Election Thread

[HannibalBarca]

I am certain that many of you, like me, have been feeling alternating bouts of apprehension and elation at the prospects of the coming election tomorrow.  Excitement at a possible blue wave is tempered by fears of widespread vote suppression and rigging.

I'm 49; 50 in January. I've studied history for the great majority of my life, as well as politics, religion, and economics.  I feel like I can see things coming to a head historically in the last several decades, as far as democracy and capitalism in this nation.  I, like many others, feel that this is possibly one of the most meaningful elections in the existence of the United States.

So here's a thread for everyone to post in, if so inclined.

[NicciKotor]

"I think the women, therefore, must be concerned with these values, and I return to my statement that if a political party does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is right and that is moral, then it is not a political party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power." - President Eisenhower.

Republicans lost the ability to advance a cause that is right and that is moral well over 30 years ago. We're seeing the death throes of a minority of extremists that can only stay in power through theft and cheating. They'll happily see about the destruction of democracy itself in order to retain that power. So vote, since democracy itself is at stake.

[HannibalBarca]

I agree, NicciKotor.  A civilization has to advance.  Life is change, no less for individuals and species as for human cultures.  Ours has a segment that has stagnated for decades.  That makes the change all the more jarring when it does eventually come.  Republicans like Eisenhower are few and far between these days.

[NicciKotor]

Republicans will have to either make the choice of abandoning their old white racist base and become more inclusive to win elections, or abandon the pretext of caring about living in a democracy and try to destroy America in a mad power grab. All signs point to the latter as Trump is just a blunt tool these American hating jerks are using to sow discord and rile up the worst among us to go along with their plans to destroy this country.

[Callie Del Noire]

Agreed, I’ve been a moderate republican most of my life and if I’m honest with myself I’ve been using my membership to cast my votes more towards ‘lesser evils’ these days. In all honesty I’m not much of a republican anymore, my party sneers at me, calls me a ‘rino’ and seems determined to race to the bottom.

The democratic leadership, imho, is nearly as bad. They shot themselves in the foot with the back room deals to put Hilary in and Pelosi is just as divisive as any GOP leader out there

[Tolvo]

I dunno that I'd call them as bad. I'd call them bad, but not as bad. I actually hate much of the democratic party but I just feel they're the better option than the republican party. I'd rather have an actual large left wing party to vote for, but that isn't happening any time soon, so democrats it is.

[Callie Del Noire]

I dunno that I'd call them as bad. I'd call them bad, but not as bad. I actually hate much of the democratic party but I just feel they're the better option than the republican party. I'd rather have an actual large left wing party to vote for, but that isn't happening any time soon, so democrats it is.

I said the leadership, look at folks like Pelosi, Waserman-Schultz (sp?) and such. They promised Hilary the ‘16 president role if she played nice with Obama, and did a lot of things to ensure she got it. Pelosi has cost them as many seats as her fundraising earned, she is just as much to blame for the Divide in the House as any GOP speaker from Gingrich on. At least Gingrich admitted repealing Glass-Steagal was a mistake..she never has as far as I can find

[Tolvo]

You know what, it's probably because I was thinking you meant bad as in morally bad.

[Flower]

I'm excited it's nearly done. Will be paying attention as the results roll in.

[Lustful Bride]

Welp, I did my part. I voted. Hopefully it makes a difference and my country can go back to being something noble, respectable, and that I can be proud ot support again.

[Callie Del Noire]

Welp, I did my part. I voted. Hopefully it makes a difference and my country can go back to being something noble, respectable, and that I can be proud ot support again.

Or rather a closer step to that at least. I'm hopeful that some of the changes might have a calming effect. A split congress might either stall things totally or force the word 'bi-partisan' back into both parties lexicon.

[la dame en noir]

I live in Georgia and I'm worried D:

[Callie Del Noire]

I live in Georgia and I'm worried D:

Is Is it as bad it sounds. Kemp seems to be hijacking the election process six ways from Sunday

[Vekseid]

Kemp has dug himself into quite a hole.

If he wins, a lot of people will rightly question his legitimacy.

If he loses, he is going to have to own up to his fuckery that much sooner.

[Flower]

I feel so anxious. Ready for the results to start rolling in. My anxiety don't help setting all these articles about people having problems voting.

[Lustful Bride]

I feel so anxious. Ready for the results to start rolling in. My anxiety don't help setting all these articles about people having problems voting.

Win or lose, the sun will still come out tomorrow, there will be other elections. Nothing to do but try and mimic the stiff upper lip the brits have :P

[Tolvo]

I have no real hopes, but I'd be happy to be surprised.

[Callie Del Noire]

I have no real hopes, but I'd be happy to be surprised.

Think on this, in some areas.. like Florida, supposed the early turnout has a,ready broke records across the board for voter turn out in an off year.

[Mechelle]

Win or lose, the sun will still come out tomorrow, there will be other elections. Nothing to do but try and mimic the stiff upper lip the brits have :P

This Brit's lip is not very stiff as I am just about ready to go to bed after a long day out and about. This election is quite fascinating, and I do get the impression that Trump may have made a mistake by making it so much about him, but we will see.
In Britain, we sometimes complain that American news dominates our own news too much, but I have never known any mid-term elections to get so much coverage. As I say, though, I am fascinated.

[Oniya]

but I have never known any mid-term elections to get so much coverage. As I say, though, I am fascinated.

I've been voting since I was 18.  My daughter will be able to vote next year.  I have never seen a mid-term get this much coverage.

[Iniquitous]

I live in Tennessee and it looks like we are not getting rid of Marsha Blackburn (R Senate). Not surprised but was really hoping (and voted for) Bredesen would pull it off. House looks too close to call right now but it is in favor of the republicans too.

I am so ashamed of my country.

[legomaster00156]

I live in Tennessee and it looks like we are not getting rid of Marsha Blackburn (R Senate). Not surprised but was really hoping (and voted for) Bredesen would pull it off. House looks too close to call right now but it is in favor of the republicans too.

I am so ashamed of my country.

Hello, fellow Tennesseean. We are equally disappointed in our state and country. Bredesen is a good man.  :-(

[Tolvo]

Yeah, it looks like some good happened but not the huge blue wave needed to really make the country better. Maybe it's a bit early for some.

[Callie Del Noire]

Yeah, it looks like some good happened but not the huge blue wave needed to really make the country better. Maybe it's a bit early for some.

I'm still hopeful but without a major change in leadership or at least leadership policy I doubt the democrats taking the house will change anything.

[NicciKotor]

It will give them subpoena power which will end Trump and republicans.

[Lustful Bride]

A bit of goodnews :)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/kim-davis-loses-re-election-bid-for-kentucky-county-clerk/ar-BBPqvwM?ocid=spartandhp

[lustfulintentions]

It will give them subpoena power which will end Trump and republicans.

This assumes that the Republicans have any respect for the rule of law, which is very assumptive of the current iteration of the Republican party.

[Lustful Bride]

Getting lots of confusion. But it looks like the Dems have the House of Representatives and the GOP has the Senate.

Even if it wasn't the big blue wave, its still something. :)

[lustfulintentions]

Getting lots of confusion. But it looks like the Dems have the House of Representatives and the GOP has the Senate.

Even if it wasn't the big blue wave, its still something. :)

Plus the governorships we've picked up.

[Lustful Bride]

Plus the governorships we've picked up.

So compared to before the midterms, how good/bad is it now? Can anyone confirm?

[Tolvo]

That's actually better than I expected.

[Blythe]

This is fascinating.

Major accomplishment for Democrats in Oklahoma. District 5 has not been represented by a Democrat since the 70s, and this was completely unexpected here. No Democrat was predicted to win anything major in my state.

[CrownedSun]

Also, my understanding is that Florida managed to pass Amendment 4.

The one that gives Felon's back their voting rights, automatically, after they've served their crime. Discounting people with violent or sexual-related convictions.

Regardless of anything else, that feels huge to me.

[HannibalBarca]

1.5 million felons will be able to vote...a majority of them black.  Florida will certainly swing Democratic in the next election with that, unless someone tries to fuck it up more.  With that idiot winning as governor, we'll see.

On the bright side, Colorado elected the first openly gay governor in Jared Polis, so good on you, Colorado!

I'm a socialist...or at least, support socialist policies within a democratic political framework.  Here in the US, it's more like banging my head against the wall with how slow the national consensus is turning towards socialism.  We've had aspects of the government be socialist for decades, but enough negative press has kept it a dirty word to many people, and to others there's no difference between socialism, communism, and fascism  ???  The youth in the US prefer socialism to capitalism by a large margin, so maybe after I'm gone there will be a sea change.  Of course, by then the sea will be changing literally, so it may not matter :(

[NicciKotor]

Here is a small list of stuff that will be investigated.

White House security clearances (involving Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, national security adviser John Bolton, and others)
The controversial addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 census
The Trump administration’s Muslim travel ban
The State Department’s decision to close its cyber office
The EPA’s use of a political loyalty list
The possible participation of Cambridge Analytica’s foreign employees in US elections
The deadly ambush in Niger that left four American soldiers dead
The use of private email by White House officials
Trump’s response to the hurricane that devastated Puerto Rico
The dealings of the Trump Foundation
Potential conflicts of interest between Kushner’s business actions and his policy advice
Payments the Trump Organization received from foreign sources
Russian intervention with state voting systems
Former national security adviser Michael Flynn’s contacts with foreign officials

[la dame en noir]

I'm ready to throw up...

[Iniquitous]

Tennessee will keep it's republican senator (ughs, cant stand Blackburn) and it is still too close to call on the House (409 out of 435 have reported with Dems holding a very small lead 50.1% to 44.4%)

[Oniya]

Still have to put up with Smucker (PA-11), but it was a close race, especially considering that Jess King was a crowd-funded newcomer to the political scene.

[Iniquitous]

Annnnnnd... republican Bill Lee beat out democratic Karl Dean for governor of Tennessee.  So... yay. We have an idiot who wants to arm our teachers and put public money towards private schools/vouchers.

I hate that this state is so damn red.  Eventually it will turn blue (when all the baby boomers die off and more northerners move in) but I may not be alive to see it.

[CrownedSun]

I read that like 4 states passed measures that should help with gerrymandering, which is a small incremental thing that is as important as it is unsexy.

[gaggedLouise]

Trump and the GOP lose control of the House, and the public response of the Donald is laughabluy predictable:

1) He claims the night was a massive victory. Yeah, he used that tactic already when he was a young real estate market climber in Mew York. If he got into a heavily publicized lawsuit and lost, he would beat his chest and  shout to the media that he had won. And some of the media would accept it.

2) He claims that he never said the election would be a referendum on himself and the Trump presidency. You know? (he was spinning it that way already during yesterday, well before voting ended). Bwahahaha, nice try!! :D

3) He claims (during one of his final rallies) that his presidency and the support for him personally make up the greatest and most amazing political movement in US history, even in world history (I actually saw him making this quasi-Messianic boast about himself and Trumperica in footage from a rally on Monday) . Yeah, right...  ::)

[gaggedLouise]

Does the Dems' control of the House mean that they can block any attempt by Trump, and whatever kneedogs he might appoint after Rosenstein (and Sessions?) are fired, to force a quick end to Mueller's investigation? :)

[TheLionKing]

Little disappointed with Ohio.

[Flower]

Illinois turned out good.

A bit disappointed at other results though.

[gaggedLouise]

Beto O'Rourke (D) almost winning the senate race in Texas against Ted Cruz is very impressive. Texas should have been a home run for any high-level republican.

[TheLionKing]

I saw Texas' race. That was impressive.

[Mithlomwen]

I am so proud of my state right now! Major win for the Democrats (as Colorado is normally a Red state), and a huge victory for our LGBTQ community. 

[legomaster00156]

Does the Dems' control of the House mean that they can block any attempt by Trump, and whatever kneedogs he might appoint after Rosenstein (and Sessions?) are fired, to force a quick end to Mueller's investigation? :)

I would like to say yes, but... no. Congress cannot normally prevent an executive branch employee from being fired by the President (I think there are only a few fringe cases otherwise). The confirmation of a new lapdog would be in the Senate's hands.

[Callie Del Noire]

I saw Texas' race. That was impressive.

It depends.. I foresee one of two things going down. The senator decides that this is a lesson and unclenches on some of his past stances to coax the Mexican community back into supporting him on some things, but I think Ted Cruz will swing further right and into the President's pocket.

I think that several state Republican parties should take a long hard look at their treatment of Mexican, Puerto Ricans and so forth. Odds are that if they don't.. the next couple election cycles are going to get quite scary. I know one of the republican legislators down here in Florida tried to disinvest the dispersed Puerto Ricans here in Florida.

[gaggedLouise]

I would like to say yes, but... no. Congress cannot normally prevent an executive branch employee from being fired by the President (I think there are only a few fringe cases otherwise). The confirmation of a new lapdog would be in the Senate's hands.

But if Mueller was fired simply for the reason that "the White House thinks he's inefficient and not finding anything" - a blatant conflict of interest when it's Trump and his people that are the focus - wouldn't that oblige them to find a new director of the investigation? Firing Mueller as a person is different thing than forcing an end to the inquiry, and the questions they are working on relate to the integrity of the presidency and of elections, so it seems that the House should have something to say about it as well.

[Sara Nilsson]

https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/11/07/massachussetts-votes-transgender-rights-law/

Massachusetts has rejected a measure aimed at repealing the state’s transgender rights protections.

Voters in the state overwhelmingly voted in favour of transgender rights during the crunch vote in Tuesday’s US midterm election 2018.

Some more good news :)

[Lilias]

Someone pointed out on Twitter that Pence's face while he swears in two Muslim women on the Qu'ran will be priceless, and I've been chuckling to myself ever since.

[Sara Nilsson]

Someone pointed out on Twitter that Pence's face while he swears in two Muslim women on the Qu'ran will be priceless, and I've been chuckling to myself ever since.

oh.. that.. I am now giggling like a schoolgirl at the thought. Not only are they women and he has to be close to them, but Muslim and swearing on the Qu'ran? That is his version of hell for sure, could only be worse if they where LGBT+

[Lilias]

oh.. that.. I am now giggling like a schoolgirl at the thought. Not only are they women and he has to be close to them, but Muslim and swearing on the Qu'ran? That is his version of hell for sure, could only be worse if they where LGBT+

Sharice Davids will have to do. ;)

[Sara Nilsson]

She won? I havent caught up with everything yet. Oh my.. now i am a happy happy camper :D Sure there were a few sad moments, Andrew Gillum was heatbreaking. But his speech he did was magnificent! So inspiring.

[TheGlyphstone]

My state kept its Republican governor, but I wasn't too upset - I actually voted for him despite normally leaning left, he's been as moderate as a GOP politician can get these days, and wasn't too keen on some of the policies the Democratic challenger was planning to enact.

Vermont's election is slightly disappointing, but also unsurprising. Hallquist doing as well as she did despite being massively over-spent was a good sign.

[Valerian]

Wisconsin did all right. 😀 We ousted Scooter (Scott Walker) as governor in favor of Democrat Tony Evers, and also voted in the state's first African-American lieutenant governor. And Tammy Baldwin, the first openly gay senator handily won re-election. She's been doing a good job; she has this weird habit of listening to her constituents.   ::)

[Tolvo]

In Illinois things went pretty well and got much more blue. Thankfully the Nazi running did lose. And when I say Nazi I really mean it, he publicly defends Hitler and ID's with Nazi groups and is a holocaust denier. Though while he lost he did get a 1/4th of the total votes which is worrying.

Now it does kinda suck because if you look at districts and things, Illinois is more than 75% red. But that's because while the democrats get more votes, they give huge districts to the republicans who win. So while it's majority democrat below Chicago its almost all listed as red district. It sucks.

[Yukina]

Wisconsin did all right. 😀 We ousted Scooter (Scott Walker) as governor in favor of Democrat Tony Evers, and also voted in the state's first African-American lieutenant governor. And Tammy Baldwin, the first openly gay senator handily won re-election. She's been doing a good job; she has this weird habit of listening to her constituents.   ::)

It was worth it to stay up and watch for when Walker finally lost.

[TheGlyphstone]

In other news - remember Dennis Hoff, the owner of the Playboy Bunny Ranch who was running for Congress in Nevada, with the backing of Republican evangelicals? He won his race...despite having died several weeks ago.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/dennis-hof-brothel-owner-who-died-last-month-wins-election-n933366

[Sara Nilsson]

Why not? He specialized in dealing with stiffies, so why would being a stiff stop him?

[TheGlyphstone]

Alternatively, Nevada voters would rather see a corpse in Congress than a Democrat.

[la dame en noir]

Abrams isn't conceding - so hopefully something will happen. That ass, Kemp, is really making this unfair.

[Gadifriald]

In other news - remember Dennis Hoff, the owner of the Playboy Bunny Ranch who was running for Congress in Nevada, with the backing of Republican evangelicals? He won his race...despite having died several weeks ago.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/dennis-hof-brothel-owner-who-died-last-month-wins-election-n933366

He didn't run for and win a Congressional Seat as a corpse but a State Assembly Seat . . . and the district he ran in was heavily irradiated in the 1950s and 60s . . .

[TheGlyphstone]

He didn't run for and win a Congressional Seat as a corpse but a State Assembly Seat . . . and the district he ran in was heavily irradiated in the 1950s and 60s . . .

Ah, my bad.

[Deamonbane]

So, all jokes aside... what exactly changed? What can Americans expect to happen now with a majority of Democrats in Congress?

[Flower]

Give him hell. In all seriousness, there's a chance for more investigations to be launched.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/07/midterms-democrats-house-trump-mueller-investigation

I do believe this also means Republicans can't just pass laws without some attempt at bipartisan.

I expect government workers will be held hostage again.  ::)

I doubt they will go so far to start impeachment proceedings right off the bat and without something truly damning. Like it or not, Donald resonates with some Americans. All that well do is enrage voters they need to court in 2020.

[Tolvo]

Congress won't just do what Trump wants anymore is basically the hope. Though he still has his executive orders and what the Supreme court does is still concerning. But now he doesn't have his hands on the three main branches of government anymore.

[legomaster00156]

But if Mueller was fired simply for the reason that "the White House thinks he's inefficient and not finding anything" - a blatant conflict of interest when it's Trump and his people that are the focus - wouldn't that oblige them to find a new director of the investigation? Firing Mueller as a person is different thing than forcing an end to the inquiry, and the questions they are working on relate to the integrity of the presidency and of elections, so it seems that the House should have something to say about it as well.

Were the subject of inquiry a President of the United States, rather than a cult leader who has formed a fanatically loyal base and tagged cronies for leadership positions... yeah, probably.

As for "what changes?", there are a couple noticeable effects.

• Democrats have a seat at the table. No legislation can be passed without the support of House Democrats.
• Democrats have control of investigative powers at the House level.
• Democrats can, should the need arise, initiate impeachment proceedings, which take place in the House. However, the odds of impeachment resulting in removal from office are slim, as that would require about 20 Republican Senators to cross the aisle.
• Everything that goes wrong in the government will be blamed on the Democrats. This doesn't change much, just gives a tiny little bit of credibility to the claims, since the Democrats actually have some power now.
• Finally, and this cannot be understated, the Republicans are likely to lurch even farther rightward. After the success of those who fully embraced their cult leader in their Senate races, the Republicans will likely see fully embracing Trump as the only viable campaign strategy - and that means supporting everything he wants done, without criticism or question.

[gaggedLouise]

Give him hell. In all seriousness, there's a chance for more investigations to be launched.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/07/midterms-democrats-house-trump-mueller-investigation

I do believe this also means Republicans can't just pass laws without some attempt at bipartisan.

I expect government workers will be held hostage again.  ::)

I doubt they will go so far to start impeachment proceedings right off the bat and without something truly damning. Like it or not, Donald resonates with some Americans. All that well do is enrage voters they need to court in 2020.

Trump threatened in some clip I saw on the tv (BBC or CNN) that if the Democrats in the House stepped up their inquiries on him, for example about his and his companies' old tax returns - personal attacks on him, as he prefers to describe it - he would reply by launching his own investigations of leaks of classified material and such by the Dems. In other words, he's hinting at the narrative that the Dems are selling out important classified information and giving it to - who, the Russians perhaps? or better, militant islamists. Could easily be connected with the old stories about Benghazi and Hillary's e-mail server, and shouts of "lock her up!". Maybe it's Nancy Pelosi he now thinks should be locked up...

[HannibalBarca]

Finally, and this cannot be understated, the Republicans are likely to lurch even farther rightward. After the success of those who fully embraced their cult leader in their Senate races, the Republicans will likely see fully embracing Trump as the only viable campaign strategy - and that means supporting everything he wants done, without criticism or question.[/li][/list]

If they move further right, they'll lose even worse in the next election.  While they picked up more seats in the Senate, Democrats actually got 44 million votes in the combined Senate races to the Republicans 32 million.  Republicans have won one popular vote in the last thirty years.  They're slipping further every election.  Vote rigging, suppression, and gerrymandering are the only reason they still have any power...as well as the unequal electoral college and Senate.

[legomaster00156]

If they move further right, they'll lose even worse in the next election.  While they picked up more seats in the Senate, Democrats actually got 44 million votes in the combined Senate races to the Republicans 32 million.  Republicans have won one popular vote in the last thirty years.  They're slipping further every election.  Vote rigging, suppression, and gerrymandering are the only reason they still have any power...as well as the unequal electoral college and Senate.

I never claimed it to be a logical strategy. It's just what is likely to happen.

[Tolvo]

I don't know that it'll really mean they'll not do well with that idea. It might have if some older models still worker, like how women in general used to vote more moderate while men were going further right, but then the 2016 election happened shattering that model with how many white women voted for Donald Trump, a far right extremist, over Hilary Clinton a Democratic moderate. It could get to a point where it alienates people, but I don't really see that yet in the actual ways people are voting. There is outrage and then, it just becomes normal to a lot of people. What is too far right for people in general? We already have candidates winning who agree with putting children in camps.

[TheLionKing]

I think if Mueller was fired, I think it is safe to assume Trump is obstructing justice at this point.

[Regina Minx]

I think if Mueller was fired, I think it is safe to assume Trump is obstructing justice at this point.

Only now? I've thought that since he told Lester Holt that he fired Comey with the Russia investigation on his mind.

[Callie Del Noire]

Only now? I've thought that since he told Lester Holt that he fired Comey with the Russia investigation on his mind.

I think while that edged to the line, this would definitely be over the line. If he does, the upcoming Democratic majority in the house will EAT him alive. Ironically with due cause.