CA Recall Debacle Should Give Republicans Pause

[MineralMan]

It probably won't, though.

A right-wing driven recall attempt on Gavin Newsom is a good object lesson. It failed in a big way, reaffirming Newsom's election as California's Governor. But, what does it tell us about Republicans?

Here's what I think:

Many, if not most, Republican candidates and office-holders have been slavishly courting the far right base of the Republican electorate. That has led them to do things like support medieval anti-abortion bills, anti-vaccination nonsense, and publicly agree with the nuttiest nutballs of the Republican's so-called "base."

They do that mainly because they know they cannot win without the votes of the far right. If they disagree with the Trumpists, they'll get primaried the next time they have to run for their office. So, they suck up to the cucks on the right.

Guess what, Republicans? That will not work. Yes, you'll hold on to the extremist right vote, but at what cost? The Trump party is not really all that. It failed to even make a dent in the California electorate, which resoundingly voted NO on the gubernatorial recall. California voters simply rejected the Trump point of view.

The very lopsided election results indicate one thing in particular. Many Republicans simply stayed home, didn't mail-in their ballots, and didn't vote for a Trump-like Republican alternative for Governor. So, Gavin Newsom is still Governor of California. The whole thing was a massive waste of time.

Now, I know that you aren't listening to me, Republicans, and that's a good thing. You'll probably just continue to be sycophants of Trump's failed political philosophy and to cater to the far-right in hopes that you don't lose their crucial votes. Please continue. That will work out well for the rest of us, no doubt.

Morons Abound!

[pwb]

1. The Blue wave continues to build.

Pukes just don't get it.

[MineralMan]

2. You're right. They don't.

However, we Democrats need to double up on our efforts to get people to the polls in every state, including red states. That's especially true in purple states.

We need to make a mockery of the right-wing's attempts to suppress the vote. We need to show them that their suppression tactics actually hurt them more than they hurt us.

That's our challenge for 2022 and beyond.

[PortTack]

15. Indeed..and these are good talking points for the Dems

[seta1950]

37. And Democrats

Need to learn to fight against it, congress especially, to get rid of the filibuster and consolidate democracy, before we loose it

[Johnny2X2X]

3. Hear here

It's a very vocal minority that's getting smaller.

And Covid is making it smaller, not just through deaths, but in the support of Democratic policies to contain the spread.

This whole vaccine nonsense is a key, right now, over 75% of the adult population in this country is not anti Covid vaccine. Over 75% of adults have gotten at least 1 shot. Think about that, it's not a 50-50 split in vaccines, it's a 75-25 split and that split is becoming more lopsided by the day.

So the 25% is making all the headlines, it's getting all the attention, and it's getting courted and cultivated by the GOP endlessly. In the meantime, the Democrats are courting and cultivating the 75%. This was born out in CA, a state where 80%+ of adults have been vaccinated at least once.

Republicans are betting on a losing horse. And for 2022 they better hope 2 things happen, that Covid goes away, and that the SCOTUS saves them from themselves on women's reproductive rights.

[MineralMan]

4. +100

[CrispyQ]

8. If Trump croaked, that would help the GOP, too. -nt

[not fooled]

35. Republicans also hope

that all the election-stealing tactics they're implementing work. That's what worries me.

[mobeau69]

5. Well put but I'm not sure what TFG believes is a "philosophy". It's just a bunch of horse shit that

his mind thinks is to his benefit and his benefit alone.

[MineralMan]

6. I'm not sure Trump believes anything, really.

However, his moronic ideas found fertile ground to grow in among the most stupid and easily-influenced people on the right. He may not have an actual philosophy, but the moron minority has created a philosophy in his name.

[Eyeball_Kid]

11. I hope that the asshole runs.

He's been a monster for the GOP. He's rampaging through the whole population of erstwhile GOPers, demanding that they bow down to him at a time when bowing down could very well mean a COVID death. His rants about the end of our Constitutional republic in three years should earn him a sandwich sign in Times Square. I really like his chances for burying the GOP into loserland obscurity. So I hope that donors pump billions into his campaign and then watch as his branding efforts rival those of the Yugo and the Edsel.

[C_U_L8R]

7. Pause? These final throes are filling their diapers with fear and panic.

But watch them double down on their dumbass strategy.
There are no reasonable, intelligent or service-minded republicans...
they expelled and destroyed the few they had. RIPGOP.

[MineralMan]

10. Well, they'll pause briefly, and then carry on with their folly.

That's my guess.

[C_U_L8R]

16. Yeah, there's no path back to sanity.

[SergeStorms]

19. What else do they have?

They're completely devoid of any party platform. The closest thing to a republican platform is, "do whatever the orange asshole says".

That isn't going to sway too many independents their way, as the orange asshole's mouth does double duty as his ass.

[PRETZEL]

9. Nice post,

I would add that it may not be so much as R's losing faith in Trumpism as much as it is Democrats will not to be forced to have Trump-like representation. I had heard that Democratic turnout was extremely high as opposed to R's turnout being low. I suspect that both had a role in the resounding defeat of the recall.

I'd be optimistic if turnout shown in the recall is more an indication of the potential turnout for the mid-terms. That would be encouraging. i

[MineralMan]

12. I agree. Many Republicans may just sit out the midterms.

They may not be able to bring themselves to vote for a Democrat, but they might just withhold their votes altogether if Republican candidates continue to hold on to the Trump line with a death grip.

That is my hope.

[PRETZEL]

13. And that's where the 2 years are to our advantage

as more and more of the Trump Presidency becomes known the more that moderate Republicans may feel left out. Not that they will vote D, but they may not be willing to vote for a Trumpist R.

[MineralMan]

14. Yes, but only as long as the right-wing Republicans

continue to stay on top in that party. I think that's very likely, though.

[KPN]

34. Mine too. California is blue, but there's no question that rational Rs in red States must be

questioning their own belief in today's Republican Party. It really is no longer the "Republican Party", more like the Neanderthal Party.

[33taw]

17. While I agree with the post. This is California and they are heavily Democratic.

We need to be diligent in purple states and not let this give us overconfidence.

[Marius25]

18. I think Orange County should concern Republicans

That's the Headquarters of the CA Republicans, and the No vote won there by 6%.

[MineralMan]

24. Yes. It would also be interesting to look

at turnout in other red counties in California. I don't have time today to do that, but it might be informative.

If turnout was low in rural red counties, that would be a good indicator of low interest from Republicans in ousting Newsom.

[plimsoll]

20. We should be watching the redistricting

It may not matter how unpopular they are they may control enough state houses to create radically gerrymandered districts. It could be possible to run a permanent majority government in the US. They would also get to certify the electoral college results. I’m under no illusions that the GOP really cares about the Country anymore. They are the white ethno nationalists, or aren’t bothered by them.

[Escurumbele]

21. Just one question, what is trump's political philosophy? I did not know he had one besides grift,

self-grandiose posture, grift, cruelty, grift, stupidity...etc...too many to bother to list.

[MineralMan]

22. His political philosophy is all "ME"

Whatever benefits him is his philosophy.

[BidenRocks]

23. This will be analyzed ten ways to Sunday, but

IMO, this reflects our political demo. We are about 70% D and 30% R.
We are also dropping out of white majority demographics.
Most of the problems are in 50/50 states where turn out is everything.

We also realize that the issues Newsom is supposedly failing at are not just Governor issues.
Covid? If everyone shut up and got the shot...
Homelessness? Newsome kept millions in their homes.
Food assistance? He was there.
Jobs? This was more a revolt on low wages, not a lack of jobs.

And one screw up for that French dinner. We all cheated at least once.

I am a happy guy today. Elder scares me.

[MineralMan]

25. Yes, but it will be even more important to look

at Republican turnout, especially in traditionally red counties.

The COVID-19 vaccine thing is interesting. My brother-in-law is a Trumper. He frequently shares right-wing memes on Facebook, including anti-vaxxer memes. However, he was first in line to get his vaccine and my sister's. As soon as they were available he searched for and found a vaccination site and got their initial shots. He followed up, as well.

He told me about getting the vaccine, but never admitted to it in public.

There are many contradictions among Trumpers.

[ibegurpard]

26. They're doing just fine in a lot of places

Unfortunately enough to put the Senate, Electoral College, and perhaps even Congress in reach. We'll see.

[Sympthsical]

27. They ran on full Trumpism . . . in California

I'm still gobsmacked that happened. I think it speaks to the disorganization of the Republican party in this state. They wanted to damage Newsom and potentially get him out when there was a lot of unrest. Polls were divided. There was an opportunity there. But they had no strategy for it.

Then in mid-August, Elder comes in, and it all fell apart.

He went completely nuts, saying the craziest things. Pretty much everything he ever said in his past came to light.

And he proudly stood by Trump and Trumpism, promising to bring it to the state.

In California.

You'll notice the percentages of this recall result are almost exactly the percentages of Biden vs. Trump in 2020.

That is not a coincidence to me.

[BobTheSubgenius]

28. "Should...but probably won't." That ought to be their new bumper sticker/rallying cry.

[MineralMan]

29. I'm for that bumper sticker.

The GQP has gone all in for Trumpers. I hope that continues. It will mean doom for the GQP.

People are increasingly sick (literally in some cases) of Trump and his cruel, thoughtless positions.

[BobTheSubgenius]

46. I totally get what you're saying, and I agree, especially in principle, but...

...I can't believe how they march along day in, year out, like some clockwork monstrosity with stripped gears. I keep waiting for the whole thing to topple over, but...like Weebles..

[IronLionZion]

30. If this is a sign voters are rejecting Trumpism

at least on public health measures, then DeSantis and Abbott and others should rethink their presidential aspirations. Republicans in Disarray

[DFW]

31. They knew this was a lost cause well before the vote was held

They made the appropriate noises, but knew it was going nowhere. They will fight tooth and nail to keep their incumbents from being ousted, and will put serious effort where they think there is even a ghost of a chance of ousting one ours (e.g. Warnock knows he’s in for a fight).

But this was a crap shoot, and they were never placing big odds on this stunt working. They were sending up a trial balloon, shrugged, and said, “oh, well” when it never got more than three feet off the ground. Two months from now, the only guy from California whose name they even recognize without looking it up will be McCarthy.

[2naSalit]

33. They're trying to turn it into...

A roving clown show. So when they come careening through your state, folks, take heed.

[hay rick]

36. A classic cartoon case of painting yourself into a corner.

Next they need to paint themselves over a cliff.

[ashredux]

38. When you're in a Cult, nothing gives you Pause

[live love laugh]

43. 💯💯

[sarchasm]

39. This level of response needs to happen in every local and federal race, in EVERY state. -nt

[Pepsidog]

40. State level election law changes in Republican states scare me to death. Preventing the theft of the

nect election is the most important issue we face. They are setting up for a repeat of 2020 but this time they will steal the election legally and there is nothing we can do about it. SCOTUS is softening the battlefield with the Tx. abortion debacle non-ruling. What happens when State level election officials change the outcome of 2024 and SCOTUS allows it. What do we do to prevent this and /or will we be able to prevent the next steal attempt. Milley is right, this is Hitler’s rise to power all over again.

[W T F]

41. True, many republicans didn't bother to vote either because they...................

A: Couldn’t back a far right extremist candidate,
Or.
B: Couldn’t back a black candidate?

[Xolodno]

42. I'm going to disagree a bit...

I believe every Republican showed up and voted. Problem is, less than 25% are registered Republicans, give them another 10% to people who say they are independents....but really Republicans, math isn't there for them. Arnold won because he wasn't a real Republican.

The current GOP leadership is looking for another Reagan...but none of them currently have the courage to say the old talking points and ideas are dead. They are doing everything in their power to just to maintain Congressional seats. Mitch McConnel, McCarthy, etc. are all a bit old, they are just trying to run out the clock. Like Tipp O'Neil said, "all politics is local".

None in the current field want to gamble on moderating their stances or come up with new ideas. But the recall definitely showed they need to get their act together a lot sooner than later, but again, will they?

[Caliman73]

44. You are right. They will take no pause, at all. They can't. They have no alternative...

Conservatism does not work for MOST people. It can't. It is not designed to work for most people. It is a hierarchical triangular or pyramidal structure. That means that the power, and subsequently most of the benefits of society are concentrated at the top. When you have that type of structure, the inequality and the standards of living become such that they are not sustainable on their own and the structure has to be sustained by force.

When you have a flatter, more democratic structure, sure, you will always have problems, but if people get equitable benefits from their labor, they will have more investment in maintaining the system. You can recognize singular accomplishments without ceding power to a small group of people.

I digress. Republicans/Conservatives believe inherently, in the idea that people are not equal, the best must rule society, and it is almost ordained by God, or Nature's God, or whatever. For them to do anything different than what they are doing now, would be to have to admit that their structure, their ideology is wrong. They won't. The wealthiest and most powerful people in society demand that they continue to push for this ideology to be put into action. That means they have to continue to try to recruit enough people to their cause while trying to decrease the ability to vote. Their policies do not work to make anyone's lives better so they have to rely on fear, bigotry, and religious fundamentalism (Christian of course). That is where they are, and barring anything crazy happening, their demographics will keep getting smaller and smaller.

Also, Trump's failed political philosophy is just a more extreme and dumbed down version of Conservatism. It is the Republican philosophy.

[live love laugh]

45. The only pause will be to disenfranchise more 2022 voters. nt