2022 Midterms

[Edge-]

Minor note, Alaska is AK. AL is Alabama.

Damnit, thanks for the correction.

All the same, it's hilarious seeing Republicans freak out about someone who "got the most votes" losing the election as if that literally wasn't what happened in 2016 (and 2000) and they said, "This is fine." both times.

Except that it's a dishonest bit of bullshit since that's not how ranked choice voting works. They're just mad that the other Republicans votes didn't all get automatically granted to Palin and that instead enough voters for the other Republican chose Peltola as their second pick.

Oblivious to the reality that they simply have a lot of really bad candidates that people simply don't like. Tom Cotton and a few other Republicans are out there spinning this yarn, I didn't know there were so many seamstresses within the Republican party!

[Breccia]

All the same, it's hilarious seeing Republicans freak out about someone who "got the most votes" losing the election

Are you talking about the context of Alaska, whose postal code, as we all know, is AS? Because not only have I not seen that, but also, that's not how ranked choice voting works.

[VMSmith]

There was a time when adding Sarah Palin to congress would have uping the crazy level by a lot. Now that we have clowns like Majorie Greene and Lauren Boebert, Sarah Palin "almost" looks (can't say normal) not as crazy.

IMO, Palin was the beginning of the Republican Party as an unserious organization. Their policies before her were still awful, but with her elevation to the Presidential ticket, they paved the way for the likes of Trump, Greene, Boebert, and company. Before her Dan Quayle was lightly mocked, but Republicans were at least actually somewhat serious about governing in some manner other than putting on a clown show for the rubes.

[Edge-]

IMO, Palin was the beginning of the Republican Party as an unserious organization.

No, this started well before Palin. And arguably before this as well.

Edit: Also -



- - - Updated - - -

https://www.axios.com/2022/09/01/coo...one-conclusion

The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter says a Republican takeover of the House is "no longer a foregone conclusion," as concern over protecting abortion rights fuels Democratic voter engagement and lower gas prices ease the party's deficit with independent voters.

Have the parties switched places or something? It's usually Democrats who snatch defeat from the jaws of victory at the last minute, but it seems like ti's Republicans this time.

Note though -

While Republicans are still favored to win back a House majority, it's now likelier their margins will be narrower than once expected. And the fact that there's now a path for Democrats to hold their majority, however narrow, is a sea change from expectations just a couple of months ago.

So temper your expectations.

[Redwyrm]

No, this started well before Palin. And arguably before this as well.

I have no love for Bush Jr., but hell if I wouldn't take him over any of the current crop of crazies and obstructionists.

[VMSmith]

No, this started well before Palin. And arguably before this as well.

When you know the background on the "can't be fooled again" piece, it's an understandable bit of a blunder. Halfway through the saying, Bush realized it would be inappropriate for the President to ever say "shame on me", in any context. People rethink their thoughts as they're telling them all the time, including pretty much every Democratic politician in existence, let alone all the Republicans.

It's funny, but that's all. Trying to hang that around his neck as if it were something abnormal is as tacky and counter-productive as pointing out any of Biden's many gaffes and claiming he's a clown because of them.

I have no love for Bush Jr., but hell if I wouldn't take him over any of the current crop of crazies and obstructionists.

Exactly. Bush wasn't the brightest bulb, but he was at least mostly serious. He wasn't a clown car cornucopia of insanity. Everything he did could be marked down as normal politicking, like the "Mission Accomplished" banner. By comparison to Sarah Palin and what has come after her he looks more like what you want the Republicans to actually be ... maybe he had undesirable policies, but he was not conspiracy-driven and attempting to tear down the entire basis of our system of government.

[Rasulis]

GOP sees 'financial hole' after Sheldon Adelson's widow stops shoveling big money to their candidates

Republicans for decades have relied on the late billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson to fund congressional and presidential races -- but now the money spigot he once provided appears to have dried up.

Bloomberg News reports that Adelson's widow, Miriam Adelson, has been hesitant to fork over the massive sums her husband provided prior to his death in early 2021, leaving what the publication describes as a "financial hole" for the GOP.

In fact, the only money Adelson has given this year has been a $5 million to the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC dedicated to electing Republican candidates.

To put this into perspective, Bloomberg notes that the Adelsons gave more than a half a billion dollars to pro-GOP super PACs in the last decade alone.

In fact, the loss of Adelson money for the GOP is so great that the publication writes that "some Republicans worry they could face a cash crunch heading into the midterms" even as "its chances of controlling the Senate have deteriorated due to the fundraising struggles of candidates in battleground states."

Top GOP donor Dan Eberhart openly admitted that having no Adelson cash would be problematic for the party this fall.

"If Adelson is effectively sitting out the cycle, it leaves an awful big hole," he told Bloomberg.

I guess she doesn't feel the same way he did.

[Kaleredar]

GOP sees 'financial hole' after Sheldon Adelson's widow stops shoveling big money to their candidates



I guess she doesn't feel the same way he did.

Hmmm, I wonder if Trump draining many tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars from the small-money donors to line his pockets and pay off his legal fees has anything to do with contributing to said financial "hole."

[fwc577]

GOP sees 'financial hole' after Sheldon Adelson's widow stops shoveling big money to their candidates



I guess she doesn't feel the same way he did.

This is why we need to do away with billionaires.

[Rasulis]

Should Prop 1 succeed in November, California would become one of the first states — if not the first — to create explicit constitutional rights to both abortion and contraception. At the moment Prop 1 is favored to win in every single county in California. Including the crimson red Northern and Central California counties. Every single politician that voted against the proposition in the Senate and Assembly, if he/she is in a close race, is in deep trouble in November.

It is rather interesting. Unlike the other six propositions, especially 26 and 27, not a dime has been spent on campaign advertisement for either or against Prop 1. You would think the Catholic Diocese would go all out like they did in Kansas.

[DarkTZeratul]

Exactly. Bush wasn't the brightest bulb, but he was at least mostly serious. He wasn't a clown car cornucopia of insanity. Everything he did could be marked down as normal politicking, like the "Mission Accomplished" banner. By comparison to Sarah Palin and what has come after her he looks more like what you want the Republicans to actually be ... maybe he had undesirable policies, but he was not conspiracy-driven and attempting to tear down the entire basis of our system of government.

Yeah. He was mostly just a typical politician, and aside from advancing the usual Republican agenda seemed to genuinely want to do what was best for the country. He was just really bad at it.

It's like the difference between a theoretical President Kite Man and President Joker.

[Lynarii]

Should Prop 1 succeed in November, California would become one of the first states — if not the first — to create explicit constitutional rights to both abortion and contraception. At the moment Prop 1 is favored to win in every single county in California. Including the crimson red Northern and Central California counties. Every single politician that voted against the proposition in the Senate and Assembly, if he/she is in a close race, is in deep trouble in November.

It is rather interesting. Unlike the other six propositions, especially 26 and 27, not a dime has been spent on campaign advertisement for either or against Prop 1. You would think the Catholic Diocese would go all out like they did in Kansas.

I'm not surprised that they didn't. It would be a lot of money to spend on something that they'd be almost guaranteed to lose anyway, and it's not like their stance isn't understood. The people who are inclined to listen to them are already going to vote the way that they want, running a bunch of ads would be more likely to bring out people in opposition to them.

[gondrin]

So, what is the new strategy for the GOP since they are having a tougher time at the polls then they thought they would? According to Carlson, make fun of Lindsey Graham. No, I am not making that up.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...f0be49d89fc38b

Tucker Carlson Advises Republican Candidates, ‘Your Job Is to Make Fun of Lindsey Graham and to Disavow Lindsey Graham’

Tucker Carlson dispensed some campaign advice to Republican candidates running in November: Don’t be like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

The Fox News host has long been critical of Graham as an out-of-touch warmonger who is bad for the Republican Party.

Carlson pointed to a string of recent special election results in swing districts in what is supposed to be a “red wave” year. Historically, the president’s party underperforms in House races in midterm elections. Given President Joe Biden’s low approval rating, many expect Republicans to comfortably retake the House in November.

The Fox News host has long been critical of Graham as an out-of-touch warmonger who is bad for the Republican Party.

Carlson pointed to a string of recent special election results in swing districts in what is supposed to be a “red wave” year. Historically, the president’s party underperforms in House races in midterm elections. Given President Joe Biden’s low approval rating, many expect Republicans to comfortably retake the House in November.

He listed other races in which Democrats outperformed Biden’s numbers in the districts.

“There’s evidence that the Republican Party may be at fault by alienating its own voters and not getting them to the polls,” Carlson continued. He noted that earlier this year, Molinaro, a county executive in upstate New York, ordered a county office building illuminated with Ukraine’s colors to express solidarity as Russian began its invasion of the country.

He listed other races in which Democrats outperformed Biden’s numbers in the districts.

“There’s evidence that the Republican Party may be at fault by alienating its own voters and not getting them to the polls,” Carlson continued. He noted that earlier this year, Molinaro, a county executive in upstate New York, ordered a county office building illuminated with Ukraine’s colors to express solidarity as Russian began its invasion of the country.

“They’re Ukraine’s colors,” Carlson explained. “Right, as if his voters care. That’s the message that Molinaro, as executive director of Duchess County, New York sent to voters.”

Carlson called the move “a joke.”

“This same candidate also sent fundraising e-mails to voters in upstate New York calling for more aggression against Russia,” the host said. “‘Biden is weak on Putin!’ Molinaro wrote. Right. So does sounding like Lindsey Graham actually work?”

The host aired a clip of Graham in March calling for the U.S. to send military aid to Ukraine to help it repel the Russian invasion.

“Ok, so just to be clear to Republican candidates,” Carlson reacted. “That was Lindsey Graham. Your job is to make fun of Lindsey Graham and to disavow Lindsey Graham. Your job is not to emulate Lindsey Graham and steal his talking points. And if you do emulate Lindsey Graham and steal his talking points, you will lose. And the losing candidates did just that.”

He went on to explain that voters care more about domestic issues, such as the border and crime.

[Rasulis]

This is why we need to do away with billionaires.

The problem with billionaires in politic, sometimes they stopped giving. At least it is a problem from the politician's perspective. The GOP is currently having problems with their billionaire backers.

Republicans frustrated with Peter Thiel's refusal to fund his hand-picked Senate candidates

As Republicans try to salvage their troubled quest to win the Senate majority this fall, party operatives are pointing their fingers at the fundraising failures of two GOP nominees and their idiosyncratic tech mogul backer, Peter Thiel.

Thiel's $15 million super PAC investments helped boost Ohio's J.D. Vance and Arizona's Blake Masters in their competitive primaries earlier this year, with the California billionaire even influencing former President Donald Trump's decision to endorse both candidates.

But since the two candidates won their respective nominations, Thiel has not stepped up with additional investments as Vance and Masters have struggled to raise money on their own -- while both have been massively outraised by their Democratic rivals. The disparity has prompted Republican observers to question why Thiel has so far refused to help his chosen candidates in the general election through a big donation to a super PAC.

Without a new infusion of cash, the poor fundraising from Vance and Masters has prompted a shift in Republican outside spending. The leadership-aligned Senate Leadership Fund announced last week it would cancel $8 million in ad reservations in Arizona in September and instead spend an additional $28 million in Ohio to shore up Vance. The super PAC still has ad time reserved in Arizona throughout the month of October.

McConnell urged Thiel to donate to SLF, a request Thiel has flatly rejected, according to a person familiar with knowledge of the talks. Another Republican familiar says the donation request did not come directly from McConnell but instead from an ally of the Kentucky Republican.

Recent back-channeling between Thiel and McConnell allies has also proved fruitless, this person said, noting that the conservative tech mogul has been closely monitoring Masters' performance and wants to see his campaign improve before making any decisions. Thiel's thinking is that SLF could be compelled to make a new investment if Masters becomes more competitive, this person said.

"What's another 10 million to Peter Thiel?" said a second Republican operative working on Senate races. "That puts Arizona in play."
"You got these guys through Peter," said another operative, paraphrasing the general feeling about Thiel right now. "You get them out."
Even still, the same operative believes Thiel is done spending on campaigns for the midterms, echoing what people close to the billionaire have suggested for months: "He has been pretty clear from what I have heard that he felt like he shouldn't have to spend any more money in the general."

Another Republican strategist pointed to the other missing factor in boosting troubled Republican Senate candidates: Trump.
A spokesman for the former President did not respond to a request for comment. While he has used his endorsement to power candidates to primary wins, he has been stingy in doling out money from his own coffers. Republican operatives worry that Trump's behemoth war chest is also making it harder for Senate candidates to raise money, noting that top donors are less likely to give to candidates when they feel like they have already given to Trump.
"The Trump mothership is hoovering up everything that's out there in terms of small-dollar donations," said the strategist. "Trump's not going to spend it on winning elections. This is a scenario where he should be called out."

[Kaleredar]

So, what is the new strategy for the GOP since they are having a tougher time at the polls then they thought they would? According to Carlson, make fun of Lindsey Graham. No, I am not making that up.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...f0be49d89fc38b

Less concerning than him making fun of Lindsey Graham (love to see the GOP eat eachother) is that he's apparently trying to drum up sympathy for Russia by way of drumming up apathy for Ukraine.

[CastletonSnob]

Instead of trying to woo rural areas, which will vote red no matter what, Beto should be campaigning in Tarrant County and Nueces County and trying to flip them blue. Tarrant County JUST BARELY went to Biden in 2020, so there's definitely potential there.

I mean, he probably still wouldn't win, but that would at least make it closer.

[bladeXcrasher]

Instead of trying to woo rural areas, which will vote red no matter what, Beto should be campaigning in Tarrant County and Nueces County and trying to flip them blue. Tarrant County JUST BARELY went to Biden in 2020, so there's definitely potential there.

I mean, he probably still wouldn't win, but that would at least make it closer.

Ge was in Tarrant Co in March and again around July/August. Pretty sure he's hit every county, or close to all, multiple times.

[Nymrohd]

Less concerning than him making fun of Lindsey Graham (love to see the GOP eat eachother) is that he's apparently trying to drum up sympathy for Russia by way of drumming up apathy for Ukraine.

That was very much how I read that post. It's more about picking candidates who would shoot down further action against Russia.

[CastletonSnob]

It's Democrats' own fault that MI, WI, and PA, once solid blue states, are now swing states.

[fwc577]

It's Democrats' own fault that MI, WI, and PA, once solid blue states, are now swing states.

What? This idea that WI was ever a solid blue state is a joke, that's coming from a Wisconsinite.

Republicans controlled the Governors office in Wisconsin from 1987-2003.

Jim Doyle beat incumbent Scott McCallum by D+4 in 2003.

Scott Walker took over the Governor's office in 2011 with R+4 and held it with R+4 four years later.

In 2019, Tony Evers took over the Governor's office with D+1

This idea that WI was a solid blue state is rose-colored glasses on the voting history thanks to Obama.

Wisconsin has always been a swing state.