I have seen calls/ cries for Unity or we will lose 2020. I have a couple words for you.

[sheshe2]

BLUE WAVE



The wave was as ferocious as it was relentless. It brought us some awesome and diverse talent from Governors to Congress. We flipped red to blue and purple.

And all those women. I can't stop cheering.

So don't let anyone tell you we lack unity, 2018 is a clear example of our unity and the strength it has given the Democratic Party. We won the HOUSE! We sure cleaned their clock, the one that tried so hard to return us to 1950.

I have never seen a party more unified.

Vote as if your life depends on it. Vote as if the future of the planet depends on it. Frankly, it does. What more incentive does any voter need than this?

[malaise]

1. Off to the greatest page

Now

[sheshe2]

5. ...

[olegramps]

84. Unifying the Democrats is a miracle like herding cats. Free thinkers aren't Republicans.

[mcar]

2. Every time Democrats win

Same old, same old.

Blue Wave, baby!

[malaise]

8. Orchestrated

[mcar]

16. It sure is

Hey, malaise!

[malaise]

17. Hi there

Thinking about last week this time and having a good laugh.

[sheshe2]

21. Yep.

Like clockwork.

[Hekate]

4. Cheers for us Dems!

[sheshe2]

6. It was a thing of beauty in every way.

Go Democrats!

[Wounded Bear]

7. Now, it's about sustaining it...

moving forward. I never worry too much about "unity." All too often, people who yell loudest about "unity" are really saying, "Be reasonable, do it my way."

There are 435 districts for the House, each has its own quirks and needs, and they need good candidates that can stay in touch with that. Politics really is local. At least with a majority of incumbants, we'll be working to expand, rather than scratch for control of the House.

The Senate favors Dems a lot more next cycle, but that only means that more of the seats we'll be defending will be in blue states and less vulnerable. Flipping seats in red states will still be a challenge, and will probably require candidates that can actually win those states. That means more centrists, not radical liberals. With luck and a lot of hard work, we can hold our own seats and flip enough red seats to get control of the Senate.

The Democratic Party is still the Big Tent party, where we listen to differing opinions and come to consensus on where to go.

Was so nice to see people get back to basics, back to knocking on doors, talking to real people, and working to GOTV. It often seems too slow, but it is so much better in the long run.

[Jim Lane]

68. You're absolutely right about the insincere application of "unity"

You write an important point that, beginning sometime in 2019, will be widely overlooked:

All too often, people who yell loudest about "unity" are really saying, "Be reasonable, do it my way."

For my part, I don't think the case for running centrists is as clear as you seem to think. People don't vote on straight ideological lines. A candidate who's perceived as having clear convictions and a willingness to fight for them has an advantage, even among people who don't completely agree with those convictions. Such a candidate may also be more successful at mobilizing the nonvoters. OTOH, the nonvoters are notoriously hard to mobilize, so there's a cap on how much can be gained there.

I agree with you that each district "each has its own quirks and needs," and I'll add that each candidate is unique. I'm not afraid of having contested primaries to help us pick the strongest nominee.

[libdem4life]

9. We brought out a whole slew of first time voters/winners of all ages, minorities, young folk,

LGBT, women, and maybe a future presidential candidate from Texas....sure I missed one or two. I never get tired of hearing of all the "firsts" this election.

But what has done my heart good is that we showed we don't necessarily need gerontological money, PACs, automatic re-election of incumbents and phoning it in. That puts elected office in the range of everyday folk...representing everyday folk.

I'm excited for our future.

[Andy823]

10. I totally agree she

The ones I get tired of are the "you need us" to win crap. The ones where it sounds more like a threat that if you don't play our way we won't vote for the Democrats. If people are playing the game, they aren't really our allies. Right now, as you said, we are more unified that I have seen in a long time and I think to will continue.

[brer cat]

63. +++ nt

[bdamomma]

11. We pummeled

them. That's why all the crap in Florida, because Broward and Miami Dade as I heard is fully Democratic. Count the VOTES. Damn It.

[True_Blue]

12. We just need to keep doing what we just did

Show up to vote.

I'm very happy with the election results here in AZ. My new Democratic Congressman Greg Stanton won easily with 60% of the vote. We're about to elect our first Democratic Senator in 30 yrs. It's not official yet, but there's no way McSalty can catch up to Sinema. I think we may have broken the Republican stronghold here.

[malaise]

13. I love that the vile MAGAcretin actually believed he could win the House

That has so lifted my vibes.

[NastyRiffraff]

14. Thank you, she

That was the post of the day.

[Az_lefty]

15. tRump is better than anyone at getting Dems to the polls

[catbyte]

18. We can engineer another Pink Wave, too!

2018 was just the beginning.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[sheshe2]

25. Hell yes!!!

[Johnyawl]

28. Oh Hell yes!

That might have been a blue wave, but it had a rainbow in it!

[littlemissmartypants]

52. The lion's share of the work this go round was by women for women.

Truth be told. It was a winning strategy this time.
I'm all for a repeat of the pink wave.

[DFW]

82. I agree

Credit should be given where credit is due.

[Niagara]

19. Thank you, Sheshe

I love the following that you wrote:

Vote as if your life depends on it. Vote as if the future of the planet depends on it. Frankly, it does. What more incentive does any voter need than this?

Off to the greatest page!

[jmbar2]

20. Watch out for concern trolling

Trolls will likely emerge to try to drive wedges amongst us. Don't fall for it.

[oldlibdem]

39. not to seem like a complete doofus....

but what is "concern trolling"?

[radical noodle]

56. Concern trolling

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=concern%20troll

In an argument (usually a political debate), a concern troll is someone who is on one side of the discussion, but pretends to be a supporter of the other side with "concerns". The idea behind this is that your opponents will take your arguments more seriously if they think you're an ally. Concern trolls who use fake identities are sometimes known as sockpuppets.

[oldlibdem]

93. Thank you....

for the link and explanation.

[brush]

60. There are a few regulars here. Won't mention any names but you'll learn to spot them.

[oldlibdem]

94. ok

n/t

[ck4829]

75. Indeed

[George II]

22. Weren't the two words I was thinking of, but they'll do.

[sheshe2]

30. Lol 😆

This works.

[3catwoman3]

54. They weren't the 2 words I was expecting either.

My vocabulary has definitely deteriorated since the stolen election.

[SunSeeker]

23. Damn right, she!

[NurseJackie]

24. Those "calls/cries" are actually THREATS! Sounds like something Sarandon would say.

And have no patience for Sarandon, or threats. FUCK SUSAN SARANDON!!

[nini]

31. Exactly

Their idea of Unity is everyone bowing down to them.

So sick of that crap.

[sheshe2]

34. Yes they were NJ.

Yes they were and sounded a lot like SS.

[joshcryer]

73. They are voter depression threats.

That they will ramp up "there's no difference between the parties" rhetoric.

But this time they will not be as successful as they were in 2016.

[BumRushDaShow]

26. K&R

And the wave blew through the state offices too!!

[sheshe2]

36. From top to bottom, BRDS!!!

The GOP got taken to the woodshed and got their bottoms tanned.

Sad. Not.

[BumRushDaShow]

37. Yup. A real ass-whooping!

[eleny]

27. Amen to that!

And a warning to them to get a paddle 'cuz they're gonna need it!

[NoMoreRepugs]

29. Momentum like this needs to be nurtured and guided - we've gotten younger and more diverse

up and down our elected Democratic Party - I think it's in good hands.

[volstork]

32. AMEN!

(Says the agnostic...)

[Squinch]

33. Yeah! Thank you sheshe2! So sick of the trolls trying to tell us we are not united.

Read the news, trolls! Then go back under your bridges and shut up!

[sheshe2]

40. I am tired of it as well.

However we know better don’t we. If I wasn’t on my phone I would pot you the Cheshire Cat grin.

[elmac]

35. yaaaaas

<a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=6j39xi" target="_blank"><img src="" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

[Politicub]

38. Our coalition will be unified

It already is. And it will grow because progressive dem ideas stand in stark contrast with regressive gop policies.

Join us.

[Red Raider 85]

41. Yes!! Bury those traitorous GOPers under Our blue tidal wave!!

I long for the day when the GOP is as forgotten and powerless as the Whigs and Know-Nothings!

[sheshe2]

43. I agree, Red Raider.

Welcome to DU!

[raging moderate]

42. Yes, 20/20 Vision! Blue Tsunami!

WIPEOUT!

[sheshe2]

47. Wipeout!

[spooky3]

44. Our candidates received 7 % more votes than did Republicans.

We just need to keep on keepin’ on.

[Ferrets are Cool]

45. I have no stats to back this up, but

I feel that if EVERY REGISTERED VOTER voted, we would win every election.
My serious question is...why does it take a fascist regime being in power to get enough attention to win JUST the house? What in the hell will it take for the NON-voters to vote if THIS FASCIST regime didn't.
As they say on ESPN, C'mon Man!!!

[Baitball Blogger]

46. Democrats get elected when they promise to take action.

They need to keep responding to those new voters who think they are finally going to be represented.

[TalenaGor]

48. when you hear cries for Unity remember this...

"Lock her up!"

Sorry but their cries for Unity are just cries for no accountability I say lock the all these f****** up

F*** them

[sheshe2]

50. The cries I hear are NOT coming from GOPers. nt

[TalenaGor]

51. fair enough lol

I think we all need to unite in justice....if we don't show the world what we stand for then we become exactly as we are perceived to be today

Impeach...prosecute....all those involved. Anything less is sickening to me....

[47of74]

49. My two words: FUCK THAT

These people calling for unity can go straight to hell.

[littlemissmartypants]

53. Kickity, kick, kick.

Thanks for the post, sheshe2. It cheered me up.

[lilactime]

55. K&R

[radical noodle]

57. Yes!!

Great post, She!

[MadDAsHell]

58. We should have flipped at least twice as many House seats.

The cons flipped like 60 in 2010. How the fk, with all the anger this President has caused, did we not AT LEAST match that, if not blow it out of the water???

[Tarheel_Dem]

79. You know what else the cons did after 2010? Gerrymandering. That's why we didn't flip 60 seats. nt

[Awsi Dooger]

92. We don't have as much midterm wave upside as Republicans do

That's why we can't win 60 or 70 seats.

Midterm electorates are older and more conservative, at default, compared to presidential years. When we have the national slant in our favor like 2006 and 2018, the best we can hope for is that the electorate resembles a presidential year.

But when Republicans own the midterm slant like 1994, 2010, and 2014, the demographic of the electorate is considerably more favorable to their side than a presidential year.

That is all the difference. For example, in 2016 presidential year the conservative/liberal split in the exit poll was 9% at 35-26. This year thanks to independents on our side we managed to mirror the 2016 split, at 36% conservatives and 27 liberals, so again a 9% gap. That was an excellent result.

But compare to 2014, when that ideological gap exploded to 14% at 37% conservatives and 23% liberals. That's the reason Republicans can pick off 50 to 70 seats when everything is tilted in their direction.

If we got a bizarre unheard-of midterm split of let's say 34% conservatives to 30% liberals, then absolutely we could grab 50 or 60 seats, perhaps more.

But that is basically impossible right now because our strongholds like youth voters don't turn out in same percentage as older voters who lean GOP.

[osmium]

59. I thought I'd see two other words...

..F*** Y**

I am pleased that I was wrong.....this time

[sheshe2]

62. Oh. I never swear.

However the BLUE WAVE was a Huuuge Fug You!

[osmium]

69. Indeed. An enormous digit to the GOP :)

I wasn't implying that anyone cursed. Not me, nuh-uhhh

[StevieM]

61. Here are my two words: Tom Steyer. I look forward to our party uniting under his leadership

and winning back the White House in 2020. And I look forward to his presidency.

[Scurrilous]

64. K&R

[912gdm]

65. the best part is that there will be Dem chairs of committees

that will have subpoena power. screw the senate, the house now has the power to call people and jail them if they lie.


We won the golden goose and it will be worse for them in 2020 when they have to defend all the perjury charges, etc.

[Olafjoy]

66. Respect and Compassion

Vote for someone who respects the ultimate sacrifice so willingly laid down at the alter of freedom by millions of soldiers. Vote for someone who sees a whole town burn down with people running for their lives and not making it and offers help and compassion.
Vote for common decency.

[Jim Lane]

67. Don't worry, the "unity" concern is temporary

Soon enough, we'll be seeing the posts: "We need to win in 2020, and we can't do that if ____________ [insert name of disfavored candidate] even seeks the nomination, let alone gets it" or "We can't win if our nominee is [insert disfavored demographic characteristic]."

I completely agree with what Wounded Bear wrote in #7:

I never worry too much about "unity." All too often, people who yell loudest about "unity" are really saying, "Be reasonable, do it my way."

Let's realize right now that 2019-20 will see a contentious, multicandidate campaign for the Democratic nomination. I can't predict who'll win, or even who'll be running, but I can predict that some DUers will get too vehement about their choices and will have posts removed. I can also predict that, as in 2016, the vast majority of the people who supported an unsuccessful candidate will rally behind the Democratic nominee.

[Doreen]

70. We are making good progress BUT

we need to keep encouraging new voters to continue voting whether they succeeded in their vote or not. For the ones who's candidate did not win they need to look at all of the others who did and realize that they can flip also if they keep at it. The new voters need to talk to others who have never voted because they did not think it made a difference or have not had a chance yet because of age.

We can't let them think that they went out for one vote and that means they paid their dues. Voting has to be a continual thing to do.

[True Blue American]

71. I am so glad

So many stood up and announced they were fed up, put their lives out there, gave us a diversified group of candidates that match the country.

So energetic, ready to change things they are already in DC, preparing for their jobs.

I feel better than I have since 2016!

Veterans, Women, a whole new ball game. I can not wait.

[betsuni]

72. K&R

[ck4829]

74. K&R

[JHan]

76. best OP ever

[DownriverDem]

77. Amazing Unity

We have amazing Democrats throughout the country. We don't need any party crashers, if you know what I mean.

[MrGrieves]

78. We do need to keep building unity

We do need to keep building unity and we can build that with thoughtful policy. Healthcare, infrastructure, and anti-corruption in politics. Sure it might not get passed in the senate but we can put forth policy that shows what democrats stand for and highlight that republicans are against it. The trick with it all is that we have to find a way to get it in front of the media. Perhaps some of the younger more vocal members can draw the attention of the media.

[lagomorph777]

80. I've seen teevee pundits still nattering "...but Dems still don't have a message."

WTF? Hello? Health care? That was the message and it worked massively.

Obviously, Dems will need to continue to evolve the message; that's how progress works.

But to claim there's no message? Shameful lie.

[ProfessorGAC]

81. I've Seen That Too

Here's my take: They have already decided that the vote was strictly about Trump and a rejection of him, therefore no message.

However, the message was actually quite clear. The reminded voters of what the R congress with a maniac on their side in the WH tried to do to the population. So the message was, help us protect your health care, protect SS, protect Medicare and Medicaid, protect people with pre-existing conditions, protect dreamers.

The message was abundantly on display, but these cartoon world thought processes have already caused them to ignore all that and, once again, make it all about the idiot when the idiot was the big loser in all this.

[DFW]

83. DU definitely has its contingent of one-issue posters

Some only come to defend Monsanto, and otherwise have nothing to say. Some only come to praise Bernie Sanders, and otherwise have nothing to say. Some only come to bash Al Franken, and otherwise have nothing to say.

They occasionally couch their posts in other terms, but by and large, they post about their one issue and that one issue only. Whether they start it or someone else starts the OP, if it's THEIR one issue, they are there like fruit flies on three day old strawberries. They smell it from far away, and invariably show up. One even had a prominent post starting with "In The Contrary." (In English, we say "On" the contrary, понятно?).

Beware the one-trick ponies. With them, the emphasis should not be on "one" or "ponies," but rather on "trick," because that's what they're here for. NO true DUer is THAT one-dimensional. Don't be scared, just be aware.

[geardaddy]

85. K & R

Thank you sheshe!

[Gothmog]

86. Yeah for the blue wave

[R B Garr]

87. Thanks, sheshe! Yes, those with the threats that they are going

to withhold their votes unless they are catered to was the exact Russian troll strategy to harm our nominee. We’re on to them! No more.

[sheshe2]

88. Thanks R B.

I agree, no more.

[Kind of Blue]

89. K&R!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

90. Now is the time for all the discussion about who is best for the Ds & policies, etc.

When we ask for unity in advance of elections, it is after the primaries and during the time when candidates with Ds beside their names are in front of the voters.

The flip side is that outside of those times we MUST discuss leadership and policies. Have it all out now so that later we can be united again when it counts.

Discussion of leadership and policies can be divisive but it MUST occur. Now is the time.

[Honeycombe8]

91. Some people think because we disagree, that means we're not unified. NO!

All members of a group will disagree on SOME things. What matters is that we all show up at the polls and VOTE!

KICK 'EM OUT! KICK 'EM OUT! WAAAAAY OUT!