So are we going to have to live under Republican obstructionist rule the rest of our lives?

[Kablooie]

I keep hearing that there's no chance for Democrats to take the house again. It will remain Republican for eternity, and the Senate is likely to turn Republican in the fall.

It seems no matter how idiotic, incompetent and inconceivable the Republicans become, no matter how much of the country loathes them, they remain in power and the American people keep voting them more power.

Why on earth can't a small modicum of reason take hold and punish them for destructive behavior? That's how it's supposed to work. Be productive and be rewarded. Be destructive and be punished. But now it is be destructive and be rewarded. It seems the more destructive they are the more entrenched in government they become.

All the gloating about how shutting down the government will damage them and all their attacks on minorities and women will bring them down is just whistling down the well. They are the indestructible cockroaches of our time.

Of course they may not win the Senate but it sounds like it will take a Herculean effort to defeat them when the Herculean effort should be on their shoulders.

It really screws with your mind to think that all the shit they do doesn't seriously damage them at all.
Politics sure is a stupid, unreasonable, crappy game.

I prefer playing Twister. It's less convoluted.

[Tx4obama]

1. I think we will hang on to the U.S. Senate - and possibly pick up some new Dem Governor seats

Gubernatorial predictions here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_gubernatorial_elections,_2014#Predictions

And there are TONS of democratic women running in 2014: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1100829

[MannyGoldstein]

2. Did you notice how, during the government shutdown,

Republicans folded like cheap lawn chairs as soon as Democrats made it clear there'd be no negotiations?

That's the key to moving forward.

[Skittles]

3. I agree

stand up to these bullying bastards

[joshcryer]

5. That will only push continuing resolutions.

It will not in any way provide new progressive legislation in this congress.

I sometimes think you have no idea how the American political process works.

[joshcryer]

4. They gerrymandered pretty hard.

It's why I fought so hard in 2010 because if the Republicans got the majority they would get to rewrite the political landscape. The US is far more liberal than the electoral map shows. It won't be fixed until 2020, assuming we can hope to get a hold of the census then.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

10. Ah, yes, but the flip side of gerrymandering is

Gerrymandering means making a lot of districts that the Republicans win by thin margins. They spread their votes over lots of districts and clump the Democratic votes into a few districts. That means the Democrats win by big margins but only a few seats. The flip side of that is ...

In a swing election, the Democratic Party needs to only flip a few votes in each Republican district to win.

[joshcryer]

13. This has of course never been more true.

Demographics are one way. Even with these districts, we can still win. But it requires a lot of fighting. Which unfortunately a lot don't give a crap about doing. GOTV is so utterly important. Demoralizing the vote, then, becomes a real and significant issue.

[Bluenorthwest]

23. Nothing is more demoralizing to the electorate than this week's Centist claim

that the Republicans own the House until 2020, the Third Way types keep insisting that elections can never surprise, they are always predictable years in advance. The same crowd that carefully explained that there was no reason to stand against Christie, who would win and remain popular not matter what. 'We can not waste money on opposing him, Buono is a bad candidate, Christie has popularity that can never be broken! Might as well understand that and put efforts where they'd do some good'.

[joshcryer]

36. To admit the obvious is not that at all.

If you fail to recognize that they have gerrymandered congress and to ignore the fact that it cannot be countered until the next census is putting ones head in the sand. Only once that is recognized can anything be done, insurmountable the odds may be.

How Cristie plays into this I am at a loss.

[El_Johns]

47. +1

[Fumesucker]

25. Note that there are DUers arguing it really makes no difference who is elected

Practically every thread about Elizabeth Warren is infested with posters claiming that she would be no different than any other Democrat, that our expectations are too high and she could never possibly win.

That's not really a good way to get people enthused about voting.

[joshcryer]

37. I've never seen that.

Therefore I have no reason to believe it is true.

You could link said discussions to convince me, but I suspect it is nonsense...

[Fumesucker]

41. stevenleser is accomplished at the art of disparaging Warren and implying she would be no different

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024408944#post2

[Swede Atlanta]

21. But remember that gerrymandering happens at the state level.

The census only determines the number of Congressmen/women from each state (minimum of 1) based on population.

The real work comes in the state houses. I think the Republicans saw that as their strategy and may have been one of the reasons Karl Rove was so confident that there would be Republican rule forever.

States whose number of Congressmen/women changes as a result of the census re-draw Congressional and I believe state districts. They can gerrymander the map so that they can count on majorities. If you draw the map one way you would get 1 primarily Democratic and 1 Republican district but they can carve up the map in such a convoluted way as to get 2 Republican majority districts by splitting the Democrats as minorities in the two districts.

If they can do the same for state house representatives then they will always control how the map is re-drawn every 10 years and this perpetuates itself.

The only way out of this would be through the state Senate chambers and of course with Governors. The Republicans have been better at, and maybe more focused on, state houses.

[kelliekat44]

31. Been saying this for years here at DU and on everyother discussion board that will allow me to post.

(can't post at HP anymore. Put out too many facts.) Until Dems focus as much attention on voting in state and local elections as they do on the national elections this country will remain as is...pretty damn unfair, unjust, and unequal.

[ellenfl]

35. agreed. oem

[joshcryer]

38. And? The 2010 showing was abysmal either way you cut it.

[blkmusclmachine]

6. Fox News. Nuff said.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

16. Not really.

It takes as much effort to turn the TV to MSNBC, CNN or any other station as it does to Fox. As hard as it is to acknowledge, people choose to watch Fox.

My husband and I don't watch news, period; we're strictly readers. There is no broadcast outlet that can do justice to any topic of value in a 30 to 120 second article. Obviously not everyone wants to do that or has the time. Sometimes the best way to reach people isn't the TV but the backyard fence.

[Bluenorthwest]

24. A tiny niche audience of aged, white Republicans choose to watch Fox

in ever decreasing numbers.

[ReRe]

7. No!

Not if we get up off our butts and GTVO. Support candidates in tight races from states other than our own, plus candidates in our own state. There's a job for everyone. As soon as a spring breeze rolls in, we should be busy with activity. Just like planting a garden, now is the time to plan what you're going to do, communicating with other Democrats in your area about who is going to do what. Organize NOW! and above all, have a little faith!

[Bobbie Jo]

15. +this

[Nuclear Unicorn]

17. "have a little faith!"

Oh, I do. I do.

In fact, you'd be amazed at just how little faith I have these days.

[ReRe]

27. Chin up?

You have faith that you have no faith. Not good, but understandable in light of the real "state of our union."

[Scuba]

8. Doesn't matter. As long as there's one Repubublican in Congress the Dems will bow to his power.

[ReRe]

29. One Republican in Congress?

Sounds good to me, Scuba.

[Cha]

9. Horse pucky.. we're going to fight like hell and it will matter

if we get a majority and the teabaggers don't have the power to obstruct obstruct obstruct.

[mdbl]

11. Where are you hearing this? Fox News?

"I keep hearing that there's no chance for Democrats to take the house again. It will remain Republican for eternity, and the Senate is likely to turn Republican in the fall."


Maybe I'm in a bubble.

[beachbum bob]

12. if wish to rid ouseelves of the gop obstruction

then people got to get off their butts locally and take back the states.....


pretty simple

[ananda]

14. According to Thomas Mann ..

.. the fascist will to power is a lot stronger than that
of democracy and freedom.

[Notafraidtoo]

19. So true.

Its both a financial incentive and a drug for control freaks, the rest of us just want to be peaceful and live full lives. The pursuit of a decent life runs contrast to spending it fighting powerful people, one can find satisfaction in such a pursuit but it is always a burden that requires enormous sacrifice.

[randome]

18. They're dying out. People are turning away.

Pope Francis is a sign of the times. Gay rights are a sign of the times. The reality of climate change will hit hard soon. Who do you think people will turn to for help? Not the obstructionists.

The wheel turns.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]You should never stop having childhood dreams.[/center][/font][hr]

[Notafraidtoo]

20. One day productivity will be so great.

One day productivity will be so great due to innovation that their will be very few jobs, when that day comes we will have to change everything in order to keep stability. I believe that will be the day that economic conservatives will be beaten forever and with that all the power they have.

[randome]

42. I think it will happen sooner but yours is a good scenario, too.

I don't think we'll need to quite reach the bottom of the barrel. Things are tough enough right now that people are looking at the GOP like one might an annoying neighbor who invites himself to lunch.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[El_Johns]

48. What makes you think they'll share even then? Easier to kill us.

And don't tell me there's no precedent. The ruling class kills millions with impunity.

[dawg]

22. We *must* win Statehouse elections in 2020.

That is the key to re-districting, which is the key to regaining dominance in the House.

You cannot make an exception and vote for that nice Republican for state Representative just because you know him, or because he used to be a Democrat and only switched parties for expedience. We have to recapture Statehouses - especially in Northern states that should otherwise be blue anyway.

[JHB]

26. The key is breaking up their Soviet-grade Party Line lockstep

As long as they maintain a solid voting block, enforced by RW ideologues, then they can obstruct the way they do. Conservatives can restrict what is possible and force their agenda to the front as long as they keep that block together.

Break enough of them away from their conservative enforcers (perhaps "conservative commissars" would be an appropriate term to use) and the RE block no longer has the leverage; all their usual tricks turn into meaningless grandstanding if normal business can flow around them. And once that happens, more will break off because there'd be less utility in adhering to a line that no longer has a monopoly on the steering wheel.

[mstinamotorcity2]

28. Because of the gerymandering it will be hard but not impossible.

Listen people think winning the House is impossible. This is not true. Why do you think Repugs are freaking out??? They are losing. Slowly but surly repugs are waking up out of the republican rhetoric induced coma. http://i.politicomments.com/jo They have a big tent but there is nobody in it but old white men and bigots.

[kelliekat44]

30. O. As soon as Obama is out of office they will implement most of his agenda, take credit for being

for the people and smear Obama for being an incompetent President. "See how great we are without the black President?" This is their new wet dream and sadly they have the money behind them to do it. All the money being held back from investment will come flooding to the economy. And they will have a new generation of fools with more guns and ammunition to turn back the clock on any attempts to level the American playing field. The "company store forever!"

[SoCalDem]

32. Of course we are.

"Republicanism" is the default position, and has been for decades. ANY democratic office-winners are treated as if they are little more than undeserving place-holders until the position can be retaken by its rightful "owner".

LBJ was the last democratic president who governed as a liberal-democrat, but the war ate up his presidency and the cataclysmic rioting at the end of the 60's pretty much assured that there would never again be a liberal democracy ever again.

Republicans have NEVER been anything even approaching a majority, but they are clever and always seem to be the ones DOING the redistricting after census years, so of course they set things up to benefit their minority, and decade after decade, democrats have stood patiently in the wings, waiting for our chance. Even when we DO get into office, the republicans are never afraid to blow the place up to get their way, so of course, little gets accomplished.

[vi5]

33. It's the way a lot of Dems like it.

They can scapegoat the obstructionist congress and just say "Oh well. We tried......now give us some cash!"

And since they won't actually implement any policies that harm the wealthy they can still get their money from the wealthy and corporations while at the same time putting their hands out to the working class, middle class, unions, teachers, etc. by saying "Well we tried!....now give us some cash!"

[global1]

34. But The Repugs Are The "Alternative" Party" According To Boehner (sarcasm)...nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

39. If you buy the Republican propaganda, Romney would rule the White Temple, err, House. nt

[spanone]

40. don't listen to the media projecting results....they are consistently wrong

[longship]

43. I just became a Kablooie fan.

R&K

[Chorophyll]

44. I keep hearing this too,

but oddly enough I also keep hearing just the opposite.

The media needs a narrative, and it needs horse races. That's how they get ratings and page-views. I'm not buying any of it. The important thing is to work like hell on state and local elections and make sure to get out the vote.

[Hotler]

45. So how much longer are we going to sit back and take it.....

before we take to the streets by the thousands and march on Washington the likes this country has never seen before?????
Spring is coming and it's time to march and shut this country down.

[YarnAddict]

46. We are a deeply, deeply divided country

Face it. Republicans win in districts where their views represent the majority of their constituents. Simple truth. We like to think that they are way out of the mainstream as far as their views on abortion, for instance; but the truth is that poll after poll shows that the majority of Americans isn't quite comfortable with late-term abortion. When a Republican runs on the far-right platform of NO abortion EVER, he loses, but if he runs on a more moderate platform, he probably represents the majority of his constituency.

As far as gerrymandering, there are many good reasons to gerrymander as well, and that is why it will never go away.