General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNot good enough. The narrow win by Republicans
We've had now, what three special elections that we were that close but lost. So, yes, Trump may have carried a district by gazillion points and now the Republican won by less of a point.
He still won and we've yet to put a dent in the majority that they have.
I know that last November there were two local stable Republican seats that many thought we could flip. But in both cases, the Democrats ran by painting their opponents as Trump supporters and lost.
And I think that something similar is happening now. Yes, we have town hall meetings with angry voices against Trump-Ryan-Turtle Care. And everyone is feeling good about how angry we are.
But this is not good enough.
Of course, we, Democrats, would vote for our candidate regardless just to flip Congress. But I don't know how strong the get out the vote was in the recent special elections, whether if, indeed, every Democrat voted we would have won.
So we need to put more brain there. We need to talk about what is important to the voters. Yes, jobs, economy, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. I know, myself included, that we are so discouraged by the deplorables who know they could lose some of the benefits yet support Trump that we are ready to wash our hands of them.
But we cannot let our anger and emotions count them off. (Easy for me to say, I am not running..)
We hear about major employers leaving rural towns and everything else falls like Dominos: general stores, hospitals, senior homes.. So I hope that Democratic candidates will visit these places and will offer suggestions.
I like the TV program "Designated Survivor" because it is such a good mirror of the current system. And the "president" goes and listen and say I cannot promise to bring your jobs back; they are gone. But my government will help you train for something different.
It is easy for me to say that, hey, if you lost your job then be ready to uproot yourself and family and go where the jobs are. We've crossed the country twice because of jobs. But I know that it is not that easy, certainly not for the ones over, say, 45.
But perhaps our candidates can offer a plan where the government will assist with moving, will assist with getting rid of houses under foreclosure.. I know that during the great recession this was a major obstacles for many who could move for new jobs.
But I know that rural is important to the fabric of our country. Yes, with their pastors and churches and their anti progressive ideas. The ties that bind them that I personally would look down on.
So even though they dislike government, I think that we should promote government as dedicated to keep rural America as part of the country, with active programs.
I don't remember where I've read recently that in India, or in China, rural life collapsed so everyone migrated to the big cities and just made everything worse.
I think that Democratic candidates in rural areas that will express their trust in keeping the way of life there can win.
OK, hope this makes some sense. I've been a city person all my life with running faucets and toilets but, still..
Loki Liesmith
(4,602 posts)Given census that's where our real push should be anyway.
question everything
(47,271 posts)while TX gaining.
We had a Democratic state representative who won several elections. But last year decided to run against an incumbent Republican congressman. She campaigned on anti Trump, lost, and her seat now went to a Republican. The district, by the way, did vote for Hillary.
So I have my doubts about your optimism. I hope I will be wrong come 2018.
Loki Liesmith
(4,602 posts)The elections we've outright won in the past few weeks have been state and local elections. If we want to ungerrymander the district maps we have to keep doing that.
LBM20
(1,580 posts)GBizzle
(209 posts)We'd win both the House and Senate, no problem.
question everything
(47,271 posts)that's my point.
and many of the voters cheered his "body slamming."
Loki Liesmith
(4,602 posts)StevieM
(10,499 posts)like the one in Georgia that is having a special election.
LBM20
(1,580 posts)LBM20
(1,580 posts)was GOOD all things considered and bodes well for the future. Quist did quite well considering the very long odds. The R only won with 50.1%. You need to please see the bigger picture. It is VERY hard to flip deep red districts. However, making these races competitive and having results where there are large vote shifts IS progress.