2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumIt is delusional to think Republican electors will vote against Trump.
Last edited Fri Dec 16, 2016, 06:28 PM - Edit history (1)
The Electoral College is going to confirm Donald Trump as the next President. We should be prepared for that eventuality. There is simply too much partisanship within our country for them to do otherwise.
Where does that leave us?
It leaves us with a huge deficit in the very conservative House of Representatives. No doubt, they will try to ram everything they have ever dreamed about thru their partisan caucus. There is not much to say for the Democrats in the "people's House". They have very little power.
The only hope seems to be the US Senate. Donald Trump was successful in pissing off several US Senators during his run through the primaries. Senators are not prone to forget slights by other politicians. They may not show their disgust on the outside but they carry it with them.
For example, we know that John McCain has carried his grudge against Obama around for the last eight years. He does not forgive easily. When Trump ridiculed his capture during the Vietnam War, that cut him very deeply. He will look for opportunities to stick it to Donald every chance he gets.
Lindsey Graham is another Senator that was mocked and ridiculed by Donald Trump. He is also a friend of John McCain. They will usually vote in tandem on controversial issues. He is another possible vote against Donald Trump.
Marco Rubio, "Little Marco", is also not a sure bet to follow the agenda of Donald Trump. However, he will vote most of the time with his eye on the election of 2020. But, he will not vote unanimously with the Donald.
Other rational Republicans, such as Jeff Flake of Arizona and Susan Collins of Maine, are potential allies of the Democrats on many issues. They are not locks to vote with Donald Trump. And there could be a few others that might desert the program over the next couple of years?
So, taking stock, the US Senate is the one place where Democrats can stand their ground and have a chance at succeeding. At the present time, the Republicans have a 52-48 majority. That means that if Democrats stick together, they would only need 3 Republicans to agree with them on any debated issue and they would be the majority.
It is not impossible for the Democrats to oppose the Trump agenda. They will need a little help. But, the indecent vulgarian has destroyed his relationships with enough Republican Senators to make the US Senate the battleground for the next couple of years. Some will be looking to get even with the new President.
Do not give up, even if the Electoral College votes as we think they will. There is still hope with the US Senate. Democrats should cultivate these common bonds.
BSdetect
(9,047 posts)They are going to crumble like a dry turd in the desert.
Lack of real moral fiber there I'm afraid.
McCain has nothing to lose except the remnants of his diminished dignity and that is not highly valued by him judging from his antics recently.
FSogol
(46,524 posts)and company). They'll do whatever Trumpy wants because in the end, they get what they want which is: taxes cuts for the rich, severe cuts in entitlement programs, and a complete gutting of regulations.
kentuck
(112,767 posts)Democrats have no other card to play. We are in the minority.
FSogol
(46,524 posts)that problem. Since DLC-type concessions have fallen out of favor, what type of Democratic party will emerge? Impossible to tell from this point.
We need to take back over local politics. School boards, county commissioners, state representatives, etc. We need to grow the base.
duffyduff
(3,251 posts)He has a LOT of enemies in the GOP.
The GOP is going to be working overtime to try and rein this nutcase in.
duffyduff
(3,251 posts)He is going to screw up horribly, and they can hang Trump around the GOP's neck.
They will OWN him.
There is a reason why the DP is muted toward Trump. It's strategic. It's the rope-a-dope strategy.
I despise the "Hamilton Electors" because they are anti-Clinton assholes. They don't give a shit about Trump, only that a Republican gets in there.
Fuck them.
coolbreeze77
(35 posts)Even if this elector plan worked it would put whoever replaced trump in a weak position. We need a movement like the tea party.
TexasBushwhacker
(20,670 posts)If 37 GOP electors choose another Republican, like Kasich or Romney, or abstain, Trump doesn't have 270. Then it goes to the House, who has to choose between the top 3. So the question is, if they choose Kasich or Romney if they had the chance? They are still going to vote for Trump, because that's who their constituents voted for and all the representatives are up for re-election in 2018. The only thing that would make the House GOP turn against Trump would be irrefutable evidence that he commited an impeachable offense. Even then they would probably still choose him, force him to resign and we'd have President Pence. Clinton will not be our President. That ship has sailed.