die in the long run.
* Christian fundamentalists who want to reduce religious tolerance and tolerance for the sexual and gender preferences of others;
* White racists that want to reduce tolerance of other races.
* Business owners that want to pay sub-par wages and which don't want to pay for the shared resources (clean air, clean water, ...) that they use. They value short term profits above sustainable, more rapidly growing profits.
None of these are sustainable ideals, and all must die in the long run.
Penn like ,most states need
1- More jobs. Infrastructure improvements will do this, a huge stimulus lots of jobs, increased revenue for the state, increased consumer spending. Now is the time to borrow at low low interest.
2- Decrease income inequality. More taxes on the rich (fair but tough-reduce loopholes. ) Min wage increase. hild care for the working mothers to get back to work.
3- Single payer health care so all the fine print can't confuse and obstruct.
4- Demand that politicians actually spend time at their job.Stop the $$ in Politics.
5- Increase the chance for skill training and colleges by making the public schools low price.
These are a few things that all of us need regardless of which tribe you subscribe to. All should promote these.
1- More jobs. Infrastructure improvements will do this, a huge stimulus lots of jobs, increased revenue for the state, increased consumer spending. Now is the time to borrow at low low interest.
2- Decrease income inequality. More taxes on the rich (fair but tough-reduce loopholes. ) Min wage increase. hild care for the working mothers to get back to work.
3- Single payer health care so all the fine print can't confuse and obstruct.
4- Demand that politicians actually spend time at their job.Stop the $$ in Politics.
5- Increase the chance for skill training and colleges by making the public schools low price.
These are a few things that all of us need regardless of which tribe you subscribe to. All should promote these.
16
It's overly optimistic to say PA is going GOP in the 2020 election. If Clinton gets some cooperation from Congress, it'll actually help a place like middle Pennsylvania. Also, even in rural areas of PA you see more and more people of color. The GOP will not make inroads into a place were kids of color grow up around white kids and where alternative lifestyles among younger kids are not an anathema unless it becomes more embracing (not just tolerant) and less racist. The GOP should wholeheartedly reject racism not just with words but deeds and say to backwards whites that they either need to get onboard or vote for someone else because without doing so the GOP won't survive, let alone win PA.
I used to vote Republican election after election. I voted for Gore in 2000 and haven't looked back. Until the GOP roots out the homophobia and racism and hate, I won't be back.
I used to vote Republican election after election. I voted for Gore in 2000 and haven't looked back. Until the GOP roots out the homophobia and racism and hate, I won't be back.
28
Trump is imploding for good reason. He is a racist and misogynist who is unfit to serve as President of the United States. His own actions are destroying his campaign. BUT... the Hillary Clinton campaign needs to place Bill Clinton in the background...way in the background. He is NOT running and the people of the United States do not want to hear from him... they want to hear from Hillary. He will not help her efforts at this point in the campaign, he can only weaken the strong position she now holds.
17
I live in the part of Pennsylvania that should be strongly proTrump. But in spite of the fact that Trump yard signs outnumber Hillary yard signs 20:1, I doubt he will even win Indiana County which is 94% white. He will win white men without college degrees but not their wives and girlfriends. I also think their will be many who will stay home this election. The only women I know who will vote for Trump are deeply religious (evangelical or conservative Catholic) because of the Supreme Court. I agree with Brandon that we are becoming more Republican here.
4
Steve, funny you mention there are more yard signs for Trump than for Hillary- but there is a good reason for that.
The people that put up Trump signs have no fears about crazy, gun toting Hillary supporters who may vandalize their home.
Unfortunately, Hillary supporters do not have that same comfort level- especially after viewing the rabid people at the Trump rallies and the crazy chants at the Republican convention.
Believe me- people will vote for Hillary but they may be fearful for their safety from Trump supporters so they will not publically display lawn signs.
The people that put up Trump signs have no fears about crazy, gun toting Hillary supporters who may vandalize their home.
Unfortunately, Hillary supporters do not have that same comfort level- especially after viewing the rabid people at the Trump rallies and the crazy chants at the Republican convention.
Believe me- people will vote for Hillary but they may be fearful for their safety from Trump supporters so they will not publically display lawn signs.
31
Funny. Every report I have seen of stolen signs and vandals destroying property have been liberals doing the damage.
1
Brandon,
First, kudos for your work. It looks to be quite interesting. I am a "former" republican. Supported them with time and money, for years. Why did I stop?
Regan.
When it came out regarding his swapping arms for Hostages, Illegally arming the Contras....and then lying about it. That's when I realized the GOP had one goal: Stay In Power, at all cost.
First, kudos for your work. It looks to be quite interesting. I am a "former" republican. Supported them with time and money, for years. Why did I stop?
Regan.
When it came out regarding his swapping arms for Hostages, Illegally arming the Contras....and then lying about it. That's when I realized the GOP had one goal: Stay In Power, at all cost.
43
Sounds like a great idea --using volunteers to offer an alternative to for-profit polling and mainstream media. Once he gets a "benefactor," I am afraid it will be the same old.
2
I disagree, Jy.
Having a 'benefactor' does not mean that good, honest journalism doesn't exist.
Perhaps I'm not a cynical as you.
Having a 'benefactor' does not mean that good, honest journalism doesn't exist.
Perhaps I'm not a cynical as you.
3
Well done Brandon. I wish you continued success.
7
Great interview, thanks for this. Brandon Finnegan sounds so much more intelligent, informed, reasonable, and empathetic than Trump that it's mind-boggling. If he were the nominee instead, I'm not sure that I'd vote for him, but I wouldn't be scared of his winning. Like, Trump makes me fear he'd cause the end of America and possibly the extinction of humanity, but if it were Mr. Finnegan, I'd think, oh well, he'll do a reasonable job and he's got the best interests of the nation in mind.
This also gives me hope for the future after Trump, that there are intelligent conservatives who aren't operating out of fear and bigotry, and that the political divide may be bridged once Trump is off the stage.
This also gives me hope for the future after Trump, that there are intelligent conservatives who aren't operating out of fear and bigotry, and that the political divide may be bridged once Trump is off the stage.
20
Love the supernova analogy. Quite apt.
13
The conservative tradition of the self-delusion that one's own pocketbook is the measure of all things is being kept aflame by a new generation. It is increasingly clear that a democratic communitarian society on a large scale is not feasible.
5
I really appreciate this piece. I follow Mr. Finnigan's project on Twitter, but hadn't been aware of his political leanings or any of his personal details.
I'm a gay, white, female, middle-aged, middle-class Southerner who despises racism. The GOP is not for me.
But a political party populated by people like Mr. Finnigan seems to be: rational, thoughtful, entrepreneurial, practical, and not bigoted--that's a necessary element for our country to resume functioning.
More like him, please. And more pieces like this one. The readers of the NYTimes don't need any more big think-pieces by Manhattanites donning their plaid shirts to go discover "economic anxiety" in coal country. They need to know--I need to know--more of the reality behind the stereotypes and straw men of this long, long season of discontent.
I'm a gay, white, female, middle-aged, middle-class Southerner who despises racism. The GOP is not for me.
But a political party populated by people like Mr. Finnigan seems to be: rational, thoughtful, entrepreneurial, practical, and not bigoted--that's a necessary element for our country to resume functioning.
More like him, please. And more pieces like this one. The readers of the NYTimes don't need any more big think-pieces by Manhattanites donning their plaid shirts to go discover "economic anxiety" in coal country. They need to know--I need to know--more of the reality behind the stereotypes and straw men of this long, long season of discontent.
71
I probably don't agree with this guy's politics but he is rational and thoughtful. Maybe the Republican party should listen to him instead of Hannity etc.
64
I'd like to see someone like him running for office.
1
The smokescreen for a Pennsylvania upset by Trump is carefully being put in place. Even Trump himself is yelling rigged, knowing the RIG is in his direction. Who would honestly believe a Republican win....we will see because without a Paper trail not only are Relublicans going to win Pennsylvania, proving the FIX will be impossible. This early results Pollyanna group does have benefactors and they are being paid.
1
What I liked about him was that I felt I could actually understand him. There were no talking points, no jeremiads... just a nuanced, personal perspective by an intelligent person. I'd be happy to agree to disagree with him on the other side of the aisle!
There are a couple things wrong with the way this article views what has appened in PA. In pronouncing the state "trending slowly red", it ignores two things: first, the cynical gerrymandering engineered and bulled through the legislature in violation of the state constitution, that set up a no-fail scenario for Republicans across the commonwealth. This is a problem that we are hoping to reverse in the newly-elected PA Supreme Court; and second, the ousting of extremist Republican governor Tom Corbett after only one term, a thing almost unheard of in a state that likes to keep its horses in mid-stream. Second, ne of the largest concentrations of voters in the state, in Montgomery County, recently became majority Dem for the first time in decades. This will make it even harder for the Republicans to take PA in a state-wide race, where the blue cities and outlying areas will always outweigh the more sparsely populated rural areas. Finally, PA is a perfect example of the mushy middle. Even when swinging right, it never swings into extremist territory for long. The candidates Republicans have thrown up for the last few election cycles have been increasing radical and extreme. As Tom Corbett found out, that doesn't play well here.
35
Two things: " Nobody, regardless of what catchy sound bite or big smile, is going to fix their problems for them. If Trump gets elected, their lives aren’t going to improve." is a true statement. The forces that are affecting jobs (particularly jobs that don't require a college degree) are bigger than what a president or a legislature can fix. Second, I see the same lack of discussion that an average of 90% of incumbents are reelected to the Senate and House. Without change in the legislature, it doesn't matter who is president.
43
Where does this notion that Pennsylvania is trending Republican come from? Surely not from the results in Presidential elections. They have been slowly moving in the Democrats favor since 1900. See this chart:
http://www.politicsbythenumbers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/pa-trend.png
http://www.politicsbythenumbers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/pa-trend.png
22