Forget Excuses. What Counts Is Winning Elections.

[elleng]

The midterms offered some painful lessons for Democrats.

'In the end it was only a blue ripple, and that should prompt soul-searching among Democrats — particularly as everyone looks ahead to 2020.

Don’t listen to Democrats who portray these midterms as an important triumph. . .

The reality is that this was nothing like the 2006 midterm defeat for President George W. Bush or the 2010 repudiation of President Barack Obama. . .

It’s too easy for Democrats to boast about winning the popular vote in House races over all or winning a few governorships. To actually govern, and to get their way with judicial appointments, Democrats must also win the Senate. That is possible but will require more than bravado. . .

“The candidates who delivered the House majority largely hailed from the political center, running on clean-government themes and promises of incremental improvement to the health care system rather than transformational social change.” . .

I don’t think Democrats should have voted for Kavanaugh. I do think they should have paid more attention to how their posturing played across the country. . .

That’s a risk going forward: Democrats jockeying for the presidential nomination in 2020 will veer left . . . in ways that may help Trump. . .

Democrats should look at referendum results as a glimpse of a road map forward. . .

Those outcomes suggest a focus not on “resistance” as such, but on practical ways to improve lives. . .

One problem: Many Democrats live in an urban blue bubble, without a single Trump-supporting friend. Ever since the 2016 election, a progressive wing has tarred all Trump voters as racists, idiots and bigots. Not surprisingly, it’s difficult to win votes from people you’re calling bigots.

So a plea: It’s gratifying to give heroic speeches thundering against fascism, but remember that what makes a difference in people’s lives is winning elections, passing laws and approving judges. To do that, Democrats must engage in less fist-waving and far more listening.'

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/07/opinion/midterms-democrats-republicans-results.html?

[Fullduplexxx]

1. It was a blue wave but it was met with a mountain of supression

[SunSeeker]

4. Exactly. nt

[John Fante]

2. "2010 repudiation of President Barack Obama."

The Repukes only took the house that year. Did the writer forget that in his quest to spin last night as a win for the GOP?

[SunSeeker]

3. What fucking "posturing" on Kavanaugh is the author talking about?

You mean demanding that the accusations be investigated?! WTF?? The people who were posturing were Kavanaugh and Lindsey Graham.

I don't know who the author is, since the NYT has a paywall, but they are wrong.

And Dems didn't pick up "a few" governorships. They picked up 7, and Republicans lost 6. That will be extremely important in 2020 redistricting after the census.

Dems did better than they should have in RED STATES, and even in purple states like Wisconsin and Michigan, and they smoked it in blue states.

Again, WTF is this author talking about?!

[elleng]

5. Nicholas Kristof is the author.

Nicholas Kristof has been a columnist for The Times since 2001. He has won two Pulitzer Prizes, for his coverage of China and of the genocide in Darfur.

[SunSeeker]

6. Well he's dead wrong here. nt

[appalachiablue]

7. Blame those dirty progressives BK. NOT. Centrist Dems. were as loud

or louder IMO and from what I saw, in calling out racist, idiot, bigot 'trumpers.'

'a progressive wing has tarred all Trump voters as racists, idiots and bigots. Not surprisingly, it’s difficult to win votes from people you’re calling bigots.'