REMEMBER...There WILL be Republicans unwilling to raise $20+ million to defend their seats in 2018.

[Miles Archer]

Context was the Lawrence O'Donnell show this evening (don't remember the name of the guest who pointed this out).

The Ossoff / Handel race was a freak of nature...the most expensive of its kind in many years.

The comment made by Lawrence's guest (and this is not an exact quote, but close enough) was that "Some Republicans will decide it's not worth it, that it will be easier to retire than to raise $20 million to defend their seat."

ALSO:

In a question raised by Lawrence RE: TrumpCare, guest Steve Schmidt replied that Republicans are "damned if they do, damned if they don't" -

1). DAMNED IF THEY DO pass TrumpCare and Trump voters learn that their healthcare is gone

2). DAMNED IF THEY DON'T PASS TrumpCare because the red hats will say "You PROMISED to repeal and replace ObamaCare."

ALSO:

The observation was raised that ONE reason McConnell is trying to ram this through is that even if it tanks, Republicans planning to defend their seats in 2018 can say "HEY...I KEPT my promise, I VOTED for it."

It's sneaky crap all around, but between Rachel and Lawrence this evening, light was shed on some of the motives.

[AJT]

1. The Koch's are worth 100 billion dollars between them

they could spend billions financing campaigns and not feel a thing......and they will.

[BannonsLiver]

3. So will a lot of rich Democrats

Hillary and Ossoff didn't lose because of a lack of money.

[BeyondGeography]

2. They don't have to raise the money; if they're competitive private money makes up the difference

From Vox:

Moreover, Handel has been helped by groups like the Congressional Leadership Fund, closely associated with Speaker Paul Ryan, which spent $2 million on the race. Not only are CLF’s donors outside Georgia’s Sixth, but campaign finance experts can’t even find its funders because the groups that are funding it do not have to disclose their donors.

Some Democrats like Ossoff may get lucky and again catch fire with the grassroots donor base in 2018. But even if they do, Republicans are likely to have private industry to bury them in a mountain of cash.

https://www.vox.com/2017/6/20/15843864/jon-ossoff-special-election

[JoeOtterbein]

4. We need to repeat, over and over: "ALL elections must be with paper ballots and MUST be audited"

...nothing else matters.

[Motownman78]

5. Let us see a race where the Rep won by 8% in 2016

Than you will see a Dem victory.

[citood]

6. Congressional Districts are Gerrymandered more than they've ever been

After the last redistricting. Its just a fact. I'd wager that the number of seats realistically 'in play' is less than 100. They don't have to spend big money in every race.