In midterms we get clobbered

[cali]

Last edited Sat Mar 22, 2014, 10:16 AM - Edit history (2)

Is that true? Is it wrong to say that? Is that being defeatist?

edited to attribute the title line:

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/obama-democrats-midterm-elections-clobbered-104885.html

edited for those attacking me: No, I sure as shit don't hope for a dem defeat, and nothing I've ever said hwere would lead anyone without an agenda to believe otherwise.

The quote comes from none other than President Obama, dear denizens of the Obama Forum.

[Kelvin Mace]

1. I think more likely the status quo will be maintained

with control of the Senate and no chance of gaining the House.

We will probably lose ground in the Senate, and gain a few seats in the House.

The Dem leadership would have a re-run of 2006, but they have embraced Wall Street as their savior and turned their back on Main Street.

2016 means HRC as president and she will have enough coattails to retake the House and hold the Senate, but like Obama, she will squander that gain to appease her masters on Wall Street.

Pretty much we lose either way, it is just a matter of how fast.

[cali]

2. I think your assessment is pretty good

I don't think Hillary will ever be President and I don't think she has the kind of coattails that you envision.

[Kelvin Mace]

5. I hope you are right

but it seems to me in that the Vichy Dem leadership has pretty much ordained HRC as the next nominee. If she is the nominee, she will win unless she does something really, REALLY stupid.

The GOP just get crazier each year, but the Dems move further to the right to make up for it. Yes, their are some exceptions, but I am talking about the leadership, not the rank and file.

[CFLDem]

3. Maybe

Many variables are still up in the air.

[brooklynite]

9. Redistricting isn't one of them

the post-2010 districts are far less winnable than the 2006 districts were.

[theboss]

4. Historically, we should

I'm not sure the old models really hold up any longer.

[pansypoo53219]

6. 2006, MAY IT HAPPEN AGAIN.

[Seeking Serenity]

7. In 2006, the WH was controlled by the GOP.

It's a typical pattern (1998 was a rare exception). In mid-term elections, the party that controls the WH tends to fare badly. 1994, 2006, 2010. Usually, by mid-terms, non-aligned voters have grown weary of or want some check on the party in power at the WH. It's not unusual and often is understandable.

On edit: After reading post #8 below, I should have added that just because it's a typical pattern doesn't mean it has to happen every time or this year in particular. We've just got to get out there and sell ourselves as the party with better ideas. Just my $0.02? Running purely fear-based, "Ooh, be scared of those boogeyman Republicans" isn't gonna cut it this year. We need to sell positive ideas.

[Skidmore]

8. Conventional wisdom doesn't always have to apply.

What if we just quit hammering away on the negativity and get out there and start finding common cause with people? Perhaps we can hold on or turn things around in surprising ways. I just don't buy that the past is always prologue. It depends on what you want. I prefer to work for my local and state candidates of choice and get myself and as many others as I can to the voting booth this year.

[JoePhilly]

10. Sounds like you're hoping for it.

It certainly would not be part of my standard GOTV speech.

But that's just me.

[Cali_Democrat]

12. Oh make no mistake about it....

there are a number of people here hoping for massive Democratic defeat.

They think it will allow them to sling even more mud at Obama and other elected Dems.

What's even more amazing is that a good number of those folks are running around with 2016 sig lines...already looking ahead.

Apparently they think the next POTUS can be a dictator and get a bold, progressive agenda through without Democratic majorities in the House and Senate.

Truly magical thinking.

[JoePhilly]

13. An epic flood is needed ...

... to wash a way the evil doers.

Utopia ensues.

[cali]

17. you have a lot of nerve. No, I'm not hoping it. And I didn't say it,honey

It's a quote from President Obama.

Lol. You've been well and truly punked.

[cali]

16. perfect. OK, I admit I was waiting for the inevitable chastizing comment

I didn't say it: President Obama did. Yesterday. Word for word. I'll not put the link in the OP.

oops.

[Cali_Democrat]

11. One of your best posts yet

[cali]

18. Just a quote from the prez you so worship, dear.

[Unless Smith]

14. No, it is not

If we call a net gain of 20 seats in the House a clobbering, then democrats have clobbered Republicans twice in the last 10 years, while Republicans have clobbered Democrats twice as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_midterm_election#Historical_record_of_midterm_elections

[Savannahmann]

15. Conventional wisdom aside.

Polling shows we are in trouble in a number of Senate Races. Even ones we lead, we have less than 50% and that means we need to pick up as many as the Rethugs do to win. Control of the Senate is in question, and we could be seeing Harry Reid as Minority leader come January.

The House is a lost cause. Governerships is iffy.

So we're down to the Senate. What is our battle plan as Democrats? Well, it seems to be hitting our knees every night and praying to a god that almost certainly doesn't exist that the Rethugs screw up worse than we do.