who ya got?

[Deleted User 89]

the only person with that paranoia is trump (and it is a dishonest take on his part at that)

[jfish26]

Ya i am just not buying into the paranoia that massive voter fraud is going to occur or that massive amounts of mail in ballots aren't going to be counted.

But, about 1/3 of the country will buy into it. Going to have lots of reasons to stay indoors this winter.

[twocoach]

Right. You don't need to manipulate many votes themselves in order to manipulate the outcome. What they're doing - and god damn it was it predictable and obvious - is trying to create an impression of the unreliability of the count.

It only takes one example to sow distrust in the entire system. It is as much about making voters question whether to even bother to vote as it is to steal actual votes.

Of course, the insane early-voting numbers seem to suggest this message has not taken root.

Virtually every calculated risk that Trump has taken in the last month has failed spectacularly.

[jfish26]

It only takes one example to sow distrust in the entire system. It is as much about making voters question whether to even bother to vote as it is to steal actual votes.

Of course, the insane early-voting numbers seem to suggest this message has not taken root.

Virtually every calculated risk that Trump has taken in the last month has failed spectacularly.

Well, because somehow*, his calculation was [IF dropping in polls, THEN be myself but worse].

* Not being widely reported (because these people are now sources), but it seems like there's been a major talent and manpower drain at the campaign (for Covid, and losing, and other reasons), and a major dropoff in GOP support.

[twocoach]

Of course, the insane early-voting numbers seem to suggest this message has not taken root.

Virtually every calculated risk that Trump has taken in the last month has failed spectacularly.

Well, because somehow*, his calculation was [IF dropping in polls, THEN be myself but worse].

* Not being widely reported (because these people are now sources), but it seems like there's been a major talent and manpower drain at the campaign (for Covid, and losing, and other reasons), and a major dropoff in GOP support.

Even the most stubborn, hungry rats will abandon ship when the water level gets high enough.

[Mjl]

Biden sticking around after his town hall to continue to talk to the people is kinda cool. It's so, him.

[ousdahl]

Career politician?

[ousdahl]

Of course, the insane early-voting numbers seem to suggest this message has not taken root.

Virtually every calculated risk that Trump has taken in the last month has failed spectacularly.

Well, because somehow*, his calculation was [IF dropping in polls, THEN be myself but worse].

* Not being widely reported (because these people are now sources), but it seems like there's been a major talent and manpower drain at the campaign (for Covid, and losing, and other reasons), and a major dropoff in GOP support.

I was gonna go with, “Whaddya mean calculated risk?”, but this is more fun.

Can you point to specifics?

[ousdahl]

[jfish26]

Virtually every calculated risk that Trump has taken in the last month has failed spectacularly.

Well, because somehow*, his calculation was [IF dropping in polls, THEN be myself but worse].

* Not being widely reported (because these people are now sources), but it seems like there's been a major talent and manpower drain at the campaign (for Covid, and losing, and other reasons), and a major dropoff in GOP support.

I was gonna go with, “Whaddya mean calculated risk?”, but this is more fun.

Can you point to specifics?

The loss of GOP support is loudest in Senators...I can think of a few high-profile examples (Sasse, Graham, McConnell, Cruz) in just the last few days.

The other stuff is quieter. But the White House Covid outbreak sent everyone home. You have a few mid-level administration people (like Miles Taylor and Olivia Troye) who have publicly broken. And the leaks come from higher places.

[ousdahl]

and man, we can only imagine what kind of shape the country would be in if that loss of GOP support among senators happened in January.

[zsn]

Speaking of Sasse- what a coward. Pulls head from Trump’s behind just to demonstrate to the world that he’s a total hypocrite. Trying desperately to stay relevant in a post Trump world

[twocoach]

Speaking of Sasse- what a coward. Pulls head from Trump’s behind just to demonstrate to the world that he’s a total hypocrite. Trying desperately to stay relevant in a post Trump world

Let's be honest. If Sasse had made these comments 6 months ago then he would be getting voted out of office in November by the old guard Trump supporters here in Nebraska. Instead, despite living in Nebraska, I cannot recall a single ad for whoever he is running against. I had to google the name of his opponent to figure out who it is.

Now that it is clear that he is going to survive this election, he apparently felt more confident in saying what he really feels in an attempt to appeal to the more socially liberal conservative generation of voters as he tries to position himself to be a Republican who will work across the aisle to get stuff done. I personally think it's unfortunate but the right move long term. He'll definitely be a more friendly Republican when Dems start looking for cross-party votes. I'd take him over a bootlicker like Cruz 1000 times out of 100.

[jfish26]

Speaking of Sasse- what a coward. Pulls head from Trump’s behind just to demonstrate to the world that he’s a total hypocrite. Trying desperately to stay relevant in a post Trump world

Let's be honest. If Sasse had made these comments 6 months ago then he would be getting voted out of office in November by the old guard Trump supporters here in Nebraska. Instead, despite living in Nebraska, I cannot recall a single ad for whoever he is running against. I had to google the name of his opponent to figure out who it is.

Now that it is clear that he is going to survive this election, he apparently felt more confident in saying what he really feels in an attempt to appeal to the more socially liberal conservative generation of voters as he tries to position himself to be a Republican who will work across the aisle to get stuff done. I personally think it's unfortunate but the right move long term. He'll definitely be a more friendly Republican when Dems start looking for cross-party votes. I'd take him over a bootlicker like Cruz 1000 times out of 100.

But had he done this ten months ago, he might have helped one or two others to find some fucking courage.

[twocoach]

Speaking of Sasse- what a coward. Pulls head from Trump’s behind just to demonstrate to the world that he’s a total hypocrite. Trying desperately to stay relevant in a post Trump world

Let's be honest. If Sasse had made these comments 6 months ago then he would be getting voted out of office in November by the old guard Trump supporters here in Nebraska. Instead, despite living in Nebraska, I cannot recall a single ad for whoever he is running against. I had to google the name of his opponent to figure out who it is.

Now that it is clear that he is going to survive this election, he apparently felt more confident in saying what he really feels in an attempt to appeal to the more socially liberal conservative generation of voters as he tries to position himself to be a Republican who will work across the aisle to get stuff done. I personally think it's unfortunate but the right move long term. He'll definitely be a more friendly Republican when Dems start looking for cross-party votes. I'd take him over a bootlicker like Cruz 1000 times out of 100.

But had he done this ten months ago, he might have helped one or two others to find some fucking courage.

That is non-existent in GOP politics right now. If you are a GOP politician today, you're either kissing Trump's ass to court his cult or you're keeping your head down trying to outlast him.

[zsn]

Twocoach: I completely agree with your characterization of Sasse and his actions. However, these actions are also the dictionary definition of “coward” - ie. he was a weasel to save his own hide, and then now that he’s essentially safe and the one who could hurt him isn’t, he speaks up.

I can’t think of a better definition of a coward.

[Sparko]

Sasse is a leader. He was the first to chicken out of doing anything meaningful. Next leader of the GOP material.

[twocoach]

Twocoach: I completely agree with your characterization of Sasse and his actions. However, these actions are also the dictionary definition of “coward” - ie. he was a weasel to save his own hide, and then now that he’s essentially safe and the one who could hurt him isn’t, he speaks up.

I can’t think of a better definition of a coward.

We can either bitch and whine about whether he should have done something different in the past or we can try to identify whether he is a Republican who might vote for some more progressive laws in the future.

I get that it is the Trump era of name calling and bitching but hopefully we're 18 days from the next era where we try to work together and move forward.

[zsn]

Depending on Ben Sasse to vote for any progressive laws is like the Frog trusting the Scorpion.

Kathleen Sibelius related an incident which happened during the days when they were trying to pass the ACA. They incorporated many ideas developed by Republican leaning think tanks in the hope that some Republicans would support the bill. However, many of them essentially said that they wouldn’t support the bill not because they disagreed with the content but because they wouldn’t gain anything from their support. If it went well Obama and his administration would get the credit. If it turns out badly then they would be blamed for supporting it. Their constituents be damned.

Ben Sasse does what’s good for Ben Sasse. I wouldn’t count on him for anything more

[twocoach]

The tiny amount of spine that Sasse has shown is more than virtually any other Republican politician who wasn't already on their way out.