The Political Junkie Thread

[Furniture]

[/quote]

Meanwhile the Dems have to hold themselves together and resist the urge to have too much infighting of their own between the progressive branch and the more moderate branch. The moderate Dem in me is really hopeful that as happened in the presidential race in 2020, the progressives will continue to be OK with more moderate candidates for bigger offices (Senate, Governor, President) because those candidates will be more acceptable to disaffected Republicans who might reluctantly stick with a Trumpian Republican if the choice is between that candidate and AOC.

I think there is going to be a growing number of people who feel like there is no one who really represents them very well.
[/quote]

Meanwhile.2 The GQP have their own problems. How is the Trump take down of Mitch going to shake out?

"Mitch is a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack, and if Republican Senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again," Trump said in the statement. "He will never do what needs to be done, or what is right for our Country. Where necessary and appropriate, I will back primary rivals who espouse Making America Great Again and our policy of America First. We want brilliant, strong, thoughtful, and compassionate leadership."

[CameronBornAndBred]

Meanwhile.2 The GQP have their own problems. How is the Trump take down of Mitch going to shake out?

"Mitch is a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack, and if Republican Senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again," Trump said in the statement. "He will never do what needs to be done, or what is right for our Country. Where necessary and appropriate, I will back primary rivals who espouse Making America Great Again and our policy of America First. We want brilliant, strong, thoughtful, and compassionate leadership."

I loathe Mitch McConnell. If he were a "political hack", I probably wouldn't even care nor know who he is.

It's not a smart move for the GOP to go after the guy who has literally done more for their agenda in the last 15 years than any of their presidents has in the last 30.

[Furniture]

Meanwhile.2 The GQP have their own problems. How is the Trump take down of Mitch going to shake out?

"Mitch is a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack, and if Republican Senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again," Trump said in the statement. "He will never do what needs to be done, or what is right for our Country. Where necessary and appropriate, I will back primary rivals who espouse Making America Great Again and our policy of America First. We want brilliant, strong, thoughtful, and compassionate leadership."

I loathe Mitch McConnell. If he were a "political hack", I probably wouldn't even care nor know who he is.

It's not a smart move for the GOP to go after the guy who has literally done more for their agenda in the last 15 years than any of their presidents has in the last 30.

https://www.palmerreport.com/community/ ... her/36707/

^^Interesting view of the battle but not taking bets on who will win. Thinking about it in this age where you can say anything you want and then deny it or completely change your mind later perhaps one way out is for one of them to back down and declare undying love for the other.

[CrazyNotCrazie]

Meanwhile.2 The GQP have their own problems. How is the Trump take down of Mitch going to shake out?

"Mitch is a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack, and if Republican Senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again," Trump said in the statement. "He will never do what needs to be done, or what is right for our Country. Where necessary and appropriate, I will back primary rivals who espouse Making America Great Again and our policy of America First. We want brilliant, strong, thoughtful, and compassionate leadership."

I loathe Mitch McConnell. If he were a "political hack", I probably wouldn't even care nor know who he is.

It's not a smart move for the GOP to go after the guy who has literally done more for their agenda in the last 15 years than any of their presidents has in the last 30.

https://www.palmerreport.com/community/ ... her/36707/

^^Interesting view of the battle but not taking bets on who will win. Thinking about it in this age where you can say anything you want and then deny it or completely change your mind later perhaps one way out is for one of them to back down and declare undying love for the other.

Yup. It will be like 2016. They will bicker and fight non-stop but when it is time to run for office, they will be best friends again and unite against the socialist Democrats. As you said, they have no issue with constantly changing their minds. And America doesn't seem to mind either. Though heaven forbid a Democrat shows the slightest inconsistency on anything...

[Phredd3]

https://www.palmerreport.com/community/ ... her/36707/

^^Interesting view of the battle but not taking bets on who will win. Thinking about it in this age where you can say anything you want and then deny it or completely change your mind later perhaps one way out is for one of them to back down and declare undying love for the other.

Didn't they already do that? I thought undying love between Trump and McConnell was what the last four years were all about.

[dudog]

This short piece may be the best summation I've read:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... li=BBnbfcL

A future president need only consider whether he has 35 partisan defenders in the Senate to embark on whatever course he or she deems fit, regardless of its democratic propriety.

[dudog]

Another great article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... li=BBnb7Kz

One thing it brings up is expanding the House. Makes sense, Representatives represent a lot more people than they used to. Bring power back closer to the people!

[CameronBornAndBred]

Another great article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... li=BBnb7Kz

One thing it brings up is expanding the House. Makes sense, Representatives represent a lot more people than they used to. Bring power back closer to the people!

I thought the House is in constant fluctuation, with addition/subtraction every census?

[CrazyNotCrazie]

Another great article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... li=BBnb7Kz

One thing it brings up is expanding the House. Makes sense, Representatives represent a lot more people than they used to. Bring power back closer to the people!

I thought the House is in constant fluctuation, with addition/subtraction every census?

The census just reallocates the existing 435 seats. So if Michigan loses a bunch of people and Texas gains a bunch, Michigan could lose a house seat and Texas could gain. I'm sure many of the northeast/rust belt states have fewer representatives than they used to, while the sunbelt has more. Which increases the need to redraw the lines. Which then becomes a political nightmare because everyone theoretically acknowledges that gerrymandering is a problem but no one will do anything about it when there are really easy solutions.

To dudog's point, the 435 representatives are each representing a lot more people than they were in the past. So perhaps we need more representatives. But good luck getting a big change like that passed.

But on a related note, we really need to get moving on the DC as a state plan. I know there are some potential constitutional issues but I think there are ways to get it done. There is also discussion of Puerto Rico but that is a lot more complicated (lots of tax issues, unclear whether the people really want it, etc.), plus I have read people who think that it isn't guaranteed that they would vote Democrat (despite Trump treating them like garbage).

[CameronBornAndBred]

Another great article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... li=BBnb7Kz

One thing it brings up is expanding the House. Makes sense, Representatives represent a lot more people than they used to. Bring power back closer to the people!

I thought the House is in constant fluctuation, with addition/subtraction every census?

The census just reallocates the existing 435 seats. So if Michigan loses a bunch of people and Texas gains a bunch, Michigan could lose a house seat and Texas could gain. I'm sure many of the northeast/rust belt states have fewer representatives than they used to, while the sunbelt has more. Which increases the need to redraw the lines. Which then becomes a political nightmare because everyone theoretically acknowledges that gerrymandering is a problem but no one will do anything about it when there are really easy solutions.

To dudog's point, the 435 representatives are each representing a lot more people than they were in the past. So perhaps we need more representatives. But good luck getting a big change like that passed.

But on a related note, we really need to get moving on the DC as a state plan. I know there are some potential constitutional issues but I think there are ways to get it done. There is also discussion of Puerto Rico but that is a lot more complicated (lots of tax issues, unclear whether the people really want it, etc.), plus I have read people who think that it isn't guaranteed that they would vote Democrat (despite Trump treating them like garbage).

Gotcha, thanks, and .

PS, Puerto Rico will be a state long before DC ever is.

[CrazyNotCrazie]

I thought the House is in constant fluctuation, with addition/subtraction every census?

The census just reallocates the existing 435 seats. So if Michigan loses a bunch of people and Texas gains a bunch, Michigan could lose a house seat and Texas could gain. I'm sure many of the northeast/rust belt states have fewer representatives than they used to, while the sunbelt has more. Which increases the need to redraw the lines. Which then becomes a political nightmare because everyone theoretically acknowledges that gerrymandering is a problem but no one will do anything about it when there are really easy solutions.

To dudog's point, the 435 representatives are each representing a lot more people than they were in the past. So perhaps we need more representatives. But good luck getting a big change like that passed.

But on a related note, we really need to get moving on the DC as a state plan. I know there are some potential constitutional issues but I think there are ways to get it done. There is also discussion of Puerto Rico but that is a lot more complicated (lots of tax issues, unclear whether the people really want it, etc.), plus I have read people who think that it isn't guaranteed that they would vote Democrat (despite Trump treating them like garbage).

Gotcha, thanks, and .

PS, Puerto Rico will be a state long before DC ever is.

Not saying you're wrong, but why do you think PR will be a state before DC? DC residents already pay taxes. PR residents don't, so becoming a state will change that, which not everyone loves. There isn't really much downside for DC, other than that Republicans will fight like heck to make sure it doesn't happen. I believe the constitution says that there should be a federal capital that is not a state, but that can easily be solved by carving out the part of DC that is all government buildings (I'm not 100% sure of this).

[CameronBornAndBred]

Not saying you're wrong, but why do you think PR will be a state before DC?
...
other than that Republicans will fight like heck to make sure it doesn't happen.

There are more reasons than just this one, but basically you answered your own question. DC is now and forever will be Blue, so tossing the Dems another two Senate seats will never be in the cards. Statehood for DC has been an issue there for as long as I can remember. (Along with P.R.) Back when I lived in Washington, it seemed that for either to happen, both would have to occur at the same time.
I think since those days, folks on both sides are much more amenable to only the latter over both.

I know the President of Puerto Rico agrees! ;)

[Phredd3]

Another great article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... li=BBnb7Kz

One thing it brings up is expanding the House. Makes sense, Representatives represent a lot more people than they used to. Bring power back closer to the people!

I'm not sure numerical expansion would have that effect in practice. Just because they'd represent fewer people, that doesn't mean they'd be more responsive. Smaller districts can be gerrymandered, too, and people will likely be just as partisan as they are now.

I used to think that a multi-party, proportional system would be a magic bullet. Even there, though, Britain and the rest of Europe is showing that populism and simplistic disinformation campaigns can still carry the day (see Brexit). But it does seem to at least be harder for an outright authoritarian to gain traction.

It's really difficult problem.

[dudog]

Cancun Cruz. I guess that's better for him than Tijuana Ted.

[CrazyNotCrazie]

Cancun Cruz. I guess that's better for him than Tijuana Ted.

The story just keeps getting better and better. It's too bad he's not up for election sooner. I want to know who leaked the text chain with his wife. They should get a medal.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Cancun Cruz. I guess that's better for him than Tijuana Ted.

The story just keeps getting better and better. It's too bad he's not up for election sooner. I want to know who leaked the text chain with his wife. They should get a medal.

That's a trip. Will be a distant memory in 2024 though.

https://www.businessinsider.com/heidi-c ... ruz-2021-2

[dudog]

It's Blame Your Daughter At Work Day!

If you have a little girl, make sure she doesn't feel left out.

I'm sorry, strike that. Don't be an ass like Cruz.

[CrazyNotCrazie]

Cancun Cruz. I guess that's better for him than Tijuana Ted.

The story just keeps getting better and better. It's too bad he's not up for election sooner. I want to know who leaked the text chain with his wife. They should get a medal.

That's a trip. Will be a distant memory in 2024 though.

https://www.businessinsider.com/heidi-c ... ruz-2021-2

It is a really long time from now but I just don't see him being a viable presidential candidate in 2024 (I know you aren't saying that he is). I will never be able to get in the mind of a Trump supporter because my brain actually functions normally, but I get the sense that the reason many of them support him is that they love his bravado, they think he is always winning and will fight hard for them. Which is absolutely ridiculous, but that's not the point. I think people from all groups see Cruz as a slimy, pathetic loser. If the Republicans were smart, not only would they make sure that Cruz isn't their presidential candidate, they will also try to make sure he is not running for Senate.

He will have an interesting choice to make in 2024. It will still take a lot of work for the Dems to flip Texas, but it is a lot closer than it used to be. He cannot run a passive Senate campaign while also running for President - in some places you can do that, but I don't think he can. But a lot will happen between now and then.

[dudog]

The story just keeps getting better and better. It's too bad he's not up for election sooner. I want to know who leaked the text chain with his wife. They should get a medal.

That's a trip. Will be a distant memory in 2024 though.

https://www.businessinsider.com/heidi-c ... ruz-2021-2

It is a really long time from now but I just don't see him being a viable presidential candidate in 2024 (I know you aren't saying that he is). I will never be able to get in the mind of a Trump supporter because my brain actually functions normally, but I get the sense that the reason many of them support him is that they love his bravado, they think he is always winning and will fight hard for them. Which is absolutely ridiculous, but that's not the point. I think people from all groups see Cruz as a slimy, pathetic loser. If the Republicans were smart, not only would they make sure that Cruz isn't their presidential candidate, they will also try to make sure he is not running for Senate.

He will have an interesting choice to make in 2024. It will still take a lot of work for the Dems to flip Texas, but it is a lot closer than it used to be. He cannot run a passive Senate campaign while also running for President - in some places you can do that, but I don't think he can. But a lot will happen between now and then.

Rubio, to my chagrin, was successful at it.

[ArkieDukie]

The story just keeps getting better and better. It's too bad he's not up for election sooner. I want to know who leaked the text chain with his wife. They should get a medal.

That's a trip. Will be a distant memory in 2024 though.

https://www.businessinsider.com/heidi-c ... ruz-2021-2

It is a really long time from now but I just don't see him being a viable presidential candidate in 2024 (I know you aren't saying that he is). I will never be able to get in the mind of a Trump supporter because my brain actually functions normally, but I get the sense that the reason many of them support him is that they love his bravado, they think he is always winning and will fight hard for them. Which is absolutely ridiculous, but that's not the point. I think people from all groups see Cruz as a slimy, pathetic loser. If the Republicans were smart, not only would they make sure that Cruz isn't their presidential candidate, they will also try to make sure he is not running for Senate.

He will have an interesting choice to make in 2024. It will still take a lot of work for the Dems to flip Texas, but it is a lot closer than it used to be. He cannot run a passive Senate campaign while also running for President - in some places you can do that, but I don't think he can. But a lot will happen between now and then.

He came very close to losing to Beto O’Rourke. Had this little jaunt happened before that election, we’d be referring to him as Former Sen Ted Cruz. My friends in TX are not happy right now, and you know whoever runs against Cancun Cruz is going to use this. Too bad he didn’t take Abbott with him.