This is a reversal of fortune from eight years ago when Democrats controlled 17 states, and Republicans but 9.
What can account for such a flip?
Ryan Cooper, national correspondent at TheWeek.com, is perplexed.
He wrote:
The fundamental political characteristic of the moment is overwhelming backlash to the status quo. People hate both parties, they hate the leadership of both parties, and they hate the sitting president — whoever it may be. Some of this is pure racism, misogyny, or xenophobia, especially in reaction to the first black president. But at least an equal portion is due to the abysmal economic performance of the last eight years. Wall Street banks wrecked the economy and got hundreds of billions in free cash and trillions in cheap loans; ordinary homeowners got nine million illegal foreclosures and a lousy job market.
To this day the Great Recession has not ended. Growth since the crisis has been the worst in postwar history, inequality and corporate profits remain at or near record highs, while wages are growing slightly if at all. Somewhat akin to Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, much of America is seized with an epidemic of "diseases of despair" — alcoholism, opioid addiction, suicide, and concomitant increasing mortality.He is dancing around the problem for Democrats.
Those things did not just happen. Democratic Party policies are responsible for the worst recovery ever.
And it comes down to one man.
The leader of the party.
Barack Obama.
He was a terrible president.
The party used his color as a shield against criticism of their daft plans -- take over GM! take over health insurance! take over school lunches! - but while that silenced critics publicly, it did not stop voters orivately from voting the Democrats out and the Republicans in.
Guess what?
Calling us deplorable backfired too.
Democrats are intellectually lazy. Decades of demonizing conservatives failed to win the last election. Name-calling won't win votes. Racist, sexist, even Nazi, no longer have any meaning thanks to overuse.
If Democrats want to win again, then they will have to sell their ideas, not their skin color, their sex, or any other superficiality.
People want results, not tokens.
***
Please enjoy my books on how the press bungled the 2016 election.
Caution: Readers occasionally may laugh out loud at the media as they read this account of Trump's election.
It is available on Kindle, and in paperback.
Caution: Readers occasionally may laugh out loud at the media as they read this account of Trump's nomination.
It is available on Kindle, and in paperback.
Autographed copies of both books are available by writing me at DonSurber@GMail.com
Please follow me on Twitter.
Friend me on Facebook.
Just wondering......
ReplyDeleteWhen Hillary adds an Epilogue in preparation for the publication of the paperback version of her 'What Happened' book, will what Mr. Cooper wrote be a part of that section or in the body of the book?
- Ken
The only thing keeping the Democrats from total annihilation is the fact that voters hate the GOP too.
ReplyDeleteThat hits the bulls eye.
DeleteThe GOPe had better start selling some ideas and getting something done or they will be toast just like the Democrats. Their best bet is to jump on President Trump's agenda bandwagon but they seem to march to a different tune. It looks like the best thing that can happen now is a hostile takeover of the GOPe by Deplorables. The hot ticket to Congress for primary challengers to the GOPe will be Trumpeting (I couldn't help it) their unequivocal support for President Trump's agenda. Then stand back out of the way. - Elric
ReplyDeleteKeep on blaming everything but your policies, dems.
ReplyDeleteFrom CNNBuisness today,Really,
ReplyDeleteThe Obama-Trump bull market on Wall Street is now the second strongest ever.
The S&P 500 has soared 268% since bottoming in March 2009 during the depths of the Great Recession.
That narrowly eclipses the gains generated by the 1949-1956 bull run, according to data compiled by Bespoke Investment Group.
The milestone, hit on Monday after stocks raced to new record highs, reflects the slow but steady economic recovery the U.S. has been experiencing. While growth has been weaker than many hoped, it's been consistent enough to keep the market from either collapsing or overheating.
Even before this week, the bull run had the bragging rights for being the second-longest in history, spanning more than eight years.
"The strength and length of the bull market reflects how awful the bear market was," said Ed Yardeni, president of investment advisory Yardeni Research.
The S&P 500 crashed by nearly 60% during the financial meltdown of 2007-2009 as millions of Americans lost their jobs and the financial system came into doubt.
"People were pricing in financial Armageddon," said Yardeni.
Related: Millions of Americas can't feel the stock market boom
The vast majority of the bull market's gains occurred under President Obama, who presided over a stock market that more than tripled during his eight years in office.
But the bull market has kicked into high-gear in the Trump era.
Wait...
Delete"But at least an equal portion is due to the abysmal economic performance of the last eight years. Wall Street banks wrecked the economy and got hundreds of billions in free cash and trillions in cheap loans; ordinary homeowners got nine million illegal foreclosures and a lousy job market."
That doesn't square with:
"The S&P 500 crashed by nearly 60% during the financial meltdown of 2007-2009 as millions of Americans lost their jobs and the financial system came into doubt.
"People were pricing in financial Armageddon," said Yardeni.
Related: Millions of Americas can't feel the stock market boom"
It just doesn't appear that the stock market is connected to recovery. It may be doing great but until Trump started rolling back regulations a month ago, Wall Street was still disconnected to most of America. Everything's an opinion now - except "Millions of Americans can't feel the stock market boom".
The GOPe is like a woman who refuses to leave a husband who beats her. Except the GOPe enjoys being beaten.
ReplyDeleteI told my brothers today (two Libs, one iffy) that I have now been called a bitter clinger, a deplorable, and either blind or unintelligent. Yeah, THAT'S the way to win voters back to your side. And Stevie Wonder? I bought five of his albums back in the day when he was making really good music. Now he's another Democrat party shill, like Springsteen. Fine. You sold out. I don't like it, but I get it.
ReplyDeleteI have SiriusXM radio and whenever Bruce Springsteen is played I automatically change the channel. That also goes for Billy Joel, John Cougar Mellencamp,and a few others. - Elric
DeleteI know, Elric. Back in the day I thought Broooce was God. Haven't listened to what I thought was his masterpiece, Darkness, in like 12 years. He's cold product. No one wants to hear your political bullshit any more, guys - just shut up and play. Entertain us. What a concept!
Delete"...whoever it may be. Some of this is pure racism, misogyny, or xenophobia, especially in reaction to the first black president."
ReplyDeleteI think I may be seeing the problem.
Flies.
Honey.
Vinegar.
-Mikey NTH
"Pure racism, etc. ...??"
DeleteThree sentences later, the author condemns Obama as "a terrible President."
Huh? He doesn't consider that perhaps those who did not support Obama's administration were not ANY of the above but had very good reasons -- which he himself outlined -- for not doing so?
Illogical. Insulting. Blind.
"Pure racism, etc. ...??"
DeleteThree sentences later, the author condemns Obama as "a terrible President."
Huh? He doesn't consider that perhaps those who did not support Obama's administration were not ANY of the above but had very good reasons -- which he himself outlined -- for not doing so?
Illogical. Insulting. Blind.
This is true -- and I kind of hope and expect that privately voters will still keep fighting for what we want by voting against the Democrats who keep proving they are not it and are PC clueless. What works against us private voters getting what we want, though, (partly because the GOPe aren't it either) is that the loser and still losing Democrats do still control the political discussion, the narrative, through their fanatics/loyalists in the media (you know, the ones saying the ending of DACA is the worst human rights violation since the crusades, even compared to slavery or the holocaust???). Because of that power of the media you have Paul Ryan saying that not anybody in Congress wants the wall or is willing to even consider such a horrible thing ... when, at the very least, at least half of the country does want the wall (and doesn't think it's so horrible, although we're deplorable or something) -- but Ryan doesn't know anyone wants illegal immigration under control or even can imagine it because of the Democrat narrative in the media.
ReplyDeleteThe Democrats have still got a lot of power (well, being violent) and they use on any that any one of them decides deserves it!
Next they'll be calling us "booger-noses".
ReplyDeleteIf Trump never accomplished another thing his saving of the supreme court from the clutches of socialism will be his defining achievement. Of course he will do much much more. Every time I hear a liberal squeal a shiver of delight runs right through me.
ReplyDeleteObama's stock market "boom" can be easily explained by the "quantitative easing" and the lowering of Interest rates. If you wanted to make any money, the sotck market was the only game in town. "Savers" had no other choice as to where to park their money to earn any sort of return.
ReplyDeleteTrump's stock market boom can be easily explained by falling energy prices, and cutting of regulations that have "hogtied" businesses for nearly a decade.
One was "fake" and the other a harbinger of renewed American productivity and main street success.
"Name-calling won't win votes."
ReplyDeleteEven better: Name-calling will PERMANENTLY alienate people that you want to vote for you.
Better still: Anyone that is not instantly an absolute zealot for the radical Left's latest insanity (and it gets more insane by the day) immediately fails their litmus test and is ostracized.
They're driving Leftists out, and driving moderates to the Right.
Once you're on the receiving end of their baseless slanders, your journey to the Right begins. And there's really no going back.