Question for the "shut up about 2016, focus on 2014" brigade:

[Nye Bevan]

My congressman (Jim Himes, D, a very good guy BTW) is an absolute lock for re-election next year. So I'm not sure what the "2014 2014 2014!!!!!!!!" folks want me to do. Should I track down some marginal congressional race in the midwest or somewhere and post about that? Or should I just shut up about 2016 until the 2014 elections are over, to avoid distracting people who can only think about one thing at a time and don't know how to use the "trash thread" feature?

[fredamae]

1. I believe you should

focus upon what your particular political needs are in your state.
Many of us out here have "good guys" to fight for--so yes--there is little time to seriously focus on that which is yet to come to fruition for 2016....

[Chan790]

10. If he's in CT...and he is if his Congress Critter is Himes.

There are no political needs in his state. The entire Congressional delegation is Democrats, only two of those seats are even contestable for the GOP, both are reasonably safe. Both houses of the state legislature are Democratic super-majorities. The Governor is a Democrat in a Democratic-majority state running in 2014 for reelection...he might face a primary (he's an unapologetic fiscal conservative) but otherwise should hold his seat because the GOP field is weak.

The GOP bench in CT is empty. There are no viable statewide GOP elected officials so they keep drafting the same handful of extremist GOP business leaders headlined by Tom Foley, Peter Schiff and Linda McMahon who the people of CT have rejected enough times to paper Bushnell Park and the State Capital Grounds 1' deep in "No" votes.

If anything, he might want to make campaigning day-trips into NY. Clearly CT is doing something right, we should start exporting campaign workers to other states to spread whatever it is they're doing right. CT is up there with CA as states where the GOP is functionally dead.

[fredamae]

12. He's Lucky

I'm worried about Sen Merkley...They're crawling out from under rocks like disturbed sow bugs Hard & after that formerly GOP held seat....People don't believe or understand how big of a job, holding his seat this is going to be---

I would agree-CT And CA ought to export these workers They're clearly doing something very effective...

[Nye Bevan]

13. Well... we do have the ever-present threat of Linda McMahon, biding her time......

.... actually, no



Yes, I am lucky.

[tridim]

2. Screw 2014! I'm only concerned about the 2022 midterms.

Nothing else matters and I will post about nothing else until everyone agrees with me.

[FSogol]

24. Way ahead of you.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4019887

[Xipe Totec]

3. Thanks for reminding me about the trash this thread feature.

Using it it right here, right now.

[Nye Bevan]

5. You're very welcome.

I wish more people would use that feature instead of telling people what they should and should not be discussing. It only takes a single click.

[loyalsister]

4. I'm focused on state politics

State legislative races are much more important that people realize. Those are the people who divvy up the money from the feds.
A lot can happen over the next few years. Go ahead and focus on 2016, if you want. Some of us are pragmatic about the everyday nuts and bolts and don't romanticize politics.

[Xyzse]

6. Look further down the totem pole.

Outside groups are going after local government officials.

I am in MD and I probably have an absolute lock as well.
However, I am close enough to VA that I can help out there.

[ScreamingMeemie]

20. +1

[MineralMan]

7. The same is true for my Congressional representative.

Betty McCollum, MNCD-4, will win reelection easily. However MNCD-6, which neighbors my district is Michele Bachmann's district. She's not running in 2014, and only won by less than 2% in 2012. I'll be working in that district to get a Democrat elected in 2014. The district's border is literally three blocks from my door.

There's always a congressional race to be active in nearby. I'm sure that's true in your area as well. Try NY-19, for example.

GOTV 2014!

[Wait Wut]

8. Hi, NB.

First, congratulations on having a congressman you like! I live in Arizona, so I'm not as lucky. In fact, I'm downright unlucky.

Second, even when there are no elections for Democrats to lose in this state, I do try to help out foreign states as much as possible. Either by direct donations, letter (email) writing or finding friends in those states to carry our flag for us. Us blues in red states could really use the help if you need something to do.

Third, I'm one of those people that "...can only think about one thing at a time and don't know how to use the "trash thread"...". Actually, I'm not. I assure you I can think of several things at once and am aware of how to use 'trash thread'. I'd prefer to offer an opinion on why we ALL should be trying to remain focused on the upcoming elections ('14, not '16...yet). Insulting us isn't going to help your 2016 campaign. We have enormous issues hanging on these elections, one of which is the next Presidential election. We need Democrats to look strong going into '16. We need voices coming from Congress to support our Presidential nominee (whomever he or she may be).

So, before we start calling each other names, let's try to be civil and work together over the next few years.

[ScreamingMeemie]

21. +1

[brooklynite]

9. So if I look up the posting history of a "focus on 2014" advocate...

I'll ONLY find 2014 threads, right? Because it's apparently impossible to think about two different issues at the same time.

[nyquil_man]

11. Talk about the next presidential election is inevitable.

It's always the big one.

I'm not sure your attitude that you have nothing to discuss because your district is safe Dem is the right one, though. After all, that could cut both ways. Connecticut's not likely to be a 2016 tipping point state, either in the primaries or in the general, is it? So why should you care if it's Clinton or Warren or Biden or Sanders or fill-in-the-blank vs. Christie or Cruz or Jesus H. Gun? The outcome there will be the same, no matter what you do.

Besides, the Obama presidency has demonstrated pretty clearly that the president alone can't make it happen. He or she can push, cajole, beg, et cetera ad infinitum but, if the votes aren't there in the Congress, nothing's moving.

I prefer a more holistic approach. All these elections matter.

[Initech]

14. We have to get every single tea party obstructionist out of office.

If we don't, the Koch Brothers win again.

[Laelth]

15. Good question.

Here's my question in response:

If not Elizabeth Warren, then whom?



-Laelth

[snooper2]

16. Way too early, shit, the 2014 Focus just came out!

not a Ford fan, but it is a pretty slick little econobox!

[snooper2]

17. Also, just noticed you put up xmas decorations on your posts already!

At least wait until the timer pops on the turkey!

[libdem4life]

18. Christmas, already???? No PC for you, I see. :) Also don't get the hysteria about a few looking

at the current national situation and wanting to comment, discuss and form opinions. There are few "marginal congressional races" in the Midwest...sorry to say.

It's not like I have a limited amount of time to "do politics" and if I'm not down at my local Democratic office (unfortunately where I am right now there isn't one) stuffing envelopes, I have to take "attitude" for going on my computer and read and respond about my favorite topic...Politics. Even if there was an office around here and I did that, pretty sure I could still fit in a few minutes for DU to read, respond and learn.

[kestrel91316]

19. No, you should work to help other Dems in 2014 who aren't guaranteed to win.

The 2016 campaign has not begun. No candidates have declared. I know that pisses some people off, especially since they hate Obama and can't wait until he's gone, but the calendar doesn't lie.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

22. Some people are smart enough to do more than one thing at a time.

Walk and chew gum.

Comb hair and whistle.

Ride a bicycle and listen to music.

Read a book and scratch their knee.


I guess some people aren't.

[Starry Messenger]

23. I agree with the others to pay attention down ticket.

R's are running for everything including dog catcher to try to do things like municipal pension reform or having control of community college assets.

Also these are the years (at least in CA) that they try to sneak in some legislative shenanigans on the ballot. Check with your SOS website and see what has qualified…cross check with anti-ALEC websites.

[muriel_volestrangler]

25. "On Local Level, Connecticut's Red Is Showing"

By SUSAN BIGELOW The Hartford Courant

7:08 p.m. EST, November 8, 2013

Everybody knows that Connecticut is a blue state. The General Assembly is packed with Democrats, our congressional delegation got rid of its last Republican in the 2008 election, we have a Democratic governor and we haven't voted for a Republican for president since George H.W. Bush.

And yet when we look at the map of local election results, we often see a sea of red. Republicans frequently rule in the small towns, especially in the western third of the state, but perhaps more surprisingly, they're often competitive and even dominant in towns and cities where Democrats run with overwhelming strength in state and national races.

For example, in 2012 New Britain and Meriden went big for Democratic Rep. Elizabeth Esty in her race for Congress against Republican Andrew Roraback. She outpaced him by a whopping 15,000 votes in the two cities, an almost 2-1 margin. Esty won the entire district by only about 10,000 votes, so it's absolutely fair to say that without Meriden and New Britain she would have lost.

But on Tuesday, both cities elected Republican mayors. In New Britain's case, the race wasn't even close; Republican Erin Stewart handed incumbent Democrat Tim O'Brien a 10 percentage point loss.

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/hc-op-bigelow-connecticuts-surprising-blue-red-div-20131108,0,7334980.story

[Gothmog]

26. We are trying to turn Texas blue

Earlier this year, I was in some meetings with some local democrats who were taking the position that we should ignore 2014 and concentrate on 2016. This was before Senator Davis' filibuster and the marches in Austin. The theory was that we need a race with Senator Clinton in it to turn Texas competitive. It turns out that such views were wrong in that Texas Democrats are very excited.

Texas needs to elect Wendy Davis and break the choke hold that the GOP has had in this state. There has not been a Democrat elected to statewide office in Texas since 1994. Senator Davis is running against a major league jerk named Greg Abbott is far meaner than Goodhair.

I have been seeing a great deal of excitement in a number of races in Texas. In prior years we had trouble in my county in finding people to run. Now we have excited candidates for most of our races and we are still recruiting candidates.

One reason for this is that Senator Davis hopes to raise a great deal of money to run. If Sec. of State Clinton is on the ballot in 2016 and the DNC decides to contest Texas the most that will be spent will be $10 to $15 million. Senator Davis is hoping to raise a great deal more.

I am planning on working very hard for Davis for Governor. Hopefully by the time 2016 run around Texas will be even more competitive. That is not going to happen unless we start now.

[mountain grammy]

27. Sometimes I miss my home state of Ct. Public education is excellent,

at least it was when I graduated from Hartford High in 1965. Maybe that's why the state is so liberal.

I love my current home of Colorado, but live in a very red area. We are, however, in Boulder's congressional district and our current Rep Polis is pretty good. Our local Dems are active, but outnumbered. Some of the idiots representing us in the state legislature make me shudder.
Next year I will travel to the front range, District 6, and volunteer some time to Andrew Romanoff's bid to unseat teabagger Mike Coffman. I also watch races around the country and donate small amounts to individual candidates.

[tabbycat31]

28. You are in CT

THe 5th district there is a swingy district. It includes Newtown so I'm not sure how the district has changed politically since then.

Consider helping out there.

[riverwalker]

29. well Bachmann's seat could go to another teabagger

MN-6 has about 5 GOP candidates slobbering all over each other for her seat,the leader is Tom Emmer a slimey anti-union RW nut who wanted to lower the wages of waitresses "because they make $100,000. per year". The Democrats (called DFL in Minnesota) really have no one to run for her seat, now that Jim Graves is out.
We need some help.