In Historic Reversal, Republicans Are Likely To Retain Control Of Congress

[Right_in_Virginia]

Yup, that's why I've gone Galt. ...

But you haven't gone Galt.  Going "Galt" means, in large part, you've also gone silent.

You've simply taken your marbles and gone home to pound out criticisms from your keyboard --- criticisms that help keep liberal wet dreams alive and well.   

[INVAR]

But you haven't gone Galt.  Going "Galt" means, in large part, you've also gone silent.

Ahhh we come to it at last.

They want us to shut up, and be silent - even when we dump their party after being told to vote the way they tell us and then to sit down and shut up.

If you had bothered to read Atlas Shrugged - Galt spent his time RESCUING productive liberty-minded people from the enslavement of the state, and speaking about the very things you want us to shut up about.

I really cannot tell the difference anymore between a radical 'progressive' and Republican Party hacks.

You've simply taken your marbles and gone home to pound out criticisms from your keyboard --- criticisms that help keep liberal wet dreams alive and well.   

Let's just cut to the chase: what do you intend to do about it?

[txradioguy]

They want us to shut up, and be silent - even when we dump their party after being told to vote the way they tell us and then to sit down and shut up.

@INVAR but then you already knew that right?  It's just now they are more open about what they really want.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Let's just cut to the chase: what do you intend to do about it?

Not a thing.

Just don't call fighting a keyboard war "going galt".   

[txradioguy]

Historic would be if it hasn't happened in 50-60 years.

But we already know that the Republicans gained seats in the first term of a Republican President as recently as 2002.

What makes this one so "historical"?

[INVAR]

Not a thing.

Just don't call fighting a keyboard war "going galt".   

What if we do?

John Galt spent much of his life working to get innovators and the productive out of the enslavement to the corrupt political parties and the state.  He worked to get them to start over somewhere else, and let the existing system collapse on itself in total, so that after it did so - they could rebuild from the ashes.

So - when someone tells you that they have gone Galt from the GOP - let that Cliffs Notes version of Atlas Shrugged ring in your mind.  Because that is EXACTLY what going Galt from your party means.

We're going to rescue Conservatives from your party and into a party not corrupted by DC - while your party and it's system collapses into itself or gets folded into the Democrat party where it belongs.  As your party goes Whig - Conservatives will have a new platform to operate from.

[aligncare]

Historic since when?  The Mid-terms during W's first term when Republicans gained seats?

Yes, but that came while the nation was coming together behind a wartime president. Patterns can be broken, if only temporarily.

[Right_in_Virginia]

What if we do? 

You'll be deliberately wrong, again.   

[Mesaclone]

What if we do? Well, we don't have to DO anything...you simply expose yourself as a fool.

John Galt spent much of his life working to get innovators and the productive out of the enslavement to the corrupt political parties and the state.  He worked to get them to start over somewhere else, and let the existing system collapse on itself in total, so that after it did so - they could rebuild from the ashes.And we come to it...your dream is to let the Dems win big and create a self destructive society so abhorrent that some sort of apocalyptic uprising will occur. Quite frankly, that's stupidity of the highest order....and reflective of a childlike fantasy mentality. Come back to the real world.

So - when someone tells you that they have gone Galt from the GOP - let that Cliffs Notes version of Atlas Shrugged ring in your mind.  Because that is EXACTLY what going Galt from your party means.In this context, going Galt simply means doing your best to usher in half a century of Democrat domination of our culture and government. Great plan.

We're going to rescue Conservatives from your party and into a party not corrupted by DC - while your party and it's system collapses into itself or gets folded into the Democrat party where it belongs.  As your party goes Whig - Conservatives will have a new platform to operate from. So your plan is to create a party that consistently draws about 30% of the vote, with the Dems taking the other 70...strategy may not be your thing. Nor ethics, as your plan ensures all the things Conservatives despise in government come to full...and lasting...fruition.

You've gone full Dem in this sense...you don't think, you simply "feel" and then act irrationally. Sadly, you are as much an agent of the Left as Bernie Sanders...I believe the term Socialists would use for you is "useful idiots".

And quit with the "what are you gonna do about it" childishness...if you have to peacock on the internet, you're a weakling.

[txradioguy]

Yes, but that came while the nation was coming together behind a wartime president. Patterns can be broken, if only temporarily.

The Libs and their media mouthpieces had already had well over a year to trash the effort in Afghanistan...which is the only place we were in November of 2002.  "Quagmire was already an over used term to describe progress there as well.

The country stopped being "together" shortly after Bush's 2002 SOTU address.  Then it was back to business as usual for the Libs because there was an election coming up. 

That's about the time the Libs decided that politics didn't end at the waters edge anymore and Pelosi and others started trashing the Presidents policies while he was meeting with foreign heads of state.

Again...why is this one so much more historical compared to the other times the Republicans made gains under a President of the same party?

[aligncare]

The Libs and their media mouthpieces had already had well over a year to trash the effort in Afghanistan...which is the only place we were in November of 2002.  "Quagmire was already an over used term to describe progress there as well.

The country stopped being "together" shortly after Bush's 2002 SOTU address.  Then it was back to business as usual for the Libs because there was an election coming up. 

That's about the time the Libs decided that politics didn't end at the waters edge anymore and Pelosi and others started trashing the Presidents policies while he was meeting with foreign heads of state.

Again...why is this one so much more historical compared to the other times the Republicans made gains under a President of the same party?

Okay, but still wasn’t there a lot of talk in the air about invading Iraq, which we eventually did March the following year?

Besides, just because democrat politicos were trashing Bush didn’t mean folks weren’t giving their support and prayers to the president. Patriotism is a much stronger emotion than political partisanship. And the shock of 9-11 was still fresh in people’s minds and folks were still holding their breath wondering if another attack on the homeland was looming.

I still maintain Bush’s first midterm was atypical.

[txradioguy]

Okay, but still wasn’t there a lot of talk in the air about invading Iraq, which we eventually did March the following year?

Besides, just because democrat politicos were trashing Bush didn’t mean folks weren’t giving their support and prayers to the president. Patriotism is a much stronger emotion than political partisanship. And the shock of 9-11 was still fresh in people’s minds and folks were still holding their breath wondering if another attack on the homeland was looming.

I still maintain Bush’s first midterm was atypical.

All you keep trying to to is downplay the fact that it's the first time in recent memory...at least 50 years that an incumbent Republican President gained seats in the House and Senate in the first mid term after he was elected.

I'd consider the 60 seat turn around in the 1994 mid-terms much more of a historical election even though Clinton was President because it gave us the majority for the first time in a couple generations in both the House and Senate.

IF we gain any seats...and in reality that's not likely considering the ones we keep losing in the special elections this year...it will be the first time since 2002 it's happened...but it certainly won't be historical.

Unless you can logically and reasonably explain why it would...other than just because the author of the article says so.

[Chosen Daughter]

And how will having a Conservative Party snatching 10-15 percent of the Republican vote help move the country away from the radical Leftism of the Schumer/Pelosi/Hillary axis?

How will ensuring far more democrats get elected to both Houses of Congress AND eventually the White House make this a more conservative nation?

The GOP May be perpetually disappointing...as it is limited by narrow majorities and the need to keep a broad Right-of-Center coalition together...but what the Dems will bring you is a ton more Left wing judges, more weaponization of our Fed law enforcement against their enemies(conservatives), a weak military...AND...legalization of 20 million illegals as opposed to 1.8 (With a true wall, everify, better border enforcement), and the loss entirely of your 2nd amendment rights.

So instead of a GOP that can only get a partial bit of the conservative agenda moved forward, you will get the active and perhaps irreversible horror of a Socialist agenda shoved down your throat.

Smart.

This is fear mongering to keep people enslaved to a GOP which is increasingly moving to the left.  To me there isn't much difference.  If it take a big loss and a liberal presidency for four years I don't care.  The idea that moving left is going to take us out of the Socialist agenda you are wrong.  Its an easy creep.  This year gun control.  Next year more gun control.  This year continue to fund Planned Parenthood and buy into Obama Care.  This year celebrate gay at the Pentagon.  Next year the same and more.  Until this country is unrecognizable and emulates Europe.

The problem with GOP is that they believe they must move left as an effort to keep up with increasingly insane moral decline.  They themselves are immoral.  If they are men and women of good character they also will be willing to dump the GOP that is committing suicide.  They are wrong.

I have a son that I had thought I lost to liberal public education.  Said he was an Atheist.  Was going along with all of that liberal bull crap they feed them at school.  He came around and he is more Conservative than I am now.  I didn't change his mind. He did.  Of course I was a liberal when I was young too.  I thought I knew more than my parents and I also came to see how outrageous and wrong liberal politics are.

[libertybele]

This is fear mongering to keep people enslaved to a GOP which is increasingly moving to the left.  To me there isn't much difference.  If it take a big loss and a liberal presidency for four years I don't care.  The idea that moving left is going to take us out of the Socialist agenda you are wrong.  Its an easy creep.  This year gun control.  Next year more gun control.  This year continue to fund Planned Parenthood and buy into Obama Care.  This year celebrate gay at the Pentagon.  Next year the same and more.  Until this country is unrecognizable and emulates Europe.

The problem with GOP is that they believe they must move left as an effort to keep up with increasingly insane moral decline.  They themselves are immoral.  If they are men and women of good character they also will be willing to dump the GOP that is committing suicide.  They are wrong.

I have a son that I had thought I lost to liberal public education.  Said he was an Atheist.  Was going along with all of that liberal bull crap they feed them at school.  He came around and he is more Conservative than I am now.  I didn't change his mind. He did.  Of course I was a liberal when I was young too.  I thought I knew more than my parents and I also came to see how outrageous and wrong liberal politics are.

Yes, the GOP has moved to the left in a bid for votes. They've lost their message, their purpose and they really no longer represent an alternative to liberalism, though they pretend otherwise and the majority leaders cater to the left.

I was hoping that a Convention of States would take place returning power to the states; they came close, but I don't see that happening before the mid terms.  IMHO the time to do so was now and I don't forsee it happening.  I don't hold out a lot of hope for the future these days.  Too much corruption within both parties.

[Free Vulcan]

All you keep trying to to is downplay the fact that it's the first time in recent memory...at least 50 years that an incumbent Republican President gained seats in the House and Senate in the first mid term after he was elected.

I'd consider the 60 seat turn around in the 1994 mid-terms much more of a historical election even though Clinton was President because it gave us the majority for the first time in a couple generations in both the House and Senate.

IF we gain any seats...and in reality that's not likely considering the ones we keep losing in the special elections this year...it will be the first time since 2002 it's happened...but it certainly won't be historical.

Unless you can logically and reasonably explain why it would...other than just because the author of the article says so.

Reagan did gain in the Senate in the first mid-term, lost in the House. Problem is though, the Dems had nearly an iron grip of control for 50 years, so who cares if they went from 252 to 267 seats in the House  with a GOP President when they were already a steep majority? It skews the stats a bit.

I put little stock in special election wins. At usually 15-25% of the  general election vote, it's easy to get your motivated hard core base out. It speaks nothing of having the depth to turn out for a general where Republicans tend to vastly out vote Dems. Not to mention the ridiculously out-of-proportion money their side has spent on these little elections, while the DNC is already broke and most of it is PAC support.

I still say this is 100% in the GOP's power to win or lose, and based on whether or not they choose to do some things that will motivate the base.

[libertybele]

Reagan did gain in the Senate in the first mid-term, lost in the House. Problem is though, the Dems had nearly an iron grip of control for 50 years, so who cares if they went from 252 to 267 seats in the House  with a GOP President when they were already a steep majority? It skews the stats a bit.

I put little stock in special election wins. At usually 15-25% of the  general election vote, it's easy to get your motivated hard core base out. It speaks nothing of having the depth to turn out for a general where Republicans tend to vastly out vote Dems. Not to mention the ridiculously out-of-proportion money their side has spent on these little elections, while the DNC is already broke and most of it is PAC support.

I still say this is 100% in the GOP's power to win or lose, and based on whether or not they choose to do some things that will motivate the base.

The GOP has done absolutely nothing to motivate their base; quite the opposite.  The DEMS have been energized since Her Thighness lost and I believe that the GOP is going to get trounced.  They had their chance and so far they've blown it. I have never missed an election since I've been eligible to vote and I just may opt to sit this one out.

[Free Vulcan]

The GOP has done absolutely nothing to motivate their base; quite the opposite.  The DEMS have been energized since Her Thighness lost and I believe that the GOP is going to get trounced.  They had their chance and so far they've blown it. I have never missed an election since I've been eligible to vote and I just may opt to sit this one out.

They've energized their hard core base in special elections. It remains to be seen whether they have the depth and money do that nationwide in the general plus woo the Indies.

I think what they do is irrelevant, it's completely in the hands of the GOP as to whether they want to win this or not.

[Chosen Daughter]

Yes, the GOP has moved to the left in a bid for votes. They've lost their message, their purpose and they really no longer represent an alternative to liberalism, though they pretend otherwise and the majority leaders cater to the left.

I was hoping that a Convention of States would take place returning power to the states; they came close, but I don't see that happening before the mid terms.  IMHO the time to do so was now and I don't forsee it happening.  I don't hold out a lot of hope for the future these days.  Too much corruption within both parties.

Sad but true.  Why we must get away from voting for lesser of evils.  In this case we went from (evil) "lock her up" Hillary to honoring her at the Inauguration lunch.  Buddies!  Birds of a feather.  Obama said at the end of his Presidency that his agenda would continue.

[Fishrrman]

InHeaven wrote in reply 2 above:
"I can't view articles from dailycaller.  This one, for example, wants to run 81 different scripts from 12 different sites on my computer.  Yeah, um, not gonna happen."

Got a tip for ya.
Do you have javascript running by default? (I usually do, using Safari on a Mac).

If you're getting overtaken by ads, popups, etc., from a particular website, try TURNING OFF javascript, and then visiting the site in question. Of course, remember to turn javascript back on after you're done.

I do this now when I do "my morning reading" at The Washington Times (which not to long ago started using some intrusive adware, and now prevents access to their site if you're running an "adblocking extension").

I normally use both an adblocker (UBlock) -and- an anti-tracking extension (Ghostery).
They work pretty well on the Mac.

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

The GOP has done absolutely nothing to motivate their base; quite the opposite.  The DEMS have been energized since Her Thighness lost and I believe that the GOP is going to get trounced.  They had their chance and so far they've blown it. I have never missed an election since I've been eligible to vote and I just may opt to sit this one out.

How many people saw increases in their take home pay due to the tax "cuts"?  In the end, I think that will be the single most important issue for voters.  IMO, if people saw THEIR paychecks go up early this year, they're going to be motivated,

Those of us on the right who are paying attention are of course outraged by things like massive deficit spending and saving 0care/PP, but I suspect we're a tiny minority.

Then again, they've still got about six months to screw it up.

[libertybele]

How many people saw increases in their take home pay due to the tax "cuts"?  In the end, I think that will be the single most important issue for voters.  IMO, if people saw THEIR paychecks go up early this year, they're going to be motivated,

Those of us on the right who are paying attention are of course outraged by things like massive deficit spending and saving 0care/PP, but I suspect we're a tiny minority.

Then again, they've still got about six months to screw it up.

...hmm let's see.  Paychecks may be going up a tad but the cost of healthcare hasn't been resolved nor has the repeal of Bammycare.  Trump just signed a $1.3 Trillion spending bill and is proposing increasing the gas tax in order to repair and expand infrastructure. So really the slight increase in paychecks isn't all that and we really won't know exactly how the new tax plan is going to affect us until next year. 

IMHO the only issue that's going to win the midterms is the wall and Congress refused to allocate monies.  The House also failed to repeal Bammycare and passed it on to the Senate where it also failed.  What really has the GOP congress done to warrant re-election?  Notta. Zilch.  Zip.  Zero.

[INVAR]

Well, we don't have to DO anything...you simply expose yourself as a fool.

Oh yes, I'm exposing myself a "fool" for providing a summary of Atlas Shrugged to illustrate the fact that is precisely what Conservatives are doing when they get off your party plantation.

And we come to it...your dream is to let the Dems win big

Hey clueless, the Dems ALREADY WON BIG.  They got their entire agenda through Congress funded and approved with a big fat GOP stamp on it and ownership of everything from ObamaCare to Planned Parenthood to deficit spending in the TRILLIONS.  The Dems won big, thanks to your feckless bastardized Republican party, that now does what Democrats do - such as write omnibus trillion-dollar deficit spending bills in secret and vote them into law without giving anyone adequate time to read them before making them so.

and create a self destructive society so abhorrent that some sort of apocalyptic uprising will occur.

I guess you don't watch the news much either.   

Quite frankly, that's stupidity of the highest order....and reflective of a childlike fantasy mentality. Come back to the real world.

Oh, you mean like the fantasy of childlike idiocy that insists that voting for Republicans will stop the Left and advance conservative principles?

THAT fantasy?

Might want to look at the 'real world' of the last 6-8 years with your party at the helm there hoss.   Conservatism has little to show for itself when your party was given power.  You're about to experience a repeat of 2006 all over again, and the base your party told us they did not want - is not coming back.

In this context, going Galt simply means doing your best to usher in half a century of Democrat domination of our culture and government.

You already got that via the Republican Party.  Congratulations on what your party has achieved to make that Democrat domination of our culture and government a reality.  They just put a big fat GOP sticker on the Obama agenda and called it their own.

So your plan is to create a party that consistently draws about 30% of the vote, with the Dems taking the other 70...strategy may not be your thing.

I think the strategy of staying in a wholly corrupted party of liberals pretending to be an opposition party to Democrats while enacting and funding the Democrat agenda is entirely a lesson in abject insanity.  If you want to talk strategy, one does not stay in a party of traitors to the cause of limited government and Constitutionality - of which your party has abandoned wholesale.  But if you have a fatal case of Normalcy Bias and Cognitive Dissonance - by all means, continue to practice insanity if that is where your comfort zone is.  I choose not to continue practicing it.

your plan ensures all the things Conservatives despise in government come to full...and lasting...fruition.

Your own party has already achieved this and put their stamp of approval on all things Conservatives despised and wanted them to repeal, stop and end. 

You've gone full Dem in this sense...you don't think, you simply "feel" and then act irrationally. Sadly, you are as much an agent of the Left as Bernie Sanders...I believe the term Socialists would use for you is "useful idiots".

You're just projecting.  I don't support lifelong NYC liberal Democrats and declare them to be Conservative.  That's what you and your cabal does.  Useful idiots indeed.

And quit with the "what are you gonna do about it" childishness...if you have to peacock on the internet, you're a weakling.

Do something about it then.  Let's see who is the weakling.

[bilo]

Perfect??

I don't know about anyone else, but my standards do not require anything close to "perfect" (which is why I remained a Republican until 2016).

All I want is reasonable movement towards conservative standards, and a return to the acceptance of conservative moral values, which were tossed down the sewer with Trump.

There is no place in the current Republican party for Christian Conservatives.  The Party has rejected everything we stand for.

As for some midterm miracle..... the author should probably study his history a bit more before making predictions about historic reversals.

THANK YOU!

We have given the Pubs everything they asked for and have seen nothing other than tax cuts.

Has the needle moved at all to the right on abortion?

Has planned parenthood lost any funding?

Has the education dept done anything to slow down or stop the radical sexualization of children in schools?

What good does it do to keep electing people who won't represent us?

[Mesaclone]

Oh yes, I'm exposing myself a "fool" for providing a summary of Atlas Shrugged to illustrate the fact that is precisely what Conservatives are doing when they get off your party plantation.

Hey clueless, the Dems ALREADY WON BIG.  They got their entire agenda through Congress funded and approved with a big fat GOP stamp on it and ownership of everything from ObamaCare to Planned Parenthood to deficit spending in the TRILLIONS.  The Dems won big, thanks to your feckless bastardized Republican party, that now does what Democrats do - such as write omnibus trillion-dollar deficit spending bills in secret and vote them into law without giving anyone adequate time to read them before making them so.

I guess you don't watch the news much either.   

Oh, you mean like the fantasy of childlike idiocy that insists that voting for Republicans will stop the Left and advance conservative principles?

THAT fantasy?

Might want to look at the 'real world' of the last 6-8 years with your party at the helm there hoss.   Conservatism has little to show for itself when your party was given power.  You're about to experience a repeat of 2006 all over again, and the base your party told us they did not want - is not coming back.

You already got that via the Republican Party.  Congratulations on what your party has achieved to make that Democrat domination of our culture and government a reality.  They just put a big fat GOP sticker on the Obama agenda and called it their own.

I think the strategy of staying in a wholly corrupted party of liberals pretending to be an opposition party to Democrats while enacting and funding the Democrat agenda is entirely a lesson in abject insanity.  If you want to talk strategy, one does not stay in a party of traitors to the cause of limited government and Constitutionality - of which your party has abandoned wholesale.  But if you have a fatal case of Normalcy Bias and Cognitive Dissonance - by all means, continue to practice insanity if that is where your comfort zone is.  I choose not to continue practicing it.

Your own party has already achieved this and put their stamp of approval on all things Conservatives despised and wanted them to repeal, stop and end. 

You're just projecting.  I don't support lifelong NYC liberal Democrats and declare them to be Conservative.  That's what you and your cabal does.  Useful idiots indeed.

Do something about it then.  Let's see who is the weakling.

I've already done "it", you're just not sharp enough to notice. And you've already exposed yourself as the weakling, no one else needs to lift a finger to make that case.

[INVAR]

I've already done "it", you're just not sharp enough to notice. And you've already exposed yourself as the weakling, no one else needs to lift a finger to make that case.

If you say so.... I'm sure everyone on this board agrees with your assessment.