Republicans are a lot more flexible than I had imagined. I'm not talking about the strange hodge-podge of Trump creatures, but the true Republicans living in exclusive neighborhoods like Muirfield Village and Indian Hill. I had believed that they would come to abandon Trump as an embarrassment, an intercontinental ballistic madman, and an economics nitwit, that they would finally risk the almighty tax-cut for the country's greater good. At least we now know they are committed to their own self-interests and who knows what else they are willing to sacrifice of our behalf to keep their own wallets fat.
95
The Republicans sneer at the Democrats for having "no platform but being against Trump." What do they campaign on? "A vote for me is a vote against Nancy Pelosi."
59
And none can tell you anything about her.
54
“They’re going to raise your taxes,” Mr. Trump said of the Democrats. “You’re going to have crime all over the place. You’re going to have people pouring across the border.”
Could be a quote out of “It Can’t Happen Here”
23
Ohio is home to to millions of Trumpists. Will they be able to place loyalty to America over loyalty to the GOP?
To date there have been basically four kinds of voters that chose Trump: (1) racists and bigots who find in Trump the vent for all their fury and hatred; (2) the uninformed and low information voters who only listen to right wing propaganda from Fox News/Breitbart ; (3) those who only care about lowering taxes at any cost to the nation; and (4) the Evangelists for whom defeating Roe v. Wade overcomes every other Christian value.
However, RussiaGate is now rapidly unfolding. Trump's betrayal of the United States in favor of Putin along with Trump's blatant violation of his oath of office is on the "front page" daily. An awakening of Ohio voters brought about by the realization that neither Trump nor the Republican Party have America's best interests at heart may motivate them to reject the Republican Party in order to save our democracy. Let us hope so.
63
So what's new about this? The GOP has been doing this for years - it's really all they have to go on.
30
One of the next items this country needs to attack is Citizens United. It is a sin that so much money is flooded into campaigns while Americans struggle. Better uses for this money would be education, apprentice training programs, veterans housing, low cost childcare, transportation vouchers, etc.
51
Gee. What leadership.
I’m sure they’re only doing this because their policies and platforms are already so great that they have nothing better to do during the campaign but exploit partisan fervor. Just for fun, you know?
13
Their entire plan is to invoke Nancy Pelosi???
33
@Max It is in almost every ad for the Republican.
18
I live in a neighboring Congressional district. The 12th is just across the river. The districts around Columbus are Gerrymandered. Ohio citizens voted to get better Congressional districts drawn. Half of District 12 voted for Clinton 60%-30%, the suburbs around Dublin, Ohio (Jack Nicklaus Memorial Tournament) and the same voter disparity for 45 from areas around Massillon, Newark, and Lancaster. Saturday's rally in Lewis Center, 45 bullied himself into. Troy Balderson never asked 45 to come. Governor Kaisch called Troy and asked if he invited 45, and the answer was no. The other sad part of this election, the outside Republican PACS run negative ads. Troy's positive ads copy Danny O'Conner's positive ads. For Republicans, its puppets following puppets, or the best form of flattery is imitation.
14
Surely the Democrats should push the argument that, regardless of where you stand on many policies, it makes sense to have a Democrat-dominated Congress to act as a brake?
29
Racism and misogyny. That's all the Republicans have. But what's worse, is that strategy is pretty effective with a lot of people who think they are good people, but ultimately they are not. One thing the Trump era is teaching us is that a huge part of the American dream is utterly false. The goodness of Americans part, that is.
41
@Michele It works in a district that is only 10% minority....half of which is "Asian"
13
What is the difference between the US leader and the UK leader?
One is Theresa May and the other is May B. Treason?
Made that up myself. Not bad hey? The greatest joke ever made on any thread in the history of the world. I should be on Mount Rushmore and receive the Nobel Prize.
24
I'll be glad when all the special and midterm elections are over. I'll be glad when Mueller finishes his job. Perhaps, THEN, when ABSOLUTELY NOTHING changes when Democrats hold office; and ABSOLUTELY NOTHING happens to Trump when it is materially proven and revealed to the public that he broke the law; PERHAPS THEN, it will begin to dawn on us that our Constitution needs updating and that our "system" of government, and practice of governance, are terribly broken. What is wrong with America cannot be fixed by voting. Just open your eyes! What you are witnessing is not the result of voting! Voting got us into this mess! Approximately, 50% of Americans are "functionally" illiterate (which means, they can't read "illiterate"). If anywhere near 50% is true, why on earth do we depend on "voting"? The only thing required to vote is to be born (probably by accident), being 18, and residency. Stop it! A solid 65% of Americans should not LOOK at voting booth, much less enter and scrawl their X. There should be a national qualifying exam (reading, writing, math, etc.) or you must have earned a degree. Of course, intelligence guarantees nothing but it does greatly increase intentionality, which is better than our current lurch toward nuclear destruction.
Uneducated people cannot vote with what they do not possess, intelligence, period. And I could give a fig about someone's "character" or "age"; the future demands intelligence.
Voting CANNOT be a right and be any good. Earn it!
11
@Anthony Adverse"I dread the spread of the right to vote ahead of the spread of education" was what one of the FF [founding fathers] said. Still the same situation - 250 years later. Sad.
9
If the GOP has nothing to run on other than fear-mongering, lies and distraction, they`ll do well with the Fox News crowd, which is all of rural Ohio...
30
And so Ohio will slip into further irrelevance. The dust bowl will roll on over and people flying over will never care. I like to compare our states with other countries sometimes. If Ohio, which used to be a bastion of commerce and ideas continues on a path of resentment and isolation, It will be, let me see, kind of like current Hungary. Going nowhere, but downhill.
25
Racism has and still works for The Right. In the logical world if something works for you why change it? From the Moral or Silent Majority to the Days of Welfare Queens or Willie Horton racism works. Calling ungrateful wealthy black ballplayers names works with the out of work line worker who needs someone to blame for his plight To keep the aggreved White Person blood boiling The Right has to constantly throw them something to be angry about.Does anyone ever demand they stop selling beer and dogs during the playing of the anthem? Only way the Left is going to change things is by building a coaltition of other than Trumpers.
28
Kasich claims to abhor Trump, and the only way to check Trump is by instating a Democratic Congress. Nonetheless, Kasich “grudgingly” endorses the Republican, because, we’ll, when it gets right down to it, Trump is ok as long as the Republicans are winning. So much for anti-Trump Republicans.
44
Concerns Americans of nearly all political stripes have about the president's irrational behavior and Congress' willingness to let it go virtually unchecked could prove a more reasoned argument for voting Democratic or not voting Republican this coming November.
29
It should. God hope so. Americans, it’s time to rise to the occasion again. I hope to hear the super hero themes wafting through the winds in the not too distant future. Tuesday in OH would be nice but November for sure. It’s up to us to save the day again!
15
What a shock. The GOP strategy is to scare their older white base into going out and voting Republican again. What exactly is new about that? They've been doing this for decades, and they've been doing so because it usually works. George H.W. Bush gave us the Willie Horton ads, if you recall.
Racism and greed are the twin messages of the GOP, and have been for a long, long time. Under Trump, they've simply eschewed everything else they used to pretend to care about, like balanced budgets, family values and limited government.
49
Sadly, it might work. In my opinion, the Republicans have latched on to cognitive based strategy that is effective.
4
I hope you are wrong. If you aren’t, America has no claims on exceptionalism. Perhaps ever again.
18
Although I respect Pelosi, she is a divisive figure for people leaning Republican and for many Democrats as well. We need a new House leader. Take the stuffing out of Republicans ‘ sorry campaign rhetoric.
22
That won’t work. They’ll just find another devil to bedevil us with. Let’s just ignore them, shall we?
22
Come on Democrats! Take that shade that Republicans are throwing our way and embrace it fully. Yes- we stand for Medicare for all; yes, we stand for a living wage; yes, we believe that to live well, we must ALL thrive and be treated as equals. We believe that young mothers and their children must be supported for our society to flourish and we believe that all of us should have accesss to world class academic and professional training. Our country become a powerful and productive nation when our public education system was great. Embrace what we stand for and explain to the electorate how those beliefs benefit them and what the costs/saving implications will be. If Republicans call all of the above socialism to scare everyone, use our words and the power of truth to explain what socialism looks like in countries like Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway.
Get a grip Democrats and stop acting so afraid. Fear is crippling, there is strength in presenting truth and standing by a plan that is just for all of humanity.
54
@Jwalnut
We spend more on education than the countries you admire, and we get worse outcomes, The drift started when the Department of Education was founded.
The decline continued when the amount of funds required to support Medicaid grew because of a shift toward spending money to buy free insurance for abled bodied adults and take it away from severely disabled adults. It is no surprise that American life expectancies at birth have decline for the last three years running.
3
@ebmem And that has something to do with the election in Ohio ?
5
Sort of a non sequiter here, no?
3
The GOP supporters who will support Mr Balderson will be reaping what they sow. He said recently he will raise medicare age and Social security and you know this now . How can you vote for someone who will raise it to 70plus. Most men don't make it to that age. The GOP want to privatize social security and want less government. So they can continue to be corrupt and not get caught as their will be no one around to watch them. Very sad if he gets in you will have no one to blame but yourselves.
25
@D.j.j.k.
No, WE will be reaping what they sow.
17
Voters like Ms. Patchett stick with the GOP because they have a concrete slate and stand immobile on issues that are important to them. Ms. Patchett knows that the GOP will never raise taxes, and will typically cut taxes when they have the opportunity. Other loyal GOP voters know that the GOP will fight to outlaw abortion, roll back regulations, push for privatization of public resources, promote a muscular military/foreign policy, etc.. They have hooks for voters to hang their hats on. ... What can a voter count on from a Democrat? Will a Democrat always fight for economic equality and combat poverty in earnest, hold the wealthy and powerful accountable, protect Americans' civil liberties and equality under the law, work to expand educational opportunities without debt bondage, conserve public resources for the benefit of all, fight to expand Medicare to include all Americans, push for rational gun laws, commit to keep money out of politics while leading by example, etc.? As far as anyone can tell, Democrats cannot be counted upon to stand firm on anything, they are too busy prevaricating, tele-marketing away policy to wealthy donors, and maneuvering to win over moderate Republicans, all while failing to build a solid foundation for anyone to stand upon.
8
@John
The reason a conversation between Democrats and Republicans is difficult is that people like you do not understand that Republicans want the same thing as you do, but disagree with the path to get there.
Take higher education. The Socialist Bernie Sanders wife took a high six figure salary to run a non-profit college. [Drove it into bankruptcy.]
Elizabeth Warren and her husband were each pulling down annual salaries to teach less than 90 hours per year of classes while simultaneously pulling down high consulting fees [insurance companies for Elizabeth.].
Elizabeth and Bernie want to offer free college. No where in their plan is for academics to take a pay cut or work full time.
They want to raise taxes on the middle class so academics can get pay increases.
Income inequality increases under progressive redistribution shemes.
3
It’s overwhelming, the evil that men do. All we can ever do is push back. Vote with the overlords and that is what you will get. Vote with the citizenry and you can only try.
8
@ebmem I was an academic for 14 years. I stayed because I loved both my teaching job and my research work. I worked about 60 hours a week year-round and never even made it up to the median wage in my city. You may accuse academics of a great many things, but accusing us of things like making money and goofing off simply have no basis in fact.
5
We've all known that person who was so vocal and divisive in their self-assured 'rightness' that they can't go back now without looking like a complete fool. This is how I see the average trumtin voter, not the crazed rally groupies, but the quiet ones who are not as stupid as their behavior at the polls would seem to suggest. They've been pushed by our very own Rasputin into going over the top with their allegiance and aggogery, and they can't see their way back to the common ground area. They're on their own. They will lose their jobs, their savings, their retirement, and their souls, but they won't admit how terribly wrong they've been.
19
People in the Ohio 12th are not fools. They see:
1. Deep corruption within the party (Trump & Cabinet)
2. Hurtful tariffs created by the GOP with our allies?
3. Aligning with Russia/Putin & breaking with our allies???
4. Creating the largest deficit in history.
5. The GOP doesn't believe in global warming???
6. Controlling houses of Congress and accomplishing nothing.
7. Daily chaos in the party and no material results/direction.
The GOP has gone off the rails.
The Ohio 12th goes blue.
37
@Randy
1. Menendez, Silver, Blogovitch, et al show bipartisan corruption on the part of politicians; longer they have been in office, the more corrupt. Hillary may not have broken any laws, but it certainly created the illusion of a conflict of interest that Bill was receiving $30 million per year in bribes.
2. Democrats have always opposed free trade, until Trump said he was going to renegotiate the deals.
3. Putin invaded Georgia, Ukraine and Obama did nothing. Trump sold the Ukraine weapons. Syria and Iran are Russian client states. Obama drew a line in the sand and then did nothing; Trump, along with NATO allies, bombed the WMD depots, killing Russians in addition to Syrians. Obama sent planeloads of cash to Iran to fund terrorism. Hillary/Obama tried to raise oil prices to benefit the Russians, Trump promised to open the spigots to reduce world prices.
4. Obama added more to the deficit during his first 18 months in office than Trump.
5. Republicans do not see the logic of China adding more CO2 to the atmosphere between 2016 and 2030 than mankind has added since the beginning of the industrial revolution or giving $100 billion per year to the autocratic rulers of the third world.
Democrats with 60 Senators and House majority 2009 didn't pass immigration, O'Care or carbon cap and trade. The 51:49 Republican advantage doesn't compare to a 40:60 disadvantage.
2
@ebmem I will not bother with the other points, but on #4 -- it is leftovers of W policies.
Yawn. Same old, same old.
1
The Republicans accused of polarization? More like the Democratic Party is so divided between the main-stream, blue-collar Dem centrists and left wing Socialist / extremists. The left-wing activist / media extremists are the ones with the microphones.
4
@P McGrath
Socalists? Sir: we are not in Russia; as long as we can prevent trump from making us that.
14
No, America's not in Russia; it's in the suburbs making its way there. And it will; I'm sure of it.
1
And the GOP represents fascism. I suspect much more fascism in them than any socialism in any democratic socialists you speak of. Think about that for a minute, will you?
10
There’s a reason the Republican Party keeps playing the Nancy Pelosi card in congressional elections. It works! Until Democrats come up with an effective counter argument (or Ms. Pelosi retires), this ploy will ensure continued Republican control of the House of Representatives. Democrats need to throw their elbows around more and tag their Republican opponents as job-killing, Russia-loving, Trump toadies.
13
@Christopher Wood
Nope.
It's because that's all they got. Hatred of older women of integrity and power. Pelosi, Clinton, Warren, Waters are all vastly more intelligent that Trump.
Trump is contemptuous of all women, but hates older women, especially if they're brighter than him - the vast majority of older women.
That's why the Republicans are in trouble. They're losing half the population off the bat in their own party.
And then we have the current metric in this race, which is two men going at one another. Republicans trying to savage one of those men by saying he credits the opinion of a woman . . . We'll see how well that works out for them.
17
If Democrats want to win then they have to ignite the fear centers in the conservative brains and stay-at-homes with three simple messages:
- The National Treasury has been ransacked and the deficit is exploding far beyond the worst case scenarios of the Republicans. They can’t manage money.
- Your Social Security and Medicare are next on the chopping block and planning is already underway by the Republican.
- Don’t believe the Republican they are pathological liars.... remember when they promised a great rebuilding of infrastructure - nothings happened after they won. They said they would protect pre-existing conditions on the ACA - they lied and are working to remove it!! If the economy craters.... are they going be standing beside you? They didn’t before.
Keep repeating this message over and over and over. Stay away from identity politics..... and fill their reptile brains with shear fear.
28
Republicans tell us directly that they mean to "divide and conquer" us.
How are they still in existence?
28
@D.A.Oh And Dems engage in class warfare and identity politics . . . . Pot meet kettle.
5
@CHM
Identity politics are Trump's bread and butter. That's one of the main methods of division for Republicans.
But Scott Walker actually used the term "divide and conquer" about the Wisconsin populace that he had just been elected to govern, as recorded in the documentary, "As Goes Janesville":
After billionaire donor, Diane Hendricks asked him if Wisconsin would now “become a right-to-work [state]?” Walker replied,
“Well, we’re going to start in a couple weeks with our budget adjustment bill. The first step is we’re going to deal with collective bargaining for all public employee unions, because you use divide and conquer.… That opens the door once we do that.”
Now that I've given you a concrete example of a GOP darling talking about "conquering" the people he's supposed to govern, please enlighten us with some specifics of how Democrats are as malicious or seamy in their proclaimed intentions.
19
@D.A.Oh
It drives Democrats insane when Republicans copy their strategies. Democrats have been living off identity politics for decades.
Conservatives start up non-profit interest groups like OFA, moveon.org, Media Matters but with a right wing slant. Democrats are surprised when the SCOTUS says it cannot shut down Citizens United and not simultaneously silence unions and all of the existing left wing groups. Obama lied and insulted the SCOTUS with his statement that SCOTUS had overturned a hundred years of precedent. He knew that his followers would not read the ruling, but rather accept your darling Obama's false characterization.
With respect to collective bargaining, even the progressive idol, FDR, was opposed. Had the unionized government workers in Wisconsin been happy with the huge premiums the union run health insurance company was charging, 50% of them would bot have dropped out of the union when given the opportunity.
Unionized workers comprised less than 10% of the voters when Walker was elected. They did not vote for him. He was following the wishes of the people who elected him, not the unpopular leftist minority. He was following the wishes of the majority, as evidenced by the fact that he both survived the recall effort [financed by Soros plus out-of-state union interests] and was re-elected to office.
The bullies lost.
1
Republicans please save your party. Two functioning parties (at least) are needed for a healthy democracy. This former donator to the Clintons - Mr Trump- is methodically destroying your party which is shrinking drastically right now.
Save the GOP by voting against it in order to discard the extremely dangerous and clearly unhinged predatory and disloyal president.
21
You are exactly correct. They have to cut their losses to survive.
2
I doubt the Dem's will win this seat, but if it's close it's another Bad sign for the GOP. This should be an easy win for the Red team. But when I read this: “We vote Republican,” Ms. Patchett said firmly, of President Trump, she chuckled: “I think he sucks, but I knew that before he was elected.”
Kinda says it all...
34
"Test" polarization?
The GOP runs on polarization
20
It is quite imperative that the people of Ohio reject the extremist Trump agenda, and provide a check to his increasingly unhinged behavior. It is my hope that these right-of-center districts can see that Trump, an economic isolationist keen on giving the billionaire class a huge tax cut, is neither fiscally or morally conservative. Democrats must focus on the central issues:
1) Healthcare costs
2) Preserving Social Security
3) Ensuring Equitable Taxes that don't favor the super wealthy on the backs of the poor and middle class
4) Reining in a mentally unstable, potentially one using the office of the president to enrich himself and his family
28
Trump supporters that live on my street in a quiet suburban neighborhood in Ohio have created a map and marked off every house the voted Democrat in the 2016 primaries. Several small towns changed road names to Trump Blvd. and the like. Renacci is our representative. Ohio is going to vote Republican.
The polarization in our neighborhood with Trump supporters actively harassing and threatening Democrats, with law enforcement turning their heads, has made living in this quiet neighborhood dangerous. And this is one neighborhood in Ohio, like many others. We're leaving.
20
You might want to mention to your neighbors that their real estate values will go down as others like you pull up roots and go to the more liberal, progressive states. I live in GA and many conservatives worry that Amazon will come here and that Hollywood is making too many movies here and bringing their liberal ideas. Our outgoing Governor, Nathan Deal governed as a moderate and is appreciated by everybody. He was a Democrat who changed parties. If the troglodytes in the GOP pull back on Deal’s open approach and rolls back the welcome mat, Georgia’s economy will sink. The place will stink and we will move, too. Will sell before it becomes too obvious though. Georgia will become like Hungary and we will be looking for a Denmark or Holland In the northeast or northwest.
7
@I Vote
Only a Democrat would perceive what you see as a threat. Keep in mind that there are zero instances of Republicans vandalizing Democrat party headquarters; of Republicans attempting assassination of Democrat congressmen at baseball practice; of Republican businesses harassing Obama cabinet members in restaurants; of Republican House members inciting their followers to accelerate the harassment; or of Republicans threatening the children of the head of the FCC.
Violence is the last recourse of the incompetent. Democrats are losing, and they respond with feelings of anger and project their sense of impotence onto others.
When Republicans lose, they redouble their efforts to win elections instead of railing at the fates. The only Republicans with even a slight tendency toward violence are recent recruits from the Democrats, and once they get used to winning all the time, will give up their frustrations.
It is tough for you to accept that you are in the minority, but get used to it, and forget about your imagined fear.
Typical household income about $10,000 below the districtwide average and the problem is not the GOP moving more wealth to millionaires and billionaires but actually a scary grandmother, Nancy Pelosi. That even one Ohioan falls for this scamjob is a tragedy.
22
The result of this special election will say a lot about the moral and ethical character of Ohioans. I have many GOP relatives in this district who voted for the current occupant of the Kremlin annex at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The nation is watching folks.
23
Please don't lump educated, rational, Ohioans in with rapid Trump supporters.
I live in a quiet suburban neighborhood, surprisingly filled with Trump supporters who have created a map using public voting information to locate Democrats. They have been actively harassing and threatening Dems. Law enforcement turns their heads even when there is security footage of henious activities.
Voting where I live for anybody but a Republican insights these rabid Trump supporters to intensify their harassment and threats. I still vote (not Rep) but I can tell you that I've paid for it very dearly.
10
@I Vote My sympathies. Obama and Hillary yard signs have a short life in my very conservative Georgia community. So far no physical violence against me, just surly looks and comments.
2
@sane southerner
Thank you. I've never seen anything like this. Remember when we didn't even know with which political party our friends and colleagues were affiliated?
One of the neighbors, who is a religious zealot, alt-right, neo-Nazi, called me a baby-killer for not putting a Trump sign in my yard. I didn't put a Trump sign in my yard because Trump is now pro-life. (I didn't put any sign in my yard.) Then the neighbor poisoned my sweet dog (she's okay though) to "make me feel what God feels when all those Dem babies die."
I don't recognize my neighborhood, state or country any more.
polarization is not a 'new' tactic for the Republicans. Moral panics and polarizing by getting people roused up and full emerged in their fight flight or flee part of the brain is both a common tactic for con men and an ancient practice of the low affect yes how are simply compelled to experience their dominion over others and collect power.
Me, I am compelled to collaborate and distribute power. How about you?
Sun Tzu's Art of War is a must read.
7
@Chris I would suggest that Democrats sing Peter Seeger's Hammer song, over and over. Democracy is at stake.
Here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00KfzlGbzK4
Democrats need to resonant, with song, that the nation and the world is at risk with Trump, now. No time to waste!
6
You might do better to read the "48 Laws of Power." It appears to be Trump's play by play book. http://48laws-of-power.blogspot.com/?m=1
1
There was an interesting article speculating about how younger voters and emerging politicians (such as Cortez) view things in light of what we have observed to this point. While I didn't find myself completely agreeing with its conclusions, it did raise the important issue, especially for conservative candidates asking for my vote/support.
Consider: I have no memories at all of H.W. Bush, much less Reagan. The earliest national issue I can remember adults discussing are the barest snippets of the OJ Trial and my juvenile snickering at Clinton's scandals (I didn't quite understand impeachment or perjury). Everything else is cold book knowledge.
Why should a GOP candidate care? Well, it essentially means that G.W. Bush is by FAR the single most ethical, articulate, intelligent, forward-thinking, courageous and trustworthy Republican president I have ever actually seen. His ~50.7% of the 2004 popular vote? The greatest mandate ever given to a Republican president.
Democrats introduced themselves to me with Barack Obama. Yeah.
So anyway, after 8 years to think that over, conservative America decided to give Trump the franchise label. Yeah.
So when the GOP feigns confusion at the hostile receptions they get, I wonder if they truly (TRULY) understand the impressions they've made. Between the guns, the cages, the wars, the lies, the rhetoric, Charlottesville, etc. etc... people in my demographic will one day be checking under our kids' beds for some of these people.
29
Agreed, I am 31 and I can't see the GOP surviving the next 10 years. They're completely anachronistic and an anathema to our generation's collective values.
24
Bravo to you and Tony! You see through them! They are anachronisms! They are the dying gasps of a failing life and world view. We who have to, or want to, devise a better future will do better with this generations’ GOP on the ash heap of history!
1
@Tony Cochran
Anyone who is not a liberal at age30 has not heart. Anyone who is not a conservative at age 40 has no brain.
Democrats have been claiming demographics will lead to their ultimate supremacy for decades. They forget that as people attain wisdom, they tend Republican. As they gain education, they tend Republican. As immigrants assimilate, they tend Republican.
The majority of the voters with college degrees voted for Trump, the majority of those who lack a high school diploma voted for Hillary. All in accordance with traditional trends.
Why do the New York Times and other intelligent/informed news organizations continue to sugar coat what the Republican party does and is about. I understand the need to bend over backwards to be fair, but this party long go forfeited the benefit of the doubt.
What it does is racism. What it does is white supremacy. What it is is evil.
Henceforth, please do not use any other language to describe this party and its members. The language of racism, white supremacy and evil is the only language that is fit to print regarding the Republican Party.
32
The GOP should be worried.
Safe GOP seats like KS-04, SC-06, MT-AL, and GA-06 swung to the left and Republicans barely eked out tiny margins of victory.
Then the unthinkable happened and Democrats won Session's vacant Senate seat and Conor Lamb flipped PA-18. Each subsequent special election has shown that more and more independent leaning GOP voters are defecting to the Dems.
As we near the midterms election results continue to swing further and further left. I expect OH-12 to be a Dem victory.
15
Balderson is on a talking jag tonight in Delaware County and is clearly freaked out about tomorrow.
1
“You’ve got Republicans who are very centrist, very moderate, who are very into international relations and international trade, who are very socially progressive, but they’ve always been conservative on fiscal policy,” Ms. Rader said. “What’s going on now in the Republican Party is the polar opposite of what they believe in.”
I fit that description before leaving the Republican Party for good in 2000. As far as I'm concerned I'll never vote for a candidate with an R next to their name again.
37
@Kevin That was the same year I left the Republican Party after voting for them for 20 years. Never again.
11
The GOP went so far right that they fell off that flat earth. The Democrats have merged the moderate right into the moderate left. This is the new Democratic Party, IMHO. What a dynamite and dynamic party that would be!
@Kevin
If your assessment of Al Gore is that he was a centrist, very moderate, very into international relations and international trade, socially progressive or conservative on fiscal policy, you belong in the Democrat party.
2
The polarization tactics will be the destruction of this country. The soulless republicans don't care, either...
17
I'm always amazed at how much wealthy Americans hate the idea of helping less wealthy Americans.
35
@Randall I am always amazed how the "Christian Right" hates the idea of helping anyone.
25
This is hard ball politics. This is unfair politics.
I suggest Democrats in Ohio and elsewhere need "IDEA CONTESTS" to find the best messages for winning the House.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trump and the Republicans bounce ideas around on Fox and Twitter, daily, but Democrats seems to be clueless.
If the Democratic Party opens to outside ideas, it has a chance...
6
@Harry Pearle
In 2006, Democrats took control of the House by recruiting moderates to run in competitive districts. When those moderates responded with obedience to Nancy Pelosi's autocratic order that they vote for Obamacare, they were voted out of office. In August of 2009, they were informed by their constituents, Democrat and Republican, that the drafts circulating of Obamacare were unpopular. That is why Obamacare did not pass in 2009 while Democrats had a majority in the House and 60 Senators.
Democrat establishment politicians think that they know what's best, and do not trust their constituents. The autocrats expected to have 60 Senators in 2010, because it was unthinkable that Massachusetts would replace Ted Kennedy's appointed Democrat with a Republican.
Rather than respond to the plea from Massachusetts residents to NOT expand Romney care nationwide, Democrats went ahead and crammed it down using a parliamentary trick.
If Democrats are able to flip either or both houses of Congress, they will not be able to hold Congress long term, because you can fool some of the people all of the time......
1
“They’re going to raise your taxes,” Mr. Trump said of the Democrats. “You’re going to have crime all over the place. You’re going to have people pouring across the border.”
The fact that 40% of the country falls for this sort of nonsense is depressing. We deserve whatever we get in November.
35
Reading this article reminds me a a key flaw with much of the electorate, intellectual and moral laziness. Rather than take a critical look at what is claimed as opposed to what is happening, voters like Ms. Patchett run on autopilot. They vote for their party, not their country, and not their community. They accept what they are told to accept. They think what they are told to think.
She may not like Mr Trump, but she doesn't question the party that made him President and that enables him.
23
It appears to me that Republicans in and/or visiting the great state of Ohio have collectively developed a hearing problem. They cannot hear the words "I will not support Nancy Pelosi's candidacy as majority leader.' Somebody should send in the ENT medics immediately to investigate.
Nancy Pelosi has to go. It is true, as others who have posted here have said, that she is the victim of a years-long demonization campaign by Fox and the GOP. It is also true that for years, the Democrats didn't fight back, no doubt telling themselves that 'nobody will believe that." But they did and the anti-Pelosi campaign has worked. She is now a lightning rod and could be instrumental in keeping Democrats from the ultimate goal of reclaiming the House.
I believed that she would do the right thing - the political thing -and declare herself out of the running. It's been a huge disappointment to me to find that, instead of the leader I thought she was, she's just another politician hanging on.
8
The problem is, the truth is, Pelosi is really good at her job. Anyone who replaces her will not be as effective. I agree that it’s disheartening the GOPs smear job has worked so well- even on some Democrats. What can we do? Should Democrat politicians keep stepping aside as FOX News assassinates their character? Should we let them control the narrative? There must be another way...
11
This is so true. Of course, misogyny plays a role here too, the right hates a smart and talented woman almost more than anything.
11
@Martin: Pelosi is a master fundraiser. She could help her Party and the Nation by declaring that should the Dems re-take the House, she will step down as Speaker but continue to help drive fundraising. Staying in place is just ego clouding judgement.
1
THE BLUE SIGNS ARE INTENTIONALLY MISLEADING I AM SURE. However, if OHIO wants to continue living in the past - have at it.
7
@Barbara Right! When I saw the photo of the blue campaign signs I was , at first mislead. Here in California where traditionally Republican campaign signs had a lot of red and Democrats a lot of blue. The Republican signs have a lot of blue and no mention that the candidate is a Republican.
9
Democrats running for office should be asking one simple question: “Are you better off than you were 2 years ago?” Most people (if being honest with themselves) would answer “No.” Then the candidate has to explain what s/he would do to address that problem if elected. Reagan and Clinton both understood that the vast majority of the electorate will respond if you address their economic concerns. Dems can run on that in this midterm and, I think, reach the people in the middle while holding onto most of the left-leaning.
37
@Holly Anderson
Oops. What if the answer is they are better off?
Wages are up, taxes are down, unemployment is down. Most people are better off. Even in high tax states like Massachusetts, 70% are getting a tax cut.
OH 12th is my district. A fact I did not know before Trump was elected. I am a liberal, so usually vote for Democrats. I found out that OH 12th district is so badly gerrymandered that my vote counts for a big, fat goose egg. Literally, there is almost no chance that someone can be elected who actually represents me. Indivisible OH 12th hounded Pat Tiberi, our previous Congress critter to the point that he finally quit.
Meanwhile, we worked on an anti-gerrymandering ballot initiative. My Congress critters referred to me as a "paid activist". I spent upwards of 80 hours of my own time working on this, and we did prevail in the end.
The current regime has turned me from passive voter to active participant. I am terrified at what our country could become under Trump, and saddened by the damage he already has done. He and the other Republicans, who serve corporate masters and oligarchs rather than citizens like you and me.
If you care about democracy and the health of our republic, please join with me and vote the Republicans out!
232
Your vote absolutely counts in this one.
13
@Rubad
Its another republican tactic gerrymandering they resort to since, they don't do anything for middleclass voters except pull out Pavlovian symbols like Pelosi, Hillary and Obamas for them to salivate at. Nothing in our interests, not even a political party so much as shill operatives for wealthy interests.
1
@Rubad. OH 12 is mine too. I am a registered independent who used to vote about equally Dem/Rep. No more. There are four voters in my house - one who is a first time voter. We'll all be pulling the lever for Danny the Dem. Regarding new found activism - my family and I have been to multiple marches and protests this year. We have never done anything like that prior to this year. We even went to "welcome" Mr. Trump at Olentangy Orange High School this weekend. Keep up the good work Rubad - I hope we win this one!
8
The Ohio suburb I live in, Strongsville just gave the Cleveland Clinic a tax exemption …retroactively. Now we owe The Cleveland Clinic 2 million dollars and the loss of 400K a year, while at the same time, our politicians are floating a huge property tax levy. The phenomenon has been being used across America for decades; play one community against another for tax breaks and leave the old one in the lurch for funds to run day to day operations while doubtless salaries and compensations fatten at the business with their newfound windfall. Its how republicans operate, at the expense of where the burden flows downhill to.
92
@Ratza Fratza
Even worse is the Amazon "strategy" of pitting city against city in terms of bennies so that they will build their second headquarters or whatever it is there. No one should promise these parasites anything like a free lunch... but people kowtow to the rich hoping forever for the free lunch that only the "socialists" might deliver.
@Ratza Fra
Since 2013, hospital charges have increased at 3.3 times the rate of inflation, despite a reduction in unreimbursed care.
They should be well able to pay their property taxes.
1
The themes here are not surprising. This is what Republicans interpret the president's approval rating polls to ask: Are you still supporting Republican, not are you still with Trump. That is a disaster for the Republicans because it reflects only 40% support for the party overall and that means a blood path in midterms. In addition, Trump is breathing all the air in the room and the voters mostly don't even know who's running in their district.
So, this is very promising for the Democrats but they are also making mistakes that can seriously hinder their prospects. Why is Pelosi still in the running? I don't agree with any of the attacks on her (that arise from her being a woman in power) but she has been leading the Democrats in the house for as long as people care to remember. This is a moment when people want something new, fresh people with new ideas. It is time for the pensioners to step down, on both sides of the isle. In other countries, people 70+ are retired from politics.
31
The Hawk--Democrats--Beware of complacency, and lack of good policy promotion. Knock on doors, and get to know your constituents. Ask for small donations. Eschew corporations, and wealthy donors, so you can honestly say that you are serving the People.
1
Agreed Pelosi needs to gracefully let new leadership in. She did great work with the Healthcare and Jobs Acts that saved the US from a Great Depression, along with important financial regulations, all between 2008-2010. But a decade on, the DP needs fresh congressional leadership.
1
I wonder about Stenny Hoyer, who is as “old” as “Grandma Pelosi” Why doesn’t HE step down from the second leadership position and let that “young blood” learn from the REAL master?
Somehow, this never seems to come up. Nancy Pelosi has been one of the best, if not the absolute best, Speaker in this country’s history. Misogyny, anyone? I think that there should be an upward filtration of leadership here and new Congresspeople should be both eager to learn and welcomed into the fold while the people who are brilliant at legislating and governing are there to share their experience—no matter their gender.
1
Polarization is just another word for
nobody but us should get to choose
Proof of the theory of devolution; Trump devolved from Bannon who devolved from Rove who devolved from Atwater who devolved from Mannford who devolved from Roy Cohen. There some branching's from this lineage that are missing and some links are missing but the fossil and DNA records are irrefutable.
45
As a Democrat, I don't like Nancy Pelosi, but I can't understand why she's such a dog-whistle for Republicans? Most of these people couldn't pick her out of a lineup, have no idea whom she represents or what she stands for, yet all you have to do is shout "Nancy Pelosi", and they are on the hind legs howling with derision. I don't even think Trump knows a thing about her, which shouldn't surprise anyone; he just knows what gets the crowd going and runs with it.
141
@stan continople I think you're absolutely right, she's a canvas onto which people can project whatever they want to.
@stan continople Powerful women cannot be allowed to exist.
17
@stan continople The GOP can't pick sentient humans out of a lineup of mannequins. The rally mobs just love the illusion that they matter to the Republicans, who, if elected, will do what they did before: explode the deficit and dump the debt on the grand-kids; start a war and send the sons and daughters to needless sacrifice; and exploit the mindless passions of disenfranchised people to disenfranchise them even further.
10
Well, two could play at that game ...
"Would you back Donald Trump's candidate?"
5
Such for one nation indivisible. The GOP isn't just polarizing, it's explicitly secessionist.
15
From a marketing perspective find it interesting that the Republican sign is mainly blue and not the traditional predominant use of red.
8
Trump endorsed Balderson, the Republican. What further evidence could anyone seek to elect O'Connor, the Democrat?
22
Polarization is not a new idea for Republicans.
It's all they have and all they've ever had for decades.
There was the red scare of the '50s, Nixon's race=baiting southern strategy that took the racists into the Republican Party in the '60s and delivered the south to them ever since (as LBJ predicted when he signed Civil Rights legislation)
From attacking opponents as "commies," to race-baiting Willie Horton ads, to hate-mongering vs Muslims, to "Mexicans are rapists," it's all the Republicans have. Squirrel!
Republicans certainly can't run on their policies (except in secret to their donors): some of us remember that when the NY Times reported that Bush 43 told donors to his re-election campaign that he planned to privatize Social Security, he denied it. Then as soon as Bush was re-elected, he tried to...privatize social security (stopped e.g. by the ever effective Pelosi, which is why Republicans are trying to get rid of her)
Republicans can't run a campaign that says: vote for me or else my Democratic opponent will protect Social Security and Medicare, and vote for a job-supporting infrastructure bill, just like Pelosi!!
So, Republicans demonize her and all Democrats, as if Democrat were just a brand, rather than a party that advocates for policies that would address the very challenges that concern most voters.
80
@Lynn
Democrats create the illusion that Republicans want to throw grandma under the bus by privatizing Medicare and Social Security. You are frightened by this prospect, because you know friends and family who are dependent of their safety net entitlements.
Retirees and the disabled who receive Medicare benefits are paying higher premiums today because of the $0.8 trillion defunded with nary a Republican vote. Where was your angst in 2010?
With respect to 43's plan to privatize SS, you heard the word privatize and were stirred to panic by Democrats. You never bothered to examine the details of the proposal. It raised the monthly benefit for the bottom 50% of future retirees and gave the top 50% of income earners the ability to invest some of their contributions in exchange for reduced monthly payments. [In reality, all participants would have the option of investing a portion of their contributions in a individual account, but as a practical matter, those in the bottom half of the income distributions had zero probability of getting a sufficient return to match their guaranteed SS benefit.]
Democrats lie to polarize. Bush attempted to increase the guaranteed SS benefit for the bottom half of income earners. Democrats increased retiree Medicare premiums by $80 billion per year.
Republicans have no interest in getting rid of Pelosi. We hope she will run as Hillary's VP in 2020.
How smart would it be if Nancy Pelosi announced that she would not run and would not accept the speaker's seat under any condition?
20
Lyn Hale--Smart. She should recognize that many Dems have moved on, without her, and her stale,establishment positions. She is holding the party back, as are all the corporatists, like her. Time to changes your tune, or retire.
6
@Lyn Hale The interesting fact is that many of the Left would applaud, and those of us in the pragmatic Big Tent wing would also applaud. When many Democrats running in gerrymandered hostile territory disown her, why is she still a leader, apart from her fund raising prowess of the past? It doesn't matter that the attacks against her are often unfair; they resonate with the independent and persuadable voters Dems need. She needs to do the right thing and give way to new blood.
2
@Unworthy Servant
What you say is true; however, I'm thinking that such a move by Mrs. Pelosi would remove a huge, if not principal, argument that the
republicans will carry into the 2018 elections. What will they do if they don't have a witch to burn?
1
I started reading this wondering what the Republican secret plan was…
Wow.
Nationalize the race and tie the local candidate to an unpopular national politician.
That's it?
Wow again… who coulda thunk it!
Democrats will pick up 40+ seats in the House and stand a chance of a 51-49 majority in the Senate given the enthusiasm gap between right and left voters. Not to mention center voters who can't stand Trump. He's totally under water with them in all polling.
The Republican party is a cult at this point.
A radicalized group that has mostly lost its mind.
Americans don't like that kind of extremism.
And, Democrats, you better understand that as well. Majorities lean left on most major issues.
Go with that lean and don't push it too far left.
www.pollingreport.com
See for yourself.
42
Want to lose your health care insurance,
Social Security and Medicare?
Vote Republican.
6
@Paul King
This differs from the Democrat plan to incessantly criticize Trump and then try to convince people that a vote for a Republican is a vote for Trump?
Why, oh why, is it so hard for people to vote for policies, not political parties? Once a voter enters the voting booth, no one can see what button is pushed. I invite all Republicans who want Medicare to remain intact, who believe Trump demeans us as a country, who can support healthcare for all, who care about the environment, who believe there MIGHT be some truth in global warming, and who believe that undermining the free press so that there is only ONE source of information (Fox News) is dangerous... to be brave and vote for the Democrat. You can do it.
50
@Judith Stern
I invite all Democrats who support the rule of law, separation of powers, removing the gift of Obamacare to big medicine, the return of the $0.8 trillion defunded by Democrats to Medicare, who care about the environment, who want Medicaid funding restored to vulnerable children, who believe that spending billions in subsidies to California in exchange for a 0.000003 degree change in the 2100 temperature is a waste, that giving $100 billion per year to the autocratic leaders of the third world will not affect global warming to vote Republican.
As is customary, Democrats are still free to lie to exit pollsters after voting Republican, rather than being embarrassed. It drives election analysts nuts.
1
Mrs. Patchett "knew what Trump was like but voted for him anyway." That says it all right there.
53
How is Ms. Patchet’s voting rationale any different than the many Dems who saw Hillary for all her warts, disliked her as a candidate, but voted for her anyway? Truth is that it is less about the person than the policies and the supporting cast he or she bring with them.
4
“Didn’t like Hillary Clinton” ... that’s a good comparison to the situation with Pelosi. Another woman demonized by right wing zealots. Somehow, both parties get on board with it- but can they explain any particular policies that they disagreed with?
4
@Martin
Hillary wanted to continue the energy, immigration, global warming policies of Obama rather than getting bipartisan compromises through Congress. She also wanted to continue the Obama policy of appeasement toward Russia.
My vote wasn't going to her under any circumstances, but the money she received from Russians and other foreign governments through her husband and Foundation; her criminal negligence with response to her server, clearly intended to conceal her communications from FOIA requests; her deplorables comment; her obvious lies about her health just confirmed my decisions
You can't hate "covfefe" but love Republicans, because their policy is his. Only the delivery is different, and in the sense that UPS's and FedEx's delivery are "different" at that.
I hope Universal, Illumination, and all other relevants sue the wearer and maker of that Deplorable Me shirt to the hilt. Parody ought not to be among the infringements of copyright, but promotion of traitorous bigots is a very different story.
3
@SR
Are you claiming Hillary owns the copyright to the word deplorables?
Not mentioned is District 4 w Mark Jordan who is caught up in the Ohio State scandal...he has been more concerned about himself than his victims. I hope he doesn't win reelection.
5
@dolly patterson:
Name is Jim Jordan and he will be reelected. The gerrymandered districts in ohio assure many legislators automatic renewal. Majority of his district is in south central ohio and the only concern is farm bill benefits.
@dolly Patterson
Hillary, caught up in the Lewinsky scandal as well as her husband's other predations, bought a Senate seat in NY, a state in which she had never been a resident, was reelected, ran for president twice, was appointed Secretary of State.
You think that a guy who was an assistant coach during a period when a physician was abusing athletes, of which he was unaware, should be disqualified from running for office.
You really cannot make this stuff up. The hypocrisy of Democrats is legendary.
it's just depressing that Americans have become so utterly resigned to bad government that they accept the likes of Trump even when they know he's terrible.
Where is the spirit of the revolution? of the founders and "Don't Tread on Me?" Of the people who fought against a mighty empire for the right to control their own government?
It's just pitiful that people continue to vote for the lesser evil and aren't ashamed to say so.
4
@Occupy Government
Next time don’t run the Greater Evil and everyone won’t have to vote for the Lesser Evil!
Turning people against their fellow Americans is just wrong. That the GOP has had success doing just that has given us people like Trump who exploit these divisions with hatred. We wont get better people in politics until we reject people like Trump and his picks.
21
@Kay Johnson
It was intentionally divisive when Hillary declared that anyone who did not agree with her policies was deplorable or a loser. That was a continuation of Obama's contention that anyone who disagreed with his policies was a racist, and the commonly repeated assertion that Republicans obstructed him because he is black.
Democrats have threatened the children of the head of the FCC; evicted cabinet members from restaurants; Waters encouraged her followers to harass Republicans; a Hillary supporter attempted to assassinate Republican House members at baseball
practice.
Yes, it is time for Democrats to stop waging war against fellow citizens.
Whether you agree with or disagree with Obama's results, they clearly did not represent the rule of law, separation of powers or many of the other standards of American democracy.
That today, Democrats are not making arguments against Trump policies or making alternative policy suggestions is clear evidence that the left is either emotionally unable to separate their hatred of Trump personally from cognitive functions or that they don't have any cogent policy suggestions.
Media coverage of Trump has always been 85% negative; he would have been an unknown but for the media. Apparently, negative publicity is working for him, and he responds in kind when attacked. In the background, he continues to pursue honoring his campaign promises.
1
Nancy Pelosi... an idea.
I forget Nancy's official title at the moment, but wouldn't it just stupify republicans if she were to relinquish her position immediately and let democrats vote in a new leader? Someone up and coming and a fresh face.
She would be doing a tremendous service to the country and the party. Despite the good she's accomplished, she's become a toxic albatross around democrat's necks.
In stepping aside, she will have effectively removed a very large quantity of ammunition from the republican arsenal, leaving them quite possibly dazed and confused to the point of panic.
The shock value alone would be a thing of beauty.
The looks on their faces? Priceless.
7
@Deb
The Republicans will demonize any Democratic leader.
If Pelosi steps aside, Republican hate-mongers will just go after her replacement, and Democrats (and America) will lose perhaps one of the most effective legislators of our era (which is why the Republican leaders are very eager to displace her)
Remember at the beginning of Obama's term, when it was assumed that Biden (as VP) would be the Democratic front runner to succeed him: the Republicans pushed a national conversation about gaffe-prone Joe, working to turn him into a joke. Then, when it turned out to be Clinton who was the leading Democrat to follow Obama, it was 24/7 Benghazi/emails. Now Republicans have turned back to attack Biden (and his surviving son) (I somehow find myself on a Republican hate-filled email list)
There is no gain in changing leaders just to pacify Republicans
12
@Lynn - yes I know they will demonize anyone who would replace Nancy, but considering that trump supporters apparently don't read or do much research, they wouldn't be up to speed as fast. And Nancy should be more aggressively defending herself, and the party.
Also, I was thinking of the Rep. from OH who a while back challenged Pelosi (Tim Ryan ?). It would certainly upset the apple cart for an Ohioan to become minority leader.
Plus, it would be sweet if (total fantasy here) that if dems convincingly take the house, they could always put Nancy back in the driver's seat.
Republicans would scream "no fair", but it would be delicious to give them a taste of their own medicine - dirty tricks.
2
@Lynn
No one ever thought Biden was ever going to run for president in 2016. Hillary got the Secretary of State job in 2008 in exchange for not undermining Obama's first term. Absent her opportunity to burnish her resume, a weak Republican would have won in 2012 with Clinton secret support, and Hillary would have defeated him in 2016.
The headline here is misleading: the GOP strategy is not "polarization," but "demonization." Pick a Democrat, preferably a woman, and dump toxic lies on her for month after month. Turn her into a caricature, far removed from any human being, least of all, her. Then your candidates don't have to have any ideas about what government could do to make life better in the 12th District, or any district. Your candidates can just say "but but but Pelosi." Voters need to decide whether they want demonization, or an actual campaign, where two reasonable candidates who are both fully human and just happen to disagree can discuss and debate.
27
Trumps racism and bigotry are what the Republican Party represents.......
10
Divide and conquer. Simple and effective. It’s been working well for a long time, so why should expect something different? I seem to recall something about insanity and anticipating different results repeating the same thing...
3
“My thought was: ‘You know what, there are millions of people who are smarter than me that voted for this guy. I hope they’re right,’” Mr. Sebastian said.
No they aren't! Being wealthy doesn't mean you're smart, it means you have a lot of money, and can hire smart people. It just means that you are lucky. The meritocracy is a myth.
27
@Jonathan Swift The meritocracy isn't entirely a myth, but what is a myth is the notion that wealth is an indication of intelligence and success. That lie is perpetuated by our entertainment industry ad nauseum.
3
Dems cannot persuade 'moderates' that vote GOP to switch sides unless they focus on healthcare, infrastructure, and immigration. They will be deaf to arguments like what Trump has done to NATO or his corruption thanks to right-wing media.
On the other hand, Dems have to motivate and ensure more left-leaning people are registered and actually show up to vote. Get people angry and give them hope! That will increase Dem turnout. Tone down the gender minority rights and instead address issues that affect everyone.
13
@John W
Democrats are not necessarily progressive - a better term than left- leaning. Precisely, this sort of language along with the various candidates whose main focus is immigration -- do they really want open borders?? -- probably not... which makes people wary of voting for a designated Democrat.
Deanna Patchett is the Democrats' & this country's biggest problem, not just the GOP's.
As depicted here, all she cares about is paying as little taxes as she can. No matter how ethically bankrupt the leadership, how badly what is collected is distributed (new military weaponry that the Joint Chiefs didn't even ask for & a military parade, instead of infrastructure funding to repair our bridges), or how short-sighted this view is (it's infrastructure that enables her to earn the money she doesn't want to pay taxes on), she will just reflexively vote GOP, even though she clearly consciously sees its problems.
30
My thoughts exactly. And the services in her community are funded by the people who work their but do not necessarily live there, with schools being an exception.
6
Living in Ohio I fear Trump and the Russians not Pelosi. What was Putin doing during the Vietnam war? Aiding our enemy and helping kill U.S. troops? He was KGB after all.
44
I don't care what anyone says, Donald Trump's base strategy is RACISM, and anyone who supports him that doesn't understand that or refuses to accept that premise, deserves to tarred with the same brush as him.
47
Republicans using strategic exploitation? Isn’t that what Congress is?
5
It's ironic that Republicans accuse the Democrats of having no message and say they are just running on attacking Trump (which is a lie.), and then run on a phoney populist message and attack Nancy Pelosi.
33
I'd love to hear Mr. O'Connor and other Dems start their campaign speeches with "Pelosi, Pelosi, Pelosi, Pelosi, Pelosi. There, we've covered the Republican talking points. Now, lets get down to what matters..."
Contrary to the Republicans' approach for this campaign, does anyone else find it interesting that Balderson's campaign signs are blue and don't say "Republican" anywhere? Perhaps some Freudian shame?
20
so are they fishing for ill studied Dems with those signs, "voting blue" ?
time for some creative Red Signing campaigns with Trump & Balderson together
2
Trump needs to step down, along with his GOP enablers.
Integrity matters!
9
I prefer the videos showing farmers who voted for trade wars complaining about trade wars. Or the voters covered by Obamacare explaining why they're voting against the coverage they receive. All you have to do is turn the lights on. These people are as naked as the day they were born.
44
Republicans lying and running negative campaigns? Since when is this something new?
9
The only reason Nancy is polarizing is because Fox and Republicans have been beating that drum for years. They stay on message. And nothing is easier to demonize to than the hated woman with power. Their base is as misogynist as it is racist and that does not mean they're all men.
While Democrats work hard to try and craft bills that might help Americans the Republicans don't bother with that. They know that all they have to do is make their base hate with all their heart. Just keep beating the drum.
62
Nothing different here, same strategy for the last 35+ years, divide the country along wedge issues, pick the pockets of everyone but the 1%...
16
I lived in Ohio for few years and worked in the Ohio State University, one of the most corrupt universities in the country who is also least interested in education and research with very mediocre faculties. I think Ohio is a very backward state and it will remain that way so long it continues its illogical romance with right wing Republican agenda.
I left the state few years ago and now more convinced that it was a very good decision.
17
Amazing, I know, but we here in Ohio—the home of Battelle, the Fisher College of Business, Moritz College of Law, DCSC, Chemical Abstracts and untold other intellectual bastions—haven’t missed you a bit.
"... connecting him to Nancy Pelosi, the unpopular House minority leader ..." Unpopular with whom? Why accept the right wing narrative?
19
@Michael Storch Because it plays with low beam Republicans and Independents.
3
This is my district. Balderson has run a disgraceful campaign, and I'm now as disgusted by the sight of him as of Donald Trump. I'm cutting a vacation short to be able to vote against him tomorrow. The sad thing is, regardless of the outcome of the special election, we will be subjected to Trashy Troy's garbage for 3 more months, since the same two candidates are facing off in the regular election.
47
Once again, Republicans base their campaign on hatred for one woman. I can see the facebook and twitter hate machines firing up as we speak. It's little suprise who the Russian trolls will attacking on all fronts - and not just in this special election. Hate the woman, join the GOP!
They will be chanting "Lock her up!" before you know it and it's not Hillary this time.
21
trump doesn’t know what to say next. He just blamed California for the fires. No I’m not off point. The magician will pull anything he can find at any time. All magicians use distractions and we all know it’s an act. But with the United States at stake, we don’t need a magician. We need a leader. In the Republican bag of tricks none can be found. Only illusions.
13
Sounds more like desperation than an actual strategy. It hasn't worked anywhere else and doubt it will here. Nancy Pelosi is the best they can do? Having Trump appear the same day he bags on LeBron James? This is a strategy?
Stick with it, please.
10
How Republicans equate polarization with governing a democratic nation is anyone's guess. Blessed are the peacemakers - not the polarizers. The GOP is at war with America as those of us who are a bit older know it: the America that belonged to all of use, where citizens sometimes agreed to disagree for the benefit of the nation as a whole. This administration isn't governing: it's dividing and conquering to enable its policy of looting the pockets of those of us who actually do the work.
13
So, they're running negative ads. There's nothing new about that, and it's already been "priced in" to all the polling and punditry about the election.
One thing I'm a little confused by is the constant references to what one side or another "will do" in the "upcoming" election season. The election is in November. It's now August. This is the election season. If candidates and parties are still trying to figure out their strategies, they're a little late. And I doubt much is going to change in the next 3 months.
5
@Jeff Traditionally, politicians don't start serious electioneering until after Labor Day, the accepted wisdom is that people don't pay attention while on their vacations.
Here’s a simple Drmocratic on point message:
Want to lose your health care insurance,
Social Security and Medicare?
Vote Republican They’ve had TEN years to replace Obama Care ...and all they’ve done is sabotage it
Do you trust the Republicans to keep your pre existing conditions covered?
We thought so
117
"Want to lose your health care insurance,
Social Security and Medicare?
Vote Republican."
exactly. that's the Dem's message.
3
"In Ohio Election, Republicans Test a Midterms Rescue Plan: Polarization."
What was the purpose of this article? Is there something new about Republicans and "Polarization" as a strategy?
16
Imagine how this race would shape up if Nancy Pelosi wasn't a factor. Slam dunk for O'Connor. Democrats need to look at this race as a template for the future-- it's time for Ms. Pelosi to go.
9
@Maxwezz
Oh Maxx don't you think Republicans will just find a different woman to demonize? It's their only strategy and it works very nicely.
12
I am not so sure. Is Pelosi worst than Trump? I doubt that.
4
@Maxwezz I live and vote in OH 12th. O'Connor is on the record as saying he would not support Pelosi for speaker. Also that he will fight any GOP attempt to deplete Medicare and Social Security. His opponent, however, has said he would support major reduction to "entitlement programs." The GOP ads are complete falsifications of the actual words of both candidates. I will vote for O'Connor tomorrow.
9
Trump stole the Republican brand in 2016. He effectively split the ideology of the party into 2 factions: Trumpism and conservatism. However, the Republicans in Congress held their nose and supported him, many times in thinly disguised disgust, so that they could have a signing puppet for their agenda. In so doing, the Republican brand has implicitly embraced Trumpism.
Two years later the voters get to have another say. And those that followed the descent into Trumpism are saying "We have to support the president." The more educated voters as asking, "Do we really? Why should we support a corrupt, lying, racist who conspired with the Russians? What are we getting in return?"
The Democrats will do well if they focus on restoring democracy and the rule of law in the government. They'll hold their base and pull in the educated conservatives.
33
Again with the polls and hints of a “precarious “ Republican position. Prediction articles are worthless. This paper ought to be reporting on effective ways to flip Congress, not implying that it will be hard for Republicans to hold it.
5
Trump and GOP are now twins; vote Republican and you vote for Trump's hate ;racism and economic instability.Every Republican votes the Trump agenda; no matter how fiscally irresponsible or against American values. Vote Republican and they will take away your health care. Vote Republican and they will give more money to the rich and businesses.Vote Republican and more low wage jobs will be created. Vote Republican and wages will remain stagnant. Vote Republican and consumer goods prices will continue to increase. Vote. Ray Sipe
14
Well, I think Republicans have been pretty clueless, all along, and that this will not work. It's about turnout, stupid. Vote Democratic, if you don't like the direction in which we are headed, or the horrendous hatred it has engendered. America is NOT great, at this moment, but it could be, depending on the results of this election.
10
Imagine that! The macho Republicans are afraid of a girl! You go, girl!
19
"Hook-shaped" district? Hmmmmm.........
7
Dividing the country, all in the name of winning. That is all that's left of this miserable country.
12
Awash in outside money and a gerrymandered district! Let's face it. Not only is the American system broken but so are its people. This election should not even be close. Trump's record is simply indifensible.
29
Why do Republicans hate Nancy Pelosi so much? Other than that she's a strong, intelligent women, of course.
40
@J
I wish it was that simple but it is not. Ms. Pelosi has a tone and manner - and I like her - that Republicans have turned into a caricature of everything middle America hates about Washington. She can sound condescending and imperious. Add a whiff of Hilary Clinton's bearing and Pelosi is an easy foil. In Republican districts it works.
1
@J - you could say that about half the male politicians in Washington. Yet, it is the strong women who are held up as examples of snooty elitism. Hillary, Nancy Pelosi, Elizabeth Warner. Hmm.
1
Someone needs to explain to me how a person can vote for a party when the leader of that party 'sucks' in the voter's opinion. The leader, trump, is loathed. The congress, ran by Republicans, is loathed. But you keep voting Republican? Where is the logic? Where is the common sense?
Perhaps we are to dumb to govern ourselves as a species.
22
@rslay0204
That's easy. Like a fish that doesn't see the water it swims in, most liberals don't see how toxic their brand has become to mainstream America. That's the only reason they would vote for a madman like Trump.
1
@rslay0204 Because House elections are local. People give Congress an approval rating close to zero — then say, "Throw them all out!" Except for mine. He's terrific.
1
J, their “brand”?
It's time for the folks in Ohio--including Gov. Kasich--to step up and do the right thing. I recently spent a week with relatives in Ohio where I grew up. Trump Fox Republican propaganda is pervasive there.
The anti-Trump Kasich claims to be a compassionate conservative. He ought to know that a vote for Mr. Balderson is a vote to protect Trump.
Three decades ago the mainline protestant churches were sanctuaries of sanity, decency, pragmatism, and tolerance. Now, however, in those churches you hear Trump conspiracy theories and Trump lies.
For instance, at a United Methodist church Bible study, folks went on and on about how afraid they were of Muslims, and the minister went so far as to pray for the people who were afraid of Muslims.
In my time that church had members from the Philippines, Jamaica, Hungary, Taiwan, etc. It was full of ex-Mennonites, ex-Baptists, ex-evangelicals. The membership had many young people. Now however it is just old and white.
To be sure, there are plenty of Ohioans, old whites among them, who disagree. But they are siting on their hands. The loud voices are all Trump ones. That loudness is not an Ohio tradition.
The Democrats can run against Ms. Pelosi, too. They should do what they must. Democrats have so much else to run on, too, e.g., health care, Social Security, Medicare, public education, affordable college tuition.
As recent data indicates, Trump is decimating programs like the ACA which old white people depend on.
18
Yet Kasich endorses Balderson. He should know better.
7
The fact that O’Connor has made a race of it means you shouldn’t broad-brush Ohio.
3
@Kim Murphy
Thank you for your reply. Sorry, I should not have "broad-brushed" Ohio. I did say the following but my emphasis was, as you correctly note, elsewhere: "To be sure, there are plenty of Ohioans, old whites among them, who disagree." A quick question: Do Ohioans believe that Kasich is a moderate, given his views on abortion?
1
The fact that Kasich, one of the supposed Republican good guys, is supporting Trump’s man underscores the need to elect Democrats to every office.
It’s our only hope to stamp out Trumpism before he becomes unstoppable.
20
I think that this is amazing. A solidly Republican community that is in play. Why? Is the Republican hold on Washington that tenuous?
2
Democrats have used polarization based on litmus tests for a generation, come on, let it go. This about turnout by any means on both sides. Give us good candidates, we'll make the right choices.
4
You mean like abortion? Oh wait, wrong party.
4
@northlander Trump's election disproves your assertion.
10
@northlander There was a good candidate, one who could not be legitimately tarred by years long, multi-million dollar investigations, decades of right-wing media slandering, and even Russian espionage. The trump cult made "the right choice," which also happens to be the most corrupt, immoral choice they've made in centuries. Let's not pretend it's about the best candidate.
5
Pence, purportedly an observant Christian, has obviously granted himself exemption from the Bible's command not to bear false witness.
132
@Jim Steinberg
Thank You!
8
Democrats should make the debate on healthcare a key issue in all elections going forward, especially the right of people with pre-existing conditions to obtain coverage.
43
I grew up in a single-parent household (mother raised four sons and worked two jobs) and her survival technique was simple: keep the four of us fighting each other because if we ever joined forces she was finished. The same technique is being deployed on the American people: divide and conquer.
Patrick Henry posited in his last speech in 1799: "United we stand, divided we fall." Ignorance is bliss.
16
The 12th CD, for those not familiar with Central Ohio; this district was a great example of gerrymandering. Much of the eastern and southeastern parts extend into rural farmland. The western, and southern portions extend into northern Columbus. This includes new suburbs of Delaware County, and Democrat bastions of Worthington, Clintonville section of Columbus, northern Westerville, Dublin, Hilliard and New Albany (in Franklin County). Most of the population, of the 12th, live in the Franklin and Delaware County portions. Much of this went for Clinton, in 2016. Since, 2018, Delaware County is the fastest growing county in Ohio.
Most of the high population areas contain people who work for the State of Ohio, Ohio State University, and various tech, insurance and medical industries in the Columbus area. This is a well educated area, where most couples have degrees.
The Columbus Dispatch, reported this weekend, the race is 50-50, but leaning Democrat. There was a historic request for absentee ballots, mostly from Democrats.
Most of those, who live there, were nailed by the $10,000 limit on state, city, township and school district income/property taxes. And, limitations on mortgage interest deductions. Close friends of mine, pay nearly $8000 or more a year in property taxes alone, in $400,000 homes. They are not happy, and a couple of them voted fro Trump.
The 12th Cd will be Democrat come Wednesday morning. Oh yeah, blue collar Ohio is not very happy either.
58
Ohio Republicans have to defend a trillion dollar deficit caused by a giant tax giveaway to the wealthiest, a global trade war that will be hammering manufacturing in Ohio with soaring steel prices and stagnant lower and middle income wages.
I am pretty sure Nancy Pelosi was not responsible for either of these.
Many of Trump's base are easily fooled by diversionary appeals to racism and misogyny but hopefully enough in the middle are getting the picture.
81
President Donald Trump only cares about himself; he has a narcissistic personality and is so extremely self-centered he must set-up rallies at his political “base” because it makes him whole. Most alarming, his base consists of 35% of the population that under the influence of President Trump has become a “cult.” They show such veneration for him that doesn’t listen to anyone but Trump, the leader that became a Republican under Vladimir Putin's order. This are the same people that attacked Bernie Sanders for being a socialist.
Current political events don't “fit.” President Trump, his White House officials and the Republican Congress are exhibiting suspicious behavior; their actions of coercion describe a way of governing that values order and control over personal freedom. Turning American into an “Authoritarian Republic;” a political system that puts its power in the hands of a white leader or an elite white group that won’t tolerate the existence of a homogeneous; cultural differences in our society, (the melting pot.)
On November 6 go to your voting place and proudly give your vote to defend our democracy; to protect this country from influential white people that are creating discord as well as from any Russian interference or foreign power. Give your vote in favor of our democracy believing all men were created equal and worthy of the same economic opportunities.
25
An enthusiastic vote counts the same as a apathetic vote. So while there will be many on these pages who will vote enthusiastically, I doubt there is enough of y'all to make a difference. The republicans will remain in control of both the house and senate.
5
@jaco
Any sane and caring American certainly hopes you are very, very wrong.
5
Except a lot of GOP women in OH-12 are so disgusted with Trump that they’ll just stay home. No vote is like no vote.
The House will be blue.
6
"'They’re going to raise your taxes,' Mr. Trump said of the Democrats. ;You’re going to have crime all over the place. You’re going to have people pouring across the border.'"
We need not look for any additional evidence that the GOP firmly believes the findings of modern psychology: that fear makes one more conservative. (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mind-in-the-machine/201612/fear-...
Of course, we didnt need to hear it from trump. All one has to do is turn on Fox "News" for a moment to realize that was the strategy all along...
38
As predicted, the mad dash of the Democrats to the left will turn off moderate voters and send the midterms down the drain.
Please listen to Trump, Democrats! He knows how to win and you are doing his bidding. He doesn't even have to work hard, you are defeating yourselves.
5
Trump won because he cheated. With the Russians!!
7
Left of what? The GOP has ceded all ground near the center. What Democrats are proposing is common ground for most Americans. Sounds like you're buying into the GOP hype that we're just craaaaaazzzyyy.
6
Mr. Burns,
No “Polarization” from Democrats! “Clinging to their Guns and Religion” and “a basket of Déplorables” is not the least bit Polarizing! (Not!) Democrats have taught us all the art of identity politics for these last 60 years!
Democrats have also taught us that the Courts Not Votes nor Laws are what really matters.
Today Democrats are calling for Impeachment and Harassment of those Americans that they disagree with. This goes hand in hand with those Americans being Deplorable because they cling to their guns and religion!
So, Mr. Burns exactly who is the party of Polarization?
4
@Richard In many races, Democratic votes outnumber Republicans, but Republicans win. More Democrats voted in the national election, but a Republican won. Why is that? We should fear that elections are "rigged," but in whose favor? Why are you afraid of fair elections? Why are you afraid of our courts, our national security agencies, our media that more often than no report verifiable truths?
24
@Richard
Your response is like that of the bully when his victim finally stands up to his abuse.
7
@Gustav Aschenbach
Republicans win because Democrats don’t out number Republicans and independents together! If you fear that the election is rigged volunteer as a poll worker. If you don’t like the rules in place work to change them before not after the election.
I’m delighted with our courts because we finally have judges that rule on the law that is not the law they want to be.
When powerful Government Agencies become involved in our elections everyone should be concerned. That said the same people who thought Al Gore won the election will go to their graves believing HRC should have won too.
News outlets have always had agendas, they still do and “Truth” is seldom easy to verify. He’s a lier because he said the glass is half empty when clearly it’s half full as just one example.
This is a district that over the past thirty years goes two to one in voting for Republicans.
It's 87% white. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio%27s_12th_congressional_district
It's mind boggling that this district is in play.
If you can help with getting out the vote, please do so..
40
And we find out Balderson DID NOT invite Trump into the state! Guess he just kind of pushes his way in, even when he's not necessarily wanted.
8
Well, that’s what he does with women, so why not with Republican candidates?
1
Pay close attention to this race. Ohio determines who gets to live in the White House.
6
Responses to attacks on Nancy Pelosi: Republicans hate women - they think groping women is fine, not a problem for their president. Trump and the Republican party supported a candidate who was an accused child abuser in Alabama. Republicans think it's fine to rip children from their mothers' arms and make them orphans. Republicans also want to end health care for all - remember that Nancy Pelosi delivered the Affordable Care Act, providing health care for 10 million (?) people who otherwise would not be covered. Republicans hate her because she cares about women and children. Shame on them.
79
@Eero
Excellent points.
The vilification of Pelosi has many disturbing overtones.
8
So much for the concept of the UNITED States of America. Why not throw in a little class warfare while you’re at it?
7
Blue has always been the color of signage used by Democratic Party candidates. Republican candidates have always adopted red to identify their party affiliation. Now, Republican candidates, to disguise their party affiliation, have changed their sign colors to blue,the same color and hue as the Democrats.
Democratic Party candidates should make sure that the voters know which party they stand with by having all their signage include the wording “ Democratic Party Candidate“ to let voters know.
Of course, the sneaky Repubs will then parody their signs with the words “not a Democratic Party Candidate” with the words “not a” in very small size.
Worth a try, though.
9
@Marv Eisen, a little historical context for you: red and blue were used interchangeably by both parties until the 2000 Bush vs Gore election. CNN's widely watched coverage included a map that shaded states blue for Gore and red for Bush. That convention stuck, and while 18 years is a long time, it's hardly "forever."
2
If the democratic leadership had any brains they would announce that Pelosi has decided not to run for Speaker. Doesn't matter if she later does or is "recruited" to once they take the house. Remove the GOP talking point. It's weak and they know it.
16
@Let the Dog Drive
Why do Republicans hate women?
6
I'll just note that Nancy Pelosi's and Mike Pence's favorable/unfavorable ratings are roughly the same but you single out Ms. Pelosi as "unpopular." Nancy Pelosi is only one of many women demonized by the Russia Party of the United States.
88
"....habitually backs republicans" Isn't that the problem with our electorate really? Regardless of party, many people seem to vote labels and not for the party or person who best represent their values. Anyone including single issue voters, who cannot identify a direct action made or proposed by a candidate that reflects their values should not automatically give their vote to him or her. Read the respective platforms and research prior actions by the candidates in question before commitment. Otherwise you hurt your beliefs and possibly those of the country.
6
I guess these people interviewed don't realize that the GOP wants to get rid of SS and Medicare. Voting against their own interests in favor of party interests. Go figure.
38
Erosion of democratic norms will morph into an authoritarian regime. It is already happening at a very rapid rate. People in the United States are choosing to erode their own democracy. One of the two viable parties of our government are choosing to erode the greatness of this nation. For what? Tax cuts and less regulations? Disgusting. Read, see what is happening in regimes around the world that do not have strong democracies! Our government is far from perfect but what are we allowing to happen now is not better and will not be better for 99% of the citizens of this country. Please vote and please read.
35
You've absolutely hit the nail on its proverbial head. A man with Donald Trump's authoritarian instincts seems to intuit exactly what he needs to do to make his legal problems "political" ones and survive as president.
With a 40% popularity and grip on supporters who would willingly trade democracy for fascism as long as their "leader" said to, and because it makes them feel "special," we are watching truth, honesty, and altruism degenerate into a hate-filled mob capable of anything.
I believe there will be blood before this is over. Blood spilled not only at white supremacy marches, but also Trump rallies themselves which are becoming more and more chilling.
39
This election is about ideas, policies and putting a check on the republican gangster government imposing dictates. It is about following the rule of law - wherever it might lead. It is about health care, fair pay and human rights. It is about reversing the crushing new republican taxes (tariffs) and about the republican theft for the top 1% and corporations.
It is not about Ms. Pelosi.
16
@FunkyIrishman but the GOP has to find a scary bogeyman because they have no policies that help anyone. And stupid people vote for this nonsense.
5
@FunkyIrishman Good points, but this election is really about only one thing - whether the Republican party can align itself with overt racism and kowtowing to Russia and still win.
2
All this article does for me is confirm the duplicitous nature of the Republican party and the lack of insight and naivety of many Republican voters. The party leadership is telling them that 1+1=3, and they believe it, because, you know, they're Republicans. Astounding!
12
The middle class is being battered by Republican policies and no thinking American should vote for them. Not to mention that the party has a criminal at its helm.
10
Republicans need to decide whether their party is more important than their country.
8
The Republican strategy is simple - open social warfare. Issues no longer matter unless it either 1) impacts taxes as Ms. Patchett demonstrates (who cares if Russia is destroying our democracy so long as I pay even less tax, right?) or 2) it "protects" Trump, so that he can continue to drive racism, corporate welfare, misogyny and overall division of the country even more aggressively. There is no hope for Republicans. History has shown more than once what it takes to jolt countries out of periods like this, and it isn't pretty.
5
So, is this an election just to fill out the rest of the term, or will this seat be contested again in November?
1
@David Godinez We vote again in November.
1
It will be contested in November. Same two guys. O’Connor needs to win tomorrow.
4
@David Godinez - The seat will be contested again in November
As Richard Nixon said, people don't vote their hopes, they vote their fears.
10
Republicans have used the southern-strategy since 1968. Nothing new here, republicans use fear and racism and are well schooled in the approach. Fear and racism won't soon disappear, but rationality will grow and with that growth Democratic candidates will prevail.
7
What if you just want to raise taxes on the richest 1% and lower them for the middle class?
4
@Will Hogan Why you would be un-American, of course! /s
1
Why would a teacher, a man with a college degree believe that millions of people "smarter than me" voted for Trump? Super rich corporate leaders voted for their own pocketbooks when they voted for Trump. Those people have the same mindset as those who voted for Hoover-twice.
7
@Maureen Steffek He did get 63 million votes, so chances are at least a few would be smarter than the teacher quoted in the article and that quite a bit of them would be more racist too.
1
Ms. Patchett's "chief policy concern is taxes." I.e., her main concern is Me, Myself and I.
Our civic culture is in bad shape.
9
@Hal G: It is possible to think your "chief policy concern is taxes", meaning that you consider the recent tax deform (sic) a blatant theft of public goods (i.e., money) by the billionaire class. Not by a Republican, alas.
Pence did not paraphrase he openly lied about the facts. O'Connor said he did not support Pelosi.
The GOP has been using polarization among other tactics to win since 1967. Every year going lower and lowering our national standards for everything good and right each time they get into office.
10
It is breathtaking that republicans are openly bragging that their strategy is to polarize the electorate. That soundbite may motivate dark money campaign contributors, but to voters it sounds like republicans are trying to circumvent our election process.
7
Where are the Democrats out for their candidate in this race? No where it appears. I am deeply disappointed daily when I don't see and hear Democratic leadership countering the Republican talking points. Democrats are not going to win much if they don't get up and speak out.
6
@Meg I am in District 12, and have had many people knocking on my door (only Democrats) and chasing me down in front of grocery stores (Democrats and Republicans) to talk about the candidates. Perhaps you are not seeing anything because you are not in District 12?
4
I live in the district and I am hoping for an upset tomorrow. However, my gut feeling tells me that Balderson will win by a larger percentage than the polls are showing. My wife didn't vote in 2016 and doesn't plan to vote tomorrow. She has been a registered Democrat for 30+ years and voted for Obama twice but has no interest in voting for either candidate tomorrow.
4
@Mark
Your wife shares an attitude with many others. Unfortunately, she cannot see the forest through the
trees (which is in the process of going up in flames in
any case). The votes crucial to a realistic and non
suicidal (i.e. promotion of carbon energy usage, etc. etc.) approach to global warming will not be found from the likes of balderson. The votes
to make affordable health care, free of political games, to a much larger part of the population desperately in need of it,
will not be found among the likes of balderson. The votes to achieve a reasonable bipartisan compromise on DACA, immigration policy, and "illegal aliens" will surely not be found from among the likes of balderson. The pain of the inevitable economic contraction that will follow the current idiocies and delusional policies will not be borne by those who have profited from it, and balderson will surely help
insure this.
Your wife needs to realize that you and she are not
going to be immune or sheltered from the additional very bad consequences that will be inevitable if there is no
institutional constraint upon trumpican lunacy. With some
constraint, albeit weak and somewhat incoherent, the worst
of the bad may be less so.
This is a question of emotional maturity
in the face of a tsunami of amoral greed and
vile hate (e.g. the response to the consequences of the zero tolerance policy). Not grasping this is
comparable to the head in the sand mentality that
prevailed in Weimar Germany.
5
As a voter in this district, I can confirm that the only reason “this shouldn’t even be close,” as Kasich says, is that our district is gerrymandered in favor of Republicans. (And the fact that Kasich endorsed Balderson just further confirms to me that the idea of him being somehow different from or better than other Republicans is a fiction.) I live in an inner ring suburb less than 5 miles from the city center of Columbus and yet somehow my district includes voters in small farming communities that are halfway to Cleveland. Since moving to Ohio from New York ten years ago, I have always voted, as it feels especially important to do in a swing state. And yet time and again it seems as though my vote doesn’t matter. How discouraging it is to feel as though I am not represented by my representatives. What a luxury it must be for these Trump-opposing Republicans to feel as though they don’t need to pay attention to or vote in this election.
20
I’m in UA, two miles from the hugely liberal university area, and I’m stuck over here with Stivers, so I feel your pain. Thanks for always voting, and tell your friends!
6
“We’ve got to protect President Trump.”
There you have it. Republican voters appear to be nothing more than rubber stamps for the most outlandish, vile, incompetent presidency in America’s history.
These are people who claim to be the most patriotic of citizens but, in reality, in spite of two citizens in five having college degrees, they demonstrate a decided lack of political sophistication. They’re willing to swallow the party’s sophistry. “They’ll raise your taxes,” the combover-in-chief screeched, allowing his audience to forget that he lowered their taxes and a $1-trillion gift is his signature deal to date.
And the race fear—the nightmarish MS—13–is kept on the boil. I don’t suppose it matters that District 12 is a two-day drive to the border. All the Republicans have on their “platform” is polarization—they appeal to people’s itching fears.
The Democrats, however, need a top-down message that will find resonance in deep-red constituencies like this. Thomas Perez needs to tailor the party’s message to the demographics that will energize turnout on Election Day. As for Republican voters—here and elsewhere—if they can’t see the hemorrhaging effect the 45th presidency is having on all of us, well, they can bolt and lock the gates of their lawned communities all they want but that’s not going to heave this nation out of the oil spill we now are on the world stage. If they can’t see how dangerously we’re being “governed,” I don’t suppose much else matters.
141
@Soxared, '04, '07, '13--Let's not count them out just yet--the vote has not yet been taken. The denizens of the 12th district of Ohio may, against all odds, yet prove themselves loyal Americans.
1
The recurring theme in the special and Republican primary elections is the hatred of Nancy Pelosi. Why is that? Because during her brief tenure as Speaker, she showed she could enforce party discipline and actually get things done. In spite of GOP stonewalling.
Watching the feckless GOP leadership in the interim, is she hated or feared?
154
@Steve because she is a woman that gets things done and for some reason this part of the electorate hates women and minorities that act differently than their misogynistic, racist, hateful rhetoric dictates. Oh, and most of the people have no clue why they hate her. They were just told to hate her by republicans. So they do, like lemmings.
5
@Robert Allen: Worse than a woman. She's a *Democratic* woman who *gets things done*. And from *California*. What a terrible combination of traits if you're a greedy billionaire wannabe.
Republicans' plan is unconstitutional gerrymandering. They get more seats in the various legislatures with less votes per seat. In Michigan we have a constitutional amendment on the ballot this November to take redistricting away from our republican controlled legislature and put that power in a commission that is structurally neutral.
138
I admire Nancy Pelosi enormously. The demonization of her is deeply sexist. Most of the people who hate her have little idea who she is or what she has accomplished. Its too easy to hate a woman in power. Nonetheless, there is an easy way for Pelosi and the Democratic leadership to undercut this desperate advertising strategy, and that is a change in leadership. My one request is get another woman in there.
93
@Nancy penny Nancy Pelosi was an incredibly effective and powerful Speaker who was able to shepherd through legislation in ways the GOP can only dream of; but I agree that it’s time she, and the rest of the leadership team, step down for fresh leadership. I’m wondering if she will create an October surprise of announcing she won’t pursue Speakership if the Democrats win the House.
27
Democrats are lucky to have her.
Just compare her to John Boehner and Paul Ryan.
11
@Nancy penny: Nancy Pelosi has certainly driven many Republicans to the polls ! I am female ( who started out as a Kennedy Girl ) and admire her stamina but not the policies of the current Democrat Party . ( wife )
1
Looking at the photo with the article -
Remember when Republicans used red and Democrats used blue?
Remember when a politician's sign or literature clearly stated they were Republican or Democrat? Now it's hard to tell, especially with Republicans who hide their party affiliation.
In Maryland, it was Robert Ehrlich's campaign in 2006.
The GOP has to hide their identity, pretend to be Democrats.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/07/AR200611...
37
The voters quoted in this article made it clear that all they were looking for was an R after someone's name. These are people who wouldn't vote for a Democrat if their life depended on it. There is no way the GOP is going to hide the identity of their candidates.
Their problem is that these are not "Pro-Trump" Republicans, and they are not motivated to help save Trump in the mid-terms. To them, the choice is either 1) Vote "R", or 2) sit the mid-terms out. If enough of them choose option 2, the Dems might win the seat.
4
I have noticed that in all the campaign trash I have been getting too. The republicans are trying to mislead voters. Again.
5
@D. DeMarco: Remember when Communists were "red" and "true-blue" Americans were red, white, and blue? That might be before your time.
1
Polarization has been the GOP strategy for 50 years, and it has worked extremely well for them as shown by their current domination of government.
131
"In a speech laced with unrelated personal grievances — including against Matt Borges, a former Ohio Republican Party chairman who crossed him — Mr. Trump warned that Ms. Pelosi “controls Danny O’Connor, whoever the hell that is.”"
This sounds really smart: pour oil on the blazing fire of political polarization to rouse the turnout.
I shake my head. I'm sick and tired of pundits warning Democrats don't have a message, when Republicans' message is don't get Nancy Peolosi as speaker.
Not "what I'll do for the district, how I'll help you gain access to healthcare, I'll understand your financial concerns for the future, I'll work to make this country more civil and thus more productive."
The elephant in the room of course--now and always until he goes--is this amazingly divisive and vulgar president bumbling his way across the states, insulting state icons, and bellowing his resentments.
If that's a message from the GOP, I think the Democrats will do just fine.
250
Nothing new here in the GOP using distortions and misrepresentation to attack the opposition, and no attempt to address real issues. It’s exactly what the GOP Congress does every day in Washington to avoid any useful activity and to help their billionaire backers dismantle democracy.
169
Polarization is certainly not a new strategy, but I guess it works.
15
Look at the map of this district. It is uniquely gerrymandered to ensure Republican victories. But hope exists this time!
97
Patchett votes for Trump, and it amuses her to have done so. Inflicting a sick joke on us all is the real radicalization, not that call to value black lives as much as others, to make make it safe for women to give birth only if they want to, to recognize the threat to us all from human made climate change, and to understand ourselves as responsible to care for refugees, especially those fleeing disasters inflicted upon them by our own economic, military and environmental malfeasance. The flag, the Bible and the Constitution are of use to the Patchetts of this country, to insulate them on their poisoned lawns from reckoning? Well, done with them is well done.
70
I suspect she won’t get to the polls at all. She doesn’t sound like a self-starter.
So here is a major national party that openly promotes dividing people - setting one against the other - for political reason. “Make war, not love.” That should be the republican motto; it is already their mantra. Looking at those faces of hate at their rallies fills me with despair.
291
@Marisa Leaf: Yes you are correct, especially about the kids sitting behind DJT and that PA rally. I know I am not the only one who observed with profound concern their zombie-like faces most familiar in cults.
4
This is not a new strategy for Republicans. They have been using this approach of polarization and divisiveness since Nixon's so-called Southern Strategy. They have been aided by their in-house propaganda machine of Fox "News". And it has culminated in the worst, most hateful person becoming the US President. As odious as this strategy is, it has worked, thanks to the stupid and gullible mass electorate, so why should they change now?
259
The headline should read “Republicans Adopt Russian Hackers Strategy.”
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If the Democrats do not energize the "middle independents" and the African American and Latino voters ...those folks may soon find out they missed their last chance to ever vote,
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Wow, the GOP is trying to tie a Democrat to Nancy Pelosi. This is new strategy sounds a lot like 2016, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, and 2004.
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The GOP opened their bag of dirty tricks and all they managed was bad mouthing an old woman? Nancy Pelosi isn't trying to take away Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. She is trying to save it from Republicans.
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Denigrating Nancy Pelosi has got to be getting stale, and with a little political jiu jitsu could work against them. Did Nancy Pelosi collude with Russians to throw an election? Is Nancy Pelosi trying to take away your health insurance? Does Nancy Pelosi want to kill Social Security? Did Nancy Pelosi give a huge tax break to billionaires that you wi have to pay for?
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Excellent comment EW- I don't think demonizing a women who has worked hard for democratic principles and has no ties to Russians or other nefarious groups is a good idea.
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Nancy Pelosi commandeered the House floor and spoke for eight straight hours. The topic wasn’t health care, or the economy, or jobs, or the environment, or the deficit, or trade, or the opioid crisis. No. Nancy Pelosi, the House Speaker, chose to speak for eight hours in support of illegal aliens. Not US citizens, who pay taxes and vote, but illegal immigrants. Ms. Pelosi has shown us exactly who she is, and I don’t think I can hold my nose again and vote for anyone that even minimally supports her.
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@EW: Yes! I wish Democrats would take this tactic, and run commercials that list these exact questions. My husband doesn't particularly care for Pelosi, and he's voted as a Democrat, Republican, and Independent at various times. But he has vowed to vote a straight Democratic ticket from now on. Hit back with facts!
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If you're not going to vote against Trump then please don't vote. It should be obvious, especially to educated voters, that Trump's agenda must come to a screeching halt and tomorrow is the perfect time for you to send a message to the nation and the world: Enough.
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The real polarization will begin after the election. If Republicans hold onto the House and Senate then Trump will fire Mueller, and anyone else in his way, as he knows his takeover of the Republican Party is complete and they will all continue to bow to him. If Democrats win the House or Senate, or both, then firing Mueller will greatly slow any effort against him. Either way, Mueller is out in November.
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Why would Mueller be out if the democrats win? The democrats want the investigation completed so that everybody who interfered with the election will be indicted. This isn't all about trump. Everyone who participated in election fraud should go to jail.
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He can’t fire Mueller. Rosenstein has to fire Mueller. For cause. It is not going to happen. If Rosenstein is fired the next AG steps up (not Sessions) and they would have to have cause.
And until he finds his Robert Bork he’s out of luck.
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@Daisy: If the Democrats win, they won't take office for several weeks and in that time Trump could fire Mueller. If he does, we have a crisis.
The nation has become a high school. DJT is the school bully. His base are the folks who beat up the people he picks on. But the rest us just avoid him, mock him behind his back. But not a one of us stands up to him when he picks on a nerd, or on our little sister who is handicapped.
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4Katydid,
I agree with everything you said except that it's more like middle school than high school!
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What do you expect us to do? Sink to trump's level? Use violence and playground tactics? We are going to slam the breaks on trump by routing the do nothing republicans out of congress. We are going to kick trump out after Mr. Mueller completes his investigation.
We are voters. Our vote is our weapon. Use it!
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@4Katydid--Yes we do.
We stood up to him on the Muslim ban.
We stood up to him on separating children from parents.
We stood up to him on tax cuts.
We stood up to him on assaulting women.
We stood up to him on embracing foreign dictators.
We've stood up to him on a lot of things and we will continue, even though we won't win every battle. We cannot stop--our country is at stake.
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To me the nice Democrat Mr. O’Connor and also Ms. Pelosi and her followers still cannot see the forest thru the trees.
O’Connor will lose the election. Not just because this is a Republican stronghold. O’Connor is too wimpy and does not know how to make a fiery stream of points about how this President and the do nothing House Republicans of Ryan etc. are performing.
Be nice, stay soft, stay home. This way Mr. O’Connor you will not need to vote for Pelosi.
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A lesson in parties. These people place party above all. Even when they know how bad the people they vote are - as Ms. Patchett is quoted saying.
Our founders did not include parties in the constitution. Our very first president, George Washington, said at his farewell address when leaving office September 1796 in speaking on parties:
"They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force---to put in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprizing minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common councils, and modified by mutual interests.
"However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion."
It is harder to imagine truer words spoken. There is a reason we honor Washington. We should not forget.
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“We’ve got to protect President Trump.”
Therein lies the problem: the majority of Republicans are oblivious to the damage Trump is doing to the country — and, in the long run, to themselves.
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I don't think they're oblivious, I think they know and just don't care.
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I agree except for one part of your comment: they are NOT oblivious. They know exactly what they’re doing. And they don’t care.
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Some voters welcome the party-first appeals: Dan Abbott, 66, easily identified Mr. Balderson’s most appealing quality. “He’s a Republican, for one thing,” said Mr. Abbott, a retired contract administrator for a power company, at Mr. Pence’s event last week. “We’ve got to protect President Trump.”
Exhibit #1 why people who no longer pay taxes should no longer be allowed to vote.
If non-taxpayers were not allowed to vote, Trump would lose 90% of his "base".....
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@George Baldwin That is a terrible idea. Everyone pays taxes in some way shape or form whether they are retired or not (sales taxes, property taxes, etc.)
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Just because someone is retired doesn't mean they no longer pay federal, state, municipality, sales, real estate, and personal property taxes.
I am retired and I pay all of the above named taxes.
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Anyone else you want to deny the franchise to? The disabled? Women? African Americans?
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Pelosi is a frequent target of GOP election attacks. Perhaps she should announce that she is stepping down as leader after the elections. She seems to be a drag on possible Democrat Congressional gains.
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@expat: Mostly to Republicans who wouldn't vote for any Democrat anyway.
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As an Oregon Republican watching this race with interest I have to admit I am perplexed. Here we have voters confronting a decision as to whether they will support a Republican candidate who appears to identify with a president intent on imposing a 25 percent sales tax on middle class voters, appoints and supports corrupt Cabinet members, and embraces a KGB operative, or will they vote for a guy who just maybe might vote for some old lady for Speaker of the House if her party wins a majority. C'mon, how much juice will Nancy Pelosi have even if the Democrats win the House and they vote for her rather than someone with a future? I admit that in Oregon we have a problem with Greg Walden, another sales tax lover, as the guy is clueless that in a state with grand antipathy toward sales taxes he makes it harder for Republicans to protect the public. But Ohio Republicans really should do better than elect a guy who will support President Trump's bait-and-switch routine with taxes. He claims to cut taxes, though most of the benefits go to corporations and the wealthy, then he turns around and imposes a federal sales tax under the guise of "tariffs", so middle class people get to pay a huge federal sales tax to make up for the revenue he gave away. While it probably seems strange to argue against voting for a fellow Republican the only way we can free the party from the corrupt and treacherous types who currently dominate it is to vote them out, not respond to fake appeals for help.
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@usa999: I do so appreciate your courageous, thoughtful, fact-based, accurate, and authentic assessment of the current state of the Republican race in Ohio.
Peggy in NH (A true Independent who has voted for Ds and Rs over the years)
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Oregon has a Dem governor, two Dem senators, and 4 Dem reps out of five total. The last time you guys voted for a Republican President was 1984. No idea why a member of the party’s failed West Coast operation is lecturing Republican Ohioans. Their blind allegiance to your leadership is the only reason you can still identify yourself as a Republican. Without them, “Republican” would have been consigned to the trash heap of history years ago. Seems to me you should be thanking them. Besides, if you really cared about good politics, you wouldn’t be a Republican.
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@usa999 Thank you sir for considering the good of the country over partisan politics.
If the polls are right (close race), the democrats have already won this race even if they lose. The district has been republican for 40 yrs. and Trump won it by a big margin in 2016.
There are many districts like this, close to 60-80 depending on how you define them, tight races.
Almost all are republican seats and the dems just have to flip app. 23 to take control of the House.
The Senate is another story where there are only a relatively few republican seats up for re election and the democrats would have to run the table, ie win them all to take control of the Senate, not impossible but unlikely.
It is time for Americans to be Americans first and party members second.
Republicans should vote against any republican candidate that is pro Trump which is many of them.
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