From a Republican: A Win, but no mandate in November

[C_Clayton_Jones]

Republicans won the midterms. But they didn t win a mandate. - The Week

The Republican brand is tarnished. And if conservatives want to actually govern the country, and implement conservative policies, and not just perpetuate jobs for lobbyists and consultants, they can't just win elections. They need to win a mandate.

There are lots of reasons why the GOP brand is in such bad shape. But they all boil down to a very simple truth: Middle-class Americans, who decide elections and are the backbone of this country's social structure, no longer believe that the Republican Party is on their side. They're not sure what the Democrats have on offer; but they know they don't trust the Republicans

Whether you agree with him totally or not, he makes some good points. I watched a GOP talking head this morning and he COULD NOT tell the interviewer that the GOP stood for. But he could tell her how BAD Obama was. That line will be getting very old in 2016.

It's not just republicans having lost the middle class, it's about republicans losing support from women, gay Americans, African-Americans, and Hispanics – the consequence of a conservative agenda hostile to diversity and dissent.

 

[SAYIT]

Republicans won the midterms. But they didn t win a mandate. - The Week

The Republican brand is tarnished. And if conservatives want to actually govern the country, and implement conservative policies, and not just perpetuate jobs for lobbyists and consultants, they can't just win elections. They need to win a mandate.

There are lots of reasons why the GOP brand is in such bad shape. But they all boil down to a very simple truth: Middle-class Americans, who decide elections and are the backbone of this country's social structure, no longer believe that the Republican Party is on their side. They're not sure what the Democrats have on offer; but they know they don't trust the Republicans

Whether you agree with him totally or not, he makes some good points. I watched a GOP talking head this morning and he COULD NOT tell the interviewer that the GOP stood for. But he could tell her how BAD Obama was. That line will be getting very old in 2016.

Indeed Nov 2014 wasn't a mandate for the Repubs or Repub policies but rather a repudiation of the Dems and their policies. The Repubs could turn it into a 2016 rout or blow it by their actions between now and 2016.

 

[Vigilante]

Republicans won the midterms. But they didn t win a mandate. - The Week

The Republican brand is tarnished. And if conservatives want to actually govern the country, and implement conservative policies, and not just perpetuate jobs for lobbyists and consultants, they can't just win elections. They need to win a mandate.

There are lots of reasons why the GOP brand is in such bad shape. But they all boil down to a very simple truth: Middle-class Americans, who decide elections and are the backbone of this country's social structure, no longer believe that the Republican Party is on their side. They're not sure what the Democrats have on offer; but they know they don't trust the Republicans

Whether you agree with him totally or not, he makes some good points. I watched a GOP talking head this morning and he COULD NOT tell the interviewer that the GOP stood for. But he could tell her how BAD Obama was. That line will be getting very old in 2016.

It's not just republicans having lost the middle class, it's about republicans losing support from women, gay Americans, African-Americans, and Hispanics – the consequence of a conservative agenda hostile to diversity and dissent.

Yes, those GROUPS certainly HELPED you in early November... What a jerk!

 

[80zephyr]

You do of course realize the Democrats have no agenda either the country is no longer buying their war on insert name here B.S.

Yep. Same coin.

Mark

 

[80zephyr]

Need I remind the left here the Democrats won in 2008 with two catchphrases of hope and change, and yes we can and non stop Bush bashing. So it is very possible for the Republicans to win in 2016 with non stop Obama bashing.

A very good point. What did the Dems run on but "hope and change"?

Mark

 

[Luddly Neddite]

Yes, the GOP can win a mid-term when it has the poorest turnout since the 40s. And they still won't win in 2016. They have no agenda for middle American. Their love and concern for the 1% will doom them again.

As I've said before, the RWs voted against their own best interest and the best interests of the country.

And the damn Dems didn't vote FOR themselves or the country.

If the general election goes the same, our country will lost all the jobs and the economic recovery we've enjoyed with the Obama administration. We will instantly be in several ground wars and we will see the end of the middle class.

 

[Luddly Neddite]

You do of course realize the Democrats have no agenda either the country is no longer buying their war on insert name here B.S.

Yep. Same coin.

Mark

 

[Paperman299]

The party of the sitting president always loses seats in the midterm election of his second term. The implications of these midterms just aren't nearly as great as cable news wants to hype it up as.

 

[Vigilante]

 

[WelfareQueen]

Dems got their asses kicked...but the Republican brand is trashed?

No, they have no brand. Their agenda is Bash Obama. That is is....No plan....No win in 2016. COUNT ON IT!

Why not when Obama is hated and he fucks up at every turn?

 

[SAYIT]

The party of the sitting president always loses seats in the midterm election of his second term. The implications of these midterms just aren't nearly as great as cable news wants to hype it up as.

Really? Both houses of Congress will be Repub majority for the next 2 years and you think that doesn't have serious implications for a Dem Prez?

 

[PaintMyHouse]

The party of the sitting president always loses seats in the midterm election of his second term. The implications of these midterms just aren't nearly as great as cable news wants to hype it up as.

Really? Both houses of Congress will be Repub majority for the next 2 years and you think that doesn't have serious implications for a Dem Prez?

No, it doesn't, because he was a lame duck either way, and in this case, he has the biggest hammer in the room, the veto pen.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

"Over the last few elections cycle, Americans have made a few things clear: They don't want the Obama agenda..."

Nonsense.

What 'few' election cycles would that be, they obviously don't include 2012, just two years ago, when the president comfortably won reelection and democrats expanded their majority in the Senate. The only thing made clear is that democrats do well during general elections when voter turnout is high (58.2 percent in 2012), and republicans do well during midterms when voter turnout is low (only 36.6 percent in 2014).

That republicans don't want the Obama agenda was already known before the midterms; when republicans consistently win general elections with a high voter turnout – and with a diverse voting population, not just republicans – then they'll know a majority of Americans approve of their agenda.

 

[SAYIT]

The party of the sitting president always loses seats in the midterm election of his second term. The implications of these midterms just aren't nearly as great as cable news wants to hype it up as.

Really? Both houses of Congress will be Repub majority for the next 2 years and you think that doesn't have serious implications for a Dem Prez?

No, it doesn't, because he was a lame duck either way, and in this case, he has the biggest hammer in the room, the veto pen.

You are rationalizing 'cause your butt still hurts. That veto pen - should he choose to abuse - will cost his party dearly in 2016. Those Dems who survived the last election will have to decide between remaining party hacks and living to fight another day after 2016.

 

[80zephyr]

The party of the sitting president always loses seats in the midterm election of his second term. The implications of these midterms just aren't nearly as great as cable news wants to hype it up as.

Really? Both houses of Congress will be Repub majority for the next 2 years and you think that doesn't have serious implications for a Dem Prez?

No, it doesn't, because he was a lame duck either way, and in this case, he has the biggest hammer in the room, the veto pen.

The mistake is believing that the GOP can't craft bills that make Obama(and by extension the Dems) look bad if he vetoes.

Mark

 

[SAYIT]

"Over the last few elections cycle, Americans have made a few things clear: They don't want the Obama agenda..."

Nonsense.

What 'few' election cycles would that be, they obviously don't include 2012, just two years ago, when the president comfortably won reelection and democrats expanded their majority in the Senate. The only thing made clear is that democrats do well during general elections when voter turnout is high (58.2 percent in 2012), and republicans do well during midterms when voter turnout is low (only 36.6 percent in 2014).

That republicans don't want the Obama agenda was already known before the midterms; when republicans consistently win general elections with a high voter turnout – and with a diverse voting population, not just republicans – then they'll know a majority of Americans approve of their agenda.

And Dem supporters sent Obama a clear message by staying home in November but you can whistle past the cemetery 'til you turn blue in the face.

 

[whitehall]

That's right underdog. Keep thinking republicans don't have a mandate if it makes you feel better. Bye the way republicans won another senate seat yeaterday and their ain't a democrat governor or representative from Texas to the Carolinas.

 

[The Rabbi]

Republicans won the midterms. But they didn t win a mandate. - The Week

The Republican brand is tarnished. And if conservatives want to actually govern the country, and implement conservative policies, and not just perpetuate jobs for lobbyists and consultants, they can't just win elections. They need to win a mandate.

There are lots of reasons why the GOP brand is in such bad shape. But they all boil down to a very simple truth: Middle-class Americans, who decide elections and are the backbone of this country's social structure, no longer believe that the Republican Party is on their side. They're not sure what the Democrats have on offer; but they know they don't trust the Republicans

Whether you agree with him totally or not, he makes some good points. I watched a GOP talking head this morning and he COULD NOT tell the interviewer that the GOP stood for. But he could tell her how BAD Obama was. That line will be getting very old in 2016.

Yes, let the butthurt flow through you!

 

[The Rabbi]

That's right underdog. Keep thinking republicans don't have a mandate if it makes you feel better. Bye the way republicans won another senate seat yeaterday and their ain't a democrat governor or representative from Texas to the Carolinas.

Its the usual crap.
Low voter turnout
Midterm election
They dont really have a mandate
They shouldnt over-reach
The public is mad at the Dems because they werent radical enough.

This is good because the Dems are totally clueless and thus setting themselves up for a loss in 2016.

 

[JimH52]

Think back for a moment....The GOP gained the House in 2010....a mid-term elections. Then they finally gained the Senate in 2012, after several elections cycles when the TP screwed the GOP over. Again, it was a mid-term election. The GOP does well in mid-terms, but when there are national elections, and the voter turnout is substantial, they lose. So voter repression is the best GOP tool.

The GOP has a chance to shape an agenda and prove they can govern before 2016. If they do, they will have a chance in 2016 to regain the WH. If they don't they will lose bother the WH and the Senate. Simple as that!