Folks, don't fall into short term thinking. Long term trends still favor Progressives mightily.

[smorkingapple]

Long game folks. All about the long game. I've long given up on using midterms to tell anything about what country really wants. Electorate doesn't even closely resemble full country. Add in a media that wants power to flip back and forth because it makes for more interesting viewing and this is what we'll have for foreseeable future.

The most life you'll ever see out a fish is right before it dies while it flops around on the boat deck. Republicans know what's in store for them over long term. This is why they need gerrymandering, voter ID, etc to keep them relevant. These are steroid shots. They'll wear off soon.

Tonight is a repeat of 2010. Then 2012 happened.

[BlueDemKev]

1. I understand that, HOWEVER...

...we cannot and will not make the progress we need unless progressives get out and vote in EVERY election, EVERY time!! Every time the Rethugs win an election (like in 2010 and tonight), they are emboldened into believing their right-wing philosophy is the way to go and we are greatly set back on the road to progress. Lower voter turnout cost us the Florida governorship, the Senate races in NC, CO, IA, and maybe even VA, who knows?

I don't know what else to do insofar as getting through to these people that voting in every single election is a MUST.

[smorkingapple]

11. Why we're not putting up a law that makes election day a national holiday is beyond me

Solves so many of these issues and forces R's to explain why it's no good.

[AndyTiedye]

2. This is Worse than 2010. We Kept the Senate in 2010

This is more like 1994.

[kysrsoze]

3. What long game? We have few rising stars and a shitty DNC Chair

We have candidates who don't have the balls to be associated with Obama and ACA. They're a bunch of damed cowards who have kowtowed to the Right. The gave nothing compelling when compared to the completely daft Republican Party.

And the youth don't f**king vote. Now Hispanics don't want to vote for Democrats. They're all going to get what they deserve. Unfortunately, we will too.

[mahina]

4. Can't tell you how much your post lifted my spirits.

Thank you.

[usspicard]

5. Good Post

Yes, mistakes were made....Learn and move on. Between now and 2016 we need to drill every accomplishment, now matter how small, and maybe even ones not deserved, into our messaging.

At the same time, remind voters these were accomplished with zero help from republicans. Remind voters who shut down gov, is against min wage, equal pay, reproductive rights, immigration, gay rights, -basically- how right wing and extreme GOP is.

Also, if it appears things got A LOT better overall, -economically especially- between now and 2016, republicans will attempt to take all credit, making it easier for republican to win Pres in 2016. Their messaging will be along the lines of, "See, after we got control of senate, gridlock ended and economy is now booming".

If president cooperates too much, the above scenario is much more likely. If he cooperates too little, the above scenario is likely but instead they will claim Obama is obstructing the will of the people.

So its a fine line everyone needs to walk.

[Kennah]

6. I want to believe it, and yes there are indicators to confirm what you say.

However, people tuned out in 2010, tuned back in for 2012, then tune out for 2014. With this sort of bipolar attention to the issues, I see no long term trend. Our only hope appears to rest upon the GOP continuing to go further and further bat shit crazy thereby alienating a majority of their members causing THEM to sit out elections and/or invest in the hollow promise of third party candidates. Not a very appetizing feast.

[workinclasszero]

7. I keep hearing that the country is turning blue

and progressives are going to win.

Then we have an election.....

WTH????

[smorkingapple]

9. Long game bro. Not measured in years, think decades.

[workinclasszero]

12. Yeah well if 2016 turns out like this latest bloody disaster

There won't be an America left to give a shit about.

We don't have decades friend, we have till 2016.

[Odin2005]

8. That won't matter when the elections are rigged and...

...left-leaning demographics are prevented from voting.

[smorkingapple]

10. Another steroid shot. Will wear off too.

[Arthur_Frain]

13. I keep waiting for this to come true

I have been waiting for this to come true ever since Herbert Walker Bush couldn't figure out that "it's the economy stupid?".

Trickle down economics has proved to be a colossal failure for helping maintain or improve the middle class. These tired conservative ideals about tax breaks for the rich etc. etc. just never ever seem to go away for good. Somebody dusts them off and trots them out every decade or so, and enough stupid, impressionable young people buy into the idea to perpetuate it for the next cycle.

It's like a nightmare where for every two steps we take forward, now we have to take three back.

[Awsi Dooger]

14. We suck at midterms...governorships are decided in midterms

That's the basic problem with our lack of bench. We don't show up when the foundation of the party is at stake. I had absolutely no political energy since November 2012 because I knew damn well how we'd fare in November 2014. I think I posted here once or twice. There's actually a relief variable right now because at least we've hit bottom and have a chance at a bounce.

I hate to tell you, but the comparison to 2010 is invalid. Obama heading to 2012 was in the most favorable situational scenario in American politics as an incumbent with his party in power only one term. Immense benefit of a doubt. Only Carter in 1980 has lost in that situation.

The demographic shift is very real and ongoing. It's partially negated by the new money realities, and the fact that the GOP stocks its bench during midterms. Not everyone they uncover will be another Michelle Bachmann.

An open race after one party has held the White House for 8 years is typically as close to 50/50 terrain as we get in this country. Slight edge to the out party. Much depends on Obama's approval rating into 2016. Hillary can't win if Obama remains stuck in the low 40s. No Democrat can overcome an anvil like that.

[NHDEMFORLIFE]

15. Speaking as a liberal, I respectfully disagree

Last edited Sat Nov 8, 2014, 08:14 PM - Edit history (1)

What this election proved was that Pres. Obama's feat in 2012 came despite the inept leadership offered by the Democratic Party and its spineless fools in Congress.
Instead of blaming people who voted in 2012 for letting us down (again) in a mid-term, the party needs to understand why. And that is not too difficult to figure out: The leadership and most candidates wrung their hands and whimpered as the right wing trashed the President, choosing surrender over firing back.
Any guesses on when this great liberal surge will stick? 10 years? 20? 50?

[lame54]

16. except for weather

[vadermike]

17. 2016

But it is hard for the Incumbent party in the oval to go 3 terms.. I f the repubs take the WH in '16.. i am not sure a Dem will win again for at least a decade or more.. Hillary is deciding now.. if she does decide to do it.. she must figure she has a better than 50 percent chance since again.. most times accept for Bush I the party holding the oval doesnt get the 3rd term.. that is why these midterms were really really bad for us....I hope I ma wrong and Hillary or someone else defies history.. but i don't know...

[CBHagman]

18. Your post deserves more attention.

The point about the media is very well taken, as is the nature of the electorate. In both cases you're talking about a numbers game. The media wants eyeballs and ears, and needs a brouhaha to get them. Elections are about who shows up and consequently who gets counted. A hundred votes one way or another and things flip.

Keep on fighting.