I'm a little less pessimistic about the chance of getting rid of Ron Johnson. I think Alex Lasry could do it. He's got the money and should be able to benefit from some good will for investing in the Bucks and taking some credit for making them a championship team. Plus, as a business owner and a centrist he would appeal to some disaffected Republicans.
Dear Charlie, I've been listening to you since 2015 and I'm grateful to you and the Bulwark for what you're doing. Last night I listened to you and Tom Nichols and I had to turn you off. The dominant theme of your discussion was the lack of coalition by the Dems. I don't disagree but where are the Republicans? Last year I remember you, Tom, Sarah and JVL and other saying that Biden should focus on voting rights because Republicans could get on board with voting rights. You all agreed! You gave me hope at that time that maybe voting rights would pave the way for a political coalition to protect our votes and save our democracy. Where are they now? Where are those Republicans who you at the Bullwark were so sure would temporarily ally with Dems to protect voting rights? There aren't any. You talk about a lack of coalition in the Democratic party and I agree. They're exhausting but Republicans are the party of obstruction. They have been for 13 years. They obstructed healthcare and got nothing done on infrastructure because they do not coalesce on any idea coming from Democrats. They do not work in good faith on any issue not matter how important it is and even when it comes to saving our democracy. I'm losing faith.
"The leading candidate — in fundraising and polling — for the Democratic nomination is Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, who is campaigning as a progressive 'true believer.' (Other candidates include State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski; Milwaukee Bucks veep Alex Lasry; and Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson.)"
Mandela Barnes' main disadvantage is not any association with Bernie Sanders. It is his race. If the Democrats are foolish enough to nominate him, most voters will see Barnes as a symbol of Democratic support for BLM and the riots that followed their not-so-peaceful demonstrations.
Thank you for Mona (the Real Conservative) for making the logical case once again.....that the gun liberals are pointing at their pinky toe, IS LOADED!
This was terrible news. Can we hope and pray that a REAL conservative steps up to take on RonJon in the Republican primary? That may be asking a lot, but I'd love to see a primary race where a true conservative takes on a manic like Johnson and kicks butt.
There is what can be described as a mass retirement of House Democrats announced. Most of these retirements are established moderates.
The way I see it, the old Democrat establishment sold their souls to the radical left agenda... but really never fully adopted it. They knew they needed the younger vote, and thus virtue signaled support for the AOC mindset even though it was inauthentic (aka a lie).
Lying always catches up. You cannot maintain a fake act forever, even with all that mainstream corporate media cover.
And the other related problem is that the radical left agenda is despised by the majority of American voters. As the polls start to reflect this, the Democrats are stuck walking the razors edge of appearing to support the radical left while also appealing to the moderate center.
The lie is unraveling... as all lies generally do eventually.
And so the radical left will fill some of those seats, and Republicans will fill the others. And the radical left will continue to demonstrate that the Democrat dog food is more and more unpalatable... hence further destroying the brand of Democrat and conceding more power to the GOP.
And in the end the lesson that should be learned... authenticity is a much better political strategy than is putting up a false front trying to make friends with the devil.
I mean... presumably the disease (and all other diseases but never mind) were ALSO created by God, right? I'm not religious, but intending no disrespect to RonAnon, this seems like a notable point.
I agree RonJon could win. But I do think the D's are dancing with glee that they get to face him instead of another Republican. I also agree that the Ds would be so much better off running a moderate candidate, especially in what is expected to be a good Republican year. But liberal candidates have proved they can win statewide in Wisconsin. One only needs to look at Tammy Baldwins' two victories as well as Obama's. Wisconsin one schizophrenic state. It is very rare to have two Senators of opposite parties like Wisconsin, but it is shocking how ideologically different they are.
"But Barnes’s politics are, to quote the immortal Bob Uecker, “just a bit outside”."
The Democrats are outside. Joe Biden has ensured that unmistakable branding by failing to project any sense of moderation in his policy support, and by adopting all the extreme policies and rhetoric of the radical left that has taking root in the old party of the working class.
This is the mistake of the tone deaf left-coast liberals and socialists. They are in their bubble. Their media feed are in the same bubble. They seek their safe ideological spaces and cancel out any noise of opposing view points. They have denigrated and dismissed those that don't adopt their political view 100% as uneducated & stupid... and now dangerous and fascist. For example, I am sure Charlie will get feedback to ban me for this post.
The Democrats won power in DC only because of the pandemic and the election shenanigans it allowed them to leverage. Kudos for them to get that done. But then the big mistake happened... to see their barely squeaking by majority as a mandate. To start patting themselves on the back that the public will eat their same ideological dog food.
Trump was President and got 74 million votes. The Senate remained split. The House lost seats.
It is ironic that the hand-wringing here is about Wisconsin... the state where leftists attempted an insurrection and occupied the state capital for 100 days. The state that passed right to work laws. But the state that was turning a more blue shade of purple. Now it is going back to red. It is going back to red because the Democrats have turned blue into something that the average American isn't buying.
RonJon is just a consequence of the terribleness of what the Democrats have become. Barnes represents that well.
So you call me a moron in your first post. And now stupid.
And yet Charlie keeps letting you spew.
So clearly it a desire for ideological safe spaces and not the civility of the poster that matters to some "journalists".
I like hearing from you though. It confirms the profile of the chronic loser and social malcontent who bloviates invective to make up for his shortcomings... of which clearly for you there are many.
So, we Real Republicans should support Trump Republicans who don't support American democracy, respecting the results of free and fair elections, or the Constitution? We Real Republicans should support Trump Republicans who advocate for measures that have resulted in 800,000 Americans dying from a preventable disease? We Real Republicans should support Trump Republicans who don't believe in the conservative values that caused me to become a Republican? The answer is NO!
The problem is that you are no longer real Republicans. The Republican party has passed you by. And, given the state of things, you have a choice (or so it seems to me):
If you believe that the GoP, as it currently exists and the way it is headed, represents an actual danger to the Republic. This basically means (given observed behavior to this point in the GoP) that a vote for a GoP candidate is a vote in favor of this danger. If you actually believe in the danger, then you basically cannot (in conscience) vote GoP, regardless of policy preference (because, in the end, if you end up with an authoritarian state, why do they have to give heed to your policy preferences anyway).
Or, you don't believe such a danger exists and you vote policy--except the reality is that people do not really vote policy ITFP, if you look at the actual data over the years--they vote on the basis of either identity (and independent is also an identity) or an emotional response to the candidates and their personal perception of their personal circumstances--which may or may not be accurate.
Or, you can lie to yourself and say that even if you vote for them, somebody somewhere will do something to stop the worst excesses and you will get what you want. Uhuh.
I've been a Republican a heck of a lot longer than Donald Trump has pretended to be a Republican. Donald Trump doesn't get to define what the GOP stands for. Collectively Republicans everywhere do that.
Huh? I have read this twice and cannot find anything to reply to. It is just a bunch of mumbo jumbo.
You start with the premise that you know what a "real Republican" should be. Maybe start there. Tell me your definition of what you consider to be a "real Republican". And then maybe point to a Republican president that you think demonstrated what you think is a "real Republican".
I will tell you what I think a "real Democrat" is. JFK. Even Bill Clinton was close enough.
A Real Republican believes in the Constitution, the Rule of Law, democratic institutions, respecting free and fair elections, federalism, free speech, free press, conservative economic principles. Pretty much the opposite of everything Trump and his minions stand for.
Why are you feeding the troll? You ARE correct, but still. Trump doesn't even know what the Constitution actually says (based upon his own comments)--although he does respect fair and free elections THAT HE WINS (otherwise it wasn't fair or free, isn't it funny how that works). Nor does he understand or respect the 1st Amendment (if he even knows what it says) nor the rule of law (given his legal track record and legal issues). He respects conservative economic pronciples because he doesn't like paying taxes, but he would certainly welcome socialism if it put money in his pocket--the operative thing there is putting or keeping money in HIS pocket.
Trump's problem with the election is the same as my problem with the election. Without the pandemic and the shenanigans of the Democrats to harvest ballots, he would still be President. Saying it was legal, free and fair is like saying the Houston Astros won the 2017 pendent legal, free and fair.
By the way, did you candidate Hillary ever concede that she lost to Trump in a free and fair election, or is it still that Russia colluded with Trump to steal the election from her?
Your "put money in his pocket" is so off I think meds might be involved. He lost wealth running for President. His family knew this would happen and he knew this would happen and he did it anyway. He was talking about the problems with the nation at least 20 years before he ran. He did not need to run, unlike your apparent political heroes that make their wealth FROM their politics.
I am a registered Republican for over 40 years and I believe in the Constitution, the Rule of Law, democratic institutions (in a republic), free speech, free and fair elections, federalism, free (independent) press, conservative economic principles (although this need more detailed definition).
And I am a Trump supporter.
And Trump also supports these things. The fact that you claim that Trump does not support these things is telling.
Trump does not support these things. I am so tired of this BS. I have been a republican for decades as well and NEVER SUPPORTED TRUMP. That doesn't make me a Democrat, nor spouting DNC 'talking points'. Trump is a criminal, racist, fascist, sexist PIG! He is an authoritarian narcisistic asshole. It doesn't make me deranged because I can recognize a danger to my party and my country. Trump is the swamp and if you support him than you support the danger he is to this country.
Based on this comment I don't see any connection to any real Republican. A real Republican does not regurgitate DNC talking points that have no basis in fact or reality.
A real Republican would debate objective differences on real topic. For example, immigration and trade policy. Tax policy. Law and order. Defense spending. Education.
I have no love for the Democrats (the party, as opposed to some very fine people I know and some of whom even love). What I feel about the GOP (with the same qualification) isn't fit to print. At least not in anything resembling polite company. As to Bannon et. al. with whom the GOP is more than happy to snuggle and consort, even the most pro-free-speecher would probably want to censure me. Ditto whoever their mirror-image counterparts may be on the other side.
A quick party-line vote on a policy issue: democracy / liberal, decentralized govt...
Democrats: yea
Republicans: nay
(Right Flank: lock & load)
So, what the hell is the choice? Obvious, I guess, if your own vote is yea on the above. But man, those folks have moved beyond being a disappointment. They are really startin' to piss me off. They may not be trying to lose, but they might as well be. And when that happens, then what?
A new playbook is needed. Playing like The Detroit Lions just ain't gonna' cut it, though they might take a lesson or two from that Packers game. Procuring votes by pulling both triggers on a sawed-off double-barreled money gun isn't it. Neither is being The Rainbow Coalition while ignoring the true needs and sentiments of the working class writ large and rural-dwelling citizens, whose actual needs and some sentiments aren't all that different from the working class writ large.
(Speaking of citizens...I don't live in NYC. But 800K non-citizen voters? AYFKM???)
The D's have got my vote by default, based on the above mentioned "policy issue". But there are plenty like me, as described above, who won't see it that simply.
It's NOT the economy, Stupid! Not this time. It's people. Like me. And they'd better learn how to start talkin' our language if they want to keep this little democratic enterprise we call a republic in business.
Tim Miller accused Ted Cruz of having a "humiliation kink" as evidenced by his recent appearance with Tucker Carlson. What does Tim's living a week with Steve Bannon's flood of shit say about him?
Charlie on Mandela Barnes, "Why a Democrat that has already won statewide election in Wisconsin may have trouble winning a statewide election in Wisconsin."
Primary campaigns haven't even started yet so maybe let's hold off on the handwringing for a minute?
The Governor and Lt. Governor run as a single ticket in Wisconsin. So Barnes did not win a statewide race on his own, but he did win as Evers running mate.
I don't care if RonJon is going up against a ham sandwich. Him winning is not a sign of the "bad" Dem challanger but a sign of the bad people voting RonJon in. Sorry, that is the truth.
Hi, Charlie.
I'm a little less pessimistic about the chance of getting rid of Ron Johnson. I think Alex Lasry could do it. He's got the money and should be able to benefit from some good will for investing in the Bucks and taking some credit for making them a championship team. Plus, as a business owner and a centrist he would appeal to some disaffected Republicans.
Dear Charlie, I've been listening to you since 2015 and I'm grateful to you and the Bulwark for what you're doing. Last night I listened to you and Tom Nichols and I had to turn you off. The dominant theme of your discussion was the lack of coalition by the Dems. I don't disagree but where are the Republicans? Last year I remember you, Tom, Sarah and JVL and other saying that Biden should focus on voting rights because Republicans could get on board with voting rights. You all agreed! You gave me hope at that time that maybe voting rights would pave the way for a political coalition to protect our votes and save our democracy. Where are they now? Where are those Republicans who you at the Bullwark were so sure would temporarily ally with Dems to protect voting rights? There aren't any. You talk about a lack of coalition in the Democratic party and I agree. They're exhausting but Republicans are the party of obstruction. They have been for 13 years. They obstructed healthcare and got nothing done on infrastructure because they do not coalesce on any idea coming from Democrats. They do not work in good faith on any issue not matter how important it is and even when it comes to saving our democracy. I'm losing faith.
"The leading candidate — in fundraising and polling — for the Democratic nomination is Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, who is campaigning as a progressive 'true believer.' (Other candidates include State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski; Milwaukee Bucks veep Alex Lasry; and Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson.)"
Mandela Barnes' main disadvantage is not any association with Bernie Sanders. It is his race. If the Democrats are foolish enough to nominate him, most voters will see Barnes as a symbol of Democratic support for BLM and the riots that followed their not-so-peaceful demonstrations.
No conscience,no courage and no shame!
Thank you for Mona (the Real Conservative) for making the logical case once again.....that the gun liberals are pointing at their pinky toe, IS LOADED!
It all honestly just feels so hopeless.
This was terrible news. Can we hope and pray that a REAL conservative steps up to take on RonJon in the Republican primary? That may be asking a lot, but I'd love to see a primary race where a true conservative takes on a manic like Johnson and kicks butt.
There is what can be described as a mass retirement of House Democrats announced. Most of these retirements are established moderates.
The way I see it, the old Democrat establishment sold their souls to the radical left agenda... but really never fully adopted it. They knew they needed the younger vote, and thus virtue signaled support for the AOC mindset even though it was inauthentic (aka a lie).
Lying always catches up. You cannot maintain a fake act forever, even with all that mainstream corporate media cover.
And the other related problem is that the radical left agenda is despised by the majority of American voters. As the polls start to reflect this, the Democrats are stuck walking the razors edge of appearing to support the radical left while also appealing to the moderate center.
The lie is unraveling... as all lies generally do eventually.
And so the radical left will fill some of those seats, and Republicans will fill the others. And the radical left will continue to demonstrate that the Democrat dog food is more and more unpalatable... hence further destroying the brand of Democrat and conceding more power to the GOP.
And in the end the lesson that should be learned... authenticity is a much better political strategy than is putting up a false front trying to make friends with the devil.
You seem obsessed with that. You people like your safe spaces.
I mean... presumably the disease (and all other diseases but never mind) were ALSO created by God, right? I'm not religious, but intending no disrespect to RonAnon, this seems like a notable point.
I agree RonJon could win. But I do think the D's are dancing with glee that they get to face him instead of another Republican. I also agree that the Ds would be so much better off running a moderate candidate, especially in what is expected to be a good Republican year. But liberal candidates have proved they can win statewide in Wisconsin. One only needs to look at Tammy Baldwins' two victories as well as Obama's. Wisconsin one schizophrenic state. It is very rare to have two Senators of opposite parties like Wisconsin, but it is shocking how ideologically different they are.
"But Barnes’s politics are, to quote the immortal Bob Uecker, “just a bit outside”."
The Democrats are outside. Joe Biden has ensured that unmistakable branding by failing to project any sense of moderation in his policy support, and by adopting all the extreme policies and rhetoric of the radical left that has taking root in the old party of the working class.
This is the mistake of the tone deaf left-coast liberals and socialists. They are in their bubble. Their media feed are in the same bubble. They seek their safe ideological spaces and cancel out any noise of opposing view points. They have denigrated and dismissed those that don't adopt their political view 100% as uneducated & stupid... and now dangerous and fascist. For example, I am sure Charlie will get feedback to ban me for this post.
The Democrats won power in DC only because of the pandemic and the election shenanigans it allowed them to leverage. Kudos for them to get that done. But then the big mistake happened... to see their barely squeaking by majority as a mandate. To start patting themselves on the back that the public will eat their same ideological dog food.
Trump was President and got 74 million votes. The Senate remained split. The House lost seats.
It is ironic that the hand-wringing here is about Wisconsin... the state where leftists attempted an insurrection and occupied the state capital for 100 days. The state that passed right to work laws. But the state that was turning a more blue shade of purple. Now it is going back to red. It is going back to red because the Democrats have turned blue into something that the average American isn't buying.
RonJon is just a consequence of the terribleness of what the Democrats have become. Barnes represents that well.
It just hit me. You are a rube. I never appreciated that word before.
"If you are not a liberal at twenty, you have no heart. If you are not a conservative at forty, you have no brain."
Winston Churchill.
So you call me a moron in your first post. And now stupid.
And yet Charlie keeps letting you spew.
So clearly it a desire for ideological safe spaces and not the civility of the poster that matters to some "journalists".
I like hearing from you though. It confirms the profile of the chronic loser and social malcontent who bloviates invective to make up for his shortcomings... of which clearly for you there are many.
Charlie,
When will you stop pointing fingers at Democrats and admit that you are not moving votes out of the GOP column? It is getting very old and tedious.
So, we Real Republicans should support Trump Republicans who don't support American democracy, respecting the results of free and fair elections, or the Constitution? We Real Republicans should support Trump Republicans who advocate for measures that have resulted in 800,000 Americans dying from a preventable disease? We Real Republicans should support Trump Republicans who don't believe in the conservative values that caused me to become a Republican? The answer is NO!
The problem is that you are no longer real Republicans. The Republican party has passed you by. And, given the state of things, you have a choice (or so it seems to me):
If you believe that the GoP, as it currently exists and the way it is headed, represents an actual danger to the Republic. This basically means (given observed behavior to this point in the GoP) that a vote for a GoP candidate is a vote in favor of this danger. If you actually believe in the danger, then you basically cannot (in conscience) vote GoP, regardless of policy preference (because, in the end, if you end up with an authoritarian state, why do they have to give heed to your policy preferences anyway).
Or, you don't believe such a danger exists and you vote policy--except the reality is that people do not really vote policy ITFP, if you look at the actual data over the years--they vote on the basis of either identity (and independent is also an identity) or an emotional response to the candidates and their personal perception of their personal circumstances--which may or may not be accurate.
Or, you can lie to yourself and say that even if you vote for them, somebody somewhere will do something to stop the worst excesses and you will get what you want. Uhuh.
I've been a Republican a heck of a lot longer than Donald Trump has pretended to be a Republican. Donald Trump doesn't get to define what the GOP stands for. Collectively Republicans everywhere do that.
Huh? I have read this twice and cannot find anything to reply to. It is just a bunch of mumbo jumbo.
You start with the premise that you know what a "real Republican" should be. Maybe start there. Tell me your definition of what you consider to be a "real Republican". And then maybe point to a Republican president that you think demonstrated what you think is a "real Republican".
I will tell you what I think a "real Democrat" is. JFK. Even Bill Clinton was close enough.
A Real Republican believes in the Constitution, the Rule of Law, democratic institutions, respecting free and fair elections, federalism, free speech, free press, conservative economic principles. Pretty much the opposite of everything Trump and his minions stand for.
Why are you feeding the troll? You ARE correct, but still. Trump doesn't even know what the Constitution actually says (based upon his own comments)--although he does respect fair and free elections THAT HE WINS (otherwise it wasn't fair or free, isn't it funny how that works). Nor does he understand or respect the 1st Amendment (if he even knows what it says) nor the rule of law (given his legal track record and legal issues). He respects conservative economic pronciples because he doesn't like paying taxes, but he would certainly welcome socialism if it put money in his pocket--the operative thing there is putting or keeping money in HIS pocket.
Better one...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEPs17_AkTI
You are really off.
Trump's problem with the election is the same as my problem with the election. Without the pandemic and the shenanigans of the Democrats to harvest ballots, he would still be President. Saying it was legal, free and fair is like saying the Houston Astros won the 2017 pendent legal, free and fair.
By the way, did you candidate Hillary ever concede that she lost to Trump in a free and fair election, or is it still that Russia colluded with Trump to steal the election from her?
Your "put money in his pocket" is so off I think meds might be involved. He lost wealth running for President. His family knew this would happen and he knew this would happen and he did it anyway. He was talking about the problems with the nation at least 20 years before he ran. He did not need to run, unlike your apparent political heroes that make their wealth FROM their politics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BJYbn4MppM
Really, TDS is a real malady and it may need some therapy services.
I am a registered Republican for over 40 years and I believe in the Constitution, the Rule of Law, democratic institutions (in a republic), free speech, free and fair elections, federalism, free (independent) press, conservative economic principles (although this need more detailed definition).
And I am a Trump supporter.
And Trump also supports these things. The fact that you claim that Trump does not support these things is telling.
Trump does not support these things. I am so tired of this BS. I have been a republican for decades as well and NEVER SUPPORTED TRUMP. That doesn't make me a Democrat, nor spouting DNC 'talking points'. Trump is a criminal, racist, fascist, sexist PIG! He is an authoritarian narcisistic asshole. It doesn't make me deranged because I can recognize a danger to my party and my country. Trump is the swamp and if you support him than you support the danger he is to this country.
Go away troll. I have been a Republican since 1979. I cannot account for your reading comprehension or lack thereof.
So you cannot answer the simple question to define what you think is a good Republican but you claim to have been one since 1979. Got it.
Based on this comment I don't see any connection to any real Republican. A real Republican does not regurgitate DNC talking points that have no basis in fact or reality.
A real Republican would debate objective differences on real topic. For example, immigration and trade policy. Tax policy. Law and order. Defense spending. Education.
you don't define 'real republicans'. geez.
I have no love for the Democrats (the party, as opposed to some very fine people I know and some of whom even love). What I feel about the GOP (with the same qualification) isn't fit to print. At least not in anything resembling polite company. As to Bannon et. al. with whom the GOP is more than happy to snuggle and consort, even the most pro-free-speecher would probably want to censure me. Ditto whoever their mirror-image counterparts may be on the other side.
A quick party-line vote on a policy issue: democracy / liberal, decentralized govt...
Democrats: yea
Republicans: nay
(Right Flank: lock & load)
So, what the hell is the choice? Obvious, I guess, if your own vote is yea on the above. But man, those folks have moved beyond being a disappointment. They are really startin' to piss me off. They may not be trying to lose, but they might as well be. And when that happens, then what?
Wrong candidate, wrong policy, wrong place, wrong time, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong...
A new playbook is needed. Playing like The Detroit Lions just ain't gonna' cut it, though they might take a lesson or two from that Packers game. Procuring votes by pulling both triggers on a sawed-off double-barreled money gun isn't it. Neither is being The Rainbow Coalition while ignoring the true needs and sentiments of the working class writ large and rural-dwelling citizens, whose actual needs and some sentiments aren't all that different from the working class writ large.
(Speaking of citizens...I don't live in NYC. But 800K non-citizen voters? AYFKM???)
The D's have got my vote by default, based on the above mentioned "policy issue". But there are plenty like me, as described above, who won't see it that simply.
It's NOT the economy, Stupid! Not this time. It's people. Like me. And they'd better learn how to start talkin' our language if they want to keep this little democratic enterprise we call a republic in business.
Tim Miller accused Ted Cruz of having a "humiliation kink" as evidenced by his recent appearance with Tucker Carlson. What does Tim's living a week with Steve Bannon's flood of shit say about him?
Research, evidence, and severe dedication to duty!
Charlie on Mandela Barnes, "Why a Democrat that has already won statewide election in Wisconsin may have trouble winning a statewide election in Wisconsin."
Primary campaigns haven't even started yet so maybe let's hold off on the handwringing for a minute?
The Governor and Lt. Governor run as a single ticket in Wisconsin. So Barnes did not win a statewide race on his own, but he did win as Evers running mate.
Thanks Lewis.
I don't care if RonJon is going up against a ham sandwich. Him winning is not a sign of the "bad" Dem challanger but a sign of the bad people voting RonJon in. Sorry, that is the truth.