The person on the excelent YouTube channel "Let's Talk Elections' states that for states like Kansas and Texas to be lost needs a combination of a very unfavourable national environment, a strong Democrat candidate and a weak Republican one. Marshall didn't see that all these boxes are being ticked. Anyone in touch with farmers (pretty important in Kansas) would know that if tariffs are brought in and trade wars started farmers are the first casualties because there's plenty of other places you can get agricultural imports as happened very rapidly with the big Chinese export market. But the former doctor clearly didn't know this,
A rational political party would look to put its best retail politicians in the swing states (and give these people a big say in political strategy) and look to put less flashy policy wonks that would make good cabinet members or leaders in the safe states. That is definitely not how things are working in the Republican party (I don't know the internal the Democrats). It seems that the most extreme and electorally unsuccessful policies come from 'safe' Republican districts and states. I'm pretty sure that explains why the Republicans embraced banning abortion which is an electoral stinkbomb....however beloved in the grass roots of Republican +20% branches.
Are arrogance and ignorance prerequisites to be considered for elected office in the Republican Party? Either party? Given the number of medical professionals who get involved with politics and then become embroiled in scandal, one could assume either the medical profession needs to strengthen its moral and ethical standards or political organizations need to do better vetting candidates. Wait. How naive. Of course.
Add Tommy Tuberville to the list. Here in blue Massachusetts, the Republican Party didn't go full MAGA till fairly recently -- we had a sane Republican governor in Charlie Baker from 2015 to 2023 -- so the incompetence of these red-state Republicans is startling. Moral of story: One-party situations aren't good for democracy.
Since it's looking like many states are heading into a one-party situation, with that party being the Democrats, should I be worried that it might happen to us? I think not -- because there's enough diversity within the Democratic Party, at both the state and national level, that we're not likely to get too complacent.
Even if Hamilton loses, I hope he maintains a presence. We need more Christians explaining what the Gospels actually say, not what the Republican party pretends is there.
And you know who else seems to feel that she is owed her 6th Senate term? Our Lady of the Furrowed Brow, Maine's ever-concerned, pearl-clutching Senator, Susan Collins. Susie has recently begun bragging about how she--all by her lonesome, no doubt--has gotten Trump to eliminate the tariff on road salt. WOOOOOooo.
Well, granted that will certainly help with the winter road maintenance budgets for Maine towns. However, it's not the big deal Collins is making it out to be. As Troy Jackson points out, no one eats road salt.
Town budgets are relatively immaterial to the everyday financial predicament that Trumps OTHER tariffs have handed to the average working family. Collins has also gotten her old buddy, Bill Greene*, a supposed "independent", to do another series of campaign ads for her. Although...it may not have the magic effect that his ad had in her last campaign. Actually it may blow up in both their faces. Goodness, I sure as heck hope so!!
(*Bill Greene is a local television personality who does a program called "Bill Greene's Maine" where he visit various iconic sites or events in Maine and does friendly, somewhat informative interviews with the owners or the locals and it more or less highlights places to visit or events to go to for everybody, including tourists.)
Susie does seem to be getting a little panicky however...her ads have taken a real nasty turn, stopping at the edge of defamatory. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this time we can pry her butt out of that cushy Senate chair (and toes, eyes and anything else I can cross).
The person on the excelent YouTube channel "Let's Talk Elections' states that for states like Kansas and Texas to be lost needs a combination of a very unfavourable national environment, a strong Democrat candidate and a weak Republican one. Marshall didn't see that all these boxes are being ticked. Anyone in touch with farmers (pretty important in Kansas) would know that if tariffs are brought in and trade wars started farmers are the first casualties because there's plenty of other places you can get agricultural imports as happened very rapidly with the big Chinese export market. But the former doctor clearly didn't know this,
A rational political party would look to put its best retail politicians in the swing states (and give these people a big say in political strategy) and look to put less flashy policy wonks that would make good cabinet members or leaders in the safe states. That is definitely not how things are working in the Republican party (I don't know the internal the Democrats). It seems that the most extreme and electorally unsuccessful policies come from 'safe' Republican districts and states. I'm pretty sure that explains why the Republicans embraced banning abortion which is an electoral stinkbomb....however beloved in the grass roots of Republican +20% branches.
Are arrogance and ignorance prerequisites to be considered for elected office in the Republican Party? Either party? Given the number of medical professionals who get involved with politics and then become embroiled in scandal, one could assume either the medical profession needs to strengthen its moral and ethical standards or political organizations need to do better vetting candidates. Wait. How naive. Of course.
I had heard a sketchy story about this. Nice to have more details. Thanks.
Wonderful morning read. My hope: this column is just a palate cleanser and its theme will be reprised many times over the coming months.
Add Tommy Tuberville to the list. Here in blue Massachusetts, the Republican Party didn't go full MAGA till fairly recently -- we had a sane Republican governor in Charlie Baker from 2015 to 2023 -- so the incompetence of these red-state Republicans is startling. Moral of story: One-party situations aren't good for democracy.
Since it's looking like many states are heading into a one-party situation, with that party being the Democrats, should I be worried that it might happen to us? I think not -- because there's enough diversity within the Democratic Party, at both the state and national level, that we're not likely to get too complacent.
Even if Hamilton loses, I hope he maintains a presence. We need more Christians explaining what the Gospels actually say, not what the Republican party pretends is there.
The entire Republican party is unconsciously incompetent.
And you know who else seems to feel that she is owed her 6th Senate term? Our Lady of the Furrowed Brow, Maine's ever-concerned, pearl-clutching Senator, Susan Collins. Susie has recently begun bragging about how she--all by her lonesome, no doubt--has gotten Trump to eliminate the tariff on road salt. WOOOOOooo.
Well, granted that will certainly help with the winter road maintenance budgets for Maine towns. However, it's not the big deal Collins is making it out to be. As Troy Jackson points out, no one eats road salt.
Town budgets are relatively immaterial to the everyday financial predicament that Trumps OTHER tariffs have handed to the average working family. Collins has also gotten her old buddy, Bill Greene*, a supposed "independent", to do another series of campaign ads for her. Although...it may not have the magic effect that his ad had in her last campaign. Actually it may blow up in both their faces. Goodness, I sure as heck hope so!!
(*Bill Greene is a local television personality who does a program called "Bill Greene's Maine" where he visit various iconic sites or events in Maine and does friendly, somewhat informative interviews with the owners or the locals and it more or less highlights places to visit or events to go to for everybody, including tourists.)
Susie does seem to be getting a little panicky however...her ads have taken a real nasty turn, stopping at the edge of defamatory. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this time we can pry her butt out of that cushy Senate chair (and toes, eyes and anything else I can cross).