Republican Senate Majority leader McConnell ‘s people have ALREADY started going after the former Marine Corps pilot…
We’re talking about a Democrat woman running in Kentucky folks….
Amy McGrath, a retired Marine fighter pilot whose unsuccessful 2018 House campaign attracted national attention, will challenge Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for his Kentucky Senate seat, she announced Tuesday.
The highly anticipated announcement keys up what is likely to be one of the most closely watched and well-funded matchups of the 2020 congressional campaign cycle, although even Democratic supporters have acknowledged that McGrath faces long odds to unseat one of the most powerful members of the GOP.
In a video announcing her campaign released early Tuesday, McGrath portrays McConnell as at the root of rancor and dysfunction in Washington.
“Everything that’s wrong in Washington had to start someplace. How did it come to this?” McGrath says in a video announcing her campaign. “Well it started with this man, who was elected a lifetime ago, and who has bit by bit, year by year, turned Washington in something we all despise. Where dysfunction and chaos are political weapons. Where budgets and health care and the Supreme Court are held hostage. A place where ideals go to die.”
Amy McGrath
✔@AmyMcGrathKYI’m running to replace Mitch McConnell in the U.S. Senate. Everything that’s wrong with Washington had to start somewhere—it started with him. With your help, we can defeat Mitch and defend democracy. Join us: http://www.AmyMcGrath.com
McGrath is the first Democrat to launch a serious challenge to McConnell so far. Talk show host Matt Jones and Kentucky Statehouse Minority Leader Rocky Adkins have also expressed interest in running….
Kentucky Democratic Senate candidate Amy McGrath raised more than $2.5 million in the first 24 hours after announcing she was challenging Majority Leader Mitch McConnell next year, her campaign confirmed today.
McGrath, a former fighter pilot who lost a House race in 2018, announced the challenge to McConnell Tuesday morning and followed with a media blitz, appearing on multiple cable news outlets throughout the day. Her campaign said the initial fundraising haul included only online donations, with an average donation size of $36. The campaign said it was the most ever raised by a Senate campaign in its first day….
More…
Of course I’m all for McGrath,but
The only way she beats McConnell is in a highly unlikely Democratic sweep
Yup….
Democrats could use another ‘wave’ election like last years…
No ,it would have to be much more than 2018.
Kentucky is a reliable Republican State in presidential elections.
Literally ,the Democratic nominee would have to win Kentucky for Zmcgrath to have a realistic chance of winning.
It is not likely,in my view, that more than a scattering of Ky. Voters are going to vote for Trump and McGrath.
I know that various polls have shown McConnell has popularity problems but still I can’t see a Democrat beating him in a presidential year.
Insider Louisville: “To win this race, McGrath will likely need a fairly large bloc of people who are voting for Trump for president to then cross party lines and vote for her in the Senate race.”
“Politics is dynamic. So it’s not that McGrath absolutely can’t win. But she probably needs at least one of three things to happen: 1. Trump to become much more unpopular than he is now so that he would be weaker in Kentucky, too. 2. Conservative-leaning voters to put aside their general partisan preferences because they are tired of McConnell, even as they remain aligned with Trump. 3. McGrath’s particular appeal as a former Marine to get conservative-leaning voters to support her, even as they remain aligned with Trump.”….
Politicalwire…
One should understand or remember a few things about partisan mobilization and fund-raising before putting too much weight where it doesn’t belong onto Amy McGrath’s candidacy.
Both parties with their outside supporters (plus a few opportunistic grifters) get a much stronger response from visceral negative reactions to some opposition leader like Nancy Pelosi, Jesse Helms, Newt Gingrich or Ted Kennedy, than they would by praising some hero of their own side — for the same reason which makes negative campaigning more effective than positive: fear, especially among the uninvolved, usually motivates supporters and voters much more than hope.
It’s not that the GOP had any realistic hope of displacing Nancy Pelosi from her seat in San Francisco (although Speaker Tom Foley was unseated in Washington state in 1994), or that the Democrats have much hope of unseating Mitch McConnell, they just serve this purpose quite well.
But you have to have an appropriate target: a mass mailing against, say, Dennis Hastert or Richard Durbin, wouldn’t provide much spark (or money) from those not obsessed with politics.
From that point of view, Mitch McConnell serves as a nearly-ideal target, even less sympathetic, if it’s possible, than Newt Gingrich or Jesse Helms.
In her address to her caucus members yesterday?
Pelosi pointed out…. attacks on HER help the party make MORE money fundraising….
The McConnell campaign already greeted her with an ad in which they take her own video statements in which she says she is the most “progressive person in Kentucky” and basically says she is further left than the national party, more so than Elizabeth Warren, etc.
She has very little chance ideologically in that state and Team Mitch knows how to win. The source of McConnell’s previously low numbers in the state are due to right-wingers who think he is too “establishment”, but they like his alliance with Trump now and the way he fights back. He wins by double digits.
This is a test to see if this works on my new work computer.. I am busy otherwise. Back one of these days..
If you really want to defeat Trunpism in your party you should want Mitch McConnell to lose next year.
He has completely capitulated to become Trump’s bitch.
I agree McGrath has little chance, but you shoukd be rooting for her as long as McConnell us in the Cult of Donald.
A. I don’t live in Kentucky
B. Democrats have shown that they will go to any lengths, no matter how unfair, to prevent judicial nominations that might be conservative. Also, it is now party orthodoxy that abortions should be paid for by taxpayers. You have people like Kirsten Gillibrand who now says that being Pro-Life on the abortion issue is no different than being a racist and that the position of being Pro-Life has to be made as socially unacceptable as racism.
While I will not vote for Trump out of a matter of principle, he of course will not be around forever, and the extreme ideological actions of Democrats simply leave me no option but to hope that Republicans win Congressional races.
Democrats have done *zero* to show they would want a vote from someone like me. So good luck to them in winning without it.
Rich of you to bring up the “principle” of judicial appointments to defend support of MCConnell.
Merrick Garland?
Still a party hack. Only now you are a party hack for a party completely in the Cult like throes of someone you’d never vote for–but is nonetheless completely redefining your party.
Sad sad sad.
What happened to Merrick Garland is exactly what would have happened if the roles are reversed, which should be the case. You forget about the “Biden Rule.”
If in the calendar year of 2020, the situation arises and Republicans act hypocritically, I will say it is as wrong, as I have always maintained.
But of course a Democrat Senate would never have approved a Republican nominated Justice after the sudden death of a liberal Justice during a Presidential election year.
If Biden gets elected and wants to nominate Garland for the next vacancy(which is pretty wacky of Biden if you think about it), then Garland should be confirmed.
What I refer to are the multitude of examples from Bork to Thomas to most recently Kavanaugh, in which Democrats have demonstrated they will stop at nothing, irregardless of any facts or evidence, or lack thereof, and will do nothing short of complete and total character assassination to stop a judge.
That is why Republicans must be elected to the Senate in all but the most extreme examples. (i.e. Roy Moore)
But he’s no “tribalist.”
We know this cause he says he isn’t.
The humor is not that he is but that he steadfastly claims he isn’t.
He has now gone from claiming ,a short while back ,that he would not only not vote for Trump but wouldn’t support anyone who supported Trump(ie,almost every Republican officeholder and candidate in the country)
To now supporting (or the less affirmative “hope) every Republican in the country,except Trump!
Of course, there’s nothing unusual about this because ,despite his frequent insinuation that he is somehow above the fray where the rest of us “tribalists” wallow,Hes still the same old Republican tribalist he’s always been.
I am definitely not a tribalist because as I have said if Republicans try to violate the “Biden Rule”, I will oppose it. There is not a person who posts here who would suggest that Harry Reid nor any Democrat Majority Leader would have NOT done EXACTLY what McConnell did in 2016. You all know better. You should have won the election for President and did not.
Also, I would never support accusing someone publicly of a crime or of inappropriate behavior (even as many privately believed it was false or there was zero evidence) just to stop them. Honesty and integrity must triumph over ideological or partisan motives.
Trump may not believe that, which makes him wrong, but clearly Democrats do not believe that either. A pox on both of them.
And while Scott’s hypocrisy on the judicial matter is easily laid bare, of course there was no effort to refute the other points I made about how Democrats have made it all but impossible for me to vote for.
Once again, I state that since 2016 up until the present day (and unlike jack) I HAVE NOT voted for anyone who is an ardent Trump supporter. As far as I know, it is likely that every Republican I have voted for in 2016 and 2018 did as I did and did not vote for Trump. That was definitely the case in the most high-profile races and that could be the case again in 2020.
So, I have done exactly that. As I said, I don’t like in Kentucky. The people who do though would clearly be better off rejecting a far-left Democrat who among many other matters outside of the mainstream, feels that abortions should be financed by taxpayers.
I don’t live in Kentucky. Not sure if I would like it or not. That was a typo. It probably has many great spots.
That’s funny on so many levels.
Only aconfirmed tribalist like you would try vainly to claim something like “well I didn’t vote for this and that candidate,I just hope they win “as having any effect upon the general discussion.
You’re a Republican who supports Republicans.
Why you continue this absurd line of trying to twist and turn on this issue is beyond me.
Why would you vote for aDemocrat?
You’re a Republican who agrees with Democrats on nothing.You want to talk hypocrisy?This whole line of Argument is nonsensical.
I gave the specific (recent) examples of being willing to vote for a Democrat over Roy Moore, as well as over Steve King and Dana Rohrabacher just to name a couple more.
It will take a pretty extreme example.
Democrats clearly do not want my vote (or those of people who believe as I do) and believe they can win without it. Read Mona Charen’s latest column.
Goodluck to them.
Mona Charen implied she would vote for Biden if he is the nominee.
How about You?
You are a Democrat who agrees with Republicans on virtually nothing but voted for the Trump-loving statewide executive candidates in your state regardless.
Apparently, you thought they would serve the public better than the doofuses that got nominated by the Democrats. You were probably right.
Did she? I will have to re-read.
No, I won’t vote for Biden. He wouldn’t need my vote. He also clearly doesn’t want it based on his flip flip on the Hyde Amendment, so that is a consequence for him to live with.
Well that’s pretty good reason for you to vote for Biden then over that doofus Trump.
Of course you won’t vote for Biden.
What tribalist Republican would?
I don’t think Biden would be a better President than Trump. I don’t think Trump would be a better President than Biden. Not a choice I can make.
I’d rather Biden be President than Sanders or Warren though, and probably a ton of others think the same way, so you guys better hope he gets it together.
Oh he will never “get it together” for you.
We know that.
Whatever Biden says of does you are going to criticize .
It’s the “tribal instincts of a tribalist.”
I saw nothing in the Charen piece that says she would vote for Biden. She believes others might though, and I agree, and believe she cites some reasonable differences between Biden and the others in the field.
However, she did not mention the Hyde Amendment, which would be a deal breaker to me.
I also think Biden will have no choice but to move further and further to the left if he were to be successful in winning the nomination.
My hunch is on Warren/Harris as the ticket. I knew Keith would be for Steyer but I don’t see that going anywhere and Keith’s dreams of an Ambassadorship dashed… not that he could be confirmed by the Senate, even a Democrat one.
Had fun .Heading out now.
Gonna go talk some other “tribalists.”
Have fun jack, but you probably have buddies down at the lodge wearing the red hats and you will probably commiserate with them about how crazy the Democrats have gotten over immigration.
So sayeth the tribalist.
The CG rule?
He’s a Republican I’m for him(unless he’s a child molester)
The jack rule is that I will say on the internet that every Republican for the past 50 years has publicly been my sworn enemy but privately I will vote for them, no matter how much they love Trump, provided the Democrat is a doofus.
Many other Republicans will still vote for the child molester. You don’t even give me any credit for it, but whatever.
Also, many Democrats will of course vote for a child molester over any Republican, so again, it’s all two sides of the same coin with you tribalists.
What “credit” do you deserve?
Rather than longing for “credit” you should consider the “good people” in your party who voted to send this piece off utter filth to the Senate,
I didn’t know Roy Moore was a Senator. I credit the good Republican people of Alabama for causing him to be rejected. Richard Shelby chief among them.
On the other hand, a guy like Ted Kennedy, whom we all know what he did, got reelected over and over again without a word of protest from your side.
No cigar.
In the primary they nominated him a scant two years ago. You’re so desperate to make some obscure “point “that you are now going back half a century.
You weren’t even born yet.
You just keep confirming the “tribalist” you are.
Moore was nominated in a primary before the child predator stuff was known. That is simply a fact.
Plenty of Republicans voted against him in the general election.
With Ted Kennedy, after 1969, everyone knew exactly what he did. The young lady’s life simply did not matter when the “liberal lion” was needed on Capitol Hill.
Hey CG?
ANY LENGTH on judges????
AGAIN….
What about Garland???
See my previous posts from today
You know Harry Reid would have done exactly the same thing, with your support. When Harry Reid deliberately lied about Mitt Romney not paying taxes, you said you were glad he lied because “winning is most important.”
You also saw what happened to Brett Kavanaugh and those who felt he was fair game to attack in such a way had no concern whether it was true or not. It was only about stopping him. Shameful. Thank goodness it failed.
i stand by the winning part….
it IS something Republicans seem to be doing since 2010 up until last November…
i have to also give props where they are due…
Trump maybe a fuckup?
but his people ARE ready to jump off a cliff for him..
Democrats make a bit of noise though
THEN they follow Pelosi
if they don’t?
Trump’s 40% or so WITH persevre…
i’m a card carrying Democrat
but i can’t forget how my party couldn’t get it’s shit together even for the 2 damn year Obama and the Democrats has every …
Pelosi’s right
They GOTTA stop eating their own!
Yes, if the roles were reversed the die-hard Democrats would be following their Dear Tribal Leader off the cliff as well. It is quite obvious.
Well?… ur in from that computer….
Ah, Chappaquoddick. What Republican tribalist doesn’t revel in bringing up that chestnut from 50 years ago.
It’s 2019 now. Keep up.
So, just a non-story then and always?
Figures. Democrats have internet immunity.
It’s just funny that you sound exactly like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. Yet they think your failure to give Trump a tongue bath is heresy.
But you keep doing their dirty work for them.
Look Trump is more popular with the GOP rank and file now than Reagan was in the 1980s.
If you’re a Republican he ain’t going away.
He’s redefining your party with your help
You seem to have always listened to a lot of right-wing talk radio. I don’t listen at all.
I call it as I see it, on every possible kind of blog, and in person. My loyalty is to my own conscience and to the country. I don’t care as much what happens to the Republican Party. The truth of the matter though is that Democrats suck, and are continuing to get worse, and I am not going to be silent about that either.
You on the other hand, like the most die-hard of Trumpists, would defend a Democrat if he shot a person on Fifth Avenue. Your default response way back when of “Republicans should die in a fire” turned out to be pretty telling of your future.
Excuse a Democrat for anything. Blame a Republican for everything. It’s easier than having to think.
Yeah I said that immature thing 15 yrs ago after hearing some pretty nasty things from a few right wingers on P1 (most notably the overtly racist “Kentucky Republican” that you often kissed up to believing she really was an attractive southern woman)
But I own it. It’s worth noting that I voted for Sen Kit Bond–a Republican– just days befor
e.
I admit I’m partisan. As to what Harry Reid would do if a Republican President nominated a justice in an election year is speculation. We will never know.
But we know what McConnell did. And you defend it because you speculate Democrats would do the same.
Yeah that’s tribalism.
This is hilarious.
Now that she is officially a Senate candidate in Kentucky, Amy McGrath is saying she would have voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
https://www.rollcall.com/news/amy-mcgrath-probably-voted-confirm-brett-kavanaugh-supreme-court
How many of the liberals nationwide who wrote her a check yesterday will ask for a refund? Not very many I bet. All that matters is “winning.”
ALL politicians work to keep their jobs…
makes’m say crazy shit!
Well, she got push-back and changed her mind on Kavanaugh like an hour later. How predictable.
Clearly, she is not a good candidate.
My I point out that RBG gave Kavanaugh props for hiring ALL women staff….
“Hours after saying she would have voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, Kentucky Senate candidate Amy McGrath changed her stance,” USA Today reports.
“McGrath, a Democrat hoping to unseat Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in 2020, wrote on Twitter that after ‘further understanding’ of Kavanaugh’s record, she would not have voted to confirm him.”…
More…
Yeah that was an unforced error on McGrarhs part.
But at least she’s not a complete cultist for Donald Trunp like McConnell is.
Trump has the entire Republican Party in the palm of his.pussy grabbing hands.
Intetesting discussion of the new book “American Carnage” on MSNBC last night. The book details how Republican leaders responded to the Access Hollywood tape–going from revulsiin and distancing, to embracing Trump. Former Republican Congressman David Jolly summed up his former party’s response to him saying it shows Trump “isn’t food poisoning” for the party. They aren’t going to wake up when he’s out of office back to normal. They enabled and encouraged him. And all Republicans need to pay tbe price at the ballot box for foisting him upon America.