50 States. We CAN take back the House!

[MineralMan]

With Donald Trump heading the Republican presidential ballot entry, many Republicans will simply sit at home in November, and that will be true in all 50 states. What that means is that Democrats, by turning out in huge numbers, can flip some House seats that otherwise would be going to Republicans. We can truly do that, if we have the will to do it.

Hillary Clinton is promising a 50-state campaign, but that's not enough. It's going to be up to rank-and-file Democrats to turn out the vote. If each Democratic voter convinces one other person who would not otherwise vote to go to the polls in November, we'd double the turnout. Double! If that happens, we will win back a majority of House seats, establish a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate and put the Republican Party on its knees for a very long time.

GOTV 2016!

[tonyt53]

1. I wish, but I'm afraid it can't happen until 2022. Too many gerrymandered districts

And after the 2020 census, new lines will have to be drawn for each district. the 2022 mid-terms will see a huge shift.

[MineralMan]

3. Actually, it can happen. This will be a unique opportunity,

I think. If we don't take advantage of it, we'll be fools. Here's the thing: If we can flip just one seat in every state, we'll have that majority. If we flip two or more in some states, it will be even easier. I know of two flippable districts in my state of Minnesota. Our party organization will be working its ass off this year to flip those two, and we can do it.

Optimism is contagious, as is disgust for Donald Trump.

Let's do this!

[Hortensis]

14. True! An overwhelming gerrymandered advantage only holds

for the old, pre-Trump reality. We have been handed a whole new reality to work with!!!

We've surrounded by very large numbers of unflippable conservatives, but I have already started slipping in the idea of staying home on November 8 as a matter of conscience into conversation. I confess I often let the people I'm talking with think I basically agree with, or at least have no answer to, what they're saying about Hillary. If they choose to think I'm in the same boat as they are... I do actually feel that is the most honorable option for those conservatives who are very unhappy with their choices but cannot vote Democrat.

I've also signed up for calling to GOTV. That's something I can do from wherever we happen to be.

And now, as MineralMan suggests, I'm going to try to identify at least one couple we know personally who lean left but usually don't bother to vote and see if we can't "double" our votes. Just realized it's been some while since anyone's called voting a waste of time in my presence. Have to ask my husband...

[MineralMan]

15. Good luck with all of your efforts!

[Hortensis]

19. Thanks. Easy and pleasant enough after all, except for

identifying an uncommitted liberal in a flippable district in our region of Georgia. ( ) Our prospects for both are much better in Florida since we know people in both the more promising Orlando and St. Petersburg districts.

[Lord Magus]

22. A big enough tidal wave can swamp the gerrymandering.

While Democrats would need about 60% of the vote nationwide in House elections to take a slim majority, if Trump craters badly enough that could actually happen.

[0rganism]

24. gerrymandering cuts both ways, though it might not look that way at first

gerrymandering sacrifices safe seats for a larger number of advantage seats by distributing a strong majority across several districts. so instead of one seat with a 20-point majority, you have 4 seats with 5-point majorities.

thing is, a 5-point majority is a lot easier to tip than a 20-point spread. a strong Democratic wave election could have serious and unforeseen consequences for the house majority.

[Exilednight]

26. There's not that many 5 point seats. Most winners. regardless of

Party, won by 10 points or more. Several had 60 point margins.

[1StrongBlackMan]

29. Despite the gerrymandering, if we follow MM's "each one bring one" strategy ...

we more than negate the effect ... since this season's primaries saw about a 30% turn-out rate and the 2014 (mid-turn out rate) was about 36%, and the 2012 G/E turn-out rate was 56% ... there are still a lot of votes out there to get.

I have 4 people, that had not voted in the primary, mid-term or 2012, that have committed to vote Democratic in 2016 ... and I'm giving them a ride to the polls to ensure that they vote; but, I won't know how they vote.

[C_U_L8R]

2. The GOP is knocked back on it's heels

and the Democratic party is enthusiastic.
Now's the time to hammer the right-wingers mercilessly.
We may win the house, we may not.
But we're going to gain tremendous ground
in every locality on up to the White House.

[MineralMan]

4. Exactly. It's a rare opportunity we're going to have.

We need to take full advantage of it.

[malaise]

5. +1,000

Rec the OP

[brer cat]

6. I would love to see that come true, MM.

On my facebook feed are republican family members and friends, and many of them are actually sane. I have seen several pushing a movement to vote against every incumbent. I wish them great luck since here in GA they are talking about republicans. However, I know here, as in many states, the districts are so gerrymandered it would take a tsunami of protest votes to root them out.

One can hope!

[MineralMan]

7. A massive turnout of Democrats who normally stay home

can overcome gerrymandering in many districts. That's especially true if Republicans are the ones who sit out the election over disgust with Trump.

We'll see, of course, but GOTV this year should be a huge effort, and one all of us can take part in. There's where unity can make all the difference.

[frazzled]

8. Many districts don't have "massive" numbers of Democrats

within their boundaries. They're beet red. So you wouldn't need simply to double the turnout (a hard enough job as is) but octuple it. That's just the reality of many gerrymandered districts.

The DCCC will undoubtedly, however, try to target as many "purple" districts as possible; and hopefully that could be enough to narrowly flip the House. You have to be strategic in these efforts.

[MineralMan]

10. And yet many do. We won't win all 435 seats.

However, there are many districts where the Republican margin is less than 10%. I don't know every district in the country, but people in each state know their own districts. We win the ones we can. It's not an all or nothing proposition I'm making.'

The DNCC will do what it can, but the real job is up to the people in their own and neighboring districts, really. GOTV is a local thing, not a national one. GOTV in every district is required. And GOTV requires personal activism.

[rhett o rick]

9. That's exactly what the Progressives are working. Continue the enormous

enthusiasm that the Progressives have brought to this campaign. It's time to kick the Big Money influence out of our government. I think we can all agree on that.

[MineralMan]

11. Absolutely. Let's count on those efforts, too.

[MoonRiver]

12. So hoping!

[MineralMan]

13. I'm hoping, too, but I"ll be participating in GOTV

here in Minnesota in CD-2 and CD-3. They can be flipped this year. I hope we can flip them both. The more feet on the ground, the better our chances.

[MoonRiver]

17. I'm still recovering from my second total hip replacement,

but my fingers work just fine, so I expect to be dialing a lot of voters!

[MineralMan]

18. Outstanding.

I haven't had any hip replacements, but I suspect that there's one in my future. But, not until I must.

[MoonRiver]

20. It reached the point where I was practically bed ridden.

But that was mainly because I had been misdiagnosed for almost 2 years. I got a useless spine fusion (L4/L5) last July. It took about 6 months after that, during which time my pain got worse, before one doctor thought to look at my hips, which finally told the tale. My pain is almost gone now, thank Dog. But this was a serious medical f**k up!

[workinclasszero]

16. Taking back the house

would be a dream come true.

[MineralMan]

21. I believe we can make that dream become reality.

Hard work and unity can make it happen.

[William769]

23. kick & recommended.

[raven mad]

25. Not here.

Unless Don Young croaks or finally gets put in a nursing home.

[ismnotwasm]

27. K&R!!!

[AgingAmerican]

28. For 50 years we controlled the congress

And the Democratic party did so by standing solidly on the left. Until that happens again, we will continue in the present quagmire.

[Maru Kitteh]

30. There is absolutely no good reason not to work like hell for it.

I'm on board!