The 2018 midterm elections

My immediate thought upon reading this headline was: "So what else is new?

Combative Trump brawls with media and slams his own party
CBS News, Nov 7 2018 2:14 PM EST

President Trump opened his first press conference after the midterm elections — the longest press conference of his presidency — with talk about bipartisanship but he quickly turned combative, sparring with reporters.

Trump had laudatory words for Nancy Pelosi, who could once again be speaker of the House, saying they can work together. But he also blasted members of his own party and reporters. Trump told an African-American reporter that she asked a "racist question" when she asked about why he described himself as a "nationalist." He told CNN's Jim Acosta that he should be "ashamed" of himself and said CNN is an "enemy of the people" when it reports "fake news."

The President talked about Republican candidates such as Reps. Barbara Comstock of Virginia and Pete Roskam of Illinois, who eschewed the Trump "embrace," and he suggested this may have been a contributing factor to their losses.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-n...-live-updates/

A return to "honesty" and "decency." Oh, wouldn't that be nice! Contrast Obama's attitude with that of Donald Trump (above).

Obama urges reconciliation, praises Democrats for midterm victories
CNN, Nov 7 2018 1:17 PM ET

Former President Barack Obama today expressed his desire for the nation to reconcile following the midterm elections while praising Democrats for "competing in places we haven't been competitive in a long time." In a statement, Obama wrote, "I'm hopeful that going forward we'll begin a return to the values we expect in our public life: honesty, decency, compromise and standing up for one another as Americans, not separated by our differences but bound together by one common creed." The former President signaled this is only the beginning for this new generation of voters as "the change we need won't come from one election alone."

https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/07/polit...ion/index.html

Only one-fourth of California voters are Republicans -- and, not surprisingly, the state's Republican candidates did not fare well in the midterms.

Republican Rep. Steve Knight concedes to Democratic challenger Katie Hill

http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-n...htmlstory.html

Mike Levin wins the race for the 49th Congressional District, flipping Rep. Darrell Issa’s seat to Democrats

http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-n...htmlstory.html

California’s 48th House district election: Democrat Harley Rouda defeats Republican incumbent Dana Rohrabacher

https://www.nytimes.com/elections/re...se-district-48

As of 9 PM Pacific time, Democrats have won 223 House seats, Republicans have won 197 and 15 remain undecided. In the Senate, Republicans have won 51 seats, Democrats have won 46 and three remain undecided. Waiting for the results of these too-close-to-call races is like watching the final five minutes of an NBA game: It seems to take an interminably long time.

In 2012, after a white man shot and killed her son for playing his car radio at high volume, Lucy McBath became a staunch gun control advocate, what she calls "a mother on a mission."

Democrat beats Republican Karen Handel in Georgia House race
Reuters, Nov 8 2018

Democrat and gun control advocate Lucy McBath has defeated Republican Representative Karen Handel in a congressional race in Georgia, racking up another seat for Democrats who won control of the House of Representative in Tuesday's elections. The closely fought race in Georgia's Sixth Congressional District was one of 10 House races remaining to be decided.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-u...-idUSKBN1ND256

Letter from Roy Fassel of Los Angeles in today's Los Angeles Times:

"Many Democrats are talking about the possibility of impeaching President Trump. That should immediately be rejected because it would be a waste of time. The Republican base just elected a brothel-owning evangelical Christian who died last month to the Nevada Assembly, a congressman in New York who is under indictment for criminal insider trading, a congressman in California who is under indictment for misuse of campaign funds, and a congressman in Iowa who recently stated that the far-right political party in Austria with historical ties to the Nazis 'would be Republicans' if based in America. It is delusional to believe the Republican party would provide the votes in the Senate to remove Trump. That has been made clear by this election."

Trump called the midterm elections "a great victory" for Republicans. Yeah, if losing control of the House is a "great victory." A record 113 women will serve in Congress; the majority are Democrats. A record 42 Latinos will serve in Congress; the majority are Democrats. The party of inclusion and diversity fared much better in the midterms than the party of self-serving wealthy white men.

A record 42 Latinos will serve in Congress; one House race remains undecided

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...ui64?ocid=AMZN

In the 2018 midterms, voters elected more Obama-supported candidates than Trump-supported candidates. Races in Florida and Arizona are still undecided, though, and our President is making his usual baseless claims of "voter fraud." Don't forget, the only reason he lost the popular vote in 2016 is because as many as five million illegal votes were cast for Hillary. He said so.

Flake slams Trump for doubting vote count: There is no evidence of 'electoral corruption'
The Hill, Nov 10 2018

Outgoing Senator Jeff Flake (R-Arizona) dismissed President Trump's accusation that "electoral corruption" is taking place in Arizona. "There is no evidence of 'electoral corruption' in Arizona, Mr. President," Flake tweeted late Friday night. "Thousands of dedicated Arizonans work in a non-partisan fashion every election cycle to ensure that every vote is counted. We appreciate their service."

His comments came only hours after Trump criticized the vote count effort in Arizona, as officials continue to tally votes in the Senate race between Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D) and Rep. Martha McSally (R). As of Friday night, Sinema led McSally by a total of 20,203 votes in the closely-watched race for Flake's seat.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...xpkm?ocid=AMZN

Republicans in Georgia worked hard to keep black people from voting and Trump was fine with that -- but when vote recounts are ordered in three close races in Florida, Trump declares there is "voter fraud" and accuses Democrats of hiring an "election-stealing lawyer." For the record, the Florida Department of Elections has found no evidence of voter fraud in Broward County. None.

Trump warns of effort to 'steal' Florida races after recounts are declared

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...ysnW?ocid=AMZN

Rohrabacher, a pro-Trump, pro-Russia, anti-immigrant Republican, has served 30 years in California's 48th Congressional district in conservative Orange County -- until now. Republicans are in danger of losing all six of the state's races yet to be decided.

GOP Rep. Dana Rohrabacher loses and the Republicans' 'bad year' may get worse yet

http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-m...110-story.html

"Look, it's very simple, okay? When Republicans win a race for Governor, Senator or Representative, I know all the ballots were counted fairly, okay? But if any race is won by a crooked Democrat, I know it's because of voter fraud, collusion, conspiracy and fake ballots and probably a lot of illegals voting, too. Disgraceful! A stain on our democracy! I WILL be investigating. Covfefe."

Arizona Senate race: Sinema's lead grows as some GOP officials distance themselves from Trump's claims of misconduct

https://www-m.cnn.com/2018/11/11/pol...ate/index.html

A white Republican who is headed for a runoff election made a comment that is highly offensive to blacks. The twist? This time it's a woman. And, not surprisingly, she is endorsed by Donald Trump.

Mississippi Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith makes joke about 'public hanging'
CBS News, Nov 11 2018 7:57 PM

A newly published video shows Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, a white Republican from Mississippi, praising someone by saying: "If he invited me to a public hanging, I'd be on the front row." Hyde-Smith faces a black Democratic challenger in a November 27 runoff.

Mississippi has a history of racially motivated lynchings of black people. According to the NAACP website, between 1882 and 1968, there were 4,743 lynchings in the US and nearly 73% of the victims were black. Mississippi had 581 during that time, the highest number of any state.

Hyde-Smith is challenged by former congressman and former US agriculture secretary Mike Espy. "Cindy Hyde-Smith's comments are reprehensible," Espy campaign spokesman Danny Blanton said today. "They have no place in our political discourse, in Mississippi or our country. We need leaders, not dividers, and her words show that she lacks the understanding and judgment to represent the people of our state."

The video was shot in Tupelo, in front of a statue of Elvis Presley, who was born in the city. It shows a small group of white people clapping politely for Hyde-Smith after a cattle rancher introduced her. "I referred to accepting an invitation to a speaking engagement," said Hyde-Smith, who is also a cattle rancher. "In referencing the one who invited me, I used an exaggerated expression of regard and any attempt to turn this into a negative connotation is ridiculous."

Hyde-Smith and Espy each received about 41% of the vote in a four-person race Tuesday to advance to the runoff. Espy in 1986 became the first African-American since Reconstruction to win a US House seat in Mississippi and if he defeats Hyde-Smith, he would be the first African-American since Reconstruction to represent the state in the US Senate.

NAACP president Derrick Johnson, who is from Mississippi, said today that Hyde-Smith's "shameful remarks prove once again how Trump has created a climate that normalizes hateful, racist rhetoric from political candidates."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mississ...ublic-hanging/

The outcome of Florida's Senate race and Governor race will likely remain unchanged following the vote recounts -- but Trump and Scott are somehow, with absolutely no evidence, interpreting the recounts (which are mandated by law in close races) as proof of fraud and conspiracy. Here are today's quotes for all you quote fans in the audience:

Donald Trump: "There is voter fraud in Broward County."
Governor Rick Scott: "There is voter fraud in Broward County."
Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokesman: "We have not received any reports of fraud."
Sarah Revell, Florida Department of State spokeswoman: "We stationed two observers in Broward County and they have not detected any criminal activity."

Trump claims, without evidence, that a large number of Florida ballots are "missing." Trump claims, without evidence, that a large number of Florida ballots are "forged." Trump claims, without evidence, that a large number of Florida ballots "showed up out of nowhere." Of course Trump became President of the United States with no evidence that he had any qualifications or the proper temperament.

Trump calls for halting recounts in Florida races for Governor and Senate

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...CqBo?ocid=AMZN

Arizona became a state in 1912 and its Senators are elected (or re-elected) to six-year terms. On January 3, 2019, a Democratic Senator will be sworn in, replacing Republican Jeff Flake, who chose to not seek a second term.

Democrat Kyrsten Sinema wins Arizona US Senate seat

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...DnAD?ocid=AMZN

Denham, a three-term Congressman, supported Trump's tax cuts for the wealthy and opposed the Affordable Care Act. That didn't set too well with voters in California's farming region.

GOP Rep. Jeff Denham loses heated race for Central Valley's 10th District to Democrat Josh Harder

http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-n...htmlstory.html

Letter from Giacomo Bucci of Encinitas in today's Los Angeles Times:

"Trump stated on Twitter that he is going to send 'better lawyers' than the Democrats to save our democracy from alleged voter fraud in Florida. The stupidity of this comment as well as the incendiary insinuation that some states are corrupt show how un-American and uninformed this president is. Trump professes to love America, yet his anger toward anyone who challenges his governing is displayed every day by what he taps on his smartphone. Never has an individual so ignorant, angry and selfish come to power in our great nation. With the results of the 2018 midterms clearly demonstrating Americans' distaste for the policies of this administration, citizens must vote in 2020 to save this country from ruin."

America's most prolific writer of fiction -- remember when he claimed as many as five million illegal votes were cast in 2016 and every one was for Hillary? -- has come up with a fable that rivals the best of Mark Twain: Democrats vote, then change clothes and vote again. A reporter asked, "Why would you make such a false claim without evidence?" Trump had no answer. He just walked away.

Trump's latest make-believe about voter fraud: Democrats change shirts and vote twice
Vox, Nov 14 2018 4:40 PM EST

President Donald Trump baselessly claimed millions of illegal votes cost him the popular vote in 2016. He's repeatedly pushed evidence-free claims about Democratic elections officials fabricating ballots to steal elections. But his latest claim about illegal voting may be his wildest yet.

In an interview with the Daily Caller today, Trump claimed, "The Republicans don't win and that's because of potentially illegal votes, when people get in line that have absolutely no right to vote and they go around in circles. Sometimes they go to their car, put on a different hat, put on a different shirt, come in and vote again. It's really a disgrace what’s going on." Suffice it to say Trump didn't present any evidence for his claim.

The type of in-person voter fraud Trump is claiming is exceedingly rare. In early 2017, the Brennan Center for Justice pegged voter impersonation rates at "between 0.0003% and 0.0025%" — meaning a typical American is more likely to be struck by lightning than to commit the type of fraud Trump has in mind.

https://www.vox.com/2018/11/14/18095...ller-interview

I figured out the Republicans' policy: "If we're winning, the election results are perfectly legitimate and trustworthy and are proof that our nation's democratic election process works just fine -- but if Democrats are winning, we need to file lots of lawsuits to halt the counting of votes because there is obviously fraud, collusion, conspiracy, forged ballots, vote stealing and millions of illegal votes."

Utah Republican behind in tight race sues to halt vote count

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...IaRF?ocid=AMZN

As I said above, Republicans who are behind in the voting keep filing lawsuits in an effort to halt the vote counts. Pathetic.

Democrat flips US House seat in Maine
The Associated Press, Nov 15 2018 12:55 PM

A Democrat who finished behind Republican Rep. Bruce Poliquin in the first round of balloting has come from behind to flip the seat in the second of its two US House races.Election officials declared Jared Golden the winner today after a federal judge denied Poliquin's request to halt tabulations under Maine's new voting system.

The outcome was a dramatic reversal in a four-way race. Poliquin received the most first-place votes on Election Day but additional tallies were required because no one won a majority. The ranked-choice voting system lets voters rank candidates from first to last on the ballot. It provides for eliminations of last-place candidates and reallocations of votes. Maine's election marked the first use of the system in US House and Senate races. A lawsuit by Poliquin contended the system is unconstitutional.

https://www.aol.com/article/news/201...aine/23590614/