There were four special congressional elections this year, and Republicans won them all. Tax reform. That's the kind of things we've got to get done. And maybe bashing the president and getting hysterical over Russian Federation isn't a winning strategy in places like Georgia because, while the GOP has tons of problems, for what does the Democratic Party stand?
"Ossoff race better be a wake up call for Democrats - business as usual isn't working", tweeted Representative Seth Moulton of MA. It's well past time to stop politics and do policy. "And we better focus", Ryan said. Focus on the future.
Amid the backlash against Pelosi, Trump went on Twitter to mockingly signal his support for the California Democrat. Initially, Ossoff's mantra was "Make Trump Furious".
"A special thanks to the president of the United States of America", Handel said late Tuesday night as her supporters chanted, "Trump!" He avoided hot-button issues and called for civility.
With all the attention on the race, turnout was up for a special election, and that helps the party with the registration advantage. "The best way for Democrats to maximize gains in 2018 - especially in purple and red districts - is to harness the power of the resistance and field candidates who proudly challenge power", said Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. It was civil disobedience rather than civil unrest. "Privately, Democratic strategists said even before the votes were counted Tuesday that Ossoff's civility campaign would be mirrored only in more Republican-leaning districts, and that a more aggressive anti-Trump campaign would be waged by candidates in longtime swing districts".
Pelosi, 77, has led the House Democratic caucus for almost 15 years, from the minority into the majority and back again.
Democrats say Jon Ossoff's 48 percent showing in a Republican stronghold is proof that they're actually making progress toward making Georgia a genuine battleground.
President Trump stirred the pot, Thursday, tweeting: "I certainly hope the Democrats do not force Nancy P out". "I think our leadership owes us an explanation for what's gone on in these four elections, but also a plan for moving forward". And we will fight.
If a solid Republican district can be that close, what will happen in less solid districts?
Group protests health care bill proposal in downtown Chicago
It called the version passed by the House last month "a categorical failure" and said the Senate version is "equally troubling". The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the House bill would kick 23 million people off their healthcare plans.
Although, she added, that Trump's presidency ensured she would not sit out the election. Republicans spent $12 million and Democrats spent $12.2 million, according to sources tracking the air war. In this June 9, 2017 House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speakson Capitol Hill in Washington.
In a particularly nefarious ad, a PAC supporting Handel claimed that Ossoff would produce more of the same as Pelosi, before implying that both supported the violence carried out at last week's Congressional baseball practice. "My decision to stay is not up to them", she said of her critics, noting that she welcomed and respected "the ambition that exists in my caucus" and members who are "having fun on TV". When presented with the choice of whether they wanted a representative who would work with Paul Ryan or Pelosi, six in 10 picked the speaker and three in 10 picked the minority leader. "This became a focal point in our messaging, as well as other outside groups and the Handel campaign itself".
Drew Hammill, a Pelosi spokesman, said she's done more than just raise money and that Pelosi is "without rival" as a legislative tactician.
- The results will embolden Trump and may convince him that he doesn't need to course correct. But former Sen. Sam Nunn's daughter Michelle Nunn managed just 45 percent of the vote after an expensive race against Republican David Perdue, now the state's junior senator. Handel emphasized that pedigree often during her campaign and again during her victory speech. To pull this off Handel had to keep her distance from Trump.
In a Tuesday night tweet, Trump congratulated Handel and said "we are all very proud of you!"
For now, however, the president and GOP leaders can breathe a bit easier.
"By any measure, the victory proves the Republican political machine is alive and working well", GOP super lobbyist Ed Rogers argues on the PostPartisan blog. As Vox's Jeff Stein explained, it showed that the Republican Party still has "powerful tools for beating back Democratic challengers, including appeals to an in-group identity and an avalanche of dark-money attack ads".
Georgia Republican Party Chairman John Watson credited Handel for "crushing liberal dreams". She retains a devoted core of fiercely loyal supporters. We saw the same dynamic at play in several 2016 contests, as well. If you think about it, tens of millions poured into these special elections and Republicans barely got by.
A short history lesson here: Back in 2004, the Sixth District was a Republican strong-hold, but Cobb County-centric.
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