PA-18 Election Thread: GOP Doubles Down on Identity Politics

[Ghostpanther]

No, in TN it is illegal for an Atheist to hold office. They can't even run legally in that discriminatory state. But it would be shot down when challenged in court quickly.

Ohh...misunderstood. Thanks for the correction. Yeah, that is Unconstitutional.

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So the spin for losing a district that's been solidly Republican for a decade (to the point that Democrats didn't field candidates a few times) and voted for Trump by 20 points in 2016 is, "Well, we didn't lose by much!" and "Well, Lamb was further ahead but Trump closed the gap!"

The first is transparently pathetic, the second is specious at best. Yowza.

Lamb won because he was the better candidate. And *shrugs, maybe Trump did with his rally. But makes no difference. The GOP needs to stop looking for excuses and learn from it.

While the Democrats certainly will gain some house seats, not the same for the Senate. So both parties had better not assume anything.

[Lothar from accounting]

I can't wait to see the GOP fracture. What will the Trump-right call themselves?

"REAL Americans," just like they do now?

[cubby]

"REAL Americans," just like they do now?

Republicans who Eschew All Logic Americans - is that their new name? Seems pretty correct.

[Sky High]

Fantastic news, now the GOP have to really toss the money onto the bonfire if they want to keep up anymore.

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Also has the Donny boy come out yet saying how low energy Saccone is and he never had faith in him? It’s my day off so starting the drinking early isn’t s problem. /pours himself a shot

[Jimmy Woods]

Seeing the Republican spin that Lamb is a "moderate" Republican is awesome. If Lamb, who is for expanding and strengthening the ACA, pro-Union, anti-Trump tax cuts, abortion on demand, for stronger gun laws, against cuts to social security and for legal marijuana is what makes someone a "moderate" Republican then GAME FUCKING OVER MAN. Why are we even having politics anymore? WE WON BITCHES!!!

[Edge-]

Seeing the Republican spin that Lamb is a "moderate" Republican is awesome. If Lamb, who is for expanding and strengthening the ACA, pro-Union, anti-Trump tax cuts, abortion on demand, for stronger gun laws, against cuts to social security and for legal marijuana is what makes someone a "moderate" Republican then GAME FUCKING OVER MAN. Why are we even having politics anymore? WE WON BITCHES!!!

All the attempts to deflect/reframe the loss are incredible. It's like they're so desperate to spin this loss as a win that they're not realizing that they're actually making it worse for themselves...

[Felya]

Seeing the Republican spin that Lamb is a "moderate" Republican is awesome. If Lamb, who is for expanding and strengthening the ACA, pro-Union, anti-Trump tax cuts, abortion on demand, for stronger gun laws, against cuts to social security and for legal marijuana is what makes someone a "moderate" Republican then GAME FUCKING OVER MAN. Why are we even having politics anymore? WE WON BITCHES!!!

It’s the reactionary lie they are pushing. Here is what I linked to someone trying to push this shit here:

Meet Conor Lamb: The Handpicked Choice For The Democrat Flock
https://www.gop.com/meet-conor-lamb-...rat-flock-rsr/

Trump: Don't Fall for Democrat Lamb's Moderate Talk
https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/201...-us-trump.html

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All the attempts to deflect/reframe the loss are incredible. It's like they're so desperate to spin this loss as a win that they're not realizing that they're actually making it worse for themselves...

It’s good spin... because DNC didn’t need to campaign for democrats. He only needed to campaign for Republicans and independents, because Trump does that work for them. This campaign is foreshadowing that DNC will be appealing to the right and letting Trump campaign to get the left on board.

Basically, expect a conservative appeal for liberal ideology. More of, abortion is bad, but forcing government on people is also bad.

[Daelak]

Ohh...misunderstood. Thanks for the correction. Yeah, that is Unconstitutional.

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Lamb won because he was the better candidate. And *shrugs, maybe Trump did with his rally. But makes no difference. The GOP needs to stop looking for excuses and learn from it.

While the Democrats certainly will gain some house seats, not the same for the Senate. So both parties had better not assume anything.

Generic polls say hai.

[BrerBear]

Seeing the Republican spin that Lamb is a "moderate" Republican is awesome. If Lamb, who is for expanding and strengthening the ACA, pro-Union, anti-Trump tax cuts, abortion on demand, for stronger gun laws, against cuts to social security and for legal marijuana is what makes someone a "moderate" Republican then GAME FUCKING OVER MAN. Why are we even having politics anymore? WE WON BITCHES!!!

Up until Monday, the GOP was spending millions of dollars on ads and flyers trying to tie Conor Lamb to Nancy Pelosi.



Today?

Paul Ryan excuses the loss because Lamb was an "anti-Nancy Pelosi conservative".

If my eyes roll any harder, I'll need medical attention.

[alexw]

So the spin for losing a district that's been solidly Republican for a decade (to the point that Democrats didn't field candidates a few times) and voted for Trump by 20 points in 2016 is, "Well, we didn't lose by much!" and "Well, Lamb was further ahead but Trump closed the gap!"

The first is transparently pathetic, the second is specious at best. Yowza.

There are 118 districts that are less red than the ones the democrats just won. Even if the most red half of those don't turn over the democrats will easily take control of the house (they need just 24 or would that be 23 now?). The republicans are in deep deep trouble. I'm now half tempted to go put a bet on online on the democrats taking the senate too, since the odds of them taking are also starting to look pretty good.

[akris15]

I'm now half tempted to go put a bet on online on the democrats taking the senate too, since the odds of them taking are also starting to look pretty good.

As much as I want too see that happen I am still a bit cautious on that one. I fully believe that the Dems can win NV and AZ but Tennessee and even Texas still seem out of reach. Even in a wave Heitkamp and McCaskill are still very vulnerable.

[Skroe]

Up until Monday, the GOP was spending millions of dollars on ads and flyers trying to tie Conor Lamb to Nancy Pelosi.



Today?

Paul Ryan excuses the loss because Lamb was an "anti-Nancy Pelosi conservative".

If my eyes roll any harder, I'll need medical attention.

I nearly spit soda on my screen.

rofl this is too fucking funny.

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As much as I want too see that happen I am still a bit cautious on that one. I fully believe that the Dems can win NV and AZ but Tennessee and even Texas still seem out of reach. Even in a wave Heitkamp and McCaskill are still very vulnerable.

It's likely Democrats will lose 2 seats in the Senate. A 2 seat difference would qualify as a win for Democrats, considering the magnitude of their troubles this year in those races.

But that being said, 2020 and 2022 are very good maps for them.

From the point of view of long term things, the most important elections are the ones that take place at the State level for Governors and Legislatures this year. If the Democrats win the House, somehow win the Senate and manage to lose down ballot, it will position them very poorly for 2020 redistricting that kicks into effect in 2022. In fact, there is no win condition for any party that doesn't include doing very well in 2018 and 2020 at the State level in preparation for 2022. When Republicans did that, after their 2006 and 2008 routes, starting in 2010, it positioned them so strongly for the 2010s as a whole. Democrats would do well to learn from that and not be so fixated on the high profile races.

A Democratic President without a Congress that can work with him and a State-level organization that supports it, isn't there for any purpose other than being a figure head.

[Edge-]

I nearly spit soda on my screen.

rofl this is too fucking funny.

Also this from OP



Apparently hating Trump, hating America, and hating the Christian God are now "moderate Republican" positions.

It literally gets dumber and dumber as the GOP tries to spin this.

[szechuan]

Apparently hating Trump, hating America, and hating the Christian God are not "moderate Republican" positions.

It literally gets dumber and dumber as the GOP tries to spin this.

Donald Trump and the Right Wing moved the Overton Window far right. They're trying to Normalize Crazy.

[Varvara Spiros Gelashvili]

All the attempts to deflect/reframe the loss are incredible. It's like they're so desperate to spin this loss as a win that they're not realizing that they're actually making it worse for themselves...

Sad thing is people on the right will believe them.

[draynay]

Sad thing is people on the right will believe them.

At least 20% fewer people believed it now compared to 2016.

[Garnier Fructis]

Was he trying to sound like Trump there? That reads like Trump's cadence.

Well, he did say:

I was Trump before Trump was Trump

http://wesa.fm/post/gop-nominates-st...man-tim-murphy

[Felya]

At least 20% fewer people believed it now compared to 2016.

It’s not a mater of believing, this shit is willful:

Good point. But it also illustrates why Lamb won. You need to put forth a candidate who has a good chance to win. In Tenn, it was dumb to run a Democrat candidate ( maybe any candidate ) who openly professes to be a atheist. Just as it would have been dumb to have a Pelosi radicalism candidate to run in that part of Penn.

I didn’t add the italics.

[Shadowmelded]

I'm just surprised Trump hasn't been pushing voter fraud as the reason Saccone lost, but it is still early.

What's next weeks lotto numbers? (Admittedly not Trump).

[Travis B]

What's next weeks lotto numbers? (Admittedly not Trump).

There are 3 certainties in life: death, taxes, and the GOP alleging voter fraud anytime they lose (and even sometimes when they win).