February 8, 2020

Even if Sanders can win the presidency, "nothing will happen, and he’ll just be sitting up there screaming in the microphone about the revolution."

From an interview at Vox — "'We’re losing our damn minds': James Carville unloads on the Democratic Party/Why the longtime Democratic strategist is 'scared to death' of the 2020 election" —answering the question "Are we really sure Sanders can’t win?," James Carville says:
Who the hell knows? But here’s what I do know: Sanders might get 280 electoral votes and win the presidency and maybe we keep the House. But there’s no chance in hell we’ll ever win the Senate with Sanders at the top of the party defining it for the public. Eighteen percent of the country elects more than half of our senators. That’s the deal, fair or not.

So long as [Mitch] McConnell runs the Senate, it’s game over. There’s no chance we’ll change the courts, and nothing will happen, and he’ll just be sitting up there screaming in the microphone about the revolution.

The purpose of a political party is to acquire power. All right? Without power, nothing matters.
That is, it isn't even worth winning with Sanders. Another way of looking at this is: The Democrats need to refocus their strategy on winning the Senate. That's a reachable goal, and the fight for the presidency is overshadowing and endangering it.

148 comments:

Shouting Thomas said...

I had a different take no the meaning:

We all know Bernie is just kidding about this communism shit...

Even he wouldn’t be crazy enough to try to make it happen.

tim maguire said...

Carville is right that Sanders would be an ineffective president, but if I were inclined to vote for him, that wouldn’t dissuade me. The presidency is the world's largest soapbox. At a minimum, a president Sanders can make sure that the issues he cares about don’t get ignored. He can force them into the public debate and increase their chances of becoming reality eventually.

rhhardin said...

The want the senate because they want the courts, and they want the courts because they can't pass what they want in the legislature, and they can't pass what they want in the legislature because people would vote them out. They can't vote out the court.

gilbar said...

Eighteen percent of the country elects more than half of our senators. That’s the deal

Serious Question
How many of military come from those 18%
more important
How much of the military come from California, Illinois and New York?

AllenS said...

Carville is mad because these Democrats, and one Socialist are telling it like it is, instead of listening to someone like Carville trying to run his con on the susceptible voters. That's what is pissing him off. He ain't foolin' me.

Lucid-Ideas said...

Everybody isn't hearing this properly.

Carville isn't criticizing democrats for being insane or talking abour insane policy imperatives, he's criticizing them for not hiding it better .

He is in effect saying, "power is all that matters dummies! And if you don't lie better we'll never get there!"

AllenS said...

Me and you, Lucid.

The Bergall said...

This reminds me of the Monty Python election skit of the "silly" party vs the "normal" party.........

rehajm said...

That ‘analysis’ gets an F. It sounds like a ‘pay no attention to the fact he’s a communist’ propaganda. Yes, he’s at the top of the ticket but he’s not that bad. He’s an old man that will yell at clouds! It’ll be fun!!!

...and the Senate is more precarious than they’re advertising. Republicans have a lot of races to defend...

...lastly, given how well things are going, an electorate willing to jettison Trump in favor of a communist won’t be in a mood for political balance.

David Begley said...

AZ, CO and Maine are the only GOP seats that are in danger. It would then be 50-50 in the Senate. But the Dems might lose MI.

Temujin said...

Eighteen percent of the country elects more than half of our senators. That’s the deal, fair or not.

First of all, I do not accept these percentages and neat phrases that get shared about by people. It may be that 18% of the country selects more than half of the Senate. But I'd need to figure that out. I'm not going to take this phrase as fact. That said, the system was set up- designed- to allow for the Senate to be the offset of the House of Representatives.

The House is the chamber of the peoples representatives. The Senate is not that. People need to get off the idea that the Senate is to reflect the population as a whole. It is there to reflect each State as a separate entity- equally- each one. And the Senators were never supposed to be elected by state popular vote. They were to be appointed by State legislatures.

As for retaking the Senate, I think the Dems need to be thinking about holding onto the House. My 'No Dems for 2 Gens' is taking hold.

traditionalguy said...

Carville is spot on. It's the Senate, stupid. And if Crazy Bernie will run and win with Hillary as his VP, then all is solved. But Trump has all contingencies covered.

Beasts of England said...

This morning’s posts appear to have a theme...

Lurker21 said...

Immunization? Elect somebody who talks about socialism a lot and doesn't do much about it and people get tired of hearing about socialism? I don't recommend it. It could make it easier to elect somebody later who talks about socialism and can actually do things. Injecting the socialist idea into the political bloodstream may be infecting it with the demand for more socialism: having watered-down "gas and water socialism" in other countries didn't stop activists from demanding the real thing. Plus, Carville's vision might actually make Bernie more attractive (or less unattractive) to the mainstream if people get the idea that Bernie's socialism isn't to be taken seriously.

Could a lot of howling about class replace the current howling about race, gender, and sexual preference and somehow bring the groups that are now quarreling together? Could a polarizing candidate actually somehow drive one or both parties back to the center in reaction? Those aren't to be excluded from the universe of possibilities. But it's a very big universe and results like that certainly can't be counted on. The more likely result is that we'll have new wounds (actually a lot like old, long healed wounds) along with the current ones.

Where Carville's analysis breaks down is: presidents increasingly govern through executive orders and don't need to get measures through Congress. Bernie could do much mischief with executive orders. The courts may try to block him, but that would only increase the polarization and chaos. He might use executive orders to try to realize his economic agenda in some less radical ways. He will almost certainly use them to fulfill the party's current race/gender/sexual identity agenda, even if it's not the closest thing to his heart.

Amadeus 48 said...

Too late. Once again the Demmies are underestimating what they have already done. That impeachment was a huge mistake. Trump is out for blood this time.

rehajm said...

AZ, CO and Maine are the only GOP seats that are in danger. It would then be 50-50 in the Senate. But the Dems might lose MI.

Wishful thinking if voters are willing to go commie. He’ll still be President in at least one more Senate race, too.

Meanwhile there are Republicans willing to vote for Bernie in a primary. Big victories make Bernie look like a commie with a mandate. I’m not it’s going to happen but It’s a real risk...

Butkus51 said...

We need more dem senators as much as I need a damn root canal. I dont know who is crazier, them, or the people who consider voting for them. They all want them some socialism.

Amadeus 48 said...

I think many will be surprised by how robust the GOP campaigns will be this time. This is not your father's GOP party. These folks fight, and they are not necessarily gentlemanly about it.

To the extent Chuck is legit (about which I harbor doubts), he yearns for the old ways and old days when the GOP took its many defeats nobly, in the knowledge that we saw a better way and there would be a better day, some day.

Trump isn't like that.

Quaestor said...

We all know Bernie is just kidding about this communism shit...

Commies never, ever reform.

narciso said...


Indeed:


https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2020/02/the-week-in-pictures-mega-trumpy-edition.php

narciso said...



Hmm

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/02/07/election-2020-new-electoral-map-110496

Jersey Fled said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Howard said...

Au contraire mon fraire. Putin is a former Commie reformed into a fascist.

Howard said...

Another Clinton Deep State proxy against Bernie Sanders

narciso said...

he's a vor, (mob boss) who wants to be czar (warlord with the authority of the Orthodox Church)

AllenS said...

Howard, Carville, like him or not, is a Democrat, Sanders is an Independent, or Socialist Independent, which ever one you prefer.

Sally327 said...

I've never understood why the Democrats have allowed Bernie Sanders to run as a Democrat and use the party's apparatus to promote his candidacy. He's not a Democrat, he's an Independent. He should be running as a third party candidate, it would be more honest I think.

Hagar said...

Communists kill, and Sanders is not a killer.
He is a 1960's campus radical who has made a nice career out of it and can't stop.

Jersey Fled said...

Eighteen percent of the population does in fact elect 52 Senators. I just spent 1/2 hour of my life figuring that out.

But among the 52 Senators elected by the 26 least populated states are 19 Democrats, or those that caucus with the Democrats, including such hard core conservatives as Bernie Sanders, Maise Hirono, and Richard Bloomenthal.

Twenty of the 52 voted to impeach Trump (Romney, Utah).

So quit whining Democrats, and run some candidates that reflect the interests of the states that they are running in.

But the they would be Republicans.

Amadeus 48 said...

"Au contraire mon fraire."

Shouldn't that be, "To the contrary, Comrade"?

or

наоборот, товарищ

rehajm said...

Another Clinton Deep State proxy against Bernie Sanders

I agree with Howard!

Amadeus 48 said...

And then there is this:

NBC’s Katy Tur Fears ‘Gerrymandering’ Helping Republicans Win Senate Seats.

Amadeus 48 said...

It was interesting to see how the GOP handled Susan Collins. No criticism of anything. She did her duty. If she thinks it will help her, Trump will attack her at her private request. The fact that he didn't means she is feeling OK so far.

Chuck said...


Blogger David Begley said...
AZ, CO and Maine are the only GOP seats that are in danger. It would then be 50-50 in the Senate. But the Dems might lose MI.


Well, it won’t be three seats that Dems need. They’ll need four, after Doug Jones loses.

I am seeing some of the new ads that Never Trump groups are working up against McSally, Gardner and Collins. Savage. They might all three be gone if, as I expect, there is a nonstop drip of new and old Trump scandals, many of them bearing directly on blocked impeachment witnesses. (Bar grievances have now been filed versus Pat Cippolone.).

This was a fascinating Althouse blog post for me, and I am grateful she put it up. I was thinking over the last couple of days if I could ever vote for one of these Democrats. What about Sanders? What about Bloomberg?

If, God forbid, Meteor Sanders 2-020 is the nominee, I would vote for Trump suckup and Fox News creation John James in Michigan. I would want to create precisely the scenario Carville is talking about.

I don’t much expect it will make a difference. James lost to an even bigger idiot than Gary Peters (Debbie Stabenow) in ‘18.

rehajm said...

NBC’s Katy Tur Fears ‘Gerrymandering’ Helping Republicans Win Senate Seats.

Ouch.

Bay Area Guy said...

What's that old expression? Yes, socialists can obtain power through votes - but it always takes guns to remove them from power.

AllenS said...

My day so far, feels, well, complete.

Beasts of England said...

’I am seeing some of the new ads that Never Trump groups are working up against McSally, Gardner and Collins. Savage.’

At least you’re finally admitting that you and your NeverTrump cucks were never conservative or Republican. Enjoy your much more selective audience, little man.

Doug said...

And if Crazy Bernie will run and win with Hillary as his VP, then all is solved.
Anybody who makes Shrillary! his VP better double the number of White House food tasters.


Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

GOP isn't good enough. We need 100% D-corruption running our lives.
A place where the media's most in-depth comment/question about Biden's son Hunter is "You understand it looks bad, right?"

Howard said...

She's asking for the riding crop now, Allen S

Bob Boyd said...

There’s no chance we’ll change the courts, and nothing will happen...The purpose of a political party is to acquire power. All right? Without power, nothing matters.

Carville thinks he's helping.

Rusty said...

" Power is coming to the people. Change too."
And trump is bringing it.
But you have to understand. There isn't a whole lot of commying you can do while there are 100 million armed citizens.
"Sorry soldiers. You'll have to find real work, and put down your guns.
Here at home too. And ya can't all be cops!"
You know, of course, that it would be illegal for fedgov.org not to provide for our defense.
But, ya know. FREE STUFF!!!
Go with that.

Rick said...

purpose of a political party is to acquire power.

The Kinsley Gaffe. Most people would say the purpose is to make our lives better.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Democrats demand power and they know they are owed power. Look at what that power does for their standard of living.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Only house seats can be gerrymandered. the left are very successful doing so. Senate seats are state-wide voting. It is impossible to gerrymander a senate seat.

Amadeus 48 said...

"I am seeing some of the new ads that Never Trump groups are working up against McSally, Gardner and Collins."

Now, why would Never Trumpers (presumably some form of establishment Republican) run ads against McSally, Gardner, and Collins?

Does that hit you as strange, Chuck? It does me. So Bill Kristol, or George Will, or Bret Stephens, or someone like them, wants Susan Collins out of the Senate? Who are these people running these savage ads? Why would anyone run such an ad? Don't you smell a rat?

Chuck, I can't take you seriously. You shouldn't be banned. You should go away.

Bob Boyd said...

purpose of a political party is to acquire power

Then what?

purpose of a political party is to acquire power

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

when idiot Joy Behar or Katy Tur say the Senate is gerrymandered - they are wrong. Dumb.

Amadeus 48 said...

So, my friends and I are working on a new poetic form called a hutchku.

Here are the rules:
1. fifteen syllables
2. arranged in three lines of four, five, and six syllables
3. must refer to a personal foible

Here are a few, with titles:

Title: Romney at your call

Mitt is a chap
who wants respect from
mean boys who went to Choate.

Some historic frustration in this one:

Title: John McCain enters heaven

John McCain lies
buried in the ground.
He can't vote no again.

Title: Joe Biden sniffs trouble

Biden left town.
His team meets to plot.
Send lawyers, guns, money.

And so on. Feel free to contribute.


Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Speaking of the Senate.

Why we despise Clair McCatkill(D) (Hillary-lite)

She's a racist liar. Schooled.

Amadeus 48 said...

Title: the Unanmed visitor

When Meade comes back
from running his path
moderation comes on.

Gahrie said...

Only house seats can be gerrymandered. the left are very successful doing so. Senate seats are state-wide voting.

1) Repeal the 17th.
2) Every Democratic member of the House who is a minority was elected from minority majority districts, many if not most Gerrymandered to be that way. Every republican member of the House who is a minority was elected from a White majority district. Even Tim Scott in the Senate.

Rusty said...

"Rusty dear, you have no idea of the unmanned southern borders and who, and what, is coming across them today, do you?"
More than you know, sweetheart.

"Instead, let's equip our boys to be sent halfway around the globe to help make the Middle East safe for Israel. That's not self defense, Rusty. That's FREEBIES to the "US military" (and a lifetime of free healthcare, free pensions, and "thank yous!" for your service to VietNam, Iraq, etc."
So you want to abrogate all our treaties with all our allies? Treaties that have the force of law behind them. That what you want, doll? And it ain't "FREE". Never has been and never will be. Somebody is always going to have to pay in blood, sugertits.

"Not everybody is okay with that like you and allen s.
Cash though checks and remember your glory days, while you can.."

I can't speak for Allen like you can, but shit, babe, my best days are in front of me. Looking over your back.
Too over the top Meade?










"

Michael K said...


Blogger Howard said...

Another Clinton Deep State proxy against Bernie Sanders


I think we are about to learn who Obama endorses.

It may be a sign of panic to see Obama abandon all the crazy Democrat candidates. I still wonder who tells him what to do.

Howard said...

She then makes the forbidden fruit play for Allen S's attention.

mccullough said...

How many restraining orders can one person garner?

Howard said...

O'bozo has a few chips in the big game, bbut he does what the Davos Fifty want. Sounds like they want Trump. I am become Deep State.

Michael The Magnificent said...

It was interesting to see how the GOP handled Susan Collins.

She isn't dumb. She knows who voted for her, as well as who never voted for her.

If she votes to convict, she loses the votes of those who voted for her in the past (save for the Bill Kristol types), while gaining zero votes from those who never voted for her, and therefore loses re-election.

If she votes to acquit, she likely keeps the votes of those who voted for her in the past (save for the Bill Kristol types), and still gets zero votes from those who never voted for her, which substantially improves her odds of being re-elected over voting to convict.

There are far more Republican votes to be won or lost than there are Republican-Never-Trumper votes.

Howard said...

You can get professional help for trichotillomania by proxy

n.n said...

Sanders will sustain the liberal status quo, the monotonic divergence, the steady march leftward for minority capital and control.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

If Trump wins the election, and the corrupt D-party keep the house and win the senate - they will impeach Trump again. The dems will manufacture a crime and impeach him all over again.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Certainly, the corrupt left will continue their non-stop Soviet style harassment of Trump.

rcocean said...

Carville is full of shit. Of course, Bernie would "change the courts". McConnell could get the votes to block extreme leftist (aka communists) but look at the Left-wing extremists the Senate approved 2012-2018. Republicans aren't Democrats. They approved Breyer and Ginsberg without a fight, while the D's inventing "Borking" and tried to Bork Kavanaugh and Alioto.

rcocean said...

"So Bill Kristol, or George Will, or Bret Stephens, or someone like them, wants Susan Collins out of the Senate? Who are these people running these savage ads? Why would anyone run such an ad? Don't you smell a rat?"

All the Never trumpers, the dispatch gang, the Bulwark Boys, above all the effete snobs at the WaPo and the NYT have ZERO power in the Republican party. No one is paying attention to them anymore, except the usual RINO's and bow-tie intellectuals. They just talk and tweet to themselves and the liberals. I occasionally TRY to read Jonah Goldberg but the man has become an embarrassment. He started off a column by stating he would get rid of all caucuses and primaries to "restore vigor to our parties". I stopped reading and went on something more reality based.

Mark said...

nothing will happen, and he’ll just be sitting up there screaming in the microphone about the revolution

We are witnessing Dem-run state and local governments making a hard charge to the left. There is no such thing as a Democrat anymore, they are all Progressives, which by definition is about destruction of the existing order to create "progress."

Under a Comrade President Sanders, things will happen. The permanent state will go all in with him. Who needs Congress when you have a pen and an army of bureaucrats? Besides, he will have the non-opposition, if not support, of people like Mitt P. Romney.

Seeing Red said...

If you think they rammed Obamacare through...

These new bills make it game over because they hate US that much.

Seeing Red said...

Everybody isn't hearing this properly.

Carville isn't criticizing democrats for being insane or talking abour insane policy imperatives, he's criticizing them for not hiding it better .

He is in effect saying, "power is all that matters dummies! And if you don't lie better we'll never get there!"


Exactly.

Seeing Red said...

The commies’ progress is 19th century. Disease, malnutrition, candles and death.

Seeing Red said...

While they live the high life because they do important things.

Feudalism. Look at Cali.

Chuck said...

2/8/20, 8:54 AM
Blogger Amadeus 48 said...
"I am seeing some of the new ads that Never Trump groups are working up against McSally, Gardner and Collins."

Now, why would Never Trumpers (presumably some form of establishment Republican) run ads against McSally, Gardner, and Collins?

Does that hit you as strange, Chuck? It does me. So Bill Kristol, or George Will, or Bret Stephens, or someone like them, wants Susan Collins out of the Senate? Who are these people running these savage ads? Why would anyone run such an ad? Don't you smell a rat?

Chuck, I can't take you seriously. You shouldn't be banned. You should go away.


I love a Republican Senate. How many times, before 2020, did I say that Mitch McConnell was in my Pantheon of Republican heroes?

I really, really want a Republican Senate, with not-Trump as President. As long as Trump is President, I want ever possibly civic/legal/political guardrail possible, to limit his damage.

And Collins, McSally and Gardner made what should be career mistakes, in voting the way that they did on witnesses and acquittal. Had they voted against Trump, the Trumpkins would have wanted them to be primaried, and/or defeated. This is a fight for the soul of the Republican Party. I want that fight.

Seeing Red said...

" Power is coming to the people. Change too."


Nope just death sooner, can’t escape that.

Not a fan of Venezuela, Cuba, the former USSR, or the ChiComs.

That’s you.

Achilles said...

Sally327 said...
I've never understood why the Democrats have allowed Bernie Sanders to run as a Democrat and use the party's apparatus to promote his candidacy. He's not a Democrat, he's an Independent. He should be running as a third party candidate, it would be more honest I think.

Sander has one job. Get the marxists to vote for the globalist.

What did he say about Hillary’s emails? What did he say about Biden’s Ukraian shenanigans?

Not what someone who wanted to beat them would say.

He has been doing it for decades.

If Sanders was really independent he would be trashing the obvious corruption in the Democrat party leadership and he would be going scorched earth on Iowa which is clearly a conspiracy against his campaign.

He is not doing this because Bernie and the Democrats have an arrangement.

Just like Romney and the Democrats have an arrangement.

They have always been about lying to the people supporting them.

Inga said...

If Bernie wins he will bring along enough votes to keep the House and take the Senate. It’ll be similar to the way the votes went with Obama. This time however Sanders won’t be a shrinking violet like Obama was. Sanders won’t make a show of working with Republicans, because he knows there IS no working with them. They've proven themselves to be untrustworthy and corrupt.

Beasts of England said...

’...I want ever possibly civic/legal/political guardrail possible, to limit his damage.’

Which damage - the best economy in fifty years? Fabulous conservative judges? Deregulation?

Give it up, dude. You’re an idiot.

I Callahan said...

Times change. This is no country for old men.

Mary is a walking, talking argument for the repeal of the 19th amendment.

mccullough said...

The fight for the GOP was won in 2016.

The NeverTrumpers are The Jap hiding on that island who doesn’t know the war was lost.

Amadeus 48 said...

"And Collins, McSally and Gardner made what should be career mistakes, in voting the way that they did on witnesses and acquittal. Had they voted against Trump, the Trumpkins would have wanted them to be primaried, and/or defeated. This is a fight for the soul of the Republican Party. I want that fight."

'Twere to consider too curiously, to consider so.

Chuck, you and I just disagree.

Fare thee well.

I Callahan said...

I want ever possibly civic/legal/political guardrail possible, to limit his damage.

So you’d vote for a communist president to limit the “damage” Trump will do. First of all, what damage are you talking about, but that aside, has it ever occurred to you that as bad as Trump seems to be to you, that voting for Dems (secret communists) would do MORE damage?

You really are batshit insane.

AllenS said...

I have to quit commenting for a while, and go out and shoot some deer. I heard that a wagon train is coming through town Monday.

Inga said...

Where is Drago? Doing R and R in mother Russia? Well deserved too!

Mary Beth said...

Eighteen percent of the country elects more than half of our senators.

I will accept that if you take the 26 states that are lowest in population, that population number equals about 18% of the total U.S., but it's not as if that 18% votes for one party over the other. 20 of the senators from those states are Democrat and two are Independent, the other 30 are Republican. (I looked up a list of states by population and then looked at their senators and counted the ones for each party. I think my numbers are accurate, but I didn't double check - they're close enough for my point that this 18% doesn't vote all for one party as he seems to be implying.)

Achilles said...

Chuck said...

I really, really want a Republican Senate, with not-Trump as President. As long as Trump is President, I want ever possibly civic/legal/political guardrail possible, to limit his damage.

And here is Chuck to support my point.

Will and Kristol and Romney and Bush and Rubio and all the others have one job. They are deceiving republican voters into supporting a globalist.

They don’t want what republican voters want. They want what their globalist masters want.

And trump removed the mask.

Which is why nobody listens to them anymore.

Chuck said...


I've never understood why the Democrats have allowed Bernie Sanders to run as a Democrat and use the party's apparatus to promote his candidacy. He's not a Democrat, he's an Independent. He should be running as a third party candidate, it would be more honest I think.

I’ve always thought the same.

Bob Boyd said...

When I read neverTrumpers, I'm reminded of those little bells they used to put on new graves so if the occupant had been buried alive, he could summon help and be exhumed.
Except no one is coming.
In fact, when those of us still in the world of the living hear the frantic dinging, it makes us smile.
And we know, pretty soon, it will stop.

Amadeus 48 said...

Meanwhile, over at the Wall Street Journal:

"I very much regret that the president is a bad man and half mad because otherwise I'd be cheering."

No more drinks for Miss Noonan. She's had enough. Somebody call a cab. This happens every time she has lunch with Mrs. Pelosi.

They ought to suspend her for that one.



Title: A mind is a terrible thing to waste

Peggy Noonan
dislikes Donald Trump.
She now drinks like a fish.

alanc709 said...

"Inga said...
Where is Drago? Doing R and R in mother Russia? Well deserved too!"

Did Bernie rent him a condo, since that's usually his neck of the woods? Although Putin is ex-KGB, he might not be communist enough for Bernie, though. It's amazing how tone deaf you are, Inga.

Chuck said...

...
Which damage - the best economy in fifty years? Fabulous conservative judges? Deregulation?
...

The best economy in 50 years started in about 2011.

The Federalist Society, and a dubious change in Senate rules — a change opposed by Leader McConnell at the time for Distrct and Circuit judges — are what got us the recent judges. President Rubio or President Jeb Bush or President Cruz would have done the same.

Deregulation has been a Republican mantra since Reagan.

Those are Republican things. Trump things are a chaotic retreat in Syria and Iraq. A collapse of nuclear control over Iran. A trade war with China, and more than $50 billion in taxpayer bribes to farmers.

And an exploding budget deficit and national debt.

Beasts of England said...

’The best economy in 50 years started in about 2011.’

You can’t be this stupid, can you? Obama’s feeble economy was propped up by a massive stimulus, ZIRP/NIRP, and trillions in quantitative easing. Trump’s economy is organic: tax cuts, deregulation, repatriation, and having a businessman in the White House. Wait until the new trade deals kick in - you ain’t seen nothing yet, asswipe.

Bob Boyd said...

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Drago said...

Admiral Inga: "Where is Drago? Doing R and R in mother Russia? Well deserved too!"

Notice how many of the brighter leftists have abandoned the obvious russia collusion lies pushed by the dems, but not our Inga.

She STILL thinks Carter Page is a russian spy!

Go ahead! Ask her!

pacwest said...

"Doesn't have to be cordial. Just civil."

I don't think that is in her nature. When you're righteous you don't need to be civil.

Drago said...

On the other thread LLR-lefty Chuck is vehemently and passionately fighting to protect Nancy Pelosi.....all the while offering up criticism after criticism of McConnell...and praising efforts to defeat republican Senators....while also praising and defending democrat Senators...


...and that's how you know LLR-lefty Chuck is super duper pro-Republican control of the Senate....(wink wink)

Beasts of England said...

The labor participation rate when ‘magnificent’ Obama took office was ~66%. It was ~63% when he left. It fell during his entire tenure, which can only be described as an economic disaster. Any idea what that rate is doing under Trump? Yeah, that’s right - like the Jeffersons, it’s movin’ on up.

Drago said...

Back on topic: with the absolute trainwreck of the Dem/LLR debate last night, which all by itself provided enough moronic lefty/LLR soundbites to fill a dozen opposition campaigns, just how AWESOME has this last week been?

Hunter Biden, Eric Ciaramella, Sean Misko, and Atkinson, you cats are on deck so you better warm up.

Yancey Ward said...

If Sanders wins, the Democrats will take the Senate and hold the House- I think think this is a very safe conditional prediction. The people taking comfort in the fact that the Democrats won't win 60 seats in the Senate and will face the same resistance Trump faced in the federal court system, though, are fooling themselves. Democrats are not Republicans- I guarantee you that if the Democrats hold the Presidency, House and Senate next year, the filibuster will be eliminated as needed, and the Supreme Court will be packed with at least 3 new justices. The Democrats have been telling you for 3 years what they are going to do with power- it is best to believe them.

John henry said...

 Howard said...

Au contraire mon fraire. Putin is a former Commie reformed into a fascist.

Communism, socialism and fascism (And progressivism) are about as different as Lutherans, Methodists and baptists.

John Henry

Yancey Ward said...

"President Rubio or President Jeb Bush or President Cruz would have done the same."

Tell me, Chuck, which of these states would Bush, Rubio, or Cruz have won in 2016:

Michigan, Wisconsi, Pennsylvania, or Iowa? I think I could even add Ohio to that list given how the rest of the country voted.

Drago said...

Beasts of England: "The labor participation rate when ‘magnificent’ Obama took office was ~66%. It was ~63% when he left."

And that number was artificially boosted by millions of Americans dropping completely out of the workforce so they werent included in official numbers.

Whereas with the booming Trump economy, millions of long term unemployed have reentered the workforce, so its going to be hilariously fun watching LLR-lefty Chuck explain to those workers tbeir jobs, for which they receive pay and benefits, dont really exist.

Better yet, more fun watching LLR-lefty Chuck and his lefty allies try to shout these people down after the people say well, actually, my job and benefits do exist!!

Yancey Ward said...

And, Chuck-haven't the NeverTrumpers taken off the mask if they are preparing "savage" ads against mainstream Republicans like Collins, Gardner, and McSally? By the way, Collins voted for witnesses, not against, didn't she? How can a Republican do this? Doesn't that make them Democrats, like Bill Kristol.

Drago said...

LLR-lefty Chuck: "President Rubio or President Jeb Bush or President Cruz would have done the same."

LOLOLOL

Tell us more about the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny too!

mockturtle said...

"The Democrats need to refocus their strategy on winning the Senate. "

Or perhaps on retaining the House. [Of course, I hope they don't].

Beasts of England said...

’If Bernie wins...’

I agree with your conclusions, Yancy, but give Sanders only a ten percent chance of getting the nomination, and a near-zero chance of beating Trump. Even Obama and the Ragin’ Cajun recognize what an unprecedented train wreck he and his supporters represent.

Drago said...

" The Democrats have been telling you for 3 years what they are going to do with power- it is best to believe them."

This is why LLR-lefty Chuck is fighting so hard to give that power to them.

Complete and permanent democrat control of govt at all levels is THE LLR/NeverTrump goal, as they have explicitly told us now for 4 years.

Yancey Ward said...

Michael K,

I think Bloomberg probably didn't ask for permission to run that ad. I think Obama will sit this out. Generally, ex-presidents don't give endorsements in party presidential primaries, and I can't see Obama taking a chance here in doing so- his pick could lose and Obama doesn't like to lose, just like all ex-presidents. However, if he did endorse someone, it would most likely be Klobuchar or Warren, and both of these are on their last hopes in NH.

mockturtle said...

The only way the Democrats will win in November is if Trump changes parties.

mockturtle said...

Sanders won the NH Dem Primary in 2016, why would he not win it this year?

Yancey Ward said...

Beasts,

Yes, the prediction was conditional- I don't think Sanders is going to be the nominee, but I am less certain of this than I was a month ago, but I think Sanders is the most electable of the top 4 Democrats- I made this point a few days ago- a lot of voters will vote for Sanders or Warren (or Buttuvwxyz) with the belief that they won't be able to do anything. I think this belief is dangerously naive.

Seeing Red said...

A trade war with China, and more than $50 billion in taxpayer bribes to farmers.


China was in the trade war with US. Don’t blame Trump because he decided to engage. And that includes going after university professors hiding links and not declaring their payments.

And an exploding budget deficit and national debt.

I’ve been thinking about this. To me, it’s like buying a twice as big home 6-7 years ago, but my mortgage, expenses and prop tax stayed low for a time, but interestingly, after a certain someone is out of office, it goes up.

I wonder how that happened?

Is this what happens when the leviathan absorbs 1/6 of the economy and student loans?

2/8/20, 10:35 AM

Seeing Red said...

Oh, yeah, if you don’t think the unions are coming for you, think again.

And say good-bye to franchising.

Seeing Red said...

The only way the Democrats will win in November is if Trump changes parties.


Nope. Trump’s gonna win, I can stay home. The congress races become close and the Dems stuff the ballot box or re punt recount recount as usual.

Seeing Red said...

They think America doesn’t have a manifest destiny but the sure as evil lurks, they think they do.

They only want “to help” because “ they care.”

Seeing Red said...

That’s why Soros, Nanny B and their merry bands focus on the SOS position.

Beasts of England said...

We’re in complete agreement, Yancy. They want to punish the Republicans, and they couldn’t care less about the consequences. And perhaps, the more damaging the better. That rather large segment of the left is completely unmoored and an existential threat to liberty.

Mark said...

Yes, the prediction was conditional- I don't think Sanders is going to be the nominee, but I am less certain of this than I was a month ago

We laugh at any of the candidates and think they are a sure loser to Trump at our own peril.

John henry said...

Drago,

The employment rate is the percentage of total employed vs total non institutionalized population.

Discouraged workers affect unemployment rate. Not employment rate.

I've said since the 70s that employment rate is a much better, more solid and less manipulable than the unemployment rate.

John Henry

John Henry

John henry said...

Non institutionalized adult population over 16(?) years old.

It might exclude active duty military but I don't recall for sure.

John Henry

Drago said...

John Henry: "Discouraged workers affect unemployment rate."

The U-3 rate.

Drago said...

U-3 excludes active duty military I believe.

Easy memory aid: U-3 excludes that group that LLR-lefty Chuck particularly despises: Active Duty military..because they vote overwhelmingly for republicans.

Darkisland said...

Blogger Dick said...

The Federalist Society, and a dubious change in Senate rules — a change opposed by Leader McConnell at the time for Distrct and Circuit judges — are what got us the recent judges.

Candidate Trump, in May 2016, released a list of names from which he would appoint to federal judgeships if elected.

Yes, the Federalist Society had intput in making up the list which is fine by me. They seem to have the right ideological viewpoint as far ask I can tell.

So has President Trump nominated or appointed anyone who was not on that original list?

Related question: I've spoken here before about how I think Obama may have been a republican/liberal mole (or else gloriously incompetent. Results are the same). Obama left office with something like 150-200 judgeships vacant for President Trump to fill. I wonder if he did this on purpose?

If a mole, he may have know that he would have a hard time appointing republican/consertave/liberal judges so he didn't try.

If incompetent, perhaps he thought he was doing Hilary a favor leaving her a lot of plums to pass out.

As I've said before I really don't give a shit about his motive here, the results have been fantastic.

I also don't give a shit about PDJT's motives, competence or anything else. The results have been fantastically glorious.

John Henry

Danno said...

Seeing Red said..."I can stay home."

I would think you would want to help run up Trump's popular vote count just to shut up the taards who whine about losing via the Electoral College.

jeffrey nihart said...

Bernie was on the over-site committee when the VA crashed.
22 to 25 men and women who served committed suicide on his watch.

And Bernie wants to give free health care and college to illegals?

Vote these "fake Americans" out of office....

Rosalyn C. said...

I did read a little about Sanders's accomplishments while mayor of Burlington and he did get involved in some worthwhile land development projects, some waterfront area. In fact the criticism about him was that his plans would have been too commercial involving condos and less environmental.

Not to mention that Sanders likes money and owns three homes...

Darkisland said...

Remember in The Godfather where "All debts are paid" and Michael kills all the family enemies in one fell swoop? It is hardly original with me but people have suggested that this day is coming with PDJT. Have been suggesting it for a couple years.

Has the day come?

Wednesday, literally minutes after the shampeachment vote, McConnell sent a whole platoon of names forward for judgeship approval.

Friday, the brothers Vindman were escorted from their White House offices by security. (No, they were not fired. They still have their jobs, paychecks and rank. They have just been reassigned about 6 month's early)

Friday night we learned that Ambassador Sondman is no longer ambassador. Again, not fired (I think) merely reassigned.

Friday night we learn that the Secret Service has given Chuck Grassley's committee Secret Service travel records on Hunter Biden. We also learned that a bunch of financial records, including SARs (Suspicious Activity Reports) on Hunter Biden have been turned over to another Senate committee.

I hope that this is just the beginning of something big.

John Henry

Arashi said...

John Henry - you and lot of other folks. It is past time for a lot of folks to get fired and\or prosecuted.

tcrosse said...

Is there any reason to believe that Bloomberg's money will be any more influential than Steyer's? As far as advertising goes, there is a definite point of diminishing returns, which Steyer has surpassed by an order of magnitude. That Hillary spent twice as much as Trump in 2016 should be a lesson.

Arashi said...

He has already pledged his gazillions to the DNC if he does not get the nomination. Bloombeg's money can and most likely will have a down ballot effect - like it has already done in Virginia - helping to get Democrats elected.

Big Mike said...

The Democrats need to refocus their strategy on winning the Senate. That's a reachable goal, and the fight for the presidency is overshadowing and endangering it.

@Althouse, that’s almost correct. The Democrats need to hold the House (impeachment will not help) and — assuming Trump wins and Doug Jones is toast — they need to flip five seats and only three are particularly vulnerable. Maybe Joni Ernst is a fourth, though Iowa Democrats do not impress at the moment. Meanwhile let’s look at the other side, shall we? Six years ago Jeanne Shaheen only beat Scot Brown, who frankly was carpetbagging, 51% to 48%. A strong candidate and long Trump coat tails could send her to defeat. Virginia was supposedly turned blue last election. But six years ago Mark Warner won with only 49% of the vote, against an opponent who ran a pretty lackluster campaign. And this year the normal people (not Democrats!) are really pissed off at the Democrats in this state. Can the GOP win in Ne was Mexico, now that Udall is retiring? Probably not, but worth a serious shot.

If Trump works to pull in Republican Congressmen snd senators, I could see the party strengthened in the fall.

Big Mike said...

New Mexico

Mark said...

Remember in The Godfather where "All debts are paid" and Michael kills all the family enemies in one fell swoop?

Actually, Michael said, "Today, I settle all family business, so don't tell me you're innocent Carlo."

I've been saying that since at least 2008.

And more than a few deserve the Carlo Rizzi treatment.

Mark said...

Yeah, I'm looking at you Romney.

Yancey Ward said...

tcrosse asked:

"Is there any reason to believe that Bloomberg's money will be any more influential than Steyer's?"

In television ads, the answer is clearly going to be, "No." I don't think my reaction to political ads is an outlier- once I have seen your political ad a couple of times, the rest of them are not only wasted on me, but I get annoyed with them enough that I might decide to vote against you specifically for wasting my valuable time. Being in Tennessee, a state Bloomberg and Steyer both need desperately to win, I have been inundated with ads for both on local television, youtube, and other video platforms. There have been times when Bloomberg ads run back-to-back-to-back, three in a row on the local station time. I am going to go and vote for someone else in the primary specifically because of that.

Where Bloomberg will get more bang for his money is the money he gives to the superdelegates and their pet causes. If he is really interested in getting the nomination, that is where he is probably putting the most funds- basic legal bribery. I am not sure Steyer has done this to the same extent.

Achilles said...

Beasts of England said...
We’re in complete agreement, Yancy. They want to punish the Republicans, and they couldn’t care less about the consequences. And perhaps, the more damaging the better. That rather large segment of the left is completely unmoored and an existential threat to liberty.

Don't forget to mention that they differentiate between good republicans and bad ones. Rubio and Bush and Romney are just fine.

It is the republicans that actually do what republican voters want them to do that they are after.

Achilles said...

Because the left's war is really with american voters.

Yancey Ward said...

Here in Tennessee television, I have zero Biden, Sanders, Warren, or Buttuvwxyz ads- literally none. I have seen Steyer and Bloomberg ads at least 100 times each. I don't know what Steyer spent on Iowa and New Hampshire, but he is low single digits in both, with only SC seeming to give him any love, and I suspect that he finishes SC with low single digits, too, despite the polls.

You will get a better feel for Bloomberg's success when the Super Tuesday states get more polling. The polling done in late January suggest to me that he has probably already reached the plateau of effectiveness. His mistake wasn't getting in sooner- all the free advertising from actually running in and winning/placing in the early primaries and caucuses is far more valuable than a tv spot, and far more financially efficient.

tcrosse said...

For Steyer I would flip the old saying, "If you're so rich, why ain't you smart?"

James Graham said...

Nobody honeymoons in a foreign country he doesn't love.

Sanders spent his in the Soviet Union.

Mark said...

His mistake wasn't getting in sooner

Bloomberg's mistake was in not first manufacturing the appearance of a groundswell demanding that he come in and save the day after dissatisfaction with the current crop before giving the appearance of reluctantly entering the race.

FullMoon said...

Inga said...

Where is Drago?


Be careful what you wish for..

Gahrie said...

Is there any reason to believe that Bloomberg's money will be any more influential than Steyer's?

I haven't seen a single Steyer as on YouTube, but there is a fuckton of Bloomberg ones.

Mark said...

All you have to do is sit and wait
Keeping out of everybody's way
We'll ... you'll be handed power on a plate
When the ones who matter have their say
And with chaos installed . . .
You can reluctantly agree to be called

-- Evita, A New Argentina

Chuck said...


If Trump works to pull in Republican Congressmen snd senators, I could see the party strengthened in the fall.


But that has never been true. When Trump won in 2016, Republicans netted minus 6 in the House and minus 2 in the Senate. And 2018 was something of an anti-Trump Blue Wave. Concealed a bit by the historically favorable 2018 map for Senate Class 1.

Trumpism’s power is in forcing its way into primaries. With the Trumpist primary winners then losing in every swing district and every swing state.

Seeing Red said...

Sorry I didn’t make myself clear.

No way in Hell I'm staying home even in my blue state.

I was thinking LiV who is feeling secure won’t turn out.

As an aside, Virginia is going to be really interesting.

Maillard Reactionary said...

I'm not sure, but I think I was caught up in a "search and delete" macro.

So much for trying to be positive. Point noted.

narciso said...

and Corbyn was the stb's (Czech secret polices) associate, but he barely tied in a major effort we assured he would prevail in, lets see how reality meets projection, I was reminded gary hart came in second in 1984, hence all the kerfluffle,

narciso said...

Hart was more of a fool, then a knave then, according to one who carried water for him, the odious sid Blumenthal,

Birkel said...

I'd be really excited to hear the racist fopdoodle's excuses when Trump wins this November.

The pickup of Senate seats? Retaking the House? Those would be a glorious set of excuses.

John James with an unexpected Senate seat? That set of lies would be impressive. I can only imagine the racism on that fine day.

Clyde said...

If the Democrats should happen to recapture the Senate and hold onto the House and elect a Democrat president, then it’s all over for America as we know it. Fortunately, the converse seems more likely.