Midterm Recap


Monty Python has the definitive word on this

I still have pretzels, but no beer tonight.

In terms of the Senate, the Democratic incumbents who lost, Donnelly, McKaskill, and Heitkamp, were profoundly weak tea.

I wish that Manchin was included in that list, because while I understand that the dynamics of the Democratic Party tends to promote narcissistic preeners who are basically useless (the aforementioned Donnelly, McKaskill, and Heitkamp), they should never promote Disloyal Democrats.

Also Bob Menendez, because he’s corrupt as hell and would be in jail but for the Supreme Court making it impossible to prosecute politicians for corruption.

The only bright side in terms of incumbents being turfed out was Dean Heller of Nevada.

On the House side, there is a bright side, Dwems retaking the house, David Brat being defeated in VA, as did Dana Rohrabacher in California, and Pete “The Stupidest Motherf%$#er in Texas” Sessions.

On the not so bright side, you have Duncan Hunter, Jr., who won even though he is under indictment for embezzling campaign funds, and virulent racist Steven King (R-IA) won narrowly.

In governor’s races, the Democrats picked up 7 seats nationwide, but none pleased me more than the loss of Scott Walker.

Florida and Georgia are still technically in play, but I won’t hold my breath

The AFL-CIO put it best on their statement, “Scott Walker was a national disgrace.”

In state houses, about 300 seats were picked up by Dems, erasing about 1/3 of the seats they lost under Obama.

Also, 7 state houses flipped, most notably the New York State Senate, whose Republican Senate was decisively flipped, much to the chagrin of Andrew “Rat Faced Andy” Cuomo, who has tried to ensure Republican control so that he won’t have to veto progressive legislation. (See Democrats, disloyal)

We also had a fair number of initiatives.

Anti-abortion initiatives in West Virginia and Alabama passed, and failed in Oregon.

Three initiates in California were defeated under a deluge of Wall Street money, price controls in response to profiteering by dialysis clinics, and a public bank for Los Angeles were deleted.

Redistricting reform passed everywhere it was on the ballot, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri and Utah, along with a sort-of redistricting reform in Ohio.

Weed also did well, with victories in Michigan, Missouri, Utah, and North Dakota.

Medicaid expansion was on the ballot in 4 states, with it passing in 3 states. ( Idaho, Nebraska, and Utah, and a loss in Montana)

There are also three new Democratic governors who will likely implement the policy.

On criminal justice reform, there were some significant ballot measures passed, most notably restoring voting rights to 1½ million felons in the Florida, which should make a difference in future elections.

Louisiana repealed a Jim Crow law that allowed for 10-2 guilty verdicts for most felonies.

Washington passed changes to standards for police shootings, so prosecutors no longer have to show actual malice.

All in all, last night was not good as I had hoped, but not as bad as I had feared.

My only question now is, “How will Nancy Pelosi f%$# this up?”

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