home

State of the Union Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Obama Administration
Posted on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 08:21:17 PM EST
Tags: sotu (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

I just tuned into the State of the Union. How's Obama doing? Does he have anything new to say?

< Tuesday Open Thread | Unimas Begins Airing "Ruta 35" >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    State of the Union Thread | 70 comments (70 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

    I don't think it's a very well-crafted (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by shoephone on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 08:31:57 PM EST
    speech, because it's really all over the place, not linear at all. And he seems very low-energy delivering it, almost like he's bored. So, it's kind of the same old, same old. Lots of platitudes with no details. All that being said, I hardly ever think much of SOTU speeches.

    Not surprisingly (5.00 / 3) (#2)
    by CoralGables on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 08:33:29 PM EST
    I think it's great.

    Parent
    I had to go make some caffeinated tea (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by shoephone on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 08:36:42 PM EST
    to keep myself from falling asleep.

    Parent
    He got a lot better (5.00 / 3) (#7)
    by shoephone on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 09:15:30 PM EST
    as it went along. Especially when he talked about race and religion and the people (Trump!) sowing divisions.

    Tepid response to TPP (justified, I think) but lots of support for medical research, our role of leading on climate change, being strong internationally by not going off half-cocked (if only it were true all the time).

    Trey Gowdy and Kim whatshername were sourpusses. And I know it's not nice to say, but could she really not dress for the occasion? She looked like she was on her way to the bingo hall.

    My green tea helped me pay better attention. Maybe Obama drank some too. He revved up near the end.

    Parent

    I thought it was great. (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 01:14:52 AM EST
    He spoke honestly and from the heart.

    Parent
    Trey Gowdy looks mad (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by shoephone on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 08:54:32 PM EST
    That means Obama just said something good.

    Ryan puts on his (5.00 / 3) (#5)
    by jondee on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 09:08:18 PM EST
    "deep down I loathe everything this president stands for" expression every time the camera is on his face..

    And then his mind drifts back to another erotic fantasy about mud wrestling with Ayn Rand.

    Parent

    Trey Gowdy (5.00 / 4) (#6)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 09:13:54 PM EST
    every time I hear that name the sound of dueling banjos kicks off in my head.

    Parent
    Every time I see Gowdy (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by jondee on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 09:28:46 PM EST
    I get a strange craving for pecan pie


    Parent
    Hey, Hey, Hey. (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Chuck0 on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 07:45:21 AM EST
    Nothing wrong with a good slice of pecan pie. When I lived in Fort Worth, had two pecan trees in my backyard. I became a master pecan pie. Not so secret ingredient, Jack Daniels. That said, there's a whole lot wrong with Trey Gowdy.

    Parent
    Gowdy looks like someone who (5.00 / 2) (#21)
    by Anne on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:35:27 AM EST
    has a secret room somewhere for things I don't even want to think about.

    Parent
    Every time I see Trey Gowdy, ... (none / 0) (#10)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 10:33:48 PM EST
    ... I'm reminded of this wussy kid from my old Pasadena neighborhood, a real crybaby who'd run home to his Mommy every time he didn't get his way. And then his Mommy would come outside and scold us for picking on him. And then one day, MY Mommy came outside and told her to let him grow a pair, she got mad, and the two never talked again.

    That little crybaby wuss reminds me of gowdy because he was later elected Mayor of Monrovia, CA -- was probably still running home to Mommy every time the City Council thwarted his desires.

    ;-D

    Parent

    One of the kookiest things you've ever written, (5.00 / 2) (#29)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 12:03:49 PM EST
    which is no small feat.

    Parent
    Excuse me, but I believe that ... (none / 0) (#36)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 12:35:42 PM EST
    ... you obviously have me confused with somebody who still gives a s--t about your petulant and petty personal opinions.

    Have a nice day.

    Parent

    Ya, as the author of the statment below, clearly (none / 0) (#40)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 01:11:32 PM EST
    if anyone knows "petulant and petty personal opinions" it would be you.

    Every time I see Trey Gowdy, ... (none / 0) (#10)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 07:33:48 PM PST
    ... I'm reminded of this wussy kid from my old Pasadena neighborhood, a real crybaby who'd run home to his Mommy every time he didn't get his way. And then his Mommy would come outside and scold us for picking on him. And then one day, MY Mommy came outside and told her to let him grow a pair, she got mad, and the two never talked again.

    That little crybaby wuss reminds me of gowdy because he was later elected Mayor of Monrovia, CA -- was probably still running home to Mommy every time the City Council thwarted his desires.

    ;-D



    Parent
    I know Trey Gowdy is a (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by MKS on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 04:12:02 PM EST
    hero to the Right.

    But I can't stand the guy.  He is complete jerk.  I was glad to see Donald's comments....

    Parent

    Every time I see Trey Gowdy (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by vicndabx on Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 10:40:26 PM EST
    I'm reminded of this guy

    Parent
    I thought it was an excellent speech (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by jbindc on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 07:07:24 AM EST
    Lots of energy and very positive.  He got a few not-so-subtle zingers in - about the fact that Congress gets good jobs with lifetime bennies while most of America doesn't, calling out the Republican presidential candidates by listing the ways the economy has improved and our standing in the world has improved, by calling out climate change deniers with his analogy to the space race, etc.

    Now for the superficial:  

    1. Michelle Obama looked great in a yellow sheath dress.  Probably the best I've seen her look outside a ball gown.

    2. I won't mock Kim Davis for her clothes.  She probably doesn't have much, and just as I hate it when people made fun HRC's or Sarah Palin's clothes, I think the same applies here.

    3.  I think Joe Biden was playing Candy Crush on his phone half the night.

    4. Why was Nancy Pelosi wearing black? She looked hreat, but I was curious, because the women in Congress tend to wear bright colors to be seen (and more subtly, to show how few of themy there are relative to the percentage of women in the population). Gabby Gifford wore black too, but I figured that was more about the somberness of the topic of gun violence.

    5. Why was Bernie Sanders reading some pamphlet he pulled out of his jacket? (Interstingly, CNN showed him a few times, but did not show his reaction when most of the chamber stood up when Obama challenged them to pass an AUMF to fight ISIS).

    6. For all the hype about the "empty chair", it was never shown, nor called out by the president.

    7. The Notorious RBG gave the presudent a big hug when he entered the chambers.  In fact, she almost propelled herself into his arms.  Good to see she'said still spritely.  We need you, RBG!

    All in all, a great speech.

    I watched on C-SPAN, and (none / 0) (#23)
    by Anne on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:40:20 AM EST
    I think my favorite part was his interaction with the attendees after the speech - especially, when he got to the door, turned and said something along the lines of, "might be my last time in this chamber - I need to take this all in for a minute."

    As speeches go, I thought it was okay; parts I really liked, and parts not so much.  

    Parent

    Bernie may have been (none / 0) (#31)
    by MKS on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 12:12:48 PM EST
    reading a hard copy of the speech.....

    RBG?  Who is that?

    Parent

    R.B.G. = Ruth Bader Ginsburg. (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 12:20:09 PM EST
    It's a play on the late rapper Christopher Wallace's stage name, "The Notorious B.I.G."

    Parent
    Some thoughts (none / 0) (#35)
    by jbindc on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 12:24:49 PM EST
    Courtesy of Buzzfeed

    Parent
    Future to the back... (none / 0) (#48)
    by lentinel on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 03:49:19 PM EST
    ...most of the chamber stood up when Obama challenged them to pass an AUMF to fight ISIS).

    That'll be wonderful.

    The last AUMF turned out great.

    Parent

    The concept of The Overton Window (none / 0) (#15)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:07:29 AM EST
    Is losing its meaning when tea party darlings like Nikki Haley are viscously  attacked from the right by the Ann Coulters and Laura Ingram's of the world.
    I thought the "response" was boilerplate right wing krap.  But not any more.

    I do think Ingram has a point, even if as George Sanders  would say-an idiotic one, that it might not be smart tactically to attack about half the Republican Party in the "republican" response to the SOU.

    They should have just (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by MO Blue on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:11:35 AM EST
    replayed the dehydrated guy with the built in ad for bottled water. ;o)

    Parent
    Have you seen (5.00 / 4) (#17)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:20:54 AM EST
    this Rubio attack ad?

    I laughed.  I admit it.

    Parent

    OMG (none / 0) (#26)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:52:31 AM EST
    that is hysterical. Actually that's probably a pretty effective ad if it's making people laugh at Rubio.

    Parent
    Yes, (none / 0) (#41)
    by MO Blue on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 01:18:50 PM EST
    I saw it yesterday. It was funny.

    I still think a replay of him desperately gulping water every few minutes with a voice over declaring if he is this anxious just giving a speech, how would he act in a real crisis would be the most effective approach. Or maybe a mock up negotiating scene with him desperately gulping water during a meeting with a World leader.

    A Nixonian ad featuring the sweating, water gulping Rubio -Would you trust this guy?

    Parent

    That ad is the first thing (none / 0) (#68)
    by caseyOR on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 06:35:54 PM EST
    I have seen that seems worth the money the Bush campaign paid for it.

    Parent
    Just to Be Clear (none / 0) (#18)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:26:48 AM EST
    Ann Coulter:
    Trump should deport Nikki Haley

    Laura Ingraham:

    Too bad @NikkiHaley missed her oppty to stand w/ working ppl who want borders enforced, American workers put first, govt shrunk,  The country is lit up w/ a populist fever & the GOP responds by digging in, criticizing the GOP candidates dominating polls?! NOT SMART.

    Breitbart

    Haley's declaration that no one who is willing to work hard... should ever feel unwelcome in this country' articulates the central principle of the open-borders philosophy.  To the glee of our corrupt media, Nikki Haley is attacking our own frontrunner. The GOP Establishment is garbage.

    LINK

    How does the expression go, when you lay with dogs...

    Parent

    When these people lay with dogs, (5.00 / 3) (#20)
    by Anne on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:32:28 AM EST
    the dogs get up and check themselves for fleas.

    Parent
    Where does Ann Coulter (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by jbindc on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:37:02 AM EST
    Want Trump to deport Nikki Hadley to?  She was BORN in South Carolina.

    Yes, yes, I know.  Facts are a pesky thing to these people.

    Parent

    GITMO, I Would Imagine... (none / 0) (#25)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:52:23 AM EST
    ...along with all the other RINO's.

    Parent
    My guess is (none / 0) (#28)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 10:50:16 AM EST
    She's no longer on the VP short list.  

    Parent
    You and I know (none / 0) (#30)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 12:06:17 PM EST
    she never really was on the short list though and it was just a beltway imagination type of thing :)

    Parent
    Neither is Susana Martinez (none / 0) (#34)
    by MKS on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 12:21:10 PM EST
    The GOP is losing its women/ethnic candidates for VP.

    Martinez got hammered at an official event and was recorded trying to intimidate the police who were called out because of the noise....The audio is pretty harsh.

    Trump will choose Carson.....


    Parent

    No (none / 0) (#37)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 12:39:34 PM EST
    he's not going to choose Carson after ridiculing him for his Joseph and the pyramids statement among other things. At one time I thought Fiorina but then the "look at that face" comment probably rules her out. At one time I also thought Cruz but now with the birther stuff I'm sure he's out too. He never would pick Rubio because he would be considered an anchor baby. Rand Paul maybe? At this point I really have no idea who he would pick. Christie maybe? I don't think he's had huge fights with Christie and Christie would in a lot of ways would be compatible with Trump. It would be the blowhard blowhard ticket.

    Parent
    It won't b a regular politician (none / 0) (#38)
    by jbindc on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 12:45:48 PM EST
    He'll go outside.

    Parent
    Don't tell me you've (none / 0) (#49)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 04:05:23 PM EST
    Drunk the koolaid!?!?!

    I still think it will be Cruz.  They are a perfect match and it brings the party together.

    Parent

    Nope (none / 0) (#50)
    by jbindc on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 04:10:30 PM EST
    But it's fun to play this parlor game.

    I can't see him picking a legit politician who would show him up.  He needs someone as brash and flashy as him.  Someone who doesn't have anything to lose my being associated with him.

    Vince McMahon of WWE, maybe?

    Parent

    Nope (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 04:15:00 PM EST
    He NEVER wants someone as brash and flashy as he is.  I think just the opposite.  He wants a "serious" guy who is craven enough to parrot whatever batsh!t crazy thing he says.

    I haven't figured out how he will square the circle of questioning his ability to be president with making him VP but I think that is skating dangerously close to applying logic.

    If he want to that detail won't stop hm.

    Or he could be smart and pick a woman.

    Parent

    Palin? (none / 0) (#53)
    by CST on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 04:20:19 PM EST
    I mean in a way they would be perfect together.

    Parent
    I just threw up a little (none / 0) (#54)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 04:23:57 PM EST
    In my mouth.

    You're right.

    Parent

    She would be perfect (none / 0) (#55)
    by jbindc on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 04:26:42 PM EST
    As she isn't ever going to win anything again.

    Maybe VP Ann Coulter.


    Parent

    Kim Davis (none / 0) (#58)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 04:36:55 PM EST


    Parent
    Hulk Hogan! (none / 0) (#63)
    by Anne on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 05:19:03 PM EST
    OMG, I can't even believe these are the names that are coming to mind.

    Please, God, not Palin; I'd have to go off the media grid for the duration.

    Parent

    I know I know (none / 0) (#69)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 10:19:53 PM EST
    Ted Nugent

    Parent
    Cruz to me seems like the kind (none / 0) (#56)
    by jondee on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 04:29:35 PM EST
    of guy Trump would detest..

    Even more than the average person who's repelled by Cruz. Because the average person doesn't have the need to be loudest voice in the room in every situation.

    Say what you want about Trump, but he doesn't seem to have many warm feelings toward the unctuous Mr Haney's brand of southern sanctimony and arrogance..

    I can't imagine how those two would ever work together.


    Parent

    Not sure VP is actually required to (none / 0) (#57)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 04:34:50 PM EST
    "work" with anyone after Election Day.  You could be right.  But, theoretically, he might pick him because he is second.   He represents a big part of the party and he wants to win.

    I was only half serious in the first place.   He is going to spend the next three weeks convincing people he is not qualified to be president.  So, there's that.

    Parent

    I think Cruz is universally despised in (none / 0) (#62)
    by Anne on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 05:17:14 PM EST
    political circles, certainly within the Congress.  You need look no farther than the virtual silence from his GOP comrades on the question of whether he meets the qualifications for the presidency.  He's not getting any help from them.

    Parent
    Which this season (none / 0) (#64)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 05:20:45 PM EST
    Would go on the "pro" side of the pros and cons of picking him as VP

    Parent
    "Jersey Boys" (none / 0) (#39)
    by shoephone on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 01:07:38 PM EST


    Parent
    Actually, it occurred at her staff Xmas party ... (none / 0) (#43)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 01:33:56 PM EST
    ... which was being held at the Eldorado Hotel in Santa Fe on the weekend of Dec. 12-13, 2015. Gov. Martinez and her staff had earlier and repeatedly been warned by the hotel's management to tone it down after other hotel guests had complained about their rowdy behavior. The police were finally summoned to evict Martinez's party because some of them had been throwing bottles from her hotel room's balconies into the street.

    And yes, Martinez was certainly tipsy when she compounded her problem by drunk-dialing 911 and ordering the police dispatch supervisor to recall the officers from the scene, after first being repeatedly rebuffed in her earlier demands to both the dispatcher himself and the front desk clerk to know who had lodged the complaints against her.

    At all times polite and professional, neither that dispatcher nor the hotel clerk were in any way intimidated by Gov. Martinez. Good for them. All in all, hers was a rather disgraceful performance -- and an oddly hilarious one as well, if you listen to that audio of her 911 call:

    "So we're sitting in there, I am the governor of the state of New Mexic-oooo, and we're in there with my sister, who's disabled, along with about six other people who are having peezz-aaaa."

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Actually (none / 0) (#59)
    by TrevorBolder on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 04:37:50 PM EST
    It might have helped,

    All depends upon who is the candidate.

    Parent

    I was impressed (none / 0) (#19)
    by CST on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:30:54 AM EST
    With the way Paul Ryan managed to maintain a single facial expression throughout the entire thin (I assume, I only saw the second half).

    I thought the best part was when he called out Republicans in congress who "told him" they want to work with him but won't because of their base.

    The worst part was when he blamed turmoil in the middleeast on fighting that has been happening for millenia.  I think that's a bit of a deflection of responsibility on his part.  And also shows a lack of historical context.  A thousand years ago the middleeast was more or less fine (relatively speaking).  The real problems began about a century ago.

    Ryan... (none / 0) (#24)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:50:30 AM EST
    ...the guy they brought in to change things first grand accomplishment, another vote to repeal ACA.

    Off topic, but the Today Show was given access to the White House.  That was pretty cool, but they we in Ryan's new office and he was talking about how long it took to get the smell of smoke out of his office.  But better, Lauer asked him something about his reaction to Obama's upcoming speech, he said he was practicing his poker face.  I can just imagine his sitting in front of a mirror practicing the face you mentioned above.

    Parent

    I was seriously impressed (5.00 / 2) (#27)
    by CST on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 09:57:21 AM EST
    That's not easy.  He achieved full poker face.  Those hours of practice have paid off.

    Parent
    That last vote to repeal Obamacare ... (none / 0) (#32)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 12:15:27 PM EST
    ... was just so pathetic. How many times have the Republicans done that now? I've lost count, but it has to be close to sixty. Even the normally superficial and ingratiating John Dickerson felt compelled to call Ryan out on it when the Speaker appeared on CBS'S Face the Nation last Sunday, not only for the monotonous futility of these repeated efforts, but also the fact that Republicans continue to offer no viable and practical alternatives to replace the ACA.

    Parent
    I Will Never Understand... (none / 0) (#42)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 01:32:38 PM EST
    ...this notion that republicans are obligated to have an alternative, they do not, and even if they do, it will be more or less the same as nothing, if not worse.

    I would hope not many ACAers are voting R, but I am sure there are some, but not enough for them to care.

    Parent

    Actually, since the GOP controls Congress, ... (none / 0) (#44)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 02:00:27 PM EST
    ... congressional Republicans do have an obligation to determine public policy, and not just oppose it.

    I would agree that they have no legal obligation to provide or propose an alternative to the Affordable Care Act, provided that their decision is to restore the former crumbling status quo of our health care delivery system as it once stood.

    And if that's the case, then they incur an obligation to provide the funds necessary to pay for that, lest it collapse entirely. And since we're talking about a system that was consuming nearly 20% of our nation's GDP prior to the enactment of the ACA, there are economic consequences to these decisions.

    But honestly, if all some legislators are doing is opposing whatever's being discussed or proposed, it's only natural that members of the media and the public will ask them what else they had in mind. And if they can't provide that answer or offer an effective alternative to what's presently in place, then what good are they at their job, really?

    Aloha.

    Parent

    That is Funny... (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 03:34:51 PM EST
    ...that you think that is going to stop R's from repealing ACA, I mean it's not like they were one person short of getting 'er done on Friday.

    Parent
    I would argue... (none / 0) (#45)
    by sj on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 02:06:59 PM EST
    congressional Republicans do have an obligation to determine public policy, and not just oppose it.
    ...that not having an alternative with a new NEW health insurance plan actually would be public policy. And frankly speaking, defaulting to chaos and the remnants of the previous insurance plans would be easier to deal with than if a horrible new, NEW infrastructure was put in place that then required dismantling.

    Just saying.

    Parent

    It was (none / 0) (#60)
    by TrevorBolder on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 04:40:35 PM EST
    To force Obama to veto it.

    Purely ceremonial, but different than the 1st 60 times.

    Parent

    I Would Classify it as a Test... (none / 0) (#61)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 05:05:06 PM EST
    ...just in case they manage to win the White House, this is the first time it actually became a bill.

    At some point I would think they are going to campaign on the fact that they got one person away from repealing ACA.


    Parent

    And they (none / 0) (#65)
    by TrevorBolder on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 06:02:47 PM EST
    Did have to use the Reconciliation process to pass it in the Senate,

    The same process used to pass the original bill

    Parent

    Perusing Hip Hop news. (none / 0) (#46)
    by NycNate on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 02:42:41 PM EST
    I know.  I know.  I confess.  

    I do have a tiny problem with this happening on the day our soldiers were captured.  However, I thought this was cool. Has anyone else heard about this?

    Wale Performs At President Obama's State Of The Union

    Nikki and the long game (none / 0) (#66)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 06:15:26 PM EST
    The flag.  The Donald.
    Ms Haley might preparing to rise from the ashes of the Republican Party to run against Hillary in 2020.

    She might be (none / 0) (#67)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jan 13, 2016 at 06:23:36 PM EST
    but she also might not make it out of the GOP primary unless they get some new voters.

    Parent
    They are getting them (none / 0) (#70)
    by jbindc on Thu Jan 14, 2016 at 08:35:45 AM EST
    You just don't hear about them

    Greenberg and other Democratic writers concede that Republicans will continue to win the white working-class vote -- composed, roughly speaking, of whites who do not have four-year college degrees. In 2012, President Obama won only 36 percent of these voters against Republican Mitt Romney; in 2014, Democrats won just 34 percent of these voters in House races.

    Though these voters are a declining proportion of the electorate --from about 65 percent in 1980 to about 35 percent today -- they still hold the balance of power in the Deep South and in swing states like Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and New Hampshire.

    Republicans also have two other groups that, unlike the white working class, are increasing in size: voters with a four-year, but not an advanced, college degree, and senior citizens.



    Parent
    I would (none / 0) (#71)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Jan 14, 2016 at 09:08:17 AM EST
    debate the senior citizen argument to the point that the GOP has them now but a different demographic is constantly retiring and the senior citizen vote that they currently have is dying off.

    As far as working class whites they will definitely keep them in the fold with Trump at the helm. However not so sure what happens if someone else is the nominee.

    Parent

    State of the Union Thread | 70 comments (70 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment