Pep talk on tonight's disappointing loss - despite loss, Dems resurgent. Stay strong.

[sharedvalues]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/thoughts-on-the-disappointing-result-out-of-georgia-6


If you take the average Democratic over-performance in these districts and apply it to the entire House, Democrats are quite likely to take the House next year. What I take from this is that Republicans are struggling under Trump and Democrats are energized. But Democrats need to keep refining both their message and improving their electoral infrastructure. The most challenging takeaway I take from these races for Democrats is that even though Republicans have lost substantial ground and are operating in a tough environment they’ve nevertheless been able to mobilize money and partisan affiliation to hold on in tight races. That can’t be ignored. It’s also very significant.

What Democrats need to resist at all costs is the temperamental inclination to fall into spasms of self-loathing over this defeat – specifically, the idea that there’s something fundamentally wrong with the party because of this loss. I saw one Democrat on Twitter tonight ask if Ossoff’s loss didn’t mean “the Democratic party apparatus needs a total overhaul on every single level?”

Maybe the Democrats do need a fundamental overhaul. But doing 10 to 15 points better than a House candidate has done in this district since the 1970s simply isn’t evidence for that.

...

This is a big disappointment. But remember, by any objective measure these races show a Democratic party resurgent and a GOP on the ropes. These seats came open because they were vacated by people Trump picked for cabinet appointments. They got those picks because they came from safe seats. They are by no means a cross section of House seats. The thing to do is learn what we can from coming up just short and move on to the next fight. No one should expect any of this to be easy. If you do, bow out of civic questions and just watch movies and TV. We need people with more endurance.

Stay strong, people.

[Polly Hennessey]

1. My endurance is ending. n/t

[LBM20]

18. Then politics is the wrong game for you.

[Still In Wisconsin]

5. Seriuously... you're blaming... Sanders for this.

I'm at a loss.

[Still In Wisconsin]

7. So if Sanders hadn't endorsed him he would have won?

Sure, seems legit.

[Foamfollower]

8. Yep. If Sanders had kept out of it we would have won.

[RegexReader]

9. yet, Sanders was being cursed for sticking with a mayoral race

which is it?

[LBM20]

19. Let's please not re-fight the primary. Bernie bashing, or ANY bashing, doesn't help.

[Still In Wisconsin]

3. I call bullshit. A loss is a loss is a loss.

Scott Walker has won his last three elections by almost exactly the same margin as Karen Handel did tonight. Guess what? HE'S STILL GOVERNOR. They don't give fucking "participation trophies" in politics. Ossoff lost and he goes home. Handel won, she goes to Washington.

And I'll bet we ****almost**** beat Trump again in 2020.

Fuck it. Bullshit.

[CousinIT]

13. With unlimited dark and outside money allowed in all races, Dems will be grossly outspent...also...

...there will be MASSIVE voter suppression in 2018 as well. Trump is already working on that. Billionaires, churches and religious orgs, and corporations will be able to donate unlimited sums to GOP - secretly. The power of HUGE sums of money plus MASSIVE voter suppression....

OTOH, Dems are losing by much smaller margins in deep red areas than they otherwise would if not for Trump.

In areas where GOP won by slim margins and which are not so deeply red, Dems may have quite a few chances in 2018.

I will say this: if Dems do not regain power in one of the branches of US gov't in 2018, I don't think they ever will again in our lifetimes.

[LBM20]

20. White flag waving never helps. This was an 18 point shift to the Dems. See the big picture.

[EthanBlue]

4. I just wanted some good news.

It's so hard most days to not fall into despair. I'm just hoping the bleeding (metaphorically) will stop and every time I raise up my hopes I just feel crushed.

[LBM20]

21. Gotta toughen up. It is a DEEP RED Republican district.

[sharedvalues]

22. Keep plugging. Stay positive. Take care of yourself. the country needs you.

[CousinIT]

11. The female Trump won in a deep red area by a much smaller margin due to Trump.

GOP is vulnerable in 2018 in areas which are not so deep red and in which GOP won by smaller margins in 2016. I think Dems can take significant seats in 2018.

[lame54]

12. Give it a day...

For now
Join us in the swear-fest

[BadgerMom]

14. Thanks.

[7wo7rees]

15. Totally bs. Period. nt

[Awsi Dooger]

16. It is unlikely Trump's approval rating will be this low at midterm time

That's the problem with projecting a 10-15 point swing in district after district. Frankly, it is stupidity and the writer should know better.

Very seldom does a president have a sustained approval rating in this range, the upper 30s. I realize there is talk of impeachment and further implosion but as a handicapper I reject the extremes and default to normalcy and logic.

Don't think like Rachel Maddow. She is exactly the type who would use an argument like the one offered in the OP. One of the reasons this party is in such sad shape right now is we have too many conventional wisdom nitwits making key decisions. That is the type that relied on poll numbers last year and decided to pursue states like North Carolina with 43% self-identified conservatives instead of making damn sure our base was secure, since that's all we needed toward 270.

[VOX]

17. If you "default to normalcy and logic"...

How do you even account for #45? He defies everything even vaguely normal and logical; in fact, he shouldn't even be in office, per normalcy and logic.

It's clear you don't agree with the OP's stance. What would you recommend as a course of action?