October 24, 2017

Drudgetaposition.



Captured in the wild by Instapundit.

If the frame were widened an additional line, it would bring in "Stevie Wonder Performs National Anthem on Knees..."

180 comments:

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

"The mind can hold a conversation with the body that ends in death"

-old Russian saying and DNC strategy

Ignorance is Bliss said...

Stevie Wonder Performs National Anthem on Knees...

That's good. I wouldn't want Stevie to turn a blind eye to racial injustice in this country.

Nonapod said...

It's crazy that people are still crazy a year later. What's the typical half life of mass hysteria?

tim in vermont said...

Now you are just bouncing the rubble.

tim in vermont said...

There was systematic political abuse of psychiatry in the Soviet Union,[1] based on the interpretation of political opposition or dissent as a psychiatric problem.[2] It was called "psychopathological mechanisms" of dissent.[3]

During the leadership of General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev, psychiatry was used to disable and remove from society political opponents ("dissidents") who openly expressed beliefs that contradicted the official dogma.[4][5] The term "philosophical intoxication", for instance, was widely applied to the mental disorders diagnosed when people disagreed with the country's Communist leaders
- Wikipedia

So there are a couple of diagnoses to be added to the DSM for these 'psychologists' to use.

Michael K said...

TDS is spreading to the credentialed classes.

Next they will decide that Math is white supremacy.

China will probably have an easy time overcoming the weak left that avoids math and serious study.

The Mandarin culture that treasures real education will win over a fake credentialism and "diversity."

The future belongs to those who show up prepared and I see no evidence that the present youth will be prepared.

rhhardin said...

Does Stevie Wonder face the flag or do they move the flag in front of him.

Gahrie said...

Am I the only one who sees the irony is going to your knees as a protest?

I think they were in the wrong...but at least the 1968 athletes used a symbol of power, a raised clenched fist, to do their protesting with.

madAsHell said...

Psychologists? Aren't they a little like chiropractors? They are only useful when the lonely women stops talking to her cats.

Anonymous said...

Weird about Stevie Wonder. He always used to perform on the piano.

DKWalser said...

I saw that on Instapundit and thought: "I usually go to Althouse for my drudgetaposition commentary."

Guildofcannonballs said...

Steel Panther @ The Rave
Sun, Dec 10, 2017, 7:00 PM

Inga...Allie Oop said...

It’s crazy that the Trump sycophancy is growing stronger by the month. Insanity, yes indeed.

tim in vermont said...

The Mandarin culture that treasures real education will win over a fake credentialism and "diversity."

They have traditionally lagged in creativity, but without the power of mathematics, creativity is basically good for making pretty cave paintings with your hands and crushed berries.

tim in vermont said...

It’s crazy that the Trump sycophancy is growing stronger by the month. Insanity, yes indeed.

Any news on the "Russian collusion" front?

traditionalguy said...

The Deep State GOP Senate guys now have staged their own media assault on President Trump for his "committing Treason with Russia." The Swamp dwellers are as crazy as bedbugs.

Huey Long ran into his own crazy opponents in the State House who did not like populism.

Snark said...

"It’s crazy that the Trump sycophancy is growing stronger by the month. Insanity, yes indeed."

I'm starting to feel like the blog has lost almost any sense of self-awareness.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

“Any news on the "Russian collusion" front.”

Yes, here you go.

“When Congress sent President Donald Trump a bill in July that slapped new sanctions on Russia, the president signed the legislation reluctantly while lambasting it as an example of congressional overreach.

The administration has since blown past an October 1 deadline to implement the sanctions. Lawmakers are now searching for answers as to whether the president is even planning to follow the law that they passed and he signed.

“If they don’t cooperate, then further actions need to be taken,” Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) told The Daily Beast on Monday.
The Arizona senator, who chairs the powerful Armed Services Committee and has spoken out against the White House on its attitude toward Moscow, said the administration has left him in the dark.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/congress-trump-wont-implement-russia-sanctionsand-he-wont-tell-us-why?via=twitter_page

Etienne said...

Stevie Wonder must be blind to not see how stupid he looks.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

“I'm starting to feel like the blog has lost almost any sense of self-awareness.”

Absolutely. I’ve been seeing it for quite sometime.

tim in vermont said...

Thanks, looks like pretty weak sauce, but whatever. Here's one for you!

Special Counsel Robert Mueller has broadened his investigation, originally focused on Donald Trump's ties with Russia, to a major Hillary Clinton bundler who worked for Ukraine's Party of Regions, a political group backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, also worked for this party.

So Hillary's people mixed right in with Manafort.... I thought he was the sure thing for you guys!

n.n said...

Now they're just mocking the left's baby hunts that after the fourth trimester birthed witches... and warlocks.

Snark said...


“When Congress sent President Donald Trump a bill in July that slapped new sanctions on Russia, the president signed the legislation reluctantly while lambasting it as an example of congressional overreach.”

See now their mistake is to call it a bill. Trump never opens those.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

“So Hillary's people mixed right in with Manafort.... I thought he was the sure thing for you guys!”

Are you too stupid to see that this may prove that Trump is as dirty as Clinton?

Yancey Ward said...

Unknown, remind us again just how long Manafort was in the Trump Campaign?

Chuck said...

Rush Limbaugh has been highlighting the exact same things in the last hour.

The Drudge/Limbaugh/Althouse axis.

Gahrie said...

Are you too stupid to see that this may prove that Trump is as dirty as Clinton?

So..qualified to be and deserving of being president...right?

tim in vermont said...

Are you too stupid to see that this may prove that Trump is as dirty as Clinton?

Are you too stupid to admit that your party put forward a candidate who was deeply corrupt, half of America already knew it, and you guys blame us for not voting for her?

Inga...Allie Oop said...

“So..qualified to be and deserving of being president...right?”

To you, obviously.

tim in vermont said...

To you, obviously

You're the one so butt hurt that Herself lost.

tim in vermont said...

The rest of us live in the real world were choices have to be made from the available options.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

“... too stupid to admit that your party put forward a candidate who was deeply corrupt, half of America already knew it, and you guys blame us for not voting for her?”


I didn’t vote for her. Why did you vote for Trump? You too could’ve either not voted or voted third party. Your hands are not clean.

Ignorance is Bliss said...

Snark said...

I'm starting to feel like the blog has lost almost any sense of self-awareness.

Yeah, I think it's time the Professor moved to the Skynet blogging platform. I hear that one is much more self-aware.

Jim at said...

"It’s crazy that the Trump sycophancy is growing stronger by the month. Insanity, yes indeed."

We're not the ones screaming at the sky, Inga.

tim in vermont said...

You too could’ve either not voted or voted third party.

It was a binary choice. Trump or Clinton. Clintons have been selling out America since the '90s. Trump doesn't have anywhere near the network of corruption they have.

Yancey Ward said...

Chuck and the progressives here remind me of Principal Rooney from Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

“Trump doesn't have anywhere near the network of corruption they have.”

Oh please. Trump makes Clinton look like Pollyanna.

buwaya said...

"creativity is basically good for making pretty cave paintings with your hands and crushed berries."

The cave paintings got very pretty indeed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raphael#/media/File:Raffael_Stanza_della_Segnatura.jpg

tim in vermont said...

Oh please. Trump makes Clinton look like Pollyanna.

Wow you are in some deep denial! Some real detachment from reality! What was the $145 million from Putin to Clinton for, if it wasn't for the Uranium One deal?

Do you have an equivalent story about Trump?

tim in vermont said...

Not equivalent even, it must be many times worse.

Do you want to get into the "pussy grabbing thing"?

Collusion with foreign intelligence agencies?

Where is your ignorance of the history of that couple the deepest?

buwaya said...

"Oh please. Trump makes Clinton look like Pollyanna."

Interesting. In what way has Trump, not in public office until Jan 2017, collected payments for government services rendered? What public policies has he twisted for the sake of payoffs and other valuable personal benefits, what positions has he sold, etc.

Specifics.

tim in vermont said...

Do you want to talk about how Hillary and Bill's good friend from Little Rock, working in Hollywood, claimed to have told "top Dems" about Weinstein, who Hillary still appeared with, praised, and took millions from, then expressed shock at the news?

What has Trump done to make that look "Pollyannish"?

tim in vermont said...

Dream on buwaya, when it comes to specifics, Unknowns mind gets all fuzzy and ... well, look for a squirrel sighting any minute.

Fabi said...

Jeff (the) Flake will not run for reelection in 2018 -- fantastic news as a GOPe loser surrenders.

#ThanksTrump
#ChuckHardestHit

tcrosse said...

Yeah, if I had voted for Hillary I would lie about it, too.

Chuck said...

tim in vermont said...
...
It was a binary choice. Trump or Clinton. Clintons have been selling out America since the '90s. Trump doesn't have anywhere near the network of corruption they have.

Today on the Rush Limbaugh Show, a caller from Virginia wondered what he should do about his state's gubernatorial election. There's a Democrat (Northam) running against former RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie. And the caller complained about the fact that Gillespie was part of the GOP establishment, and he didn't want to have to vote for him.

Rush didn't say "it's a binary choice!" Rush said to the guy that he's really sorry for him, and sympathetic, and doesn't know what he'd do. Rush thought maybe the guy could move, to another state, but just thought it out loud after the call had ended.

That is what is going on here. Serious threats of withdrawing support, if the candidates themselves aren't just right.

I will do the same; I'll start to give more thought to denying support to people who run as Republicans but whom I can't personally support.

Chuck said...

Fabi said...
Jeff (the) Flake will not run for reelection in 2018 -- fantastic news as a GOPe loser surrenders.

#ThanksTrump
#ChuckHardestHit

Democrats must be thrilled.

Chuck said...

Flake's floor speech right now is a broadside slam on Trump.

I hope it ends forever the Democrats' claim that Republicans refuse to criticize Trump.

tim in vermont said...

OK, how about this approach, you tell us the worst thing that Trump has done, the one that is so so much worse than anything Hillary has done, and we will dredge though the old payback machine and see if we can find anything even remotely comparable that has been done by the Clintons.

Has to be worse than giving rocket technology to the Chinese to help out Bill's biggest donor. Has to be worse than placing a trillion dollars worth of low sulphur, low ash coal off limits so that it couldn't be exported to Mexico to help the balance of trade, and which incidentally, helped out one of the actors in Clinton's biggest fundraising scandal.

That has to look Pollyannish in comparison to your Trump example.

tim in vermont said...

The Clintons "Buy one off, get one free!"

buwaya said...

"I hope it ends forever the Democrats' claim that Republicans refuse to criticize Trump."

Good lord, that is naivete beyond reason for a man in your position.
Nothing, ever, will "end forever". Nobody is fighting debates on points.
This is not High School. Its not even realistic for High School.
This is the real world, where anything will be said if it serves some purpose to say it.

Yancey Ward said...

As to Flake, the consequences I warned about after the Obamacare debacles are coming home to roost. The Congressional Republicans needed to hit the ground running in January- here is it October and almost nothing other than Gorsuch goes into their personal win column. This really can't be blamed on Trump, either- does anyone really believe that Trump would have vetoed any of the promises turned into legislation? For truly inexplicable reasons, the leadership seemed to believe it was good politics to not have Trump signing legislation they ran in support of. Time is running out very quickly at this point.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

“Jeff Flake will not run for reelection in 2018 -- fantastic news as a GOPe loser surrenders.”

The good ones are leaving. What have you Trumpists done to your Party and to America?

tim in vermont said...

Breached the blue wall.

Nonapod said...

So far there hasn't been a lot of overt corruption by Trump. There's the tiny utility firm that was awarded a $300m Puerto Rico recover contract. The company is apparently financed by a guy who gave maybe $30-$40k in donations to Trump. That's fairly tame compared to the indiscretions of the Clintons.

MadisonMan said...

It's hilariously bad that Lemon is weeping. Honestly, the only cry-worthy thing this week is the Dutch Destroyer and the Eagles QB.

tim in vermont said...

The good ones are leaving. What have you Trumpists done to your Party and to America?

And the squirrel sighting!

Come on, give us Trump's top foulest crime against America! The one that is many times worse than anything Clinton has done!

pacwest said...

"I will do the same; I'll start to give more thought to denying support to people who run as Republicans but whom I can't personally support."

Chuck, correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that one of the main problems you see with the Bannon wing of the Republican party?

Inga...Allie Oop said...

And the squirrel sighting!

Tim, I think perhaps you're leaning towards mania again. A medication adjustment in order?

tim in vermont said...

by a private-equity firm founded and run by a man who contributed large sums of money to President Trump,

So "large sums of money" = maybe 10 % of what Putin gave Clinton for an hour's private talk at Putin's home, and a single speech? Is that it?

tim in vermont said...

im, I think perhaps you're leaning towards mania again. A medication adjustment in order?

I asked you a simple question. Name the number one thing that Trump has done that makes the Clinton's look like "Pollyanna" in comparison.

Chuck said...

pacwest said...
"I will do the same; I'll start to give more thought to denying support to people who run as Republicans but whom I can't personally support."

Chuck, correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that one of the main problems you see with the Bannon wing of the Republican party?

Precisely! It is precisely what inspired me to write what I did!

Michael K said...

“Jeff Flake will not run for reelection in 2018 -- fantastic news as a GOPe loser surrenders.”

The good ones are leaving. What have you Trumpists done to your Party and to America?


By your leftist definition. He was in big trouble at home, not helped by McCain's grandstanding.

Kelli Ward who ran against McCain last year when he was promising to vote for repeal of Obamacare, was ahead of Flake in the polls here.

It will be interesting to see who gets McCain;s seat when he finally goes under.

buwaya said...

"For truly inexplicable reasons, the leadership seemed to believe it was good politics to not have Trump signing legislation they ran in support of."

They are not a bit inexplicable. The Republican leadership is opposed to fundamental parts of the Trump program, not just in legislation but executive orders. This is a consequence of their answering to interests other than their voters.

The big one is immigration policy. There is a truly enormous gap between public policy preferences here between the Republican establishment and the Republican voters, or the great majority anyway.

But its not just that. US politics is in a multi-dimensional struggle these days. The old order is dying, a new order is being born.

Michael K said...

Tim in vermont, I thought I was the only one around here who remembered the old Clinton scandals that never made the front page of the NY Times.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

Unknown said...
It’s crazy that the Trump sycophancy is growing stronger by the month. Insanity, yes indeed.

10/24/17, 1:16 PM

Old lady shakes fist at clouds.

Sebastian said...

“We must never accept…personal attacks, threats against principles, freedoms, and institutions" Thus saith the snowflake from AZ. Whose great cause was lifting the Cuba embargo.

We got 8 years of "personal attacks" on W. Other than Cheney, few GOPers hit back. We got 8 years of "threats against principles and institutions" by Hill and O. In spite of the Tea Party and GOP election victories, few GOPers hit back. But Trump, Trump we must never accept.

Curious George said...

"sshole Chuck said...
I will do the same; I'll start to give more thought to denying support to people who run as Republicans but whom I can't personally support."

Well aren't you something!

Fabi said...

"Flake's floor speech right now is a broadside slam on Trump."

A broadside slam by a feckless quitter? Devastating!

pacwest said...

I thought so. The Dem's have Bernie, and the Repubs have Bannon. The fringes are getting more powerful on both sides. Any solutions?

Personal story: I gave to Murkowski's third party run. She was up against a party line Dem, and a real nut job Republican who had run under the Tea party banner (he would make Trump look like the adult in the room). Knowing full well what she was. And it worked as badly as I was afraid it might. Tough choices.

Michael K said...

"There is a truly enormous gap between public policy preferences here between the Republican establishment and the Republican voters,"

It isn;t just immigration. The crony capitalist economy did some of these people very well.

The GOP and the public at large has a "principal agent problem" which means the agents assigned or elected to do the public's business have decided to benefit their own welfare and lie to the public.

The public has caught on. Hence Trump who, for all his faults, has no connection with the Administrative Sate and its enablers.

He has 99% of DC as enemies and he may not succeed, but if he goes down, it will be civil war,

tim in vermont said...

What's amazing is the parallels between, for example, the whole Lippo Group - clean coal sellout to the Indonesians, and the Uranium One deal, except the dollars in the Uranium One deal were much larger for the Clintons. Supposedly, Bill Clinton's mentor, Fulbright, of Arkansas, did a similar deal to put a diamond mine in Arkansas off limits as a favor to DeBeers. To this day you can go there and collect rough diamonds as a hobbyist, just no industrial mining allowed. What a great way to monetize the political power the people have entrusted you with!

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

Come on, give us Trump's top foulest crime against America! The one that is many times worse than anything Clinton has done!

10/24/17, 2:27 PM

Answer the question, Inga.

tim in vermont said...

Still waiting, Unknown....

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

Chuck showed last November that he really has his finger on the pulse of America.

We should all heed his pronouncements.

Etienne said...

Self-awareness is over-rated.

"...studies have shown that it generally takes at least five kind comments to compensate for a single criticism." - Jonah Lehrer,2011

Guildofcannonballs said...

Sally Quinn and I have the power to hex people who don't vote the way we prefer, Chuck.

buwaya said...

"The GOP and the public at large has a "principal agent problem"

Exactly so. It will take a bit more time, but the political/social realignment will resolve the agent problem. The only questions are who will "win", which emergent side will acquire a preponderance of power, and what sort and what intensity of crises the US will have to go through.

The conventional political structures created by conventional political processes do not suffice to describe the actual state of power after the crises. They map very poorly to actual power today, and this will get worse.

tim in vermont said...

I really blame the Clintons. The New York Times was all over them for a while, then their Manhattan readership rebelled, and the whole model of a watchdog press collapsed.

Bay Area Guy said...

"Stevie Wonder Performs National Anthem on Knees..."

Well, he is very superstitious and was trying to focus on the ribbon in the sky.

tim in vermont said...

Even Chris Mathews show was a great summary of Clinton malfeasance, day after day. He knuckled under too. Mathews really believed the whole feminist party line on sexual harassment too. Before it became clear to all Democrats what the real party line of feminism was, and it wasn't women first.

Todd said...

exiledonmainstreet said...
Come on, give us Trump's top foulest crime against America! The one that is many times worse than anything Clinton has done!

10/24/17, 2:27 PM

Answer the question, Inga.

10/24/17, 2:45 PM


I will try to help get Inga started. As we are looking for "in office" "crimes", (though my attempt is lame, it is the best I can do as I am not aware of a single law he has broken)...

Trump FAILED to release any of his tax records!

Who can top that?

buwaya said...

"I really blame the Clintons. The New York Times was all over them for a while, then their Manhattan readership rebelled, and the whole model of a watchdog press collapsed."

I don't blame them - OK, they were a negative influence on all sorts of things, but in the end they are just people. The broader situation determines the current situation, and individuals matter only in details. The trends in US governance and its economy are not the fault of one administration or one executive.

One can see the Clintons, etc., as symptoms, effects, rather than causes. Similarly, Trump is an effect, not a cause. There would most likely have been a Trump of some sort. Its a human failing to personalize larger things.

pacwest said...

"isn;t just immigration. The crony capitalist economy did some of these people very well."

Excellent points buwaya and Michael K. The Republicans had every opportunity to fold the Tea Party (who were all about crony capitalism in the beginning) into their fold. That is how you get Trump.

Achilles said...

Chuck said...
Flake's floor speech right now is a broadside slam on Trump.

I hope it ends forever the Democrats' claim that Republicans refuse to criticize Trump.


Flake is a globalist tool and a traitor to the people who elected him. He is getting run out of his sinecure and whining like a stuck pig.

wwww said...


Corker and now Flake. Is that it for retirements, or are more coming? Senate or House?

Achilles said...

Unknown said...
“Trump doesn't have anywhere near the network of corruption they have.”

Oh please. Trump makes Clinton look like Pollyanna.

The leftists just aren't here in good faith. They hate this country and the people in it. Their only goal is power and they use their power to accrue wealth on the backs of the work of others.

Capitalists try to make more. Socialists try to divide what others make. Socialists really don't do anything good for the world.

buwaya said...

Codevilla and that school aren't into blaming individuals either.
This is correct.

There are cases in history where a great deal turned on one decision, one throw of the dice, by one person, usually a "great man", but often by the humble and obscure (the horseshoe nail theory has a lot of value), but these are not too common.

wwww said...


Senators want to "Get Out?" Is the wall to keep people out, or keep us in? Someone could put together a cheesy horror movie of Senators trying to escape WA DC.

Nonapod said...

One can see the Clintons, etc., as symptoms, effects, rather than causes. Similarly, Trump is an effect, not a cause. There would most likely have been a Trump of some sort. Its a human failing to personalize larger things.

I guess it depends on whether you subscribe to something like the "Great Man Theory" or not. Can individuals have an impact or are we all just swept along by the tide of destiny or whatever (Personally I believe there's a little of both going on)

traditionalguy said...

Corker blows his cork and then Flake flakes out, both in one day. The force is strong with DaTrump today.It must be Trump's terrible Tweeting Addiction again.

Jim at said...

"Come on, give us Trump's top foulest crime against America! The one that is many times worse than anything Clinton has done!"

For starters, he won.

That's enough of a crime for the fifth-column left.

Achilles said...

"I really blame the Clintons. The New York Times was all over them for a while, then their Manhattan readership rebelled, and the whole model of a watchdog press collapsed."

The Clintons were just particularly well paid tools. So are most of the DC swamp critters. The NYTs is a tool wholly owned and supported. So are all of the major media outlets. They are all tools for the same people. buwaya points this out often.

For all of the money and power the Clintons obtained they were only just tools. The actual players like Steyer and Soros pull the strings.

eddie willers said...

Corker: "You can't fire me....I quit!"

buwaya said...

" Can individuals have an impact or are we all just swept along by the tide of destiny or whatever "

It can and has happened, where an individual will has forced things into a different state, or even a snap decision that could have gone another way had huge consequences.

I can think of several - my favorite of course is the night President McKinley decided US policy re the Philippines. In a way it was a matter of whimsy - the result of a night of prayer as per McKinley afterwards. It was recognized, not long after, by a plurality of US decision makers, as a poor call, and almost unanimously so within fifteen years. But it was very difficult to let go even this unprofitable property, US power had to grow in Asia to defend it, and so come into conflict with other powers.

This created a spurious US interest in East Asia, with a huge foothold there that was very difficult to get rid of. This changed a very great deal about world history. It gave the US its first real strategic opponent (Japan) since 1815. And for nothing, as there was no benefit to the effort needed to hold on to the Philippines and its cost in strategic friction. World history would have gone very differently had McKinley decided otherwise that night in 1898.

My other favorite is the behavior of Marshal Bazaine in 1870.

Michael K said...

There would most likely have been a Trump of some sort. Its a human failing to personalize larger things.

We had Perot who might have won in 1992 but for his meltdown over his daughter's wedding. Muskie had a similar meltdown in 1968 or he might have beaten Nixon.

Nobody remembers Muskie but I do and he had a good shot. Somebody, probably a prankster, insulted his wife and he dissolved in tears.

The GOP Senators who are quitting know they are in trouble at home. I thought Corker would be good but have been disappointed,.

Flake was riding on his history as Director of the Goldwater Institute in Phoenix. He was very narrowly elected over Richard Carmona who might well have been a better Senator although a Democrat.

It might be interesting for some here to read Mike Lotus and Jim Bennett's book "America 3.0" which postulates a reorganization of population after a crisis.

We may be in the early stages of that crisis now.

Michael K said...

A great man change in history is described in "Five Days in London; May 1940."

The decisions there determined the outcome of the Second World War. Had Halifax been chose as PM, and he was favored by the King who did not like Churchill, and by the Tory party which also disliked him, the war would likely have been won by Hitler.

It might be that he would have invaded the USSR anyway but the Soviets would not have gotten Lend Lease.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

According to Chuck, Flake is everything a GOP Senator should be, especially when it comes to trashing Trump.

Flake’s approval rating in Arizona at 18 percent.

Yep. Chuck really is in touch with the conservative electorate!

Fabi said...

Flake might ask -- what am I not ahead by 50 points?

Chuck said...

In 277 days, Trump has gone from a Republican majority in the Senate to what is now doubtlessly a minority for anything he wants.

52, minus McCain, minus Flake, minus Corker equals 49. And below that 49, there are Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Deb Fischer, Dean Heller, Rob Portman, Tom Cotton and Ben Sasse.

If the House could be taken by the Dems*, and they introduced Articles of Impeachment on a party-line vote, I'm not so sure that 51 Dems in the Senate couldn't find 16 Republicans to join. I just listed ten above. Seven if you leave out Corker, Flake and McCain. There could be many more, beyond my ad hoc list.

*For the record, I have said that based on current districting, it is not possible for Dems to retake the House in 2018. If the 2020 election is a sweep election for Dems, then redistricting could lead to Dem majorities all over for a decade after that.

Gahrie said...

In 277 days, Trump has gone from a Republican majority in the Senate to what is now doubtlessly a minority for anything he wants.

So what? The Republicans in the Senate didn't matter and couldn't get anything done.

Besides at this point there is a very good chance that some of those people, and a few Democrats will be replaced by Republicans who will actually honor their word and try to actually accomplish something.

Chuck said...

exiledonmainstreet said...
According to Chuck, Flake is everything a GOP Senator should be, especially when it comes to trashing Trump.

Flake’s approval rating in Arizona at 18 percent.

Yep. Chuck really is in touch with the conservative electorate!

Rush Limbaugh doesn't even refer to "The Limbaugh Institute of Advanced Conservative Studies" anymore. He knows that conservatism, and politics, is right out the window. It is now all about fighting the librul media. It's "anti." Anti, period. Anti media, anti left, anti establishment.

Darrell said...

Chuck's pal McCain is thinking of switching over to the Democratic Party so that Arizona's governor will have to choose a Democrat to serve out his term. Chuck's pal Flake is a cocksucker like Chuck himself. Chuck had predicted that Trump would be the one taken out by Flake, if you recall.

Fabi said...

Chuck daydreams of impeachment. I can't wait to see the indictment! Give us a heads up, Chuck -- which whispered high crimes and misdemeanors are you salivating over?

Gahrie said...

It's "anti." Anti, period. Anti media, anti left, anti establishment.

But not anti-Trump to your dismay....

ALP said...

RE the Mandarin culture discussion:

"They have traditionally lagged in creativity, but without the power of mathematics, creativity is basically good for making pretty cave paintings with your hands and crushed berries."

Having been in a studio design program with young Chinese exchange students, I have to vigorously disagree. Talk about the total package: a 20-something that can whip out elegant design after elegant design all while picking up new software programs and handling CAD tasks as if it was child's play. Creativity + technical ability + an intense work ethic = ALP was truly humbled by the experience.

Yep, either the robots or the Chinese take over this globe - probably a blend of the two!

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

" It's "anti." Anti, period. Anti media, anti left, anti establishment."

Actually, I'm for Republicans doing what they promised instead of lying to us and playing us for fools and kissing Democrat ass.

We are "anti establishment" only because the GOPe establishment is a craven pack of liars and toadies who care more about their donors than about their own base.

You still - still - don't have a clue as to why or how Trump happened.

hombre said...

Unknown: "It’s crazy that the Trump sycophancy is growing stronger by the month. Insanity, yes indeed."

"Sycophant" doesn't mean what this pinhead thinks it means.

hombre said...

Unknown: "'Jeff Flake will not run for reelection in 2018 -- fantastic news as a GOPe loser surrenders.'

The good ones are leaving. What have you Trumpists done to your Party and to America?"

Swamprat worship.

Rabel said...

I don't know if Flake has any women, but I bet they're lamenting if he does.

buwaya said...

"Rush Limbaugh doesn't even refer to "The Limbaugh Institute of Advanced Conservative Studies" anymore. "

Limbaugh is much better connected to the zeitgeist than the "conservatives"

"It's "anti." Anti, period. Anti media, anti left, anti establishment."

Well, yes. There is no "conservative" establishment really, not anymore. The great divergence has been going on for a long time, and sometimes events are just a matter of suddenly realizing what has been trending. Perhaps these trends could have been slowed down or changed by a more effective performance by "conservatives". The fault really is theirs, the trends were apparent since Ross Perot, as Mike points out. Ultimately much earlier though.

There is the matter of the leftist "long march through the institutions". This was a well-known, well understood problem since at least Alan Bloom's "Closing of the American Mind"; or, heck, since Buckley's "God and Man at Yale", but besides all the wailing and gnashing of teeth, nothing was actually done about it. This all was "conservative" negligence.

Etienne said...

If American citizens were to go out and search for 100 losers, they would have to travel no further than the US Senate.

As far as I am concerned, there should be no incumbent's on the ballots going forward. They should be red marked out.

Michael K said...

"You still - still - don't have a clue as to why or how Trump happened."

No, chuck is in the NR tent until the earthquake is over. Nobody looks out to see what is happening.

Chuck hopes for trump impeachment so "real conservatives like JEB!" can run the country,

It's interesting to see the left and the GOPe completely clueless about what is happening.

They repeat the same stock phrases as if they meant something.

Michael K said...

Reagan was a wild man to the Bush people who preferred Yale graduates who were "clubable" as the Tories disintegrate across the Pond.

Same phenomenon and Austria and Czech Republican see it more clearly.

Fabi said...

Your comment at 4:27 PM is on point, Michael K.

Francisco D said...

It sounds like most of the Althouse crowd is sophisticated enough to know that it is grossly unethical for a psychologist to diagnose a person they have not met, tested or interviewed. As a side note, their diagnosis would be private health information that cannot be disclosed without consent.

Even the professional school wackos who dominate Psychology today know that.

-30 years Ph.D. in Psychology from a Research 1 state university, not one of the wackos.

buwaya said...

A great deal of the "conservative" problem was that most ancient sin, that of pride.

It manifested in cultural and class bigotry.

The great and good were socially and culturally exclusive. Despising, while contentedly preaching, to the mass of their middle class voters. The devout peasantry of the Evangelicals and such were kept at arms length. The financiers, those fellows who supported the think tanks and the magazines all these years were largely at fault.

They spent a pittance on a few eggheads and, as Instapundit notes, letting the womens magazines (for instance) become leftist strongholds.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Corker pops.
flake flakes off.

Francisco D said...

Of course, I am free to state my unprofessional opinion that Chuck is an attention whore with a streak of vulgar defensiveness a mile long.

Even then, he sometimes makes sense.

Final point, Arizona is my destination state (next spring). There is no way I would vote for Flake over Kelli Ward. He is resigning because he is losing.

wwww said...


Trump seems like a Boomer generation phenomenon. He's typical of a Boomer generation and rejected a lot of the WWII values -- divorce, not attending church, Howard Stern, avoiding military service. A lot of the pols in power are Boomers.

Fabi said...

"...Chuck is an attention whore with a streak of vulgar defensiveness a mile long.

He has some bad traits, too.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Most leftist don't give a damn about Clinton Corruption. SAD!

Michael K said...

" Arizona is my destination state (next spring). "

If it's Tucson, let me know. We could talk about neighborhoods, etc.

If Phoenix, you're on your own. I work in Phoenix and everybody I know wants to live in Tucson.

Michael K said...

"The financiers, those fellows who supported the think tanks and the magazines all these years were largely at fault. "

And a lot of politicians, like Flake for example, have lived off them.

buwaya said...

"It's interesting to see the left and the GOPe completely clueless about what is happening."

They aren't clueless, as we see, some are quitting. They clearly see their prospects fading.

Whats interesting is that they do not accommodate their positions to the will of their constituents. I have been puzzling about this since 2015. All these political professionals saw what Trump was doing, but none of them (well, just a bit by Cruz) even tried to adopt what were clearly popular positions.

Politicians are by nature chasers of bandwagons, that is their professional skill, besides rhetoric and bedazzlement. If they need to sing a different tune, then they should be happy to sing it, and superlatively well. But not these. What this lot has done is to insist, most ineffectively, that the public follow them, not to follow the public (and their lack of persuasive skill has been a true wonder).

One can only conclude that they truly answer to some extremely rigid but wealthy interests from which they expect to gain far more, for their loyalty, than from political success.

wwww said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Francisco D said...

It's Tucson, Michael. We are going to check out areas north of town in mid-November. My girlfriend is a runner (mostly half marathons) and hopes to get tips from the running clubs there.

I am partial to Oro Valley. We need to find a place where she can run safely and without too many hills. She also needs to work another 10 years and expects it will be at the U. of A.

Commute time may be an issue. I grew up in Chicago and have had 90 minute one-way commutes. She has lived in Iowa the last 25 years and is spoiled by 10-15 minute commutes.

No more commuting for me. I am retired in 25 weeks!!!

D 2 said...

Screaming at the Sky does not suggest you are interested in "discussion" or "listening" or "a conversation" with people who may disagree with you on the direction of public policy and the nature of government whom, in casual arrogance, you clap at the label deplorable, or libel as racist.

Screaming at the Sky suggests it is either your Way or else Screaming. It attracts attention, sure. Of a kind.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

No - the Clintons refuse to go away and they have never paid for their crimes. Going away isn't good enough. I want them in jail.

Michael K said...

"I am partial to Oro Valley. "

We are just at south end of Oro Valley but in the county.

We are in one of the precincts that voted for Trump. I checked.

I commute to Phoenix twice a week and it is 90 minutes at 5 AM.

Tonight I commute to LA for two days, Leave in an hour.

Our neighborhood is called "The foothills"

The last winner of the women's bicycle "Tour d' Tucson" was a transsexual. Coming to a women's sports near you.

Kevin said...

Chuck and the progressives here remind me of Principal Rooney from Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Ed Rooney: I don't trust this kid any further than I can throw him.

School Secretary: Well, with your bad knee, Ed, you shouldn't throw anybody. It's true.

Ed Rooney: What is so dangerous about a character like Ferris Bueller is he gives good kids bad ideas. Last thing I need at this point in my career is 1,500 Ferris Bueller disciples running around these halls. He jeopardizes my ability to effectively govern this student body.

School Secretary: He makes you look like an ass, is what he does, Ed.

Ed Rooney: Thank you, Grace, but I think you're wrong.

School Secretary: Oh, he's very popular, Ed. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wasteoids, dweebies, dickheads, they all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude.

Ed Rooney: That is why I need to show these kids that the example he sets is a first-class ticket to nowhere!

School Secretary: Oh, Ed, you sounded like Dirty Harry just then.

Ed Rooney: Really? Thanks, Grace.

Kevin said...

In 277 days, Trump has gone from a Republican majority in the Senate to what is now doubtlessly a minority for anything he wants.

The Republican majority in the Senate couldn't repeal Obamacare after voting to do so, what, eight times?

And your argument is that Trump somehow has broken this high-performing group?

Corker and Flake aren't running because the voters in their states see through their crap. Trump is just their cover story to make it look like they're quitting on their own.

Chuck said...

The Republican majority in the Senate couldn't repeal Obamacare after voting to do so, what, eight times?

That's a lie. At a minimum, it is a grossly misleading myth.

Obamacare was passed largely while the Dems had 60 votes. And it will take 60 votes to undo it.

In reconciliation, a simple majority of Republicans could do something like defund it, but in that instance, they'd leave millions of Americans bare.

The House passed something like that, and President Donald J. Trump, after rooting for it, was later informed of some of the consequences and called the bill "too mean."

Trump campaigned on covering "everybody." Providing "great care." With lowered premiums, lower copays, lower deductibles and lowered co-insurance. Trump said that he'd accomplish that by getting everybody together in a room and making great deals.

You fuckheads don't really know what you want, apart from wrecking anything that had Obama's name on it. Trump, being a dumb fuckhead himself, is clued into you and so your notions become his policy. As if it counts as any policy at all.

Michael K said...

Next year will tell if the Trump effort will really clean some of the swamp. He needs some economic growth and has helped on his own with a holocaust of regulation cutting.

Pruit and Perry are cutting weeds and their progress ca be measured by screams from the left.

DeVos is doing good work but the ed schools need a house cleaning to really get anywhere,

Michael K said...

"apart from wrecking anything that had Obama's name on it."

That would certainly be a start but not for LLRs.

Clyde said...

Those headlines brought this old song from 1978 to mind:

Inmates (We're All Crazy) - Alice Cooper

bleh said...

Looks like it's confirmed the Clinton campaign and the DNC hired Kremlin-linked Fusion GPS, and therefore funded the Trump dossier. Per Washington Post.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Darrell said...
Chuck's pal McCain is thinking of switching over to the Democratic Party so that Arizona's governor will have to choose a Democrat to serve out his term.


That is genuinely funny, hope it's true. Essentially the same thing that happened between Trump, the NYC property developer, and the banks is now happening between Trump, the president, and the RNC. No one will work with the fucker because he has screwed everyone at least once.

buwaya said...

"As if it counts as any policy at all."

Interesting.

IIRC, Trump campaigned on a very specific plank, as these things go in US politics.
Many of these things were well within the "conservative" wheelhouse, such as for instance "the wall", immigration reform, and not least that great backlog of appointments which are nearly all "conservatives" of the Gorsuch sort - Trump has, after all, accepted plenty of advice on appointments, and followed nearly all of it.

But if it really does take 60 to repeal Obamacare, it does not require 60 for most of the above, nor would it take 60 to give Obamacare a death by a hundred cuts, nor to put in an effective palliative for blowback - a permanent Medicaid expansion say.

But no, no, no, and yet again no. It seems to be a habit really. One has to conclude that there are many Senators that don't truly have their hearts in any of that.

Kevin said...

The Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee helped fund research that resulted in a now-famous dossier containing allegations about Donald Trump’s connections to Russia and possible coordination between his campaign and the Kremlin, people familiar with the matter said.

Why should it take a year to find this out? Oh, because it implicates the Dems.

Imagine if Hillary were president. We'd never know.

Fabi said...

My observation at 4:47 PM is quickly validated.

buwaya said...

"Looks like it's confirmed the Clinton campaign and the DNC hired Kremlin-linked Fusion GPS, and therefore funded the Trump dossier. Per Washington Post."

Look for the MSM to find yet another squirrel to chase.

BTW, this is smoking gun stuff that "US intelligence agencies" were compromised, intervening in politics in cooperation with the Democrats at the behest of the outgoing administration.

"It's "anti." Anti, period. Anti media, anti left, anti establishment."

And things like this are why this is so. Its all corrupt beyond utility.

Fabi said...

Let's style it as "Harvey Weinstein Pal Hillary Clinton Paid For Fake Russia Dossier"

Inga swears the video of the hookers playing water sports on the bed will be released soon!

Don't drink too much tonight and have another of your infamous meltdowns ARM.

bleh said...

buwaya, the article also says the FBI agreed to pay Steele to continue his research after the election. They only stopped paying him when the dossier and his identity became public. Insane!

buwaya said...

And note - its taken what, just over a year? since the "17 intelligence agencies" declared Russian hacking, knowing without a doubt the provenance of this dossier and on this clearly partisan basis cooperating with the unmasking of private communications of the then-opposition party for political purposes.

But it took till today to reveal all this. A year, blocking information from their putative department secretaries and Congressional oversight, and not least the public, again so that their favored party could make political use of it.

Your executive agencies, and especially the most dangerous ones, your security agencies, are massively, thoroughly and very dangerously corrupt, indisciplined, their management possessed of their own agendas.

This is plainly treason against the state. Assuming of course a traditional concept of the state.

Clyde said...

Deep State Boss: "The Niger Gold Star widow distraction isn't working. Reporters are talking about the Uranium 1 scandal on Fox News! We need another distraction! Quick, get Corker and Flake out there to badmouth the President, and McCain to give them an amen."

Deep State Operative: "I've got them all out there ready to go full Vichy. You won't hear another peep about Uranium 1, the Clintons or the Obama administration!"

Deep State Boss: "Exxxxxxcellent!"

buwaya said...

"buwaya, the article also says the FBI agreed to pay Steele to continue his research after the election. They only stopped paying him when the dossier and his identity became public. Insane!'

Its only insane if one does not subscribe to their assumption of impunity.
I think even now the people behind this think it will fade away without consequences.
I am not going to say they are wrong.

Washington and its system is a banana republic of a special sort, that expects no discipline even if the old caudillo and his camarilla is replaced by a new one.

wholelottasplainin said...

On the Simpsons, Grandpa yelling at clouds was a sign of dementia.

Just sayin'

Phil 314 said...

from Wikipedia:

"one of eight House members to receive a 100% approval rating from the American Conservative Union. A "scourge of pork-barrel spending", Flake was ruled the least profligate spender in Congress by Citizens Against Government Waste in July 2007 and designated a "taxpayer superhero."[25] In 2008, Flake voted against the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).
Flake is "known for his ardent opposition to earmarks.""

He also voted FOR each of the Senate bills to repeal Obamacare. I guess it all comes down to:
-he was one of the gang of 8
- anti-Trump.

This is why I left the Republican Party last year.

As for what's next in AZ the big question mark is if any other prominent AZ Republican (such as Schweikert or McSally) will pursue his seat.

My bet would be that if Kelli Ward wins the Republican nomination, the US Senate will have its first openly bisexual senator.

Fabi said...

"My bet would be that if Kelli Ward wins the Republican nomination, the US Senate will have its first openly bisexual senator."

Is she hot?

buwaya said...

"Is she hot?"

When young, maybe.

buwaya said...

"-he was one of the gang of 8"

It keeps coming down to immigration doesn't it?
This seems to be the sticking point, over and over, and explains pretty much everything about the Republican split. And this goes back to 2015, if not earlier.

Many political careers have suffered in order to defy public opinion on this.

It matters a very great deal to some people, and they have put a great deal of money behind it.

rcocean said...

"This is why I left the Republican Party last year."

And please stay out.

We didn't need phonies who refuse to support the Republican POTUS nominee when the only other choice is Hillary. And Flake was an open borders, Globalist, and perfectly willing to the let the Liberal Democrats run the government and make meaningless talk about "Smaller government" while Wall street got its cheap labor and the Liberal Democrats got their new immigrant voters.

Rabel said...

Big Badda Boom

Rabel said...

Within minutes of the Post's article going up there were hundreds of comments and likes in the comments section saying that this was old news and that it had been previously reported. Lies. But an indicator that they knew it was coming and their trolls were prepped and ready to pounce.

Fabi said...

Maybe we're about to find out what Jeff Sessions has been doing while in his new position.

rcocean said...

Here's some of Flake's sanctimonious bullshit:

"It is clear at this moment that a traditional conservative, who believes in limited government and free markets, who is devoted to free trade, who is pro-immigration, has a narrower and narrower path to nomination in the Republican Party, the party that has so long defined itself by its belief in those things. It's also clear to me for the moment that we have given in or given up on the core principles in favor of a more viscerally satisfying anger and resentment."

Sorry, but the Republican party has almost never defined itself as "devoted to free trade". Reagan rarely discussed trade, same thing with Nixon. And before Nixon the Republicans were the party of Economic nationalism. The same is true of immigration. Its the Democrat who are the party of "open borders" - TR was attacking people for being 50% Americans. Coolidge signed the 1924 Immigration act, Ike sent millions of illegals back to Mexico, and Nixon never uttered a peep against Immigration restriction.

As for Reagan he approved Amnesty but expected as part of the deal, the Immigration laws would finally be enforced and the border secured. He was never an "open borders" fanatic like Flake, Ryan,, or McCain.

Michael K said...

"they have put a great deal of money behind it."

Yes. The swamp is rolling in money.

Why do you think the GOPe and NR and TWS are all lined up against Trump?

When they say it is not about the money, it's about the money,

When Nunes gets through, he could be the next GOP governor of California. There has been a tradition of GOP governors and Democrat legislatures for years before the recent freakout.

Send enough Democrats to prison and you might be surprised what happens.

Nunes is the hero in this. They have been trying to block him frantically.

Want to bet the Awan thing is involved, too?

Bob Ellison said...

I'm so sorry I just told a good friend to run for office. What a horrible thing to do!

Gk1 said...

What is the use of having a "republican majority" that is too afraid of their own shadow to repeal obamacare or do any meaningful rollback of the obama years. Good riddance McCain, Flake and all the other RINO quislings.

rcocean said...

"When Nunes gets through, he could be the next GOP governor of California. There has been a tradition of GOP governors and Democrat legislatures for years before the recent freakout."

Doubtful 45% of Californians don't speak English at Home. The last Republican Gov to get over 50% since 1997? Arnold got 55% when he ran for re-election. That's 20 years, and California just keeps getting bluer and bluer.

Further, California now has a blanket primary. You have to get 51% or be in the top 2 to go to the General. Which makes it even harder for an R to get elected.

wwww said...

?? Corker & Flake both voted for the legislation Trump wanted. They supported his legislative agenda. I don't get this. Is being complementary of Trump on TeVee more important then a vote for R legislation? Repealing Obamacare? You need legislation to do anything substantive, and that includes immigration and taxes. Anything else is temporary, and is subject to holding the presidency forever. They both voted for Trump's agenda. They didn't vote against it like Collins.

Question. On CNN tonight somebody asserted that it's all about the culture war. That it doesn't matter Corker & Flake voted for Trump's legislation. Because Corker & Flake weren't for Charlottesville you want them out. That Charlottesville was a win. And this Win at "Charlottesville" -- this sounds like Chancellorville and a Civil War battle. -- Anyways, so is this Win at Charlottesville (and the other culture war stuff that dominates the news) is just as important as legislation to Trump's base?

Is that true? Is he right? Is this the "winning" & what people voted for? If so, I don't get it. What's the get? What do you get out of this?

rcocean said...

"Is that true? Is he right? Is this the "winning" & what people voted for? If so, I don't get it. What's the get? What do you get out of this?"

Who are you arguing with? Flake and Corker are both Globalist and Open borders types-who are against Trump's Foreign policy, trade policy, and immigration policy. Further, Flake has been trashing the POTUS since Day 1. Corker started on Day 2.

And Corker is now balking at supporting tax cuts. Who knows that Flake will do.
Trying to present them as Loyal Republican foot soldiers is ridiculous.

Why don't you answer me this. Why is it, we never, I mean never, hear a Democrat Senator criticize Schumer? Why do every one of the 48 Senators vote in lockstep? Don't they minds of their own? And when did Reid or any Democrat Senator publicly criticize Obama?

wwww said...

"Who are you arguing with? Flake and Corker are both Globalist and Open borders types-who are against Trump's Foreign policy, trade policy, and immigration policy. Further, Flake has been trashing the POTUS since Day 1. Corker started on Day 2."

But they voted with him. They probably would vote for any bill Trump and the Congress got in front of the Senate. They weren't Collins or Merkowski or even Heller. I honestly am baffled by the content of the Republican civil war.


"Why don't you answer me this. Why is it, we never, I mean never, hear a Democrat Senator criticize Schumer? Why do every one of the 48 Senators vote in lockstep? Don't they minds of their own? And when did Reid or any Democrat Senator publicly criticize Obama?"

I don't have any insight into these people & their personalities. Not my circus, not my monkeys. I'm not asking you to explain people you don't know.

Bay Area Guy said...

If I may paraphrase Nixon, "we are all fuckheads now!"

walter said...

"Scream at the sky": Bark at the moon

rcocean said...

"I honestly am baffled by the content of the Republican civil war. "

Well, then you're not very clever.

Howard said...

The beginning of the end of the GOP in California was republican backed term limits ballot iniative which transfered the power from the long tenured legislators to lobbyists.

wwww said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
walter said...

Chuck said...I hope it ends forever the Democrats' claim that Republicans refuse to criticize Trump.
--
More like "Hey! Our hypocritical attacks are working! They're eating their own! Double down! Double da fuck DOWN!""

Birkel said...

Phil 3:14

When you mention Flake's record in the House, you neglect to mention his performance as a senator. Has he accomplished anything of note, as viewed by his constituents?

As for you leaving the Republican Party, what the ever looking hell took you so long. President Bush expanding federal government after his re-election wasn't enough for you?

Phil 314 said...

When I spoke of the possibility of the first opnly bisexual Senator this is who I was alluding to.

Michael K said...

The beginning of the end of the GOP in California was republican backed term limits ballot iniative which transfered the power from the long tenured legislators to lobbyists.

You are right but the Mv]cCain Feingold bill did the same at the federal level.

All Congress critters is "dial for dollars" while staffs and lobbyists write the legislation.

Big Mike said...

There are a bunch of seats currently held by Democrats that are ripe for Republican pickup next year. Debbie Stabenow is past her sell-by date. Bob Menendez will be in jail and Chris Christie will appoint his successor. Claire McCaskill, Tammy Baldwin, Jon Tester, Martin Heinrich, and Heidi Heitkamp are vulnerable, just looking at the numbers. I think Smarmy Tim Kaine is very beatable. Sherrod Brown won in Ohio with only 51% of the vote on Obama’s coattails; last November his state went for Trump. Manchin has a tightrope to walk — be too loyal to a party that wants to grab guns a put coal miners out of work, and he could lose despite being personally very popular.

Against that Hatch could retire — he’s 84 — but Utah is almost incandescent red so not many worries. The GOP could lose Nevada and either Flake’s seat or Corker’s, but it won’t lose all three and probably no more than one. Of course idiot child Bannon may lose Alabama to the Dems, and that will hurt.

So, bottom line, the Republicans should easily hold the Senate, probably even expand their margin.

Birkel said...

Big Mike,
Tell me which policies Democrats will unbelievably advocate on the way to electoral victories. I would struggle after "We are not Trump" to find a single popular, positive message that would sway voters.

Efforts to suppress turnout by going extremely negative are the best strategies. When you see extreme negativity, you will know that is the plan.

And the problem is that motivated conservative Trump supporters may be the most difficult to suppress. They are largely immune to the MSM narratives.

Achilles said...

Howard said...
The beginning of the end of the GOP in California was republican backed term limits ballot iniative which transfered the power from the long tenured legislators to lobbyists.

The beginning of the end for the GOP in California was when they started allowing anyone from Mexico who could get over the border and get a drivers license vote. LA county had 144% of the total voting eligible population turnout in 2016.

Achilles said...

wwww said...

But they voted with him. They probably would vote for any bill Trump and the Congress got in front of the Senate. They weren't Collins or Merkowski or even Heller. I honestly am baffled by the content of the Republican civil war.

The voters want a nation with laws, borders, and a free market. The GOPe losers like Flake and Corker are paid for globalist shills who want open borders and "free trade" and all but supported Clinton in the election. They would have been the 51st vote to save Obamacare if it came down to them. They do whatever their donors tell them to do just like the democrats in the senate.

urbane legend said...

I hope the screamers have a satisfying day. I also hope they have no voice at the end of it for a long time.

tim in vermont said...

"It is clear at this moment that a traditional conservative, who believes in limited government and free markets, who is devoted to free trade, who is pro-immigration, has a narrower and narrower path to nomination in the Republican Party,

If he substituted "open borders" for "pro-immigration" he might get a clue as to why one of those things is not like the others. Because calling illegal aliens traditional immigrants means "open borders." It's that simple. It's not that hard.

walter said...

Achilles said...LA county had 144% of the total voting eligible population turnout in 2016.
--
The New Math is impressive.