2018 congressional races

National Journal's Josh Kraushaar started the year very reticent about predicting a blue-- or, more accurately, an anti-red-- wave.

Blue America members voted last week to send $5,000 checks to Kara Eastman (NE), James Thompson (KS) and Kendra Fershee (WV), none of whom are front-runners and each of whom is running a tough uphill battle. I love that kind of direction from our members. Thanks everyone who voted! That came out of the PAC itself. Then there's the Independent Expenditure Committee. We can't give that money away. We have to spend it. So we are.

Iowa is a swing state-- and it's about to swing way back in the other direction. Governor Kim Reynolds (R) has a one in six chance of being reelected. Right now, Iowa sends one Democrat and 3 Republicans to Congress. At worst, it appears that in 2019 Iowa will have 3 Democrats and one Republican in Congress. But at best... 4 Democrats and no Republicans. But that's going to take some work.

Only Collins has been arrested so far but Reed sells his votes to fracking interestsThe most conservative congressional district in New York (NY-27) isn't one the DCCC thought was winnable. So they ignored it, allowing a progressive who backs Medicare-for-All, Nate McMurray, to win the primary.

It became clear soon after Trump opened his trap from inside the White House, that the 2018 midterms were going to be all about him-- not real issues per se, but Trump and his outlandish lies, outlandish behavior and disdain for American norms at every level.

Prepare to meet the whirlwind, Señor T.You probably already know that Trump-- who, as fake "president," doesn't do much anyway-- will spend the next 10 or 11 days campaigning for his rubber stamp candidates. Completely avoiding congressional swing districts or districts with too many independent voters, the White House political office has given him a schedule with 10 rallies where he can go and do his #MAGAbomber shtik. He may even double that and try 2 rallies a day. Obviously it's strictly a base strategy. He doesn't try to persuade anyone to vote for Republicans.

Sometimes a political tent can get so big that it stops having any meaning at all. The messaging coming out of the GOP pup tent is at least clear: they're white nationalists with a fascist bent who want to cut taxes on the rich and end social spending on things they consider wasteful-- Social Security, Medicare, food stamps, environmental protection... you know the old story.

First the contest. Blue America is giving away...

The Joe Crowley of South Florida, Debbie Wassermann Schultz, has finally agreed to participate in a debate. She'll face Republican Joe Kaufman and progressive independent Tim Canova tonite at Broward College, conveniently after many FL-23 voters have already cast their ballots. That's Debbie! As low as they go!

American Voters Are Angry-- But Democrats And Republicans Are Angry About Different ThingsRepublicans are most angry about the idea about Democrats trying to impeach Trump and about undocumented immigrants. Some Democrats are angry about undocumented immigrants too-- and keep in mind border crossings by undocumented immigrants are way up in 2018 than over 2016-- but they're not angry about impeachment. What Democrats are pissed off about are children in cages (Trump's family operation policy), Russian interference with the election and... Trump himself.