Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Possibly the only positive outcome from the Trump presidency is an unprecedented number of new Democrats running for office.

Courtesy of Vice News:  

The 2018 midterms are still 561 days away, but an unprecedented early surge of Democrats have already declared their candidacies for the House of Representatives, setting up what will likely be one of the longest and most crowded series of House Democratic primary campaigns in memory. 

Already 408 Democrats have thrown their hats into the ring, a 58 percent increase over the 259 who had declared by this point in the run-up to the 2014 midterms. And several hundred more candidates are likely to join races across the country as the Democratic Party and multiple outside progressive groups recruit their own candidates. This tsunami of Democratic challengers will likely make it more difficult for President Donald Trump to pass his legislative agenda as members of Congress — Republicans and Democrats alike — will be wary of casting votes that provide ammo to progressive Democratic challengers. 

Contrary to fears among some liberals that the anti-Trump resistance movement would start and stop with marches and memes, the surge of energy and potential candidates is letting dispirited Democrats dare to believe they could win the 24 seats they need to reclaim the House majority for the first time since 2010. 

A spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC, or “D-trip” as it’s often called in Washington) told VICE News that the committee is in serious talks with more than 300 prospective candidates in about 70 Republican-held and open districts around the country. About 90 percent of those recruits, the DCCC said, have yet to file declarations of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission.

Well as far as I am concerned this is perhaps the best news we could hope for at this point.

The Republicans have a very well funded political machine in place to find, train, and groom new politicians who they then run for everything from school boards, to city assemblies, to congressional seats in Washington.

Lately the Democrats have really struggled to keep up with that machine, and hopefully with Trump in the White House there will finally be the feeling of desperation needed to inspire hesitant Democrats to put their personal concerns aside and get into the game. 

22 comments:

  1. Anonymous4:04 AM

    Maybe we could get a strong progressive leader like Levi Johnston to run for office. Oh wait, he's hardly progressive. In fact, he's Teapublican to the core.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous5:06 AM

      Fuck off troll.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous5:31 AM

      Huh? When does Levi talk about his political opinions? I have never heard this. Alicia, the ironic thing about your obsession with Levi and Sunny is that, if you weren't such a nuisance to them, they are actually the people who would be nice to you if you were ever in Alaska. They have friends of all shapes, sizes, and economic status. They don't judge people by how they look or how many designer handbags they own. Bristol, on the other hand, would sneer and run away if you ever tried to befriend her. She would judge you on your size, your house, and the "quality" (i.e. designer label) on the stuff you own.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous7:06 AM

      It is quite amusing that anyone not worshipping a Jphnstpn is automatically labelled "Alicia". Because there's only one person in the whole wide world who isn't a big Johnston fan. Someyimes people here are as dumb as right wingers.

      Delete
  2. The Dems need to take a page out of the GOP playbook re grooming new candidates: you must win to be able to govern, even if the Rep playbook is missing that page.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous6:21 AM

    Would-Be Dictator Trump Attacks Independent Judiciary for Blocking Sanctuary City Order

    ...Donald Trump wants to rule like an autocrat. He thinks the United States is a nation wholly under his power and authority and where his very word is law.

    It is not. And when a single judge reminded him of that fact, and Donald Trump responded like the thwarted would-be dictator he is.

    Donald Trump accused a federal judge of “rewriting immigration policy” but what the federal judge did was to prevent unilateral action by a renegade (and childishly petulant) chief executive drunk on his own power.

    http://www.politicususa.com/2017/04/26/would-be-dictator-trump-independent-judiciary-sanctuary-city-order.html

    http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/25/politics/sanctuary-cities-injunction/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:58 AM

      https://thinkprogress.org/trump-orrick-tweets-383c39391ba6

      Delete
  4. Anonymous6:24 AM

    http://www.politicususa.com/2017/04/26/add-outrageous-16-lies-trumps-16-unintelligible-remarks-ap-interview.html

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous6:27 AM

    Peckerwood Gowdy>
    http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/04/why-its-impossible-republicans-investigate-trump-russia-scandal

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous6:37 AM

    https://thinkprogress.org/scott-pruitt-oklahoma-gop-hatch-act-violation-dcdddc4809cf

    "Under the Hatch Act, federal employees can engage in political activities, but cannot allow their official title to be used in connection with fundraising. "

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous6:38 AM

    "Religious Left is having a moment."
    https://thinkprogress.org/stop-comparing-the-religious-left-to-the-religious-right-692c70490b0d

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:54 AM

      https://www.facebook.com/topic/Pope-Francis/120065791373626?source=whrt&position=9&trqid=6413324310831775719

      TED TALK

      Delete
  8. Anonymous6:43 AM

    “See you in the Supreme Court!”

    https://thinkprogress.org/trump-orrick-tweets-383c39391ba6

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous7:42 AM

    http://fortune.com/2017/04/26/tax-reform-donald-trump-watch-online/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:55 AM

      Mr or Miss Fortune tweet?
      https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/trumps-constant-tweeting-isnt-lifting-twitters-profit/2017/04/26/8d05f444-2a4e-11e7-9081-f5405f56d3e4_story.html?utm_term=.8f0fc975058c

      Delete
  10. Anonymous8:04 AM

    666pence>
    http://www.politicususa.com/2017/04/26/pence-unpopular-trump-planned-parenthood.html

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/666_Fifth_Avenue

    Kushner Property
    "On July 5, 2013, Kushner Companies signed an agreement to purchase a five-building complex in Brooklyn, New York formerly used by Jehovah's Witnesses"

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kushner_Companies

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous8:17 AM

    https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/man-fined-dollar500-for-crime-of-writing-i-am-an-engineer-in-an-email-to-the-government?utm_source=mbtwitter

    https://www.facebook.com/Stonekettle?hc_ref=NEWSFEED&fref=nf

    SCIENCE^

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous8:21 AM

    NICE! OT?
    "FAIRBANKS, Alaska – In a radio interview this morning, Hollywood actor Bill Murray took a few moments to praise Fairbanks, Alaska residents after they had helped him when his rental car encountered some mechanical problems as he was passing through the city recently:

    “We were just leaving Fairbanks, Alaska when our rental car began to overheat so I pulled over to the side of the road and was just about to call the car company when I noticed there were a couple of cars pulling up behind me. They got out and asked if I needed any help and I told them that I was just about to call the rental car company. Then one of them says that he has a brother who owns a tow truck and a few minutes later it was there and they towed it in to get fixed.

    So now we’re talking and I’m telling them that I’m just passing through the area and they offer to take me in to get lunch while my car is getting fixed and I’m thinking, ‘Sure, what the hell.’ So we drove to what is probably the finest dining spot in all of Fairbanks – some place called Soapy Smith’s, I think it was – and had one hell of a great burger.

    And these guys had no idea who I was which, honestly, just made my day. I’m telling you, these people in Fairbanks are the real deal. If I ever retire, I’m moving there!” Murray said with a laugh.

    Murray added later, “You have to understand, this is something that would have never happened in L.A.! So yeah… that’s my story about Fairbanks, Alaska. It’s really good to know that there are still places like this in America.”

    ReplyDelete
  13. Not just Democrats. WOMEN are running for office.

    This is because a few female politicians are holding "how to run for office" seminars in their districts to teach women how to run for political office.

    Yes, the grassroots are doing this. The actual Democratic Party are still sitting on their asses assuming Donald's poll numbers will just hand them a win.

    They should have voted for Ellison.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous11:08 AM

    Here's the next paragraph in the VICE article that you quoted:

    And this is just the beginning. The liberal group Brand New Congress, for example, is recruiting and training dozens of candidates across the country to primary-challenge Democratic and Republican incumbents, with a goal of eventually recruiting 200 House candidates. The progressive women’s group Emily’s List told VICE News that they expect to recruit several dozen candidates as well, some of whom will come from the DCCC’s pool.

    https://brandnewcongress.org/plan

    The Brand New Congress plan will:

    ♦ Invest trillions of dollars in new industries that will provide millions of high wage jobs – just like all successful industrialized countries are doing right now.

    ♦ Invest trillions of dollars to rebuild and repair towns, cities and rural areas that politicians have allowed to disintegrate for half a century.

    ♦ Spend exactly what it will take to repair our nation’s broken infrastructure – which is $3.6 trillion according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.

    ♦ Build the inevitable cheap, renewable energy economy now, creating tens of millions of good high-tech jobs and saving people many trillions of dollars – because energy from the wind and sun is much cheaper in the long run.

    ♦ Overhaul the IRS and the tax code so that small businesses are on the same playing field as big business and so that multi-billionaires and large corporations can no longer evade paying the billions in taxes they should owe.

    ♦ Solve the healthcare mess once and for all by making Medicare available to anyone who wants it, and letting insurance companies fend for themselves in a truly free market.

    ♦ Provide free college education and technical training so that Americans have access to the training they need to get the job they want in this new economy.


    *
    We believe we can win if we can inspire millions more Americans to regain faith in American democracy and turn out to vote in 2018. We think this will be possible by presenting a bold plan for change and an ambitious but practical way to actually get that change. Basically, we believe people will vote when they think their vote will actually make a difference.

    See more: https://brandnewcongress.org/plan

    Sound pretty progressive to me! This is where the electorate is heading and is the right side of history. Get on it. Stronger Together!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous4:14 PM

    This is what we need to see!

    All of you IMers are more than qualified to sit on your local town council or school board. Why let a dangerous wingnut do it?

    Put on your big girl panties, gather your friends and family (including the ones in other states) and make your intentions loud and clear. You know that once we begin to fight back and stop being the good guys they'll fold like a cheap suit because they're yellow.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous4:50 PM

    It will not matter how many new Democratic candidates are running if they do not get backing & support from the Democratic Party and the DNC. These groups need to stop with the selective nature on who they want to fund and support in elections

    ReplyDelete

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