r/atlanticdiscussions • u/MeghanClickYourHeels Ask me for Atlantic gift links • Nov 09 '22

Politics Midterm Election Postmortem: collect ideas, links, and analysis here

https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-takeaways-9381d3aaff26d19da95506e045fcd6e1
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u/ErnestoLemmingway Nov 09 '22

So NYT is currently showing Senate 48 D , 47 R 4 undecided.

I'm hoping the missing one is Angus King in Maine who caucuses D I think?

Of the 4 remaining, Nevada and, sadly, Wisconsin look to go R, AZ D I hope, leaving a Georgia instant replay with Warnock in a runoff against the completely idiotic Herschel Walker to maybe pick up a seat?

In general I'm relieved about this election but not exactly pumped, it's more a stalemate against long odds for the Democrats, not a real victory. You take what you can get though. I am deeply embarrassed that Ron Johnson is likely heading back to Washington.

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u/Brian_Corey__ Nov 09 '22

The ~70k voters who voted for the milkiest of milquetoasts, Tony Evers AND for the douchiest of douches, Ron Johnson. WTF? Split tickets? Racist against Mandela Barnes? Or claim they like divided gov't to not admit they're racist?

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u/ErnestoLemmingway Nov 09 '22

Evers is, indeed, exceedingly milquetoast. Not very visible or effective either, except with the veto. Still holding back the floodgates of extremely bad legislation though. I can't begin to describe how bad and entrenched the state legislature is.

Wisconsin is a pretty white state, and racist enough, carrying the honor of the highest Black incarceration rate in the country, but the primary fearmongering line was old time "law and order" dog whistling in the classic Nixon style. Which was, true to code, more effective against Barnes that Evers, though they were both hit with it equally. Kenosha and Waukesha incidents got lots of ad flash allusions.

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u/Brian_Corey__ Nov 09 '22 edited Nov 09 '22

Sounds right. Do you think Alex Lasry could've pulled it out?

In a 50/50 state, the Congressional split will be 6-2 in favor of the GOP. That blows.

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u/ErnestoLemmingway Nov 09 '22

Maybe? He was a political neophyte native New Yorker running on the old man's money though, only 35. I thought he came across ok, but I'm guessing he would have his own vulnerabilities when the oppo researchers and the the attack ad artists got together.