Authored by Mike Shedlock via mishtalk,
My hoot of the day is Trump blames the government shutdown for the defeats.
Routs in Virginia and New Jersey
Please consider Democrats Start Their Comeback
President Trump rolled to victory in 2024 promising to reduce inflation and make middle-class life more affordable. The warning to Republicans in Tuesday’s election results is that Democrats are turning the tables on affordability, especially when they steer clear of leftist cultural snares.
Democrats had a good night Tuesday, winning governorships in Virginia and New Jersey, which they hope foreshadows the 2026 midterms. But notice the party’s choice of nominees: Each was a cagey candidate with a centrist affect, whatever their records. Will Democratic primary voters next year elevate similar figures? Or will the party base be seduced by radicals like New York City’s Zohran Mamdani?
Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger won her race in Virginia in a rout over GOP Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. Assuming Democrats also retain the state House of Delegates, they’ll have unified political control in Richmond. Will Ms. Spanberger now forsake her pledges of moderation, such as saying she won’t repeal the state’s right-to-work law?
In New Jersey, some polls predicted a close contest, but Democratic Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill won with ease.
Virginia and New Jersey were always going to be uphill races for Republicans, since these odd-year gubernatorial elections sometimes go against the party in the White House. The GOP won both states in 2009 and Virginia in 2021, under Presidents Obama and Biden. This time Democrats had the advantage of rallying voters upset at President Trump. Exit polls showed Mr. Trump’s approval rating at 44% in New Jersey and 42% in Virginia. The era of MAGA triumphalism should be over.
The potential silver lining for the country in Tuesday’s results—small comfort to anyone paying New Jersey taxes—is that Democrats can see a model of electoral success that isn’t rooted in radicalism. After her party fell short in 2020, Ms. Spanberger vented to House colleagues: “We need to not ever use the words ‘socialist’ or ‘socialism’ ever again.”
Question of the Day
Q: If Trump blames the shutdown, then wasn’t the shutdown was a smart move by the Democrats?
A: Obviously. But this is Trumperland where such contradictions and logic don’t exist.
Ironies Abound
Yesterday, CBS News reported Trump says government shutdown ends when Democrats give in: “If they don’t vote, that’s their problem”
Q: Excuse me for asking, but whose problem is it today?
A: See above Trumpian blame.
The storyline is interesting too.
Without federal subsidies, the cost of insurance under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, could double. Mr. Trump called Obamacare “terrible” and said “it’s bad health care at far too high a price.”
“We should fix that. Fix it. And we can fix it with the Democrats,” he said. “All they have to do is let the country open and we’ll fix it.”
Q: We can fix it Obamacare with Democrats help?
A: That’s what Trump said yesterday.
Q: How?
A: Details not discussed. It’s the same kind of pledge as ending the war in Ukraine on day one.
Q: What is Trump saying today?
A: Good question. Please consider Trump’s latest Truth Social Rant.
Truth Social Rant
The Democrats are far more likely to win the Midterms, and the next Presidential Election, if we don’t do the Termination of the Filibuster (The Nuclear Option!), because it will be impossible for Republicans to get Common Sense Policies done with these Crazed Democrat Lunatics being able to block everything by withholding their votes. FOR THREE YEARS, NOTHING WILL BE PASSED, AND REPUBLICANS WILL BE BLAMED. Elections, including the Midterms, will be rightfully brutal. If we do terminate the Filibuster, we will get EVERYTHING approved, like no Congress in History. We will have FAIR, FREE, and SAFE Elections, No Men in Women’s Sports or Transgender for Everybody, Strong Borders, Major Tax and Energy Cuts, and will secure our Second Amendment, which the Democrats will also terminate, IMMEDIATELY. If we don’t do it, they are far more likely to do well in the upcoming Elections, which would mean a PACKED Supreme Court, 2 more States and 4 more Democrat Senators (D.C. and Puerto Rico), and 8 more Electoral Votes. Remember, Republicans, they are going to end the Filibuster as soon as they get the chance We know this because they already tried, and the only two people who didn’t go along are now out of office. But they have much less chance of WINNING if we have Great Policy Wins after Wins after Wins. IN FACT, THEY WILL LOSE BIG, AND FOR A VERY LONG TIME. TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER NOW, END THE RIDICULOUS SHUTDOWN IMMEDIATELY, AND THEN, MOST IMPORTANTLY, PASS EVERY WONDERFUL REPUBLICAN POLICY THAT WE HAVE DREAMT OF, FOR YEARS, BUT NEVER GOTTEN. WE WILL BE THE PARTY THAT CANNOT BE BEATEN – THE SMART PARTY!!!
Short Synopsis
Democrats are to blame which means Republicans will get the blame.
I hope that clarifies things because on 60 Minutes Trump said this is their problem.
To fix things Trump chastises Republicans for not ending the Filibuster.
Q: Is there any problem with killing the filibuster?
A: Yes, Trump admits that without a filibuster the result will be a “PACKED Supreme Court, 2 more States and 4 more Democrat Senators (D.C. and Puerto Rico), and 8 more Electoral Votes.”
Q: Isn’t that a reason to keep the filibuster.
A: Yes, seemingly so. Except Trump says that if Republicans end the filibuster they will become “THE PARTY THAT CANNOT BE BEATEN”
Republicans in Virginia and New Jersey Did Much Worse Than Expected
Q: Why?
A: Jobs, tariffs, a slowing economy, and inflation.
Q: Didn’t Trump say the economy is booming and there is no inflation?
A: Yes, that’s why his new message is wait till next year.
Q: Does any of this make any sense?
A: Of course it does. The only Truth is what Trump says at the moment. What he said yesterday is more like “I didn’t say what I said.”
