Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia...

[brooklynite]

Those were the nine Red and Red-Purple States where Democrats lost control of the US Senate in 2014. If they hadn't lost control, Merrick Garland wouldn't have been blocked and Neil Gorsuch wouldn't have been approved.

To those who complain that Donnelly, Manchin, McCaskill and Heitkamp aren't "real" Democrats, ask yourself what "real" Democrats could be elected in their stead. They may not vote your way on Trump's new SC pick, but as Eugene Robinson pointed out this morning, the time for that fight was when the Senate was at risk. If they're voting broadly with the Democratic Caucus (which they are), let them do what they need to do to stay in office.

[NCTraveler]

1. Geithner is the only one!

"ask yourself what "real" Democrats could be elected in their stead."

Lots of legitimate arguments can be made about theses seats and the people who hold them.

"The only one" is a weak argument that simply attempts to get people to settle and look away.

I take no issue with the Democrats you mention. They campaign on who they are, most of the time. It's as simple as voting your choice in the primary and then supporting the Democrat in the general.

[exboyfil]

2. The biggest problem is the Senate does

not reflect the population of the US. Also 2014 was heartbreaking in my state of Iowa as I lost both my Representative (Braley) and my Senator (Harkin). If Harkin had a crystal ball, I am sure he would have stayed for another term. Even without partisan blinders, Braley was so much better as a Representative. He would actually have open workshops where we went through budget items and made recommendations on what we would like to see done with the budget and taxes. it was a wonderful bipartisan exercise. Blum doesn't even meet with his constituents.

[WhiteTara]

3. Taliban Tom Cotton won using Cambridge Analytica to sway

the MAGAts here in Arkansas. The kochs are flooding the state with money too. We have a hard road.

[TomSlick]

4. I'm afraid Arkansas will be solidly "red" for a very long time.

The reason is simple racism. For my confederate flag waiving neighbors, it will take a very long-time for the Democratic party to be forgiven for an African-American being in the White House as anything other than kitchen staff.

[standingtall]

5. Just because the elecoral college elected Trump does not mean we have to roll over now

Frankly there are way to many people willing to give Red State Democrats a pass to vote for Trumps nominee. If we lose 50 to 49 I can live with that, but if we lose 51 to 48 because Red State Democrats voted to screw us over I'm going to be pssst! Especially when they end up losing their reelection bids anyway.

[Jspur]

6. As a NC resident

I would say that NC is state that leans right. It's not a strong red state and I would say it's barely red right now. However since Obama won it in '08 it's been hard to flip it back to being blue. We had record turnout in 2012 and Romney still won the state. In 2016 Trump won 48 percent of the vote while Hillary I think won 45 percent. Obviously Trump didn't win the popular vote but it goes to show you again how NC always barely goes red.