I believe that McConnell and his cadre of rogue Republicans aren't calculating this for Midterms:

[no_hypocrisy]

Last edited Sat Jun 11, 2022, 04:44 PM - Edit history (1)

I believe that notwithstanding the devastating inflation, more Democrats than anticipated will be voting their party in November, solidifying both houses of Congress. Mitch foolishly believes that we are myopic and will vote against our own party and interests for pocketbook issues. And this applies to a good number of Independent voters.

Yeah, inflation sucks. Filled up my tank for $45 and thought I was getting a bargain ($4.789). Yeah, buying meat and making it last by making casseroles and stews and soups. Watching every dollar.

But would I vote for a republican to be my congressional representative? Hell no!

There's a lot to consider:

1. The preparation for the return of Trump in 2024. We need all hands on deck in both houses of Congress if the worst case situation occurs.

2. Roe. McConnell will get rid of the filibuster if he's Majority Leader of the Senate again, and then ram through federal law that outlaws abortion in all 50 states and U.S. territory. Sure, Biden's there to veto, but that won't last forever. All you need are two houses that vote in favor and a Republican in the WH or a Congress that will override a Democratic veto. Once abortion is federally outlawed, the Republicans have a wish list: gay marriage, birth control for both married and unmarried, restriction of travel if you're "bearing a child," and more, much more.

3. More or less the same for federal gun control. Safety first for me, my family, my neighbors, my coworkers, children, police* and the public at large.

I don't care what siren song (reference Ulysses) the Republicans sing about "fixing the damage that Biden caused" to the Economy. I'll be that much poorer if they're in charge again.

* I want my local police to be protected against my neighbors who are packing heat legally or otherwise.

[Metaphorical]

1. A few additional factors

1. I think the Jan 6 Committee hearings will have an impact
2. Overreach - I think that the GOP has miscalculated in their attempt to ram through election-limiting bills about how fed up people are getting about it.
3. Fear of Trump returning. In many respects, the GOP has been giving the country a showcase of what we can look forward to if Trump returns - outlawing abortion, turning back the clock on minority rights, chaos.
4. The Russi-Ukraine War. Turns out, the Democrats were right about Russia (and just about everything else), and that raises questions about how much involvement Trump really had with Russia and Putin ... and how much the GOP has been covering up.
5. Redistricting. We haven't really tested how much the new districts have changed the calculus of things, but it has turned out better than Democrats had feared.

I'm not saying that GOTV won't matter, but I am still not of the belief that 2022 will be as bad as the pundits have been pushing.

[Stuart G]

2. NOVEMBER, NOVEMBER & NOVEMBER....Some idiots don't have a clue......NOVEMBER, NOVEMBER & NOVEMBER

[intheflow]

3. You're that much poorer now *because* they were in charge,

Poorer in pocket, poorer in spirit. These last six years have been (and continue to be) brutal.