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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums**** BREAKING New York Times calls it for Lamb ****
By ALEXANDER BURNS and JONATHAN MARTINMARCH 14, 2018
Conor Lamb, a Democrat and former Marine, scored a razor-thin but extraordinary upset in a special House election in Southwestern Pennsylvania after a few thousand absentee ballots delivered Democrats a win in the heart of President Trumps Rust Belt base.
The victory still may be contested, but Mr. Lambs current 627-vote lead appears insurmountable, given that the four counties in Pennsylvanias 18th district have about 500 provisional, military and other absentee ballots left to count, county election officials said. That slim margin, out of almost 230,000 ballots cast, nonetheless upended the political landscape ahead of this Novembers midterm elections and emboldened fellow Democrats to run maverick campaigns even in deep-red areas where Republicans remain bedeviled by Mr. Trumps unpopularity.
Republican officials in Washington said they were likely to demand a recount through litigation, and the National Republican Congressional Committee put out a call for voters to report any irregularities in the balloting. Matt Gorman, a spokesman for the committee, said the party was not conceding anything.
But absent significant adjustments in the tally, Mr. Lamb, a 33-year-old former prosecutor from a local Democratic dynasty, has pulled off a staggering upset over Rick Saccone, a Republican state legislator, in a district that Mr. Trump carried by nearly 20 percentage points in 2016.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/14/us/politics/democrats-republicans-pennsylvania-special-election.html
They now join NBC News as an outlet calling it for Lamb.
Link to tweet
TEXT
The New York Times
✔
@nytimes
Breaking News: The Democrat Conor Lamb has an insurmountable lead in a Pennsylvania House race in Trump country. Were calling it in his favor.https://nyti.ms/2Dsf1Ct
5:38 PM - Mar 14, 2018
Conor Lambs approach to his Pennsylvania congressional campaign could become a template for a cluster of more moderate Democrats contesting conservative-leaning seats in other states.
Conor Lamb Wins Pennsylvania House Seat and Shows Democrats the Way Into Trump Country
Democrat Conor Lambs performance in a Southwestern Pennsylvania House race rattled Republicans and showed Democrats how to win back Trump voters.
nytimes.com
Cattledog
(5,897 posts)I like that word!
BumRushDaShow
(127,312 posts)is probably only going to yield the same numbers since there's no "verifiable" paper trail (outside of the absentees).
Matt_R
(456 posts)or maybe memory chips that just happened to include thousands, no tens of thousands of votes, each... ten times that of any voting machine recorded to date in that precinct.
onetexan
(12,994 posts)Wouldn't put it past the bastards
DFW
(54,055 posts)I don't think they can arrange that on short notice in PA with a Democratic governor.
sprinkleeninow
(20,136 posts)bearsfootball516
(6,369 posts)StarryNite
(9,366 posts)lindysalsagal
(20,444 posts)Someone got his nose bloodied today!!!!!
spanone
(135,636 posts)the kiss of death to any hopeful republicans
BumRushDaShow
(127,312 posts)jmowreader
(50,453 posts)I think the tweetstorm will hit about 2 am.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Never heard of Saccone. Pennsylvania? Is that even a place? No idea what anyone's talking about.
Demovictory9
(32,324 posts)Hermit-The-Prog
(33,041 posts)He didn't win the popul.... er
He didn't support Demo.... er
The repugs didn't really suppo... er
He didn't campaign amongst chocolate rabbits!
So there!
(Will twitter suffer an orange onslaught in the morning?)
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)DFW
(54,055 posts)...where even if ALL outstanding/provisionals go for Saccone and Lamb is still ahead, he has won.
Just by a nose, but if the Republicans had won by the same margin, they would be celebrating and giving us the finger as loudly as they could, calling us sore losers for considering a recount. So, we'll take the nose, and they can kiss our ass.
ChubbyStar
(3,191 posts)Poetry!
BumRushDaShow
(127,312 posts)When I listened to Lamb's speech last night, Brian Williams had presaged it as most likely being similar to Saccone's earlier speech thanking the attendees and telling them to go on home and get some rest.
Yet Lamb did no such thing and with his first sentence I started cracking up because he was giving an acceptance speech and after about 5 minutes in, a flustered Williams broke in and started mumbling that no one had called it yet for him and whatnot.
llmart
(15,501 posts)Can't stand him.
BumRushDaShow
(127,312 posts)That is why I only listened to audio of the program vs watching the TV... and mainly because he was on right after Lawrence O'Donnell so I just kept the radio on.
True Blue American
(17,972 posts)His voice just kills me. And he is so sanctimonious in his judgements.
Love Larry,Ari Melber, Ali , I first heard him on AJ. Never knew he was so successful on CNN. Went to AJ because he could investigate real stories. NBC seems to have turned him loose so he can tell the truth.
brettdale
(12,332 posts)Well done Lamb.
Cha
(295,926 posts)And mahalo for the tweet!!!!
Cha
(295,926 posts)What a day of stress Yesterday!
BumRushDaShow
(127,312 posts)and I know I was awake (but in bed) listening to M$NBC on my SiriusXM radio until 2:30 am EDT this morning! I usually don't follow special elections like this, even in my own state, but for some reason, I needed to follow this and am glad!
Cha
(295,926 posts)I saw your posts in LBN last night.. I knew you were extra anxious like we all were!
I love it that trump had such a hate filled rally on Sunday.. and it was Rejected in PA18 on Tuesday!
True Blue American
(17,972 posts)I tried to go to sleep. Read a little,flipped the TV back on.
At midnight I gave up. Woke a couple of hours later, watched Kornacki. Never went back to sleep.
Had a family outing. Went to bed at 7, sleeping 8 hours!
Cha
(295,926 posts)to see if there was any concrete news on whether Conor officially won!
Your night sounds like some of mine sometimes, though.
I was a nervous wreck all day.. I tried all kinds of ways to calm myself but my mind wasn't having it!
It was so close.. but in a District that the mole won in 2016 by 20pts.. it's a miracle and Conor Lamb!
TBA
True Blue American
(17,972 posts)And watching the march yesterday, seeing the young rushing to the steps of Congress, excited to see the Democrats march down those steps to join them, I actually felt happier than I have been since the election of 2016!
I am so proud of those young people, future Democrats. Nixon, Reagan, Bush were bad, but I have a feeling the young will remember this all their lives.
Along with those older Union members who came back home in Pa. to the Party that created them in the first place.
Cha
(295,926 posts)incredibly beautiful! I'm really so proud of the KIDS, too We tried to get sensible gun laws after Sandy Hook.. the nra/gop wouldn't hear of it.
I missed it.. looking forward to it.
One more thing.. Conor won in spite of trump imposing tariffs to win votes.. and it's reported that Lamb won the most points on Obamacare/Healthcare.
Kick in the head for the mole.
sheshe2
(83,354 posts)Cha
(295,926 posts)sheshe2
(83,354 posts)We won.
BumRushDaShow
(127,312 posts)Good one!!!!
sheshe2
(83,354 posts)Ta da!
MustLoveBeagles
(11,563 posts)sheshe2
(83,354 posts)Thank you. MLB!
Progressive2020
(713 posts)Well done to Conor Lamb and all of his Supporters! Prepare for a Blue Wave in November! Trump and his Stooges are in for a beating! Resist, Oppose, Impeach!
njhoneybadger
(3,910 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Historic NY
(37,449 posts)[link:|]
BumRushDaShow
(127,312 posts)Who put that there???!!!11111!!!
Marie Marie
(9,999 posts)Upthevibe
(7,884 posts)Skittles
(152,965 posts)WELL PLAYED
ffr
(22,649 posts)Right next to their NYC copier.
They're rushing the boxes to Pennsylvania as we speak. Their corporate donors say they will foot the bill for a recount.
BumRushDaShow
(127,312 posts)PatrickforO
(14,516 posts)districts.
honest.abe
(8,556 posts)The first time since Nov 2016, that I am feeling somewhat optimistic... somewhat.
Well done Mr Lamb!
BumRushDaShow
(127,312 posts)The win in AL started the ball rolling and this was some icing on the cake!
honest.abe
(8,556 posts)Cheers!
True Blue American
(17,972 posts)Is making me feel not so numb any more.
Perhaps we stand a chance against the utter corruption of the Republican Party.
rocktivity
(44,555 posts)Republicans remain bedeviled by Mr. Trump, period.
rocktivity
DownriverDem
(6,206 posts)trump is not a repub, trump is not a conservative either. trump bullied his way to the repub nomination and winning (dubious at best) the presidency. If the Dems win control of the House, watch trump make deals with them big time. trump has no values regarding politics except for whatever helps him.
MissKat
(218 posts)Yesterday my daughter and I stood outside for nearly 10 hours (okay, with breaks) in the cold with blowing snow to greet voters. It has been a long slog...getting to know Conor, watching him grow as a candidate, and discovering he really is a decent, nice guy. I've said on this site and some others, he is his own man. He is absolutely no Republican. He is a Democrat through and through and proud of that. It stuns me that the GOP spent over TEN MILLION dollars on Sad Sack Saccone. What a grumpy, dumpy, old man he is. (Actually, I wonder if his health is bad-- his coloring is awful, sort of grayish yellow).
So, our Resistance group will take a deep breath, a rest, and get ready for the next haul. But here's the interesting thing-- well over 70% of Democrats showed up to vote and just over 50% of Republicans. We had a good candidate, one we were proud to support and he stayed on message and worked so hard.
Okay. I'm still exhausted. I'm taking a long, lovely soak in the tub and dreaming of that word, INSURMOUNTABLE.
BumRushDaShow
(127,312 posts)for those efforts!!!!!
(from over here in SE PA waving hi!!! )
llmart
(15,501 posts)It's people like you who will help take our country back.
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)And dare I say a hero. You have of given of yourself for others. And if we take the house back this fall please know you had an outsized impact on that effort. Because it all will have started with this race and great Americans like you.
Thank you very much.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)calimary
(80,699 posts)And these, too.
gademocrat7
(10,623 posts)Conor Lamb Did not spew hateful rhetoric. He had a very strong get out the vote strategy.
SCVDem
(5,103 posts)Now let's analyze who didn't vote and make corrective action.
Si se puede!
BumRushDaShow
(127,312 posts)in the redrawn districts and then again in November!
underpants
(182,279 posts)BumRushDaShow
(127,312 posts)jalan48
(13,798 posts)FailureToCommunicate
(13,989 posts)"Republicans remain bedeviled by Mr. Trumps UNpopularity."
Takket
(21,425 posts)they passed their beloved tax scam
drumpf imposed the tariffs, which if it is going to help any state, it is PA
drumpf personally rambled on for over an hour in support of their candidate
AND WE STILL WON!!!!!!!!!!!
And drumpf HATES THAT, and that is the best part.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)I imagine anyone running in PA will have to support the tariffs.
The Paul Ryan line is...well, what we had here was basically two conservatives running...supporting the tariffs, pro life, etc. It's true that Lamb supports the tariffs, he is not pro life. He is pro choice but is personally against abortion. Which is what pro choice is all about.
Civic Justice
(870 posts)Let's consider a few things; We have a right wing, who leans far right, and many cannot fathom the concepts of "full circle citizen and persons "equality". If one thinks back, even during President Johnson's march up to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, there were many Right Wing minded people, who did not want to give up "White Privilege" and participate in "Equality for All".
Well that mindset has not vanished within many. They have never embraced or wanted to deal with "full circle equality"... they have no idea of how to fit, and where to fit within that concept. Because, they never had to within their enclaves.
Therefore, as Lamb as a Democrat, stands in the Democratic Middle, with strong support for Labor. Then we have to consider, if we want to bring over those left leaning Republican as well as those standing in the middle, we cannot go "far left'... We have to bring them to the Middle of the what is the Democratic Premise and Its Ideals for progress. And we have to help them learn to become comfortable, to learn, that "Equality" takes nothing from them, but gives them even more than they thought they had, 'because the power of unity, promotes progress in all things that such unity aspires".. Then we can help them learn, that the ideals of 'conservatism" has been hung around their neck like a lead weight, and has lined the bottom of their shoes and boots with lead embedded in the sole. To help keep them as being nothing more than the "service class to the wealthy".
As they begin to learn, they can be helped to look back at the history and see, they came from the likes of servant labor, indentured servitude and made into servant labor, and via the circle of debt, still made to be indentured to the wealthy. They have to come and learn how bias and bigotry, has been like a "limited chain" that holds them into a tight parameter, which does not allow them to move beyond and learn the benefits of unity, and the prosperity within Multicultural teamwork.
This is somethings that has not been made understandable to them, even within the cycles where slavery existed and in the area where black codes were put in place.
They were unable to hear MLK, in the words he spoke in the speech at Selma, because they were so enraged with racist animosity, and fearful of what equality represents.
MLK said:
(((http://kingencyclopedia.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/documentsentry/doc_address_at_the_conclusion_of_selma_march/index.html
" the root cause, of racial segregation in the Southland. Racial segregation as a way of life did not come about as a natural result of hatred between the races immediately after the Civil War.There were no laws segregating the races then. And as the noted historian, C. Vann Woodward, in his book, The Strange Career of Jim Crow, clearly points out, the segregation of the races was really a political stratagem employed by the emerging Bourbon interests in the South to keep the southern masses divided and southern labor the cheapest in the land. You see, it was a simple thing to keep the poor white masses working for near-starvation wages in the years that followed the Civil War. Why, if the poor white plantation or mill worker became dissatisfied with his low wages, the plantation or mill owner would merely threaten to fire him and hire former Negro slaves and pay him even less. Thus, the southern wage level was kept almost unbearably low." )))
People also have to understand that the Right to Vote, was to void out by race the ability of the people, to have political voice, because if the people were freed to have political voice, they would have then been able not only to tear down the walls of segregation, they would have been able to help the poor and uneducated whites of the era, to what they have been denied and how they had been misled to fight against their own best interest. The wealthy have for decades upon decades sold the working poor and poor whites a "hoodwinking games", to make them think... "the wealthy will take care of them".
This same game is what Trump uses against the people. When his personal business has never been for supporting workers having voice, or being paid a fair wage; he stands against Minimum wage hike, which is necessary to meet the standard of living. He supports the low wage, that is GUARANTEED to keep people, in a circle and cycle of debt, which makes them indentured to the wealthy, be it a wealthy person or a wealthy organization or enterprise. Thus so, in process making them no different than being fed, the lines that SERF's were fed, to keep them in Serfdom.
The Democratic Model is about "OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL", "Fair Pay, and Workers having voice", and people have the political power of "Voice"... These are things the old system of Conservatism, born of Confederate Idealism does not want to see happen and they do everything they can to fight against it. Today, they use Religion as a tool against the people in the way they enlist the modern Day Evangelical to mislead people through their faith.
But what people must realize is 'The Right Wing Evangelical system, was born and bred in the age of Slavery and Indentured Servititude, and it has been nurtured from Slavery system wealthy plantation as industry owners, to and through the era of segregation and into modern day, still with the same ideology. They simply adapt it to current times, but their ideals have not changed, nor has the power structure that controls their system of Evangelical aims of grooming.
Therefore, considering these variables, (which there are many more to be considered), it is necessary for us as Democrats, to know that we must be within the "Middle"... not Far Left... To truly understand that, we must know, that society is slow to change, change is gradual and over time... many things can be made understood in the days of tomorrow, of what is expansive in the Democratic system, which can bring understanding and through understanding people can be brought to acceptance of the full spectrum of Equality.
We have to listen careful to the politician, and push them in the right direction, and hold them to holding the course.
In this aim and this gain scenario, we can look at some of our Democratic people, who speak of fairness, in business, banking and civil society as well as business and community. Those are the ones, we must push to 'use their voice" and support their position and if they campaign... we don't need them wasting time attacking the Right Wingers, their time should be spent to explain to the people, the values benefits of the ideals and the benefits that WE gain as being a force for the good of all.
Eventually people even today have become tired of the "attack and divisiveness" because Trump has worn that madness out and took it to such extremes, that it is seen the world over and across this nations, as a negative vile, that does nothing but distract and disrupt and ultimately breeds distension and destroys our civility, while it promotes the intent to dismantle our Governance system and assault our Democracy.
True Blue American
(17,972 posts)Was a good share of our problems in the first place.
Being victims does not work! We are fighters. Fighting for rights,decent wages, taking care of those who really need help. The young, old and infirm.
Working, not dependence for those who do not need it. Taking care of our Veterans who were wrongly led into war. Ending those wars.
Modernizing our own country. Lifting all.
BumRushDaShow
(127,312 posts)One thing that does distinguish the 2 frames of thought is "individualism" vs "collectivism" and it will always be difficult to reconcile these ideas.
You see it in the animal kingdom - some species operate and thrive and survive singularly and others function and thrive and survive in groups/packs.
DownriverDem
(6,206 posts)Districts vary all over the country. Candidates need to run their own campaigns based on their own districts. That's why purity crap folks are clueless as to who we are as a country. Get electoral wins. Then work to change the party. I can't say this enough. Otherwise the repubs will win.