One of the reasons Ossoff lost was because most of his funding came from people outside of his district. When I vote for a Representative in Congress I vote for someone that I think will look out for the interests of my district. When most of the funding a would-be representative has comes from people in New York and California I would be very disinclined to vote for that person. It is rather remarkable that a would-be representative who lives outside the district, and whose is endorsed financially from people outside the district, lost by only 3 percentage points to a person who is a member of a party that has represented the district for many decades and who lives in the district. I think that this results indicates that Trump and the Republicans are very unpopular.
4
Well it's all right, even if you're old and grey
Well it's all right, you still got something to say
Well it's all right, remember to live and let live
Well it's all right, the best you can do is forgive
~~~ Travelling Wilburys
Well it's all right, you still got something to say
Well it's all right, remember to live and let live
Well it's all right, the best you can do is forgive
~~~ Travelling Wilburys
1
As FDR once said:
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself....that and Nancy Pelosi."
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself....that and Nancy Pelosi."
12
The Dems were equally stupid with the special election to replace Mike Pompeo. They don't understand that these Gerrymandered districts are IMPOSSIBLE for any Democrat. The ONLY way Democrats will EVER win in red states is to allow for pro-life candidates. The pro-choice position is an automatic loss in the South or Midwest.
3
Yup. Keep thinking that way. There is an alternative way to look at it (hint, look at the November electionL but view this as a plus for the Dems and keep losing...
6
"The surprisingly easy victory for Ms. Handel...."
Martin and Fausset, are you looking at the same numbers I am? >4 points is not an "easy victory," and this outcome indicates a sizable surge of 18 points away from the GOP to the Democrats in this district.
No "easy victory" here.
Martin and Fausset, are you looking at the same numbers I am? >4 points is not an "easy victory," and this outcome indicates a sizable surge of 18 points away from the GOP to the Democrats in this district.
No "easy victory" here.
7
So running a candidate with the looks of a young Paul Ryan and the inexperience and arrogance of Jared Kushner didn't work...
4
As an American living outside the country and one who has lived in Alabama for five years there is a reality that no one really wants to debate. The United States are not united and never have been. The history of the US is one of racism, killing those who stood in the way taking their land and lives. My goodness I lived in Alabama when the great defining moment was the last lynching of a black man. What other country did that type of butchery happen in and went on for hundreds of years and consider itself to be a beacon of liberty. Immigrants were welcomed when their cheap labor was required and then when not demonized. This is not new read the history of the US from its socalled founding. It is a waste of time and energy to ignore the obvious, the US cannot stand as it is. Two nations with people who do not think alike. We are now in a time when the country is not moving ahead, but backward devolving. I am backing the vote in California next year to separate from the US and go its own way. The Coastal states East and West need to form their own nation. This nonsense of hoping every two years something good will happen is a joke. At 71 I have watched this twisted logic. Time to break up. Scotland, Northern Ireland will go their own way. Face the facts there are two societies here and both hate one another. The voters in Georgia said it all continue to support a man who is nuts and in bed with the Russians. Jim Trautman
9
So, when Ossoff shot up in the polls about a week ago and looked poised to win, the NYT called him a rejection of Bernie Sanders, and had high hopes for his type of compromising liberalism. Now that he lost, he's considered "a failure of grassroots politics" and too liberal.
The Democratic Party's political strategy has been entirely backwards. Instead of trying to defend themselves from baseless Republican slander by sacrificing their core principles (and acquiring huge amounts of money to astroturf) They need to, like FDR, welcome the hatred of those who oppose their core principles and become an uncompromising force for liberal values. Since it's clear that the Republicans will never negotiate in good faith, why not go on the offensive for decency and sound policy?
The Democratic Party's political strategy has been entirely backwards. Instead of trying to defend themselves from baseless Republican slander by sacrificing their core principles (and acquiring huge amounts of money to astroturf) They need to, like FDR, welcome the hatred of those who oppose their core principles and become an uncompromising force for liberal values. Since it's clear that the Republicans will never negotiate in good faith, why not go on the offensive for decency and sound policy?
5
I think the left leaning MSM is helping the Democratic party lose and even more so the left leaning people who do not allow others to express a thought and provide the possibility of a discussion and maybe even changing their views towards the Democrat. By shutting down expression and thought, the leftmost loxkingnin voters to the right.
6
I don't see this as a demoralizing loss nor do many people who volunteered for Ossoff's campaign-my sister in Chamblee, GA being among them. She poured out her heart and soul for Ossoff and indicates the grassroots movement to elect Democrats will continue. What do the special election seats have in common? They were considered safe seats by the Republicans when their senators were tapped by Trump for positions in his administration. GA 06 was a strongly Republican district. Ossoff made an impressive showing. Consider these special elections a "warm-up" for 2018. Ossoff supporters view this special election as a chance to learn and plot strategy.
6
Yep. My first thought last night, after being disappointed was of a Phoenix rising. I am just up the road from your sister. We've learned a lot and have met our neighbors. And made good connections that are hard to make in suburbanland. We've already moved on and will continue forward already targeting upcoming local elections. Maybe every GOP District should get a Blue candidate to run and flush out the opposition!
4
At the end of the presidential campaign a large majority of people said the country was headed in the wrong direction. It's time for the democrats to stop whining about a "stolen election" and provide a new direction. Complaining about Trump and trying to preserve a health care plan that is not working is not a new direction .
8
Nobody is whining about the election except Trump. And he's constantly bribing that up. Lol! I guess it bugs HIM! Dems have better things to do. We got over it after a day. Except to say we arern't going to be part of the dismantling of the country. Trump, we aren't complaining; we are busy lawyering up to stop him. and healthcare, be careful what you wish for. I don't have to worry about that, but you might.
3
We are all focusing on the wrong thing concerning this district election. In today's printed version of NYT (A14), just above the story "The Most Expensive House Election", is a more important story entitled "Some States Take Politics Out of District Maps". I would just like to know the gerrymandering history and see the district map of this traditionally Republican district. Ten to one, it has been gerrymandered and "fixed" to the Republican advantage for some time. So the story, in the long run, should be to outlaw partisan gerrymandering in every state and every district. Gerrymandering is the devil here, not whether or not the Republicans won one House seat. If we don't end this anti-democratic voting manipulation, regardless of party, there can be no real honesty nor competition of ideas. Under gerrymandering, the vote is fixed. To provide voters with a real choice, the $50 million spent on the election by both parties should have been allocated to produce campaign ads and material to educate voters what a backhanded rip-off of voters' rights gerrymandering is. Both parties have allowed this ugly hydra to exist. It has to end now or the same crap will just be cyclical. Then democracy will just an exercise in the win-loss column with no advantage for our national democratic health.
9
The loser claims the outcome is the beginning of something 'Big.' Perhaps so. However, the something 'Big' may be the end of the democrat party. This would be excellent news for divided America. Everyone knows America is completely divided along racial lines, i.e., blacks vs all other races., economics, culture, etc..
7
Oh yes, cb. That one -party system works so well in Putin's Russia, doesn't it. Maybe we could just get rid of that pesky First Amendment while we are at it.
Just what the Trumpistas want.
Just what the Trumpistas want.
4
The Magazine feature on Kobach was great. Why is the Times not reporting on the voter suppression and racist database purging in Georgia from Crosscheck?
3
Citizens United $$. Has spoken. Again
$$ and Politics = Oligarchy
$$ and Politics = Oligarchy
7
The Democrats are leaderless and lost. They need to get away from the *ask what your country can do for you* brand, and get back to the *what you can do for your country* brand. Oh, and the masked anarchist so-called students burning and rioting in the streets over their safe spaces aint helpin them either. Also, calling everyone a bigot is extremely off-putting.
The NY Times needs to report on voter suppression. That's our nation's number one problem.
"How Racist Voter Suppression Could Cost Jon Ossoff the Georgia Election"
https://www.democracynow.org/2017/6/15/greg_palast_how_racist_voter_supp...
(See link for complete transcipt and video)
BBC Reporter - GREG PALAST: Voting rights groups registered literally tens of thousands of minority voters, but, strangely, the voter forms simply vanished.
NSE UFOT: We registered over 86,419 voter registration forms.
GREG PALAST: How many again?
NSE UFOT: Eighty-six thousand four hundred nineteen. There are 46,000 of the folks that we’ve registered who have made it, and 40,000 of them are missing. And you know what they told us? "We don’t know what you’re talking about. What forms?"
GREG PALAST: You mean that 40,000 of the voters you had registered, mostly minorities, just disappeared?
NSE UFOT: They did not disappear.
GREG PALAST: Nse Ufot of the New Georgia Project.
NSE UFOT: With all four of my eyes, I—we walked into county boards of elections—county boards of registrars and seen boxes of voter registration forms waiting to be processed.
GREG PALAST: And if you complain about the missing voter registrations, you could face criminal felony charges, and your group could be destroyed...
"How Racist Voter Suppression Could Cost Jon Ossoff the Georgia Election"
https://www.democracynow.org/2017/6/15/greg_palast_how_racist_voter_supp...
(See link for complete transcipt and video)
BBC Reporter - GREG PALAST: Voting rights groups registered literally tens of thousands of minority voters, but, strangely, the voter forms simply vanished.
NSE UFOT: We registered over 86,419 voter registration forms.
GREG PALAST: How many again?
NSE UFOT: Eighty-six thousand four hundred nineteen. There are 46,000 of the folks that we’ve registered who have made it, and 40,000 of them are missing. And you know what they told us? "We don’t know what you’re talking about. What forms?"
GREG PALAST: You mean that 40,000 of the voters you had registered, mostly minorities, just disappeared?
NSE UFOT: They did not disappear.
GREG PALAST: Nse Ufot of the New Georgia Project.
NSE UFOT: With all four of my eyes, I—we walked into county boards of elections—county boards of registrars and seen boxes of voter registration forms waiting to be processed.
GREG PALAST: And if you complain about the missing voter registrations, you could face criminal felony charges, and your group could be destroyed...
4
What is wrongwith the Dems is their lack of common sense,politics aside. They takje an inexperienced unknown who does not live in the district to face off against an expereienced opponent who is very familiar with HEWR districxt. This district has been Reopublican since 1979. Odds are notr very good. They then throw $50 million at this pig of a candidate; putting $50 million of pearls on this pig does not fool a soul because, pearls and all, he is still a pig. My surprise is that he did as well as he did compared top past elections. This election proved exactly zilch except for the fact that politicians are idiots. What does that say for us?
4
Go, Karen, go! I am all-smiles for your win. A pivotal moment for the Nation.
Go, Donald, go! Peace be with you, Democrats. No more tandrums you guys & gals up there on The Hill. Represent your People with dignity, compromise where necessary, listen to one another. We are sick of the parties bickering like girls on an afternoon talk-show. Very trashy. Bring dignity to the Congress.
Go, Donald, go! Peace be with you, Democrats. No more tandrums you guys & gals up there on The Hill. Represent your People with dignity, compromise where necessary, listen to one another. We are sick of the parties bickering like girls on an afternoon talk-show. Very trashy. Bring dignity to the Congress.
10
In response, Media-Dems have already retreated to their Russia/Impeachment safe-space.
8
Do these Republican women know Handel has called for cuts in breast cancer coverage? Prayer does nothing for cures or treatments. Good lick to Republican women patients. Your level of apathy for women who will lose coverage is staggering. You will no doubt go to your place of worship confidant you are living a good life despite contributing to the deaths of hundreds if not thousands of women. Mission accomplished.
6
Time for Nancy Peloci to resign. To give the dems a reboot.
Wow. For the first time in Georgia's history -- that Deeply Southern former slave state -- elected a woman to Congress! Wow.
And she was opposed by a white man who had nationwide support (especially from influential Beverly Hills Californians) and who accepted more money in campaign donations -- tens of millions of dollars! -- than any Congressional campaign in United States history.
But she won. A woman won!
Thank you Georgia 6th! But, truly, this is a moment all Americans can be proud of.
And she was opposed by a white man who had nationwide support (especially from influential Beverly Hills Californians) and who accepted more money in campaign donations -- tens of millions of dollars! -- than any Congressional campaign in United States history.
But she won. A woman won!
Thank you Georgia 6th! But, truly, this is a moment all Americans can be proud of.
7
The first woman in the district, perhaps. But preceded by "slapper" Cynthia McKinney.
3
A Democrat lost again. It must have been the Russians - the only way to explain it.
11
First, "Progressives" ("Progressive" being the new euphemism for the old term"Communist") from all over the country aren't allowed to legally vote in our 6th. Sorry about that, but we did appreciate all the funding. Progressives lose (they are now 0-4, since the Trump election) because they are progressing toward nothing. Progressives, your message certainly HAS gotten across to the public, and dears, you are being rejected in election after election after election. You have no new ideas. Your thought leaders are ancient fossils - Hill, Bernie, mad uncle Joe, these are not spring chickens, and all four of them will be, well, four years older in 2020, if they are even alive. Now some food for thought. How many college scholarships for the unfortunate California Mexicans, how many food stamps, how much funding to Planned Parenthood could have been made with all that money your "progressives" threw down the proverbial toilet on these failed, miserably failed, campaigns? From my hated filled standpoint, please keep contributing to windmill campaigns, to worn out ideas, and certainly keep putting up candidates who are totally out of the mainstream of America. You folks may think you know more than we do when it comes to things political, but we apparently do know more than you do. And until you figure that out, you will be forever relegated to the dust bin of history. Mr Reagan was right. And despite all of your eye rolling and smirking, you are wrong.
9
New York Times and CNN sold Mr. Ossoff as leading in the polls- confirming the narrative of "fake news" by main stream media. They did the same with the polls favoring Secretary Clinton against Donald Trump.
Is this supposed to create a bandwagon effect where all the "cool" Republicans are voting Democratic against troglodyte Republicans?
While not as egregious as the claims by hard right media that the Sandy Point massacre was staged- it lends credence to the conclusion that both the Left Wing and Right Wing media spin the news.
Is this supposed to create a bandwagon effect where all the "cool" Republicans are voting Democratic against troglodyte Republicans?
While not as egregious as the claims by hard right media that the Sandy Point massacre was staged- it lends credence to the conclusion that both the Left Wing and Right Wing media spin the news.
7
Not enough CNN influence, and the Washington Post is too narrow.subscriber base
2
Maybe the Dems should start fielding stronger candidates. An inexperienced 39 year old in GA and a guitar strumming hippie in Montana.... Just saying'
3
Another bad George Soros investment. Perhaps he should stick to currency trading.
9
Restore the union movement.
1
Oh, the sturm and drang. Let's see, a Republican former Georgia Secretary of State, Fulton county elected official and veteran of two state wide campaigns wins by 10% over a Democrat political novice with no resume that had never run for let alone held any elected office - in a district that had not elected a Democrat in 40 years. Shocked, just shocked I tell you! This was only a mass media mosh pit.
5
I mean it was/is a Republican District...so the Republican won.
1
The coastal elites and other progressives think this is bad? If they want to get back in the game, here's a plan: The best way they can persuade moderate voters to join their coalition is by preaching “resistance” to a legitimate government, and, even though there is not a shred of evidence, by accusing a duly-elected POTUS of treason. That should do it. Oh, wait ...
The Republicans have won four elections in a row, with an unpopular loudmouth in the White House, and they haven't even passed the tax cut yet. Just wait.
The Republicans have won four elections in a row, with an unpopular loudmouth in the White House, and they haven't even passed the tax cut yet. Just wait.
8
well, just wait until healthcare gets cut next week. The red states and tea party will finally get their wish - and - their voters will get what they voted for. Hard to feel sorry for these people any more.
2
These election results are not trustworthy. This article (see link below) clearly articulates the history of the unsecured and improperly monitored voting machines and vote tallying software that are used in Georgia. The head of the Georgia voting system has it set up on an internet site outside of the state's security oversight, refused assistance last year from DHS to help secure the system, there is no vote tracking system, etc. Notably, while serving as Secretary of State in Georgia, Karen Handel refused to order correction of these voting security flaws uncovered by state investigators. Until the vote tallying systems in each state are properly secured, and verifiable, there can be no trust in the outcome of our elections. The current FBI investigaion into Russian hacking of the 2016 election makes it imperative that all states should convert to easily verified paper ballots for all voting, at all levels of government elections.
https://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/georgia-officials-refuse-to-fix-serious...
https://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/georgia-officials-refuse-to-fix-serious...
3
What everyone really is missing here is that it is not that a Republican that won or was it a Democratic loss.....it was the Person with the best Qualifications that Won for all the people!
2
Isn't our country wonderful? California steal-from-the-rich progressives can help the campaigns of Georgia steal-from-the-rich progressives. Wait, doesn't that qualify as "dark money"? Who are these people? I'm sure if President Obama were still in office, he'd be egging on the fine soldiers at the IRS to investigate these donors. Right?
8
While the Democrats have made MANY mistakes over the last year in their attempt to win over a majority of Americans to their side....oh wait, Democrats DO have a MAJORITY on their side according to the numbers! Look, here is an issue where the Republican candidate, notwithstanding the desecration of our country's institutions by the leaders of that selfish and vile group, have still managed to win an election. This is NOT because the Democrats have a bad message, no sir. The VOTERS have ignorant, selfish, uncaring, uncompromising and often racist souls that see and hear what I do and yet fail to come to the beyond obvious conclusions. These people are beyond redemption and because of this I fear for the future of this country. Our status in the world is already permanently diminished and now we must see if there is a strong enough thread to hold this land together as one, In my view, better to separate than continue living with and being governed by people that have as much in common with me and the values that I hold dear as with the man in the moon.
3
51 to 48 is pretty close for a stalwart republican gerrymandered area.
3
On a very optimistic note for Democrates regarding the 2018 midterm elections: TRUMP for the next 17 months! We can't miss!!
2
Question 1: How come that Parnell, from the outset considered a lost cause, without media attention, massive heavy weight support and with considerably less money, lost only by the same, if not smaller difference than Ossoff. It seems that the district was at least as conservative as Georgia's 6th.
If Dems pledge to pay me part of the sum in fees, I'd tell them a secret: It wasn't the money.
Question 2: Why doesn't the Grey Lady take notice?
If Dems pledge to pay me part of the sum in fees, I'd tell them a secret: It wasn't the money.
Question 2: Why doesn't the Grey Lady take notice?
2
We Americans have finally awakened to the dismal swamp critters who are feeding at great expense.
Mr. Trump led the awakening. Well done.
Good bye media pols, collectivists, central planners. Hello America.
Cheers & Happy 4th of July.
Mr. Trump led the awakening. Well done.
Good bye media pols, collectivists, central planners. Hello America.
Cheers & Happy 4th of July.
3
This outcome not representative of support for Trump. Quite the opposite. The Democratic candidate did remarkably well in this Republican stronghold. If anything, it's a clear indication that all is not ok in Trumpland.
48% of the voters voted against the Republican. That's not an insignificant number. Why is the NYT treating this differently?
48% of the voters voted against the Republican. That's not an insignificant number. Why is the NYT treating this differently?
2
The big issue is that it took close to $30 million to get those votes for the inexperienced candidate.
If he hadn't been young and photogenic there might not have been so many votes because they sure were not voting on his experience or any great vision.
If he hadn't been young and photogenic there might not have been so many votes because they sure were not voting on his experience or any great vision.
3
With the elections rigged against the Democrats through gerrymandering it is no wonder Jon Ossoff lost in Georgia with their "Atlanta values". This country needs find ways to become a fair democracy, which it is clearly not right now.
The Democrats have not learned anything from the Democratic presidential election which they lost. The Hollywood crowd does not help candidates win elections but rather aids in their losing. Most Americans are not impressed with these liberals who spew hate towards those who do not agree with their progressive agenda. They live lavish lives while most of us are of average means. We cannot relate to the lifestyles of Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus and do not agree with their politics. They need to come down to earth and see how most of us live. Carefully and not loudly.
12
Thoughts:
How could Dems realistically expect a victory in a district that had previously elected Gingrich, Issakson, Perdue?
How could Dems realistically expect a victory in a district whose open primary showed 52% - 48% in favor of Republicans?
Had Ossoff been a Republican running on his "Democrat" platform, he would have had a much better chance of winning.
It's time, maybe past time, for Dems to get real. The Republican Lite message of the Clintons and Obama will not win many hearts and souls...
How could Dems realistically expect a victory in a district that had previously elected Gingrich, Issakson, Perdue?
How could Dems realistically expect a victory in a district whose open primary showed 52% - 48% in favor of Republicans?
Had Ossoff been a Republican running on his "Democrat" platform, he would have had a much better chance of winning.
It's time, maybe past time, for Dems to get real. The Republican Lite message of the Clintons and Obama will not win many hearts and souls...
While I don't disagree that Democrats have a spineless approach to just about everything, and a special talent to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, it's also become nearly impossible to win against a party whose constituents have a fluid set of values and an equally fluid interpretation of reality. They're social Darwinists, materialists and moral relativists, as long as those ideologies are expressed by their side, i.e., from the side of the mouths of their leaders who also profess devotion to Christ. They're perfectly willing to accept lying, cheating, stealing, adultery, racism, misogyny, government corruption and waste by their leaders, but give them a squeaky clean center-left president and they'll turn him into the anti-Christ intent on destroying America. Disparaging what was only recently valued by them--such as honoring American institutions like our courts, intelligence agencies, diplomats, armed services--is now a rallying cry as long as the disparagement is spewed by their side. Their president illustrated it perfectly: he could shoot a man in Times Square and not lose support.
4
The Obama administration and the Dems in general seem perfectly willing to accept lying, cheating, stealing, adultery, racism, misogyny, government corruption and waste by their leaders. What's your point?
3
Dems have no vision for the future. Notice that even trumper's nightmare vision is better than no vision at all. Who are we? Where are we going? What is our place in the world? It's not enough to push for open borders, no college tuition, healthcare for all, gun control if no one acknowledges the need for authentic, fair, and persuasive discussion about how these things would redefine the nation and recreate American culture. This is the least politicians should do. Telling people what they should want and berating them if they don't want it is the definition of failure. While politicians maneuver and compete for selfish little victories, there is no one of integrity to describe a new vision, relate it to the people honestly, show how to get there, and then give people a way to create it. Ronald Reagan did this. So did Kennedy. Instead we get blah blah blah caput.
3
Dems had better get real. Real Americans burp, pass gas and drink beer. Real Americans say they value education but only if they can control what they're kids learn, in a 1950s type of way. Real Americans want good jobs and blame Mexicans when they don't have them but then will be buying Chinese built Fords and Buicks and hail Trump for keeping jobs in America, even as American jobs are being automated away. Real Americans vote for the party of corporations and big business, the GOP.
What lessons can Dems learn from this? Well, America is not socially concerned. We are hard-bitten, steeped in the tradition of the Marlboro Man... strong, independent, and no more forward thinking than a pet Labrador receiver. And that's the way we vote.
What lessons can Dems learn from this? Well, America is not socially concerned. We are hard-bitten, steeped in the tradition of the Marlboro Man... strong, independent, and no more forward thinking than a pet Labrador receiver. And that's the way we vote.
2
I heard him on NPR yesterday and was shocked to find out he did not live in the district and brushed off repeated attempts by the interviewer to explore that issue. What arrogance! Campaigning 101: live in the district and be eligible to vote in the district. Such an easy target for the Republicans. As Obama said, "don't do stupid stuff". And the Dems spent $20,000,000 on this guy ?
6
Dems, this vote is a wake-up call. Pelosi, we can't be singing This Land Is Your Land on the Capitol steps any longer, we need to retool. Sanders is in; Clinton is out. As JFK pointed out in his inauguration address, the torch is passed to a new generation. Get on board.
2
If this is not a referendum on Nancy Pelosi and her leadership, I do not know what is.
Two weeks ago on PBS Washington Week some of the best reporters were discussing the week events. They included NYTimes, Washington Post, and Reuters reporters. One person mentioned that Democrats have no leadership, and all other reporters shook their head in agreement.
Pelosi has been a lightening rod, a gift to the Republicans and an ineffective leader. Her family has benefited from side deals such as Soledra and deals with Goldman Sacks. Enough IS Enough.
Two weeks ago on PBS Washington Week some of the best reporters were discussing the week events. They included NYTimes, Washington Post, and Reuters reporters. One person mentioned that Democrats have no leadership, and all other reporters shook their head in agreement.
Pelosi has been a lightening rod, a gift to the Republicans and an ineffective leader. Her family has benefited from side deals such as Soledra and deals with Goldman Sacks. Enough IS Enough.
7
Live in the district you seek to represent? I mean, like, actually *live* there? Not a tenable option for the noble Mr. Ossoff. Far more important that he live in the same district as his girlfriend of eleven years. Why? To continue his moral support as she pursued her "medical training." There are, after all, priorities.
5
Why is this important? It's a national office, dealing with national I issues. This wasn't an election for dogcatcher, where the candidate has to deal principally with the local dogs and their owners.
Today's Democratic Party sports an excellent bench but lacks woefully in the strategic and tactical qualities of effective leadership. In these respects the Party is moving train wreck. We live in the Trump presidential era. John Dean once famously said to then-President Nixon, "Mr. President, there is a cancer upon the presidency." Today, President Trump is, himself, the cancer. And the GOP is the petri dish that incubates the carcinogenic growth
In such circumstances, almost any opposition to the GOP should be winning hands-down, but not today's Democratic Party that looks like a geriatric ward on a glide path to hospice care. It lacks vision. It focuses on the past. It evokes the inspiration of a wee-hour morning cable TV broadcast on asparagus cultivation. All of this with a talent bench that includes Seth Moulton, Amy Klobuchar, Adam Schiff, Linda Sanchez, Tim Ryan, Kirsten Gillibrand, Joaquin and Julio Castro, Kathrine Clark and a host of other rising or established stars.
These stars must now seize the reins of their party, give it a fresh new energetic face, and forge a vision than voters can understand and embrace. These up-and-comers should honor but supplant the past contributions of an outgoing gerontocracy of Clintons, Pelosis, Hoyers and Schumers.
My children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and virtually all their friends tell me this. I value these data sources at least as much as any pundit, poll or pol. The Democratic Party should, too.
In such circumstances, almost any opposition to the GOP should be winning hands-down, but not today's Democratic Party that looks like a geriatric ward on a glide path to hospice care. It lacks vision. It focuses on the past. It evokes the inspiration of a wee-hour morning cable TV broadcast on asparagus cultivation. All of this with a talent bench that includes Seth Moulton, Amy Klobuchar, Adam Schiff, Linda Sanchez, Tim Ryan, Kirsten Gillibrand, Joaquin and Julio Castro, Kathrine Clark and a host of other rising or established stars.
These stars must now seize the reins of their party, give it a fresh new energetic face, and forge a vision than voters can understand and embrace. These up-and-comers should honor but supplant the past contributions of an outgoing gerontocracy of Clintons, Pelosis, Hoyers and Schumers.
My children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and virtually all their friends tell me this. I value these data sources at least as much as any pundit, poll or pol. The Democratic Party should, too.
1
To my fellow democrats the solution is simple. Tell the people what we are for not what we are merely against i.e. Donald Trump. Have a message that can fit on a hat or on a bumper sticker. Our platform should be simple: 1. Job Security 2. National Security and 3. Cultural Security. Point one...offer federal and state backed job training programs to transition traditional blue collar workers to be equipped to operate in the Digital Economy. Point 2...Offer a tough yet fair-minded solutions to National Security that doesn't pander to people's fears, bigotry, or innate racism. On point number 3...offer under democratic rule offer the freedom to be whom you are free from governmental interference i.e. strong anti-discriminatory protections so you have the freedom to pray, to be, and to be you. Finally recruit and run candidates that fit the local market or district specially in the South look for pro life and pro gun democrats whom are 80% progressive yet identifies with local populace. Promote pragmatism over ideological purity. An electoral victory is worth more than a 'moral' victory.
2
Don't despair, fellow dems. My gut feeling is that it's the darkness before the dawn and I'm not Pollyanna. I compare it to the sweep of GOP governors that came in the last midterms where there was clearly dissatisfaction growing even in red states like Kansas, but there wasn't yet the muscle to oust the wort offenders.
In the last election I found myself wishing the dems would take the trending information coming out of the states with ALEC inspired governors and run with the stats, personal stories, the cratered treasuries and credit defaults and use them to warn against what is now happening, the desire of the GOP to take those failed policies national, the heck with the evidence. Now with Chris Christie the least popular governor in the country, Snyder's hires on their way to prison and conservative Kansas raising taxes to salvage a disaster, it's time to get loud immediately before they do what they are doing with health care. That way even if they succeed everyone will know who to blame in 2018.
In the last election I found myself wishing the dems would take the trending information coming out of the states with ALEC inspired governors and run with the stats, personal stories, the cratered treasuries and credit defaults and use them to warn against what is now happening, the desire of the GOP to take those failed policies national, the heck with the evidence. Now with Chris Christie the least popular governor in the country, Snyder's hires on their way to prison and conservative Kansas raising taxes to salvage a disaster, it's time to get loud immediately before they do what they are doing with health care. That way even if they succeed everyone will know who to blame in 2018.
Time for a new guard in the Democratic Party.
Bernie supporters are not to blame. It's really the party being out of touch with the general public, not just young progressives.
Bernie supporters are not to blame. It's really the party being out of touch with the general public, not just young progressives.
3
The democrats holding positions of "leadership" in recent history, such as Pelosi, Hillary, and all the highly visible vocal voices of democratic party principals, must realize time and public opinion has move on from them. They need to swallow their intractable ambitions and step away. Let new voices arise of their own magnetism. The republicans have taken control of most states and the federal government while fooling the working class public to believe they have their interests at heart. Big money is getting what they pay for. They are the winners. Democrats must step away as they are incapable of rising above their own arrogance of their "values". Clearly, for whatever reasons, they have lost the base population. We just don't trust them. We don't like their self-righteous pronouncements of a mind that is beyond half the people in the USA. Albeit Hillary's brilliance, she never acknowledged the weight of dragging Bill behind her. It was too much for too many americas to bear. They were tired of hearing and seeing that reality as leaders.
2
The Democrats have the same problem as Donald Trump; they are slow learners.
He cannot grasp that the role of President is profoundly different from that of CEO of a company that he owns.
Democrats seem incapable of learning that demonizing Donald Trump and Republicans will not win elections.
He cannot grasp that the role of President is profoundly different from that of CEO of a company that he owns.
Democrats seem incapable of learning that demonizing Donald Trump and Republicans will not win elections.
4
Uhm...maybe find more realistic candidates with experience who can relate to their constituents needs & represent them? I really want to have faith that the Democrats can make some changes from now to 2018 elections that will allow us to break the Republican vice grip but we gotta break out of the bubble.
1
Trump won this deep red district in Georgia by 2 points. Even with a significantly less dysfunctional candidate (i.e. not Trump himself), and 2.5 times greater superpac spending, the win margin was only 4 points. Jon Ossoff clearly very well for Democrat in this district. Think of a Republican trying to win in Brooklyn, and you understand what the headwinds he faced were.
But on a different note, Republicans, please go ahead and enjoy this win. This is clearly a vindication for Trump and his policies. Please continue without fear and relax. You will be totally fine in 2018.
But on a different note, Republicans, please go ahead and enjoy this win. This is clearly a vindication for Trump and his policies. Please continue without fear and relax. You will be totally fine in 2018.
1
Dems need to start pushing the proper way of dealing with the loss of manufacturing jobs -- which is Universal Basic Income.
As it is, Trump is the only politician that seem to care (at least he acknowledged the problem that was ravaging the middle class for decades)
As it is, Trump is the only politician that seem to care (at least he acknowledged the problem that was ravaging the middle class for decades)
1
A good portion of this nation won't say it out loud but does find itself attracted to trump's sleazy posturing. perhaps the nation is no better than the proven grifter that so many want to follow. as trump said- this is a nation of 'believers." it is clearly not a nation of thinkers.
Agree with many comments. The national leadership of the DNC is out of touch. I firmly believe that Clinton ran because she simply thought it was her turn in the Big Chair, and she could not wipe that constant smirk off her face in the debates, knowing that she was running against the most undisciplined narcissist of the GOP bunch. She thought that she was a shoo-in. So did most every liberal newspaper.
I think that such self-congratulation on the part of leftie media was another factor in getting Trump elected... not only because it angered and motivated the electorate on the right, but because it also demotivated the left and lulled us into a false sense of security. Only 17 percent of young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 voted. It's a shame. Certainly, there is disaffection and disconnection from politics in general (notwithstanding motivated millennials who are in fact engaged). But there is, in a big way, digital addiction and a preoccupation with social media and consumerism. In a country for which voting rights are part of our national identity (even given vote suppression activities), it is irresponsible to not vote in *at least* the federal elections.
To really reach young liberals who are the future of the country, the DNC needs to move beyond identity cafeteria politics and find a way to build an integrated progressive platform that engages.
I think that such self-congratulation on the part of leftie media was another factor in getting Trump elected... not only because it angered and motivated the electorate on the right, but because it also demotivated the left and lulled us into a false sense of security. Only 17 percent of young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 voted. It's a shame. Certainly, there is disaffection and disconnection from politics in general (notwithstanding motivated millennials who are in fact engaged). But there is, in a big way, digital addiction and a preoccupation with social media and consumerism. In a country for which voting rights are part of our national identity (even given vote suppression activities), it is irresponsible to not vote in *at least* the federal elections.
To really reach young liberals who are the future of the country, the DNC needs to move beyond identity cafeteria politics and find a way to build an integrated progressive platform that engages.
1
I don't think anyone's demoralized after the loss of a district in Georgia. Let the Republicans get overconfident. We're on the right side of history, and we will prevail.
My opinion is that we should operate like a relief pitcher. Throw our best heat. If we lose, there is another game tomorrow.
1
This loss instead of discouraging Democrats should encourage them. This was not a loss in the real sense of loss. People are waking up. Give 'em time. And yes Democrats should put out a simple manifesto that appeals to Centrists and Left. They should stick to it. Not like Hillary et al go all over he place. But a straight forward manifesto and change in leadership in the Party, Senate and Congress are musts. Schumer and Pelosi Inc. represent yesterday. Democrats need leaders with visions not those stuck in the past.
1
This one election in one small district between two insignificant candidates saw more money being spent than was spent by all 5 parties in the 2015 Canadian federal election (population 36 million) or by all parties in this month's British election (population 65 million).
I think that says pretty much everything that needs to be said about the current state of US politics. How much health care or education can you buy for that kind of money?
I think that says pretty much everything that needs to be said about the current state of US politics. How much health care or education can you buy for that kind of money?
1
Jon Ossoff, the Democratic candidate, obviously did not learn his lesson when he received financial donations from Hollywood personalities. Hillary Clinton also received large sums of money from celebrities and even had them attend her Democratic national convention. A lot of good it did her. This is probably one of the reasons she lost the race. Most of us cannot relate to these people who are far more liberal than most Americans. Their values and principles are different and most do not agree with their politics. We do not listen to them and really do not like them very much. Many are aiming for a comeback or some type of reward for their efforts.
This outside leftist money obviously did not help Mr. Ossoff and probably hurt him more in the long run. The district he was running in was very conservative and these folks did not appreciate these liberal outsiders trying to influence the race. They were not used to progressives influencing their elections and gave large sums to help their candidate, Karen Handel, proceed to victory.. It worked and they got their candidate elected. This is short of a miracle after the media and Hollywood threw their support towards Mr. Ossoff. They were wrong again as they were in predicting Hillary Clinton the winner of the presidential race. Will they learn their lesson in the future? Probably not and the Republicans will keep on winning.
This outside leftist money obviously did not help Mr. Ossoff and probably hurt him more in the long run. The district he was running in was very conservative and these folks did not appreciate these liberal outsiders trying to influence the race. They were not used to progressives influencing their elections and gave large sums to help their candidate, Karen Handel, proceed to victory.. It worked and they got their candidate elected. This is short of a miracle after the media and Hollywood threw their support towards Mr. Ossoff. They were wrong again as they were in predicting Hillary Clinton the winner of the presidential race. Will they learn their lesson in the future? Probably not and the Republicans will keep on winning.
3
My opinion is that the Democrats have to stop promising everything to everybody with any regard for where the money comes from. That is their failing. I'm a democrat, but I'm sick of the promises with no restraint or any promise to pay attention to debt.
4
So Ossoff increased his percentage from 48% in the primary to 48.1% in the election after spending all those millions of dollars. A .1% improvement.
Sounds like a lot of money was wasted.
Sounds like a lot of money was wasted.
The only people who thinks the current Democratic Party leadership has the faintest clue about the needs and concerns of everyday working American men and women are those who slept through the last election. Today's Democratic Party sits just to the right of Eisenhower's GOP, and has completely and utterly failed those who found comfort and support from the party of FDR. There is plenty of room for a new party who actually cares about and serves working people, and it is overdue for such a party to bring honesty to our nation.
Both sides may be making too much of this.
If one compares the result to Trump v. Clinton (+1.5% for Trump), the Republicans appear to have gained (Handel won by 4%). But if one compares it to Tom Price's re-election in 2016 (+23% for Price), Ossoff looks good.
The demographics or -- dare I say it? -- the candidates might actually account for the differences. Perhaps voters like Handel more than Trump, but less than Price. Who knows? All we know for sure is that, yesterday, they liked Handel more than Ossoff.
If one compares the result to Trump v. Clinton (+1.5% for Trump), the Republicans appear to have gained (Handel won by 4%). But if one compares it to Tom Price's re-election in 2016 (+23% for Price), Ossoff looks good.
The demographics or -- dare I say it? -- the candidates might actually account for the differences. Perhaps voters like Handel more than Trump, but less than Price. Who knows? All we know for sure is that, yesterday, they liked Handel more than Ossoff.
1
I'm sure that "anti-Trump" is infecting much of GOP politics. It's not like Republicans are going to abandon their party and its principles, but I'd be willing to bet that a majority of them are just as sick of Trump as the rest of us. Maybe both parties will begin to move to the left, with a bit of populism (of the positive sort) thrown in. Trump hasn't revitalized the GOP, but instead made it seem a dysfunctional mess. Any Republican candidate from now on will be defined in relation to how Trump-like they are (or not).
I am center-right and voted for Clinton in the presidential election. I'm horrified by the Trump administration and saddened and scared about the irreversible damage Trump did just by running for the office, that he has already done in his 5 months as president, and the more that he could do in the next 3.5 years. Although it's natural for Democrats to want to become more extreme in reaction to the disgrace that Trump is, it is something they absolutely need to avoid. Retrenching on identity politics and stifling honest conversation with politically correct euphemisms will drive people away. Catering to every possible demographic except white men without college degrees is a recipe for failure. The survival of this country depends on the center.
I'm a Democrat who lives near wonderful San Francisco and loves Pelosi with zero apologies to anyone who doesn't. And to me, Handel looked like a good candidate. She's experienced in government and business. She's performed valuable community service. As a feminist, I think it's nice to see a woman prevail in a national election even if she doesn't seem to be a feminist herself. I oppose most of Handel's policy positions, but it's a red district and not everyone must see the world as I do. I have no doubt Handel would make a much better president than the lemon in the White House now, and I doubt it would offend me to have her serve in that capacity. Ossoff seems like a great guy, but he's 30 and new. Given his challenges, he did quite well. Democrats running today must address not only Republican challengers, but aggressive, rigid blocks on the far left. I'm not sure he did that effectively. I also think Dems should rethink the effectiveness of bombarding people with so many phone calls and mailers. Saturation may work in the short term to get some to the polls who otherwise might not go, but over the long term we may condition people to dislike election season. Races should be hard-fought, but even when campaign messages turn negative the experience of participation in democracy should be positive, and even joyful, not intrusive and cajoling, and eternally grasping into others' wallets. There must be a better way to engage prospective voters.
Turnout for this special election was higher (46%) than most
special elections, indicating something about voter attention and
interest. However the actual vote tallies seem to suggest something more about those republicans who voted for Clinton (or not at all) who identified Handel as a trumpican in spirit and didn't like it since she received 64K fewer votes than Price. She had been part of the local scene for many years and a known quantity/loyalist to the "core values" of the longtime base.
Overcoming that obstacle one would have needed one of
two implausible scenarios. Either a knockout win in April when so many
others were on the gop ballot or getting significantly more votes than
Stooksbury did in November.
The core democratic support seems
to be around 125K votes. Ossoff got far fewer in April and therefore
was deprived of a knockout punch. Yesterday he got as many as Stooksbury
by spending a huge amount more. This means that those mysterious
"democratic leaners" who are otherwise detached from political life, either don't exist or were not convinced to exhibit their interest by voting, especially in April when it counted most.
One won't flip potentially flippable districts without addressing the issue of energizing (registered) voters who lack motivation to engage
in civic life and have tuned out. This is a deep issue that requires much more than media buys. Cynicism/apathy cannot be overcome by a vague grab bag of (unrealistic) policies.
special elections, indicating something about voter attention and
interest. However the actual vote tallies seem to suggest something more about those republicans who voted for Clinton (or not at all) who identified Handel as a trumpican in spirit and didn't like it since she received 64K fewer votes than Price. She had been part of the local scene for many years and a known quantity/loyalist to the "core values" of the longtime base.
Overcoming that obstacle one would have needed one of
two implausible scenarios. Either a knockout win in April when so many
others were on the gop ballot or getting significantly more votes than
Stooksbury did in November.
The core democratic support seems
to be around 125K votes. Ossoff got far fewer in April and therefore
was deprived of a knockout punch. Yesterday he got as many as Stooksbury
by spending a huge amount more. This means that those mysterious
"democratic leaners" who are otherwise detached from political life, either don't exist or were not convinced to exhibit their interest by voting, especially in April when it counted most.
One won't flip potentially flippable districts without addressing the issue of energizing (registered) voters who lack motivation to engage
in civic life and have tuned out. This is a deep issue that requires much more than media buys. Cynicism/apathy cannot be overcome by a vague grab bag of (unrealistic) policies.
Resist, Resist Resist caters well to a core group of Democrats who would depose Trump in an instant if they could find the most minute basis for doing so. That strategy ignores and insults Trump's supporters, and gives them the impression the "Resist" movement seeks the absolute nullification of their vote. In their minds, such nullification compares to what might happen in a third world country if those then in power did not like the results of an election.
The Democrats must find a way to peel off Trump votes, and it's not going to happen by ridiculing or marginalizing those voters. Only a positive message sincerely aimed at their concerns might work. They must be convinced that the Dems are really looking out for them.
If the Democrats continue to cater solely to their hard core "oppose all things Trump at all costs" base, they definitely will win the votes of that hard core, but will continue their minority status.
The Democrats must find a way to peel off Trump votes, and it's not going to happen by ridiculing or marginalizing those voters. Only a positive message sincerely aimed at their concerns might work. They must be convinced that the Dems are really looking out for them.
If the Democrats continue to cater solely to their hard core "oppose all things Trump at all costs" base, they definitely will win the votes of that hard core, but will continue their minority status.
Oh well... As Americans, we have to be willing to bear the consequences of our unfathomable political decisions. I've emigrated already, and do not plan to return, so for me personally those consequences will be minor ones. I sincerely feel for those who would like to do the same but do not have that option...
News Flash: MSNBC reported poll results: 25% of Republicans do not approve of the job Donald Trump is doing.
The real story is, 75% of Republicans do approve. In a red district in a red state, when Republicans show up to vote at higher rates than Democrats, the republican win was predictable.
The question for democrats (and sociologists) is, why do people like GOP policies that cut health care and food stamps and environmental protection and give huge tax cuts to corporations and millionaires?
The real story is, 75% of Republicans do approve. In a red district in a red state, when Republicans show up to vote at higher rates than Democrats, the republican win was predictable.
The question for democrats (and sociologists) is, why do people like GOP policies that cut health care and food stamps and environmental protection and give huge tax cuts to corporations and millionaires?
Healthcare = jobs.
Healthcare can be an economic stimulus and moral imperative. Why aren't democrats - centrists and liberals alike - holding hands on this issue. Healthcare can provide good, solid jobs up and down the educational spectrum.
Healthcare can be an economic stimulus and moral imperative. Why aren't democrats - centrists and liberals alike - holding hands on this issue. Healthcare can provide good, solid jobs up and down the educational spectrum.
It's time for Nancy Pelosi to resign. She's the person every Republican House candidate loves to run against. She puts her party's candidates at an immediate disadvantage. A fresh faced-leader of Democrats in the house would douse some Republican arguments and inspire the Democratic Party.
Let the competition begin. The results for the Democrats can only be an improvement.
Let the competition begin. The results for the Democrats can only be an improvement.
Have heard all kinds of comments. For example this district is in the deep South; quite the contrary - it's hard to find a real Southerner here. Also, this was a vote for the Republicans in a Republican district. It was thought it was turning because Trump won by only 1%, though other Republicasn had no trouble winning. There was no evidence, living here, that any Republicans would vote for Ossoff or avoid voting for Handel. Another comment was that Ossoff looked too NY-ish with his suit and looks - I think Handel wore suits too. If the Dems are demoralized, it's because they didn't predict correctly, spent so much money here that everyone I know rec'd 7-8 phone calls every day from around the country from the Ossoff campaign, in addition to texts. It became annoying to most of us who know how and when and where to vote. His volunteers were amazing though - a good sign that young people may become involved.
The Republicans would have lost had they not fought hard to keep this seat. Handel had to distance herself from the current president.
And Pelosi needs to step away from the leadership. She has become an impediment to success.
And Pelosi needs to step away from the leadership. She has become an impediment to success.
This election has noting to do with Pelosi and Schymer, it is the result of a mentality constructed for the past 15 years by the conservatives.
The majority of these voters believe that liberals oppose their values, the liberals have brought them gay marriage, reduced religious influence, made unwed sex acceptable. The believe it is places like Hollywood and the big media that promote liberalism with their movies and TV programs. the divorce the concept that these are profit driven enterprises, the do it just because thy are liberal.
They believe their taxes will increase, that the liberals love those illegal immigrants. the get this fro Fox News that concentrates all the liberal activities, and it angers them. They are angry, they have been led to this anger for years now, they blame liberals for their ills, even the 2008 crash is viewed as being caused by liberal policies.
It is a mindset that will not change until they suffer from it, and even then, they will believe the liberals caused it. We have to wit for the young educated generation to catch up.
This is Georgia, where the immigrants left, and the cucumber crops were left to die. Where prisoners were made to go work the fields and did not last a day. It is a state of ignorance, angry whites, and a love for the Confederacy. Football is more important then libraries, global warming is a liberal scam. The last Nobel Prize winner from Georgia was Jimmy Carter.
The majority of these voters believe that liberals oppose their values, the liberals have brought them gay marriage, reduced religious influence, made unwed sex acceptable. The believe it is places like Hollywood and the big media that promote liberalism with their movies and TV programs. the divorce the concept that these are profit driven enterprises, the do it just because thy are liberal.
They believe their taxes will increase, that the liberals love those illegal immigrants. the get this fro Fox News that concentrates all the liberal activities, and it angers them. They are angry, they have been led to this anger for years now, they blame liberals for their ills, even the 2008 crash is viewed as being caused by liberal policies.
It is a mindset that will not change until they suffer from it, and even then, they will believe the liberals caused it. We have to wit for the young educated generation to catch up.
This is Georgia, where the immigrants left, and the cucumber crops were left to die. Where prisoners were made to go work the fields and did not last a day. It is a state of ignorance, angry whites, and a love for the Confederacy. Football is more important then libraries, global warming is a liberal scam. The last Nobel Prize winner from Georgia was Jimmy Carter.
3
Liberals are responsible for all of the social issues you raise, and do want higher taxes, and do love illegal immigrants, etc. Are you denying that or just arguing that liberals are right in these beliefs?
Breaking News: "Democrat, who doesn't even live in the district, can't carry Republican district in Deep South."
Calm down and carry on.
Calm down and carry on.
13
Calm down? That is great news for the republicans. The notion that a carpetbagger such as Ossoff would be electable in that jurisdiction is the sign of a party completely out of touch with the people.
Discontent with the status quo may have propelled Republicans into their current position of power, but they are squandering political capital at a rapid pace. Every day offers new evidence that Trump cannot govern and the Obamacare "repeal" effort has degenerated into an ill-conceived and unseemly act of spite, done in contravention of all rules of "open government." One hopes that there are too few genuinely mean and economically illiterate voters to keep the Trump train running on full steam into the 2018 elections.
8
"One hopes that there are too few genuinely mean and economically illiterate voters to keep the Trump train running on full steam into the 2018 elections."
Wishful thinking I'm afraid.
Wishful thinking I'm afraid.
And your proof of this delusional theory is where?
Link?
Good Luck!
Link?
Good Luck!
As Jennifer Rubin wrote in an op-ed in the Post today.. Perhaps it is time to take a page from the GOP playbook.
"In that regard, they might try their own contract with voters promising to force Trump to divest his holdings that pose ongoing conflicts of interest; opposing transfers of wealth from the poorest (e.g., Medicaid recipients) to the richest Americans (such as in the House GOP’s American Health Care Act); setting out a specific infrastructure bill; repealing the counterproductive Budget Control Act (that shrinks necessary military funding and popular domestic programs); guaranteeing transparent government (no more secret drafting and votes without a score from the Congressional Budget Office) and proposing legislation to require that the president release his tax returns. Other ideas would include full funding for anti-opioid abuse programs and improved access to health care for rural residents. Most of all, Democrats should run on the GOP’s utter failure to protect the electoral system from foreign manipulation."
"In that regard, they might try their own contract with voters promising to force Trump to divest his holdings that pose ongoing conflicts of interest; opposing transfers of wealth from the poorest (e.g., Medicaid recipients) to the richest Americans (such as in the House GOP’s American Health Care Act); setting out a specific infrastructure bill; repealing the counterproductive Budget Control Act (that shrinks necessary military funding and popular domestic programs); guaranteeing transparent government (no more secret drafting and votes without a score from the Congressional Budget Office) and proposing legislation to require that the president release his tax returns. Other ideas would include full funding for anti-opioid abuse programs and improved access to health care for rural residents. Most of all, Democrats should run on the GOP’s utter failure to protect the electoral system from foreign manipulation."
8
At this moment, moderation isn't working. GOP leadership was forced to listen to the base (hence Trump), and to jog memories, Obama was not the first choice of DP leadership and he won in 2008 with a coalition of democratic grassroots and independent voters. A milquetoast candidate will not be able to succeed in the current political environment as has been demonstrated amply. But I have no doubt that DP leaders will keep on the same disastrous course rather than allow more dynamic leadership to emerge. After all, like the GOP their priority is maintenance of the status quo power arrangements. The rest of us can go jump in the lake as far as they're concerned, as long as we fork over money and don't rock the boat.
7
Ossoff's not even living in the district was surely a major negative. (I don't understand how a non-resident of the district could run there.) At the very least, this one factor would likely have been offensive and have created a sense of unease even for Democrats, but more importantly it may well have been the deciding factor for Republicans and Independents who might otherwise have voted for Ossoff. His living outside the district he sought to represent may have made it easy for many folks to resist their desire and flirtation to try a different political party.
5
Lots of people here explaining why Dems don't win. Let's not forget that our entire system has Repub advantages baked in from top to bottom. There's the anti-democratic Electoral College, the composition of the Senate giving tiny states the same clout as the largest, and the fact that we always vote on work days. Washington, DC, with a population larger than two of the states, has zero representation in either House or Senate. On top of voter suppression and gerrymandering, we now have the Repubs outrageously declaring that they are the only ones who get to pick Supreme Court justices, which leads us to Citizens United. And the largest TV news network (along with much of AM radio) broadcasts nonstop right-wing views with hardly a hint of balance. That Democrats win as much as they do in spite of all this tells us there's a strong base of support for doing right by people.
11
It's fascinating that the first two things supposedly keeping the Democrats out of power are two institutions that have been an integral part of our Constitution from the very beginning.
A wiser choice, rather than tilting improbably at windmills, would be to develop policies that appeal to a wider group. On the other hand, your litany does provide a ready excuse for failure, no small thing these days.
A wiser choice, rather than tilting improbably at windmills, would be to develop policies that appeal to a wider group. On the other hand, your litany does provide a ready excuse for failure, no small thing these days.
do you actually try to take the position that the NYT, LAT, WP, MSNBC, CNN, NBC, CBS and ABC are balanced?
Many people read too much into this loss. Ossoff lived outside the district, had very little experience and was largely funded by people outside the district he sought to represent. If someone who lived outside my district and had a campaign that was funded by outsiders, was running to represent my district in congress, I would be very reluctant to vote for him. Considering that he was a Democrat running in a district that had been represented to Republicans for many decades it is surprising that he only lost by single digits.
4
I'm a conservative. I'm not middle of the road, but I read a variety of news sources and have friends across the political spectrum. I don't know that those of you on the left really want to hear feedback on what you are doing wrong in elections, but in the event it's of interest I'll share from my perspective:
The biggest issue is that you are promoting candidates who are often: 1, lacking appropriate real-world experience; 2, far more polarizing and to the left than most Americans; and 3, have some policy positions that defy common sense.
Ossoff's resume was very light, and while he seemed much better on the 2nd and 3rd points he was being funded so heavily by people associated with these that people didn't trust him to truly be a common-sense moderate.
Think about some of the party leaders: Clinton ran as a feminist but her rise to prominence was built on her husband's career - and despite winning popularity contests and a life of "public service" she was devoid of any significant accomplishments; Obama had a resume so light that had he applied for a job at a Fortune 500 company rather than run for President he would have been lucky to land a mid-level marketing job - he was totally unqualified to be President and the damage he inflicted on the country confirms this.
Why not recruit out of the political class for candidates? People like Bill Gates or Howard Schultz? Had either of them been your candidate I would have likely voted for them over Trump.
The biggest issue is that you are promoting candidates who are often: 1, lacking appropriate real-world experience; 2, far more polarizing and to the left than most Americans; and 3, have some policy positions that defy common sense.
Ossoff's resume was very light, and while he seemed much better on the 2nd and 3rd points he was being funded so heavily by people associated with these that people didn't trust him to truly be a common-sense moderate.
Think about some of the party leaders: Clinton ran as a feminist but her rise to prominence was built on her husband's career - and despite winning popularity contests and a life of "public service" she was devoid of any significant accomplishments; Obama had a resume so light that had he applied for a job at a Fortune 500 company rather than run for President he would have been lucky to land a mid-level marketing job - he was totally unqualified to be President and the damage he inflicted on the country confirms this.
Why not recruit out of the political class for candidates? People like Bill Gates or Howard Schultz? Had either of them been your candidate I would have likely voted for them over Trump.
14
Devoid of significant accomplishments? Mrs. Clinton? Your pal Vlad would be proud of you for spreading such non-researched rhetoric. Georgia will always be the largest deplorable in the basket. And that's not an offensive thing to say ever since Eric Trump said that Democrats weren't even people.
"totally unqualified to be President and the damage he inflict{s} on the country confirms this" - from a self-described conservative who apparently has his presidents mixed up
Eric, I trend liberal and I welcome feedback from a conservative.
It's good to hear insight as to what might make a Trump supporter vote Democrat. However, I don't see how the Ossoff loss fits your model. Democrats should promote candidates with appropriate experience, but Trump had no experience to run for President. If you mean real-world as in a business, and you value candidates that are not career politicians, how would Handel be better suited than Ossoff? Should Democrats promote people with political experience or not?
Please don’t think I’m criticizing: I am truly trying to understand how Democrats can gain voters. While I don’t think Ossoff was ideal, he was a political outsider and a younger voice.
And I must take issue with describing Clinton as being devoid of accomplishments. Attorney for the Children’s Defense Fund, Senator for NY and Secretary of State. Your standards for what constitutes accomplishments are quite high indeed!
I’d ask you this: Since you state that Democratic candidates have been polarizing and have policies that defy common sense, please explain how Trump got your vote. He’s about as polarizing a candidate as I’ve seen, and he has never defined a clear plan to accomplish any real policy.
I believe Democrats need a clear, understandable set of policies: a platform that speaks directly to improving the lives of most Americans. But it’s proving hard to predict what kind of a candidate to deliver that message would appeal to most voters.
It's good to hear insight as to what might make a Trump supporter vote Democrat. However, I don't see how the Ossoff loss fits your model. Democrats should promote candidates with appropriate experience, but Trump had no experience to run for President. If you mean real-world as in a business, and you value candidates that are not career politicians, how would Handel be better suited than Ossoff? Should Democrats promote people with political experience or not?
Please don’t think I’m criticizing: I am truly trying to understand how Democrats can gain voters. While I don’t think Ossoff was ideal, he was a political outsider and a younger voice.
And I must take issue with describing Clinton as being devoid of accomplishments. Attorney for the Children’s Defense Fund, Senator for NY and Secretary of State. Your standards for what constitutes accomplishments are quite high indeed!
I’d ask you this: Since you state that Democratic candidates have been polarizing and have policies that defy common sense, please explain how Trump got your vote. He’s about as polarizing a candidate as I’ve seen, and he has never defined a clear plan to accomplish any real policy.
I believe Democrats need a clear, understandable set of policies: a platform that speaks directly to improving the lives of most Americans. But it’s proving hard to predict what kind of a candidate to deliver that message would appeal to most voters.
IN 2016 Democrats flipped 6/23 battleground congressional districts. Here they narrowed the margin of loss by 18 points - that is the Republican won by a lower margin of victory than 96% of Republicans in 2016 in a previously reliable red district. In midterm elections, incumbent congressmen or women of the same party as the president, do not necessarily have a huge advantage; and 21 Republicans won their seats in 2016 by less than 12% points. 13 more are in blue or purple states and won by <18 points. Unfortunately 34 is still substantially less than the number needed for party control -though controlling a republican majority for practical legislative purposes maybe difficult for Paul Ryan. The Democrats will need to wait until 2020 when Trump will bring his entire party down in flaming wreckage.
3
The dems were close in a Republican district. The dems need to stop harping on Trump, No more. Trumps actions in office will determine the outcome of many voters? Voters know when stuff isn't going their way. Let them decide. Going far far left with Bernie is not the answer either. In the middle, no more politeness on messages. people of America want jobs. The left worrying about what bathroom someone can use doesn't put food on the table. I'm saying it like it is.
12
It was the conservatives who worried about which bathroom someone could use, and who gladly shut down the government at a cost of billions if they didn't get their way. Stop making the democrats look like the children. Why don't you just say it. The thought of health care for all is abhorrent and there is no such thing as a rest of the world.
I would like to offer a note of calm amidst all the hysteria. The Georgia and South Carolina races were always -- always -- going to long-shots. They had been securely in Republican hands for decades, not weeks. Trump has been in office for less than 160 days -- days. Changing people's long-held attitudes takes a bit longer to achieve.
The real story from these elections is the narrow margin of victory by Republicans in these solidly Republican districts. And, the guy in South Carolina got no financial support from the Democrats. Zip.
The tide is slowly turning, and the slowness of it is a good thing. In America, we don't need sudden changes of leadership that produce uncertainty and instability. We have enough of that already.
The real story from these elections is the narrow margin of victory by Republicans in these solidly Republican districts. And, the guy in South Carolina got no financial support from the Democrats. Zip.
The tide is slowly turning, and the slowness of it is a good thing. In America, we don't need sudden changes of leadership that produce uncertainty and instability. We have enough of that already.
6
Can we please get this person another participate trophy?
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Handel did not win "handily." It was close. Had millions not been spent on this campaign on both sides, we would have paid no attention to it, and the republican would have won the traditionally republican 6th district. The media hyped this election like crazy, and it's the MEDIA who called it a referendum on Trump. I don't see it as a referendum on #45 at all. It's just politics as usual. I would ask the media to stop making stories where there aren't any and focus on the tough issues, like health, education, welfare, the environment, and the oligarchy in which we find ourselves.
6
I would really like to see Democratic candidates promoting party history/ civics stories, because there isn't always a lot of knowledge abroad in the land. Which party gave us Social Security and Medicare, over the opposition of Republicans? Which party has promoted and enacted labor laws that define safe conditions and hourly limits for workers? Which party advocates raising the minimum wage? Which party has enacted protections that ensure the safety of the drugs we take and the food we eat? Which party saved the auto industry after the Great Recession? Not Republicans. Ours is a proud,important, and popular history, Democrats. Speak it.
8
It seems to me that Democrats are not tough enough to win what is a street fight. They seem to believe that goodness and right will prevail once the moral superiority of their policies and views are made sufficiently clear. But for many Americans there is no moral superiority in The New Deal, nor in the Voting Rights Act nor the ACA. For those Americans there is no dignity in difference and helping "others" just allows "them" to damage the "real" America. In an environment contaminated by some unfortunate supreme court decisions, by a self imposed need of the media to find moral equivalence between the two parties where no such equivalence exists and where right wing political figures from the President right down to bigoted talk show hosts spew a stream of racist tinged mendacious rants with no comeuppance, it is no wondered that authoritarian leaning nativist politicians win elections. Yet the majority of the country does not support these views, they just do not vote in sufficient numbers to claim victory. The Democrat Party needs to give them a reason to fulfill their civic duty and vote for policies they support.
4
I am happy about this result. Ossoff was a long shot; the main question was, by how much. His numbers proved that there is a lot of support for centrist upcoming Democrats. Its a very useful data point and should be very encouraging news for next years elections.
5
Could I be turning into a conspiracy theory believer? For months all I've heard on the news on this particular race was that this race was too close to call and that it was because voters had a low opinion of trump. Voters from the district who voted republican and now were voting for Ossoff were paraded around like if their was a flood of voter regret against Trump in the District, enough some claimed to switch it from blue to red.
The race was better covered then any I remember in a long time. Money poured in from all sides. In the end the Republic beat the Democrat by an even larger % then trump beat Hillary. A Hillary vs trump re-do info flop? What were the democrats thinking? A candidate who doesn't live in the district, who portrayed himself further to the right then the voters knew he was and who collected the majority of his money from far flung places was really touted as having a chance? and now comes all the excuses....
I was fooled again by the coverage of the media thinking that if they portrayed there was a swell of discontent somehow it would rub off on voters. Well it didn't, the voter knew better. Ossoff never had a chance.. take a look at the % voter results...? If this was, as some said, a referendum on Trump...he's doing better.
The race was better covered then any I remember in a long time. Money poured in from all sides. In the end the Republic beat the Democrat by an even larger % then trump beat Hillary. A Hillary vs trump re-do info flop? What were the democrats thinking? A candidate who doesn't live in the district, who portrayed himself further to the right then the voters knew he was and who collected the majority of his money from far flung places was really touted as having a chance? and now comes all the excuses....
I was fooled again by the coverage of the media thinking that if they portrayed there was a swell of discontent somehow it would rub off on voters. Well it didn't, the voter knew better. Ossoff never had a chance.. take a look at the % voter results...? If this was, as some said, a referendum on Trump...he's doing better.
3
I meant swish from Red to Blue.
According to Democracy Now, 40,000 voter registrations were lost at various local boards of elections in GA, not to mention 10,000 registrations from Korean voters in GA. Voter disenfranchisement was responsible for Karen Handel's victory, as were a multiplicity of other causes already named in good comments from viewers.
The erroneous contention that there was cross state voting with the concomitant striking of these voters from the roles was also a factor.
The erroneous contention that there was cross state voting with the concomitant striking of these voters from the roles was also a factor.
I wonder what would happen if the Democratic Party spent its cash and energy promoting a people-centered agenda instead of running Republican lite mannequins?
I'm guessing we'll never find out, given that the party appears more willing to lose than to cross its donors.
It's not like voters aren't smart enough to work the logic that just because the Republicans are bad, it doesn't make the Democrats good. If you want turnout, perhaps give the public something to vote FOR instead of against.
Alas, winning is not the party apparatuses' top priority, let alone the general welfare.
I'm guessing we'll never find out, given that the party appears more willing to lose than to cross its donors.
It's not like voters aren't smart enough to work the logic that just because the Republicans are bad, it doesn't make the Democrats good. If you want turnout, perhaps give the public something to vote FOR instead of against.
Alas, winning is not the party apparatuses' top priority, let alone the general welfare.
4
The Democrats lost, and will continue to lose for one overiding reason: they are all in vis a vis the redistribution of wealth. No thank you. I'd like to keep what I made.
10
If you don't think that the Republicans don't redistribute both labor and capital upward to the upper tier, I have a bridge to sell you.
In November 2016, Price beat a lackluster democrat 191,792 to 119,536.
Ossof with a vaunted "machine" got 124,893 votes to Handel's 134,595. Thus, the republican vote decreased considerably but the democratic party only gained a little over 5,000 votes.
The geniuses at the DNC don't understand the basic need to turnout your voters. Election day votes: Handel 67,938, Ossof 48,865. Lot of money spent on what?
Ossof with a vaunted "machine" got 124,893 votes to Handel's 134,595. Thus, the republican vote decreased considerably but the democratic party only gained a little over 5,000 votes.
The geniuses at the DNC don't understand the basic need to turnout your voters. Election day votes: Handel 67,938, Ossof 48,865. Lot of money spent on what?
2
A good portion of the electorate view the Democrats as obstructionist, sore-losers on a witch hunt that is harming the country. Until they actually have a message that resonates with Americans they will continue to be a marginal party.
1
A large part of the problem is the manner in which Democrats in office debate a Republican health plan that could be responsible for the death of thousands of people by removing them from Expanded Medicaid, Planned Parenthood (responsible for cancer and diabetes screening for many women with no health coverage), and ripping away health care from 21 million Americans!
When ACA was about to become the law of the land, Republican legislators used such LIES as:
"One out of five people had to die because they went to socilalized medicine," and "We should not have a government program that determines you're gonna pull the plug on Grandma" referring to a "living will," which states the wishes for end-of-life medical care (called a "death panel" by Republicans), which is NOT mandatory.
While Senate Democrats fight with less passion then if their chocolate latte order was late, I can see clearly why elections are lost.
Perhaps we should rethink our strategy, and while "When they go low, we go high," makes for a snappy slogan, we shouldn't be bringing nerf balls to a knife fight.
And no, I don't advocate violence, it is simply a metaphor for the passion that is missing in the debate from progressives.
When ACA was about to become the law of the land, Republican legislators used such LIES as:
"One out of five people had to die because they went to socilalized medicine," and "We should not have a government program that determines you're gonna pull the plug on Grandma" referring to a "living will," which states the wishes for end-of-life medical care (called a "death panel" by Republicans), which is NOT mandatory.
While Senate Democrats fight with less passion then if their chocolate latte order was late, I can see clearly why elections are lost.
Perhaps we should rethink our strategy, and while "When they go low, we go high," makes for a snappy slogan, we shouldn't be bringing nerf balls to a knife fight.
And no, I don't advocate violence, it is simply a metaphor for the passion that is missing in the debate from progressives.
1
I've seen misleading comments saying that Handel spent $4.5 million while Ossoff spent $23.6 million and still lost. To be clear that is what each candidate raised directly from their contributors. However Handel also benefited from $18M in PAC spending while Ossoff had $8M from PAC spending. Totalling it up: Ossoff $31.6M and Handel $22.5M.
So having more money clearly does NOT guarantee a win (although you need to ante up in a big way, just to be in the game). But deceptive advertising works and Handel supporters used that effectively. For example this nasty cheap shot equating Ossoff with the "unhinged left who support shooting Republicans". In fact the Democrats response was one of reconciliation. The sad truth is that deceptive advertising, and misleading propaganda works, as the US and the Russians well know now. We all have all heard that the Russians "weaponized" propaganda through digital media. It does make one wonder if they were involved again.
So having more money clearly does NOT guarantee a win (although you need to ante up in a big way, just to be in the game). But deceptive advertising works and Handel supporters used that effectively. For example this nasty cheap shot equating Ossoff with the "unhinged left who support shooting Republicans". In fact the Democrats response was one of reconciliation. The sad truth is that deceptive advertising, and misleading propaganda works, as the US and the Russians well know now. We all have all heard that the Russians "weaponized" propaganda through digital media. It does make one wonder if they were involved again.
3
Thanks for clarifying a spending figures. Much was made of out-of-state donations from Democrats. People are less aware of the Republican PAC money flowing in to shore up Handel's campaign and finance its ad buys.
So what did the campaign ads look like for Democrats?
Did they show the poisons that can now be sprayed on our foods? Did they show the poisons that can now be put into our air and water? Did they point out that everyone's internet data can now be sold off? Did they show the scientists being laid off so the people will not hear the truth?
Did they hang these millstones, and others as awful, around the neck of the republicans to show what, and who, they represent?
Then pan the camera left to a picture of the candidate that fades with his smile to a sunrise, flowers, clean air, a family enjoying a picnic of fresh wholesome, unadulterated foods etc.
In other words . Did you show them the truth ?
Did they show the poisons that can now be sprayed on our foods? Did they show the poisons that can now be put into our air and water? Did they point out that everyone's internet data can now be sold off? Did they show the scientists being laid off so the people will not hear the truth?
Did they hang these millstones, and others as awful, around the neck of the republicans to show what, and who, they represent?
Then pan the camera left to a picture of the candidate that fades with his smile to a sunrise, flowers, clean air, a family enjoying a picnic of fresh wholesome, unadulterated foods etc.
In other words . Did you show them the truth ?
1
we are not good at winning races but excellent and pointing the blame at others for why we lost.
5
The problem with the Democratic Party is the leaders are way out of touch, including Bernie Sanders. The answer is not to lean even further left, as you are alienating members of your own party.
6
So many progressive/dem comments just makes me want to spit (i'm a dem). One minute we yammer on how how all the seasoned politicians need to retire and run younger (inexperienced) candidates and when they lose we all get up in arms because Pro/Dems didn't back a stronger one. Are we really that schizophrenic! Our progressive/dem field is very thin, if we're going to beat down every newcomer who's throw their hat in the ring & loses then we may as well quit now. Also, we still need our seasoned politicians to help mentor our upstarts - there is value in experience. In all my reading that is exactly what Bernie, Hillary, Obama are doing to help future leaders. Those of you living in your fantasy computer world Utopia need to join the reality. It's gonna be a hard slog...are up to it?
5
Osoff was a newbie, he didn't live in the district....And still the Democrats came within 3 points in a district where they were previously behind by 25 points. it says something so don't be discouraged.
4
Face the facts folks. Mr Obama so much decimated the roots of the Democratic Party, that you end up with a 30 year old outside the district as the best you can find. This on the heals of running HRC (who has been around forever) and Mr Sanders in his 70's. And now we hear that Mr Biden may want to run again. Please give us someone to vote for....
5
Things get any worse, maybe the Dems will have get Grandma Clinton out on the stump. Oh and then there is Bernie but he is not suppose to be a Democrat.
2
Landslide Handel! Makes ya proud to be Georgian. don't it? After a few more years of Duh Donald and Ms Handel, we'll all be sportin' them golden brown strands, some of which miraculously never bow nor even waver before a breeze. It's a bloomin' miracle, ain't it?
1
What was Pres. Trump saying?
"We're going to do so much winning, you're going to be TIRED of winning!" Or something like that.
Huh. Go figure.
"We're going to do so much winning, you're going to be TIRED of winning!" Or something like that.
Huh. Go figure.
2
When I turned 18 in 1984 I couldn't wait to vote Democrat. But I watched my party abandoned its own ideals. When Lee Atwater added the "L" word to the lexicon of things one doesn't want to be labeled, I waited to for the Dems to say "Hell yes I'm a Liberal and here's why." But they didn't. They retreated from the ideals of JFK - public service as a noble and worthwhile endeavor - LBJ -& FDR - great societies take care of their people and invest in infrastructure and human capital. When Newt Gingrich took out a contract on a America, Bill Clinton helped dismantle the remaining social safety net and embraced the racist fear mongering and lock 'em up attitude of Republicans that led us to the type of mass incarceration of the underclass that we still have today. Every time the Republicans said "You don't want to start a class war do you?" Or, "That's socialized medicine!" my party was silent. Al Gore and John Kerry could not bring their passion to the debate stage. The most shameful retreat of all though was when W. used an obviously false pretext to start a war for which we and the rest of the world continue to pay the price and the Democrats in Congress were too afraid of being labeled unpatriotic to point out the obvious holes in the Saddam Hussein is a threat to the U.S. story. The allegedly liberal media also did not question the premise. I witnessed. I protested. I should have run for office but I never did. Maybe I will now.
5
Democrats: "Our Brand Is Worse Than Trump"
No, Hillary's brand is worse than Trump. Finally admit it -- she lost, across vast parts of the US, enough to lose it all.
Ossoff was a repeat of Hillary's donor politics, leading with big money from sources far removed from voters, while offering a message of triangulating.
It does not work. Stop it. Don't keep digging this hole deeper.
No, Hillary's brand is worse than Trump. Finally admit it -- she lost, across vast parts of the US, enough to lose it all.
Ossoff was a repeat of Hillary's donor politics, leading with big money from sources far removed from voters, while offering a message of triangulating.
It does not work. Stop it. Don't keep digging this hole deeper.
13
My comments are being blocked again. I've been fighting with the New York Times about it for weeks. Someone is blocking them from inside or outside. PLEASE New York Time - find out what the problem is and FIX it.
Thank you.
Thank you.
3
To all those that are now trashing the Democratic party and advocating for Bernie like candidate for Georgia and everywhere else: Georgia 6 is a republican district with moderate to conservative views. How on earth do you nominate a Bernie style revolutionary and expect to win here, when Bernie suffered colossal trashing 71% to 28% in Georgia primary? The two races where Bernie did not endorse the candidate (GA and SC) ended up in the 3% range even after the tragic incident in Virginia that was used in ads labeling democrats as leftist radicals. The races where Bernie endorsed supposed progressives and campaigned for them (Omaha and Montana) were losses by 7% and 6% even after Gianforte beat up a reporter. Is that a pattern of wins that Democrats should follow? Sorry this is as delusional as some of the Trump utterances.
14
Simple. You run on infrastructure and education. The voters in GA-6 care about traffic and schools.
Public schools there are the best in Metro Atlanta. Handel would abolish the Dept. of Ed, and leave the taxpayers in GA-6 holding the bag to raise their own property taxes to fund their schools. Ossoff should have run to protect the crown jewel of great local schools.
Voters in GA-6 complain about traffic gridlock on GA 400 and I-285. Handel would privatize the roads, convert them to toll roads, and sell them to Saudi investors. Ossoff should have run to prioritize federal transportation spending on these local highways.
Government support for roads and schools is a progressive agenda - with a positive local impact on issues that matter to the voters in GA-6. Labels are silly. But these positions are closer to Sanders than to what either Clinton or Ossoff focused on.
Public schools there are the best in Metro Atlanta. Handel would abolish the Dept. of Ed, and leave the taxpayers in GA-6 holding the bag to raise their own property taxes to fund their schools. Ossoff should have run to protect the crown jewel of great local schools.
Voters in GA-6 complain about traffic gridlock on GA 400 and I-285. Handel would privatize the roads, convert them to toll roads, and sell them to Saudi investors. Ossoff should have run to prioritize federal transportation spending on these local highways.
Government support for roads and schools is a progressive agenda - with a positive local impact on issues that matter to the voters in GA-6. Labels are silly. But these positions are closer to Sanders than to what either Clinton or Ossoff focused on.
4
Government support for education and transport are ideas that Clinton, Obama, the so-called democratic establishment, have been fighting for a long time and have scars to show it so I am not sure how these things are now identified to Bernie. If Ossoff didn't talk about that, then I agree it is a missed opportunity, but that is not an excuse to blame again the democratic establishment and to attribute everything progressive to Bernie. There is a difference in the extent to which candidates will go in government support, such as education where Bernie advocated free college for everyone. The question is would suburban Atlanta voters be attracted to such a message and especially the price tag to finance that. I doubt.
1
Lt, thanks for your response.
First, I am not a "Bernie Bro". I happen to like his policy positions, and have found myself moving toward the "go bold" camp since the election. That said, I did vote for Clinton, and would have voted for Ossoff (I'm in GA-5 south of there).
There are two questions on the issues: 1) prioritization; and 2) how far to push the agenda.
On infrastructure, Sanders made this a priority. (So did Trump, but his plan is privatization.) Sanders proposed a much larger investment than Clinton. Clinton did not speak of infrastructure as a priority, and started with a much smaller program.
Obama talked about infrastructue in the ARRA stimulus. But there are very few "shovel ready" programs. He either did not understand the NEPA process, or was just giving lip service. As a result, he did not deliver on infrastructure.
I doubt the GA-6 republicans would go for free college. Note that I proposed talking about K-12 public schools. Clinton and Obama did talk a lot about these. But (rightly or wrongly), much of what the public heard sounded like identity politics and teachers unions - rather than focusing on education itself.
So, in my opinion, the Democratic establishment is weak on infrastructure, and needs a better message on education.
I will add that starving the schools and roads is what ultimately caused the Republican legislature in Kansas to revolt and raise taxes by overriding Brownback's veto.
First, I am not a "Bernie Bro". I happen to like his policy positions, and have found myself moving toward the "go bold" camp since the election. That said, I did vote for Clinton, and would have voted for Ossoff (I'm in GA-5 south of there).
There are two questions on the issues: 1) prioritization; and 2) how far to push the agenda.
On infrastructure, Sanders made this a priority. (So did Trump, but his plan is privatization.) Sanders proposed a much larger investment than Clinton. Clinton did not speak of infrastructure as a priority, and started with a much smaller program.
Obama talked about infrastructue in the ARRA stimulus. But there are very few "shovel ready" programs. He either did not understand the NEPA process, or was just giving lip service. As a result, he did not deliver on infrastructure.
I doubt the GA-6 republicans would go for free college. Note that I proposed talking about K-12 public schools. Clinton and Obama did talk a lot about these. But (rightly or wrongly), much of what the public heard sounded like identity politics and teachers unions - rather than focusing on education itself.
So, in my opinion, the Democratic establishment is weak on infrastructure, and needs a better message on education.
I will add that starving the schools and roads is what ultimately caused the Republican legislature in Kansas to revolt and raise taxes by overriding Brownback's veto.
2
Wondering if what we are doing is just not working.This much money, time and effort not moving the needle at all? Is "getting out the vote" just annoying people to the point they won't vote for us. In canvassing I get the idea someone knocking on a door is not influential, minds are made up other places. It just astounds me that a party so destructive to the interests of most Americans can win these elections. Always close but never a win also makes me concerned there may be some kind of vote fraud going on, the Dems should spend some money looking into this rather than dismissing it as ridiculous.
3
Because your party stands for nothing but science denying gender identity, no free speech on college campuses and calling anyone who disagrees with you a sexist and a racist. Keep it up, it's working splendidly!
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
In November the Republicans won by a 20% margin. Last night they won with a 4% margin. As long as Trump keeps being Trump the Democrats will have the momentum they need for 2018.
9
There ya go big guy. Don't change anything. Got a 401K? Dig in.
What is clear, is that it is time for Pelosi to go. The chance of Dems winning anything in 2018 is already very much in doubt, and if she doesn't step aside it will ensure that the Republicans have a lighting rod to hold up every time they want to demonize a candidate and rile up their base.
Step aside now Ms. Pelosi to us a chance to save the Union.
Step aside now Ms. Pelosi to us a chance to save the Union.
5
President Trump’s budget calls for sharply reducing funding for programs that shelter the poor and combat homelessness — with a notable exception: It leaves intact a type of federal housing subsidy that is paid directly to private landlords.
One of those landlords is Trump himself, who earns millions of dollars each year as a part-owner of Starrett City, the nation’s largest subsidized housing complex. Trump’s 4 percent stake in the Brooklyn complex earned him at least $5 million between January of last year and April 15, according to his recent financial disclosure.
One of those landlords is Trump himself, who earns millions of dollars each year as a part-owner of Starrett City, the nation’s largest subsidized housing complex. Trump’s 4 percent stake in the Brooklyn complex earned him at least $5 million between January of last year and April 15, according to his recent financial disclosure.
5
As many here well know, elections outside of tried-and-true blue areas
(ie California, NYC) or deep red areas (Wyoming) are not about committed Republicans or Democratic voters. That's a given. Congressional elections in these areas are about the undecided, middle of the road voter. While many of these have even anxiousness over and antipathy toward Trump, the number of recent special election Congressional victories by the Republicans shows that these voters are also not buying whatever the Democrats are selling, or how Democrats are selling their product. While more persons have self-declared themselves as "forever Democrats" or "forever Republicans" narrowing the margin of undecideds, there will always be that last remaining batch of undecided, middle-of-the-road, well-educated voters who, for over two decades (not since Clinton 92), Democrats nationally have not pitched to in a meaningful way. Looking to 2018, today, right this moment, the ONE and ONLY way for Democrats to say, in no uncertain terms, "We are a new party that listens to all, not just the loudest, and are ready to be the adults who will responsibly lead Congress" is pretty well-laid out. Nationally, Democrats can't keep running the playbook where they speak to the undecideds only after partisan primaries -- the recent spate of victories and the wins in Congress and across so many states indicate that the undecided see through this for what it is and have responded accordingly.
(ie California, NYC) or deep red areas (Wyoming) are not about committed Republicans or Democratic voters. That's a given. Congressional elections in these areas are about the undecided, middle of the road voter. While many of these have even anxiousness over and antipathy toward Trump, the number of recent special election Congressional victories by the Republicans shows that these voters are also not buying whatever the Democrats are selling, or how Democrats are selling their product. While more persons have self-declared themselves as "forever Democrats" or "forever Republicans" narrowing the margin of undecideds, there will always be that last remaining batch of undecided, middle-of-the-road, well-educated voters who, for over two decades (not since Clinton 92), Democrats nationally have not pitched to in a meaningful way. Looking to 2018, today, right this moment, the ONE and ONLY way for Democrats to say, in no uncertain terms, "We are a new party that listens to all, not just the loudest, and are ready to be the adults who will responsibly lead Congress" is pretty well-laid out. Nationally, Democrats can't keep running the playbook where they speak to the undecideds only after partisan primaries -- the recent spate of victories and the wins in Congress and across so many states indicate that the undecided see through this for what it is and have responded accordingly.
5
Some pundits have explained the results by invoking the "all politics are local" theme, but there is another, more persuasive argument regarding traditionally heavily Republican districts, namely, local issues are invariably trumped by the almost pathological reaction to paying federal taxes. So, despite the venal, narcissistic incompetence of the current federal regime, its promise to reduce taxes on the well off was the only issue that mattered.
5
I can't help thinking that if I lived in Georgia's 6th district and record amounts of cash from elsewhere in the nation were pouring in in support of a complete outsider to the district, a person who had never even resided there, for reasons that had absolutely nothing to do with good of my district, I might feel a little resentful of that.
13
Well, it will be interesting to see if the Republicans are prepared to put up this kind of money nationwide. I agree that the Democrats need to work on their game, but this was a seat which the Republicans were winning massively, until Trump.
4
Ossoff is 30-year-old who had never run for office before and didn’t even live in the district. Handel has been a fixture of local politics for 15 years.
For all their faults, Republicans have done two things better than anyone: getting voters to the polls, and eagerly running candidates in every possible local election, whether it’s the school board, library board, county council, whatever, and using those positions as a springboard to state and federal offices.
For some reason, Democrats seem to have been unwilling or incapable of putting in this hard and thankless work and are relying on moonshots like Ossof to get to Washington. Democrats, please learn from Republicans. Find and support candidates up and down the election ladder and develop a bench of talent that can eventually make it to Congress. You may have some success in 2020. I don’t see it happening in 2018.
For all their faults, Republicans have done two things better than anyone: getting voters to the polls, and eagerly running candidates in every possible local election, whether it’s the school board, library board, county council, whatever, and using those positions as a springboard to state and federal offices.
For some reason, Democrats seem to have been unwilling or incapable of putting in this hard and thankless work and are relying on moonshots like Ossof to get to Washington. Democrats, please learn from Republicans. Find and support candidates up and down the election ladder and develop a bench of talent that can eventually make it to Congress. You may have some success in 2020. I don’t see it happening in 2018.
9
It is time for new leadership. There are better-promoting Representatives ( e.g., Adam Schiff of California) and public-speaking Senators (Chris Van Hollen of Maryland) than are occupying the party's congressional lecterns. People in public life owe to their constituents their ability to recognize their limitations and that time does move on. (Why Sen. Schumer, in the New York's PR capitol. never availed himself of a public speaking course is beyond me.)
Independent Bernard Sanders should be relegated to his independent status and stop basking in the sunlight of his self-generated anger.The damage he has done and appears bent on doing may result in a party beyond repair. He parasitized himself on the Democratic Party, contributing to the defeat of Hillary Clinton and is now helping to drag the party into a morass.
Independent Bernard Sanders should be relegated to his independent status and stop basking in the sunlight of his self-generated anger.The damage he has done and appears bent on doing may result in a party beyond repair. He parasitized himself on the Democratic Party, contributing to the defeat of Hillary Clinton and is now helping to drag the party into a morass.
6
I guess eventually the Dems will figure it out that people are bored with their rhetoric about collusion and obstruction of justice claims against Trump and concentrate on doing their jobs to gain the confidence of the voters. Senator Sanders, there's just so many times you can hear about the tax system benefitting billionaires when there are barely 500 of them in the entire country.
8
The following will become clear in 2018. Obama was a unique politician, generationally gifted in his ability to pull the electorate left, even further than it really intended to go. Now that he's gone, those who liked moving so strongly leftward can barely acknowledge that (1) nobody else can pull off what he did, and (2) with him gone, the electorate is likely to revert closer to the mean, aka drift some distance back rightward. Time and time again, voters are saying, enough... and yet the Democratic party is still so enraptured by the Obama revolution, it's unable to reinvent itself for a new, less exciting, reality. Thus the talk of Kamala Harris or Eric Holder as President. That's wishful thinking, the desperate cry of a movement whose leader has gone. Those people are not Barack Obama. It will not work.
9
Obama was about as centrist as you can get on most issues. He bailed out Wall Street and no one went to jail. He was fine keeping the Bush tax cuts. The only issues on which you could possibly label him at all to the left were identity politics. In other words, Obama was a moderate Democratic just like Hillary Clinton.
Obama did not talk about the working poor. Obama did not remind us that over half the nation has less than $500 in savings, and is one missed paycheck or one unexpected bill away from destitution. Now that would have been a liberal agenda. And a voice that is sorely missing in the Democratic Party today.
Obama did not talk about the working poor. Obama did not remind us that over half the nation has less than $500 in savings, and is one missed paycheck or one unexpected bill away from destitution. Now that would have been a liberal agenda. And a voice that is sorely missing in the Democratic Party today.
6
this election was always going to be a gamble for the Democrats. It was a mistake to play it up so much. the fact that so much money was spent on both sides is not a good sign for 2018.
6
Democrats need a check list:
Does the candidate live in the district? If not, get someone else.
Is the candidate being investigated by the FBI? If yes, get someone else.
Is the candidate afraid to attack the leader of their opponent's party? If yes, get someone else.
Does that candidate have no positive platform of their own? If yes, get someone else.
Sometime complex analytics are not necessary. Lousy candidates tend to lose, and it almost always more about the person than the policies.
Does the candidate live in the district? If not, get someone else.
Is the candidate being investigated by the FBI? If yes, get someone else.
Is the candidate afraid to attack the leader of their opponent's party? If yes, get someone else.
Does that candidate have no positive platform of their own? If yes, get someone else.
Sometime complex analytics are not necessary. Lousy candidates tend to lose, and it almost always more about the person than the policies.
3
Your first line about the deluge of liberal money is so misleading. 70% of the outside money went to Handel. No mention of the Koch money and the pacs created to anonymously give to conservative interests.
No mention of the efforts made over the years to strip Democrats from the voter rolls by Ms. Handel, but hey, other than than, it was good honest Georgians making an honest pick without the GOP, and the Citizens United, thumb on the electoral scales.
No mention of the efforts made over the years to strip Democrats from the voter rolls by Ms. Handel, but hey, other than than, it was good honest Georgians making an honest pick without the GOP, and the Citizens United, thumb on the electoral scales.
4
I don't know why people are demoralized by this. No surprise to me.Ossoff seems like a nice guy but maybe too nice. Democrats need to put up people who are young,strong,charismatic and aggressive. Someone with a known name, certainly in the Presidential race for 2020. I am liking Angus King more and more but he's older. Someone from the Midwest? Not Tim McCain please. He also is too nice! Seth Moulton? I live in MA and I don't know who he is! I keep talking about men as candidates and while I would like to see a woman as president before I expire,(I'm 75) I don't think one could get elected in 2020. Certainly not Warren who I think is great but its not going to happen. If the gems don't put up good people, that's it! I will quit voting.
2
If part of the problem is money in politics, I don't see how pumping more money into politics was going to suddenly be part of the solution.
2
If the other guy is using artillery you have to use weapons at least as powerful, under current rules of engagement. Change the rules of engagement, get rid of the toxic influence of money, the amplifying antagonistic effects of Citizens United, and political gerrymandering, and then we can all disarm. One side unilaterally disarming is a recipe to entrenching one party into terminal power.
1
Get with Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren or a reasonable facsimiles! Either one would probably beat the pants off Trump. But it scares the deep pockets who only give to the Democrats because they think, and they're right, the Dems will keep the 'mob', 'the great unsuited' in control, with a turkey every Christmas for some and PBS etc. for others.
To me, it just appears that the Democrats did not have a sound strategy, running an out of district unknown and financing it with out of state money. His whole candidacy smacked of carpetbaggery and dilettantism. I have friends in that district. The race was never really close.
7
The GOP is hard to beat because it has returned to its roots as the party of segregation. Segregating America from the world with borders and travel bans, segregating certain states from being a United States through "states' rights", and segregating the races by failing to drive inclusion and diversity. With a base who has a love for segregation, the GOP cannot be beat no matter how much you reveal how little the GOP is doing for average Americans.
1
As one who lives in the thoroughly red part of the country, this wasn't truly a loss for Democrats. To have ANY special election that close? Unheard of.
4
Trump and Republicans are winning with short words -- jobs, wall, God, guns, great, build, law, raise, deals, win, smart, etc. Everyone understands Trump’s one-syllable words.
How many Americans understand the Democrats’ multi-syllable words -- collusion, obstruction, impeachment, resistance, filibuster, antifascism, triangulation, investigation, progressivism, multiculturalism, etc.?
How many Americans understand the Democrats’ multi-syllable words -- collusion, obstruction, impeachment, resistance, filibuster, antifascism, triangulation, investigation, progressivism, multiculturalism, etc.?
5
It looks to me like Republicans are winning with optimistic words. Dems are bent on the negative ones that don't hold water.
6
Means nothing as to 11/18. There's a lot of time left.
2
The results restored my faith in the America I grew up in, and I yearn to see it made great again. This is but a small step; now it's on to building the Wall, deporting illegals, and shrinking the deficit. Any Democrats out there want to win next time? Listen up!
2
why are people still voting for democrats and republicans anyway? Is the two party system working for you? How broken does it need to get before you fix it?
1
So, tell me. How has being held hostage to Clintonworld worked out for ya?
I dislike labels, not regarding myself as a jam jar, but I*ve always voted for Democratic candidates for national office, with the exception of 2016 when I voted affirmatively for *none of the above* as my write-in candidate.
As an ex-Noo Yawkuh, the sneering arrogance of people like Schumer and the loathsome entitled carpetbagging*I*m next in line of succession* Her has been turning my stomach for a long time.
You*d think, wouldn't you, that people who consider themselves so much smarter than anyone else would have, by now, realized that cunning diplomacy--the honey vs vinegar strategy--would likely be more productive than *I*m part of the resistance* as though this were Vichy France instead of the US where an election had just been held. No, the Russians didn't hand it to Trump. Her did.
Keep on in this direction and give up hope, all ye who enter here. Or wise up before it*s too late. Your choice, DNC et al.
I dislike labels, not regarding myself as a jam jar, but I*ve always voted for Democratic candidates for national office, with the exception of 2016 when I voted affirmatively for *none of the above* as my write-in candidate.
As an ex-Noo Yawkuh, the sneering arrogance of people like Schumer and the loathsome entitled carpetbagging*I*m next in line of succession* Her has been turning my stomach for a long time.
You*d think, wouldn't you, that people who consider themselves so much smarter than anyone else would have, by now, realized that cunning diplomacy--the honey vs vinegar strategy--would likely be more productive than *I*m part of the resistance* as though this were Vichy France instead of the US where an election had just been held. No, the Russians didn't hand it to Trump. Her did.
Keep on in this direction and give up hope, all ye who enter here. Or wise up before it*s too late. Your choice, DNC et al.
5
The Democrat elites promulgate the Russia collusion conspiracy theory to deflect attention from their failed election strategies and to provoke anger in their base aimed at anyone but themselves.
Their strategies still lose, however.
Their strategies still lose, however.
8
The Democrats continue to lose--not because they cannot learn--it is because the voters have learned what the Democrat party really is-- a socialist party that only works if you are not working. Take money from those who work and give it to the groups who will elect the Democrats--that is the Democrat party and the voters are fed up with it.
3
The Democratic party should focus on regrouping, getting some new talent and an actual platform in place, and distancing themselves from the fanatical opposition groups like BLM, Antifa, and Anarchists, which they are now widely associated with. America is sick of Evergreen University.
The plan of viciously attacking the 45th president and trying to impeach him at every turn is not only failing, its producing the opposite result. You wont see it in the news, but you've seen it in 5 elections in which the DNC has produced a goose egg. Last night the crowd in Atlanta was chanting his name. The truth can be painful.
The plan of viciously attacking the 45th president and trying to impeach him at every turn is not only failing, its producing the opposite result. You wont see it in the news, but you've seen it in 5 elections in which the DNC has produced a goose egg. Last night the crowd in Atlanta was chanting his name. The truth can be painful.
7
Cohn, as usual, got it backwards. I can't wait for him to call the Super Bowl---I'll be heavily betting the opposite team.
5
This just confirms about half the people of this country are dumb enough or bigoted enough to follow Da Fuerher Trump and the Confederate culture. Even when it clearly is against their own best interests.
Keep up with the name calling for the opposition - it's working out so well for the Democrats, right?
The continued conflation of Republican voters with racism, the Confederacy and all of the other "phobes" is unbelievably tiresome - and foolish. It doesn't pay to underestimate the opposing team.
I am a "deplorable" with an advanced degree and many IQ points. I am socially liberal and fiscally conservative and I don't buy that the single most important issue facing our country is Christian bakers being forced to bake cakes for same sex weddings. I was a voting Democrat all of my life until Obama broke my heart with his inaction on everything from immigration to dealings with Wall Street in 2012 - then and only then I voted for Mitt Romney and I could not bring myself to vote for Clinton, Inc. There are a lot of people like me out there - it might make sense to stop insulting us and try to figure out how we can be part of the "Big Tent" - and potty mouthed Tom Perez isn't helong much, either.
The continued conflation of Republican voters with racism, the Confederacy and all of the other "phobes" is unbelievably tiresome - and foolish. It doesn't pay to underestimate the opposing team.
I am a "deplorable" with an advanced degree and many IQ points. I am socially liberal and fiscally conservative and I don't buy that the single most important issue facing our country is Christian bakers being forced to bake cakes for same sex weddings. I was a voting Democrat all of my life until Obama broke my heart with his inaction on everything from immigration to dealings with Wall Street in 2012 - then and only then I voted for Mitt Romney and I could not bring myself to vote for Clinton, Inc. There are a lot of people like me out there - it might make sense to stop insulting us and try to figure out how we can be part of the "Big Tent" - and potty mouthed Tom Perez isn't helong much, either.
The Dems seem to always say: "I will fight for you so that you can keep what you have now." The Reps make all kinds of promises that they can't keep, instigate and foster false crises that only they can solve (make believe loss of religious freedom, selling baby parts, social security is broken, medicare is broken, you will likely be killed by ISIS when you go to the mall, etc.). The Reps also lie and stick together, right or wrong, unlike the Dems who act like a one-man show.
Republicans are great politicians. Dems get to eat the scraps left behind. Bad for the country.
Umm, let's see...
No Russian hacking
No collusion
No fraud
No nuthin'
You're 0 and 5. Time to drop the HRC "everything but me" mode and get your party together--which I doubt you ever can again.
No Russian hacking
No collusion
No fraud
No nuthin'
You're 0 and 5. Time to drop the HRC "everything but me" mode and get your party together--which I doubt you ever can again.
1
How does 51.9 to 48.1 get interpreted by NYT as "surprisingly easy"? In a district held by Republicans since the 1970s? No editorializing there. Of course not.
3
So...Handle won by a mere...4 points! Four! Hey, Democrats, not bad!!! We are making progress and by 2018 when people see the disaster Donald is, e prepared to talk about:
Investing in schools
Medicaid which will be cut by $800 billion
Infrastructure
And....the endless war in Afghanistan which has cost us trillions and our Troops lives, and for what?
Chin up, Democrats! Yes, we can, and yeah...we will in 2018!
Investing in schools
Medicaid which will be cut by $800 billion
Infrastructure
And....the endless war in Afghanistan which has cost us trillions and our Troops lives, and for what?
Chin up, Democrats! Yes, we can, and yeah...we will in 2018!
The Dems should have sent their spokespeople, Cher, Madonna and Katy Perry to Georgia to get out the Dem vote.
4
Liberals thinks Trump is an idiot. In many ways he is. But he has been smart enough not to make good on his promise to "Lock Her Up".
Keeping Clinton in action, is Trumps secret weapon.
Locking up Clinton and her accomplices, would be the only way that the changes in the Democratic party that are necessary to knock out the Republicans could happen. Trump knows that she will be controlling the party until she loses again in 2020, and he could not be happier.
The 6th district is analogous to the proverbial "Canary in the Mine"; unless the poison is removed, the thing that ends up dead, will be the Democratic party.
Keeping Clinton in action, is Trumps secret weapon.
Locking up Clinton and her accomplices, would be the only way that the changes in the Democratic party that are necessary to knock out the Republicans could happen. Trump knows that she will be controlling the party until she loses again in 2020, and he could not be happier.
The 6th district is analogous to the proverbial "Canary in the Mine"; unless the poison is removed, the thing that ends up dead, will be the Democratic party.
3
I wonder if Russia was involved?
4
Jon Ossoff is a carefully concocted clever combination of the fictional Frankenstein monster and the Pinocchio puppet.
2
Why aren't the Democrats promulgating the Affordable Care Act? Why aren't they saying "it's law, it's there and let's make it work better"?????? If this Democrat leadership is the best that they can produce as leaders, maybe it's best we have an autocrat who can teach us how to bully people into getting his way.
Despite the collaboration of "fake News" media, nonsense polling, and Dumb witted Dems spending 35million for a congressional race the headline is Trumps tweet taunting failed Dems.
Keep this up and you won't have a party just a rag tag bunch of trolls on this website
Keep this up and you won't have a party just a rag tag bunch of trolls on this website
5
Sometimes after losing for so long, you wake up and think you just can't lose anymore. Then you look up and see that you've lost 1,200 elected seats and every "consequential" election (0-5) since Trump won and you realize, yes, you are a democrat.
6
My, what an extremely white crowd surrounding Karen Handel. Apparently the slave state mentality lives on in Georgia.
1
If you can't win a local district with $23 million, you're either pathetic or a Democrat.
8
Ossoff's fate was sealed when he failed to make farting noises into the microphone whenever Handel spoke during the debate. Get with the program Democrats.
America is doomed. This is my last post. All is futility as Ecclesiastes has wisely stated.
Anyone who thought this district would elect a Democrat is living in a dream world. They would rather elect Kermit the Frog.
2
The Russians are surely behind this!!!
2
Voter suppression.
NYT couldn't wait to publish their articles about how the Democrats are going to lose all the future congressional races unless they "stoop to conquer" and become just as crass and degrading as the Republicans. Personally, I don't get too excited over two Republicans winning seats they already held…in two of the reddest states on the east coast. Really? Who cares.
3
There must be something in our water that is deleting brain cells. Stupid as Stupid does. Both sides.
All that liberal northeastern money gone to waste. God, I love it.
12
All that liberal money goes to support the welfare state that is Alabama.
1
Investigate this election NOW! There were many irregularities. Democrats expected more early votes.
There is now clear evidence that Russians hacked into some State voting systems. If there is collusion between the republicans who have taken over OUR governments at all levels they might have allowed the "russians" to rig their election. Republicans are WAY too complacent that they have the system right where they want it. Like all crooks. Until they are caught.
Investigate NOW!
There is now clear evidence that Russians hacked into some State voting systems. If there is collusion between the republicans who have taken over OUR governments at all levels they might have allowed the "russians" to rig their election. Republicans are WAY too complacent that they have the system right where they want it. Like all crooks. Until they are caught.
Investigate NOW!
1
Atlanta would like to thank the Democratic party for the revenues pumped into the local economy in a losing effort, helping businesses and business owners who largely voted for Trump.
8
Yup...they are going to need it in order to pay their doctors and hospitals
If I were a traditional Republican voter in this Georgia district, I would have evaluated Handel based on whether she was a traditional Republican; it would not have had anything to do with Trump. If Handel had styled herself after Trump, I have to believe voters in this district would have rejected her. Handel did not seem to play the "Trump" card; perhaps she and other Republicans winning in these special elections guessed that traditional Republican voters want traditional. Although the symbolic "success" of Ossoff demonstrates what voters think about Trump, if Trump were not in office, I doubt yesterday's race in Georgia would have been as close as it was -- Handel would have won by a larger spread. I say this because of the noteworthy fact that in 2016, the majority of voters in Pete Sessions' reliably Republican congressional district in Dallas voted for Hillary. I think the Dallas results had more to do with voting against Trump than for Hillary, because he wasn't a "real Republican." Switching parties in 2016 in a district like the 32nd in Dallas shows the extent to which voters thought Trump did not represent traditional Republican voters. https://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-politics/2016/12/12/sessions-culbe...
The Georgia seat should have been a very easy win for Republicans, but it wasn't. It cost them a lot of money, and the race was very close. And if DeVos hadn't thrown in a couple extra million at the last minute, who knows?
2
First off I think the Dems did a decent job in heavily skewed GOP districts. So I don't think it is time to despair. What discourages me is the continuing endorsement of Trump by the GOP despite all the egregious things Trump has done and says.
Trump is incompetent as an informed President, he runs by bullying the people around him and manipulating emotions. Trump is not a normal President, he does not have normal people in his cabinet and by normal I mean competent and qualified for the positions.
We are at war in the middle east yet none of the press or public seemed concerned about that. I think the Democratic party needs to have more of a backbone and continue to say no to Trump, speak up about all his wrongdoings, nepotism, profiting from his position.
If anything I think the strong showing of the Dems in strong GOP districts shows there is an opening to win elections at the grassroots level. The GOP did not win these seats by landslides. So I think even more focus has to be put on future congressional elections and the Dems will succeed.
Trump is incompetent as an informed President, he runs by bullying the people around him and manipulating emotions. Trump is not a normal President, he does not have normal people in his cabinet and by normal I mean competent and qualified for the positions.
We are at war in the middle east yet none of the press or public seemed concerned about that. I think the Democratic party needs to have more of a backbone and continue to say no to Trump, speak up about all his wrongdoings, nepotism, profiting from his position.
If anything I think the strong showing of the Dems in strong GOP districts shows there is an opening to win elections at the grassroots level. The GOP did not win these seats by landslides. So I think even more focus has to be put on future congressional elections and the Dems will succeed.
3
When you take into consideration that the district had been Republican held for four decades, the election was extremely close. Handel should have won with a higher percentage but she did not. I see this as a positive sign.
2
It really comes as no surprise that she won. This seat has been republican for a long time. The fact that it was a close race should offer some form of encouragement. This is not a loss, but it is a lesson that to take a republican controlled seat the democrats have to work harder and smarter. There are still many seats to be won in 2018. We cannot rely on the anti-Trump rhetoric or that the administration will take the GOP down with it when it falls. We must look onward and upward.
2
To suggest that the results of this election are a positive referendum on Trump and a highly negative referendum on Democrats and their chances in 2018, is absurd. In six (contested) elections in this district since 2002, Republicans won with an average of 68% of the vote. Ossoff lost by 2%. The media, and to some extent the Times, set unrealistic expectations for this election, which could unnecessarily damage Democratic engagement and enthusiasm.
2
Hating Trump is not a political platform. Even though the Democrats lost the last few races, I like to think these lost races are warm ups to the 2018 mid terms. The DNC still has time to regroup, refocus, and regain their power in 2018. Instead of preaching rancor and negativity about the opponent, how about standing strong and educating voters what the party aims to do and how they will go about it. I want to hear solutions and ideas. I am extremely tired and burnt out from hearing only the negative bla, bla, bla side of President Trump and his minions. How about focusing on what the DNC can do rather for America rather than what the GOP has messed up. Everyone knows that song and verse all too well. Let's hear about some real and meaningful change . . . for a change. Thank you.
3
The Democratic message is not convincing. Hollow encouraging speeches are not enough. Not in this day/age; there's got to be more substance
There's got to be something more. Enough pandering. Too much of pandering, this party is hamstrung, enough of going for the low hanging fruit. Pick a fight that's left you bruise and battered, but when its over, you can look at the mirror and or delight in showing your scars to people.
I'm a former democrat turned independent who did not vote for Ms Clinton despite knowing that Mr. Trump wasn't going to cut it entirely. I sat out;on election night, I went to Starbuck and got drunk on 8 cups of Grande Skim Latte instead of voting.
The democrats will continue losing elections if they continue to believe New York and California fundamentally represent this country.
I yearn to return to my party but the current democratic party is not making this easy for me.
There's got to be something more. Enough pandering. Too much of pandering, this party is hamstrung, enough of going for the low hanging fruit. Pick a fight that's left you bruise and battered, but when its over, you can look at the mirror and or delight in showing your scars to people.
I'm a former democrat turned independent who did not vote for Ms Clinton despite knowing that Mr. Trump wasn't going to cut it entirely. I sat out;on election night, I went to Starbuck and got drunk on 8 cups of Grande Skim Latte instead of voting.
The democrats will continue losing elections if they continue to believe New York and California fundamentally represent this country.
I yearn to return to my party but the current democratic party is not making this easy for me.
4
An election is a choice between two people, not between two people of your choosing.
If you don't believe there were clear indications of significant differences between the actions and behavior of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump then, in my view, you've moved beyond reason.
We have a tin-hat despot in the White House, thanks to those of you who petulantly sat things out.
If you don't believe there were clear indications of significant differences between the actions and behavior of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump then, in my view, you've moved beyond reason.
We have a tin-hat despot in the White House, thanks to those of you who petulantly sat things out.
1
"More substance" like "Make America Great Again" ?
1
This was more of a referendum of media bias than Donald Trump. Since the election the constant drumbeat of hateful and derogatory language from the Left and their media allies towards Trump supporters have backfired. Trump carried this district by about 1.5 points. Nancy Pelosi said this election is about Donald Trump. Well, if true, he won by almost 5 points.
5
The US descent into third-world populism appears unstoppable. Perhaps it is unstoppable because third-world populism is what Americans really yearn, a strongman who can reassure them there is nothing wrong with them, that everything wrong is someone else`s fault, and that they can keep their ignorance and bigotry and still be proud and oh so very great.
There is very little silver lining to this Trumpian tragedy, but there is some - the myth of American exceptionalism has finally shattered, all on its own and in the most spectacular way possible, with the entire world watching.
There is very little silver lining to this Trumpian tragedy, but there is some - the myth of American exceptionalism has finally shattered, all on its own and in the most spectacular way possible, with the entire world watching.
2
Saw an article on Vox and some other liberal news outlets down playing Ossoff not living in the district. Let me clarify this: If he win, he move into the district. What if he loses, does he still move in? I would assume the same thing most of the undecided voters do: No, he won't move into the district. People will regard him as an opportunist riding the Trump tide anyways so why not select a better candidate in the first place?
2
What put us in this position is Bernie's ego. He was told after he lost New York that he could not win and he needed to join the majority of Democrats to beat the Republicans. It was a watershed moment in American history. The most popular Democrat backed by Obama and all of the Democratic senators and congressmen was on her way to winning the election. Along came Bernie with his low information millennial's and Grimm faced Trots to help give away the most important election in American history. Bernie was a little man with a big ego.
And the problem is we cant tell the so call Bernie people just how stupid they are because we cant win without them. They represent 40 percent of our constituency. they're like our stupid kids that thing they know everything and, like teenagers, are unreachable.
And the problem is we cant tell the so call Bernie people just how stupid they are because we cant win without them. They represent 40 percent of our constituency. they're like our stupid kids that thing they know everything and, like teenagers, are unreachable.
4
you are on the money. Bernie had no business in the race, but especially had no business staying in as long as he did. Jill Stein also should have left it.
We're still in the hole....
We're still in the hole....
I don't know why Ms. Handel's win is such a surprise to so many. This is the District which, before redistricting and Gingrich, included much of Cobb County and elected Larry Mcdonald, 2nd President of the John Birch Society. It includes the town of Kennesaw, which requires that heads of households MUST own a gun.
Results indicate that Cobb County precincts went overwhelmingly for Handel. Did anyone expect something different? Get real, pundits!
Results indicate that Cobb County precincts went overwhelmingly for Handel. Did anyone expect something different? Get real, pundits!
2
I want to see what those campaign ads looked like with commentary about what things were true and which things were false. If someone won (or lost) the election based on lies they should be publicly humiliated.
Want to know why Democrats can't win? Because the party and its donors do not want what donors want.
"WALL STREET DONORS have used their financial relationship with the Democratic Party to complain bitterly about Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s, D-Mass., influence over the direction of the party, a new fundraising document reveals. At one point, the Democratic lawmaker in charge of raising cash for House Democrats attempted to reassure donors by pointing to a news story claiming that Warren does not speak for the party."
https://theintercept.com/2016/10/11/warren-goldman-dccc/
"WALL STREET DONORS have used their financial relationship with the Democratic Party to complain bitterly about Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s, D-Mass., influence over the direction of the party, a new fundraising document reveals. At one point, the Democratic lawmaker in charge of raising cash for House Democrats attempted to reassure donors by pointing to a news story claiming that Warren does not speak for the party."
https://theintercept.com/2016/10/11/warren-goldman-dccc/
Another humiliating defeat for the Trump haters, the winners are the people of the 6th, and the local media and printers who made millions off of the far left donors. Go Trump.
7
The GOP lost over 20% of the popular support in a blue district since November 2016 and they see this as a victory?
1
This was one of those races — the special election in Montana was another — when one party didn't bother to recruit the best candidate because there was initially little hope of winning the state. (It happens with the GOP, BTW, too: Who can name the last four opponent of Pelosi or Gerald Nadler?)
The state Democratic parties should shoulder most of the blame for these losses. Ossoff is obviously smart and a comer in politics, but his not having held previous office — against a candidate who had held a few, one at the state level — his not living in the district, not married to his partner (that matters in Georgia), etc. (could "etc." include his religion?? It can still matter a bit in Georgia) made him a less-than-ideal candidate.
The state Democratic parties should shoulder most of the blame for these losses. Ossoff is obviously smart and a comer in politics, but his not having held previous office — against a candidate who had held a few, one at the state level — his not living in the district, not married to his partner (that matters in Georgia), etc. (could "etc." include his religion?? It can still matter a bit in Georgia) made him a less-than-ideal candidate.
So it was a referendum on Trump until the Dems lost. Now it's billed as a foregone conclusion. You would think this would make liberals happy since a woman just defeated big money.
7
Can we now begin to imagine campaign finance reform? Money won. No candidate won, that's for sure. If Georgians are moronic enough to support The Donald, they'll support anyone. Hence, Handel. Be sure to read Greg Palast's piece on Jim Crow voter suppression and rigging voting machines.
2
Money won? Wake up. Dems outspent Repubs 6-1 on the GA seat and have nothing to show for it. Repubs have expanded their votes in the district since November.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
So, the left-leaning newspapers are referring to Democrats as "demoralized" by our failure to put a democrat in a seat which has been staunchly Republican since the 1970's. Why would we be demoralized? This was a seat which the administration carefully chose to vacate knowing that it would be refilled by a Republican, and the NYT and other media apparently find that reality to be too boring for comment. Meanwhile, those of us who are not "demoralized" (which, by the way, includes everyone except the press which worked so hard to avoid reality) are astounded that a 30 year old democrat with little experience made such a strong showing in this district. This is not a "failure" of anything, except maybe the failure of the press to recognize reality.
2
I heard Karen Handel in her victory speech specifically cite more jobs and better paying jobs. Hello, this is THE issue. Dems, if everybody has your [glory days] message except you, including candidates people know are just blowing smoke, you deserve to lose.
CORRECTED:
Want to know why Democrats can't win? Because the party and its donors do not want what voters want.
"WALL STREET DONORS have used their financial relationship with the Democratic Party to complain bitterly about Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s, D-Mass., influence over the direction of the party, a new fundraising document reveals. At one point, the Democratic lawmaker in charge of raising cash for House Democrats attempted to reassure donors by pointing to a news story claiming that Warren does not speak for the party."
https://theintercept.com/2016/10/11/warren-goldman-dccc/
Want to know why Democrats can't win? Because the party and its donors do not want what voters want.
"WALL STREET DONORS have used their financial relationship with the Democratic Party to complain bitterly about Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s, D-Mass., influence over the direction of the party, a new fundraising document reveals. At one point, the Democratic lawmaker in charge of raising cash for House Democrats attempted to reassure donors by pointing to a news story claiming that Warren does not speak for the party."
https://theintercept.com/2016/10/11/warren-goldman-dccc/
I wonder if the Democratic party have considered the damage being done to them by CNN and other biased media outlets? I might be more open to the Democratic Party's message more if I weren't being bombarded with CNN propaganda at every airport.
3
I can't imagine voting for someone who doesn't live in my district. What were the Democrats thinking?
10
Democrats don't win by running against something even if it is Trump. There needs to be a message of solutions, inclusiveness, and unity. People need something to fight for and a person to get behind.
In any case a deep red district is now purple and Republicans have had to play defense. They hate doing it and the more they do the less effective they get at it. Red to purple then purple to blue and that only happens with candidates with good ideas and true belief in those ideas.
In any case a deep red district is now purple and Republicans have had to play defense. They hate doing it and the more they do the less effective they get at it. Red to purple then purple to blue and that only happens with candidates with good ideas and true belief in those ideas.
3
Why would anyone expect a different outcome in a gerrymandered district dominated by republican voters? It would take a minor miracle to get the result the democrats hoped for. Did Trump win that district? Yes and the entire state of Georgia and 5 months after his inauguration why would you expect a different outcome? Lets see what those voter's think after the republican tax cut for millionaires and attempt to eliminate healthcare for 23 million people over the coming yr and 1/2. Even then , I would still be surprised if they would stopped voting against their own best interests.
3
Hard to find mention of issues and platforms in this article. The same for most articles on this election. Plenty of mention of how much money went in to the race and polling math. Democrats keep asking, "what did we do wrong? What can we do next time?" Yet, they still seem set to do the same thing next time: throw more money at it and refuse to talk about issues.
If Democrats can simply reach into their souls and develop policies based on what will help all people in their regions, and communicate that to the public, they will probably win. If they want to do more of the same and continue to lose, they can keep playing games with tricks and identity politics and keep throwing wasted money at it.
I'm not voting Republican any time soon, but I'm quickly losing motivation to vote for Democrats too. This is why people don't show up to vote, because politicians don't care about them. They only focus on winning, and can't even do that.
If Democrats can simply reach into their souls and develop policies based on what will help all people in their regions, and communicate that to the public, they will probably win. If they want to do more of the same and continue to lose, they can keep playing games with tricks and identity politics and keep throwing wasted money at it.
I'm not voting Republican any time soon, but I'm quickly losing motivation to vote for Democrats too. This is why people don't show up to vote, because politicians don't care about them. They only focus on winning, and can't even do that.
3
Dems outspent the GOP by $8.5 million here, and couldn't win. Time for Pelosi to go. There are no moral victories in politics. Open seats are nearly always closer than incumbent races, so comparing Handel to Price is not realistic. Yes, these specials are in GOP seats, but if the Dems want to take control of the House, they need to win some of these kinds of seats, and yet they don't. The whole Bernie approach vs. Hillary approach is pointless. Some will be more comfortable with the Bernie wing, and some with the Hillary wing. Time to change the party leadership.
6
The media and professional pundits have projected way too much meaning into this special election. This was never going to be a reflection of national politics. The attempt to make this election some sort of predictor of Democrats possibilities in 2018 or a referendum on Trump is utterly foolish and meaningless. This is a local election focusing on the specific needs of a small group of communities in Georgia. This is much less to do with Trump than most would like to think. Also, this is still a right leaning district. Even Ossoff started tuning is message to one of tax-cuts and lessening regulations. People want to make a lot of Trump getting much less of the vote in the district than Romney did. The people there might not be Trump fans, but that doesn't make them Democrats.
7
This isn't surprising. The country is divided and I don't see anything on the horizon to change that. We won't address Citizens' United, gerrymandering and all of the other ills of our election system. The votes of the majority of Americans may never count again. Meanwhile, the Dems are lucky to be pulling off some close calls in these deep red districts, but I'm not counting on much change in 2018. There was a time that I would have said that the Dems need a strong progressive platform that appeals to middle America; however, the more election results are dissected, the more this seems to be a cultural divide rather than an economic one. Much of America doesn't care that the R's are stripping away their rights, their healthcare and their economic futures- as long as they stand up on cultural issues.
Mainstream Dems and Repubs should be working together on economic and foreign policy and recall what compromise is- our Congress needs to represent all of the people. Yet I'm afraid there is no middle ground for most of us on these 'culture issues.' Some can't accept women being able to control their own bodies- I can't accept that. Many can't accept that the federal government has a role to play in assisting the people- I can't accept that. They can't accept that capitalism needs constraints to be a viable economic system, and that 'freedom from religion' is baked into our Constitution.
Mainstream Dems and Repubs should be working together on economic and foreign policy and recall what compromise is- our Congress needs to represent all of the people. Yet I'm afraid there is no middle ground for most of us on these 'culture issues.' Some can't accept women being able to control their own bodies- I can't accept that. Many can't accept that the federal government has a role to play in assisting the people- I can't accept that. They can't accept that capitalism needs constraints to be a viable economic system, and that 'freedom from religion' is baked into our Constitution.
4
Not really that surprising a result. If Mr. Ossof really wanted to represent that district he should have moved into it before he filed. Appearance matters.
And on a more general note, it's time that the Democrats realize that, as others have commented, they need to clarify exactly what and who they stand for and what their vision for the country is going forward. Defining themselves by being against whatever the Republicans are for is not sufficient. Since that seems to be all Ms. Pelosi is capable of, perhaps it's time for her to step aside.
And on a more general note, it's time that the Democrats realize that, as others have commented, they need to clarify exactly what and who they stand for and what their vision for the country is going forward. Defining themselves by being against whatever the Republicans are for is not sufficient. Since that seems to be all Ms. Pelosi is capable of, perhaps it's time for her to step aside.
7
I'm proud to have donated to Ossoff's campaign, and I applaud his valiant effort in what has been a very Republican district for decades. I'm not discouraged by this result al all. This is politics, not a reality show. Let's learn what needs to be learned from this campaign and move on. Sniping among Democrats accomplishes nothing; it just feeds the narrative of the "hapless Democrats who don't know how to win," which seems to be a favorite among some media outlets.
3
You are , seriously, proud that you helped spend $25 million on 110,000 votes for s guy that doesn't live in the district. You wasted that money to convince people somewhere you don't live either to vote against Trump. After spending all that money, are you also claiming you want to "help the poor" ? Liberal elites telling others what they OUGHT to think is exactly why liberals lose.
1
Yes, I'm proud. I'm a small donor, and in the grand scheme of things it wasn't that much money. In the age of Citizens United, Democrats have to be prepared to spend money to win these races. The Koch brothers and their allies are swamping the electoral process with money. We need a strong message and good candidates, but we also need money. That's just the reality we're dealing with.
Oh and by the way, I donate plenty of money to help the poor, and my husband provides social services to them. I understand the stakes for the poor only too well.
Oh and by the way, I donate plenty of money to help the poor, and my husband provides social services to them. I understand the stakes for the poor only too well.
The ridiculous amount of money spent on the GA-6 race plays right into the stereotype of Democrats that Republicans paint:
Democrats think you can solve any problem by throwing money at it.
- Ossoff lost with big money. Clinton lost with huge money.
- Sanders and Trump both raised far less money, and instead took their messages directly to the people.
- Democrats need to recruit the right messengers, and articulate the right message (localized to the voters in each election). Money is not the answer.
Democrats think you can solve any problem by throwing money at it.
- Ossoff lost with big money. Clinton lost with huge money.
- Sanders and Trump both raised far less money, and instead took their messages directly to the people.
- Democrats need to recruit the right messengers, and articulate the right message (localized to the voters in each election). Money is not the answer.
12
The Democrats can run whoever they want and it won't make much difference. People will not stop voting Republican until more pain is felt. For now, conservative voters have the luxury of sending Nancy Pelosi a message, as if that matters. But when the deep cuts come, after about 90 days of blaming Obama, it will be obvious to all but the wealthy that voting Republican was a mistake.
Sorry, but a 2% victory margin in a historically Republican district that cost the Republicans many millions of dark money should not be seen as a strong endorsement.
The democrats, once again, are indulging in the ultimate form of insanity, "keep doing the same thing over and over again hoping for a different outcome". Rather than attacking a corrupt Republican Party with their destructive policies and offering real alternative progressive policies, Ossoff reverted to a failed defensive centrist approach in which his opponents ultimately linked him to establishment democrats like Nancy Pelosi and others. I guess they will never learn. They choose losing elections over losing corporate dollars. How is that working out?
A President with the lowest approval ratings in history before and after the election and the democrats still lost. Time to pull the plug on the democrats and give someone else a chance.
A President with the lowest approval ratings in history before and after the election and the democrats still lost. Time to pull the plug on the democrats and give someone else a chance.
1
We've learned two things from this election:
1. Republicans are vulnerable, even in their most secure districts
2. Republicans have turned elections into massive financial competitions.
Democrats need to make election reform a central part of their platform. Let's get out of this mess where money has taken the place of the vote.
1. Republicans are vulnerable, even in their most secure districts
2. Republicans have turned elections into massive financial competitions.
Democrats need to make election reform a central part of their platform. Let's get out of this mess where money has taken the place of the vote.
3
This is no surprise. The Democrats need a platform and a message. The party of Clinton and Hollywood elitism is not the what I will vote for and it what the country want. Similarly, the mantra of RESIST and IMPEACH does not constitute a credible platform. You want to oppose Trump then do so on policy and make your message heard. Ill not be 'Team Democrat' just for the sake of it, the party has to actually stand for something.
8
We gave those Republicans a run for their money in what should have been an easy contest for them. I do not feel depressed at Ossoff's showing. Republicans shouldn't even have had to break into a sweat, but they did. Sure, they're crowing now outwardly, but they are worried (I would guess) within. These elections are getting mighty expensive though. The money race is going to be the toughest race to win. We have got to beat them with our message.
2
Keep spending money. Keep up the identity politics. Keep telling people how they ought to think. Ignore others who don't agree with every absurd notion you suggest. And keep losing
Democrat Party has to decide if they want to serve rich donors or the base. They can't serve both. The rich want the status quo, the base wants more equitable economic distribution. The rich are the establishment, the base wants the establishment confronted. The rich wield power thru lobbying. The base has no representation in DC. The rich can afford medical bills, the base can't. The rich don't need a safety net, the base does. The rich can afford college fees, the base can't. The rich don't need public transport, the base does.
The problem the Democrats face is math. Rich donors can write checks for $100K but only get one vote. For those who aren't rich but wish to vote for a party that serves the rich, there's already the Republicans.
The other problem the Democrats face is their leadership is indestinguishable from rich donors. They are massively rich themselves. They have nothing to offer the base, nothing in common, no track record in power of fighting inequality or corporate racketeering, or reigning in military adventurism. They just want power for power's sake, for many of the same reasons as Republicans do.
The problem the Democrats face is math. Rich donors can write checks for $100K but only get one vote. For those who aren't rich but wish to vote for a party that serves the rich, there's already the Republicans.
The other problem the Democrats face is their leadership is indestinguishable from rich donors. They are massively rich themselves. They have nothing to offer the base, nothing in common, no track record in power of fighting inequality or corporate racketeering, or reigning in military adventurism. They just want power for power's sake, for many of the same reasons as Republicans do.
2
I keep reading that this election was a referendum on Trump. Perhaps. But also a referedum on the Clinton Wing of the Democratic Party. Running as a Republican, only nicer about social issues, did not work in the general election, did not work in this election, and, frankly, explains why Republicans control so much of Congress and so many State Houses.
Someday soon, the DNC needs to wake up, divorce itself from its super-donors, and start offering policies that ordinary people want. Like Medicare for All. Like really and truly cleaning up the financial sector. Like getting out of endless wars. It would be a start, eh?
Someday soon, the DNC needs to wake up, divorce itself from its super-donors, and start offering policies that ordinary people want. Like Medicare for All. Like really and truly cleaning up the financial sector. Like getting out of endless wars. It would be a start, eh?
5
The Democrats are losing because they are considered wholesale to be the puppets of their left wing. Obama has brought us a regulatory nightmare that will take years to unravel again. The sole reason Trump is so popular is that he is promising to do it. Unfortunately in an unsophisticated and unenlightened manner.
We need a centrist party that does not have the leftist baggage the Democrats have to carry around. Until then, the GOP will continue to win.
We need a centrist party that does not have the leftist baggage the Democrats have to carry around. Until then, the GOP will continue to win.
5
I'm baffled by the commenters who have no idea what the Democratic agenda is. Democrats have been projecting a strong message on agenda. The problem that it is not a simpleton agenda, like the Republican agenda. People are apparently not listening or grasping it. That's bad on ordinary people. Where are their critical thinking, memory and cognitive skills?
Democrats are trying to improve healthcare, they are - for the most part with a couple exceptions - for a livable wage for all. They are for improving public schools, not tearing them down. They are for fairer taxation, not more tax breaks for the wealthy.
Anyone who votes for the Republican agenda truly does not believe that healthcare is a right for all. These people would let the poor die from lack of care if they had their way. They are for private schools for their fancy kids. They hate public schools. And they are for the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.
It makes me sick that there are so many people who are willing to vote for this. I have such a small opinion of the United States right now.
Democrats are trying to improve healthcare, they are - for the most part with a couple exceptions - for a livable wage for all. They are for improving public schools, not tearing them down. They are for fairer taxation, not more tax breaks for the wealthy.
Anyone who votes for the Republican agenda truly does not believe that healthcare is a right for all. These people would let the poor die from lack of care if they had their way. They are for private schools for their fancy kids. They hate public schools. And they are for the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.
It makes me sick that there are so many people who are willing to vote for this. I have such a small opinion of the United States right now.
2
As a Democrat who voted for Jon Ossoff, I see a bright side to our loss. If he had won, our party might be tempted to put off the essential discussion of how do we fix the Democratic Party so we can win in 2018 and 2020.
Let the discussions begin!
Let the discussions begin!
3
In 1860s Georgia rejected carpetbaggers who sold the elixir that cured all social and medical ills in one tiny bottle that cost very little. Yesterday Georgia rejected the claims that bigger government could cure all ills with good and services that only 1% had to pay for...and if they can't don't worry deficits don't matter.
2
There are two things that we need to keep in mind: First, this seat has not been won by a Democrat in 40 years. Remembering back, this was a time when our nation was not experiencing such crippling and destructive polarization as it is now. Next, this is a Red district in a Red state. We Democrats are being quite naive to think that an inexperienced young man can beat out an experienced woman, with really no platform to speak of. The irony is our Party contributed millions to a man who did not fare as well as his counterpart in South Carolina whom we "wrote" off.
I am not sure who is running our party, but he, she, or they need to get with the program. Something is amiss in our messaging.
Finally, I believe what we need to do is focus on strong candidates in the West, Midwest, Southwest, North East, outliers such as Virginia, and possibly North Carolina. We in California are already searching for strong Democrats to oust the likes of Issa, Nunes, and company. These are places we have chance. Let's hop on it.
I am not sure who is running our party, but he, she, or they need to get with the program. Something is amiss in our messaging.
Finally, I believe what we need to do is focus on strong candidates in the West, Midwest, Southwest, North East, outliers such as Virginia, and possibly North Carolina. We in California are already searching for strong Democrats to oust the likes of Issa, Nunes, and company. These are places we have chance. Let's hop on it.
4
Repubs elected another woman to congress that has to make NYT readers feel good.
Democrats/Progressives: This is going to be a long war because we have a long road ahead against a lot of "huge" monied interests. We will lose some battles, but if we are making gains, however small, we can win over the long term. Lets not club ourselves to death with derision & blame after every loss. Don't throw up your hands & lay down at the slightest difficulty. We need everyone: Young, old, fresh and experienced to be part of the team.
1
That's the way of thinking that has brought us Trump.
Until the Democrats change fundamentally and isolate their mad lefties, they will continue to lose.
Until the Democrats change fundamentally and isolate their mad lefties, they will continue to lose.
1
For my fellow liberals who are blaming centrist Democrats for losing this election and the presidential one, consider this: If you hadn't been too good to vote for Hillary, maybe we wouldn't be stuck with Trump, who is killing the world. I would rather have a Democratic Socialist government, as would my fellow Bernie fans, but when it was down to Hillary or Trump I knew we had to swallow our ideals--for a while--so we could save ourselves and the world from the disaster of Trumpism. That said, next time we do need candidates we can all, centrists and liberals, get behind.
2
A victory for the GOP and another loss for America. The news is deeply depressing.
1
Whose America are you talking about?
America elected Trump.
America keeps on filling State houses with Republican Governors and State Reps.
America keeps on giving Republicans the Senate and the House.
Appears to me that America clearly leans more right than left. But as we see, the Left doesn't trust the voting booth unless they win; and thinks it is a long litany of other issues that is stealing the Left's birthright to rule America.
America elected Trump.
America keeps on filling State houses with Republican Governors and State Reps.
America keeps on giving Republicans the Senate and the House.
Appears to me that America clearly leans more right than left. But as we see, the Left doesn't trust the voting booth unless they win; and thinks it is a long litany of other issues that is stealing the Left's birthright to rule America.
There was a miscalculation on the part of the Dems to think that they could topple Trump after a 150 days. It's also a a miscalculation that they could win a race in a traditional Rep district trailing the baggage of the the 2016 run. Ossoff made a great run and maybe in '18 he'll win. But if the Dems remain isolated on the left, the senate and the house will be safe for the Rep. This country is governed from the center, if not the right of ceenter. Wake up Dems or it's 8 year Trump!
Democrats need to be more than the party of illegal immigration and refugees. A lot of Americans like the America first message, and sad stories about non-Americans dont work because for every one of those theres an American sad story of course Republican polices are not helping them either but at least they are not running on that).
and pick better candidates. I mean, this was someone outside the district that was 30 years old. Most voters, and by that i mean the people actually going to vote, are much older than that. Getting a 45+ year old Georgian to vote for some 30 year old out of the district is a tall order. its a miracle it was so close, which i suppose is the only silver lining here though Trumop is right,Dems are 5-0 and coming close is losing).
and pick better candidates. I mean, this was someone outside the district that was 30 years old. Most voters, and by that i mean the people actually going to vote, are much older than that. Getting a 45+ year old Georgian to vote for some 30 year old out of the district is a tall order. its a miracle it was so close, which i suppose is the only silver lining here though Trumop is right,Dems are 5-0 and coming close is losing).
If Ossoff had done the unthinkable for politically-correct Democrats and run hard-hitting, graphic yet truthful commercials about Handle, he would have won.
Just pointing out how Handel and a few others used the Susan Komen for the Cure nonprofit as a personal cash cow would have probably done the trick.
The Republicans have no problem whatsoever running hard-hitting attack ads that are minimally truthful if not outright totally fallacious fantasies. They rouse their base as well as independents, and they win. It's time for Democrats to take off the gloves and hit back hard.
Just pointing out how Handel and a few others used the Susan Komen for the Cure nonprofit as a personal cash cow would have probably done the trick.
The Republicans have no problem whatsoever running hard-hitting attack ads that are minimally truthful if not outright totally fallacious fantasies. They rouse their base as well as independents, and they win. It's time for Democrats to take off the gloves and hit back hard.
This wasn't a referendum on Democrats vs Republicans, it was a referendum on the intelligence of the American voter, and intelligence lost.
There are plenty of reasons for Democrats not to be too disheartened by the results of this special election:
(1) Ossoff gained the same percentage of the vote in the runoff as he had during the primary; all this means is that Handel was successful in retaining the votes that her GOP rivals had won in the primary.
(2) In a district that had been red for four decades, and that Tom Price won with a double-digit percentage lead even when Trump only won by a single percentage point, Handel managed a 3% margin: comfortable perhaps, but hardly overwhelming.
That doesn't mean that there are no lessons for the Democrats to learn. Ossoff ran as a moderate Democrat, which seems optimal for that district. While a Sanders-style progressive may be attractive on the national scale and in very solidly Democratic districts, his style (and Pelosi's) will likely not work in many of the contestable districts, and not only in those presently occupied by GOP congresspeople. There's time for Democrats to work out a strategy for 2018, but the time is limited.
What will not work is for Democrats simply to hope that Trump and the GOP will implode.
(1) Ossoff gained the same percentage of the vote in the runoff as he had during the primary; all this means is that Handel was successful in retaining the votes that her GOP rivals had won in the primary.
(2) In a district that had been red for four decades, and that Tom Price won with a double-digit percentage lead even when Trump only won by a single percentage point, Handel managed a 3% margin: comfortable perhaps, but hardly overwhelming.
That doesn't mean that there are no lessons for the Democrats to learn. Ossoff ran as a moderate Democrat, which seems optimal for that district. While a Sanders-style progressive may be attractive on the national scale and in very solidly Democratic districts, his style (and Pelosi's) will likely not work in many of the contestable districts, and not only in those presently occupied by GOP congresspeople. There's time for Democrats to work out a strategy for 2018, but the time is limited.
What will not work is for Democrats simply to hope that Trump and the GOP will implode.
7
You failed to mention that he outspent Handel 5-1. Does that change your calculus?
1
You are wrong, authors! Comfort, especially for the winning Republicans in this particular election is as pleasantly overwhelming as a loss was for the forces of incessant clamoring at invisible interference by outsiders in the recent presidential election process.
The lesson was many in the media slanted their coverage of dem for weeks and he still lost. I heard there was a need for a waaaambulance at
MSNBC last night
MSNBC last night
glad to see that 23 million in California cash didn't sway Georgia voters. Sure are a lot of misogynist posts today.
21
Very little is being said of the amount of money the Republicans had to spend to win, rather the emphasis is on the amount of money Democrats spent to lose. This was brought out emphatically in yesterday's Times article. Perhaps if they both spent a million a piece the results would have been the same given the turnout, perhaps not. Either way don't ask me to donate to an election which bears no significance in the long run. Politics in America will still be broken next time around.
2
We know how much the Republicans spent. We don't know how much they "needed" to spend to win. Handel might have won with much less cash. Ossoff didn't even live in the district, and the ties to Pelosi were fatal.
1
They spent $8M less than the Democrats spent trying to pry it away.
It is hard to believe that my $3K maximum contribution will mean anything, regardless of who I spend it on, when George Soros will fight the Koch Brothers to see which special interest spends $100M first.
It is hard to believe that my $3K maximum contribution will mean anything, regardless of who I spend it on, when George Soros will fight the Koch Brothers to see which special interest spends $100M first.
The republicans have failed themselves and the country in voting for Handel. She is the one who said she does not support a living wage. She is the one who said she is all for Trump. She is the one who said she supports the House republican so-called health care bill that would deny over 24 Million Americans health care and force the closure of many rural county hospitals across the country who depend on Medicaid to stay open.
The only good news is that she has to run for reelection next year. By that time the 6th District of Georgia and the nation will have an iron clad view of how bad Trump and the republicans in congress are. Trump and the republicans are well on their way to a complete melt down with their inability to govern.
The only good news is that she has to run for reelection next year. By that time the 6th District of Georgia and the nation will have an iron clad view of how bad Trump and the republicans in congress are. Trump and the republicans are well on their way to a complete melt down with their inability to govern.
6
The MINIMUM wage was never meant to be capable of supporting a family. It's intended for kids and part-time workers to put a little disposable income in their pockets.
It's only in the last decade that the term "living wage" has received any attention (outside of a few European Socialist nations). I suspect that goes hand-in-hand with the fact that 80%+ of all jobs "created" by the Left are minimum wage jobs.
Good luck with your electoral strategy of waiting for Trump to implode. It's been so successful, so far. Wait until you realize that 23 of 33 Senate seats up in 2018 are Democrats (and two of the other ten are the two Indys that caucus with the Democrats), or that ten of those Democratic seats are in states that Trump won!
It's only in the last decade that the term "living wage" has received any attention (outside of a few European Socialist nations). I suspect that goes hand-in-hand with the fact that 80%+ of all jobs "created" by the Left are minimum wage jobs.
Good luck with your electoral strategy of waiting for Trump to implode. It's been so successful, so far. Wait until you realize that 23 of 33 Senate seats up in 2018 are Democrats (and two of the other ten are the two Indys that caucus with the Democrats), or that ten of those Democratic seats are in states that Trump won!
As one of your own, George W. stated: "vulture capitalism" you espouse.
Neither candidate really ran on local issues that directly impact the voters. All politics is local. The majority of voters in GA-6 are upper-middle class and well educated. Most people there are doing well, and don't need much from the federal government - but they do care about traffic and education. The Republican message is that government is the problem.
The Democrats need to clearly explain how government can work for people, and localize it. Here is what I would have run on if I were Ossoff:
Infrastructure
- Like you, I feel like I spend half my life stuck in traffic on GA 400 and the North Wall (I-285). I have a plan to add capacity and break the gridlock, and I will prioritize federal transportation funding to make this happen. My opponent supports the administration's plan to privatize our infrastructure. She wants to sell our highways to Saudi investors, who will convert them to toll roads. How will that work out for our national security?
Education
- We have the best schools in Metro Atlanta. My opponent wants to eliminate the Department of Education. This would result in the loss of $X million dollars for our schools. So our children will either go to worse schools, or we will have to raise our property taxes just to keep our schools at the same level.
---
Interestingly, the starvation of schools and roads are what finally drove the Republican legislature in Kansas to override Brownback's veto of a tax increase.
Come on, Democrats. This is not that hard.
The Democrats need to clearly explain how government can work for people, and localize it. Here is what I would have run on if I were Ossoff:
Infrastructure
- Like you, I feel like I spend half my life stuck in traffic on GA 400 and the North Wall (I-285). I have a plan to add capacity and break the gridlock, and I will prioritize federal transportation funding to make this happen. My opponent supports the administration's plan to privatize our infrastructure. She wants to sell our highways to Saudi investors, who will convert them to toll roads. How will that work out for our national security?
Education
- We have the best schools in Metro Atlanta. My opponent wants to eliminate the Department of Education. This would result in the loss of $X million dollars for our schools. So our children will either go to worse schools, or we will have to raise our property taxes just to keep our schools at the same level.
---
Interestingly, the starvation of schools and roads are what finally drove the Republican legislature in Kansas to override Brownback's veto of a tax increase.
Come on, Democrats. This is not that hard.
13
But don't you think you & your neighbors were aware of the freight being given this election as a referendum on Trump? That had to matter at least as much, if not more, than the issues you describe. Or are the raft of journalists covering the race wrong? You're there on the ground.
"But don't you think you & your neighbors were aware of the freight being given this election as a referendum on Trump?"
I see your point. That could have had some effect. (This is the district north of me - I could not vote in this election.)
Personally, I would not have cared about what the rest of the country and the national media thinks. I would have voted my convictions for a U.S. Congressional Representative on the issues.
I think GA-6 voters are much more Chamber of Commerce Republicans (as opposed to social conservatives, etc.) Hence the much higher support for Romney in 2012 than Trump in 2016. IIRC, GA-6 voted for Rubio in the 2016 primary.
Although this district did barely vote for Trump in 2016, two traditionally red suburban Atlanta Counties (Cobb and Gwinnett) voted for Clinton (yet still voted for local and state Republicans as usual). Metro Atlanta (like most U.S. cities) is not Trump Country. Additionally, the suburbs have been turning more and more purple each year. The City of Atlanta is deep blue.
I see your point. That could have had some effect. (This is the district north of me - I could not vote in this election.)
Personally, I would not have cared about what the rest of the country and the national media thinks. I would have voted my convictions for a U.S. Congressional Representative on the issues.
I think GA-6 voters are much more Chamber of Commerce Republicans (as opposed to social conservatives, etc.) Hence the much higher support for Romney in 2012 than Trump in 2016. IIRC, GA-6 voted for Rubio in the 2016 primary.
Although this district did barely vote for Trump in 2016, two traditionally red suburban Atlanta Counties (Cobb and Gwinnett) voted for Clinton (yet still voted for local and state Republicans as usual). Metro Atlanta (like most U.S. cities) is not Trump Country. Additionally, the suburbs have been turning more and more purple each year. The City of Atlanta is deep blue.
1
In both the Georgia and South Carolina elections yesterday, the Republican margin of victory narrowed by 18 percentage points. In the 2016 House elections, 55 Republican seats were won by margins less than that. The Democrats need to pick up 24 seats in 2018 to take back the House. No reason to be demoralized-- keep the pressure on, it's working.
8
Why is it so hard to appeal to common sense?
Instead of shying away from strong anti-Trump messaging, Mr. Ossoff chose to take a timid approach. Even as the republicans were scoring big points by associating the Democratic candidate with Ms. Pelosi.
A flow-chart that ties congressional republicans to the President through Russia and ethic questions can't be too difficult for independent voters to see.
Instead of shying away from strong anti-Trump messaging, Mr. Ossoff chose to take a timid approach. Even as the republicans were scoring big points by associating the Democratic candidate with Ms. Pelosi.
A flow-chart that ties congressional republicans to the President through Russia and ethic questions can't be too difficult for independent voters to see.
5
If there was anything behind all those Russia-Trump claims, it would have been leaked to the press, by now. Why do you think your representatives are all talking about obstruction, or the secrecy behind the health care bill? Even they realize "that dog don't hunt".
For now, Republicans keep a supposed strong hold. The margin by which Ms. Handel won was a narrow one. Far narrower than Mr. Trump's margin only last November 2016. The question now is will Democrats and those to the left of center whine and moan after every single down ticket loss, or pull up their socks and move forward. There's no time for whining. It's time to keep on keeping on. Dems losing by this small a margin 9 months after a newly minted Republican president is good momentum. Dems are not realistic to think they are just going to go out and handily start winning down ticket elections, right now. Keep up the momentum--2018 is not far off.
5
@Meg,
Trump won that district by 1.5%. Handel won, last night, by 3.8%.
If your viewpoint is what happened last night versus how Trump did in November, I believe you might want to think that through a little further.
Trump won that district by 1.5%. Handel won, last night, by 3.8%.
If your viewpoint is what happened last night versus how Trump did in November, I believe you might want to think that through a little further.
Knit-picking is alive and well. Twenty Eighteen is around the corner.
Mr. Price won with a 23-point margin in 2016. It doesn't get much redder than that. Yet Ms. Handel won with a 4-point margin in 2017 against a 30-year old political novice. That is not a surprisingly easy victory for her; it is instead what amounts to a repudiation of the Republican agenda. Democrats, do not be discouraged; the numbers here speak for themselves.
5
If Ossoff and his support hadn't spent more on this election than ANY House candidate, EVER ($31.4M, or $8M MORE than Handel and her supporters), and if every major media outlet in the nation hadn't predicted an Ossoff victory, and that the election was a referendum on Trump, your argument might carry a little weight.
1
Everywhere I look in the US I see a divided nation, and a social situation only made worse by the broken two-party system which was stymied governmental innovation for hundreds of years.
To break the blockade of innovation, we need to abolish both current parties and strike a constitutional reform process.
And I will never again vote for a candidate that does not have a serious, actionable plan for governmental reform and taking money out of politics.
To break the blockade of innovation, we need to abolish both current parties and strike a constitutional reform process.
And I will never again vote for a candidate that does not have a serious, actionable plan for governmental reform and taking money out of politics.
3
What's most worrying to me is that the actual number of votes cast was lower than what the candidates of both parties received in this same district in November 2016. If the most resources ever allocated to a house race cannot increase voter turnout, then there is much more pf a blow to 2018 prospects. Hopefully, the rate of vote participation in this district, which is one of the most educated in the country, is already high enough that this is not a harbinger for turnout in the next midterms.
2
Ossoff did amazingly well, considering this is a deep, deep red GOP stronghold. And, it was "51.9 percent of the vote to Mr. Ossoff’s 48.1 percent" where Trump and her GOP predecessors won by 20, 25+ points. 2018 is going to be very interesting. To steal/tweak a riff from Winston Churchill. This is not the end but it is the beginning of the end.
2
Mary,
Trump won that district by 1.5%, in November. If you want to make the comparison to Price's margin, you're on to something. If you want to compare Handel's margin to Trump's, you're going in the wrong direction.
BTW, what Churchill actually said was, "This is not the end; it is not even the beginning of the end; but it may be the end of the beginning." He also famously stated that, "To be young, and to not be Liberal, is to be born without a heart, but to have grown older, and not be Conservative, is to have been born without a brain."
Trump won that district by 1.5%, in November. If you want to make the comparison to Price's margin, you're on to something. If you want to compare Handel's margin to Trump's, you're going in the wrong direction.
BTW, what Churchill actually said was, "This is not the end; it is not even the beginning of the end; but it may be the end of the beginning." He also famously stated that, "To be young, and to not be Liberal, is to be born without a heart, but to have grown older, and not be Conservative, is to have been born without a brain."
1
Big deal. So the Democrats lost an election in an affluent southern suburb.
Hardly a "referendum on tRumpism or tRump."
It would be like saying a Democratic win in Portland, Seattle, or San Francisco should be considered a referendum on "Bernie-ism." Hardly.
Hardly a "referendum on tRumpism or tRump."
It would be like saying a Democratic win in Portland, Seattle, or San Francisco should be considered a referendum on "Bernie-ism." Hardly.
1
Except that's not how journalists portrayed this race for weeks.
1
Wonder how many more elections the Democrats will need to lose before they try Progressive-ism? I guess that last 4 nationals, and countless locals and specials aren't enough. Have a look at the maps, governors, state houses, and so on since 2008. I think call it a catastrophe would be a disservice to the word catastrophe because it's much worse. Yet, they continually interpret every other cause in the universe (Clinton's defeat was a fine example of this displacement, another defeat in a VERY long series, blamed on circumstances particular to this election) besides their tepid agenda to help the middle and working classes of the country.
Wake up and look in the mirror. Stand for something. Be proud, and loud, in your support. Quit chasing Romney voters. People will once again see that you are real, and might consider voting for you.
I think Sanders is a pretty fine example.
Wake up and look in the mirror. Stand for something. Be proud, and loud, in your support. Quit chasing Romney voters. People will once again see that you are real, and might consider voting for you.
I think Sanders is a pretty fine example.
4
Romney won 47% of the vote in 2012. If the Democrats take your advice and not go after those voters, they're going to remain out of power.
Close but not surprising. While she balked at the Democrats money in opposition to her it actually evidences grass root opposition to the fat Republican money she had. The Democratic Party needs to have a message beyond Hillary's "He's a bad man and I'm a woman" as Michael Bloomberg said. It can't be "Republicans bad, Democrats good."
Now let's get real every day people. The Constitutional emoluments suits are possibly most the important news there is moving forward. Trump is selling out the nation and shaping diplomacy influenced by who invests in his and his families businesses before, during and since the election. China visited and his daughter federal employee Ivanka got a huge Chines deal for her products in the same breath. Kushner went to China to pitch his 150 million $ real estate deal in Jersey City which comes with "citizenship and White House access". He brokered the Saudi 430 billion weapons sale. What did he get? What did Trump companies get. Russia, China, Saudi Arabia and others are likely backdoor investors in Trump companies. We need to know who had influence over him. It's a Constitutional Law The Emoluments law. Wake up in outrage.
All his and family investors must be identified. Foreign off shore companies, LLCs, oligarchs everything. The future of our country and the world is at stake. Meanwhile we see him hiring powerhouse lawyers!
Now let's get real every day people. The Constitutional emoluments suits are possibly most the important news there is moving forward. Trump is selling out the nation and shaping diplomacy influenced by who invests in his and his families businesses before, during and since the election. China visited and his daughter federal employee Ivanka got a huge Chines deal for her products in the same breath. Kushner went to China to pitch his 150 million $ real estate deal in Jersey City which comes with "citizenship and White House access". He brokered the Saudi 430 billion weapons sale. What did he get? What did Trump companies get. Russia, China, Saudi Arabia and others are likely backdoor investors in Trump companies. We need to know who had influence over him. It's a Constitutional Law The Emoluments law. Wake up in outrage.
All his and family investors must be identified. Foreign off shore companies, LLCs, oligarchs everything. The future of our country and the world is at stake. Meanwhile we see him hiring powerhouse lawyers!
1
And his lawyers vicious guys and are pure money in the way of truth. Trumps wealth will bolster his corrupt self motivated choices. The Democratic Party better lessen its overly socialist efforts and get with humanity in perspective. Yes any illegal convicted of a felony should never be a citizen.
1
Given the slovenly demeanor of politics since 9/11, and further widening of the political divide, at what point will combat pay be appropriate?
While a candidate or once an elected official?
While a candidate or once an elected official?
2
The Democrats need a message that is forward thinking, not the I Hate Trump platform. Aside from despising Trump, when I think of what Democrats stand for it is all about being politically correct.
You do not have to like Bernie Sanders or agree with everything he has to say, but he energized the people that the Democrats need to get to vote.
You do not have to like Bernie Sanders or agree with everything he has to say, but he energized the people that the Democrats need to get to vote.
7
Well said! I'm reminded of Obama and his message of hope. Democrats need to campaign on what they have achieved! Medicare, Social Security, etc., and for the future, end the endless wars so we can afford to rebuild our infrastructure and send the kids who need help with college to college for free! This should get people's attention! Also...must stop with any negative campaign the nation is tired of it.
This is proof that Dems have a big big problem. Liberals can't just complain about Trump all the time. The fact is, he has great ideas, and America overwhelmingly supports either him and/or Republicans.
I know liberals have this delusion that they actually won the election, but we have a little something called the Constitution, the premise of which is to prevent the tyranny of majority rule where a couple populous states would be able to dictate how the rest of the country runs.
The founders were against direct democracy. In Federalist No. 10, James Madison wrote, “Measures are too often decided, not according to the rules of justice and the rights of the minor party, but by the superior force of an interested and overbearing majority.”
America overwhelmingly supports Trump and Republicans, as evidenced by his 304-227 landslide victory, and Republican control of the House, Senate, Supreme Court, majority of governorship.
The first step to winning again is recognizing that you are losing, badly. Bashing Trump and his supporters isn't going to help. You actually need a message.
I know liberals have this delusion that they actually won the election, but we have a little something called the Constitution, the premise of which is to prevent the tyranny of majority rule where a couple populous states would be able to dictate how the rest of the country runs.
The founders were against direct democracy. In Federalist No. 10, James Madison wrote, “Measures are too often decided, not according to the rules of justice and the rights of the minor party, but by the superior force of an interested and overbearing majority.”
America overwhelmingly supports Trump and Republicans, as evidenced by his 304-227 landslide victory, and Republican control of the House, Senate, Supreme Court, majority of governorship.
The first step to winning again is recognizing that you are losing, badly. Bashing Trump and his supporters isn't going to help. You actually need a message.
4
Would those great ideas include removing access to preventative healthcare for 24 million Americans in order to give massive tax cuts to the rich? Sending more troops to Afghanistan? Defunding the EPA and ignoring climate change? Building a giant wall on the border in the hope that illegals don't have access to ladders or spades to dig tunnels? Randomly firing tomahawks at Syria and shooting down planes without any strategic goals in place? Running the country for the benefit of his private business empire? Insulting the mayors of cities that experience terrorist attacks? Relaxing restrictions on gun ownership?
Oh for pete's sake! Handel wins an election she SHOULD HAVE WON in an overwhelmingly Republican district, and people are claiming it's a "referendum on Trump" and the end of the world for the Democrats. Yeah, dudes, right.
4
The DNC needs to study Labour to learn the winning ideology/platform that appeals to voters.
No amount of money is going to win elections when you stand for nothing, operate on oligarch money and can't distinguish yourself from the GOP on foreign policy.
No amount of money is going to win elections when you stand for nothing, operate on oligarch money and can't distinguish yourself from the GOP on foreign policy.
3
Attacking companies that pay the wages of union workers is not a winning strategy. Neither is pushing NAFTA and TPP which are despised by union members. Neither is being virulently anti-gun and anti-religious.
The further left Democrats move, the more union votes they'll lose.
The further left Democrats move, the more union votes they'll lose.
1
Anger and stupidity are a poor platform to run on.
They say insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results. The only thing the democratic party has been able to demonstrate is their hate for our democratically elected president. Once they focus on their own values, the American public, and move back to the center, they will make progress. Until then, no cigar.
All they have been able to do so far is push people who were in the middle right to the far right.
They say insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results. The only thing the democratic party has been able to demonstrate is their hate for our democratically elected president. Once they focus on their own values, the American public, and move back to the center, they will make progress. Until then, no cigar.
All they have been able to do so far is push people who were in the middle right to the far right.
3
Dems made it close, but lost. They cannot win nor be effective unless they have total power, which they can't get. Dems better hope that this health care bill is so bad and hurts so many people that they will turn back to the Dems. For now words, arguments and complaints ain't working so good!!!
1
Let's not forget that this district voted for Tom Price - an arch right wing conservative - repeatedly with Price receiving 75%- 99% of the vote, often unopposed, and with Democrat opponents losing miserably. That Karen Handel won this race with as few percentage points as she did could very well be seen as a fledgling win for Democrats.....
The noose is tightening - don't let up!
The noose is tightening - don't let up!
5
To those navel gazers who keep beating up the Democrat party as being too Anti Trump and not enough about Healthcare, Fairness et al...
You have a point to which I wholeheartedly agree: We Dems need to have a concise, clear message about what we stand FOR rather than AGAINST. And I think that's why Ossoff swung this district as much as he did--impressive!! But let's face it, those 52 percent who voted for Handel have watched the cruel circus show in DC now for five months, and they know EXACTLY what they want: more tax cuts for the wealthy, more Christian control of the government, and more white male supremacy...even when it comes at the cost of our democracy, national assets, health of our fellow citizens, environmental protections, and reputation. It's short-term, selfish thinking.
So yes, let's crank out the positive messages for the Dem party, but we should all read George Lakoff to understand frames and mental models...and then the psychology of doubling down on bad choices. Our best bet is to focus on getting out the vote within our own party rather than trying to re-frame anything for old, white Christian males and females who watch Fox. For all of us marching in the streets for women's rights, black lives matter, immigrant rights, religious freedom, LBTQ rights, we should be knocking on our neighbors' doors to get them registered to vote and drive them to the polls if necessary. THAT is how we will have any hope for 2018 and 2020.
You have a point to which I wholeheartedly agree: We Dems need to have a concise, clear message about what we stand FOR rather than AGAINST. And I think that's why Ossoff swung this district as much as he did--impressive!! But let's face it, those 52 percent who voted for Handel have watched the cruel circus show in DC now for five months, and they know EXACTLY what they want: more tax cuts for the wealthy, more Christian control of the government, and more white male supremacy...even when it comes at the cost of our democracy, national assets, health of our fellow citizens, environmental protections, and reputation. It's short-term, selfish thinking.
So yes, let's crank out the positive messages for the Dem party, but we should all read George Lakoff to understand frames and mental models...and then the psychology of doubling down on bad choices. Our best bet is to focus on getting out the vote within our own party rather than trying to re-frame anything for old, white Christian males and females who watch Fox. For all of us marching in the streets for women's rights, black lives matter, immigrant rights, religious freedom, LBTQ rights, we should be knocking on our neighbors' doors to get them registered to vote and drive them to the polls if necessary. THAT is how we will have any hope for 2018 and 2020.
This was really a no-win situation for Ossoff. He played is safe, not advocating for any real policies, and just hoped the anti-Trump sentiment would be enough. But what other choice did he have? Tell everyone that he would protect the ACA, women's rights and the environment? To coin a phase, "Yea pal, you and what Democratic majority?!" His one extra Democratic vote in the House would have made no difference. It won't be until 2018 that there is the potential for a wave that will wash out the GOP. The Dems have until then to craft a pro-something message, not just an anti-Trump one.
2
The commenters are all on point. The Dems have severe problems—no messaging abilities, no memorable policies.
When I think back to the Democratic primaries less than a year ago, I remember clearly what the most popular politician in the country—Bernie Sanders—stood for, but I recall very little of the endless technical droning responses of HRC. Just that she would fight for me, would fight fight fight, for the status quo, I guess. Which, admittedly, is better than this mess we're in now, but is not inspiring or memorable for those dying for change and action.
I was surprised the Dems never reached out to Progressives. On social media lately, I mentioned Wolf Pack and Justice Democrats, and an Indivisible admin blocked me. On another site about Being Jewish In A Trump Administration, when I said Bernie is currently the most popular politician in the country, the members blamed Bernie for HRC's loss, said he was trying to destroy the Democratic party from within, that he isn't a Democrat, and said Bernie made it easy for Russia to influence the election. Responsible for Russian hacking now?
There is hate in the Democratic establishment for the left. They simply are angry and very confused, and cannot stop taking slightly less corporate money than the Republicans—which essentially means they're paid to lose. This is going to be a long turf battle that may not end until the current members on the Hill retire and we see generational change.
When I think back to the Democratic primaries less than a year ago, I remember clearly what the most popular politician in the country—Bernie Sanders—stood for, but I recall very little of the endless technical droning responses of HRC. Just that she would fight for me, would fight fight fight, for the status quo, I guess. Which, admittedly, is better than this mess we're in now, but is not inspiring or memorable for those dying for change and action.
I was surprised the Dems never reached out to Progressives. On social media lately, I mentioned Wolf Pack and Justice Democrats, and an Indivisible admin blocked me. On another site about Being Jewish In A Trump Administration, when I said Bernie is currently the most popular politician in the country, the members blamed Bernie for HRC's loss, said he was trying to destroy the Democratic party from within, that he isn't a Democrat, and said Bernie made it easy for Russia to influence the election. Responsible for Russian hacking now?
There is hate in the Democratic establishment for the left. They simply are angry and very confused, and cannot stop taking slightly less corporate money than the Republicans—which essentially means they're paid to lose. This is going to be a long turf battle that may not end until the current members on the Hill retire and we see generational change.
1
I don't trust these electronic voting machines... It seems the Republicans ALWAYS eek out the victory ever since they were put in place.
1
I have family in the Deep South who are Republicans.
They never watch or read mainstream news like the NYT, only FOX.
So, what they know of Trump has been manufactured by the FOX news revisers.
I think this one of the reasons the GOP candidates are winning, even by a much smaller percentage.
I beg them to watch the mainstream network news or read the NYT, but they say it's all "fake news," except for FOX.
Where do we go from here?
They never watch or read mainstream news like the NYT, only FOX.
So, what they know of Trump has been manufactured by the FOX news revisers.
I think this one of the reasons the GOP candidates are winning, even by a much smaller percentage.
I beg them to watch the mainstream network news or read the NYT, but they say it's all "fake news," except for FOX.
Where do we go from here?
5
Dems need only ask prospective voters two things:
1 - how are more tax cuts for the very wealthy going to help you and your family?
2- how is privatized heath care going to help you and your family, epecially if you are in bad accident or get a bad disease?
In other words - what's in this for you ?
1 - how are more tax cuts for the very wealthy going to help you and your family?
2- how is privatized heath care going to help you and your family, epecially if you are in bad accident or get a bad disease?
In other words - what's in this for you ?
3
How is the ACA helping you when you can't afford the deductibles or the co-pays or you lose your doctor or your insurance choices sink to zero. This debate does not occur in a vacuum.
single payer healthcare system.
Where is the money coming from for a single payer healthcare system?
Haven't seen much in the reporting headlines that Handel is the first woman voted to Congress from Georgia.
6
The GOP is corrupt and unfit to govern. The democrats are politically inept losers. Rational Americans desperately need a rational alternative party capable of wining elections before this country goes down the drain.
1
This all fits into the same frame as the 2106 presidential election. How many scapegoats can the Democratic Party find before it simply has to admit that it has zero mojo. Maybe even negative mojo. Many more, no doubt, because the party does not even know that it has no mojo! Blame Bernie! Blame Comey! Blame Russia! Blame... fake Fox! Blame... uh, uh... Bob Dole!
Enter Tom Perez, to turn things around. Please.. Tom Perez does not even register as existing for anyone under 40, and for the rest he's just part of the wallpaper of Washington.
So the real question is, why is the Democratic Party so lame? Why? Because it holds a monopoly on the center-left of the political spectrum and they know it. Somehow immune from anti-trust, our political parties are fat, lazy and happy, because they can't lose! We're the losers!
So think about that, and the paradigm of ransom payment - to pay or not to pay? - the next time you find yourself telling someone that a vote for a third party is a throw-away vote or a vote for the other party.
Enter Tom Perez, to turn things around. Please.. Tom Perez does not even register as existing for anyone under 40, and for the rest he's just part of the wallpaper of Washington.
So the real question is, why is the Democratic Party so lame? Why? Because it holds a monopoly on the center-left of the political spectrum and they know it. Somehow immune from anti-trust, our political parties are fat, lazy and happy, because they can't lose! We're the losers!
So think about that, and the paradigm of ransom payment - to pay or not to pay? - the next time you find yourself telling someone that a vote for a third party is a throw-away vote or a vote for the other party.
1
America is like one big fentanyl (GOP) addict. The drug addiction is killing you, and your neighbors are trying to help you out. But you keep falling back to that deadly drug. What your country needs is an intervention, some tough love, where you're told either to get help, or you're on your own and likely to die if you keep it up.
You can't be helped if you're unwilling to help yourselves. You keep electing republicans, even though the republicans are killing you.
You can't be helped if you're unwilling to help yourselves. You keep electing republicans, even though the republicans are killing you.
3
We came so close....but lose again..... if we keep getting this "moral victories" with are leading to disaster.....
Maybe it was the big bad Russians again? Or maybe we (the right) have had enough of the anti-Christian, anti-safe borders, rewarding laziness, etc. etc., "progressive" nonsense of the past eight years?
3
The Democratic Party thinks it can win elections with Michael Bloomber's gun ban program. Good luck with that.
1
This story reeks of morally superior liberal condescension about people who live "in the Lululemon-and-loafers subdivisions of Dunwoody and Roswell" and "have the means to escape to the beach" on election day. And you ask why Democrats can't win elections?
4
My concern is that after 5 months of trump'schicanery, incompetence, lies, treason, you name it and with a candidate who is an obvious bigot and tool that anyone would remain loyal to the republicans. These results truly make me question the character of the American people, certainly those in Georgia. They beg to kneel to authoritarianism
2
This wasn't a vote in support of Trump.
It was a vote by the GOP in a Deep South state that is determined to keep their conservative (read racist, sexist, ethnocentric) society in place.
Trump will take credit.
But once again, he's blowing smoke.
It was a vote by the GOP in a Deep South state that is determined to keep their conservative (read racist, sexist, ethnocentric) society in place.
Trump will take credit.
But once again, he's blowing smoke.
2
Anti-Trump narratives didn't work in a state that was part of the confederacy?! Shocking!
The Jill Stein recount
Hamilton electors
Four special congressional elections
Score:
Trump 6
Resistance 0
Donald, are you tired of winning yet?
Hamilton electors
Four special congressional elections
Score:
Trump 6
Resistance 0
Donald, are you tired of winning yet?
3
we need to demand that Ossoff win the election because we came in second!!!
4
Jon Ossoff was as 'real" as combination concocted from the fictional Frankenstein monster and the Pinocchio puppet.
Our two main political parties:
One is an organized crime family, and the other is the gang that can't shoot straight. Sleep tight, America.
One is an organized crime family, and the other is the gang that can't shoot straight. Sleep tight, America.
The Dems are 0-4 in elections since they put up a candidate for POTUS who had no message, was a pathological liar and who had a very tarnished political history. This is not a setback, it is a loud and succinct notice being served to the violent party of 'inclusiveness '. We The People want lower taxes, smaller government, control of our borders and jobs!
When the light bulb finally flickers for the Libs, it will be too late.
When the light bulb finally flickers for the Libs, it will be too late.
3
DEMS clearly in the "Twilight Zone" and may never recover with their ridiculous Vile Rhetoric and embarrassing comments ref the current President of the USA..message to the Left..."Quit Whining!"
3
It was a pretty simple decision: vote for a local candidate and raise your middle finger at the outsiders.
People are tired of Scott Pelley saying if you are from the south you must be a racist, and Michael Moore and Pelosi demanding you vote anti-trump; local people want local representation and will vote for the local person.
Also, Karen Handel is the first female republican from the state of GA elected to the house, why is that not being praised as a win for women?
People are tired of Scott Pelley saying if you are from the south you must be a racist, and Michael Moore and Pelosi demanding you vote anti-trump; local people want local representation and will vote for the local person.
Also, Karen Handel is the first female republican from the state of GA elected to the house, why is that not being praised as a win for women?
4
Democrats are very slow learners. They just don't get that the rest of the country sees the hyperselfadulating elitist lefties in NY and California as an alien species with whom the rest of us have nothing in common. They also continue to run candidates that are unelectable, starting with the shrieking harridan Hildebeast, the most corrupt and morally bankrupt politician of the last hundred years, a woman with no platform, no message, and the only person on the planet who couldn't defeat Trump. Oh, except for Bernie, the guy who honeymooned in the USSR and never came back.
1
This is why Trump got elected in the first place...these Southerners and their conservative positions, even when it bites them in the backside. But the Democrats need to do more...And we need this change as soon as possible.
"He will win who knows
when to fight and when not
to fight." --Sun Tzu
or
"Give him enough rope
and he will hang himself."--Charlotte Bronte
when to fight and when not
to fight." --Sun Tzu
or
"Give him enough rope
and he will hang himself."--Charlotte Bronte
2
It's difficult to think of it as a referendum on Donald Trump. If it had been a more representative district where both Republicans and Democrats have won over the years it could have been. Since there are so few of those around I don't think one can draw any meaningful conclusions from the result.
4
Democrats are reckless and naïve if they think they are going to gain power merely by fielding this or that candidate, crossing their fingers, and hoping for the best, without doing the very hard work of educating voters and expanding and strengthening their base of support. That will take years. Republicans did not gain their hold on government overnight, and Democrats won't either. I have to give Republicans credit for the methodical progress they made over several decades, despite their toxic agenda. Even 19th Century Marxists knew they needed decades to lay their groundwork and then wait for the historically opportune moments. Whether Democrats choose to field left-wing or more centrist candidates, they need a better foundation than they currently have.
1
Democrats need a strong positive message and plan for the country. I'm a democrat and even I have no clue what my party's message is today other than "we're anti-Trump." As much as I dislike the current President, he's not what our party should be focusing on message wise. Democrats need to offer an alternative plan to move our country forward economically and socially -- a plan for the future. Until that happens, we will continue to lose elections.
7
Is a simple message what we, Dems, really need? I've listened to Jon Ossoff recently and he seemed rather impressive to me. From listening to th voter's concerns and offering "alternative" fixes to what Washington is offering, if anything. No, I don't think we should be shrinking our standards to the lowest common denominator. Even in red country!
Democrats need to look at what actually works to grab a voter's attention and turn that attention into a vote.
While I applaud Ossoff's effort and how well he did, he still didn't win. I do believe his showing bodes well for the future, but there's still a lot work to do.
While I applaud Ossoff's effort and how well he did, he still didn't win. I do believe his showing bodes well for the future, but there's still a lot work to do.
Comparing totals in 6th district with the November tallies indicates
Ossoff and Stooksbury received almost the same number of votes,
little more than 124K. Handel received more than 64K fewer votes than
Price. Ossoff spent incomparably more money than Stooksbury and
got the same tally.
That is quite remarkable.
Is it not fair to conclude he managed to convince hardly any anti trump republican voters that voting for Handel was an expression of tacit support for trump? What type of strategy did he use to try and accomplish that?
What I cannot yet locate is how many votes Clinton received in this
district. Data only seems available per county, not district. Can
any commenter provide a link that gives presidential tallies
broken down by congressional district???
Ossoff and Stooksbury received almost the same number of votes,
little more than 124K. Handel received more than 64K fewer votes than
Price. Ossoff spent incomparably more money than Stooksbury and
got the same tally.
That is quite remarkable.
Is it not fair to conclude he managed to convince hardly any anti trump republican voters that voting for Handel was an expression of tacit support for trump? What type of strategy did he use to try and accomplish that?
What I cannot yet locate is how many votes Clinton received in this
district. Data only seems available per county, not district. Can
any commenter provide a link that gives presidential tallies
broken down by congressional district???
1
I believe the democratic party would benefit from promoting individuals within their party who are from more moderate states. There's nothing wrong with California or New York; however, the last year has taught us many Americans don't feel like they can relate to people from those areas. Having some of the more far left people be the ones doing interviews gives off a false message that leads some voters to think the average democrat is further left than they actually are. A more moderate member gaining prominence would help to remedy some of that concern. In MS we had an election a few years ago where a democratic who had been in office for almost two decades lost their seat. They lost it not because of anything he did, but because his opponent did a good job of tying him to the far left members like Pelosi. At this point even some republicans find Trump to be less than great. If the DNC can run moderate candidates in 2018 they will take back the house. Give the people an option that isn't Trump-like republicans but also isn't far left that they feel they are compromising their beliefs.
Democrats betting that raising and spending big money is the key to winning elections rather than a clear message, dynamic new leadership and standing for something other than 'not Trump.' The Party needs new leadership in House and Senate and a clear break from the Clinton Machine that has led the party to ruin.
10
The Democratic money machine is failing to produce winners. As much as Democrats don't want to hear it, when they have majorities they have to pass legislation that's great and roll it out competently. Today's public isn't going to tolerate incompetence anymore.
The ACA as much as many of us think it's a huge improvement to the old system and anything the Republicans might roll out still is not working very well, was rolled out poorly and people like myself continue to be spammed by insurance brokers from a visit to a web site 4 years ago.
If you're going to be the party of great government services you better produce it when you have a majority. With all the defense of the ACA, the democrats big legislative win when they had a majority, isn't very good despite the fact it may be better than the alternative. That doesn't cut it anymore. Neither do unending wars that create huge refugee populations and no tangible results.
Incompetence makes the Republican argument for cutting even though they are doing harm. Democrats have to have a plan and implement it when they again have majorities. They continue to play into Republican hands. There is a reason SS and Medicare are almost untouchable. They work.
The ACA as much as many of us think it's a huge improvement to the old system and anything the Republicans might roll out still is not working very well, was rolled out poorly and people like myself continue to be spammed by insurance brokers from a visit to a web site 4 years ago.
If you're going to be the party of great government services you better produce it when you have a majority. With all the defense of the ACA, the democrats big legislative win when they had a majority, isn't very good despite the fact it may be better than the alternative. That doesn't cut it anymore. Neither do unending wars that create huge refugee populations and no tangible results.
Incompetence makes the Republican argument for cutting even though they are doing harm. Democrats have to have a plan and implement it when they again have majorities. They continue to play into Republican hands. There is a reason SS and Medicare are almost untouchable. They work.
4
I'll repeat the sentiment that most people are expressing here. Democrats cannot win unless they stand for something other than middle-of-the-road policies that impress no one and help no one. Sen. Sanders is currently the most popular Democrat among GOP voters. What does that tell you?
As a reminder, Democrats do not need the South and will never win it. Democrats need the Rust Belt working class, including whites, who fueled both Obama's and Trump's wins—much of which Sen. Sanders carried in the primaries.
These people are not partisan. They want policies that will HELP them. This is not about "turning left." It's about turning populist.
While Democrats wring their hands regarding the purity of their abortion positions (a losing issue in many parts of the country), Sen. Sanders and the candidates he has supported are true populists.
The Times described Mr. Ossoff as "non-ideological" because of his refusal to support Medicare for all. How exactly is this non-ideological? It is very much ideological, and it's on the losing side of ideology.
As a reminder, Democrats do not need the South and will never win it. Democrats need the Rust Belt working class, including whites, who fueled both Obama's and Trump's wins—much of which Sen. Sanders carried in the primaries.
These people are not partisan. They want policies that will HELP them. This is not about "turning left." It's about turning populist.
While Democrats wring their hands regarding the purity of their abortion positions (a losing issue in many parts of the country), Sen. Sanders and the candidates he has supported are true populists.
The Times described Mr. Ossoff as "non-ideological" because of his refusal to support Medicare for all. How exactly is this non-ideological? It is very much ideological, and it's on the losing side of ideology.
4
From comments I have seen on social media, the vast majority of die-hard Trump supporters think they will be immune to any cuts to their Medicaid, food stamps, health insurance etc, because they see themselves as "deserving" (compared to Mexicans, African-Americans and the other "undeserving" poor Trump went after during his campaign). They genuinely believe that the Republicans will discriminate in their favor, instead of imposing blanket cuts to these programs/entitlements. And so, until they begin to actually suffer the consequences of issues like Obamacare repeal, they will continue to vote for Republican candidates.
5
Is it possible for the Democratic party to move away from identity politics? Is it possible for the party to stop quantifying all Trump supporters as rubes, racists, misogynists and xenophobes? Instead of hammering people for their shortcomings offer them something positive that will actually effect their lives and make them better. Instead of attacking Trump for repealing Obamacare actually put forth the tweaks that it insists will shore up a policy that is obviously failing. What will the party offer as their tax reform package. Is all of this a secret? Offer alternative programs that are all inclusive and run candidates who can actually articulate them in a way that resonates with the voters - all voters not just a select few.
7
Democratic Party foes not know how to win elections. They do no have any message to attract voters. They do not have organizations in south, west, Midwest and actually outside west cost and northeast cost. They do not have any significant big donor. Their communication skills is worst. The Democratic party will exist minimally in American politics. America is now a country of one party rule and it will be so for long time.
2
The whole country knew it was a referendum on trump. Yet Ossoff barely mentioned him. And how could Democrats pour $25 million into a race and not get the guy an apartment in the district? This was winnable, but they have to be a lot smarter than this to fight trump.
2
The whole country did *not* feel it was a referendum on Trump. Maybe so for some on the left and the MSM, which seemed determined to run with this narrative, despite the lack of any statistical or polling data to support this hypothesis.
If it wasn't why would the national party pour so much money into a seat that was solidly red for 40 years? And they could have taken it if they had run a better campaign. It was still closer than it should have been for one reason: trump.
1
In that part of the country the Democrats are seen as the party of gay marriage, abortion and gun control because they always allow their opponents to define the debate. Those are simple concepts that when continuously hammered home by constant negative advertising become defining characteristics. Mean and negative wins in American politics. Keep it simple because by and large Americans are simple people.
Working class voters are tired of a system that doesn't provide noticeable gains for them. For all of the positives that 42 and 44 were able to accomplish wages stayed stagnant and right wing media set the tone of debate aided by main stream media that rebroadcast their constant negativity as if it were news.
Most want dramatic change. A liar sold them a bill of goods last November. The tone deaf leaders of the Democratic Party had the agent of change who would have buried Trump, but opted to push someone else. You reap what you sew. A simple message is what you need. Republicans have proven it need not even be true.
Working class voters are tired of a system that doesn't provide noticeable gains for them. For all of the positives that 42 and 44 were able to accomplish wages stayed stagnant and right wing media set the tone of debate aided by main stream media that rebroadcast their constant negativity as if it were news.
Most want dramatic change. A liar sold them a bill of goods last November. The tone deaf leaders of the Democratic Party had the agent of change who would have buried Trump, but opted to push someone else. You reap what you sew. A simple message is what you need. Republicans have proven it need not even be true.
1
Democrats said Georgia was a referendum on Trump. They’re right – Trump won
Ever since Donald Trump won the presidency, liberals have comforted themselves by saying it was all a mistake. They assume he is foolish, self-indulgent, and incompetent.
Yet this consistently underestimated president just went four-for-four in special elections.
If the elite media’s portrait of Donald Trump as an unpopular president was accurate, surely the Democrats could have won at least one seat.
But no, Kansas, Montana, South Carolina, Georgia – not once were the Democrats able to turn a GOP seat blue.
Karen Handel's victory in Georgia’s 6th District Tuesday night was the most visible, and the most unpredictable of them all.
Democrats poured over $30 million into their chosen champion, Jon Ossoff.
But Ossoff was flawed. He didn’t live in the district. He raised virtually all of his money from Hollywood and other far-left radicals who lived outside the district. And instead of addressing these issues, he chose to blandly avoid them.
Ever since Donald Trump won the presidency, liberals have comforted themselves by saying it was all a mistake. They assume he is foolish, self-indulgent, and incompetent.
Yet this consistently underestimated president just went four-for-four in special elections.
If the elite media’s portrait of Donald Trump as an unpopular president was accurate, surely the Democrats could have won at least one seat.
But no, Kansas, Montana, South Carolina, Georgia – not once were the Democrats able to turn a GOP seat blue.
Karen Handel's victory in Georgia’s 6th District Tuesday night was the most visible, and the most unpredictable of them all.
Democrats poured over $30 million into their chosen champion, Jon Ossoff.
But Ossoff was flawed. He didn’t live in the district. He raised virtually all of his money from Hollywood and other far-left radicals who lived outside the district. And instead of addressing these issues, he chose to blandly avoid them.
5
For the last year or so, Dems have made fun of Republicans, and especially Trump Republicans, for their dismissal of "experts", and R emphasis on enthusiasm
The Experts said to the dems, don't put a lot of effort into MT or GA, we aren't gonna win those seats
The Dems, especially Liberal Dems, said, what do the experts know, we can overcome this with enthusiasm
The Experts said to the dems, don't put a lot of effort into MT or GA, we aren't gonna win those seats
The Dems, especially Liberal Dems, said, what do the experts know, we can overcome this with enthusiasm
2
Georgia voters must all be millionaires because republicans aren't going to deliver anything but suffering to anyone worth less. She'll get in there and cut programs and regulations meant to hold the line on corruption and safety and self promote the wool over Georgia's eyes. Republicans would be an endangered species by now if it weren't for low information and basically dishonest people willing to siphon of their employees and ignore the shame. Wait till that still born Health Care bill republicans want to sneak by America, maybe that will shock conservatives into reality.
1
Democrats spent more on this election than any other House election in US history. Desperation for a win only proved more deeply that Democrats are extremely out of touch with mainstream America.
But at least Democrats -- mostly Californians -- gave a ton of money to GOP-controlled Georgia while reminding us that America stands with our president and enjoys helping prove that Democrats are still losers.
But at least Democrats -- mostly Californians -- gave a ton of money to GOP-controlled Georgia while reminding us that America stands with our president and enjoys helping prove that Democrats are still losers.
5
Who in their RIGHT mind would actually think that th typical red-state voter's values and moral character could be altered after only a few months? Is Trump's first months in office any different from what he displayed in his campaign less than a year ago? We here in *facts and stats land* need to realize that our mindsets are far removed from others who live and think within their own homegrown reality. When red-staters go into a voting booth they feel empowered to display their way of thinking at us!
1
Frankly, I'm mighty tired of always watching Democrats bring a knife to a gun fight. The Republicans fight loud and dirty. This is not the time to take the quiet and refined moral high ground. Too much is at stake.
2
Although it has already been said and implied in these comments here I go again. After the "surprise" defeat of the Clintons last year and the retention of the Senate by the GOP what do the House Dems do? They retain the same old triumvirate of Pelosi, Hoyer and Clyburn in leadership. It was like nothing had happened with the election of Trump. Just business as usual although it is now abundantly clear that their ability to raise"progressive" money and throw it down various ratholes is not working out. We need a competent Democrat party!
1
Keep your chins up Dems! It is not a defeat to run a GOP candidate this close in a staunchly Red district. It should have been a gimme for the GOP, along with the special elections in Kansas, Montana, and South Carolina. Trump can crow, but these results will have a lot of GOP members of Congress looking nervously over their shoulders.
3
Presuming that they have the guts to do it, the Democratic party leadership must resign immediately, and be replaced by fresh blood. Perez and Pelosi, I'm looking at you two fools - and Ellison has to go along with you, simply for being ineffectual.
3
Yeah! Lets see if Putin is available.
When will the democrats learn that money can't buy votes?
4
The only thing I see here is playing on the people's emotions. That comment about "A democrat shot at a Republican, if you vote Democrat , you let them win" Eerily the same logic about dropping the atomic bomb. That justification still will never make it right to have done so.
Ridiculous press overkill, including the pre-election coverage. These were safe seats to be slurped up by White Suburban Republicanism, which is why they were vacated. Yes, absolutely, the Dems need new slogans and strategies; however, D Trump is still their ticket to winning the country. Watch for the coming Tweetstorms in which Bloviator, imitating Putin, claims the People Love Their Leader and this Election Proves It.
3
Ossoff did not even live in the District. had no Southern accent and ran a snowflake campaign. carpetbagger comes to mind. he should have really been aggressive. a lost chance to make a real statement for Democratic values.
The democrats can't even buy an election.
5
So, put another way... The democrat/socialist/elitists were unable to buy another election to perpetuate a corrupt parties agenda.
3
There is so much to unpack in this election and this reporting. Some highlights (or lowlights):
1) Out-of-district money can't buy Georgians of the 6th Congressional District. This paper tried to put a dress on that pig by characterizing Ossoff's money as from "small contributions" and Handel's as coming from a "super PAC." Sorry, but there was no comparison regarding who was funded by people outside the district and voters of the 6th didn't like that.
2) This election was not a referendum on Donald, good or bad. Ms Handel pointedly avoided him. Maybe not all politics are local, but this election surely was. Ossoff felt like a Bernie bro randomly picked for his looks and youth and definitely not his experience or knowledge or relationship to people of the district.
3) Your reporting shows your editorial bias. Aside from the way the money was reported, you noted the "great passion" of Ossoff's supporters and characterized Handel's supporters as angry people with big dogs and 'get off my lawn' signs in all caps and multiple exclamation points.
1) Out-of-district money can't buy Georgians of the 6th Congressional District. This paper tried to put a dress on that pig by characterizing Ossoff's money as from "small contributions" and Handel's as coming from a "super PAC." Sorry, but there was no comparison regarding who was funded by people outside the district and voters of the 6th didn't like that.
2) This election was not a referendum on Donald, good or bad. Ms Handel pointedly avoided him. Maybe not all politics are local, but this election surely was. Ossoff felt like a Bernie bro randomly picked for his looks and youth and definitely not his experience or knowledge or relationship to people of the district.
3) Your reporting shows your editorial bias. Aside from the way the money was reported, you noted the "great passion" of Ossoff's supporters and characterized Handel's supporters as angry people with big dogs and 'get off my lawn' signs in all caps and multiple exclamation points.
4
It is time the Liberals take off their too friendly nice image and play dirty. You won't win any election with only raising your fingers. "If they go low, you go high?" Wrong! If they go low, you go lower! Get real and do something!
2
Time for Warren, Schumer and a few others to step aside.. People are sick and tired of their crying
4
Where are Georgia Democratic voters who didn't vote? I am sick to see this loss but at least I don;t live there. How will you bear it? You none voters let all of us down.
2
What a disappointing outcome for the NYT's , WAPO, CNN and MSNBC. You were all ready to use the victory of Ossoff to trumpet the coming collapse of Trump.
As an independent, I want candidates who are paying attention to what Bernie Sanders has been saying, not the MSM and elites of the DNC. Stop letting your hatred of President Trump drive your candidate selection and the platform you are running on.
As an independent, I want candidates who are paying attention to what Bernie Sanders has been saying, not the MSM and elites of the DNC. Stop letting your hatred of President Trump drive your candidate selection and the platform you are running on.
6
One week after a mass shooting the "independent" socialist democrat defacto leader of the progressive left told his followers to resist in any way they can....
Such loaded talk of resistance and revolution while for decades ignoring Wall Street outsourcing jobs, and caring more about social benefits for undocumented while veterans died waiting in line for Health care and housing.....and running someone who looked good but didn't live in the district with no explanation for how the Dems could provide every good and every service but only a small percent of wealthy would pay for it all is the danger to us all and the democrat party in the short term.
Such loaded talk of resistance and revolution while for decades ignoring Wall Street outsourcing jobs, and caring more about social benefits for undocumented while veterans died waiting in line for Health care and housing.....and running someone who looked good but didn't live in the district with no explanation for how the Dems could provide every good and every service but only a small percent of wealthy would pay for it all is the danger to us all and the democrat party in the short term.
3
It goes FAR farther than that. Any idiot can go to the interview Sanders did on the Rachel Maddow Show, on 3/24/17, and go straight to 6:23 PM. In response to a question about "activists" being whipped-up, and opposing Republicans, as evidenced by their showings at town hall meetings, Sanders expressly stated that his Republican colleagues now have to scurry out the back door of their town hall meetings because they fear for their safety, and that's EXACTLY how he wants it.
Here's the link, to save everyone the effort:
https://archive.org/details/MSNBCW_20170324_010000_The_Rachel_Maddow_Sho...
Here's the link, to save everyone the effort:
https://archive.org/details/MSNBCW_20170324_010000_The_Rachel_Maddow_Sho...
Another big win for the morally bankrupt brought to you by the woefully uninformed.
3
Fortunately, the opposition was even more "morally bankrupt", and had no message beyond "Trump bad".
The Republicans might be in moral Chapter 11, but the Democrats are in Chapter 7, and don't even seem to realize it, yet. Too much faith in your lawyers and moneymen?
The Republicans might be in moral Chapter 11, but the Democrats are in Chapter 7, and don't even seem to realize it, yet. Too much faith in your lawyers and moneymen?
2
Republicans are calling it a 'Witch hunt" and fake news; why then are they hiring lawyers left and right.
Money can't buy you votes when the will of the people is against you. The Democrat Osoff was and is a carpetbagger, just like Hillary Clinton was a carpetbagger when she hoodwinked New York voters into electing her a U.S. Senator. Like Clinton, Osoff had no experience to qualify her for office. She was simply using New York as a springboard to the presidency. How did that work out for you, Democrats? She lost to a reality television star. The Democrats are hapless. They have no soul or guiding principles. They are simply in the game for the power.
4
Democrats will continue to lose as long as they keep serving the same divisive fallacy-driven drivel that is cooked up in the backrooms of the DNC, NYT, and CNN. Fair-minded working class individuals are choosing the Republican brand because Republicans actually like America and are not a bunch of racist, sexists, greed monsters who will board up doctors offices - in direct contradiction with the DNC NYT, CNN, MSM false doom and gloom narrative.
5
Get real people this is Georgia, they were a Confederate state and still are. So no biggie here. Ossoff should just move to a more educated state.
3
Sure. It's a "referendum" unless you lose. If you lose then you rationalize your defeat by impugning people as being "Confederate".
3
It wasn't a statewide election - it was a in a wealthy, educated suburb of Atlanta - one of the most cosmopolitan and fluid cities in our country.
As much as you want to blame this on uneducated FOX-loving GOP voters, you're wrong.
The fact that LA thinks the south is just made up of rednecks just shows how out of touch you are, and why you'll continue to lose.
As much as you want to blame this on uneducated FOX-loving GOP voters, you're wrong.
The fact that LA thinks the south is just made up of rednecks just shows how out of touch you are, and why you'll continue to lose.
2
Nice try. Putting up a bot who couldn't even vote for himself funded by California cash was a great, GREAT I tell you, idea.
Since Obama, Dems have lost 1000 seats, the house, the senate, POTUS, SC majority. GOP runs 2/3 of America.
But all is well Dear Liberal Urbanites. Its not your values! Its not that you are out of touch! Its not your fault, not your responsibility! Just bad luck.
Dont change a thing. Steady as she goes. All is well.
Sincerely, the GOP
Since Obama, Dems have lost 1000 seats, the house, the senate, POTUS, SC majority. GOP runs 2/3 of America.
But all is well Dear Liberal Urbanites. Its not your values! Its not that you are out of touch! Its not your fault, not your responsibility! Just bad luck.
Dont change a thing. Steady as she goes. All is well.
Sincerely, the GOP
6
Battles are fought and won. Wars leave no winners, but may lead to change. Change takes protracted experience with pain and discomfort. Change only comes when what is has been made so unpleasant and uncomfortable that there is no other choice. Everyone’s line is different, the degree to which they are willing to suffer in an effort to hold on to their beliefs. Each side believes themselves righteous. History will side with those willing to suffer more, those who held on to their beliefs the longest. Waver and bend, but remain resolute. The change we seek is not temporal. No small win or loss will end our suffering. We were born to suffer. We suffer because we see the world that could be and can imagine a path that leads there. We suffer because we believe. I will not bury my belief. I will not run from my pain. I expect to suffer. My suffering shows me I still have hope, that I still believe. Great change comes on the back of great suffering. I offer my suffering, my pain, my belief, and my resolve.
2
It's a sad commentary on the political landscape for several decades now that winning politically is based on money and negative campaigning rather than issues. This is a result in large part to political campaigns no longer being funded by tax dollars. The best hope for Democrats in 2018 will be when the Trump supporters finally realize how Republicans have taken them to the cleaners by virtue of the passage of the health care act and the budget plan that massively will transfer wealth to the rich at their cost.
7
If winning was based on money then why didn't Ossoff win? Are you aware of the amount of money that was thrown his way? From all over America?
If Ossoff and the left-leaning PACs hadn't outspent Handel and the right-leaning PACs by $8M ($31.4M to $23.4M, according to the FEC), your post might carry some weight.
What I find fascinating is the margin in the South Carolina race was closer than the Georgia race (3.2% vs. 3.8%). Yet the South Carolina race was considered hopeless and had near zero press compared to the Georgia race. One wonders if investing more in South Carolina would have helped the Democratic cause. Or perhaps less investment in Georgia would have resulted in reduced Republican countermeasures and ultimately a closer margin there.
Perhaps the purpose of the Democratic Party is to make sure true progressives are marginalized ignored and silenced. We can"t have a Bernie Sanders who might actually do something for the people. Medicare for all? No way say the Dems.
7
We tried that with McGovern. Chech your history and see the results. Trump won because of so-called progressives. Enjoy.
3
If "your side" spent half as much time and effort looking into the DNC throwing the primary for HRC as you have spent on looking into Trump-Russia ties (and we all know any such proof would have been "leaked", months ago, if it actually existed), you might be on the way to a blueprint for actually getting "your" candidates elected, which is how you get "your" policies enacted.
Even though I disagree vehemently with his politics, and shudder at the thought of Sanders doing his best to turn the US into Venezuela, I suspect he would have beaten Trump in the November election. The DNC lied, cheated, and stole the primary, all so they could run the worst candidate in presidential election history against the SECOND worst (I'd call Trump the worst candidate ever, except he won).
Even though I disagree vehemently with his politics, and shudder at the thought of Sanders doing his best to turn the US into Venezuela, I suspect he would have beaten Trump in the November election. The DNC lied, cheated, and stole the primary, all so they could run the worst candidate in presidential election history against the SECOND worst (I'd call Trump the worst candidate ever, except he won).
My county Gwinnett County, next to the 6th District in Georgia, is one of the few in the country with 100% republican representation. Yet the county has the largest diverse population in Georgia by percentage and one of the largest minority populations by percentage. The county can easily be controlled by moderates and Democrats, yet this is not even in the radar.
The problem here is that Liberals, Moderates, and Democrats are afraid to identify themselves as such when running for elective office. They think they can win elections by pretending to be different from "those other Democrats and Liberals in Washington". They never print yard signs or run commercials identifying their party affiliation. They never tie their republican opponents to failing republican policies or polarizing figures such as Trump or McConnell. They want to fly under the radar. This cowardly pretense turns off moderates like me who would have voted for them.
Their republican opponents are the entire opposite. They accuse them of being Liberal Democrats, friends with Nancy Pelosi and Obama, raising taxes, loving Obamacare, etc etc. This tactic energizes the republican base, while Democrats, Liberals, and moderates are dampened. And so republicans win all the time despite demographics that favor moderates and Democrats.
This was the dooming campaign that Democrat Jon Ossoff ran, and this was the classic campaign his republican opponent also ran. I predicted the outcome long before election day.
The problem here is that Liberals, Moderates, and Democrats are afraid to identify themselves as such when running for elective office. They think they can win elections by pretending to be different from "those other Democrats and Liberals in Washington". They never print yard signs or run commercials identifying their party affiliation. They never tie their republican opponents to failing republican policies or polarizing figures such as Trump or McConnell. They want to fly under the radar. This cowardly pretense turns off moderates like me who would have voted for them.
Their republican opponents are the entire opposite. They accuse them of being Liberal Democrats, friends with Nancy Pelosi and Obama, raising taxes, loving Obamacare, etc etc. This tactic energizes the republican base, while Democrats, Liberals, and moderates are dampened. And so republicans win all the time despite demographics that favor moderates and Democrats.
This was the dooming campaign that Democrat Jon Ossoff ran, and this was the classic campaign his republican opponent also ran. I predicted the outcome long before election day.
6
This win for Karen Handel is encouraging news for all Republications who are up for reelection in 2018. They must stay on message and listen to their constituents. They must go to their districts and pay attention to their needs. Do not take any vote for granted. Work now to ensure you will remain in office. There is hope after seeing these amazing results. Hope springs eternal.
6
Paul B. is correct about people's displeasure about Ossoff's living outside the district. Pre Tuesday's election, my daughter, who lives inside the district, told me she "couldn't get beyond" Ossoff's living outside of it. Fortunately, she voted for him. It's difficult to say how many votes he lost because of that. Certainly not a savvy way to win over constituents.
Hate to say it, but isn't one of the oldest rules in politics that rain favors Republicans. However irrational the impulse, the minute I saw there had been a torrential downpour, my heart sank. Will Rogers said it best: "I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat." For better or worse, that's who we are, we outnumber them numerically, but we constantly snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. That said, it's Georgia. And there are larger problems than rainstorms in Georgia.
3
Running against something - in this case President Trump - is not running "for" something, like healthcare, jobs, etc. Continued foot stomping by Sen. Schumer and Rep. Pelosi does not advance any ball down the field - it looks petulant. People are voting their pocketbook, family and local interests. The flood of money from NY and CA did nothing but antagonize people that are worried about issues that directly affect them and their communities.
5
Thank you, Al. I agree that looking petulant and obstinate is not a winning formula. Politics is local - each party has an underlying premise of what to support and how to achieve it, but there is not a one size fits all tent.
It is always irritating to me when any article is written referring to any of our Presidents as Mr. This whole article addressed the President of the United States as Mr. Trump instead of President Trump. Now, we may not all like him, but, he is the President and deserves respect.
6
Maybe Trump should've given that respect to President Obama. Trump deserves no respect from any moral human being.
1
He's the president whether you like it or not. It's not for you to choose any more; that choice was made back in November, if not by you then for you.
4
Trump is not my President
Polls show the majority of people realise what the GOP is up to with healthcare, yet they can't find it in themselves to vote for a Democrat.
I can only conclude most Americans are gluttons for punishment.
I can only conclude most Americans are gluttons for punishment.
3
The ACA is clearly failing. The Republicans might not have a single good idea (I'm sure at least a few of them are actually good), but at least they have SOME ideas.
The Democratic position, until about three days ago, has been that no Democrat will touch the ACA (Schumer has publically stated so, repeatedly, and not one Democrat has stood-up to that). Even now, name me ONE idea that a Democrat has put forward to improve health care in the past six months.
It is clear that they've only changed their tune in the past few days about wanting to see the Senate bill so that they can complain about the secrecy involved, because seven months of trying have proven no links between Russia and the Trump Campaign, and almost two months of "obstruction of justice" claims are not only going nowhere, but are being refuted by no less a LIBERAL constitutional scholar than Alan Dershowitz.
Perhaps the Democratic politicians might put forward an idea on how to improve things, instead of producing slick videos mocking Trump? Just a thought.
The Democratic position, until about three days ago, has been that no Democrat will touch the ACA (Schumer has publically stated so, repeatedly, and not one Democrat has stood-up to that). Even now, name me ONE idea that a Democrat has put forward to improve health care in the past six months.
It is clear that they've only changed their tune in the past few days about wanting to see the Senate bill so that they can complain about the secrecy involved, because seven months of trying have proven no links between Russia and the Trump Campaign, and almost two months of "obstruction of justice" claims are not only going nowhere, but are being refuted by no less a LIBERAL constitutional scholar than Alan Dershowitz.
Perhaps the Democratic politicians might put forward an idea on how to improve things, instead of producing slick videos mocking Trump? Just a thought.
While I believe Ossoff is an earnest fellow and when I did hear him speak he was hitting all the right buttons, the one thing not taken into account, and how could one really, is the deep seated racism of the "Affluent Suburban Atlanta Districts" voters. First of all, the word affluent means one thing to me, white. If there was a place where racism is the worldview this is it. Deep South Georgia which is still daily expressing the pain of Shermans burning them to the ground over a hundred years ago. if you were thinking that "intelligent" "well educated" whites were not a big part of the Trump phenomenon? Then this should be your wake up call. Poor Ossoff was having a Sisyphean moment to its inevitable conclusion.
3
We have not hit rockbottom yet. The tide will not turn until the garbage that will be Trump/Ryancare and further pillaging of American wealth by Corporations and top 1% is laid bare for all to see. Till then it would be great if there were no more elections. Republican voters need to witness the wreckage first-hand before they can decide how much they wish to be part of the "worst generation"
5
Democrats will perform better when Democrats put up stronger candidates.
I can tell you that Scott Walker, a halfwit who became a career politician after he was prematurely pushed out of Marquette, would not have won a single term if the Dems didn't have such a weak bench.
And let's be honest. Walker's Wisconsin was the testing ground for a Trump victory and presidency. The demagoguery, the "divide and conquer" tactics, the failed promises based on fabricated ills, and the ramrodding of the billionaire's agenda that often took place in the middle of the night behind closed doors despite Republican control of all three branches, which came from manipulating the system instead of winning over a majority.
And despite Walker's ineptitude, his destructive attitude toward our cherished environments (wild and human), and all the failed promises, Walker continues to hold power because Dems can only find wishy-washy candidates who mean well but don't provide a passionate vision of why left of center policies make everyone's lives better off.
We need some Macrons to overpower our LePens.
We need a vision of a cohesive society that needs everyone's needs to combat the cancerous anti-civil-servants who have no solutions, just the promise that things will be magically better if you have a little more money in your pocket through tax breaks.
I can tell you that Scott Walker, a halfwit who became a career politician after he was prematurely pushed out of Marquette, would not have won a single term if the Dems didn't have such a weak bench.
And let's be honest. Walker's Wisconsin was the testing ground for a Trump victory and presidency. The demagoguery, the "divide and conquer" tactics, the failed promises based on fabricated ills, and the ramrodding of the billionaire's agenda that often took place in the middle of the night behind closed doors despite Republican control of all three branches, which came from manipulating the system instead of winning over a majority.
And despite Walker's ineptitude, his destructive attitude toward our cherished environments (wild and human), and all the failed promises, Walker continues to hold power because Dems can only find wishy-washy candidates who mean well but don't provide a passionate vision of why left of center policies make everyone's lives better off.
We need some Macrons to overpower our LePens.
We need a vision of a cohesive society that needs everyone's needs to combat the cancerous anti-civil-servants who have no solutions, just the promise that things will be magically better if you have a little more money in your pocket through tax breaks.
7
This isn't France. By the way, Macron isn't a centrist. The French media is almost all Socialist, so they "overlooked" the fact that Macron was the Finance Minister in Hollande's (failing) Socialist government, and a life-long Socialist, until about 18 months ago, kind of the way our press neglects to mention that Elizabeth Warren was a life-long Republican until her mid-40s, when she decided to get into politics, and saw that an "R" after her name wasn't politically expedient in Massachusetts, or that Arianna Huffington was the shrill voice behind her ex-husbands Conservative Republican run for a California senate seat, until she realized Republicans don't get support in California, and her new, progressive persona was born.
For Dems, close but no cigar times four doesn't matter. An old saw goes, "close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades". Read whatever you want into these races, I adhere to another old saying, this one by Vince Lombardi, "Winning isn't the only thing. It's everything".
And in politics it's all that counts. Instead of four, three, two or even one new Dem going to Congress, we've got bupkis. If that occurs next year, in spite of Trump's disastrous presidency, Republicans will this time have a mandate. Trump and the Republicans will keep dismantling President Obama's hard-fought agenda and programs. If this is what the American people want, then they are setting the US on a course which will no longer make it a First World power to be reckoned with. We have soiled our reputation by electing Trump. We have in six months destroyed the integrity, the prestige of the most democratic government in the last two centuries. The US will have, as is Putin's plan, collapsed from within. A pathetic demise for a once great nation. Make America great again? Never again is more like it. Sad indeed.
DD
Manhattan
And in politics it's all that counts. Instead of four, three, two or even one new Dem going to Congress, we've got bupkis. If that occurs next year, in spite of Trump's disastrous presidency, Republicans will this time have a mandate. Trump and the Republicans will keep dismantling President Obama's hard-fought agenda and programs. If this is what the American people want, then they are setting the US on a course which will no longer make it a First World power to be reckoned with. We have soiled our reputation by electing Trump. We have in six months destroyed the integrity, the prestige of the most democratic government in the last two centuries. The US will have, as is Putin's plan, collapsed from within. A pathetic demise for a once great nation. Make America great again? Never again is more like it. Sad indeed.
DD
Manhattan
6
You are correct in one respect. As long as the Democrats and the rest of the Left spend all their time and effort railing against Trump's ties to Russia, which haven't been proven yet (and if there was proof, we all know it would have been "leaked", by now), Putin keeps winning. The irony is, it is the Left, and not Trump, that is giving him his victory.
I suppose that's what you guys mean by, "By any means necessary."
I suppose that's what you guys mean by, "By any means necessary."
What makes you think the results are valid. if Russian technology can hack DNC and national election Georgia would be a piece of cake. especially with Republicans as willing accomplishes. sad
3
This campaign and those in Montana, Kansas and now South Carolina appear to indicate that it is time for a change of leadership in the House.
The Democrats will never win control of the house with a polarizing figure like Pelosi as leader.
I suppose this insight HAD to come from Canada.
I cannot for the life of me understand how Pelosi, Nuclear Harry Reid, and now Schumer, have been the "leaders" of the Democratic Party for so long, especially with their track record of getting massacred at election time.
I cannot for the life of me understand how Pelosi, Nuclear Harry Reid, and now Schumer, have been the "leaders" of the Democratic Party for so long, especially with their track record of getting massacred at election time.
Democrats,
Please do some research on non-voters and find out what would motivate them to show up and vote.
Please do some research on non-voters and find out what would motivate them to show up and vote.
3
Hmmm, seems people like the Trump agenda in Georgia. Love it when cigar blows up in the Dems and NYT face. Hate to say "I told you so" yesterday, but I did.
8
People are sick of the democrats and their socialist agenda. This was the big test for Trump policies and what Americans wanted. Well, they have spoken and the Socialists lose. We need to stop the hatred and lies about Trump and get behind the Trump agenda.
16
At least the 38% of the country who still support him. Ooops make that 36%...
3
To James,
Gee, I guess that's why the Democrats have won the popular (i.e. the "people's") vote in six of the last seven presidential elections. (Maybe it's the US Supreme Court (2000) and the electoral college (2016) who are "sick" of something.)
Gee, I guess that's why the Democrats have won the popular (i.e. the "people's") vote in six of the last seven presidential elections. (Maybe it's the US Supreme Court (2000) and the electoral college (2016) who are "sick" of something.)
3
I'm a conservative and I contest your tone. Americans do not need to "get behind" any elected official, winner or loser. We have no monarch, only servants. We didn't need to "get behind" Obama when he won and we don't need to "get behind" Trump now that he won. That's not the way freedom works.
I will say I agree with you that we need to stop the hatred ... whatever direction it's coming from.
I will say I agree with you that we need to stop the hatred ... whatever direction it's coming from.
2
There was a lot of energy poorly $pent,in my opinion. I am a NYC resident but received 2 or 3 annoying emails ,with silly headlines, from the Ossoff campaign daily, ultimately asking me for money.
4
No worries for the Democrats. Mr. Trump still has time before the 2018 elections to crash the economy or/and start a war!
3
I love it, no matter how much money the Democrats throw at their candidate, they simply cannot win.
3
This has been the most over-hyped congressional election in recent memory. It means nothing.
4
Hillary spent a billion plus in corporate donations and lost to become the first CEO of the United States. Ossify received a staggering 25 million and lost.
This is just a preview of 2018.
This is just a preview of 2018.
9
Again in this article....winning by less than 10k is not an easy win.
2
Republicans built the majority they now have with consistent, lockstep messaging over decades. Government is always bad. Business always does things better. Freedom is all anybody needs to prosper. Taxes are bad. Greed is good. If you're not making it, it's because you're lazy or immoral. Christianity is the national religion and we are the Christian party. Patriotism is only about supporting wars. I remember then devising a dictionary of nouns, verbs and adjectives for all Republican speakers to use in their public statements and they did. Repetition is brainwashing. Democrats are behind in the brainwashing game.
5
It is amazing that the Democratic Party now cheers narrow loses - "this is awesome, we didn't get blown out" Maybe they can find some candidates somewhere in between a 75 year old socialist and a 30 year old filmmaker.
13
Why do we still go for the farce of "elections"? Why dont we simply auction the political positions to the highest bidder, and use the procceds to partially reimburse the US debt.
It would more honest and more efficient, and it would save the people the time they spend having their brain washed...
It would more honest and more efficient, and it would save the people the time they spend having their brain washed...
1
Because if that were the case, Hillary would be president. Thank God it's not that way.
5
Maybe, the Democrsas and the main stream press, after 3 post Presidential elections which were all won by the Republican candidate will begin to understand that the American public as a whole (not just the deplorables) supports Donald Trump and his policies. Maybe the "resistance" will give the man a chance without trying to impeach him at every turn. Maybe pigs will fly.
8
Curious that this report failed to mention the suppression of voter registration that allegedly occurred: http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/41009-greg-palast-jim-crow-scam-th...
I guess we now know what kind of people live in Georgia, and elect these awful candidates, on a platform of nobody is entitled to a living wage, and donald trump is okay. Nice.
3
Identity Politics believers and feminists can take some solace knowing that Handel is the first woman ever to win this congressional seat. Another glass ceiling shattered!
9
So much for the tidal wave of Trump discontent in this country. The mainstream media has condemned Trump and a relentless assault has had little effect on voters. Why? Voters ignore this criticism or believe the Democratic Party is out of touch with their goals. This could be the beginning of a voter confirmation of Trump and policies for the mid-term elections in 2018. Damning Trump has not been effective it seems. Fresh ideas and policies favoring middle and working class voters is the only strategy that may work. There is time remaining to regroup but it will require major redirection of effort.
10
A referendum on identity politics. Stop trying to patch together a collection of small groups and start appealing to white middle class voters.
4
Trump almost made her lose.
by over 4 points?
2
Advice for Democrats:
Let's be less civil and more like FDR.
Let's be less civil and more like FDR.
1
Embarrassing. It looks like the Americans have a majority for stupidity and bullies. Sad.
7
Liberals lose once again. Down with their agenda and anything Pelosi. Tax reform and health care must be reorganized.
7
Someone donated 25 million dollars to a by-election campaign?!
Is there an attempted colour revolution within the US's own borders?
All the other signs are there. The FBI, CIA and liberal media colluding to defame members of the targeted government. Widespread narratives of social injustice. Idealists and people with grievances selectively targeted and encouraged to join protest marches with a catchy theme or symbol like those little pink pussyhats.
What happens next? The movement start as non-violent but always manages to provoke some police brutality in the end, images of which get repeated over and over. Soon there will be some sort of divisive crisis where anything could happen. De-stabilisation is a fact and the unwanted leader usually gets toppled.
Few posters here voted for Mr Trump and most dislike him quite intensely, but please give a moment's thought to if a colour revolution really is the route you want your country to take. While there are many examples of how these organised de-stabilising activities have been successful in removing incumbent leaders, there are also many instances where order hasn't resumed after their departures. I think you would be better off accepting defeat for now and focus on coming back at the next election with stronger arguments, maybe less focus on fat beauty queens, etc.
Am I exaggerating? Just another crazy conspiracy theorist? Then take my challenge: Follow the money and see where it leads.
Is there an attempted colour revolution within the US's own borders?
All the other signs are there. The FBI, CIA and liberal media colluding to defame members of the targeted government. Widespread narratives of social injustice. Idealists and people with grievances selectively targeted and encouraged to join protest marches with a catchy theme or symbol like those little pink pussyhats.
What happens next? The movement start as non-violent but always manages to provoke some police brutality in the end, images of which get repeated over and over. Soon there will be some sort of divisive crisis where anything could happen. De-stabilisation is a fact and the unwanted leader usually gets toppled.
Few posters here voted for Mr Trump and most dislike him quite intensely, but please give a moment's thought to if a colour revolution really is the route you want your country to take. While there are many examples of how these organised de-stabilising activities have been successful in removing incumbent leaders, there are also many instances where order hasn't resumed after their departures. I think you would be better off accepting defeat for now and focus on coming back at the next election with stronger arguments, maybe less focus on fat beauty queens, etc.
Am I exaggerating? Just another crazy conspiracy theorist? Then take my challenge: Follow the money and see where it leads.
3
Democrats were never going to win this district. It is a sin they wasted so much money. There are many reasons it is such an uphill climb for Democrats to win back the congress, many are out of our control. There is nothing we can do about gerrymandering and money in politics until we get elected. There is nothing we can do about FOX news and right-wing talk radio. The one reason we can do something about is to come to terms with the fact that a large portion of white America loathes liberals, even when Trump is failing they don't want to vote for a Democratic politician. Liberals have spent the last decade yelling at the top of their lungs that America is racist and America is sexist. That is the same as telling white people they are racist and sexist especially when it hits the right-wing echo chamber. It is a rotten thing to say to someone and many people will hate you for it. Identity politics and political correctness have hurt this country and Democrats’ political chances. Liberals win the culture wars and lose the chance to effect real change.
Real change, change that helps working people and the poor and suffering, never happens in this country because the left here is obsessed with fighting, flailing, and falling all over themselves over their silly ideas about race and sex. And if you disagree they just call you racist, sexist and dumb. This is not a recipe for winning elections.
Real change, change that helps working people and the poor and suffering, never happens in this country because the left here is obsessed with fighting, flailing, and falling all over themselves over their silly ideas about race and sex. And if you disagree they just call you racist, sexist and dumb. This is not a recipe for winning elections.
1
What hubris Mr. Ossoff couldn't even vote for himself. That says it all.
6
The poor, sad Democrats are 0-4 in special elections that are supposed to gauge the extent of voter dissatisfaction with Trump. Handel crushed Ossoff and carried this district by a larger margin than Trump did in November. Add those four losses to the 1000+ offices they've lost nationwide since 2008. Maybe someday, Democrats will figure out that voters don't care for their values, including support for illegal aliens, black rioters, and mandatory health plans that people can't afford.
9
No way. A milktoast Republican lite lost running as a Democrat?
DNC ignored the progressives in Kansas and Montana so they can say Sanders wing can't win. They dump ungodly amounts of cash on their Corporate Democrat just to lose anyways.
DNC ignored the progressives in Kansas and Montana so they can say Sanders wing can't win. They dump ungodly amounts of cash on their Corporate Democrat just to lose anyways.
3
I'm starting to think the most progressive Sarges Republicans in the disguise.
And, the DNC ran another "centrist" candidate saying to the progressive wing (in their best downeast farmer accent) "ya just can't get theyah from heeyah".
OK, you're right. Keep looking down that dead-end lane while you've set up traffic cones, flashing lights, barriers, traffic cops and "do not enter" signs for all the other directions.
OK, you're right. Keep looking down that dead-end lane while you've set up traffic cones, flashing lights, barriers, traffic cops and "do not enter" signs for all the other directions.
1
Quite frankly, there are truly no leaders of the democratic party. They, the senators and congresspersons etc. go on tv and talk a good talk or try tp place obstacles in the path of the republicans for a bill, but I have no sense of them getting involved and truly helping out in any endeavor, election or otherwise. The big things I hear is that they do not have the power--well, you were elected to do things, whether or not you are in the majority. The republicans do have leaders, they may not be doing the right things and will cause all kinds of havoc for the future, but they are leading--McConnell, Ryan, Trump. The democrats seem to be business as usual. Do what you can to keep your seat in the next reelection and do not anger your big contributors. Democratic leaders need to have more courage. Yes, you may get lambasted in the short term but it is the long term that counts. I think we sorely need a new party. I envy France.
The democrats need to turn their focus from trying to win republican seats to ensuring that their voters come out in all off year elections. Republicans voters will turn out for dog catcher, while too many democrats won't leave the house unless the presidency is on the ballot. That's how the republicans have won control of so many legislatures and governorships in states that Obama won. Coming close is still a loss. Democrats should never lose the governorship of Wis, Ohio and Michigan -- states that Trump won, primarily because democrat voters didn't turn out. ALWAYS turn out.
1
Wrong candidate for the district. 25 million wasted. Polls wrong again. Let me give the Dems a little tip.... Americans outside of New York, DC and California don't care about Russia hearings. let it go and run on the issues that people care about.
The candidate couldn't even cast his own vote. 0 for 5 since Trump took office... Sad, really sad!
The candidate couldn't even cast his own vote. 0 for 5 since Trump took office... Sad, really sad!
1
The Democrats ELECTED Donald Trump because of the selection of Hillary as their candidate. The Democrats have shied away from being the party of the working class to being a party that represents fringe groups and really concentrates on laws that would help a small minority of Americans. The DNC must re-think what its' core values will be in the next 2 years if they want to start WINNING elections instead of just coming close.
2
If Dems expect to win anything in 2018, they need a strong populist message: Take Back America or Fairness for All, emphasizing more and better jobs that reflect a commitment to new technologies and the environment, higher wages, single payer healthcare, and free public education through college. They are open to national service, other than the military, as a way of moving their country forward.
Right now, within the Democratic Party, there's only infighting and an over-emphasis on identity politics. The country wants none of it. Young people, especially, want another way. And they want a leader who reflects their youth and energy. They want want to be inspired to work for a better future, not just told how the economy is rigged. People vote for something, not against it.
Right now, within the Democratic Party, there's only infighting and an over-emphasis on identity politics. The country wants none of it. Young people, especially, want another way. And they want a leader who reflects their youth and energy. They want want to be inspired to work for a better future, not just told how the economy is rigged. People vote for something, not against it.
1
The Handel/Ossoff run-off was billed as a referendum on Trump. That was a false narrative. The voters in this affluent district care nothing about healthcare, national security or policy. Its all about TAXES. After all Romney cleaned up here last time and Trump squeaked by. The results show that affluent moderate/conservative republicans are perfectly happy to TOLERATE Trump so long as they can keep more of their money. Since lowering taxes on the affluent is not part of the progressive agenda, Ossoff really had no chance. That he came so close is a great showing. Not enough to appease lefties who will need to plan how to win without the vote of the upper-middle and affluent vote (White and Hispanic).
1
What's the fuss? Georgia has been a red-red state for the past 40 years. Unless the South of the U.S. become more like NYC and California, nothing will change. In any case, the U.S. are one of few advanced countries with lots of churchgoers. Unless the U.S politics is liberated from religion, and people get enlightened, nothing will change. Most Christians in the South and Midwest will vote for Republicans no matter what. After all, many people in the U.S. still believe in the argument from design. Religion will eventually make the U.S. duller and weaker.
1
Democratic lawmakers offers hate, hate and hate... they never even bothered to search their inner soul for losing since seven months ago... have no plan for anything except hate, hate and hate, just blame the other guy... they have tons of money.. but lost their mind and heart...
3
Great; apparently Georgians are smarter than the credit they were given. They are smart enough to see through the hateful democrats and how they treat this administration. They also want socialism to not hit their state; smart.
No doubt Trump sent his minions to do their magic...or more accurately outsourced it to the Russians once again.
D NNot so bad for Democrats here when you calculate that this was a ReRepublican stronghold prior to this election.
1
Wow! I am not demoralized at all! For a dem to come so close in a SC district that I can tell you for sure is full of racism, gender discrimination, T supporters, and people so filled with hatred but still call themselves Christian....just wow.
I'll share an old SC joke: in the Upstate, newcomers are asked where do you go to church. In the Midlands, they are asked who's your daddy. In the Lowcountry, we ask what would you like to drink.
And the famous/infamous: After South Carolina seceded in 1860, Petigru famously remarked, "South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum." This quote is still used to describe contemporary South Carolinian politics. From Wikipedia.
I'll share an old SC joke: in the Upstate, newcomers are asked where do you go to church. In the Midlands, they are asked who's your daddy. In the Lowcountry, we ask what would you like to drink.
And the famous/infamous: After South Carolina seceded in 1860, Petigru famously remarked, "South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum." This quote is still used to describe contemporary South Carolinian politics. From Wikipedia.
Democrats are the party of Pelosi and Shumer. They have nothing to offer but Trump hate.
2
Until the Democrats, Liberals find an FDR voice and spirit, welcome to Never Never Land where the moneyed rich and the intelligent poor rule.
Quoth the raven: "Nevermore"!
Quoth the raven: "Nevermore"!
A disappointing election with a disgusting result, from people who should know better!
1
I can't understand use of the adjective "surprising." There is nothing surprising about the electltion of a Republican in a heavily conservative, affluent Atlanta suburb that has been Republican for 40 years. What is "surprising" is The NY Times still does not understand what's going on in this country. Equallysurprising is that the Democrats still can't come up with a vision that is more appealing. And most surprising is the continued leadership by Nancy Pelosi. How many elections do Dems need to lose before realizing that the same old thing just isn't working?
11
Well, money lost and a woman won. Surely the New York Times is happy? (smile).
20
Aw shucks. Maybe next time.
Those pesky voters keep dissing the left's message
"more socialism is good for you".
Those pesky voters keep dissing the left's message
"more socialism is good for you".
8
The Demoncrats, the Party of Crying Chuck Schumer and Joe Biden, lose another one. How could they not? Their candidate was inexperienced in politics, didn't live in the district he was running for, was financed by out of state interests, and masqueraded as a conservative in lefty liberal clothing.
Leadership like this is what put the Whigs and No Nothing Parties out of business.
Leadership like this is what put the Whigs and No Nothing Parties out of business.
9
Sounds eerily similar to a real estate mogul with no experience in politics and till recently a democrat who decided to run as GOP candidate for President.
1
So much for "highly educated" Republicans...
4
Decent wages?
People of Georgia: "No thanks. I like my $7/hr job at the chicken plant. Just give me some gays to hate on."
People of Georgia: "No thanks. I like my $7/hr job at the chicken plant. Just give me some gays to hate on."
7
NYT and democrats keep on insulting our President and the republicans, they shall keep on winning if for no other reason
5
Let's review some of this coverage.
Jon Ossoff raised $25M from "progressives across the country" ... a "super PAC" spent more than $7M for Karen Handel.
"While Mr. Ossoff's supporters showed great passion" ... Mrs. Handel's supporters are post "NO SOLICITATION!!!!!!" signs and threaten campaign workers with threats of "I have big dogs."
But news reporting in this paper isn't biased, not at all.
Jon Ossoff raised $25M from "progressives across the country" ... a "super PAC" spent more than $7M for Karen Handel.
"While Mr. Ossoff's supporters showed great passion" ... Mrs. Handel's supporters are post "NO SOLICITATION!!!!!!" signs and threaten campaign workers with threats of "I have big dogs."
But news reporting in this paper isn't biased, not at all.
7
NO SOLICITATION!!!!!!!” read one sign, photographed and published on social media by a Handel supporter. “And no! We aren’t voting for OSSOFF! I have big dogs!!!”
Might want to re-read the article. This appears to be a complaint against the OSSOFF campaign workers
Might want to re-read the article. This appears to be a complaint against the OSSOFF campaign workers
1
So California and Hollywood liberals couldn't buy a seat in Georgia? Shocker.
11
This just shows that the popularity of the president is not a big factor in local congressional elections. Republican voters support the Republican agenda, they will not vote Democrat because Trump is an idiot.
3
How can you possibly describe Handel's victory in the GA Congressional race as "surprisingly easy"? That was most definitely not the case! A 2-point swing from Republican to Democrat would have resulted in a Democratic victory!. Frankly I'm surprised that the NYT didn't slant the story to lead with the angle of an inexperienced 30-yr old nearly upsetting a well qualified and extravagantly financed Republican in a district that had elected one of its own by an outrageously wide margin before Trump took office. The copy editor was apparently asleep at his desk!
Let me guess... this is Bernie's fault...
2
Dam the Russians did it again.
Yay!
4
Good morning demoncrats, good morning communist cable network (CNN)
Money can buy grocery, many in the past try with no success to purchase brain. This item is not available on the market. Try to recruit smart people into your already a bankrupted party. Fire Soros, he has money but no brain. I understand your situation, but you must learn this important nature of human being. The intelligent people, such as our current President, do not allow anybody, not even the mediocre Soros to put them under control.
Money can buy grocery, many in the past try with no success to purchase brain. This item is not available on the market. Try to recruit smart people into your already a bankrupted party. Fire Soros, he has money but no brain. I understand your situation, but you must learn this important nature of human being. The intelligent people, such as our current President, do not allow anybody, not even the mediocre Soros to put them under control.
4
Yup....He is only partial to Russians
Well, now, what does one expect when the Democratic House leadership makes the Soviet gerontocracy seem young and dynamic. Pelosi and Co. are simply a money raising machine devoid of any ideas with contemporary resonance.
But the problem lies deeper. The NYT, seems to becoming an "alt-left" medium, in their coverage of political news. For example, in the running commentary on the election last night, an assistant editor derided the Dem's candidate in SC as a Goldman Sachs executive who self-financed his campaign. Since when is it a negative to have someone with a track record, which Ossoff didn't have, be a Dem candidate. He had to finance his own campaign because the clowns who run the party put all their money on Lewis's crony.
Has the NYT become a tool of the establishment DNC?
But the problem lies deeper. The NYT, seems to becoming an "alt-left" medium, in their coverage of political news. For example, in the running commentary on the election last night, an assistant editor derided the Dem's candidate in SC as a Goldman Sachs executive who self-financed his campaign. Since when is it a negative to have someone with a track record, which Ossoff didn't have, be a Dem candidate. He had to finance his own campaign because the clowns who run the party put all their money on Lewis's crony.
Has the NYT become a tool of the establishment DNC?
7
Beside every thing else ... How do you run in a district you don't even live in ?? .. that would turn me off
Orange, NJ
Orange, NJ
The south will never change.
2
The Russians did it!
3
This type of slanted news reporting is why The NY Times and much of the MSM are so distrusted by so many Americans. The first few paragraphs are so blatantly pejorative in a negative manner against the Republicans that I'm amazed this story got past the editors.
Biased analysis should be labeled as such and not be put forth as news reporting.
Biased analysis should be labeled as such and not be put forth as news reporting.
7
How many "early referendums" do you need before you catch on, NYT?!
6
The media needs to spend less time analyzing and stick to plain reporting. Most of the writing here is severely lacking in journalistic integrity. It really isn't the reporter's place to say what the result "means" for either side except who won and who lost. I know that might be boring for readers but that's why you have opinion pieces. "Surprisingly easy" victory? "Demoralizing" loss? This kind of reportage is another reason why I will not renew my subscription to your publication.
5
This loss is not overly significant in itself; rather its danger lies in its potential to further divide Democrats and further delay party unification and focus.
Dems are their own worst enemy these days. They should be smart enough to understand that and work to overcome discord and infighting. But leadership is lacking or at each others' throats. It is worrisome as a collapsing Trump sets the stage for what could be a Democratic resurgence, if only they can take the opportunity right there in front of them.
Dems are their own worst enemy these days. They should be smart enough to understand that and work to overcome discord and infighting. But leadership is lacking or at each others' throats. It is worrisome as a collapsing Trump sets the stage for what could be a Democratic resurgence, if only they can take the opportunity right there in front of them.
2
While I understand the need to look for bellwethers of sentiment towards Trump, the media has over-focused on this Georgia race, as did the money people funding it.
I'm not declaring victory or defeat for either party here. I don't buy it. The related article on the front page about the obvious point that the middle class will suffer a big hit from the so-called Trumpcare legislation talks about premium increases. There are other factors that may lead to unaffordable or unavailable coverage for many of us in the individual market.
When the effects hit home, we'll have a more accurate feeling for Americans' electoral sentiments. I'm guessing around November 2018....
I'm not declaring victory or defeat for either party here. I don't buy it. The related article on the front page about the obvious point that the middle class will suffer a big hit from the so-called Trumpcare legislation talks about premium increases. There are other factors that may lead to unaffordable or unavailable coverage for many of us in the individual market.
When the effects hit home, we'll have a more accurate feeling for Americans' electoral sentiments. I'm guessing around November 2018....
1
Demoralized? Are you kidding me? This was a seat that went to the GOP by 22 points 6 months ago. Now to lose by only 4 with a candidate, who didn't even currently live in the district and had no political experience. That's a defeat for the seat for sure, but it's also a heck of an improvement for the Democrats.
We as Democrats have a powerful message of hope and support for the middle class, the poor and for entrepreneurs. Let's be honest, Hillary Clinton ran a terrible campaign and she still almost won. If Bernie had been our candidate he would have been smeared relentlessly as a socialist and for many of his positions.
We need hold Donald Trump's and the GOP leadership's positions up for clear view and the voters will come around. The message needs to be simple- The economy, health care, our children and the environment.
We have to be relentless in attacking the fallacious GOP position that tax cuts for the extremely wealthy benefits the country. It's bogus and there is more and more evidence of it. What did jump start the economy though was the payroll tax cut for all employees. It went into their pockets and and then almost all of it got spent immediately.
The current GOP is on a train headed for a crash and they can't or won't stop the train or switch to another track. It's only going to get worse for them. There is a huge opportunity for Democrats in 2018.
Let's focus as our priority on recruiting strong candidates for all levels of government.
We as Democrats have a powerful message of hope and support for the middle class, the poor and for entrepreneurs. Let's be honest, Hillary Clinton ran a terrible campaign and she still almost won. If Bernie had been our candidate he would have been smeared relentlessly as a socialist and for many of his positions.
We need hold Donald Trump's and the GOP leadership's positions up for clear view and the voters will come around. The message needs to be simple- The economy, health care, our children and the environment.
We have to be relentless in attacking the fallacious GOP position that tax cuts for the extremely wealthy benefits the country. It's bogus and there is more and more evidence of it. What did jump start the economy though was the payroll tax cut for all employees. It went into their pockets and and then almost all of it got spent immediately.
The current GOP is on a train headed for a crash and they can't or won't stop the train or switch to another track. It's only going to get worse for them. There is a huge opportunity for Democrats in 2018.
Let's focus as our priority on recruiting strong candidates for all levels of government.
9
As expected another narrow defeat with a novice candidate. The Democrats message is either not getting through or not widely accepted. They need some reinventing and need to dump Nancy Pelosi. Election victories are achieved with votes, good strong candidates, good leadership and messaging and not just by pouring money and media endorsements.
2
Clinton outspent Trump 2-1. Ossof outspent Handel 5-1. Both losses. When are the Democrats going to wake up to the fact that it is their message or lack thereof that is the problem. They have relied almost entirely on identity politics and public employee unions for the last many years. That has now worn thin and there is no message behind that other than power. Maybe (I can hope) it is time to ditch the idea of two permanent political parties.
4
Before Democrats start beating each other up over the loss of the Georgia election, stop for a minute and imagine what would have happened if the Republican Health Care bill details had been out in the open--available for public scrutiny. I think the election might have had different results. So now, after the election, the bill goes up for a vote. I believe all the secrecy about the Republican Health Care bill helped to give Karen Handel those few extra percentage points, and it worked!
2
These spectacles do not get any more skewed and tainted by gobs of outside money (BOTH RED AND BLUE) than this.
Guess 6 months of the Trump presidency and the off-the-tracks GOP Congress wasn’t enough punishment, bait and switch, and abject incompetence to break the mold in this district.
This was, and is a Republican stronghold, but hardly hard core Trump country.
2018 looms large already and will certainly be utterly profligate and high order insanity.
America’s politics has all the earmarks of a headlong rush toward cosmic implosion.
Guess 6 months of the Trump presidency and the off-the-tracks GOP Congress wasn’t enough punishment, bait and switch, and abject incompetence to break the mold in this district.
This was, and is a Republican stronghold, but hardly hard core Trump country.
2018 looms large already and will certainly be utterly profligate and high order insanity.
America’s politics has all the earmarks of a headlong rush toward cosmic implosion.
2
Wealthy Republicans want tax cuts and to retain control of the government. This is a wealthy Republican district, with something like a 9% Republican voter registration lead. Ossoff did very well, and it is only a few months until the 2018 campaign. The Republican controlled alt media has done a great job demonizing Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and Hilary Clinton. The Democratic Party does need to figure out some better ways to combat Republicans running against Nancy Pelosi and Hilary Clinton.
2
The Democrats and the Democratic establishment JUST DON'T GET IT.
Time and again, they fail to realize their liabilities which the GOP uses to their advantage.
For example, after the disastrous election of 2016, they still support Debbie Wasserman Schultz helping her get re-elected and they promptly re-elected Nancy Pelosi as House Minority Leader. At least Harry Reid knew to retire.
I'm a liberal feminist, but the Democratic Party is pushing women with an obsession akin to Captain Ahab going after Moby Dick. That was evident when it became clear how the Democratic Party sabotaged Bernie Sanders and remains clear with the prompt re-election of Pelosi.
Yes, the Democratic brand is actually worse than Trump. Democrats need to stop blaming others (such as Comey) for 2016, look in the mirror, and clean house in their leadership, top-to-bottom. Their failure to do so is why the Alt-Left is growing and, unless they change, expect the GOP to gain even more in 2018.
Time and again, they fail to realize their liabilities which the GOP uses to their advantage.
For example, after the disastrous election of 2016, they still support Debbie Wasserman Schultz helping her get re-elected and they promptly re-elected Nancy Pelosi as House Minority Leader. At least Harry Reid knew to retire.
I'm a liberal feminist, but the Democratic Party is pushing women with an obsession akin to Captain Ahab going after Moby Dick. That was evident when it became clear how the Democratic Party sabotaged Bernie Sanders and remains clear with the prompt re-election of Pelosi.
Yes, the Democratic brand is actually worse than Trump. Democrats need to stop blaming others (such as Comey) for 2016, look in the mirror, and clean house in their leadership, top-to-bottom. Their failure to do so is why the Alt-Left is growing and, unless they change, expect the GOP to gain even more in 2018.
4
I can't wait to see that someone will put this loss again on Russia. As we all know, it's all Russia's fault, always, right?! :-) Just imagine how much time and money went on this Russia interference debates, and for what? for realization that people actually consciously voted for Trump and still would do the same! It's time to move on, stop blocking president's agenda and start working together on fixing real issues for this country.
2
Actually I'm not surpised . Having visited Georgia several times and been witness to the appalling racism and homophobia that exist there, I'm surprised that Mr Ossoff did as well as he did.
2
That's what gerrymandering will do for you. The Republicans have very egregious with redistricting of late.
1
Nancy Pelosi should immediately announce that should the Dems win in 2018, she will not run for Speaker.
Otherwise, we're doomed.
Otherwise, we're doomed.
3
Location. location, location, matters when starting up a business and in seeking to be a Congressional House Representative. If the candidate does not live in the district, then it adds another grey shroud hiding the candidate; "...not one of us.".
In an affluent, Southern Republican district that brought you Mr. Sessions, decency is gaining ground. Thank you, Mr. Ossoff.
The Democrats should remember three things: Clinton lost the election and those three million votes aren't worth a bucket of spit; they need to change their mantra from ' progressive' to' moderate'; and it just can't always be about Trump.
3
Republicans don't break rank with the party, Ossoff got 48.1% in the general and the same in the runoff. Not a good omen.
As long as the Democrats remain the party neoliberalism ignoring ridiculing and insulting true progressives who once were the base the Democrats will continue to lose.
Another reliable GOP vote for depriving fellow Americans of health care while cutting taxes for billionaires.
And she has the nerve to smile?
And she has the nerve to smile?
Ossoff did not have a lot of experience, he ran a campaign of civility and respect, he is well educated, he was out spent by a considerable amount and he is of Jewish descent, he was well out of the demographic for the district. All things considered he did pretty well. As with all things in life, learn from your mistakes and do better next time, I know Ms. Handel would not have a prayer of winning an election in any blue state regardless of the amount of money the Koch brothers spend. The Democrats have to have a message other than, we are not Trump people.
1
I think it is time that we progressives accept the fact that this country is firmly in the hands of the GOP. As much as we try to intellectualize this GOP win in Georgia, and make exuses for yet another Dem loss, the fact is the GOP is winning and there will be no shake-up in 2008. Here in the fly over states the vast majority of the population buy the GOP message of "God, guns and country." They are willing to ignore the hypocrisy, loss of health care, and tax cuts for the rich. Trump was right. They want 1950's America ruled by old white men and they want "Obumma and the government" to leave them alone.
Democrats have no cohesive message. They merely look bewildered as they try to understand why such a large portion of the country can't see the truth in front of their eyes. I would say about voters that "stupid is as stupid does," but in reality it is Democratic leadership that has slipped into flabbergasted stupidity. With no message and no strategy, there is no chance of taking back Washington in 2008.
Democrats have no cohesive message. They merely look bewildered as they try to understand why such a large portion of the country can't see the truth in front of their eyes. I would say about voters that "stupid is as stupid does," but in reality it is Democratic leadership that has slipped into flabbergasted stupidity. With no message and no strategy, there is no chance of taking back Washington in 2008.
1
When will the Democratic Establishment learn that a MAJOR retooling is needed? They shunned Bernie, reelected Pelosi in a leadership role and chose Perez over Ellison. Now they ran a Hollywood wired nobody in a major race. Who in heavens name should be surprised at the result? DUH!!!
1
Democrats government like they campaign; over spend and under perform.
1
I watched and listened to the rhetoric of both candidates leading up to the election.
I come away from with this ;
~ the republican candidate attacked, attacked and attacked some more. ( Y'all need to vote for me cause' this guy and his San Francisco policies is not from round' here. )
~ the Democratic candidate was a robot. ( repeating the same thing over and over and over ) I fell asleep
Don't underestimate the republican voter to vote for party over country along light melanin lines.
I come away from with this ;
~ the republican candidate attacked, attacked and attacked some more. ( Y'all need to vote for me cause' this guy and his San Francisco policies is not from round' here. )
~ the Democratic candidate was a robot. ( repeating the same thing over and over and over ) I fell asleep
Don't underestimate the republican voter to vote for party over country along light melanin lines.
Easy Monday morning quarterback observations:
Our Indivisible group in another state was contacted early in this contest to pitch in, make phone calls, even go to Georgia if possible. I was unsettled by this and didn't get involved. Dems can't "carpetbag" their way into other states. It's off-putting and crippled Ossoff from the start. People need to campaign in their own backyards - not others'.
Ossoff should have at least moved into the district - a no-brainer. It crazy he didn't. As a voter there, I'd have been put off by his arrogance.
Ossoff should have run for local office first - school board, city or county office. He ran a marathon before running a mile.
Ignoring all cries of rank hypocrisy, but Jon, marry hour fiancé. You're in the South, for God's sake. As a Democrat, you simply can't afford to live out of the district you're running in with a girlfriend.
Advice to Ossoff and all Democrats: Run people who LIVE in their districts. First, run them in local offices. They have to have unimpeachable "character" (marry their partners, gay or straight). Politics 101.
I'm sad Ossoff didn't win, but never thought he would. Democrats are doing everything wrong:
It took FOREVER to even get a Chairman of the DNC in place. While the rest of us are in emergency mode, the DNC just takes its good old time doing anything, then doesn't support good candidates (SC, Kansas). I love Perez and Ellison - but they both lack the necessary charisma.
DEMS, PLEASE GET IT TOGETHER.
Our Indivisible group in another state was contacted early in this contest to pitch in, make phone calls, even go to Georgia if possible. I was unsettled by this and didn't get involved. Dems can't "carpetbag" their way into other states. It's off-putting and crippled Ossoff from the start. People need to campaign in their own backyards - not others'.
Ossoff should have at least moved into the district - a no-brainer. It crazy he didn't. As a voter there, I'd have been put off by his arrogance.
Ossoff should have run for local office first - school board, city or county office. He ran a marathon before running a mile.
Ignoring all cries of rank hypocrisy, but Jon, marry hour fiancé. You're in the South, for God's sake. As a Democrat, you simply can't afford to live out of the district you're running in with a girlfriend.
Advice to Ossoff and all Democrats: Run people who LIVE in their districts. First, run them in local offices. They have to have unimpeachable "character" (marry their partners, gay or straight). Politics 101.
I'm sad Ossoff didn't win, but never thought he would. Democrats are doing everything wrong:
It took FOREVER to even get a Chairman of the DNC in place. While the rest of us are in emergency mode, the DNC just takes its good old time doing anything, then doesn't support good candidates (SC, Kansas). I love Perez and Ellison - but they both lack the necessary charisma.
DEMS, PLEASE GET IT TOGETHER.
1
This is great news. Congratulations Ms. Handel and kudos your constituents who made the right choice for Atlanta, for Georgia, for the United States, and for the world! She triumphed in the most expensive House race in history. Expensive because rich liberals in Southern California and Martha's Vineyard spent a fortune on a candidate who would protect their precious right to abortion. Northeast and west coast liberals may think they can decide what's best for the nation, who they want in Congress, who they want in the White, but no it does not work way. All Americans across our land will decide for themselves who will represent them in Washington, not the liberals! The outcome of this pivotal election shows that the liberals still have not figured out why their party lost last November. They blame their loss on the Russians, but that did not happen. What happened is that Americans were finally presented with a candidate who spoke to their basic concerns and values, not the values of Beyonce, J-Zee, and Bon Jovi. Again congratulations Ms. Handel, your triumph is a harbinger of what's to come.
6
Seven months ago the posters on this page, along with any number of liberal columnists, were seriously debating whether the GOP could survive post November 8.
Apparently, it's made it to June 21.
Apparently, it's made it to June 21.
4
The whining and hand-ringing by Democrats seem a bit premature. First, what was the likelihood that a strongly Republican, white southern district would suddenly switch? Second, Trump may have "won" special elections but he continues to lose big where it counts; the hole he digs for himself just gets deeper and deeper and NATIONALLY, his "brand" is badly soiled. Finally, the Congressional elections are still a year away-plenty of time for the administration to implode: think health care, North Korea, Afghanistan, Syria, Meuller, tax "reform" etc. By treating Trump as though he was invincible only makes him so.
1
The Democrats need to find another Howard Dean to lead the strategy of the DNC. The Democrats have also got to remember that "all politics is local" and not run someone out of the District. Residents resent this.
Money matters in these races, but credibility matters more.
The Democrats are dong a poor job of recruiting good candidates.
Until they actually care enough about constituents, rather than power, they have a tough road to hoe.
Money matters in these races, but credibility matters more.
The Democrats are dong a poor job of recruiting good candidates.
Until they actually care enough about constituents, rather than power, they have a tough road to hoe.
Well, my opinion of law enforcement in this country, at all levels is at an all-time low. And if the Democrats keep up their shenanigans they will join that crowd as well. I asked the one Trump voter that I know personally what he thought Donald Trump will do for him. He did not really answer the question. His reply, "well, he got rid of her." No he didn't. The Clintons and their governing neo-liberal philosophy must be removed from the landscape. Please go away. You guys had your 15 minutes of fame, and did enough damage. JUST. GO. AWAY.
1
Too early a referendum. Trumpkins are still reveling in the strutting attitude and (conflicting) promises. Give them a year or so for the reality of his con job to sink in and it will be a different story.
Running against President Trump is not a platform, not a policy and does nothing to address the concerns of working Americans. Yet that is what Democrats turned GA6 into, the Trumpslayer. No wonder Ossof lost. For six months Americans have seen an endless parade of anti-Trump vitriol coming from the Democrats and their media sycophants. Trump, Trump, Trump 24/7. There is no policy, no new thinking, nothing. If this is the strategy for 2020, the Hollywood, Hamptons and Martha's Vineyard richies should put their heavy wallets away and save their money for something more tangible like a tummy tuck or a Matisse.
1
Let's see. A traditionally Republican district. "Relentless...attacks linking Mr. Ossoff to...Nancy Pelosi." Voter suppression. And cynically using the DC shooting to smear Mr. Ossoff. Yet he, a long shot, lost by only 5 points. And you are considering this a GOP "win?"
Sure, the GOP is happy to have kept this seat. But that is all they did: keep it. Barely. But behind the self-congratulations and braggadocio, the GOP is unquestionably quaking in its boots that they came thisclose to losing a safe seat.
The tide is turning. Given the continued mean-spiritedness of Lord Cheeto the Daft (who has the lowest rating of any president in history at this point in his term, and whose "trust" numbers are plummeting as well) and the GOP (who are beginning to lose ground even in former strongholds), the race for 2018 is now far too close to call. If the Dems don't step on their own toes, they have a very good chance of gaining ground in the House, and possibly even taking the Senate.
Sure, the GOP is happy to have kept this seat. But that is all they did: keep it. Barely. But behind the self-congratulations and braggadocio, the GOP is unquestionably quaking in its boots that they came thisclose to losing a safe seat.
The tide is turning. Given the continued mean-spiritedness of Lord Cheeto the Daft (who has the lowest rating of any president in history at this point in his term, and whose "trust" numbers are plummeting as well) and the GOP (who are beginning to lose ground even in former strongholds), the race for 2018 is now far too close to call. If the Dems don't step on their own toes, they have a very good chance of gaining ground in the House, and possibly even taking the Senate.
So, Ossoff spends $23 million on a House election and he was supported by a "grass roots coalition", while Handel raises a like amount, but required "extraordinary financial intervention" by outsiders?
Does The Narrative ever stop at the NYT?
Does The Narrative ever stop at the NYT?
4
Democrats can't win by brain-dead negativity. What do they propose for the average working American? Impeaching Trump? Transgender bathrooms? Having police fill out 15 forms when they make an arrest? It's time for Democrats to stop being mashugina (Yiddish for crazy) and get back to sanity and hard work on behalf of the average American.
4
The NY Times using the loss to attack progressives yet again saying Osoff got a "deluge of liberal money" and raised "$25 million from progressives" without stating what their source was. It's far more likely he was funded by the establishment Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee then any other group.It's surprising that neither of these authors (yes it took two people to write this reprehensible, irresponsible article) didn't call it Commie Cash. I'm threatening to cancel my subscription. Shame on the NY Times.
2
It seems like more of a "blow" to the New York Times than to Democrats in general. You devoted a lot of ink to hyping this election and promoting Ossoff. All to no avail.
6
The revolution can only come when we overthrown Pelosi and co first. If we have a re-election, Donald will win again because DNC simply sucks.
2
The Republicans and Trump are cheering and self congratulating themselves this morning, but this election was too close a win for a district so strongly Republican with a Republican candidate with a long history in the District. The kid Ossof did very well for a rookie. The Republicans had to pour a ton of money into the race with the usual deplorable Republican attack ads to defeat him. The SC race was another close Republican win that should have been a landslide. The Republicans can't continue to run against Nancy Pelosi: they control the government now. And I assume Obamacare will be gone soon, so that eliminates another "red meat" issue. And Trump will still be President. Now if only Bernie Sanders would shut up.
2
Yeah the people don't want Medicare for all. (Hahahaha)
When 2% of the voters decide on a Republican in one of the heavily gerrymandered districts in the Old South, it is hard to call that a great win for the hard right.
Do the Democrats know how to win? No. They still don't get that they win when they frame the choice between their fundamental underlying interests while explaining what is wrong with the core Republican interests. And this is not about 'connecting with voters'. It is about revealing fundamental, core values and how you can reflect them in what you support. Clean air, clean water, preservation of the environment, justice and fairness, human rights, equity in opportunity, level playing fields, affordable education, universal health care.
It is true -- converting abstract-sounding values into voting issues may be challenging. But if it's too hard, the perceived connections may be illusory. Find the ones that are not.
Do the Democrats know how to win? No. They still don't get that they win when they frame the choice between their fundamental underlying interests while explaining what is wrong with the core Republican interests. And this is not about 'connecting with voters'. It is about revealing fundamental, core values and how you can reflect them in what you support. Clean air, clean water, preservation of the environment, justice and fairness, human rights, equity in opportunity, level playing fields, affordable education, universal health care.
It is true -- converting abstract-sounding values into voting issues may be challenging. But if it's too hard, the perceived connections may be illusory. Find the ones that are not.
7
In the "Old South" - Atlanta? 57% College Educated?
Hey New Yorker, continue to be out of touch with the rest of the country and watch as you continue to lose.
Hey New Yorker, continue to be out of touch with the rest of the country and watch as you continue to lose.
3
I'm a Dem but not demoralized. Rather I'm energized by the progress this election demonstrates. Of course it was disappointing momentarily to come within striking distance of victory and not quite reach the mark, but the longer term signs are very encouraging. We must build on the progress this shows, and return in 16 months to flip the script in this district and scores of others.
It's the beginning of the end for Trump and his ilk.
It's the beginning of the end for Trump and his ilk.
2
As a Democrat, I was beseiged with emails asking for campaign money for Ossoff for months. When I found out late he didnt live in the district, I was glad I had not. Not because I dont support Democratic takeover of the House, because I do. But because it appears to me to be a colossal waste of money to support an out of district rookie politician, who would be viewed as a mercenary to do Democratic bidding, just because he's a Democrat. I am pretty sure that garden variety voters dont appreciate outsider rabble rousing, no matter what their political beliefs. My read is that the voters rejected the standard tax implications of the Democratic Party, and traditional liberalism. I hope the lesson learned here by the Democrats is to play the long game of development of local political talent, who can believe in and express positions that benefit the greater good over selfish concerns, however that may play out in policy and political stands, as the current platforms are failing at that purpose. Democrats have to win the hearts of voters, and you cant do that just by running against the heartlessness of the opposition. We will soon find out if the healthcare and tax reform battles provide that opportunity. Lets have debates about the direction of our country, and what country we want to be, not wasteful mudslinging.
Or we could just sit out the next two election cycles and give the GOP the reins they crave. They will turn us into Kansas and bitter experience may teach Trump Republicans that becoming a bankrupt geopolitical backwater isn't winning.
One of the oldest political axioms is “Stand for something, fall for nothing.” I suspect these four special elections confirm that axiom. Anti-Trump is insufficient. Bill Clinton’s two terms of centrist cozying up to Wall Street was successful, for a time, but contained the seeds of its own destruction, the 2008 Great Recession being Exhibit 1. I’m thrilled that we have Obamacare, because it helps so many people, but even it is an example of the flawed policy that comes from compromise with the right. Democrats need a new direction that offers hope to a broad majority of Americans. We won’t find it in tailored messages to segments of the economy or even demography. It must be visionary and inclusive. It will be on the left. I know many cringe at that, but we have no need for fear if those ideas deliver solutions to the ills of the middle and lower classes. I’m actually looking forward to someone who can articulate that message. It will be a winner.
2
The day after the election a good number of us simply said, The Democratic Party elected Donald Trump. They still have shown no signs of seeing this at all, and that's a problem.
There have been no investigations into obvious fraud and tampering of the primary, rather huge focus on tampering with the general by Russia. If doing one, do the other.
If you wish to win, you'll have to return to issues, not hairstyles. Senator Sanders was the voice and spirit that would have clearly gotten to the issues the matter. Now aside from all the other challenges, there is a Conference going on to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons with over a hundred nations trying to move forward, as Americans dismiss, ignore and don't educate and inform our citizens of such vital work and movements.
There have been no investigations into obvious fraud and tampering of the primary, rather huge focus on tampering with the general by Russia. If doing one, do the other.
If you wish to win, you'll have to return to issues, not hairstyles. Senator Sanders was the voice and spirit that would have clearly gotten to the issues the matter. Now aside from all the other challenges, there is a Conference going on to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons with over a hundred nations trying to move forward, as Americans dismiss, ignore and don't educate and inform our citizens of such vital work and movements.
2
Calm down, fellow Democrats. This district was drawn to elect Newt Gingrich, who won it handily for years, as did Tom Price, who won by 23% last time. Actual swing districts will be up in 2018 and those we can win. Not to mention Senate races we can win (states can't be gerrymandered).
1
. Not doubt - this election was a disappointment, but this district has gone from solid Republican to toss up. Winter is Coming for Trump and the Republicans., it just might be a tad linger than we would like.
It proves that pouring millions of dollars into a political race does not guarantee victory. Jon Ossoff had the assistance of the Hollywood elites and liberal groups who donated a lot of money and in the end it really didn't matter. He was not the favored candidate of the residents of Georgia. Nancy Pelosi with her big name recognition did not help him either and may have been a hindrance. The voters did want a liberal running their state.
The win by Karen Handel is wonderful news for Republicans and hopefully they can keep up this momentum in the 2018 races and gain even more seats in the House. She was the favored candidate and it proves that the voters did not want a progressive running their state. The voter turnout was impressive and there was a lot at stake. She also was the candidate with the most experience and this was important to voters. There were moments when it looked like her opponent would win but in the end she was the best for the people. They have reason to celebrate as it was the most expensive race in history. The Republicans must be so proud and elevated. They have reason to be.
This is a positive moment for the Republicans and now they hopefully will be able to pass the bills that are awaiting on their agenda. In the end, the investigation into President Trump and the Republican tampering of our election proved to not matter with voters. They know he will be cleared of all wrongdoing and he still has their support.
The win by Karen Handel is wonderful news for Republicans and hopefully they can keep up this momentum in the 2018 races and gain even more seats in the House. She was the favored candidate and it proves that the voters did not want a progressive running their state. The voter turnout was impressive and there was a lot at stake. She also was the candidate with the most experience and this was important to voters. There were moments when it looked like her opponent would win but in the end she was the best for the people. They have reason to celebrate as it was the most expensive race in history. The Republicans must be so proud and elevated. They have reason to be.
This is a positive moment for the Republicans and now they hopefully will be able to pass the bills that are awaiting on their agenda. In the end, the investigation into President Trump and the Republican tampering of our election proved to not matter with voters. They know he will be cleared of all wrongdoing and he still has their support.
2
Effluence is data rich, and should be studied rather than hastily flushed. While many of us would love to see Trump gone, it is more constructive to understand who supports him and why, and then to modify strategy.
As far as I can tell, Democrats are doing none of these things. Trump is easy to demonize, which is distracting the party from reinventing itself. Where is the passion, or anything other than fundraising?
As far as I can tell, Democrats are doing none of these things. Trump is easy to demonize, which is distracting the party from reinventing itself. Where is the passion, or anything other than fundraising?
2
From the way this race was reported, you'd be excused for thinking that Ossoff was running against Donald Trump himself, instead of a run-of-the-mill Republican defending an overwhelmingly Republican district. Why exactly should dislike for Trump have produced in Republicans a desire to elect a 30-year-old Democrat? That question was not answered satisfactorily. Republicans really want a Republican House, perhaps even more so now that their President's power to influence legislation is so anemic. It was always a long shot for Ossoff, maybe not a 21-point long shot as it would have been against Price, but still a stretch. He seems to have gotten out a lot of otherwise indifferent Democrats to vote. It was never going to be enough if Republicans had even a fair turnout. They did and he fell short. That's not really a set back. Outside money won't buy votes in that kind of a fishbowl. (Look to the pretty stunning South Carolina results to see what special elections are like outside the fishbowl.) Handel is going to have to defend her seat again in 2018. Things might be more auspicious then for the kind of Republican anomie required to flip the district. She's got a pretty small window to make some kind of mark. The Dems should get themselves a better challenger.
When will the Dems realize they have no political identity beyond the caricature Pelosi liberal? Dems try to be too many things for too many people who have no central unifying identity or ideal - the GOP will continue to prevail with their mantra of low taxes, strong defense, small government, pro business - it doesn't matter that those ideas are often contradictory or their implementation is hypocritical - it's a slogan that voters buy into.
Obama won in '08 because W failed and the country was in a tailspin - they he lost every election since with the exception of '12 where the charismatic Obama prevailed over Romney's icy shell. Dems need to win the battle of ideas, not battles of momentum or personality
Obama won in '08 because W failed and the country was in a tailspin - they he lost every election since with the exception of '12 where the charismatic Obama prevailed over Romney's icy shell. Dems need to win the battle of ideas, not battles of momentum or personality
1
With all with all the money and attention focused on this race I think it is disingenuous to not admit that this election was not a referendum on Trump.
Trump won and the republicans were brilliant in their strategy in making their opponent Pelosi and not Osloff. The Democrats need to change the face of the party, much of America are tired of Pelosi and Hillary. For the good of the country and the Democraticparty, It's time for Pelosi to step down so a different voice can be heard and that we would have a better chance to defeat Trump and the Republicans in future elections.
Trump won and the republicans were brilliant in their strategy in making their opponent Pelosi and not Osloff. The Democrats need to change the face of the party, much of America are tired of Pelosi and Hillary. For the good of the country and the Democraticparty, It's time for Pelosi to step down so a different voice can be heard and that we would have a better chance to defeat Trump and the Republicans in future elections.
3
When will the Democrats realize that their tepid, only slightly left-of-center strategy is not giving results? We are at a moment when the party is ripe to move farther left, in a good way. But the party is caught up in being anti-Trump while still being condescending to anyone who sympathizes with Sanders's stances which, despite his "militant" rhetoric (quoting the Times), are very ordinary political views outside of the United States. The time has come to stop blaming everyone else for mediocre political strategy and being myopic to your voter base.
2
So more free stuff for everyone?
How's that working so far?
How's that working so far?
2
I think not being eternally debt for education and hospital bills is a pretty good deal.
It is too early for Democrats to find their mojo; good news for Republicans.
This defeat in Georgia shows how hard will be for Democrats to win back the leadership in both houses of Congress in 2018.
Republicans, despite a titubant Trump's administration, show resilience among the electorate. Democrats are still walking in the wilderness and Republicans fine tuned with voters. Good news for Donald Trump.
This defeat in Georgia shows how hard will be for Democrats to win back the leadership in both houses of Congress in 2018.
Republicans, despite a titubant Trump's administration, show resilience among the electorate. Democrats are still walking in the wilderness and Republicans fine tuned with voters. Good news for Donald Trump.
2
We need a third party and a candidate with a message for all. Stop emphasizing God, guns or lgbt people. Talk about healthcare for all, education for all, fair taxes, regulated banks, etc. I want Bernie to run independently and take with him all progressive candidates. Macron did it in France. It can be done here.
Commentators on news shows this morning were saying how the Georgia Sixth district is well educated, and yet they voted for Handel and basically Trump. Does educated also mean well informed and intelligent? This appears to be more about culture rather than issues.
Though a crushing defeat for Dems, it was not all bad. This gives me hope that a democrat can defeat a republican when given a fair chance. Ossoff lost because of the $$, the negative ads and the fear of those who think democrats are not hearing the right message. The conservatives who hear the word TAXES over and over drummed into their brain needed someone who wanted to run on more than just defeating Trump.
See here's the problem. Trump supporters, even ones who don't like him, want the tax program he promises.
Dems need to figure out what the people want to hear and not run against Trump but for what is what they want. Easy peasy: Its the Economy, Stupid.
Show them how you could give them more jobs, education and healthcare and how your opponent can't or won't.
See here's the problem. Trump supporters, even ones who don't like him, want the tax program he promises.
Dems need to figure out what the people want to hear and not run against Trump but for what is what they want. Easy peasy: Its the Economy, Stupid.
Show them how you could give them more jobs, education and healthcare and how your opponent can't or won't.
We need a new approach. Instead of trying to win races, maybe we should focus first on winning hearts and minds. While canvassing in the 6th for Jon Ossoff, I was shocked by how many snide, greedy, and intolerant residents that I encountered who were hostile to the Democratic Party.
Instead of only reaching out to these people when an election rolls around, and calling them "deplorable" which even if true doesn't win them over, we should maybe instead reach out to them as a loving parent would to a child. Then it occurred to me, this might actually be the most efficient thing to do!
We need to parent the hateful right. We need to go to their doors and talk to them, like parents trying to help misguided children. And we need to do this frequently. Another thing I learned while canvassing the 6th was how many of his supporters, like me, also happen to be relatively free of family and business obligations. Most were either older and childless, or younger and childless. And no one owned a business, served in the military, or seemed too tied down by material possessions. In other words, if we need a full time cohort of volunteers who can knock on doors, even when there aren't any elections, to basically parent the misguided into being better adults via impromptu interventions, I think we have the resources!
Think about it. Namaste.
Instead of only reaching out to these people when an election rolls around, and calling them "deplorable" which even if true doesn't win them over, we should maybe instead reach out to them as a loving parent would to a child. Then it occurred to me, this might actually be the most efficient thing to do!
We need to parent the hateful right. We need to go to their doors and talk to them, like parents trying to help misguided children. And we need to do this frequently. Another thing I learned while canvassing the 6th was how many of his supporters, like me, also happen to be relatively free of family and business obligations. Most were either older and childless, or younger and childless. And no one owned a business, served in the military, or seemed too tied down by material possessions. In other words, if we need a full time cohort of volunteers who can knock on doors, even when there aren't any elections, to basically parent the misguided into being better adults via impromptu interventions, I think we have the resources!
Think about it. Namaste.
How come the Republican candidates ALWAYS out perform the polls (both pre-election and exit polls) to win almost every close race? At some point, this all-too-common phenomenon becomes statistically impossible and difficult to accept...
Hand Counted Paper Ballots Only!
Hand Counted Paper Ballots Only!
2
I wouldn't worry too much about this loss. The war is long and it is a marathon, not a sprint. It's also worth noting that another Confederate statue was removed yesterday in Orlando, Florida. We may lose an occasional electoral battle but the outcome of the long term cultural war isn't in doubt.
The Democratic Party needs a complete change of leadership - a real revolt. They can't just run against Trump - they need to be clearly for something- and that something just cannot be supporting LGTQ, Black Lives Matter, and other special interest groups. While these marginalized groups deserve support, the Democrats seem to have failed to realize that the vast majority of average Americans want a focus on them and their economic woes. Additionally, the Democratic Party has implicitly told the conservative religious segment of the population that they have no place in the Democratic Party. While I am not religious, and an pro-choice, somehow the Democrats need to make the tent bigger. Otherwise, they are going to continue to lose. As I began with, the other problem is leadership - they need a complete change. Schumer, Pelosi, et al are not inspiring. New, leadership with a new vision is necessary to win - and if they don't take that step, they will continue to lose.
1
A gusher of money to no avail, resulting in zero for four in special elections. Like many, I cannot stand Trump. However, no message and the constant barrage of the he somehow conspired with the Russians story will probably not move things forward. Take the ACA as an example. If all you offer is that the evil opposition is going to change the thing, it is not enough. What is the party's proposal to reign in costs? Who knows, because all anyone can talk about is the Russians. The same on infrastructure. A united proposal? No, all we talk about is the Russians. It appears clear to me that Democratic politicians cannot multitask. Their minds are filled with contempt for Trump and they blather on about the Russians. There is no room in their small minds for anything else.
1
As long as the democrats are putting up investment bankers (SC)?and other republican lite candidates (Georgia) they will continue to lose. But maybe that's the point?
I am currently a registered Democrat who has spent just short of fifty years voting Democratic, while registered as Non-partisan or Independent. Too many of the issues Democrats run on are just not compelling. The Republican Party is willing to run on issues that will get it elected, but the Democratic Party is willing to waste its efforts, one sorry election after the next. If the Democratic Party continues down this road, I will probably stop votting completely. If you won't or can't make me CARE, why should I bother?
1
17 months to the midterm elections. 17 more months of Mr. Trump who is polling at less than 35% favorability and can't even get a willing candidate to replace his mortified -poor guy - Press Secretary. 17 months until we began to balance the scales and restore respect for our country and leaders. Let's get to work!
1
If Democrats who say they are so angry at Trump and want to throw such huge sums of their money at something in protest, instead of squandering it on political candidates why don't they throw it at the needy victims they claim are the result of the man they detest and the supposed cause of that need. No, they care nothing about such people or things, just getting the power back for themselves to pursue their own selfish indulgences with.
1
I live in the district. This was actually a pretty good success for Democrats. An inexperienced new-comer, who doesn't even live here taking on a Republican veteran in a very red / one of the wealthiest district, should have been blown away. Before the run-off, I didn't see a single Handel yard-sign, but plenty of other (Republican) candidates'. They all switched to Handel signs in the run-off. In order for Ossof to win, he would have had to switch a ton of R voters who hadn't done so in decades.
The Democrats stridency on the issue of abortion leaves no room for those who are Democrats on every other issue. Until, as Bernie Sanders indicated, they decide to make room once again for pro-life Democrats, they will continue to lose. Clearly a baby one week old, and a fetus one week from birth are not that different. Common sense dictates that one cannot be an abortion absolutist. If one is not a person, then the other isn't either. It doesn't take a PhD to see this, but for all the concern about rights of every sort that the Democrats have, today they never see this right of a little person. Well, Sad, and here are the consequences, Yuge.
I am one democrat who will never stop putting the environment ahead of jobs. If this gets democrats defeated, so be it. Without environmental protection, the future will not matter anyway, so who cares who is in charge.
Instead of running a campaign of new and fresh ideas, connecting with the voter, and showing the country “they get it”, Democrats tried to make a loud (and expensive) statement about the weakness of the Republican Party under President Trump. The Republicans don’t need the Democrat’s help (or money). Trump is working overtime in this regard. If Democrats think they will be picking up Republican and Independent votes without having a coherent platform of real ideas and actions, they will be woefully unprepared for what lies ahead. Just because elevator #2 is going down, doesn’t mean elevator #1 will be going up any time soon. Someone has to hit the correct button. The current guard needs to cede their place at the table to someone who knows what buttons to push, and there isn’t a moment to spare.
1
All very good comments by previous persons. I can only add that perhaps it's time to start spending money on gasoline for a car so the candidate can go door to door much the way a young candidate like JFK did in his first contest and less money on neg advertising. Voters are more likely to vote for someone who they spent face time with. Salesmanship 101. Start cleaning your house democrats!
No one should be surprised by this outcome. This state and district are redder than red. Many Republican voters hate Trump but still approve of most cabinet members and other members of the GOP and they are not going to change their minds. What is really upsetting is that while we wait in fear over budget cuts and the health care crisis, millions of dollars were wasted on another campaign. One can only imagine what could be done with that money other than a popularity contest that was clearly going one way. As long as there is infighting between Clintonite era soft neocons, basic Bernie folks dreaming of a "new new deal" and a bunch of insatiable hardcore leftists who want to completely dismantle "the system" (and call everyone racist when they disagree ie Evergreen college) then the Democrats are doomed. No one can agree on a way forward. As disgusting as it is, the standard GOP voters and the Alt Right were able to siphon their views into Trump and find success. I do not see that happening with the Democrats. I think someone else here said it best, at this point the only way the rest of the country will change its mind is if the GOP begins to fail "bigly." That and maybe when the other half of the eligible voting population finally realizes they should vote.
Yes, Ms Handel has a lot of work to do -- such as helping Donald Trump destroy any vestiges of representative democracy.
If you are rationalizing this loss as a win because the margin of loss was tighter than the margin in the 2016 GA 06 house race ... you are still in the first stage of grief.
It is called denial.
It is called denial.
The Lincoln Memorial must be spontaneously cracking, crumbling and on the verge of self destruction. "The Party of Lincoln" employs authoritarian means--gerrymandering, voter suppression, plutocratic money, rule-bending, secretiveness--to assure that government of, by and for the people shall perish from the face of this earth.
Ossoff's loss, like Trump's ascent to office, is a symptom of a great national disease. The Republicans no longer value the democratic principles that undergird our constitutional republic. Yet people continue to vote against their own democratic interests and elect them.
The U.S. is now a “competitive authoritarianism,” a system in which democratic institutions are severely weakened--a system wherein elected officials abuse state power to aid their allies and disadvantage their adversaries—a system in which the considered preferences of the majority of citizens are ignored and abuses of power go well beyond those associated with traditional patronage.
Far too many Republican politicians recognize but one guiding principle: The end—promoting the interests of my party and its donors—justifies the means. Too many citizens now believe: Since no governmental institution is bigger than the greed and power-lust that drives the person in charge, no institution is to be trusted.
The demoralization of a once democratic people will issues in further polarization, cynicism and increased violence.
The U.S. stands in desperate need of "re-moralization."
Ossoff's loss, like Trump's ascent to office, is a symptom of a great national disease. The Republicans no longer value the democratic principles that undergird our constitutional republic. Yet people continue to vote against their own democratic interests and elect them.
The U.S. is now a “competitive authoritarianism,” a system in which democratic institutions are severely weakened--a system wherein elected officials abuse state power to aid their allies and disadvantage their adversaries—a system in which the considered preferences of the majority of citizens are ignored and abuses of power go well beyond those associated with traditional patronage.
Far too many Republican politicians recognize but one guiding principle: The end—promoting the interests of my party and its donors—justifies the means. Too many citizens now believe: Since no governmental institution is bigger than the greed and power-lust that drives the person in charge, no institution is to be trusted.
The demoralization of a once democratic people will issues in further polarization, cynicism and increased violence.
The U.S. stands in desperate need of "re-moralization."
Get the Supreme court on this gerrymandering thing. THEN we can point fingers and analyze Republican vs Democratic platforms.
Handel's victory, seen as a referendum for Trump, will encourage our President to continue his reckless and irresponsible remarks. The true test will come in three years. And mid-term Congressional elections will not all be held in the deep south.
Ossoff spent $22 million, compared to Handel $3.1 million - 7x as much - and still lost.
This wasn't a referendum on Trump, this was a referendum on Democrats and they lost.
Georgia's educated voters didn't want to be told how to vote by CA and NY doners, and they stood up for themselves.
Amazing that Democrats are so interested in Russian influence, but the coastal states attempt to buy their own influence outside their borders too. Hypocrites.
This wasn't a referendum on Trump, this was a referendum on Democrats and they lost.
Georgia's educated voters didn't want to be told how to vote by CA and NY doners, and they stood up for themselves.
Amazing that Democrats are so interested in Russian influence, but the coastal states attempt to buy their own influence outside their borders too. Hypocrites.
1
"Mr. Ossoff, for his part, sought to avoid being linked to Ms. Pelosi or labeled a liberal. He assured voters he would not raise taxes on the rich. And in pledging to root out wasteful spending and seek compromise, he sounded more like an heir to former Senator Sam Nunn’s brand of Southern centrism than a progressive millennial who cut his teeth working for Representative Hank Johnson, a DeKalb County liberal."
And that is why Mr. Ossoff lost.
Everyone in politics knows this: When a republican runs against a democrat who acts like a republican, the real republican will win.
(Worth noting that Sam Nunn, mentioned above, was one of the founders of the DLC. The day of the DLC is done.)
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
And that is why Mr. Ossoff lost.
Everyone in politics knows this: When a republican runs against a democrat who acts like a republican, the real republican will win.
(Worth noting that Sam Nunn, mentioned above, was one of the founders of the DLC. The day of the DLC is done.)
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
The Democrats' solution is always to throw money at a problem, huge amounts of it, without any thought really, to what a real solution might look like. And in typical fashion, this approach usually fails. When will they learn?
The country is headed into a long period of chaos. The GOP lead government will destroy itself, we need only hang on long enough.
Our moral tragedy is that the poor and uneducated will suffer most through these dark years - they've made their beds (as supporters of Trump and the GOP) and now they must sleep in them. Pleasant dreams.
Our moral tragedy is that the poor and uneducated will suffer most through these dark years - they've made their beds (as supporters of Trump and the GOP) and now they must sleep in them. Pleasant dreams.
1
The Party has to field a better candidate.
I read that many are coming forward to run because of Trump...but it does not seem that the party organization knows how to pick astute, well spoken, location friendly candidates. Ossoff was a duck out of water in that district...it was close because of Trump...close only counts with horseshoes and hand grenades.
I read that many are coming forward to run because of Trump...but it does not seem that the party organization knows how to pick astute, well spoken, location friendly candidates. Ossoff was a duck out of water in that district...it was close because of Trump...close only counts with horseshoes and hand grenades.
Ossoff camp went off the rails and delivered a truly lame message in the final weeks. Cut waste and fraud seemed to be his core theme, with little or no mention of Trump, healthcare, financial regs, immigration, environment or other issues. With all that money and brainpower, the decision to play safe and try to court traditional conservatives rather than fire up the base was stupid, and here we see the results.
Not surprising...but swhat it says to me is that there is a HUGE divide in our country that is not about perception, but that there really are two different nations and that we will, inevitably, split.
One group believes in truth and the common good.
One believes in lies and power and money.
One group believes in truth and the common good.
One believes in lies and power and money.
If this election was truly "a referendum on Trump," how is it possible that the Republican won...I just don't understand how any logical thinking person could support Trump after what we've learned about his character. Oh well, the stock market's humming, so I guess all is well with the world.
1
The Democrats lost the south in 1965 with civil rights legislation. What they need to get it back is something that speaks to those people who probably never voted Democratic in their lives. I would think some one like Bill Clinton without the baggage. Whether at the state, local, or federal level.
Surprise, surprise.A voter suppression state, gerrymandered district and a Rubublican lite democratic candidate running on a anti-trump agenda , business as usual for a failed political party. A precursor of 2018, the party of change where nothing has changed.
1
"Victory for Republicans" to keep a seat in a deep red district? Why not call this a victory for Democrats for even putting this safe Republican seat in play?With a 30-year old filmmaker no less. Perhaps if the Democrats had run someone with more experience in the community--such as a teacher, a nurse or a small business owner--they would have overcome the enormous odds. Likely because no one thought they had a shot given deep red aeas like Cobb County. Hopefully in November, someone with more community creds will step up. In the meantime please don't spin this as a victory for Republicans.
Perhaps some Democrats can analyze now -- following Ossoff's use of this issue in his TV ads -- why their position endorsing the bullying of Komen merely backfired at the end of the day. Komen should have had the right decide to any policy it likes, it's a private organization. Planned Parenthood should be rebuffed in its effort, with government funding, to harass and bully groups who won't support their abortion rights stance. It's about freedom, and the right to association. Whatever temporary smugness some radicals got from this gambit, in fueled Handal to write a book about PP bullying and it propelled her further in politics, and the result is that no amount of money could help the Dems. Time to stop banging on the open door of reproductive rights that are largely guaranteed in America and focus on issues that bring some Republicans over like health care.
1
What was Ossoff offering? Basically, the same platform Mrs. Clinton lost on: No to single-payer, pro-business, etc. Why did anyone think it would work this time? Democrats will continue to lose until they stop being Pretend Republicans.
Once again, the dems threw too much money at an imperfect candidate. Newsflash - that is not a winning combination!
I strongly believe that the crucial point here is well summed up by this line: "Mr. Ossoff, for his part, sought to avoid being linked to Ms. Pelosi or labeled a liberal. He assured voters he would not raise taxes on the rich. And in pledging to root out wasteful spending and seek compromise, he sounded more like an heir to former Senator Sam Nunn".
Is that the price to pay for liberal democrats to win? If so, what's the point of standing by a liberal agenda? Any democrat could always win just by compromising a large segment of his/her core political values.
The mind goes to the experience of "Labor" (quotes are mandatory in this case) leader tony Blair who did become British Prime Minister...by running on a Thatcher-minded political platform.
Few liberal analysts seem willing to acknowledge - perhaps because of the great illusion of Obama's electoral victories (yet largely contradicted by midterm elections) that the country, on balance, is simply more conservative than what they care to admit. And there's absolutely no other way to explain the Presidential outcome.
Yet it was the NYT times itself that, in previous coverage, illustrated how the Democratic leadership was trying to adjust to the 2016 results by courting centrist republicans, possibly but not assuredly disenchanted by Trump, and marginalizing Sanders-like candidate, judged - correctly- too much on the left for the country.
And Mr. Ossoff did essentially the same....
Food for thought.
Is that the price to pay for liberal democrats to win? If so, what's the point of standing by a liberal agenda? Any democrat could always win just by compromising a large segment of his/her core political values.
The mind goes to the experience of "Labor" (quotes are mandatory in this case) leader tony Blair who did become British Prime Minister...by running on a Thatcher-minded political platform.
Few liberal analysts seem willing to acknowledge - perhaps because of the great illusion of Obama's electoral victories (yet largely contradicted by midterm elections) that the country, on balance, is simply more conservative than what they care to admit. And there's absolutely no other way to explain the Presidential outcome.
Yet it was the NYT times itself that, in previous coverage, illustrated how the Democratic leadership was trying to adjust to the 2016 results by courting centrist republicans, possibly but not assuredly disenchanted by Trump, and marginalizing Sanders-like candidate, judged - correctly- too much on the left for the country.
And Mr. Ossoff did essentially the same....
Food for thought.
How were the votes counted? The source below indicates that Georgia still uses electronic voting machines without paper trail.
https://www.verifiedvoting.org/verifier/#/year/2017/
Did either Todd or Bob Urosevich make a last minute trip to fix any equipment?
https://www.verifiedvoting.org/verifier/#/year/2017/
Did either Todd or Bob Urosevich make a last minute trip to fix any equipment?
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Well, as a dem, i am ashamed of the party. It takes more than money to win over people. Democrats are trying to outrepublican the GOP. Big mistake. They deserve to lose.
HANDEL May have been able to handle the election. But she will not handily handle the quagmire in Washington. Ultimately the GOPpers will be thrown out. Ossoff came within a respectable distance of winning. The GOP managed to tie him to Nancy Pelosi and her "San Francisco" values. Whatever that means. Nothing of substance, you can rest assured. Perhaps had he come out swinging and said that while he may share some of Nancy Pelosi's views, Handel is far more dangerous because she represents Trump's abominations and atrocities. The Democrats need to learn how to respond effectively--to reflect the aggression of the GOPpers and to bring their aims and objectives into question. Failing that, the Democrats will have a very hard time winning. Ever.
The amount of money spent on this elections is obscene, think of what that money could have done elsewhere.
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As an outsider but a huge political junkie the Dems mistake was being "nice" especially against nasty trump anf repub messaging. In BC the election before last the left wing party stuck to positivity and lost. We just had an election and they fought the right wing party which has adopted usa style campaign nastiness and now we have a hung parliament.
What a surprise - NOT. Once again this shows you don't know or understand the south. She was always going to win. The south loves the Republican Party. You made it a horse race - why?
I've been voting for democrats for years and they almost always lose. For 30 years I've heard about the influx of new voters to the south (I'm in NC) and how that will influence future elections. So far things have stayed the same.
You do a disservice to the Democratic Party in the south by not accurately assessing the situation. Get with it. Get real.
I've been voting for democrats for years and they almost always lose. For 30 years I've heard about the influx of new voters to the south (I'm in NC) and how that will influence future elections. So far things have stayed the same.
You do a disservice to the Democratic Party in the south by not accurately assessing the situation. Get with it. Get real.