American democracy has ground to a halt.

[The Free North]

Enlightened Despotism remains the best form of government.

[The Mikado]

"No one wants to be in the Senate" is something I feel a lot of posters on the Congressional Elections board really fail to grasp.

Like, I think Steve Bullock would legitimately rather be retired than be a Senator.

https://twitter.com/merica/status/1139194619189768192

When will people take these recruits at their word that they don't want to be in the Senate? Hickenlooper could easily win that seat, but he really doesn't want it.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

"No one wants to be in the Senate" is something I feel a lot of posters on the Congressional Elections board really fail to grasp.

Like, I think Steve Bullock would legitimately rather be retired than be a Senator.

https://twitter.com/merica/status/1139194619189768192

When will people take these recruits at their word that they don't want to be in the Senate? Hickenlooper could easily win that seat, but he really doesn't want it.

Anyone who says that the Senate "isn't attractive to them" is saying that they're not interested in doing good, or furthering the goals of their party - and as such ought not be nominated for President, as they're clearly pursuing the job for the wrong reasons. 

[Progressive Pessimist]

"No one wants to be in the Senate" is something I feel a lot of posters on the Congressional Elections board really fail to grasp.

Like, I think Steve Bullock would legitimately rather be retired than be a Senator.

https://twitter.com/merica/status/1139194619189768192

When will people take these recruits at their word that they don't want to be in the Senate? Hickenlooper could easily win that seat, but he really doesn't want it.

Anyone who says that the Senate "isn't attractive to them" is saying that they're not interested in doing good, or furthering the goals of their party - and as such ought not be nominated for President, as they're clearly pursuing the job for the wrong reasons. 

I say this all the time. I don't care how callous it sounds, it's the truth. I remember reading about how Jeff Jackson in North Carolina is being wishy-washy about running against Tillis since he has a newborn daughter. That's nice and all, but shouldn't he want to ensure a better future for that child by potentially defeating Tillis and helping to achieve a Democratic majority? he has one of the best chances of it after all. We need good Senate recruits like him if we want to save this country from McConnell's stranglehold.

[junior chįmp]

In that way that’s true but look at the fact that Reagan won huge landslides while Dems won big in Congress.  Look at how often states changed hands during the decade .Look at the fact that Reagan’s support in both his elections was pretty uniform across the nation.


And during the 1980s probably the largest tax reform bill passed on bipartisan consensus

Reagan won big landslides because of the economy. Most voters didn't even know what Reagan was campaigning on and the few who did didn't even like his policies.

Even then he won the largest electoral landslides since FDR in the 1930s (If you average out both his wins ).

The 1980 election had some of the worst income growth in the last 70 years while the 1984 election had the second highest in the last 70 years. Reagan's election victories were basically due to impeccable timing not some hunger amongst the public for Conservatism.

Even IKE despite being a war hero and also presiding over a great economy didn’t win as large of a win

Income growth wasn't as high though Ike over-preformed economic fundamentals in 1956 for what its worth.

If you ignore the narratives behind election victories and just stick to what matters...there are perfectly rational explanations for election outcomes. I think election outcomes are basically 50% the economy and 50% randomness and timing

[smoltchanov]

The problem with this viewpoint is that most voters dont have desires. They are essentially lemmings who's viewpoints are dictated by their identity and/or partisanship. Read this article for a better explanation.

We've all seen how Republican voters change positions on a whim just as long as Trump tells them to. Keep in mind that more ''informed'' voters are actually the biggest hacks of all. They are smart enough to know they are being hacks so they hide behind well written talking points. These are like the Trump supporters of Atlas who routinely change their mind when Trump does and just make up the reasoning as they go along.

I will read a paper, when  time allows (it's long), but, personaly - absolutely refuse to be "lemming"))). I have both desires AND positions on issues. So - it's not about me))). Naturally, i base my reasonings on my own positions and vision. As a result, we will always see situation somewhat differently..

[darklordoftech]

From what I’ve read, the average person and the average voter aren’t the same thing. There’s plenty of people who don’t watch Fox News or MSNBC, but don’t vote.

[pbrower2a]

In that way that’s true but look at the fact that Reagan won huge landslides while Dems won big in Congress.  Look at how often states changed hands during the decade .Look at the fact that Reagan’s support in both his elections was pretty uniform across the nation.


And during the 1980s probably the largest tax reform bill passed on bipartisan consensus

Reagan won big landslides because of the economy. Most voters didn't even know what Reagan was campaigning on and the few who did didn't even like his policies.

Even then he won the largest electoral landslides since FDR in the 1930s (If you average out both his wins ).


Even IKE despite being a war hero and also presiding over a great economy didn’t win as large of a win

Reagan put an end to the stagflation of the 1970s by measures that lowered real pay to workers and cut taxes for economic elites. He did what neither Ford nor Carter could ever succeed at, which was to lower expectations. The Reagan economy was the economy of the shopping mall and the fast-food restaurant, both of which got infusions of cheap but competent workers who might have wished to do something else. So if your loathsome, low-paying job was fully inadequate -- get another such job! Such created wealth without creating consumer demand.   

[Badger]

Congress worked fine until Reagan got elected and inspired an entire generation of true believer legislative bomb throwers to go into politics. Polarization is primarily the GOP's fault but the media with its insistence on bothsidesism doesn't want to say so.

Yes, Polarization Is Asymmetric—and Conservatives Are Worse

Tribalism Isn’t Our Democracy’s Main Problem. The Conservative Movement Is.

Political Scientist: Republicans Most Conservative They've Been In 100 Years

The 1980s were one of the least polarizing decades since the 50s at least when it comes to the public.

 

The public is never polarized. The public has no deeply held political beliefs. It is the elites and activists who are polarized, not the public. For the umpteenth time....only the political parties are polarized.

Agree. But when it's these "activists" and parties, who decide everything, results are hardly normal. After all - theoretically parties must reflect thoughts and desires of the people. For US liberals Democratic party more or less does that (though even among liberal-leaning people not all will support "bold progressism" in every detail), the same - for conservatives and Republican party. But for other? Zero.

The problem with this viewpoint is that most voters dont have desires. They are essentially lemmings who's viewpoints are dictated by their identity and/or partisanship. Read this article for a better explanation.

We've all seen how Republican voters change positions on a whim just as long as Trump tells them to. Keep in mind that more ''informed'' voters are actually the biggest hacks of all. They are smart enough to know they are being hacks so they hide behind well written talking points. These are like the Trump supporters of Atlas who routinely change their mind when Trump does and just make up the reasoning as they go along.

That article is as convincing as it is true and depressing.

It's similar to what I've said previously, that the worst thing about Trump is that under him there is now absolutely no bottom to the Republican party's standards. Trump is a god-awful human being in every single aspect, and what's more it pervades every aspect of his presidency. But like good little Lemmings, instead of ever deciding G Trump is bad this needs to change, Republicans have decided on mass that whole scale corruption, attempting treason of the highest order, and blatantly try to undermine the most basic values of democracy are all more than acceptable if it is offered by someone taking the war to liberals.

[smoltchanov]

Congress worked fine until Reagan got elected and inspired an entire generation of true believer legislative bomb throwers to go into politics. Polarization is primarily the GOP's fault but the media with its insistence on bothsidesism doesn't want to say so.

Yes, Polarization Is Asymmetric—and Conservatives Are Worse

Tribalism Isn’t Our Democracy’s Main Problem. The Conservative Movement Is.

Political Scientist: Republicans Most Conservative They've Been In 100 Years

The 1980s were one of the least polarizing decades since the 50s at least when it comes to the public.

 

The public is never polarized. The public has no deeply held political beliefs. It is the elites and activists who are polarized, not the public. For the umpteenth time....only the political parties are polarized.

Agree. But when it's these "activists" and parties, who decide everything, results are hardly normal. After all - theoretically parties must reflect thoughts and desires of the people. For US liberals Democratic party more or less does that (though even among liberal-leaning people not all will support "bold progressism" in every detail), the same - for conservatives and Republican party. But for other? Zero.

The problem with this viewpoint is that most voters dont have desires. They are essentially lemmings who's viewpoints are dictated by their identity and/or partisanship. Read this article for a better explanation.

We've all seen how Republican voters change positions on a whim just as long as Trump tells them to. Keep in mind that more ''informed'' voters are actually the biggest hacks of all. They are smart enough to know they are being hacks so they hide behind well written talking points. These are like the Trump supporters of Atlas who routinely change their mind when Trump does and just make up the reasoning as they go along.

That article is as convincing as it is true and depressing

And IF it's true - don't brag about "American democracy" over whole world anymore. Nothing to brag about... "Democracy of lemmings" isn't a good example....

[junior chįmp]

Congress worked fine until Reagan got elected and inspired an entire generation of true believer legislative bomb throwers to go into politics. Polarization is primarily the GOP's fault but the media with its insistence on bothsidesism doesn't want to say so.

Yes, Polarization Is Asymmetric—and Conservatives Are Worse

Tribalism Isn’t Our Democracy’s Main Problem. The Conservative Movement Is.

Political Scientist: Republicans Most Conservative They've Been In 100 Years

The 1980s were one of the least polarizing decades since the 50s at least when it comes to the public.

 

The public is never polarized. The public has no deeply held political beliefs. It is the elites and activists who are polarized, not the public. For the umpteenth time....only the political parties are polarized.

Agree. But when it's these "activists" and parties, who decide everything, results are hardly normal. After all - theoretically parties must reflect thoughts and desires of the people. For US liberals Democratic party more or less does that (though even among liberal-leaning people not all will support "bold progressism" in every detail), the same - for conservatives and Republican party. But for other? Zero.

The problem with this viewpoint is that most voters dont have desires. They are essentially lemmings who's viewpoints are dictated by their identity and/or partisanship. Read this article for a better explanation.

We've all seen how Republican voters change positions on a whim just as long as Trump tells them to. Keep in mind that more ''informed'' voters are actually the biggest hacks of all. They are smart enough to know they are being hacks so they hide behind well written talking points. These are like the Trump supporters of Atlas who routinely change their mind when Trump does and just make up the reasoning as they go along.

That article is as convincing as it is true and depressing

And IF it's true - don't brag about "American democracy" over whole world anymore. Nothing to brag about... "Democracy of lemmings" isn't a good example....

Well you have a point. American democracy is an illusion and our system of federalism is a farce. Nobody is voting rationally and the voters will gladly keep the system in a state of gridlock forever just as long as they are pumped up enough to be in a proverbial state of fear and division by their party leaders.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Congress worked fine until Reagan got elected and inspired an entire generation of true believer legislative bomb throwers to go into politics. Polarization is primarily the GOP's fault but the media with its insistence on bothsidesism doesn't want to say so.

Yes, Polarization Is Asymmetric—and Conservatives Are Worse

Tribalism Isn’t Our Democracy’s Main Problem. The Conservative Movement Is.

Political Scientist: Republicans Most Conservative They've Been In 100 Years

The 1980s were one of the least polarizing decades since the 50s at least when it comes to the public.

 

The public is never polarized. The public has no deeply held political beliefs. It is the elites and activists who are polarized, not the public. For the umpteenth time....only the political parties are polarized.

Agree. But when it's these "activists" and parties, who decide everything, results are hardly normal. After all - theoretically parties must reflect thoughts and desires of the people. For US liberals Democratic party more or less does that (though even among liberal-leaning people not all will support "bold progressism" in every detail), the same - for conservatives and Republican party. But for other? Zero.

The problem with this viewpoint is that most voters dont have desires. They are essentially lemmings who's viewpoints are dictated by their identity and/or partisanship. Read this article for a better explanation.

We've all seen how Republican voters change positions on a whim just as long as Trump tells them to. Keep in mind that more ''informed'' voters are actually the biggest hacks of all. They are smart enough to know they are being hacks so they hide behind well written talking points. These are like the Trump supporters of Atlas who routinely change their mind when Trump does and just make up the reasoning as they go along.

That article is as convincing as it is true and depressing

And IF it's true - don't brag about "American democracy" over whole world anymore. Nothing to brag about... "Democracy of lemmings" isn't a good example....

The rest of the world is in even worse place

[smoltchanov]

Congress worked fine until Reagan got elected and inspired an entire generation of true believer legislative bomb throwers to go into politics. Polarization is primarily the GOP's fault but the media with its insistence on bothsidesism doesn't want to say so.

Yes, Polarization Is Asymmetric—and Conservatives Are Worse

Tribalism Isn’t Our Democracy’s Main Problem. The Conservative Movement Is.

Political Scientist: Republicans Most Conservative They've Been In 100 Years

The 1980s were one of the least polarizing decades since the 50s at least when it comes to the public.

 

The public is never polarized. The public has no deeply held political beliefs. It is the elites and activists who are polarized, not the public. For the umpteenth time....only the political parties are polarized.

Agree. But when it's these "activists" and parties, who decide everything, results are hardly normal. After all - theoretically parties must reflect thoughts and desires of the people. For US liberals Democratic party more or less does that (though even among liberal-leaning people not all will support "bold progressism" in every detail), the same - for conservatives and Republican party. But for other? Zero.

The problem with this viewpoint is that most voters dont have desires. They are essentially lemmings who's viewpoints are dictated by their identity and/or partisanship. Read this article for a better explanation.

We've all seen how Republican voters change positions on a whim just as long as Trump tells them to. Keep in mind that more ''informed'' voters are actually the biggest hacks of all. They are smart enough to know they are being hacks so they hide behind well written talking points. These are like the Trump supporters of Atlas who routinely change their mind when Trump does and just make up the reasoning as they go along.

That article is as convincing as it is true and depressing

And IF it's true - don't brag about "American democracy" over whole world anymore. Nothing to brag about... "Democracy of lemmings" isn't a good example....

The rest of the world is in even worse place

Even if so - at least they don't brag about their "virtues" over the world... And, with all gigantic problems we have in Russia - i frequently have a better choice of candidates here, then i would have in US, where person with my views would desperately chose not whom he likes more, but whom he hates less...

[OSR stands with Israel]

Congress worked fine until Reagan got elected and inspired an entire generation of true believer legislative bomb throwers to go into politics. Polarization is primarily the GOP's fault but the media with its insistence on bothsidesism doesn't want to say so.

Yes, Polarization Is Asymmetric—and Conservatives Are Worse

Tribalism Isn’t Our Democracy’s Main Problem. The Conservative Movement Is.

Political Scientist: Republicans Most Conservative They've Been In 100 Years

The 1980s were one of the least polarizing decades since the 50s at least when it comes to the public.

 

The public is never polarized. The public has no deeply held political beliefs. It is the elites and activists who are polarized, not the public. For the umpteenth time....only the political parties are polarized.

Agree. But when it's these "activists" and parties, who decide everything, results are hardly normal. After all - theoretically parties must reflect thoughts and desires of the people. For US liberals Democratic party more or less does that (though even among liberal-leaning people not all will support "bold progressism" in every detail), the same - for conservatives and Republican party. But for other? Zero.

The problem with this viewpoint is that most voters dont have desires. They are essentially lemmings who's viewpoints are dictated by their identity and/or partisanship. Read this article for a better explanation.

We've all seen how Republican voters change positions on a whim just as long as Trump tells them to. Keep in mind that more ''informed'' voters are actually the biggest hacks of all. They are smart enough to know they are being hacks so they hide behind well written talking points. These are like the Trump supporters of Atlas who routinely change their mind when Trump does and just make up the reasoning as they go along.

That article is as convincing as it is true and depressing

And IF it's true - don't brag about "American democracy" over whole world anymore. Nothing to brag about... "Democracy of lemmings" isn't a good example....

The rest of the world is in even worse place

Even if so - at least they don't brag about their "virtues" over the world... And, with all gigantic problems we have in Russia - i frequently have a better choice of candidates here, then i would have in US, where person with my views would desperately chose not whom he likes more, but whom he hates less...

You only have one choice , Vladimir Putin .

[smoltchanov]

Congress worked fine until Reagan got elected and inspired an entire generation of true believer legislative bomb throwers to go into politics. Polarization is primarily the GOP's fault but the media with its insistence on bothsidesism doesn't want to say so.

Yes, Polarization Is Asymmetric—and Conservatives Are Worse

Tribalism Isn’t Our Democracy’s Main Problem. The Conservative Movement Is.

Political Scientist: Republicans Most Conservative They've Been In 100 Years

The 1980s were one of the least polarizing decades since the 50s at least when it comes to the public.

 

The public is never polarized. The public has no deeply held political beliefs. It is the elites and activists who are polarized, not the public. For the umpteenth time....only the political parties are polarized.

Agree. But when it's these "activists" and parties, who decide everything, results are hardly normal. After all - theoretically parties must reflect thoughts and desires of the people. For US liberals Democratic party more or less does that (though even among liberal-leaning people not all will support "bold progressism" in every detail), the same - for conservatives and Republican party. But for other? Zero.

The problem with this viewpoint is that most voters dont have desires. They are essentially lemmings who's viewpoints are dictated by their identity and/or partisanship. Read this article for a better explanation.

We've all seen how Republican voters change positions on a whim just as long as Trump tells them to. Keep in mind that more ''informed'' voters are actually the biggest hacks of all. They are smart enough to know they are being hacks so they hide behind well written talking points. These are like the Trump supporters of Atlas who routinely change their mind when Trump does and just make up the reasoning as they go along.

That article is as convincing as it is true and depressing

And IF it's true - don't brag about "American democracy" over whole world anymore. Nothing to brag about... "Democracy of lemmings" isn't a good example....

The rest of the world is in even worse place

Even if so - at least they don't brag about their "virtues" over the world... And, with all gigantic problems we have in Russia - i frequently have a better choice of candidates here, then i would have in US, where person with my views would desperately chose not whom he likes more, but whom he hates less...

You only have one choice , Vladimir Putin .

Idiocy. We have elections to Duma (national and Moscow)  and lot of local elections too. American idiots, who think that Russia = Putin - well, idiots are the same everywhere...

[OSR stands with Israel]

Congress worked fine until Reagan got elected and inspired an entire generation of true believer legislative bomb throwers to go into politics. Polarization is primarily the GOP's fault but the media with its insistence on bothsidesism doesn't want to say so.

Yes, Polarization Is Asymmetric—and Conservatives Are Worse

Tribalism Isn’t Our Democracy’s Main Problem. The Conservative Movement Is.

Political Scientist: Republicans Most Conservative They've Been In 100 Years

The 1980s were one of the least polarizing decades since the 50s at least when it comes to the public.

 

The public is never polarized. The public has no deeply held political beliefs. It is the elites and activists who are polarized, not the public. For the umpteenth time....only the political parties are polarized.

Agree. But when it's these "activists" and parties, who decide everything, results are hardly normal. After all - theoretically parties must reflect thoughts and desires of the people. For US liberals Democratic party more or less does that (though even among liberal-leaning people not all will support "bold progressism" in every detail), the same - for conservatives and Republican party. But for other? Zero.

The problem with this viewpoint is that most voters dont have desires. They are essentially lemmings who's viewpoints are dictated by their identity and/or partisanship. Read this article for a better explanation.

We've all seen how Republican voters change positions on a whim just as long as Trump tells them to. Keep in mind that more ''informed'' voters are actually the biggest hacks of all. They are smart enough to know they are being hacks so they hide behind well written talking points. These are like the Trump supporters of Atlas who routinely change their mind when Trump does and just make up the reasoning as they go along.

That article is as convincing as it is true and depressing

And IF it's true - don't brag about "American democracy" over whole world anymore. Nothing to brag about... "Democracy of lemmings" isn't a good example....

The rest of the world is in even worse place

Even if so - at least they don't brag about their "virtues" over the world... And, with all gigantic problems we have in Russia - i frequently have a better choice of candidates here, then i would have in US, where person with my views would desperately chose not whom he likes more, but whom he hates less...

You only have one choice , Vladimir Putin .

Idiocy. We have elections to Duma (national and Moscow)  and lot of local elections too. American idiots, who think that Russia = Putin - well, idiots are the same everywhere...

In a Presidential Election yes thats all you have.

[smoltchanov]

Congress worked fine until Reagan got elected and inspired an entire generation of true believer legislative bomb throwers to go into politics. Polarization is primarily the GOP's fault but the media with its insistence on bothsidesism doesn't want to say so.

Yes, Polarization Is Asymmetric—and Conservatives Are Worse

Tribalism Isn’t Our Democracy’s Main Problem. The Conservative Movement Is.

Political Scientist: Republicans Most Conservative They've Been In 100 Years

The 1980s were one of the least polarizing decades since the 50s at least when it comes to the public.

 

The public is never polarized. The public has no deeply held political beliefs. It is the elites and activists who are polarized, not the public. For the umpteenth time....only the political parties are polarized.

Agree. But when it's these "activists" and parties, who decide everything, results are hardly normal. After all - theoretically parties must reflect thoughts and desires of the people. For US liberals Democratic party more or less does that (though even among liberal-leaning people not all will support "bold progressism" in every detail), the same - for conservatives and Republican party. But for other? Zero.

The problem with this viewpoint is that most voters dont have desires. They are essentially lemmings who's viewpoints are dictated by their identity and/or partisanship. Read this article for a better explanation.

We've all seen how Republican voters change positions on a whim just as long as Trump tells them to. Keep in mind that more ''informed'' voters are actually the biggest hacks of all. They are smart enough to know they are being hacks so they hide behind well written talking points. These are like the Trump supporters of Atlas who routinely change their mind when Trump does and just make up the reasoning as they go along.

That article is as convincing as it is true and depressing

And IF it's true - don't brag about "American democracy" over whole world anymore. Nothing to brag about... "Democracy of lemmings" isn't a good example....

The rest of the world is in even worse place

Even if so - at least they don't brag about their "virtues" over the world... And, with all gigantic problems we have in Russia - i frequently have a better choice of candidates here, then i would have in US, where person with my views would desperately chose not whom he likes more, but whom he hates less...

You only have one choice , Vladimir Putin .

Idiocy. We have elections to Duma (national and Moscow)  and lot of local elections too. American idiots, who think that Russia = Putin - well, idiots are the same everywhere...

In a Presidential Election yes thats all you have.

That's all you can say? I expected more. Yes, right now, because of careful "field cleaning" by FSB - it's almost all we have on this level. But - we had very lively and democratic elections (including Presidental) in 1990th, and will have them again really soon (no one will be able to wear Putin's shoes after him, and situation will develop rather quickly after). BTW, 28 years after beginning of American Revolution YOU had legal slavery and other "pleasures".... And your Senate wasn't elected by the people until 100+ years later. So, again - you have nothing to brag about. Especially if what you have NOW is a result of 240+ years of "democratic rule"....

[HillGoose]

Very little gets accomplished under a divided government. It's simple as that.  The only exceptions to this are Massachusetts, Vermont, Maryland, and Louisiana.

that's a good thing though. the government shouldn't be doing stuff

[T'Chenka]

Very little gets accomplished under a divided government. It's simple as that.  The only exceptions to this are Massachusetts, Vermont, Maryland, and Louisiana.

that's a good thing though. the government shouldn't be doing stuff

Well, you certainly are a product of the American education system that you don't want to fund.

[HillGoose]

Very little gets accomplished under a divided government. It's simple as that.  The only exceptions to this are Massachusetts, Vermont, Maryland, and Louisiana.

that's a good thing though. the government shouldn't be doing stuff

Well, you certainly are a product of the American education system that you don't want to fund.

Yeah I don't want to give the people that run the DMV or the education system more control over our economy and personal lives 😂😂😂 I don't see how that's a bad thing.