"For GOP, a scary 'blue wall' awaits"

[jtuck004]

As I am with most sources I don't necessarily agree, but that has nothing to do with whether there are things to learn. Lot's of experience behind this guy's writing...D's have something really strong to work with, as described by him.

Besides, I really liked the part where he noted improvement in their choices "no more candidates riding broomsticks", what with Halloween having just happened. Unfortunately they haven't moved up far enough.

...
- If Republicans regain control of the Senate on Tuesday night, they will have good reason to gloat. They recruited much stronger, more sensible nominees this year -- no more candidates riding broomsticks or hurling insults at women. They also smartly accepted President Barack Obama's implicit challenge to make his record their centerpiece.
But when they wake up from their celebrations, top GOP strategists such as Karl Rove will surely warn them: "Don't over-read this election. Yes, it opens up great opportunities for the next two years, but it does not open a clear path to seizing the White House and Congress in 2016. Beware the 'blue wall!' "
...
The blue wall is a powerful phalanx of 18 states and the District of Columbia that have voted for the Democrats in every single presidential election for 20 years -- six straight. Some states have been in the Democratic column even longer.
...
So, it is possible that these 2014 midterms will be a turning point for Republicans, opening a way back to control of both White House and Congress in 2016. But to use a George W. Bushism: They shouldn't mis-underestimate how tough it will be. As they say: "Beware the blue wall."
...

Here.

[BP2]

1. Fine rhetoric, but the GOP still will rule the majority of state houses and governors' mansions

I'd rather win than be a wall

[jtuck004]

5. Well, I hope you get what you need. n/t

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. But ...

From the article:

In other words, this election has been extremely important for Republicans in the short term -- and for governing over the next two years -- but in significant ways, it is also an anomaly: a year when red and purple state Democrats who road into office in 2008 on the coattails of a fresh, popular Obama became highly vulnerable for re-election when his coattails frayed.

But that's just it, President Obama's coat-tails haven't "frayed" ... particularly, in the red/purplish states where Democrats are facing challenges ... in each of those states he was threadbare from the start!

[Chellee]

10. Rode. They rode into office.

Why can't CNN hire someone to read these over, rather than relying on the computer to spellcheck it?

I know. It's small; it doesn't really matter. It has nothing to do with the article, but it makes me want to tear my hair out.



The real battles though, are in the statehouses and the governorships. There is no 'blue wall' there, and the state level is where the Republicans are doing the most damage. Right to work, abortion restrictions, gerrymandering, etc. We focus too much on national politics, and not enough on local.

[SoCalDem]

3. The problem with that thinking (for us) is this

Sure, we have been recently successful in getting the white house, but the STATEHOUSES is where some very important things happen.

things like:

voter registration rules changes
election "machinery"


and even if we have a "D" in the white house in 2016, they will be president in 2020 when the next census happens, BUT the really important things happen in the STATES, starting in 2011 when they set up the "new rules" for redistricting for the next decade.

Just imagine how important those boundary lines become, when you consider all the sensitive things that will be going on then. The Boomers will be in the full bloom of retirement , getting older & sicker and probably poorer. The student debt crisis will have another decade of interest added to it, just as Millennials' kids head off to college (or not)...and no one can even know how many wars we will be involved in..

When 60+ million people approve of a candidate's agenda, and elect them to be president, and a handful of people sitting in congress get to overrule the nation's wishes, we are truly doomed to never really ruling..no matter how enthusuastic we get every 4 years when presidents get elected..

[jtuck004]

4. really important things happen in the STATES < Yup. And in smaller areas.

This guy has been around this game for a long time. I look at most folks as just data anyway. Too many self-serving Pied Pipers out there for my tastes..

[backwoodsbob]

6. we werent a *blue wall* when we were the majority

what makes you think that is going to change if we become the minority?

[jtuck004]

9. He thinks it, describes it. I just write html tags and copy/paste. Here's his site if you want an

answer.

http://davidgergen.com/

[KingCharlemagne]

7. "Blue wall"? Give those Republican whackjobs two years in

full control of Congress and it will be a Blue Tsunami in 2016 and points beyond. Republicans will be reduced to cackling hyenas in the American political wilderness for at least the next political generation. No offense to hyenas which actually perform a biologically useful function.

[backwoodsbob]

11. I have heard that every year since 2000

Just wait...after two years of repukes they will be gone for generations after the 2000,2002,2004,2006,2008,2010,2012,and now the 2014 elcetions.
Same shit every cycle.

One of these generations you may be right.

We are a divided country.Two years of divided rule wont send the repukes to the wilderness for generations anymore than it does us

[KingCharlemagne]

13. I understand your frustration, I really do. I would point out, however, that Dems

controlled House and Senate in 2006 and '08. Dems continued to control the Senate in 2010 and '12. But this will be the first election in 10 years that Repubs have a realistic chance of controlling both houses of Congress. Please do consider how much has changed in the past 10 years; the fascists now have firm control of the Republican tiller (Rockefeller and County Club Repubs now being fully marginalized). But these are 'disorganized fascists' and not the brutally competent ones of your parents' and grandparents' generation.

The Repub Congress of 2014 (assuming the worst predictions come true) will get nothing done. And why would it? What exactly did it campaign on beside taking away Americans' health insurance or shutting down the government AND cutting Social Security in the name of Austerity? Two years of this total and uttter shite and the Republican brand will be firmly contaminated and discredited in the eyes of voters for many years to come PROVIDED the Dems capitalize on the opening given them to put R's on the mat and not let up for the full 10-count. Repubs truly are the 'gang that can't shoot straight.' With two years controlling both houses of Congress (should the worst come to pass), all Americans will see that in action and all but the hard right (10% or so) should be poachable for at least a generation thereafter.

[Youdontwantthetruth]

8. Yeah right

A GOP Majority in the Senate will give the Dems the finger and push through every bit of GOP a$$hattery they can think of and the President is going to have to veto every bit of it.

Until they hold America hostage and President Obama capitulates once again and signs it.

They will also impeach him too.

Things will get interesting if the GOP takes the Senate.

Blue Wall, what blue wall?

[jimlup]

12. GOP will shot themselves in the foot as they always do

And enough of the American people will figure out that they are nothing but faithful servants of the wealthy that the democrats will hold the line or make gains in '16