Donald Trump REALLY doesn’t matter says Axios….
I agree…..
The Republican Party from back when HAS been about complaining about the shrinking number percentage of white Americans….
And? …
Trump was up front about it , which helped him get him his last job….
Yet?…
It also cost him that job….
Still…. A good many people in his party will try to ride the same concern against people of color next year…..
With or without Donald J. Trump atop the party, the Republican strategy for the 2022 elections and beyond virtually assures race — and racism — will be central to political debate for years to come.
Why it matters: In an era when every topic seems to turn quickly to race, Republicans see this most divisive issue as either political necessity or an election-winner — including as it relates to voting laws, critical race theory, big-city crime, immigration and political correctness.
The big picture: These topics pit the mostly white GOP against the very diverse Democratic Party. It’s unfolding in local school boards, national politics and on social media.
An Axios-Ipsos poll on race relations last month shows this starkly, Axios managing editor Margaret Talev writes:
- There’s a massive gulf between how Republicans and Democrats view race — a 66-point gap on whether the U.S. must continue making changes to give Black Americans equal rights to white Americans.
- There’s a 48-point gap on whether the events of the past year led to a realization there’s still a lot of racism in the U.S. — and a 49-point gap on whether the protests were good for society.
Of all demographic groups, white people were the most resistant to structural reforms to address institutional racism — a gap driven by Republican sentiment…
- Chris Jackson of Ipsos Public Affairs says the GOP focus on race looks counterproductive at first, since a majority of Americans favor continued efforts to equalize the playing field for Black Americans.
- But the pollster said a closer look reveals that the GOP’s focus is more strategic — around specific ideas that drive culture wars and could potentially move swing voters….
Well the GOP House nominee in New Mexico tried to run in all this and got his ass handed to him.
You’d think that would wake the party up.
Probably not….
They keep drinking the Kool-aid
What did the New Mexico candidate run on exactly?
The same Trump Republican fear of Black Lives Matter, Democrats are soft on crime, etc, etc they all spout.
I know there were ads about “Defund the Police” but I would have to see some kind of back-up about the other claims.
The Democrat who will be replacing Haaland is considered way more moderate, so that made it easier for her to win, as expected.
That was definitely a strong D district before though. In the case of the suburban district in Texas, which Trump barely won, the Democrat failed to even make a runoff, so it might possibly be too early to deem too much about 2022 House races. Although, I think generally speaking, Republicans are embarking on the wrong strategy.
“Generally speaking Republicans are embarking on the wrong strategy”
That was my point.
If it were the right strategy they would still be unlikely to win a district like NM-1. But they would be able to trim the margin. Not blow it up.
As for the Texas district it’s tough to compare a one on one D to R race to a jungle primary.
My guess is most of the GOP will take the message as Trump wasn’t involved in this race and that’s why the Republican did so poorly.
What I am questioning is the notion that the Republican in NM ran on “race.” That seems like a partisan talking point.
And the margin there in the special election is pretty much consistent with how the district generally votes.
As mentioned, Stansbury is considered a more moderate Democrat, so she likely took some votes that Halaand could not get.
This would obviously be a wise strategy for Democrats in upcoming primaries in order to make up ground, but they did not even have an actual primary to select the nominee here and I do not think that picking the more moderate, electable candidate for Democrats will necessarily be the norm.
I’d say attacking Black Lives Matter counts as running on racial dog whistles.
Where are you getting the information that the losing candidate there “attacked Black Lives Matters?” Are you equating the Defund the Police Movement or any specific act of legislation as one in the same as “Black Lives Matters” with no distinctions allowed?
Is running against “Defund The Police” a racist tactic? Even the leftists on this site have taken serious issue with the Defund the Police Movement.
Republicans will try to tag Dem’s to defund the police…….
On the national NO major Dem supports that.
Not even Sanders….
Progressives do well in their home ditricts it would seem….
Moderation WILL the ‘way’ for most Dem House efforts around the dountry.. x
Black Lives Matter supports police reform, as did Stansbury. Moores ran against proposed reforms
https://www.kob.com/new-mexico-news/the-breathe-act-becomes-hot-topic-in-1st-congressional-district-race-what-is-it/6108266/
He ran against a specific piece of proposed legislation, one which I doubt you would support yourself. The Republican got her to flip on the “BREATHE Act” and she refused to endorse it. That’s how politics has always worked.
That is hardly the same thing as a “racial dog whistle.”
By going down this route, you are inferring that anybody who would oppose what is included in this “Breathe Act” (and I have a feeling that would even include the Democrats that post here) is a racist.
And by calling people racist as a political device, that is how resentment and Trumpism is enabled.
Of course Senator Tim Scott also supports police reform and there could have been common ground agreed upon between the parties on that issue in 2020 but Democrats decided to filibuster his reform bill and do nothing instead while the election was going on.
I believe the sticking point on a Congressional Police Bill is blanket immunity…..
Some Dem’s want to get rid of it ……
Republicans and even some Dem’s are against getting rid of it…
The choices then become doing what can agreed to be done via compromise and doing nothing, and having a political issue to complain about, even when something at least could have been done to fix it.
I think anybody here who would read some of the proposals included in the “Breathe Act” would agree that it is pretty extreme. One can hardly blame Moores in New Mexico from taking issue with the Tweet that Stansbury put out in support of it.
Clearly, she had no idea what some of the things in the proposed legislation were, which is why she basically withdrew support for it. Politically, it wound up not to hurt her of course because she distanced herself from it. What Scott suggested was done in that particular race is a complete distortion however.
What fun yesterday!
Our host, naively believes democracy isn’t somehow under threat when there are over 400 bills in over 40 states that have been introduced by Republicans to restrict voting access for people of color. And many of those bills also give authority for partisan legislatures to take the running of future elections away from the professionals and put it into to the hands of old racist fat assed white men who are currently looking for bamboo in ballots.
Our resident Republican thinks that we are somehow to blame if his party continues to nominate Trumpkins for office and he’s back to denying that Republicans run racist messaging campaigns.
The best was his “oh he wasn’t so bad” defense of Richard Nixon when Nixon was compared to Joseph McCarthy. Old Joe and Dick got to higher office by finding Communists everywhere and accusing their opponents of being “a little pink,” ask Helen Douglas.
So someone, who has spent a great deal of time here accusing others of being anti-Semitic, actually backhandedly defended the most anti-Semitic President we have ever had in the last 100 years. We have Richard Nixon on tape warning that Jews would destroy America and he still gets defended by a Jew. Like shooting someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue.
Yes the Republicans ran their formerly successful “Democrats hate the police campaign” against the Democratic candidate in the New Mexico special but she shoved it up her opponent’s ass. She was ready for it, just like we should have been ready for 50 years of racist Republican tropes. Glad to see we’re catching on.
Of course we all have seen how the Republicans back the blue when they refused to investigate an insurrection and the killing of a Capitol Hill police officer.
A majority of Republicans think that this Republican attempt to overthrow of elected government was “no big deal.” So tell me again that democracy isn’t under attack.
Yes, yesterday was fun but scary. The answer proffered here, we should all hope that sane Republicans win their party’s nomination nomination next year. My question: who would that be? Liz Cheney would thinks the voters suppression laws are fine? Mitch McConnell? Old chicken neck couldn’t even vote to impeach Trump when Trump tried to have him killed. (When the word leakage is used here I think it must be referring to Mitch’s depends). Kevin McCarthy? The guy who doesn’t want to investigate an insurrection? Those sane Republicans?
Lots of fun reading denial and spin. Later today I expect to read more about how Ted Kennedy once had sex on a restaurant floor with Tara Reid.
We try to keep ya smiling Keith….
Good summation of the Republican Party,past and present.
Thanks Jack. I take no joy in the fact that the GOP has become so anti-democracy and so racist. But, denial doesn’t help either.
Good to have you back CG
I’d expect nothing less.
So when is Trump going to “lose interest” in politics?
Also, if I might ask. Who would you have voted for in the NM special election and why?
No idea. Don’t live there, did not really follow it. From what I gather, both nominees were considered relatively “moderate.” I predicted a win for the Democrat.
Let the record reflect that the last time I voted for a Republican in a federal race (which was down ballot) was 2016 and the Republicans were openly anti-Trump.
Fair enough.
However in the current Insurrectionist GOP caucus led by Kevin Rollover McCarthy even a “moderate” Republican would be one step closer to having a Ho7se run completely by what Jack would call Red Hat MAGA Bootlickers.
Those in Congress who are Republican and who voted to impeach Trump or who voted for the Independent Commission should be reelected to Congress as I believe their voices are needed within the Caucus.
I know in the past, you and others here, have said you are fine with targeting them in primaries and hoping they are defeated by more pro-Trump Republican candidates, which depending on a district, could essentially be rolling the dice on electing more people who side with Trump.
and jack “borrowed” that line from me a long time ago. I authored it. He has merely voted for some of them for statewide office.
Maybe you missed it but I am on record here “rooting” for Liz Cheney to keep her position.
She lost. But I rooted for her.
As to GOP primaries please point out where I ever said that I supported the most Trumpy candidate winning.
I think you are confusing my suggesting Democrats capitalize on a situation AFTER the GOP rejected relative sanity for a cultist.
You (and others) have said contradictory things here, which have confused me.
I pointed to a story a few months ago that said the DCCC could use their funds to intervene in Republican primaries against Republicans Trump did not like and everyone here who is a Democrat seemed to indicate they would not object to that.
If you are now saying you would indeed object to that, you can point that out and I will note your view.
I don’t recall specifically endorsing that tactic at all.
Then again in the vast majority of GOP primaries it’s a choice between someone who is 99.9% pro Trump and one who is “only” 96% Pro Trump.
And as we saw with Elise Stefaniak those who were on Trump’s shit list yesterday are his darling today.
Also while I will be hoping and praying Mark McCloskey nor Eric Greitens becomes the GOP nominee maybe you can point me to the least Trumpian candidate. From what I see here in the state such a Republican does not exist. If he or she does I will “root” for him or her in the Senate primary next year.
Whenever that “the worse the better” idea has come up here (whether or not you or other Republicans were around), I clearly and vigorously disagreed, giving examples.
For example, the German Communists in the 1930’s who rejected working with other parties (“In reality,” wrote Stalin, “fascism and social democracy are not enemies but twins.”) and found themselves in concentration camps almost immediately after Hitler became Chancellor.
Or, less graphically, California Democrats who rooted for Ronald Reagan over the more moderate Republican Mayor of San Francisco, George Christopher, for the GOP nomination for Governor (against Pat Brown) in 1966.
They still got Reagan.
My view has been Trumpist sre good in Most Ted states…
The media has teported that House gains last Novembers where from people who ran mostly on local issues NOT TRUMP….
TheGOLer’s sre said to be looking for down to earth even diverse candidates sgainst the media narrative of ONLY Trump….
The House GOPer’s right now are foaming at the mouth over stimulus payments while the states are cutting off extra jobless $$$ ….
In the end?
I suspect the crazies will be kept at arms length by most of their fellow party members
Trump HIMSELF i keep pointing out continues to lose approval….
But he HAS been successful in amplifying some of old Right leaning GOP axioms
Sooooooo
YES!
Ya damn teal i WANT TRUMP TO RUN AGAIN
AND LOSE..
And maybe he’ll pull more people down then just TWO Red state US Senators!
For the record?
I do NOT believe Democracy is in trouble
History shows it has been continually tested and comes out fine…..
Slowly
Surely
Trump and his lackies and dumb assed followers are having things come back at them…..
Karma IS A Bitch
james is on the record in wanting Trump to be the 2024 Republican nominee for President.
People here say they would not want that, and I try to believe them, but it is a bit difficult.
I think most Democrats realize how lucky they would be to draw Trump as an opponent and would take the deal to have that happen if they could.
CG?
I actually do NOT think DJT will be 2024 GOP Nominee….
He’s just got too much stuff coming at him in the next year or so….
Right now?
DeSantis IS who i think is the early leader…
Yes i am CG….
I doubt I will be here often.
Maybe he will lose interest after his pretend Inauguration in August
The truth is the Republican Party on it’s own is embracing Trumpism now more than ever.
The idea that Democrats in general or the handful of Democrats on this blog are to blame us a laughable distraction.
I want Trump to go away forever
The vast majority of Republicans want otherwise
That’s the truth.
But if blaming a handful of Democrats speculating on a blog about which Republican might be easier to beat–the one that is 99% pro Trump is the one that is *only* 95% in agreement with DJT–makes you feel better have at it!
You are the one bringing up “blame” but I cannot get a non-evasive answer regarding the DCCC story or if you would want to face Trump in 2024 because he would be easier to beat. james is at least clearer on that. He wants to run against Trump. I think many Democrats agree, because he thinks that would be good for Democrats.
I want Trump to go away forever
I think that should answer whether I want him to be the GOP nominee in 24.
Why you think I have more control over that than Republicans I will never know.
Trump just took the crazies in the party and elevated them….
By stepping into the spotlight just for HIMSELF I believe he actually helped Joe Biden get elected…..
Hillary Clinton came close…
But?
Her inattention to details allowed the Big Guy to get over….
I don’t think he does.
However when you are still a part ,even a small one, of this crazy party?
You have to lash out at someone.
Here we are.
So Mike Pence goes to New Hampshire to talk to some Rep and asserts that he did his “duty” in counting the Electoral votes .He was greeted by silence.
Republicans ARE STILL Republicans even as Trump fades….
*or the one*
James’ explicit position is very dangerous craziness. He could not be more wrong.
Like Scott, I want (but do not expect) Trump to withdraw as fast and as far as possible.
Trump is the nearest thing so far that America has seen so far see to popular and effective (though hardly efficient) fascist leader, and though his support is waning, it will certainly not vanish. The consensus estimate of his bedrock support among voters is somewhere between 20% and 35%, and there is of course no guarantee that it won’t rise again (ask SE).
As I have pointed out so often before, something like 20%+ of Republicans still supported Joe McCarthy and Richard Nixon for years after their disgrace and forced departure. They will still tell you that McCarthy and/or Nixon were screwed by some kind of raw deal or corrupt bargain from the media and the Establishment.
And although I try not to be too pessimistic, there is no kind of historical guarantee that American democracy will not face some kind of serious erosion, undermining or restriction by the middle of this century.
Only after the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts of 1964 & 1965 were enacted (56-57 years ago) and then enforced can any legitimate claim be made that the U.S. had reached at least the theoretical democracy of which she had boasted so loudly in the anti-Axis and Cold Wars. Between the end of Reconstruction in the 1870’s and the Civil Rights Era of the 1960’s, it’s even harder to claim [without a gigantic self-cancelling asterisk*] that many of the Southern states approached constitutional democracy for their own citizens.
But even discounting that history, past longevity is no guarantee of the future. In the 1970’s both Uruguay and Chile had long-standing, established multi-party democracies with freedom of expression and organization until they both succumbed to South America’s wave of military coups and dictatorships.
McCarthy died in office in 1957. He never technically “departed” was not around “for years” after his reputation was damaged.
I think it is unfair to lump Nixon in with McCarthy and Trump, but whatever. Nixon left office and never attended a single Republican or political event ever again. Clearly, the party shunned him in the short term.
By the end of his life, people from all political spectrums, including many Democrats. were willing to recognize Nixon for the many good things he did accomplish and that he should not be judged by one chapter in his life.
I think CG’s has missed one of my points — which no doubt I could have expressed more clearly.
I was trying to say that long after McCarthy’s censure and Nixon’s resignation, you could still find Republicans who still thought (or think now) and would assert that Nixon and/or McCarthy were right, were not guilty of the offenses that a national consensus had held them culpable, and that they had somehow been dishonestly framed, defamed and ousted.
Even if Trump is gone, I fully expect a huge chunk of today’s GOP voters to do the same. So, with or without him on the scene (or bankrupt behind bars off-stage), Trumpism will continue to enjoy the devotion of a substantial portion of the post-2016 Republican Party.
I readily give credit to Richard Nixon for establishing (together with Democratic Congresses) the E.P.A. and the Legal Services Corporation. And also for some parts of his external policy, such as opening lines with Mao’s China.
But then I also have to remind myself of what a danger his semi-public internal policies might have posed to liberty and democracy — wiretapping, the Enemies’ list or trying to take over and corrupt the F.B.I, C.I.A. and the Justice Department.
“The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interrèd with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar.”
By the way, that’s almost the direct opposite of my opinion of Gerald Ford. Two or three decades after the pardon that might have cost him keeping the White House in 1976 (50.5% Carter/Mondale – 48.0% Ford/Dole). it was widely appreciated on all sides (including the Kennedy School’s) what a wise decision he had made.
Even in 1976, it took me until Election Day to decide to volunteer for Carter, as I found Ford’s personality to be far more attractive and less self-righteous (“I’ll never lie to you.”)
Forgotten P.S.: Given the choice between Trumpism with Trump still around politics and Trumpism without him, I find the former far more frightening.
I FIRMLY Believe that Trump will continue his history of turning things he touches into shit….
The American Democracy withstood DJT as President…..
He was shown the door….
Republicans helped usher him out….
He IS on the outside looking in…..
Polling confirms he IS even a BIGGER ‘loser’ now the he was 6 months ago,,,,
If Republicans ARE stupid enough to run him again?
WTF NOT?
Again….
I believe in the end the Big Guy won’t be nothing but a bigger ‘has been’…..