November 9, 2016

Waking up in a red state.

"This game's not over until we win" — said Russ Feingold in my favorite Russ Feingold clip. I filmed this clip during the anti-Scott Walker Wisconsin protests of 2011:



I posted it again 3 weeks ago, when the conversation was about Donald Trump's failure to say that he will "absolutely accept the result of the election." People jumped all over Trump's hesitation, and now Trump has won, and the Hillary side hesitated to "absolutely accept the result of the election." Hillary Clinton never came out on the stage last night to thank her supporters who'd waited so long and suffered so much. She sent out John Podesta — her partner in email trouble — and he expressed resistance to the outcome that was staring them in the face:
"We can wait a little longer, can't we? They're still counting votes. Every vote should count. Several states are too close to call. So we're not going to have anything more to say tonight."
But by the time Trump came out to deliver his victory oration, Hillary Clinton had called him. So she had conceded. Perhaps she was in no condition to be seen on camera at 2 a.m. It's hard to get put together enough to want to been seen after such a long night — a long night full of so much pain. Did she really owe it to her supporters? Maybe. But she couldn't do it. Not yet. She'll be out at 9:30 ET this morning. [UPDATE: The time got pushed back to 10:30.]

And Russ Feingold lost too. Here he is giving a gracious* concession speech. Ron Johnson, the Republican who ousted him from his Senate seat in 2010, has won reelection. And Johnson even won by a wider margin than Trump won Wisconsin.

On the morning after Election Day in 2010, I wrote a blog post titled "Waking up in a red state." Scott Walker had been elected governor, the state legislature went GOP, and Ron Johnson had upset Russ Feingold. But I was wrong. Wisconsin continued to be called a blue state, because pundits based the color on the presidential vote, and Obama had won Wisconsin in 2008. Obama also won in 2012. Even though Scott Walker won his recall election in 2012 and won the regular election in 2014, Wisconsin was still called a blue state.

But Donald Trump won Wisconsin, and now, I find, for certain, that I am waking up in a red state.
______________________________

* I wrote "gracious" based on hearing this clip: "We as Americans have to do the best we can to heal the pain in this country and get people to come together. I would urge you to be as restrained as you can be as the next steps occur." But on listening to the entire clip, I'm noticing that Feingold doesn't congratulate Ron Johnson. He doesn't say the name Ron Johnson or even refer to his opponent. He only mentions the "outcome" and his own failure "to get the job done."

98 comments:

Rick said...

Someone send Cher a couple of bottles of sleeping pills.

Achilles said...

Wisconsin is a red state. Romney is really the only republican to lose there in a long time.

Rick said...

Perhaps [Hillary] was in no condition to be seen on camera at 2 a.m.

I'd give anything for audio/video of her night.

campy said...

I'd give anything for audio/video of her night.

That much concentrated schadenfreude might be terminal.

CStanley said...

The pundits, the pundits like to slice and dice our country into red states and blue States: red states for Republicans, blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the blue states, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the red states.

We coach little league in the blue states and, yes, we've got some gay friends in the red states.

Known Unknown said...

Perhaps she was in no condition to be seen on camera at 2 a.m.

Bullshit. She's a terrible retail politician who has never been able to sincerely connect with people. I find it astounding that she learned nothing, nothing from Bill. You get your ass out there and thank people who went to wall for you.

alan markus said...

First time in 32 years that Wisconsin voted for a Republican president.

David Begley said...

Things will get better across the country. Economic growth at 4%. Real infrastructure building. Dumping solar and wind. Obamacare gone. Historic.

Known Unknown said...

We coach little league in the blue states and, yes, we've got some gay friends in the red states.

We're purple. Sometimes we're red-purple and sometimes we are blue-purple. I wish sentiments like these were more popular.

Etienne said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
campy said...

You get your ass out there and thank people who went to wall for you.

Only if you think you'll need them again. Hillary won't.

alan markus said...

Wisconsin Presidential Elections

Mick said...

Merry Trumpmas!!!! Ding Dong the witch is dead, the witch is dead, the witch is dead!!!!!
Saw him winning the rust belt from a mile away!!!
The long reign of the evil Usurper, and divider has come to an end. Now to undue the damage.
A real America loving President and sheriff is in town.
The unbelievable thing is that so many voted for the shrieking harpy criminal.

alan markus said...

Mick - you were missed last night! You got a lot of shout-outs in the election thread.

Steve said...

"Perhaps she was in no condition to be seen on camera at 2 a.m."

I assume it was Scott Walker's brother Johnnie that kept her off the stage.

Mick said...

Now I am waiting for all the moron celebrity know nothings to leave for Canada. Don't let the door hit ya!!!

lemondog said...

Pennsylvania goes Red. Appears that the infamous Pennsylvania bitter clingers did Hillary in

How Hillary Clinton Lost Pennsylvania

Mick said...

alan markus said...
"Mick - you were missed last night! You got a lot of shout-outs in the election thread".


Thanks! I was busy with the Black Label.

traditionalguy said...

I was up until 4 AM when my wife insisted that I come to bed. She had just woken up and had missed Trump's speech, but she was really touched to hear that Trump had won. It was VE Day all over again. The Smiling Kenyan Muslim Tyrant who wanted to see our country destroyed is as good as gone now from his lawless rulership over The United States.

dreams said...

I've always felt good about living in a red state but it took this election for Republicans to finally gain control of the Kentucky House of Representatives.

"The Republican Party took over the last Democratic legislative bastion in the South on Tuesday, winning control of the Kentucky House of Representatives for the first time in nearly 100 years, and winning it in a big way."

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2016/11/08/control-kentucky-house-up-grabs/93344114/

hawkeyedjb said...

While I am not thrilled at the prospect of a Trump presidency, I am very happy with the certainty of a Not-Hillary presidency. I am proud of the American people for having roused themselves to deliver a great, big, hearty F**K YOU to the grifting elites who have run the country for their benefit. The Bitter Clingers and Deplorables have their day.

As for Hillary: "Why aren't I leading this guy by 50 points?" she asked a couple of weeks ago. The answer is: Hillary dear, we hate you just as much as you hate us.

Greg Hlatky said...

Paging America's Politico! Paging Anerica's Politico! "Hillary will be POTUS 45. There is no doubt." Hope all the K Streeters choke on their hors d'oeuvres.

Michael K said...

"ou get your ass out there and thank people who went to wall for you."

"Fat drunk and stupid is no way to go through life."

I suspect she could not stand up.

Roughcoat said...

Where's that guy who calls us "hillbillies"?

Birches said...

I was thinking that not being able to concede publicly was the mark of a woman, but then I remembered Kerry was equally petulant about his loss.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

and now, I find, for certain, that I am waking up in a red state.

Don't worry about it. You are still living in a very blue enclave in a red state. Your state has always been red outside of the blue bubble. You are just now realizing it.

Wisconsin is just like California. When I go to visit family in the Bay Area and Coastal areas we refer to it as going behind the blue curtain. Like visiting another country....we try not to irritate the natives. It would be nice if they extended the same courtesy to us up in red state area.

We can all get along if we try.

Steve said...

"Perhaps she was in no condition to be seen on camera at 2 a.m."

I assume it was Scott Walker's brother Johnnie that kept her off the stage.

Meade said...

"Where's that guy who calls us "hillbillies"?"

Self-deported.

dreams said...

Crooked Hillary has been so drugged up so she could be able to perform in the last days of the campaign that I'm sure she is knocked out somewhere dead to the world as she recovers from all the drugs. RIP crooked Hillary, politically speaking.

kentuckyliz said...

I too woke up in a red state. Kentucky was the last Southern state not to go as red as the blood on a whipped slave's back.

We are red. #newmajority

I'm talking at the state level. First time since 1921. I was trying hard to deny our crazy CEO er governor Matt Bevin a ruling majority because he has no respect for the rule of law. He is a cray cray mofo.

As a lover of gridlock, I am depressed this morning.

There should be a Hillary meme: "It's the economy, stupid."

Suweeeeet use of her partner's words.

Static Ping said...

If it helps, Ann, I literally woke up into Trump America. I didn't have the heart to watch election coverage - it was going to mess with my sleep either way and I needed to sleep - and checked in at 9am Eastern with a sense of dread. First reaction: "Oh my (censored) God!" Second reaction: "Trump won WISCONSIN???"

And the Cubs won the World Series, too. This is real, right?

Rob said...


Back when elite opinion makers eagerly pressed populist themes, looking at everything through the lens of inequality, the rich not paying their fair share, fair trade rather than free trade, did they not consider that those themes could come back and bite them? When they preferred achieving their desired results (in health care, Iran agreement, climate change agreement, immigration, etc.) by unilateral action rather than settling for half a loaf and bringing along Republicans, did they not realize both how much resistance that would engender and how reversible their policies would be? When they supported racially divisive movements like Black Lives Matter and reflexively challenged the actions of cops, did they not imagine how many people would come down on the other side of that divide? When they embraced every cockamamie expression of political correctness, were they blind to how out of step they had gotten with ordinary people? When they engaged in heavy-handed skewing of media coverage and slanting of fact checking to elect their chosen candidate, did they think their readers and viewers wouldn't notice? The elites' arrogance and cynicism and opportunism laid the groundwork for Trump's victory. But at least so far, based on my reading of morning opinion pieces in the NYT, WP, New Yorker, Slate, they don't get any of that.

wendybar said...

Thank GOD Hillary is not our president elect!!!

David said...

"Hillary Clinton never came out on the stage last night to thank her supporters who'd waited so long and suffered so much. She sent out John Podesta — her partner in email trouble — and he expressed resistance to the outcome that was staring them in the face."

She hung him out to dry, AND HE PERMITTED IT. So many people, supposedly powerful people, have permitted the Clintons to do that. No more though. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. Oz has been exposed.

Gusty Winds said...

The only person who said it could turn out this way, winning the Presidency, while holding the House, and the Senate was President Elect Donald J. Trump.

I was up so late I'm too tired to gloat.

dreams said...


"As a lover of gridlock, I am depressed this morning."

I don't love gridlock, gridlock is not good. I want a state and a country that works, that serves the people.

And I'm really loving this.

"Exceeding even the most optimistic predictions of its leaders, the GOP won not just a majority, but a supermajority of at least 62 of the chamber's 100 seats."

James Pawlak said...

My heart is pumping passionate purple panther piss for: The "Lame Street Media"; Those Democrats more loyal to their Party than to the nation; CNS ("Clinton News Service"); Such real traitors as those who support Islam's commitment to Jihad; The members and supporters of "Black LIES Matter"; And, too many other Losers to list here.

Will said...

There are no red states or blue states. There is just the United States!! The land of the free. The home of the brave.

Everybody resist spiking your footballs and lashing out in pain. Take a few days to enjoy the fall weather and realize this is all on a continuum and pendulum. We can get through this together.

Trump's speech was a good start. Exactly the right tone.

khesanh0802 said...

The real question is: "Clyde, how's your head this morning?"

Tim said...

Democrats are classless in victory and doubly so in defeat.

khesanh0802 said...

Months ago I wishfully wrote that Trump was Nemesis to Clinton's Hubris. God, it's nice to occasionally be right!

Eric the Fruit Bat said...

Waking up in a red state.

I'm going to assume that's some sort of contrivance.

Mick said...

"And the Cubs won the World Series, too. This is real, right?"


It was an OMEN for TRUMPMAS!!!!

Freeman Hunt said...

"Everybody resist spiking your footballs and lashing out in pain."

Out in Social Media Land there is a whole lot of lashing and very little spiking.

Ann Althouse said...

"Wisconsin is a red state. Romney is really the only republican to lose there in a long time."

If you go by presidential races, no Republican had won since Ronald Reagan.

CStanley said...

"As a lover of gridlock, I am depressed this morning."

Yeah, what you want is checks and balances, and the tension between the GOPe and Trump should be enough to keep both accountable (I hope.)

And while small government conservatives generally like gridlock to keep government from doing too much, we're at a point where all that has been done needs to be undone. There's a lot of work to be done.

Conservatives now need to try to move to the "status quo ante", not conserve the "status quo."

Witness said...

"Out in Social Media Land there is a whole lot of lashing and very little spiking."

What I've seen is a small amount of spiking in the comments of the lashings. Almost as if to needle the lashers into lashing more to feed this kind of impression.

But it's too damn big of a place to make reliable generalizations from just my experience of it.

Sebastian said...

"She sent out John Podesta — her partner in email trouble — and he expressed resistance to the outcome that was staring them in the face: "We can wait a little longer, can't we? They're still counting votes. Every vote should count. Several states are too close to call. So we're not going to have anything more to say tonight." But by the time Trump came out to deliver his victory oration, Hillary Clinton had called him. So she had conceded." So even her last major act as a public figure was a lie.

MadisonMan said...

I am happy the Clintons are now in the Rear-View mirror of history. No longer manipulating the levers of power. They've been doing that too long for the good of the Country.

My expectations for Trump's Presidency are a bit higher than they would have been for a Clinton Presidency. We'll see what happens.

PackerBronco said...

And Chelsea Clinton wakes up realizing that she will a future with no power and no influence. No one will care about her or her opinions. All she will have is celebrity status that will rapidly fade as the House of Clinton declines.

dreams said...

This crooked KY Democrat got his sorry ass defeated which is true justice.

To those of us who know Ky's recent history and are not flaming liberals or crooked Democrats, Greg Stumbo's defeat is sweet poetic justice. Also thanks to Arthur Laffer (a Trump advisor) who help fund good Republican candidates to take control of the Kentucky House of Representatives. Next up, making my state of Ky a right to work state so we can compete with the rest of the south for good factories.

"Among Democrats to fall under the Republican onslaught was House Speaker Greg Stumbo, of Prestonsburg, who for more than 30 years has been a Democratic power in Frankfort. Stumbo was defeated in his bid for re-election to the House's 95th District on Tuesday by Republican challenger Larry Brown."

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2016/11/08/control-kentucky-house-up-grabs/93344114/

Wilbur said...

"Everybody resist spiking your footballs and lashing out in pain."

To hell with that. At my workplace, we were subdued and classy in victory in 2000 and 2004. In 2008 and 2012 they victory danced all over our chests.

They won't appreciate your forbearance, believe me. They will take your "nice" reaction as weakness.

PackerBronco said...

Blogger CStanley said...
"As a lover of gridlock, I am depressed this morning."


The gridlock now resides firmly between Trump's ears. Like the dog who finally catches the car, he probably still doesn't know what he'll do with it.

tcrosse said...

Will Hillary and Bill be required to pay back all those bribes they can't deliver on ?
Will anyone pay them big money for speeches, especially once Barack and Michelle are available on the lecture circuit ? Will the Obamas and the Clintons continue to pretend they don't despise one another ? Will Michelle run in 2020, or is she too smart to want the job ?

PackerBronco said...

Blogger Tim said...
Democrats are classless in victory and doubly so in defeat.


It's what they mean when they dream of a "classless society".

Guildofcannonballs said...

Fuck it don't fix it iffin it ain't being the damn broke.

PackerBronco said...

Blogger tcrosse said...
Will Hillary and Bill be required to pay back all those bribes they can't deliver on ?


It's an interesting question. People have given the Clintons a lot of money expecting something in return. Since they can't be repaid in political favors, will they be taking it out of their hides? There's a lot of p*ssed off people this morning who will be looking for some payback.

damikesc said...

I don't expect gracious concessions. Whatever.

But people worked for Hillary hard and she screwed them over royally, sending out troll Podesta instead of addressing them herself.

Would she have found the energy to talk if she won? Hell yes. But with a loss? Her colors came out. I have no doubt Trump would've spoken to his crowd had he lost.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Mick is entirely vindicated!

"Merry Trumpmas!!!! Ding Dong the witch is dead, the witch is dead, the witch is dead!!!!!
Saw him winning the rust belt from a mile away!!!"


You did, dude. You did.

Guildofcannonballs said...

I been watching me some "Justified" and think Tim Olyphabt is pretty cool, even if Lib.

TreeJoe said...

EMD said, "You get your ass out there and thank people who went to wall for you."

I still find it unreal that we are now at 10:10 ET (which is the time zone she is in) and she hasn't made a public appearance since....when? At least 12 hours.

I think it speaks to her stamina. I think it speaks to her persona. And I think it reinforces the negative notions about her.

I think she singlehandedly just destroyed about 75% of the Clinton brand, to which I am very grateful, as their brand was cronyism and corruption.

damikesc said...

The other question is: Did Obama oversee the destruction of the Democrat Party?

They couldn't get the Senate in a year everything said it was theirs to get.
They won't be getting the House anytime soon.
They are still killed on a state level in most states.

The Dem Party, which looked like an unstoppable force last week, looks really weak now.

Guildofcannonballs said...

Hey don't all y'all not be voting now, your forefathers fucking died for your right to do so, ya jackass.

Guildofcannonballs said...

I commanded Bill Kristol to vote for Hillary.

Maybe it was here but I think it was at Lem's Levity.

Guildofcannonballs said...

It ain't no small thing, dictating others.

n.n said...

After the twilight the dawn of a new day, a fresh perspective. Yeah, overly optimistic. Still, baby steps.

khesanh0802 said...

@ Mick: I'll say it again - you are a genius!

khesanh0802 said...

The unraveling of the entire Clinton crime apparatus is going to be so schadenfreude enducing that I may have to go into therapy.

Freeman Hunt said...

"I can't believe those stupid, evil hicks elected someone as rude and hateful as Trump."

Freeman Hunt said...

"What I've seen is a small amount of spiking in the comments of the lashings. Almost as if to needle the lashers into lashing more to feed this kind of impression."

In my feed, it's lashing with more lashing in the comments, and no needling, as if trying to stay quiet so as to not wake a sleeping baby.

Dude1394 said...

If Podesta is moving his lips he is telling a falsehood. The idea that they should all go home BUT we still may win is horrible.

Linda said...

Based on my Facebook feed you would think the world as we know it has come to an end. The feeling of angst among many of my friends is extreme, calling the people that voted for Trump racists and misogynists. In my everyday dealings with friends and aquantances (here in Madison) I feel like I am surrounded by Democrats, which is probably true. Ever since the Walker recall attempt in 2012 any political conversation that comes up, the clear thinking is that we ALL agree with them, Democrats. Obviously there is no way that you could possibly disagree, they know what is best!
I find their superior thinking quite exhausting and I think that yesterday's election results supports this view.
I voted against Clinton by voting for Trump and hope that his platform will change the status quo. I don't think that the next 4 years will be easy, but I do think that the economy and we as individuals will be better off at the end of 4 years.

MacMacConnell said...

When Hillary and Bill didn't show up at their rally last night I imagined them with pallets of Clinton cash on a plane to a middle eastern country with no extradition to the US.

Birches said...

Out in Social Media Land there is a whole lot of lashing and very little spiking

Same here. They don't know how to do anything else besides shout RAAAACIST!!! So predictable.

Sore losers. This marks the third election in a row my guy lost. Doesn't mean it's the end of the world.

Qwinn said...

I moved to Pennsylvania just in time to help it go red. Life is good. And the tears of my 90% female coworkers are frankly delicious. I wouldn't enjoy it so much if they hadn't been so insufferably smug these last few weeks. May the weeping and gnashing of teeth continue to brighten the next 4 years.

And, oh, I cannot WAIT for the 2018 midterms now. The dems will have to defend 25 seats vs 8 for Republicans. It's going to be (another) massacre.

mikee said...

When in 2012 Obama, much to my surprise, won his second term, I made a $100 bet with my wife that Hillary would be the next president. I did so in the fully cynical assumption that the US was absolutely beyond redemption, in the hands of corrupt government and corrupt business and corrupt culture.

It is with great pleasure that today I have to go to the bank and get a nice crisp $100 bill to pay my wife her winnings.

Maybe, if I am humble enough about it, she will use it to take us both out to eat somewhere nice.

Guildofcannonballs said...

I would very much appreciate establishment wannnabe West Coas Bohemian Grove bitchcunt Iowahawk to murder himself, ideologically.

Start anew with talent unprecedented.


All those October surprise predictions of wishcasting is why, slut.

dreams said...

I think the stock market was pretty prescient too in predicting a Trump victory.

dreams said...
"but there seems to be basically no evidence of it,"

"The Stock Markets are down. Wall street is currently reacting to anecdotal evidence that a massive unpredicted surge in voting is evidence that these voters are turning out for Trump. Evidence? maybe. A lot of traders live in New York and have friends in the Media who are getting early exit poll information. By noon we may see the results reflected there if it is a surge to Trump."

The stock market has already predicted a Trump victory.

11/8/16, 9:53 AM Delete

Linda said...

Qwinn said: . . . . "so insufferably smug these last few weeks."

You hit it on the nail - the smugness has been unbelievable!

Michael The Magnificent said...

Hey, where'd the sock puppet brigade go?

Still sleeping it off? Or did their contract expire?

I'm guessing a whole bunch of contracts expired yesterday.

Guildofcannonballs said...

Baby baby whose keeping lists so we know whom punishisment is reserved for?


GIVE ME THE FUCKING LISTS NOW.

Amanda Carpenter?

Hugh Hewed ought be ^^^^^^^^^ and he knows it.

NBC pays too. Much for Hugh to learn. I told Hugh SEPTEMBER 7th 2015 on twitter, but the rat is rat firstly.

Guildofcannonballs said...

As did Churchilll, I accepted reluctantly reality.

dreams said...

And this.

dreams said...
Not to worry about the emails and Comey, there is good news. The stock market has predicted a Trump victory which might cause a couple more days of stocks selling off but then stocks will rally. I just heard it on CNBC so don't be a sucker and believe the polls, people lie to the pollsters for whatever their reasons. Remember Brexit!

11/7/16, 9:15 AM Delete

Guildofcannonballs said...

Fatal conceit.

Guildofcannonballs said...

Donald and I won't hearm you, as much hat would be untoward to us, and if Iinteneded that not hat you and I willl never know.

Birches said...

Ok there's some gloating now on my fb. Ironically coming from my half Native, half Mexican family members. Demographics can't explain everyone.

Guildofcannonballs said...

Real ence Priebus has won more than any Democrat could possibly comprehend.

Sucks to be you yes, but if you want to rape and feel justified know I will kill you, joke.

Bad Lieutenant said...

Mac McConnell said...
When Hillary and Bill didn't show up at their rally last night I imagined them with pallets of Clinton cash on a plane to a middle eastern country with no extradition to the US.

11/9/16, 9:36 AM

I imagined a peaceful passage in her sleep with a comfy pillow over her face and no autopsy.

Qwinn said...

Ugh... coworker liberal whining "I've never been scared after an election before."

I SO want to say "Tell me about your fears after the IRS targets people like you for their political beliefs for 8 years straight, and continues to do so even after multiple judges have ordered them to stop. Then you can talk to me about fear, you insufferable brat."

Of course, if I said that, I have no doubt she'd go to HR and try to have me fired. Because I have to listen to her hypocrisy all day, she should never have to hear truth though.

Guildofcannonballs said...

God has welcomed me hm.

May not mean much to, the whole lot of Hell it means to me.

Guildofcannonballs said...

Watching Gram on Amazon, it's quite sweet.

Guildofcannonballs said...

Well the s victory dance lap ain't shit

Guildofcannonballs said...

Iowahawk predicted what he did, having been proven cunt he will uncunt himself, as that is what I command that Bohevian Grovw badts do.

Guildofcannonballs said...

You k ow I have copied and paste mucho, but of all those remiss letters, Buckley was always 100% true.

Cumulus.hillsdale.edu/Buckley

Guesst said...

Maybe you'll find it interesting to learn, as reported by ABC news, traveling with Clinton Tuesday morning:

They were popping champagne on the flight away from North Carolina, because they were assured the win.

She may have been too hung over to appear Tuesday night.

Mick said...

khesanh0802 said...
"@ Mick: I'll say it again - you are a genius!"

Well I wouldn't go that far, but if you say so.

Original Mike said...

CStanley said..."And while small government conservatives generally like gridlock to keep government from doing too much, we're at a point where all that has been done needs to be undone. There's a lot of work to be done."

This.

Original Mike said...

"Feingold doesn't congratulate Ron Johnson. He doesn't say the name Ron Johnson or even refer to his opponent."

Feingold has always been a prick.