2026 Congressional Elections

[pfife]

33 minutes ago, mtutiger said:

I mean, there are things Trump could do as well to deescalate the conflict. But that's not going to happen as he's shown himself completely unable to pivot in his second term.

We can talk theoretically about how things can improve between now and November, but that would require an administration that actually responded to the signals the population give off about unpopular policies. And by all accounts, Trump doesn't give a **** about what the population thinks about the Iran War or gas prices or ICE or anything.

Iran also knows what will hurt and help trump in november and will presumably factor that into their decision making

[chasfh]

11 hours ago, gehringer_2 said:

he's running as a progressive, completely the opposite of Fetterman, who ran as a conservative dem.

I'm with MTU - not my state, not my fight, but I'm glad you guys don't vote in Maine. 

😕 Why are you glad I don't vote in Maine?

[chasfh]

1 hour ago, mtutiger said:

I mean, there are things Trump could do as well to deescalate the conflict.

This is like asking a bear to de-escalate wanting to eat you in the woods.

At the risk of yet again being accused of hailing Trump as an evil genius, I'm pretty sure he is accomplishing pretty much what we wants to, which is making a lot of money for himself and his allies from the chaos and disorder, and he's enjoying the results so far. I think we're well beyond seriously ascribing to him any statesman-like intentions such as seeking to contain global conflict.

[chasfh]

1 hour ago, Motown Bombers said:

 

I hadn't been thinking this would happen, but the deeper this civic war of mid-decade redistricting gets, the more likely Trump declares some sort of national emergency pertaining specifically to Democrats engaging in gerrymandering to criminal levels, or something along those lines. After all, how on-brand it would be for him to demand the arrest and detention of Democrat lawmakers for doing the very same things Republicans are doing, even in forced retaliation? 

[oblong]

3 minutes ago, chasfh said:

This is like asking a bear to de-escalate wanting to eat you in the woods.

At the risk of yet again being accused of hailing Trump as an evil genius, I'm pretty sure he is accomplishing pretty much what we wants to, which is making a lot of money for himself and his allies from the chaos and disorder, and he's enjoying the results so far. I think we're well beyond seriously ascribing to him any statesman-like intentions such as seeking to contain global conflict.

I agree with you mostly.  Trump doesn't care about electoral politics anymore.  He's not beholden to the GOP.  He wasn't before 2016.  He doesn't need them.  He doesn't need voters.  His only goal is satisfying his ego and enriching himself and his family.  He doesn't care about what happens to Vance or Rubio or anybody else who might run in '28.   He doesn't even care if the GOP loses congress.

[romad1]

3 minutes ago, oblong said:

I agree with you mostly.  Trump doesn't care about electoral politics anymore.  He's not beholden to the GOP.  He wasn't before 2016.  He doesn't need them.  He doesn't need voters.  His only goal is satisfying his ego and enriching himself and his family.  He doesn't care about what happens to Vance or Rubio or anybody else who might run in '28.   He doesn't even care if the GOP loses congress.

He wants to stave off more impeachments/investigations but since he’s mostly thinking it will all work out for him in the end because of his deal with Satan, he’s not really worried.

[chasfh]

3 minutes ago, oblong said:

I agree with you mostly.  Trump doesn't care about electoral politics anymore.  He's not beholden to the GOP.  He wasn't before 2016.  He doesn't need them.  He doesn't need voters.  His only goal is satisfying his ego and enriching himself and his family.  He doesn't care about what happens to Vance or Rubio or anybody else who might run in '28.   He doesn't even care if the GOP loses congress.

I think he'd rather have a pliant Republican Congressional majority than a noisy oppositional Democratic majority, especially if they keep impeachment on the table for the ensuing two years.

BTW, I do think within the range of outcomes is that Democrats take the House and Senate and, assuming they get seated, by the time the 2028 election is nigh, bring enough Republican senators on board for a successful impeachment of Trump. By that time they will have drained as much money as they're gonna get out of a Trump regime anyway, and they will finally be legitimately fatigued by the constant mayhem, so that might be the time they will want to flush MAGA control of the part ydown the toilet, especially to save their own electoral chances. It might even be the surprise October Surprise.

[GalagaGuy]

Platner had a Nazi tattoo for close to 20 years and then played dumb when he got caught with it.  He also has a long history of racist and hateful social media posts.  Why in the hell is this the guy Democrats have decided to rally behind? 

[romad1]

The AI Oligarchs will make their move when they decide he’s no longer serving their interests 

[Motown Bombers]

1 minute ago, GalagaGuy said:

Platner had a Nazi tattoo for close to 20 years and then played dumb when he got caught with it.  He also has a long history of racist and hateful social media posts.  Why in the hell is this the guy Democrats have decided to rally behind? 

Because he’s young, wears flannel, and has a beavers ass on his face. He has new ideas we haven’t heard yet. The pod bros like him. 

[mtutiger]

20 minutes ago, chasfh said:

This is like asking a bear to de-escalate wanting to eat you in the woods.

At the risk of yet again being accused of hailing Trump as an evil genius, I'm pretty sure he is accomplishing pretty much what we wants to, which is making a lot of money for himself and his allies from the chaos and disorder, and he's enjoying the results so far. I think we're well beyond seriously ascribing to him any statesman-like intentions such as seeking to contain global conflict.

Just because he's a bear wanting to eat you in the woods doesn't mean that he shouldn't be held to account in the same way that a normal President would be. And one of the expectations of a normal Presidency would be that it is *their* responsibility to bring an end to crises or to recognize their mistakes and pivot.

The fact that it is impossible to imagine him doing any of these things does not relieve him of the expectation that should be had for all Presidents in a situation like this.

[Tiger337]

27 minutes ago, chasfh said:

This is like asking a bear to de-escalate wanting to eat you in the woods.

 

I'll take the bear.  

[mtutiger]

5 minutes ago, GalagaGuy said:

Platner had a Nazi tattoo for close to 20 years and then played dumb when he got caught with it.  He also has a long history of racist and hateful social media posts.  Why in the hell is this the guy Democrats have decided to rally behind? 

That's really a question for voters in Maine, isn't it?

Again, they put forward a candidate in Janet Mills someone who is too old and clearly didn't have the heart to run the kind of race that she needed to in order to win. Voters notice these things, no amount of money or ads or what have you was going to change the fact that Mainers weren't going to support her in the numbers needed to win the nomination.

I share a lot of the same concerns that you and MB have about Platner, I really do.... but given how it all played out, it's just not surprising at all.

[Motown Bombers]

Not buying the age thing at all. Maine is an old state. They elected Angus King. They support Bernie Sanders. This is the same issue that Republicans face. Only the extreme partisans vote in primaries. 

[mtutiger]

4 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

Not buying the age thing at all. Maine is an old state. They elected Angus King. They support Bernie Sanders. This is the same issue that Republicans face. Only the extreme partisans vote in primaries. 

Even if it isn't strictly age, voters in 2026 expect candidates who want to fight. And the want candidates whose heart is truly in the effort. That just wasn't Janet Mills, at least from my far off vantagepoint of the campaign.

Again, have all the same reservations about Platner that many do, but it's just not surprising to me that it played out this way.

 

[romad1]

“Age” is an excuse like “the internet” is a reason Toys R Us went out of business.  What really happened is crappy business practices.  And a whole lot of PE ****ery which does not necessarily apply to the current situation unless it does and we are all living in a pro wrestling show of politics that serve only the masters.

[Motown Bombers]

The weak Democrats are the younger ones. This age thing started on the right and Dems caved and bought into it and threw their most progressive president in decades under the buss. 

[RatkoVarda]

13 hours ago, Motown Bombers said:

The Republicans have oppo on him and I would not be surprised if there are women who come forward who say he sexually assaulted them. 

more likely than not this is coming

[gehringer_2]

47 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

Not buying the age thing at all. Maine is an old state. They elected Angus King. They support Bernie Sanders. This is the same issue that Republicans face. Only the extreme partisans vote in primaries. 

the fact that you are old doesn’t mean you are OK with old candidates. We know better than anyone else what a bad idea it is. 

[Motown Bombers]

4 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

the fact that you are old doesn’t mean you are OK with old candidates. We know better than anyone else what a bad idea it is. 

Maine just elected 80 year old Angus King and the aforementioned too old Mills plus the mid 70’s Susan Collins. One of Maine’s congressional representatives is 71. Jared Golden is the only member of Maine’s federal delegation that is under 70 and surprise he’s the most conservative and even dabbled with supporting Trump. 

[Motown Bombers]

Weird how republicans don’t attack Susan Collins for being too old.