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In 1974, the GOP lost 49 House and 8 Senate seats. (Original Post) MelissaB Mar 2017 OP
Doesn't account for the dumbing-down of American voters Jonny Appleseed Mar 2017 #1
not to mention the extreme gerrymandering and the voter suppression unblock Mar 2017 #4
The GOP has worked on gaming the election system since before the 2010 census. Crash2Parties Mar 2017 #5
Party-over-country, and ahead of most else. Yes. Hortensis Mar 2017 #6
It's a different time. StubbornThings Mar 2017 #2
They actually lost four senate seats FBaggins Mar 2017 #3
Read somewhere that 40 people indicted for Watergate. That's the number to beat LOL. Turn CO Blue Mar 2017 #7
Lots of negativity on this thread. Strange. KittyWampus Mar 2017 #8
Well, here's something "positive" hvn_nbr_2 Mar 2017 #10
The problem is... regnaD kciN Mar 2017 #9
You just relayed America 2017 Cosmocat Mar 2017 #11
I can see Democrats winning back the House in 2018 NewJeffCT Mar 2017 #12
Yet, but because the Rethugs cheat and don't play fair... clementine613 Mar 2017 #13
I agree they cheat GulfCoast66 Mar 2017 #15
GOP knew how to cheat in 1974 too. Did them no good. McCamy Taylor Mar 2017 #14

unblock

(51,974 posts)
4. not to mention the extreme gerrymandering and the voter suppression
Tue Mar 28, 2017, 01:46 PM
Mar 2017

and the unfortunate senate map. very seats that could actually go from red to blue.

Crash2Parties

(6,017 posts)
5. The GOP has worked on gaming the election system since before the 2010 census.
Tue Mar 28, 2017, 01:58 PM
Mar 2017

Unfortunately, our election system has very little to protect it from one of the parties being unscrupulous. Our government itself was built on the idea that for the most part any legislator would be part of the old boys club - which means they agree to obey certain social rules of behavior & maintain the facade of caring about the plebeians. Because of this, they never really bothered to ensure that such things could not happen as we are seeing come from the GOP.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
6. Party-over-country, and ahead of most else. Yes.
Tue Mar 28, 2017, 02:10 PM
Mar 2017

Most of the right has developed a level of partisan hostility and commitment that requires subjugating intellect, morality, decency, and even religious precepts, to it.

Decades of mass manipulation have gone into developing this since Watergate. This will be yet another test of how intractably. I have an image of many growing old and senile still muttering invective against Hillary Clinton from their wheelchairs, though.

On the bright side, this all seems to have shocked more 25-64s into becoming newly interested in politics.

 

StubbornThings

(259 posts)
2. It's a different time.
Tue Mar 28, 2017, 01:44 PM
Mar 2017

People live in their own personal bubble and the country is still extremely polarized.

FBaggins

(26,697 posts)
3. They actually lost four senate seats
Tue Mar 28, 2017, 01:46 PM
Mar 2017

Not eight.

And they picked up Nevada... so it was really a net of three seats.

They were also defending more seats that year than they have on the table this time.

hvn_nbr_2

(6,481 posts)
10. Well, here's something "positive"
Tue Mar 28, 2017, 02:37 PM
Mar 2017

The corruption is much more extensive and more extreme this time.

Nixon's corruption was largely limited to his campaign and his inner White House circle.

This time it's not just corruption, it's treason or pretty close, it involves the whole campaign and most anybody who's anybody in the White House, plus most of the cabinet are criminals and the whole Republican Congress is actively and deeply involved in the coverup, including some who are also involved in the treason.

The resistance shows that Americans can be woken up.

regnaD kciN

(26,035 posts)
9. The problem is...
Tue Mar 28, 2017, 02:27 PM
Mar 2017

...this was after Nixon had to step down when his entire party (justifiably) turned on him and demanded he resign or face certain impeachment and removal.

I fear that the "lesson" Republicans took from this is that it doesn't help you if you purge your own proven-corrupt leader -- you're still going to pay the price at the ballot box next election. Therefore, in such a situation, it's better politically to join in the stonewall effort and hope you can ride it out.

Cosmocat

(14,543 posts)
11. You just relayed America 2017
Tue Mar 28, 2017, 02:42 PM
Mar 2017

The "bunker mentality" reigns.

And, the republicans absolutely learned the lesson you note, and having learned it, have suffered less and less from their fuckwaddery.

Iran Contra - Reagen plead ignorance, so they protected the King and a few good soldiers fell on their swords.

Iraq - nothing, nada, except an assistant to the VP when they fucked up and outed a CIA agent.

NOW, this is thermo nuclear bad, and I can't fathom how some people don't go down, but they are going to go down kicking and screaming if they do.

NewJeffCT

(56,827 posts)
12. I can see Democrats winning back the House in 2018
Tue Mar 28, 2017, 02:44 PM
Mar 2017

23 or so seats is not unusual in off year elections, especially with a president who is taking unpopularity to epic levels.

That said, the Democrats will need a miracle to win back the Senate - Republicans have a huge money advantage and only have to defend 8 seats. Democrats have to defend 25 seats, including 10 in states that Trump won. Just holding even in the Senate with 46 + 2 independents would be a big victory.

clementine613

(561 posts)
13. Yet, but because the Rethugs cheat and don't play fair...
Tue Mar 28, 2017, 09:56 PM
Mar 2017

... they only have to defend 9 Senate seats (as opposed to our defending 23). There's no reason that they shouldn't have to defend as many as we do.

GulfCoast66

(11,949 posts)
15. I agree they cheat
Tue Mar 28, 2017, 11:31 PM
Mar 2017

But the math has nothing to do with politics

Senate seats come up with they are due. Regardless of who holds the seat. We had the advantage this time and failed to maximize our potential gains.

I fear the Senate is out of reach in '18 and we could even lose seats.

We just suck at midterm elections.

McCamy Taylor

(19,240 posts)
14. GOP knew how to cheat in 1974 too. Did them no good.
Tue Mar 28, 2017, 10:01 PM
Mar 2017

Note that Obama is devoting himself to getting out the vote. He knows how the game is played.

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