2016 Postmortem

andym

(5,694 posts)

61. Fatal perhaps not, but GOP controls 240/435 House, 52/100 Senate, President, 34/50 Governors, 31/49

Sat Dec 3, 2016, 01:47 PM

Dec 2016

statehouses after this election with 55.7% of state legislators nationwide (ballotopedia). Yikes. So the Democratic Party is in deep trouble. Up until this election, the possibility of the gaining Senate and holding the Presidency were the bright spots. Yikes. Democrats have 25 Senate seats (including 2 indies) up for re-election versus 8 GOP seats in 2018, so loss of Senate seats is widely expected. The Democratic Party is in full retreat nationwide, except in the West and the Northeast where it is dominant. Whichever party controls the state houses and governorships in 2020 will control gerrymandering and future congressional power. Doesn't look good at this moment. So something is very very wrong. Conservative economic ideology is very popular, and populism, one of the few ways to break through traditional ideology has been seized by Trump for the GOP.

Not only will the Supreme Court go back to it's right tilt, but likely will have a conservative majority. Decisions like Citizen's United which enshrine the ability of the rich to influence elections will be even strengthened diminishing Democrats' chances of taking back power.

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Why are people so insistent that the Democratic Party is fatally flawed? [View all] boston bean Dec 2016 OP

Don't forget voter suppression radical noodle Dec 2016 #1

This was a BIG factor. spooky3 Dec 2016 #4

What people? Media? They've already been purchased. lonestarnot Dec 2016 #2

I think that it is because WhiteTara Dec 2016 #3

I am being told it was all about Weiner, Visa's, Trade and Monica ismnotwasm Dec 2016 #5

It's not. LisaM Dec 2016 #6

People want it to move left Chiquitita Dec 2016 #7

Hillary ran the most progressive leftist campaign in history. boston bean Dec 2016 #14

It's nothing more than my 2cents Chiquitita Dec 2016 #47

To me, this is a big part of the problem mcar Dec 2016 #51

I think Mondale and McGovern were not to the right of Clinton. David__77 Dec 2016 #60

And Nixon supported nationalized healthcare. baldguy Dec 2016 #146

if this is true, why did Russ Feingold lose? Why did Zephyr Teachout lose? La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #35

I don't know. Chiquitita Dec 2016 #42

she got more votes than Feingold did in wisconsin. kinda goes against your argument. nt La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #44

Then I don't know Chiquitita Dec 2016 #49

i'm not looking for a fight, i'm saying there is no evidence outside of large cities La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #72

Teachers are going to have it extremely hard blue cat Dec 2016 #104

We've gotten our asses kicked in 3 out of 4 elections now. Ace Rothstein Dec 2016 #8

Agreed. Too many Democrats just look at the presidential race and never bother Midwestern Democrat Dec 2016 #13

The good news is that winning becomes much easier when the other guy is in charge. Ace Rothstein Dec 2016 #17

+1 Dems to Win Dec 2016 #16

Then we have to learn to love midterms (We tend to win the popular vote in presidential races). CBHagman Dec 2016 #52

There will always be people who attack the Democratic Party first, even while claiming friendship. BobbyDrake Dec 2016 #9

Umm ... because KPN Dec 2016 #10

Agreed. "None of the Above" won this election in a landslide. TonyPDX Dec 2016 #27

Then it's no wonder we now live in an idiocracy. JTFrog Dec 2016 #124

Post removed Post removed Dec 2016 #11

It's been proven that Russia hacked into DNC emails. They also funneled info to that weasel Assange brush Dec 2016 #21

could you link to/direct me where to look for the proof? onyxw Dec 2016 #140

I understand more definitive proof is coming soon brush Dec 2016 #141

There was no substance to the hacked emails. lapucelle Dec 2016 #53

Exactly. We actually outnumber the repugs, and won the popular vote by millions brush Dec 2016 #12

people have a tendency to whine when things go wrong....human nature beachbum bob Dec 2016 #15

We have neglected the state and local level for so long we are completely locked out in many states. nycbos Dec 2016 #18

Translation: anybody who didn't thimk HRC was not the most qualified person to.ever jack_krass Dec 2016 #19

Sanders himself was fatally flawed and never vetted ismnotwasm Dec 2016 #20

"not a Democrat." jack_krass Dec 2016 #36

How so? ismnotwasm Dec 2016 #83

'is "against us", a racist, and a sexist.' NRQ891 Dec 2016 #26

So calling out sexism and racism ismnotwasm Dec 2016 #28

it is, if you consistently exaggerate NRQ891 Dec 2016 #29

Ok ismnotwasm Dec 2016 #45

Yah, smh fleabiscuit Dec 2016 #103

Nice to know that someone else feels the "against us" KPN Dec 2016 #59

The democratic establishment cleared the field for Hillary early on before the primaries. killbotfactory Dec 2016 #22

'And the response is "nothing to see here, folks"?' WRONG! NRQ891 Dec 2016 #24

America is Greater Than It's Ever Been! Dems to Win Dec 2016 #116

And don't forget NAFTA Dems to Win Dec 2016 #118

Dems are fine, just need a plain English pitch DeminPennswoods Dec 2016 #23

I hope you are a canvasser, volunteer, writer, or similar. CBHagman Dec 2016 #55

No, but thanks for the compliment DeminPennswoods Dec 2016 #93

Then a lot of people need to hear from you! CBHagman Dec 2016 #113

I do try when the chance presents, but DeminPennswoods Dec 2016 #137

Then writing it will be. CBHagman Dec 2016 #149

Hope you stay involved. Your plain-speaking ideas make so much sense and are easily grasped. brush Dec 2016 #142

Think about the fact that she won the popular vote by 2.5 million La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #25

...And now we are on the outside looking in. TheCowsCameHome Dec 2016 #30

could things have been better, yes? but some of the proposals being put forward La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #32

'she won the popular vote' - that and 5 bucks will get you a latte at starbucks NRQ891 Dec 2016 #31

i understand how the EC won, but because she got more votes La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #33

my point is rather that when you cut it close, you're vulnerable to bad luck NRQ891 Dec 2016 #37

When a president from one party has occupied the WH for 8 years La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #38

I feel the unfortunate part of Hillary's luck NRQ891 Dec 2016 #39

Comey's letter was malicious. turns out FBI was also investigating trump La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #40

but Weiner made a malicious gesture more safe to make NRQ891 Dec 2016 #41

weiner was a convenient excuse to do what Comey did. but Comey's little lecture La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #43

my point, is that without the cover of Weiner, Comey might have still felt NRQ891 Dec 2016 #46

sure. but i'm saying his little editorial, which goes against so many norms of the FBI La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #48

Hillary's luck? KPN Dec 2016 #63

What we need more than a complete revamping and beating ourselves over the head is world wide wally Dec 2016 #34

Great idea, but that requires an overhaul of the DNC system. Exilednight Dec 2016 #131

K&R mcar Dec 2016 #50

We have a big communication/image problem. We've allowed conservatives to brand us. Auggie Dec 2016 #54

The results of the last three elections makes it clear that something is not working. Seshat Dec 2016 #56

Actually no ismnotwasm Dec 2016 #73

It was not so long ago that Democrats were chortling over GOP disfunctional. Seshat Dec 2016 #109

The Democratic party candidate received 2.5 MILLION more votes DesertRat Dec 2016 #94

Was anything I posted factually inaccurate? Seshat Dec 2016 #108

I think if you drop the word "fatally" it makes sense. jalan48 Dec 2016 #57

"Think Racism/Sexism". That is one of the flaws. mr_liberal Dec 2016 #58

Fatal perhaps not, but GOP controls 240/435 House, 52/100 Senate, President, 34/50 Governors, 31/49 andym Dec 2016 #61

besides obama, we have more or less been in this position for years La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #62

With everyone on DU/Kos and other sites so focused on the Presidency andym Dec 2016 #67

yes, plus we think we are smarter than we actually are La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #68

No doubt, but this Presidential election, the GOP got the opponent they wanted andym Dec 2016 #80

We lost the presidency, both houses of congress, soon the judicial, LostOne4Ever Dec 2016 #64

Why do you think the Democratic Party "allowed" that to happen? ismnotwasm Dec 2016 #66

Too focused on the presidency and not enough on the state level. Nt LostOne4Ever Dec 2016 #69

That is indeed a problem ismnotwasm Dec 2016 #75

I just think that LostOne4Ever Dec 2016 #77

Could you clarify please? ismnotwasm Dec 2016 #79

I mean after 2012 more resources should have been put to getting legislatures and governors LostOne4Ever Dec 2016 #87

Poor leadership-Debbie Wassermann Schultz. jalan48 Dec 2016 #71

Oh for Gods sake ismnotwasm Dec 2016 #78

Oh yeah-she's a real gem. Pay Day loan anyone? jalan48 Dec 2016 #82

*sigh* ismnotwasm Dec 2016 #84

How about Donna Brazile? She's good with questions I've heard. jalan48 Dec 2016 #86

There is a fundemental ideologigal economic divide in the party.... Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2016 #65

how are you going to bring back manufacturing jobs that are increasingly being automated? La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #70

Other countries do it because they aren't fixated on protecting the rich. Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2016 #74

other countries do what specifically? prevent automation? La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #76

The don't argue the false choice between outsourcing and automation. Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2016 #96

But it isn't a false choice in the manufacturing realm La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #99

Sure it is. It's right up there with the claim that American labor expects too much. Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2016 #105

Folks really need to understand that manufacturing in the US is practically at an all-time high. Garrett78 Dec 2016 #111

Yes, every expert says so, hence I believe this to be true La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #112

All the high paying/high tech jobs were out-sourced to India? ismnotwasm Dec 2016 #81

Yup. The whole Neoliberal model blew up in their face.... Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2016 #97

The Democratic Party is flawed INdemo Dec 2016 #85

Because so many of us warned of the dangers of nominating Hillary LittleBlue Dec 2016 #88

end the cynical race and gender baiting in exchange for a unifying message of jobs, healthcare a jack_krass Dec 2016 #91

Thank you. Agree 100% nt Dems to Win Dec 2016 #119

The Democratic Party establishment literally .. ananda Dec 2016 #89

And too many supposedly on OUR side not only applied a ridiculous purity test, but actually repeated deurbano Dec 2016 #90

i think some people don't like the minority influence in the party JI7 Dec 2016 #92

we see the tactics hz-xlnc Dec 2016 #95

The Democratic Party is not broken or flawed Gothmog Dec 2016 #98

Nope. When whites become a minority, conservative POC will eventually take over the Republucan jack_krass Dec 2016 #107

This. Thanks for making an excellent point. Beartracks Dec 2016 #133

K&R betsuni Dec 2016 #100

Because it is. The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2016 #101

Remember there are people who want to steer the party on different directions. hrmjustin Dec 2016 #102

I'll tackle these one by one. Exilednight Dec 2016 #106

Agenda.. they want to butt themselves in and take Cha Dec 2016 #110

The problem is people who have contributed nothing to build this party thinking they own it. BobbyDrake Dec 2016 #114

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2016 #115

People are worried that white males have a diminishing role in the party. nt LexVegas Dec 2016 #117

No, we're concerned that too many white men and the women that love them feel pushed out of theparty Dems to Win Dec 2016 #120

LOL, yeah, hillary said throughout the campaign as did all her surrogates boston bean Dec 2016 #121

One of Hillary's surrogates doesn't think a white person belongs as DNC chair Dems to Win Dec 2016 #125

Wow, your interests must be so different than a minorities huh. What puts you at such odds boston bean Dec 2016 #126

Pasty white skin Dems to Win Dec 2016 #136

They are people who post here daily and their mission is to split and divide us. FSogol Dec 2016 #122

"Haters to the left" BobbyDrake Dec 2016 #123

And lack of voter enthusiasm? guillaumeb Dec 2016 #127

Issue for issue, they are not fatally flawed. The flaw is the CORPORATE DONORS and MONEY yodermon Dec 2016 #128

Democrats don't need to do anything taught_me_patience Dec 2016 #129

This one is easy. Exilednight Dec 2016 #130

Here's why: rainy Dec 2016 #132

Because it isn't just about the Presidency. Ace Rothstein Dec 2016 #134

You're correct. The Party isn't fatally flawed or falling apart, but it needs to some reflecting. aikoaiko Dec 2016 #135

Maybe because Democrats got their asses kicked at all levels of government in 2016? jalan48 Dec 2016 #138

Think about our massive victory at the polls. Coyotl Dec 2016 #139

What is that graphic supposed to mean? Kotya Dec 2016 #147

Exactly what it says and shows, of course. Coyotl Dec 2016 #148

Because it's been in a long, slow suicide spiral Crunchy Frog Dec 2016 #143

The Republican Party is the flawed party Zing Zing Zingbah Dec 2016 #144

'cause.. agenda.. that has nothing to do Cha Dec 2016 #145