General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIn 1974, the GOP lost 49 House and 8 Senate seats.
I'll keep reminding you: In 1974, the GOP lost 49 House and 8 Senate seats. They were branded as defended a corrupt, criminal Presidency.
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Jonny Appleseed
(960 posts)and general party over country mentality.
unblock
(51,974 posts)and the unfortunate senate map. very seats that could actually go from red to blue.
Crash2Parties
(6,017 posts)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)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)People live in their own personal bubble and the country is still extremely polarized.
FBaggins
(26,697 posts)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.
Turn CO Blue
(4,221 posts)KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)hvn_nbr_2
(6,481 posts)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)...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)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)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)... 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)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)Note that Obama is devoting himself to getting out the vote. He knows how the game is played.