Red Mosquito

BurtReynolds wrote:McP still shocked to find that republicans support the Republican president.

Not surprised. But loyalty to Trump requires belief in an increasing number of myths about stolen elections, fantastical Democrat malfeasance, etc....all of which continue to incite aggression, erode the party’s reputation, and hurt Republican candidates at the polls.

What happens in two years if that trend produces yet another round of losses? Just more feelings of being marginalized or denied something, which leads to more conspiracy theories, more anger, and less stability.

I'll tell my conservative friends that you're very concerned about the GOP's reputation.

And I hate to break it to you, but their feelings of increasing marginalization isn't just rooted in conspiracy theories and myths.

Damn it, strat is about to blunder in here and read that and say something incredibly stupid I can just feel it.

Please for the love of god don't do it!

burt right now is emanating the energy of a worn-thin house-mom at the grocery store with 3 screaming kids and she just finally snapped and grabbed the cashier’s microphone and is letting everyone know what she thinks about them

96583UP wrote:burt right now is emanating the energy of a worn-thin house-mom at the grocery store with 3 screaming kids and she just finally snapped and grabbed the cashier’s microphone and is letting everyone know what she thinks about them

See Mickey, this is creative. Take notes.

BurtReynolds wrote:And I hate to break it to you, but their feelings of increasing marginalization isn't just rooted in conspiracy theories and myths.

No one said they were. Though I dont know how we appease the feelings of victimhood within a party which can be so easily convinced that an election they lost badly was stolen from them. How do you grow beyond where you’re at, if every time you have a chance to do so, you turn instead to the voice saying “nope it was stolen from you?”

This is a party that remains a powerful legislative presence, and occasionally a majority presence, in spite of losing the popular vote in 7 of the last 8 elections. It’s not like they are without advantages of their own. But political success requires coalitions, and you can’t build coalitions by stamping your feet and demanding voters come to you.

The more insular the narrative, the more insular the party...and that’s a cycle only the party can break

McParadigm wrote:

BurtReynolds wrote:And I hate to break it to you, but their feelings of increasing marginalization isn't just rooted in conspiracy theories and myths.

No one said they were. Though I dont know how we appease the feelings of victimhood within a party which can be so easily convinced that an election they lost badly was stolen from them. How do you grow beyond where you’re at, if every time you have a chance to do so, you turn instead to the voice saying “nope it was stolen from you?”

This is a party that remains a powerful legislative presence, and occasionally a majority presence, in spite of losing the popular vote in 7 of the last 8 elections. It’s not like they are without advantages of their own. But political success requires coalitions, and you can’t build coalitions by stamping your feet and demanding voters come to you.

The more insular the narrative, the more insular the party...and that’s a cycle only the party can break

One way you could ease the feelings of victimhood is by not having virtually the entirety of our institutions of power pumping out the message that they are hopelessly evil and obsolete and that the only way to deal with them is extermination (see Mickey). Not that I think that will happen. All sides are in full demonization mode, and I'm not sure that can be stopped at this point. There's no question who's the underdog right now though.

And I've responded to your idea about how elections are won before, so I'll just briefly restate that coalitions are the left's game. The right loses elections by playing that game, and RINOs are continuously taught the lesson, yet they seem incapable of learning it. It's not how they win elections.

Dems have a larger space, but its equally insular if not moreso, and their recent anti-speech turn is only going to make that worse. I don't think its in the power of either party to break the cycle of increasing division or insularity. I don't think there much of a democratic solution at all to be honest, except a trial separation. And neither side wants that.

You've got me all wrong Burt, I don't think Republicans should be exterminated. Just you.

Well and macphisto.

Mickey wrote:You've got me all wrong Burt, I don't think Republicans should be exterminated. Just you.

I don't believe that for a second.

Okay! I extremely don't care.

For the record, that's how tough guys talk.

tragabigzanda wrote:

BurtReynolds wrote:There's no question who's the underdog right now though.

Within the U.S. specifically:

1. People with mental illness
2. Black people

Trump is doing fine!

BurtReynolds wrote:There's no question who's the underdog right now though.

Could you say more about why you think so? Republicans controlled the executive branch and both houses of congress as recently as two years ago, and currently control 27 of 50 governorships and 31 of 50 legislatures. The runoffs in Georgia and the drama of the Democrats taking control have sort of pushed to the side the fact that the GOP is going to get to redraw district lines in a majority of states for the next decade. So, again, how are they clearly the underdog? I'm aware you might be insinuating this in sort of a cultural capital way as well, but I definitely don't think it's so clear politically.

Simple Torture wrote:

BurtReynolds wrote:There's no question who's the underdog right now though.

Could you say more about why you think so? Republicans controlled the executive branch and both houses of congress as recently as two years ago, and currently control 27 of 50 governorships and 31 of 50 legislatures. The runoffs in Georgia and the drama of the Democrats taking control have sort of pushed to the side the fact that the GOP is going to get to redraw district lines in a majority of states for the next decade. So, again, how are they clearly the underdog? I'm aware you might be insinuating this in sort of a cultural capital way as well, but I definitely don't think it's so clear politically.

Ladies and gentlemen, the BurtReynolds account.

The decades-long attack on worker's rights and the Samantha Bee show are the exact same thing, you idiots, you fucking morons.

Simple Torture wrote:

BurtReynolds wrote:There's no question who's the underdog right now though.

Could you say more about why you think so? Republicans controlled the executive branch and both houses of congress as recently as two years ago, and currently control 27 of 50 governorships and 31 of 50 legislatures. The runoffs in Georgia and the drama of the Democrats taking control have sort of pushed to the side the fact that the GOP is going to get to redraw district lines in a majority of states for the next decade. So, again, how are they clearly the underdog? I'm aware you might be insinuating this in sort of a cultural capital way as well, but I definitely don't think it's so clear politically.

I almost left that line out since I knew it would stand out. I'll respond in a bit, and will undoubtedly convince no one.