Strictly speaking, everyone in the US has an ancestor who didn't have the right to vote, because women have only been able to vote in federal elections for like a century. So everyone's got a grandma or great-grandma who didn't get to vote.
Do it for grandma! Vote!
2
It's appalling how the people employed to analyse the midterms in this newspaper - and in most news organisations to be fair - have simply abandoned their role. They are no longer analysts, they are a commentariat, apparently intent on creating the impression that there is uncertainty about the result, presumably to increase their ratings or readership. This is exactly the problem that got Trump elected in the first place, more interest in profit than professionalism.
The best analysis currently available is from MSNBC's Steve Kornacki, although he also suffers from the gun-shy uncertainty of a man who (like nearly everyone else) got it wrong in 2016. This hesitancy is foolish. The 2016 election result was completely the result of the Comey email October surprise, the single most irresponsible act by a government official in the history of modern American politics.
Even better than Kornacki, in the sense of actually being open to a clear result being indicated by the available polling, is Joe Scarborough. His reference yesterday to the USC/LA Times polling on Trump's approval rating was apposite and significant. This poll was the most accurate in 2016 and right now it is showing Trump with a 40% approval rating and a 57% disapproval rating. As Joe said yesterday, if it's accurate, there is an earthquake coming for the Republicans.
I believe it is accurate and there is going to be a Blue Tsunami against Trump on Tuesday. It's a pity The Times doesn't trust itself anymore.
4
Pence is a walking, talking escapee from a Christian wax museum. He's a milquetoast phony that few take seriously. He was a dismal failure in business; never got a single piece of legislation passed as a Congressman; had failed so badly as governor that he eagerly bailed out to be the VP candidate, believing that God had trump elected to fail and be replaced by -guess who. I greatly respect Christians who work hard to conduct their lives according to the examples and teachings of Jesus. Mike Pence isn't one of them.
9
I wish Oprah gave this speech in October 2016. I will never forget an article in this paper after that election. They interviewed people in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin that did not vote. Some of those interviewed were black men at a barber shop in Wisconsin. They felt that their voted would not have mattered. Nothing would get better for them.
As a black woman that voted, I was more angry at the people of color that didn't vote then the Trump voter. People died, were beaten, bitten by dogs so I can vote, get an education, and be counted as a citizen. How dare they waste their opportunity to vote.
10
I have a message for Mike Pence.
Decency, fairness, equality are not “liberal” qualities, they are HUMAN qualities. They do not live in one state, one city, or any one country. Oprah Winfrey is a way bigger deal than Mike Pence will ever be and not because of her celebrity but decause of her decency.
I am so sick of this nonsense.
10
Pence or Oprah. Who is the bigger celebrity?
5
Mike Pence was literally the most unpopular governor in the US when a reality TV star picked him as his running mate. So now he thinks that the most famous (and successful) female entrepreneur is "too Hollywood" for Georgia? Please.
Saying something was "Hollywood" used to mean that it was artificial. I can't think of anything more fake than Mike Pence.
13
I like Oprah's focus on voting rights - her influence could be major as was described. I would never vote for her for President (I like the days when politicians lead our country), but she could be a terrific antagonist to Trump given her huge popularity and senior stateswoman status. I would love to see him try to hit her with his defamation and see how she utterly crushes him.
8
Mr Pence -- You're not kind of a big deal. At all.
37
Did Pence just say he's kind of a big deal too? Screams of a wounded ego.
31
If Oprah can't galvanize voters, no one can. Although I'm not a fan of her 2020 candidacy, I think she's far more valuable - and probably more true to herself - by speaking when it matters. Candidates don't have that luxury, it's crawling into a mud pit and that's never been her thing.
Stacey Abrams is a women on point, with real ideas, while Brian Kemp stumbles over accusations of conflict of interest and voter suppression, no response but anger. His lone policy is getting elected.
While flipping Congress is the big picture, the governor's races in Georgia and Florida will tell us more about where our country is headed in the future - both are racially charged and if we don't find a way past that we will never move forward as a country.
18
When any election seasons started, we started to hear lies, one after another. Politicians always lie to get votes. Trump is a perfect example. He always bragging about unemployment rate at all time low - not mentioning the fact it was this low BEFORE he took office. He's bragging about tax cut for middle class, when in reality, the most benefits go to big corporations. The stock market at all time high. Yes of course it is but WHY. Because working people has more money to invest ??? Or because of money flowing into market from corporate's tax cut. A list goes on and on. But why he keeps lying ? Simply because it works. He is a genius in term of making people believe in what he said. He easily bypass media reports of his lie by labeled them the enemy of the people, using Twitter and Fox News to directly manipulate their perceptions of what actually happended. He energies his base at rallies like a professional performer. He created a mini war in US politics between 2 parties and their followers. To his credit, this was how politic was created and run back in ancient time with one man in power. He did it brilliantly. Conflicts are not always bad. It created very strong motive for new ideas, better solutions for problems occurred. But its a double-edged sword. He has to control the heat of his base, avoiding things like in Pittsburgh and pipe-bombs to happen. Can he do that in The Apprentice ? Yes. In a country like US ?Time will tell. But now, its dangerous and entertaining.
3
Draft Oprah for President.
She just gave a speech that was more rousing than anything I ever heard from Hillary.
Until today I considered Oprah to be a joke. Her TV Show was offensive, like Ellen, taking advantage of a gullible audience.
But now I believe that we need Oprah to be a figurehead for the Democratic Party.
For years, since Reagan, a B movie actor, was President, I have wondered if political parties should run celebrities as figurehead leaders of their parties.
Once elected these figureheads, like the British monarch, would be Head of State.
The VP would actually be the head of the Administration
Also, figurehead Presidential candidate should be required to announce, before the election, who the Cabinet members would be, so voters could make informed decisions.
Draft Oprah for President. Let her serve as Head of State. Let the Democratic Convention select the VP who would actually run the government.
Go Oprah.
5
I will never buy land o lakes butter ever again.
13
Oprah and Adams attracted only hundreds of people? Really?
I would have thought thousands.
2
Defanging DT (whom George Will described as "feral") means getting out the vote. At this stage, there are two ways, besides voting, of GOtV:
1. Help phone bank, text bank, and door knock for candidates, issues, or organizations. If you can't find your local party committee, contact your state party and ask them to refer you. The links for all the state parties are here: https://asdc.democrats.org/state-parties/ I have done it all, and can be rewarding, sometimes fun, and you’ll meet others of similar outlook.
2) Contact elder friends and neighbors and check with them to be sure they have necessary voting documentation and even help get them get absentee ballots if they need them. Then urge them to vote Dem and explain why. (The GOP plans to limit healthcare insurance and Medicare are good starting points.)
Ridding the body politic of the poisons it's accumulated is well worth the effort!
5
It is too late for this election, but not for the next: people whose residence is located in a district or state where their vote does not count, could temporarily move to a residence where it does. Not everybody can do that, of course, but a few may be enough. A big ask, but a civic duty if you really care.
3
Here's a new tack for Republicans in SC. I am seeing a lot of signs on the roadsides that all have a deep blue background. There are many that don't show party affiliation. This is an example of how candidates are dissembling and trying to put distance between themselves from the Republican party. A thin disguise!
4
A simple affirmation of the right to vote;
The United States Constitution mandates that a Congress of the states representatives govern the nation.
How else would you Constitutionally determine those representatives other than voting?
We need to stop entertaining intellectual curiosity items about trump and hold him to account for doing everything from obstructing investigations to enriching himself by refusing to divest interests. His henchmen keep trying to normalize the abnormality of his behavior. Nothing about his time in office has been normal and nothing about him has changed. He is grossly incompetent and proves it daily. He is using the office to enrich himself and his spawn, and proves it daily.
15
Oprah's brilliant speech reminded me of speeches I saw in person by Robert Kennedy & Barack Obama - powerful, passionate, empathetic, funny.
Stunning.
If she'll change her mind about 2020, she has what it takes to be president.
Oprah's not a "celebrity." In her complex, brilliant, challenging & ultimately triumphant life - never forgetting where she came from - Oprah is a lodestar for average folks. Millions of women & African-Americans love & admire her.
She's the only person who could run against Trump who'll scare him. Unlike Trump, who inherited $400+ million from dad, Oprah became a billionaire after growing up in poverty, building her empire & fortune herself w/a tremendous intellect, talent & hard work.
Much is made of Trump as a 'great communicator.'
Oprah's better. Oprah's communication skills aren't based on the hate, rage, & preening narcissism that propels Trump. She speaks with empathy, compassion & real curiosity about the lives of others.
It's horrifying Trump lies to fraudulently appeal to white working class voters claiming he champions them -- while passing a tax cut for the 1% only & flogging Congress to strip 20 million working people of their health care. Trump's vicious hypocrisy in pretending to care about his "base" will someday be viewed as an American tragedy, i.e. "A Face In The Crowd."
Oprah's message today was about having hope, being unified, loving your community, fighting for justice.
She's the anti-Trump.
Run Oprah run!
32
@fast/furious. Oprah hit the ball out of the park! Agree that her speech was brilliant. No belittling, no false statements, no name calling. Truly the Anti-Trump. But I believe her when she says she will not run in 2020.
10
"But Mr. Crowley remains on the ballot on two third-party lines, including the Working Families Party, and could still affect Ms. Ocasio-Cortez’s race on Election Day."
Probably sounds weird, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if Mr. Crowley ended up defeating Ms. Ocasio-Cortez. Look at her numbers in the primary:
Ocasio-Cortez 16,898 56.7%
Crowley 12,880 43.3%
But look at the general election votes in the same district two years ago when Mr. Crowley won another term:
Crowley (D) 147,587 82.9%
Spotorno (R) 30,545 17.1%
https://ballotpedia.org/New_York%27s_14th_Congressional_District_election,_2018
(He also won in 2014, with 74.7 % of the vote.)
Did Mr. Crowley make that many Democratic voters angry with him- or did the area demographics change that much - that in two years he could go from 82% of 147,000+ votes to out of a job? Or was it a low turnout vote that turned into a fluke victory - less than 17,000 votes - for Ms. Ocasio-Cortez?
Normally, candidates don't get "do-over" chances like Mr. Crowley has (with the NY technicality of all those party lines, letting him stay on the ballot), even in "fluke" victories. He should be counting his lucky stars IMO. But I wouldn't be shocked if - campaigning or not - he gets that "do-over", powered by a high voter turnout, and stays in Congress next week.
8
Winfrey may have sunk Abrams. Before Winfrey showed up, there was probably multi ethnic support for Abrams without the looming issue of race identity. Now that Winfrey has made the Abrams race one of race identity, it may have sunk her because the demographics of Georgia are probably such that there is a smaller portion of the population comprised of blacks than other groups. Tangentially, I also think Winfrey is taking advantage of a convenient audience and venue to promote herself. Abrams may very well lose but I hope not. Abrams made a crucial error in appearing ethnic with Winfrey. You have to know demographics and racial behavior which Winfrey came in and inflamed. Big boo boo Oprah.
5
@Shakinspear
Winfrey was also speaking to women, well-educated ones at least. The women's suffrage movement was no cake-walk either. that is a pretty big piece of the population.
9
@Shakinspear didn't you read the part of the report that said the significant crowd was made up of both black and white women ? Don't underestimate Oprah's reach.
9
@Shakinspear
As much cable TV income as it cost The Oprah to help Obama win his races, you'd think that she'd shy away from politics forever. But as Obama himself demonstrates, it's hard to let go of the cheering crowds where no one can ask pointed questions.
If she REALLY wants this to be a black -vs- white election, she's welcome to try. The Tallahassee mayor & possible future indictee running for Florida's governor position is close to doing the same thing.
But don't count on CNN selling your story, candidates.
The Hallmark Channel has more viewers than CNN anymore.
On Wednesday, Mr. Crowley responded to the mysterious flier. “Not running. Not campaigning,” he posted on Twitter. “Shut down campaign operations months ago. Not circulating fliers. To whoever is (sic): knock it off. Focus should be on electing Democrats to Republican seats. I’ve moved on, so should everyone else.”
Crowley knows he's beat.
1
Please, if there is a God in heaven, let the Oprah effect compensate for the voter repression in GA and let this talented woman, Stacey Abrams, win fairly.
27
@married4eva
The voting list clean-upwas specifically reviewed and approved by the Supreme Court. You have to have taken 8 or 10 years off from voting to get bounced. Time to get real.
1
Everyone in this country, except for recent immigrants, has an ancestor who wasn't allowed to vote. The women! How often we forget that it has only been 1 century since women won the vote. Use it like you might lose it tomorrow.
29
Thanks for bringing it to our attendtion that good Ole Joe Lieberman, is not sitting this one out. Oh no, he's been hard at it again, doing his best at old-fashioned dirty tricks, to undermine and sink a solid, progressive Democratic candidate, one who has the likelihood of being the next US Rep from the Bronx.
(And what on God's green earth was Al Gore thinking?)
6
Will the US ever become a multi party democracy ?
@arun Unlikely. The identity of the two parties has changed over time, but there are never more than two. When one dissolves (like the Whigs) the other tends to dominate, until a new major opposition party forms (as the Republicans did out of the shards of the Whigs).
1
15,000 troops on the border to block an "invasion" of "illegal immigrants"? They are in truth a ragtag group of homeless creatures in desperate straits, no roof over their heads, no fat on their sides, and only rags for clothes. How incredibly ludicrous can this so-called president of the United States be!
Once again we are reminded that we have a tragically unprepared and dangerously unprincipled ‘fake’ president who is an unabashed leech and an unrepentant liar. What a spectacle at just how fast the so-called “successful businessman” in the oval office is proving terribly unfit for the job, and how spineless and feckless a group of cowards McConnell, Ryan and the rest of the GOP are in refusing to come to terms with this reality. It’s a shameful national embarrassment now on full display for all the world to see.
20
@John Townsend At most the immigrant march totals under 5000 and will likely be way under that if and when they make it to our borders. That would be 3 well-trained service members to halt each exhausted migrant, including children. I've been trying to avoid calling his supporters brain dead followers but if they get behind that idiocy, no other term fits.
Calling them support staff, building tents, etc. is ludicrous. Use that support to build housing for homeless vets, a real crisis in our country, not a few hundred immigrants looking for work.
8
Oprah versus Pence? ... no contest, no question!
14
What a sad coward Paul Ryan has become. What a fall from grace, as the self-proclaimed "policy wonk" of the Republican Party has turned into nothing more than a meek little lamb at the Trump family slaughterhouse. Slink away, Mr. Ryan. You will be a footnote in the history books: "Enabler of Donald J. Trump's worst impulses. Failed to lead in a time of tremendous need in the United States of America. Failed to uphold the pledge taken to the American people to guard their Constitution."
18
Mr Crowlet, if you care for our city, and for your party, take back your seat.
The person who took it has been nothing but poison and her name syonimus with all that the DEMS are not.
Come back, we need you.
1
I don't know; I read the Times articles telling me how large a lead Hillary had over Trump and after his win I felt so lied to! I cannot read these articles with any faith in their veracity. Sorry.
3
@Anne She did have 3 million more votes than he did but was felled by Electoral College math in about 3 states. More difficult to predict is who will actually vote - of lot of Bernie Sanders voters stayed away and Trump picked up momentum after Comey's announcement which came to nothing - after the election. Polls are always a week out of date. Many elections are decided in the last 24 hours, you can't blame a newspaper for that.
5
Sour grapes from VP Mike Pence who spews the same-old, same-old tired Republican campaign rhetoric while Oprah has a vibrant message for people who have been victims of voter suppression efforts: VOTE! VOTE for the party whose goals are to support enfranchisement, not to limit it to conservative Republicans. Vote BLUE! Vote Democratic! Vote!!
13
The overall outcome of this election - the macro if you will - was ALWAYS going to be primarily dependent on one thing: turnout; if (and it’s a BIG if based on historical stats) Dems were successful in getting Millennials (specifically) and people of color (black AND Latino - Americans, although I hesitate to combine blacks and Latinos together) to vote - i.e. to increase the % of participation in the electoral process, then Dems were going to control the House come January 2019. It’s still too early to predict the MARGIN of control, although the massive increase in early turnout, particularly in certain states, strongly suggests that turnout will be up fairly noticeably with those target demographics. The Senate however doesn’t work that way - by a quirk in electoral math, the Dems have to defend a disproportionate # of seats.
Yeah, it’s been convenient to call this election a referendum on Trump (which is true) but Republicans have to answer to their constituents and they are unable to do so - they have no tangible legislative accomplishments to point to, other than screwing/TRYING to screw their constituents on health care costs and coverage (the #1 voter issue of importance) - and THAT was determined 18 months ago.
4
@Mr Wooly And now Republican candidates are shocked - shocked - anyone would think they won't protect pre-existing conditions. Just this morning an article saying if Republicans hadn't eliminated the mandate to buy in ACA costs would be 16% lower.
Even candidates who voted many times to repeal ACA will look the audience in the eye and vow they're going to protect it.
3
I live (and vote!) in NJ-7 and believe it's worth mentioning that Lance once justified his 60 votes to repeal the ACA by saying that it's not necessary, because ours is a wealthy district. While that's not at all true, it also demonstrates an appallingly narrow view of his role as a member of Congress.
Either he is ignorant of the fact that the laws he votes on affect more than 300 million people who don't live in the 7th, or believes that their lives and well-being don't matter. He does not deserve to hold office.
11
A simple prediction.
Dems +46 in the House
Dems +4 in the Senate
Control of both houses and a return to sanity.
1
A simple prediction.
Dems +46 in the House
Dems +4 in the Senate
Control of both houses and a return to sanity.
4
I've done my part - already voted for Tom Malinowski- to work towards Leonard Lance's defeat. While Mr. Lance presents a gracious figure and is clearly intelligent, he is opportunistic, not moderate. One need only look at his voting record from the time he was in the NJ legislature (moderate) to his time in the House (increasingly rightward until not) to conclude that Lance's prime motivation is to be reelected. I'll never forget calling his office to express my dismay that Lance had voted to shut down the government over health care. When I wouldn't buy the party line, his staff said he had to vote that way to avoid a primary. Say what? That's not serving the people of NJ. He and his ilk need to go.
8
"But Mr. Crowley remains on the ballot on two third-party lines..."
Those out-of-touch, establishment Dems refuse to read the writing on the wall. Elsewhere, Nancy Pelosi is going around telling everyone that the Dems will ignore public opinion that strongly favors Medicare for All and instead just try to prop up ACA if they win the House.
In other words, Nancy is more concerned with defending the lecherous private health insurer's profits than representing the public.
If we're ever going to join the rest of the developed world in the 21st century, these dinosaur Dems must retire or be voted out before they do any more damage to the party.
2
@Ed Watters agreed.
1
Over half of all eligible voters (some 100 million) didn't even bother to vote in 2016. And trump is the consequence. Voter apathy is tragic and dangerous.
14
I know Leonard Lance and Tom Malinowski. My clear choice to represent me in Congress is Malinowski. I admire his character and humanity. He has been outspoken and effective in supporting the rights of the less advantaged, both domestically and abroad. As a Foreign Service Officer who had served under four presidents, I especially appreciate that he served my country uncommonly well both in the Clinton and Obama administrations. That he devoted a decade as the Washington director of Human Watch demonstrate that he can both talk the talk and walk the walk.
Leonard is a decent person. Twenty-five years ago he was a friend who visited my home. He took principled stands in Trenton that rattled the Republican leadership. Sadly, he is not the person I knew a generation ago. For political expediency, he seeks to ride the coat tails of Trump and a Republican Congress that, in countless ways, is contrary to the core values and principles that reflect my America. Privately I believe that Lance finds many of Trump's tweets abhorrent and Trump's policy of fear and divisiveness disgraceful. Sadly, his choice to run as a Trumpite renders him silent on matters of personal principles. I support Malinowski for his character, principles, and guts to steady our ship of state.
9
If a country as big as Russia can try and influence our vote, no reason, I suppose, why a star as big as Oprah can't try to and be applauded for trying to do the same thing, especially if it's in the direction whoever is reporting on it prefers.
1
A simple prediction.
Dems +46 in the House
Dems +4 in the Senate
Control of both houses and a return to sanity.
2
The last few presidents could only get all sides talking about new things or events. But Mr. Trump's knowledge of people extends to how to get both the Left & Right talking about immigration.
The Democrats of twenty years ago all fought immigration at the side of Cesar Chavez because they actually supported workers. Amazing how much has changed in twenty years!
Now only the GOP represents workers, and they are seeing blue collar wages rising FASTER than executives' pay. By thin time in the Obama administration, he had already given up trying to help workers; besides, he needed then dependent on gov't assistance anyway.
6
@L'osservatore
Rising blue collar salaries because of tariffs and trade war, though? Personally, I don't want widespread inflation, Increased prices for just about everything, reduced corporate profits and long term economic gutting just so a few people whose jobs went overseas can sit in their uneconomically viable position for more time instead of adapting.
I'm all for blue collar jobs, but let's get them organically instead of forcing everyone else in the country to subsidize these jobs with higher prices on everything.
14
@L'osservatore
How absurd. The GOP has been fighting against unions and minimum wage raises for decades. The GOP has been working to eliminate pre-existing condition protections since the ACA was enacted. The GOP has passed tax cuts for the rich, primarily, and blown up the deficit, which they now claim means they need to cut Social Security and Medicare.
In what universe is the GOP representing workers? All I see is a GOP that supports CEOs and 1%ers that don't want to pay taxes.
12
@L'osservatore
He has no knowledge of people. He's merely a shrewd manipulator of people.
Wages are not rising fast. Perhaps compared to how stagnant they have been since 1970, but you obviously heard that lie in Rush Radio.
10
Republicans control Every branch of the government. They have run out of places to point their fingers, without pointing at themselves.
86
@Covert
And as a result, things are going wonderfully in the economy, which always decides elections. The average voter quit listening to the cotrrupted media a long time ago.
@Covert But Democrats handily control the media, the most important non-government branch of government.
2
@Aleister
Really? The radio waves and Fox News are media, and I don't see or hear much from Democrats there except NPR, which peters out in rural areas.
4
Young people need to go vote and stop complaining about how the Baby Boomers have messed up everything.
36
@Jacquie actually I think we'll keep complaining, thank you. Especially those of us who live in gerrymandered districts.
6
@Ty
Reports I've heard anticipate that age 18-29 vote will be only 30- 35 % and that is way too low.
This boomer says complain all you want, but you must vote in every election.
FYI, maybe I've voted R 2 or 3 times in local races over 40 years . Other than that, always straight D , plus I volunteer for a anti-gerrymandering group.
https://www.fairdistrictspa.com/
3
If youth do not go out and vote, they are simply asking others to define their future because they can’t think for themselves.
48
The mainstream media made it clear in the 2016 election that they have no idea who is going to win an election. The NYTs had Hillary at an 85% chance of winning. How could they be so wrong?
8
@P McGrath
Well, because reporters don’t know how to read polls. Each poll has a margin of error. Hillary’s loss was within the margin of error.
Also there is a big difference between an 85% chance something will happen, and a 100% chance it will happen. Just ask your weatherman.
14
Do you understand that an 85% changed of winning means a 15% changed of losing? I would note that the final polling had Hillary with a 3% point or so lead, which is about what she actually received in terms of raw votes. Her final popular vote victory over Trump was 2.1%. So your claim that they all got it wrong is... wrong. It's just that we all don't understand the nature of polling, predictions, and actual outcomes.
20
@P McGrath The polls were correct, based on popular vote results, in which HRC prevailed. The polls cannot predict or be held accountable for the impact of 2016 vote suppression in key swing states, which resulted in donald receiving Electoral Votes despite extremely narrow margins.
20
Regarding democrats winning the midterms: I'll believe it when I see it. The party is dysfunctional overall, and the left-wing part their base is delusional. While I'd certainly like to see them win the House (and at least maintain their numbers in the senate), the only area where the party has shown competence is in losing elections.
9
@Eric
Like the last Presidential election they won by three million votes.
5
@Eric
Take away the ridiculous Electoral College, gerrymandering, and voter suppression, and Democrats would have won several more elections over the past two decades. They've won the popular vote in 6 out of the 7 past presidential elections.
9
So we're going to do this again? Polls, pundits, assumptions, and predictions? Really? You'd think the Times would've learned in 2016. I hope it's all correct. I really do. But I'll know for sure next Wednesday.
10
But, the immigrant caravan must be viewed as a gift from above for these Republican demagogues - possibly literally if we discover that the caravan is funded by somebody like the Kochs and organized by operatives like Blackwater. How to counter it? Democratic opponents should be talking about the outrageous cost of mobilizing 15000 troops (a commitment similar to Afghanistan) in light of tax cuts for the rich, and cuts to health care and other social services. This seems fair if George Soros can be blamed for the caravan, an unlikely proposition at best.
31
@backfull
Honestly, there is no real evidence that the caravan had any American Money behind it at all. The conservative response, however, is telling.
3
What the Republicans (and the polls) don't realize is that college students are recognizing that not voting is lame. They are registering in droves. And who do you think they favor?
Witness Beto and Ted Cruz. One of the dirtiest tricks every played on college students and their families was the congressional removal of bankruptcy rights from student loans. Cruz opposed all efforts to return standard bankruptcy rights to student loans. Meanwhile, Beto O’Rourke has publicly called for the return of bankruptcy rights to student loans, and has even cosponsored HR. 2366.
58
@Emory Droves? Heck no...
@Emory
Recall that in 2016 both Hillary and Bill Clinton said they opposed permitting discharge of student loans in bankruptcy. This really hurt Hillary. Her campaign was shocked that young people didn't turn out in large numbers for her - this was one reason why. The people who couldn't figure out why so many people under 30 loved Bernie didn't notice Bernie realized the inability to discharge student loan debt in bankruptcy was destroying millions of lives. When it came to the Democratic establishment, the pain of people who cannot pay off their student loan debt never registered.
This was emblematic of how broken the Democratic establishment was in 2016. If it doesn't change before 2020, we'll lose again.
2
What we learned the hard way in the 2016 Presidential Election was - people are ashamed to say they are a Trump voter - so, they deflected by either not commenting or out and out lying who they were really going to vote for; hence the polling was wrong.
Let's hope - this isn't the case with midterm election next Tuesday - November 6.
If, the Republicans are reelected as the majority in the House and the Senate - Trump will unzip and life in America will be worse than anything we ever could image - our democracy will be replaced by a despot - with no one stopping him.
So, please. everyone vote Democrat down the ticket to restore Democracy for ALL Americans - not just Trump's followers.
70
@Jonathan - Where on earth are you getting this from?
Wages are still too low, the tax cut amounted to almost nothing for the middle class and it's been eaten up by increased prices for food, fuel, durable goods etc.
The ACA is being chipped away at with nothing to replace it and Trump's tariffs are having negative ripple effects all over the U.S.
47
@Karen nobody is ashamed to say they voted for Trump. What u are missing is that Democrats follow the herd-big govt, institutions, etc. while Republicans are more independent, free thinkers. We believe in freedom and the little guy. Republicans just aren’t as outspoken as Democrats (thank God) and we just don’t talk about our views as openly. We go and vote. That’s how we make our voice heard. It worked in 2016.
2
@Jonathan Can you drop the disingenuous claim of "all-time low unemployment"? Yes, it is marginally better than from when Trump started office, but this sort of statement ignores where it started from and how it was trending before. It also ignores that historically, the currently level is in line with other periods of high employment; it's not a statistical anomaly by any stretch.
4
Trump is turning on Republicans again, this time savaging Speaker Ryan because he said that it was obvious Trump couldn't change the Constitution by executive order. When are you going to realize that he is not helping your agenda? He is ignorant, totally out of control, and in the process of destroying the Republican Party. You have violated all your principles in joining Trump, it will be a decade or more before people trust you again. So far, it looks like the cost is out weighing any possible gain. Consider nominating your own candidate for President in 2020. It may be the only way to regain any respectability.
28
@Bruce1253
You're right but the time has long passed that real republicans could have saved their party, they should have stood up to Trump when it was clear that he was doing terrible damage to democracy with his lies and ready-fire-aim approach to everything - but no, the likes of McConnell smirked while Trump went about his daily insane wrecking and now the republican party is the party of Trump and is about to have its first major test of public opinion and it seems clear that isn't going to go well.
You can fool some of the people some of the time but...
Good riddance to awful 'leaders' and their sycophantic shills.
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@Ted Morton McConnell's wife is one of Trump's cabinet, his smirking was no doubt having gained an extra layer of power.
3
Republican candidates in educated districts where their constituents get the real news from the Mainstream Media and not from Russians on social media sites can blame McConnell and the their leaders in the House for performing so badly over the past two years. Did the Kavanaugh hearings hurt Democrats or Republicans? Have Trump's rallies helped Republicans or Democrats? Has Trump's very, very unpresidential behavior helped Democrats or Republicans? Next Tues will answer those questions.
17
All this "polling" is just useless.
Remember, Trump was supposed to loose in 2016.
The only poll that is relevant is the one on election day in the actual polling locations across the country.
12
@supereks. Not true. Polls had trump within the margin of error, and Clinton did win the popular vote by nearly 3 million
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@supereks Completely agree. Vividly remember the NYT polls giving HRC a +94% chance of winning in 2016. Need to stay focused and make sure the vote gets turned out. Polling reliability took a big hit that night, and needs to get it right moving forward before I will place much faith in projections.
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@Jonathan Electoral landslide? That wasn't an electoral landslide; 1984 and 1972 were electoral landslides.
2
Republicans in high income districts where high income earners are benefiting from the Republican tax plan so despise the behavior of this Republican Congress and Donald Trump's behavior in office that many will vote for the Democratic candidate for the House. So sad!
9
@RLW
You'd have to be a very high income and selfish person to be wanting more of the wealth imbalance tilted in your favor.
I own a business and gain slightly from the so-called tax cut but the damage it's doing to the nation is going to depress my customer base for a long long time.
I've voting straight D.
ENOUGH!
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@RLW Not a bit sad about it! Delighted to use my vote to tell loud mouth empty headed Donald and the cowering GOP that I can’t be bought off by some pathetic tax cut that I did not need. I love my country a lot more than that. Every American should have healthcare, a living wage, a good public education, a clean world, and so much more. It isn’t free, but I will pay my share.
1
Why doesn't the Democratic Party purchase a half-hour on all the national networks to lay out their case in voting for Democrats. The positive case and the negative case (Trump's lies, pre-existing conditions, budget deficit, etc.) needs to be made to the largest audience.
They need to keep is simple enough so that even Trump supporters will understand.
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@Reuven
umm, because nobody watches network TV anymore.
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@GMooG Fine, then make sure that the video appears where people will watch it as well. I'd add that the few of us still watching cable TV, or relying on non-cable TV, like my mom, probably need the truth laid out as much or more than anyone else.
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@GMooG False. Fox trails the major networks by a large amount
1
When Trump says Ryan knows nothing...wouldn’t it be fun to see Trump before an audience forced to explain how our laws work?
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@Jean Your comment reminds me of a moment in the debates when Trump was going after Hillary's time in the senate and kept asking her "Why didn't you do something, why didn't you change the law?" And Hillary missed her opportunity to ask Trump if he even knew how laws were made and to please, explain it to the public. One senator can't make a law and I guarantee he didn't know that.
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@Jean
Trump clearly hasn't read The Constitution.
16
@Ted Morton you mean he CAN'T eliminate citizenship with a stroke of a pen? That will be a surprise.
1
I feel as though Trump's finger-pointing is a rehearsed scene. At the very least, Ryan knew exactly what response his statement would illicit. His was a calculated decision.
Ryan says something mildly critical up Trump's policies. Trump lashes out and blames a lame-duck House leader for the upcoming political loses. Ryan takes the insult without a word.
Methinks Ryan was offering Trump an opportunity for Trump to distance himself from the House election. That's what the good party man would do. Fall on the grenade. Ryan definitely fits the description of a faithful party man. And what does he care anyway? He's out in two months and headed straight for an overpaid lobbying gig.
America bites.
27
I think it would be appropriate for pundits to stop using the word "conservative" in such a lazy manner. How is Steve King's district, "heavily conservative" at this point? We're discussing King's racist comments and the fact that people still support him. We're talking about a heavily racist district. Why always dignify right wing ugliness with the term conservative? The right wingers are attacking our way of government, our traditions and institutions. They aren't conservative.
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@Grant. I couldn’t agree more. There’s not much actual conservativism shown by today’s Republican Party.
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@Grant These people are not conservatives - they are right-wingers. In my Dad's day they were called "John Birchers" and reviled by Republicans. Now they run the GOP and conservatives are reviled.
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@Grant
Reactionary is closer to the truth.
3
I believe you will see a large turn out by Republicans, Democrats tend to stay way during the mid terms. The house may go democratic but the senate most likely will not. It will be a lame duck Congress but Trump will be able still appoint conservative judges, which ensures his legacy. I can live with Trumps faults but it still has not changed my mind about him or the Republicans.
@Carl
Normally you'd be right but this time it's different. It's not Republicans vs Democrats; it's racist, crazy, misogynist, lying, war-mongering, democracy destroyers vs ordinary honest people trying to get along with each other and the rest of the planet.
Many real Republicans have recently stepped forward to acknowledge this and urge real Republicans to vote Democratic to save our Republic.
22
"The only thing we have to fear it's fear itself"
F.D.R.
I really hope Democrats better use this quote everytime and everywhere
22
High-income New Jersey districts (and CA and NY) got a tax *increase* under Trump because they can no longer deduct their state income taxes from their federal returns. A lot of R seats in those districts might flip without it being a signal of a broader trend for other (low-tax) states.
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@PH Wilson
Yes, the tax cut was only really good for a select few of the top top earners and corporations. Most 'high income' people are not actually at that level. It was good for real estate moguls... hmm what was Trump again?
22
@PH Wilson Limiting the deduction of state taxes was a clever way for the Republicans to punish the "Blue" states without having to call it out.
20
@PH Wilson - the problem is that a lot of these people still think they got a tax decrease under the money grab plan. They will learn a hard lesson come tax season - after the elections.
7
Vote for Mendendez Democrats and good people of New Jersey as a check on Trump. Trump is immoral and is taking this country down. So, even though Mendendez is flawed, he is the lesser evil.
swingleft.org
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@Mary If Evangelical Christians can vote for the likes of donald, the citizenry of NJ has literally nothing to complain about re: Menendez. Ex-Morris County, here!
3
@Mary I'll use a phrase from some Southern elections: Vote for the crook. It's important.
1
I’ve got a good idea. You should put a meter on the home page showing a 95 percent chance that the Democrats take the House.
15
Polls can be wrong in two directions, not just one. All of you gloating about what happened in 2016 forget a basic law of physics: What goes up, must come down.
11
All polls have a margin of error and cannot always accurately call the actual voting results on election day. After reading this article suburbanites should take this to heart and not become complacent about voting in this election. All the polls and surveys don't take the place of citizens voting to express their will.
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@P Lock
For sure! Also keep in mind that the NYT phones thousands of households and only between 1 and 2% of them actually participate in the polling. Thus, respondent bias can deeply skew the statistics. When it is close, it really is entirely unpredictable.
6
I just don't get it.
A Democratic congress would end the threat to Medicare and Medicaid. It would ensure the protection of pre-existing conditions.
How is it possible that people repeatedly vote against their own best interests?
The education system in America is in serious need of an overhaul.
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@celiak
Why do you think Besty Devos is doing her best to scrap the rest of the education system? Because the Republican party doesnt want educated citizens, those folks prefer Democrats you know.
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@celia
Unfortunately, most Americans are severely uneducated and narrow minded. The education system in the US has gone to the dogs seems to be perpetuated by the GOP for their benefit.Keep watching WWE and the Kardashians, folks!
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@celia The education system has nothing to do with this. It's more primal...fear.
6