2018 congressional races

BreslerDCCC officials hate to admit the committee plays favorites in primaries.

Ryan learned everything he knows about economics from an adolescent Ayn Rand bookIt looks likely that Paul Ryan will announce his retirement from Congress close to Wisconsin’s June 1 filing deadline. There are rumors circulating that he’s selected Tom Hillman, his former aide and now an investment banker in Madison, as the sacrificial lamb.

David Wasserman and the Cook Report don’t go out on any limbs… and they’re usually at least a month behind in their reporting. So… when They call a district lean Democrat, in the real world, you can mark it top as Solid, solid, solid Democrat times 10. On Friday Wasserman jiggered 13 seats, all in a blue direction. He was leaning heavily on this:

Ali on the left is running as a Whig. Spanberger has the mic and Ward is on the rightVA-07 is mostly famous because a nutty tea-party character, Dave Brat, defeated Eric Cantor, House Republican’s #2 leader in 2014, Canter had spent $2,940,932 in the primary alone and Brat spent $1,469,113 in both the primary and the general election.

In his interview with Vice (above) Trey Gowdy explains why “you won’t see me running for political office again. I’m surprised he’s even sticking it out for the rest of his term. He’s counting down the days--“19 more drives to the airport,” he said. And he admitted that the only goal of today’s Republican Party is to win elections. (I have some sad news for you, Trey-- it’s the only goal of today’s Democratic Party too.)Meanwhile everyone thought far right sex-predator Blake Farenthold was going to stick it out ‘till the end of his term too-- until Friday evening.

Now where, oh where, could Grimm have ever gotten the idea to tar Donovan?You expect crazy shit coming out of Staten Island-- but not crazy shit the effects anyplace else. Staten Island is its own world-- we leave them alone; they leave us alone. At least that’s the way it’s always been.

CisnerosCA-39, primarily in northeast Orange County, is viewed as a prime target for Democrats, The longtime incumbent, Ed Royce knew he wouldn’t win and announced his retirement. Although the PVI is “even,” Hillary beat Trump in the district 51.5% to 42.9%%.

The DCCC has been driving state and county Democratic Party officers crazy with their interference, often on behalf of corrupt conservative, candidates far to the right of local Democrats, self-funders and “ex”-Republicans. All over the country I hear party officials telling me the DCCC tactics are frustrating the Democratic grassroots and tamping down enthusiasm.

If you’ve been following this blog for any length of time, you’re probably aware that one of the (many) bones of contention we have with the DCCC, is over platforms. They urge their candidates to hide their positions, either not including issues pages on their websites at all or, if they must, to avoid all controversial topics. Their strive for bland reiterations of mom-and-apple pie, bio-oriented statements.

Melanie Zanona and Mike Lillis co-authored a post for The Hill, Dems seize on gun control heading into midterms.