Our Best Stuff From the Midterms

Republicans underperformed, and Donald Trump is taking the heat.

By
58
(Photo by Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register/Getty Images.)

Hello and happy Saturday. We woke up to snow in the Ohio bureau this morning, which isn’t ideal (I’m more a fan of sweatshirt-and-warm-cider-with-bourbon weather in the first half of November), but it was nothing like the wakeup call the Republican Party got this week. The midterms were not a total loss, of course: The party is on track to take the House but the Senate is presently as deadlocked as it can be: 49-49, with Georgia going to a runoff and Nevada still too close to call.

But the “red wave,” much less a ‘’red tsunami,” never materialized, and there was a clear throughline in the results. Candidates who espoused “Stop the Steal” rhetoric, candidates who were endorsed by former President Donald Trump or ran campaigns designed to garner such endorsements, had a pretty bad night. 

The reaction was swift. The New York Post and Wall Street Journal ran scathing op-eds criticizing Trump and Fox News hosts openly questioned Trump’s stinginess with spending on candidates. Are we having a moment? Nothing in the past six years has been effective in diminishing Trump supporters’ devotion to him—scandals, impeachment, January 6, the second impeachment—but would more losing finally do it? 

I’ve been thinking a lot this week about early 2016. I worked at Slate then, and primary and debate season was approaching. We were having a Slack conversation about how to divvy up the late night coverage that such nights necessitate. I can’t remember my exact words, but I jokingly dashed off something to the effect of, “Sorry guys, I’m not volunteering until the clown show is over.” LOLs ensued.

Keep reading with a free account
Create a free Dispatch account to keep reading Get Started ALREADY HAVE AN ACCOUNT? SIGN IN
58
By
Comments (58)
Join The Dispatch to participate in the comments.
 
  1. Avatar photo
    Peter_Shalen

    Since The Dispatch adopted the new platform, I have been unable to "like" or reply to comments, although I can usually post comments of my own. Sometimes this is a good thing, because it prevents me from getting into the kind of pointless arguments with strangers that are so notoriously common on the internet. However, it also means that when someone posts a very entertaining reply to one of my comments, as Whiskeyman did on this thread, it makes it more difficult to show my appreciation. I hope to do so with this comment.

    Collapse
  2. Avatar photo
    Hart.Hoover

    What if the GOP didn't win because a lot of their most dedicated base died from COVID the last few years? Vaccine hesitant, mask resistant, and they simply aren't here to vote in 2022?

    Collapse
    1. RCH

      I agree. Obviously its impossible to divide COVID deaths into R's and D's, but it would be interesting to know.

      Collapse
      1. Avatar photo
        Hart.Hoover

        Not impossible at all…
        https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/covid-death-rates-higher-republicans-democrats-why-rcna50883

        Collapse
  3. Avatar photo
    JohnD

    Thanks Rachael - a few years from now, I predict Republicans will look at the 2022 midterm as their low point. Going forward, the R’s will (I hope) solidify their hold on working class Americans, while figuring out how to recapture suburban professionals with a more pragmatic view of economics, crime, and immigration. This will require the gradual marginalization and eventual expulsion of Trump from their tribe. They had better start pulling off that bandaid soon!

    Collapse
  4. Avatar photo
    Greg Williams

    "We woke up to snow in the Ohio bureau this morning, which isn’t ideal..."

    This was an historic snowfall in Ohio. For the first time ever it just happened to fall on the day after I put new tires on my truck instead of before I realized that I needed them.

    Good article.

    Collapse
  5. Joanne Garrison

    I agree that the midterm debacle is an opportunity for Republicans. However, it will require (some) fortitude of spirit, or in other words, a spine. The moment is now. There is momentum and it can build. Conceivably, sane conservatives can prevail. Trump can fall off the wall. We took a shellacking in the midterms fora variety of reasons. However, every reason is in some way linked to Trump. We have been handed an opportunity to ditch the clown show and recapture our dignity, and our ability to think objectively. Unfortunately, I am not convinced reason, logic, or rationality will be able to ignite an exodus from the Cult of Trump.

    Collapse
  6. Lamglm

    At this point, all I hope for is that Walker does not prevail. He does not belong in the US Senate anymore than Fetterman does. Disgraceful.

    Collapse
  7. Scottmoe

    A perfect world, according to me: Trump continues to loose popularity with Republicans, he then gets mad at the party, and switches back to the Democrat party. Let them deal with him. Also, Liz Cheney runs for President. Running on a platform of ethics and accountability.

    Collapse
    1. RCH

      Not enough is said about Liz Cheney's prospects, except from the Sunday morning talk show hosts. They ask her on every interview if she'll run for president. I wish TD would look more closely at her. She has enormous name recognition on both sides, and tons of respect from the left. Not sure what policies she would focus on to win votes from the left. But right now, ethics and accountability goes a long way with them.

      Collapse
    2. Avatar photo
      Greg Williams

      Substitute Ben Sasse for Liz Cheney and I would vote for your perfect world scenario.

      Collapse
    3. Avatar photo
      Pat Riot

      It doesn't matter what party he switched to, if he runs he will take votes away from Republicans.

      Best case scenario for the Demos is Trump getting pissed at the GOP and started a third party.

      Collapse
  8. Avatar photo
    Pfschaefer

    What on earth is "Trumpism"? It is used constantly by you writers, and is meaningless (or at least I need it explained by someone). An "ism" is a system of thought. Communism, socialism, fascism. Some of the Twitterati are trying to make "democracism" a word, but it isn't one. At least not yet. An "ism" is defined as "a distinctive practice, system, or philosophy, typically a political ideology or an artistic movement." By that definition "democracy" is an ism, but with the suffix being unnecessary. Yes I suppose there is Stalinist, and Maoist and Trumpist as in a "follower of...". But there is no intellectual or even operational foundation to Trump and his intellectual meanderings which (according to many insiders) is whatever is that last thing someone suggested prior to a meeting or a speech.

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      Synchronize Your Dogmas (Bill B)

      There are any number of pathologies that Trumpism incorporates.

      A contempt for facts and democratic norms; identification of the opposition or groups as "enemies of the people"; a promise to restore a lost national glory(MAGA); an attraction to violence as a political tool; an expectation of unwavering loyalty and obedience to Trump. Palingenetic nationalism.

      Collapse
      1. Avatar photo
        Pfschaefer

        Sorry but I don't see his personal quirks as an "ism". It will all disappear the day he goes to jail or chokes to death on a Big Mac.

        Collapse
        1. Avatar photo
          Synchronize Your Dogmas (Bill B)

          These aren't "personal" quirks once they become characteristic of a political movement. And we've seen that constellation of pathologies before in history so it's not a new thing.

          Just as an aside and not implying equivalence but Hitler went to prison and it didn't stop him. Perhaps if he had choked on a Big Mac it all would have turned out differently - a good reason to explore time travel.

          Collapse
          1. Avatar photo
            Pfschaefer

            I think one of us will be proven correct (I didn't say "right" because that implies clarity) when The Donald does pass from the scene. I believe his "movement" will evaporate (or at least return to an off-the-grid camp in northern Idaho). And you think there is substance. We will see, I guess (soon I hope).

            Collapse
  9. Avatar photo
    Dave Conant - MO

    Great wrap-up, but I'll start believing that the GOP is letting go of their criminal addiction when 1) the press stops talking constantly about him other than updates on his trials and 2) when significant numbers of elected Republican officials renounce their previous support and maintain that position for at least a month.

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      Pat Riot

      70% of Republican voters and a majority of GOP candidates repeating Trump's election lies is not the fault of the free press.

      #1 is going to keep happening, properly, until #2. The press didn't create Donald Trump, Republican voters did.

      Collapse
      1. Avatar photo
        JohnM.

        But the media aided and abetted him because he was good for the bottom line.
        "It’s a not-unfair knock on CNN to say that they went all in on Trump and helped him enormously,” Ken Lerer, co-founder of the Huffington Post & BuzzFeed said.
        "It may not be good for America, but it’s damn good for CBS,” Leslie Moonves, chairman of CBS, said of the Trump phenomenon.

        Collapse
        1. Avatar photo
          Pat Riot

          Sure, but the media is going to help any popular candidate. Trump was huge story because he was so popular with the GOP and had a real shot at winning power--and then he accelerated that by saying and doing awful things. And then that accelerated further when his campaign didn't end, but instead he got more popular. Trump was unlike any candidate in US history--by a long shot.

          Today, on any given day there are dozens of GOP bomb-throwers who try to outdo each other in terms of their offensiveness (KDW called this, "The GOP's Playboy Problem"). But their coverage is a simple function of their popularity and power: if it's Glenn Greenwald, nobody cares. If it's MTG then there's some coverage. If it's Josh Hawley, more coverage. Ted Cruz, more still. Ron DeSantis, much more. Donald Trump, much more still.

          Trump's unique evil makes him a story, and he knows how to emphasize his traits, but if he was not in the running for real power, nobody would care what he said or did.

          Media companies are in the business to make money, so it's a tall order to ask them to stop coverage of a story that deeply impacts people's lives--and is also very strange and unusual and unexpected. Are they supposed to cover the story, "today, Hillary said abortion should stay legal"? That pretty much UNchecks all of the boxes: a politician that has no power nor will, them saying something that politicians have said for years, the statement not being particularly offensive to anybody, etc. etc.

          I guess you can lament how the system works, but... I don't see how it's going to work any differently...

          Collapse
          1. Avatar photo
            JohnM.

            Fair enough.

            Collapse
      2. Avatar photo
        Dave Conant - MO

        No one had voted for him when he came down the escalator and that's when the press coverage started. He got a publicity boost worth roughly $2 billion from the press that kept him in front of those voters and kept his opponents in the background.

        I agree with your second point; the two actions will almost certainly have to go hand in hand with the Republicans finding some courage being first.

        Collapse
        1. Avatar photo
          Pat Riot

          He was already polling well and he was already a prominent figure in the GOP because of the Birther stuff.

          Collapse
        2. Avatar photo
          Synchronize Your Dogmas (Bill B)

          On the first point, to be sure the MSM found a shiny new toy to drive subscriptions and attract eyeballs and they exploited it. To that extent they mainstreamed an eccentric, non-viable candidate into the election cycle. As Les Moonves(CBS) admitted, ""It may not be good for America, but it's damn good for CBS.".

          Collapse
          1. Avatar photo
            Dave Conant - MO

            And they'll continue to exploit it until the GOP removes the shine. His retention of $100 million or so in mostly small denomination donations might encourage their progress along those lines.

            Collapse
    2. Avatar photo
      JohnM.

      1) Our disgraceful national media needs Donald Trump as much as he needs them. It is a shameful symbiosis and I don't see them backing away from their coverage at all.
      2) Completely agree, but I sure won't bet the ranch on it. Have a great rest of the weekend, Dave.

      Collapse
      1. Avatar photo
        Dave Conant - MO

        Thanks John. You too. We're having our first taste of winter.

        Collapse
  10. Avatar photo
    Stephen.Hoffer

    Why don’t Republicans win? Because most are cowering cowards in the face of what our country is up against. The qualities that made many Republicans turn to Trump was his fearlessness to fight back. The demeaning of people who voted for Trump is dangerous. Many of us, yes us, did not do it for his preening and over-bearing personality, but he pushed back on the progressive stranglehold in government and culture. This means ever time Trump
    Voters are demeaned for the conservative principles they voted for, there is the risk of voters staying away from supporting candidates who demean them as ‘MAGA’ lunatics.
    This inability to separate the foolish name-calling, and learn from the standing by conservative convictions fails to focus on what voters looked for. The worthless campaigns and candidates we are normally given are afraid of the culture wars, afraid of being labeled racist or being called Nazis and so on.
    So many candidates just seem to run on inflation bad and ‘let’s stay away from pro-life message’ while ignoring immigration reform and not a word about engaging
    in fiscal
    responsibility. If they did, then I do not see one ad or debate.
    There is my rant for the month.

    Collapse
Load More