Discussion: Swing-District House Democrat Announces Retirement in New Hampshire

Well…it is New Hampshire. Let’s see who emerges…

1 Like

That only works for Republicans.

6 Likes

FDR started in 1933 with 311 Democrats in the House and 59 Democrats in the Senate. By 1937, FDR had 334 Democrats in the House and 76 Democrats in the Senate. Having overwhelming supermajorities in both the House and Senate really matters.

Holding a President who has, at best, slim majorities in Congress or, worse an opposing Congress, to the standards of either FDR or LBJ (who also had massive supermajorities in the House and Senate) is unrealistic to the point of being flat out delusional. It’s like expecting someone to ride a bicycle up a steep hill at the same speed they ride down it.

11 Likes

Yes. Come to think of it, you’re right.

3 Likes

Remember how Bill Clinton and Obama campaigned all around the country for Dems in hotly contested races? Neither do I. And how the DCCC won most of its targeted races with its hand-picked candidates? Neither do I. In fact, didn’t the so-called centrist candidates for the Dems lose 33 out of 35 targeted races in 2014? I suggest that strongly backing candidates in 2018 who run on the platform is the best strategy. Stop trying to outguess or finesse voters. Stand for something. It worked for FDR and LBJ!

4 Likes

This is my district. We do swing back and forth presidential years to midterms.

Carol shea-porter is a good bit to the left. I expect the on-again-off-again is wearing on her and her family and 2018 looks like a good opening(as 2006 was for her) for a Democrat similarly situated, ideologically.

4 Likes

Actually, I think 2018 could be a good opening given Trump’s unpopularity. At least in this District, while swingy, there is a decent core of former Massachusetts residents peppered throughout this District having it lean blue when people actually get out to vote

5 Likes

Looking at her won-lost record, I can say she’s probably tired of the tooth-and-nail battles for reelection, and I can’t say I blame her. Those off-year elections are when you get the crazies out in force.

8 Likes

Shea-Porter has been a fantastic Congresswoman, and I’m sad to see her go!

4 Likes

Perhaps being a public servant in the Trump era just isn’t as cool as they imagined.

Who could blame any Democratic House member for quitting. She probably spends 18 months of her two-year term raising money and then faces criticism from both her left and her right. If she only had access to the Koch stream of money most of the Rs do, she could hold that seat forever.

@joey @ignoreland

8 Likes

As a big Bernie supporter, the fact that you included Biden and Harris is incredibly disappointing.

Not having legislators from the South is part of the reason we Democrats lack majorities on Congress.

Not designed to leave out rural people… But designed in such a way that it is vulnerable to people as malign as Trump. The Supreme Court decision making it easier for states to opt out of expanding Medicaid didn’t help either.

5 Likes

Not interested in lock 'em up and throw away the key except for white collar criminals.

3 Likes

Both men would have been willing to do so but other politicians were running away from them. Gary Peters in Michigan chose to campaign with Obama and won in a bad year.

6 Likes

Take it back frim whom? Those who favor gay marriage?

Bernie Sander’s antics have made it less likely that his supporters will join the party or be welcome if they do.

3 Likes

I think its reasonably arguable that the DNC’s obvious taking sides in the primary is as much the problem there.

I think the same thing could have happened in 2008, where the DNC took sides too but to a lesser degree. In that case however the underdog was winning and they had to relent.

The DNC was more egregious in this in 2016. Seemingly they wanted to make sure their preferred candidate won.

I don’t think it is fair to lay that issue at Bernie’s feet alone. He had his role but the DNC did too.

2 Likes

The DNC now has a large pro-Bernie contingent from the selection of members at fe last primaries. So that aspect is more resolvable.

Bernie flouncing around the country bad- mouthing the Democrats in company with Perez is probably not the best way to re- invigorate the party.

5 Likes

Bernie Sander’s antics?

Do you mean doing his best to win the nomination?

Yes, his supporters will be less likely (myself included) to ‘join the party’ if the Obama/Clinton wing continues to make decisions as to who runs and who gets funded for 2018 and 2020. Remember, the Republican Party may be totally dysfunctional but the Democratic Party is a shell of itself, having been completely hollowed out. What is it they’re selling that makes them so attractive? Since 2010, all they’ve done is lose.

I had in mind also his post primary behavior. Much of his discourse is Democrats are bad because rather than, say, “I am now a Democrat because and come join the party and help me make it better.”

How long is he going to sulk and put his personal purity above saving the planet?

DNC has something like 45% Bernie supporters IIRC.

5 Likes