cali (110,354 posts) http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027630135
What happens to the democratic party if we lose in November?
I'm assuming, as I always have, that Hillary will be the nominee. Say she loses to Trump. Will there be any backlash against the party bigwigs that helped clear the field for her and shoved her relentlessly down the throats of democrats?
The corrupt DSW will be out? Who will replace her? The Clintons will be irrelevant. What will Obama's role be? Will a loss precipitate change in the party?
Who becomes the leader of the opposition in Congress? Does Pelosi stay on as minority leader?

ananda (15,534 posts)
1. I think any Democrat will beat any Reep.
cali (110,354 posts)
12. That goes against any analysis
Historically, the Party seeking to retain the party after 8 years, loses.
Republican turnout in NH and Iowa has been much higher than dem turnout. It was very high in SC
Republicans are much more enthusiastic than democrats
Hillary is a fantastic GOTV tool for republicans
The very fact that Hillary is still running with all the shit in her closet proves to many Americans the entire system is rotten. Why do you think Trump and Sanders are doing so well?
That Guy 888 (428 posts)
103. Reagan, Reagan, GHW Bush.
I keep hearing that analysis, and it just struck me; Reagan followed by bush wasn't that long ago. I think there's a good chance herbert-walker would have got a second term if it he hadn't said "Read my lips, No New Taxes!" and then raised taxes.
Much of the political analysis (by the corporate media not you) seems to be geared at following a script.
It's a good possibility that people were much better off than they were before 8 years of Reagan and thus voted to continue that.
CoffeeCat (22,264 posts)
33. The polls have been showing since spring of 2015 that Hillary loses to Trump
Sanders supporters have been trying to pound this reality into Hillary supporters. It's not just about Bernie. It's about saving our party.
But never, mind--continue to wave your pom pons for the Goldman Sachs girl. The rest of us in the reality-based community will stand in horror as our party is destroyed in slow motion and President Trump is elected.
And those polls, by the way--Hillary does worse and worse against Trump as her campaign rolls along.
HughBeaumont (22,112 posts)
2. DWS should have been long gone anyway. The Democratic party has suffered immensely under her "leadership"; continued losses in the House, lost the Senate, denied Bernie the future access to the party's 50-state voter file, and will surely seal it if our Nominee loses to the worst Republican candidate in history (and that includes Dubya).
leftynyc (17,736 posts)
48. No - the blame will be on those who stay home having a hissy fit. If the death of Scalia doesn't get their asses to the voting booth or if they think Hillary would nominate the same judges a con would, they're too stupid to vote.
leftynyc (17,736 posts)
98. With Scalia's death all that pathetic bullshit takes a back seat. Anyone who doesn't do whatever they can to make sure a repub doesn't fill that seat is to blame. PERIOD. I'll leave alone which one I consider a loser candidate because it ****ING DOESN'T MATTER. I'll vote for whoever has the D behind their name because of the court alone. I wish people would keep these threads in GD-P because these battles are like swimming through a sewer.
The [R]s better listen to those words.
global1 (13,850 posts)
50. I Don't See Sanders Supporters Saying We'll Show Them....
What I do think will happen is the enthusiastic Millennials that have gravitated to Bernie will feel that they have been had by The Establishment and that will reinforce their original thoughts that their vote doesn't count. With their enthusiasm kicked out from under them they will sit the election out. When Dem voter turnout is low - we lose. I'm not concerned about the Party as much as I'm concerned about us 99%er's that will never again have the opportunity to recover from an all Repug control of all three branches of government.
This is what is at stake folks and I don't know if this is worth the risk because they feel it's Hillary's turn or we want a women president.
Here's dutch's prediction for the rest of the [D] primary season.
Hillary continues to rack up the delegates by slimy DNC means. Berniebotz furious but nothing they can do. Hillary ready to self-crown her nomination when the Justice Department indites her on multiple charges. Hillary removed from nomination and Slow Joe steps in gathering up all of Shrill Hill's delegates. Feeling the burn the Berniebotz burn down the DNC national convention. Barry declares "Marshal Law" and [space] aliens attack the east coast.
That last bit may not happen but I am hoping for it.
JHB (21,428 posts)
70. However, that applies both ways...Let's recall that despite Hillary's concession to Obama's win in '08, a portion of her supporters introduced us to the term "PUMA". Should Bernie pull out a win, will that resurface? Especially if Bloomberg jumps in?
MineralMan (80,708 posts)
7. We won't lose unless people don't show up to vote.
That's the answer to your question. I'll be out there, as always, doing GOTV. I recommend that all of us do that, regardless of who the Democratic nominee turns out to be.
A helluva lot depends on it. More than most of us realize. The future starts in November. We'll either control it or lose control for a very, very long time to come.
I'll be holding my breath once the convention is over, but I'll be out trying to get Democrats to the poll. I hope everyone else here does the same. If not, then we may just get Republicans in control of all three branches of the federal government. Anyone who can't see what a disaster that would be is simply not paying attention.
yourpaljoey (188 posts)
9. The party will be crushed all down ticket
The hope Bernie inspires will evaporate;
apathy will set in once again.
The country will never recover.
A candidate like Bernie will never again be permitted to run,
I am guessing the plans to prevent that are already on the table.

Star Member Hortensis (4,457 posts)
22. First, we're almost certainly not going to lose.
In spite of the national media's usual attempt to create a close "horse race" out of elections, this time the GOP is in terrible trouble. And, in fact, the views of most Republicans have been diverging from those of the wealthy elite pulling the strings for some years now, The Donald's disastrous "success" being a giant red flag.
That said, what would we do if we lost ? Well, SCOTUS would be packed with ultraconservatives choosing cases to dismantle the principles our nation was founded on, and everyone who cared about our government of the people, by the people, and for the people, from the left and right, would have to gird for a difficult war to regain power. Eventually, I expect the Democratic Party, and perhaps a new conservative party, would regain enough power to impose term limits on SCOTUS. Repeal, or more likely "privatization" of Social Security, continuing economic disasters, and lowering of wages should help get people involved.
As for the DNC, the DNC does not get to say who runs for office (check the GOP for confirmation). The DNC did not choose Hillary. She chose herself. The DNC did not make Hillary the frontrunner. We did.
The DNC does raise funds for and is, of course, providing assistance to our frontrunners/best chances for the presidency and for hundreds of lesser offices. That's what political parties are supposed to do. That's why I donate to the DNC. To elect Democrats.

Depaysement (1,152 posts)
42. There's a lot of dirt on Trump too
And it's easy to collect. He's an op researcher's dream.
Hillary will win a lot of the Bush and McCain Republicans who despise him. People like Bloomberg will support her. I think you underestimate the effect of a unified political establishment against him. And no one will have any qualms firing at him.
A lot of the Republican Party voters are not turning out for him - he is only getting about 1/3 of the Republican vote right now. Rebuke turnout is high because they have a smorgasbord of candidates and the Dems only have two.
There comes a point where his shtick gets old, the ugly visuals get noticed a bit more, people realize they have to watch and listen to him for four years, his policies get more closely examined, people realize he has his hand on the nuclear trigger. That's when the show closes.
I'm not seeing this Trump victory thing.
La Lioness Priyanka (48,922 posts)
60. i would worry more about the American people and the world, before worrying about the democratic party in the scenario you just laid out.
But the absolute best post so far is this:
chrisa (4,524 posts)
63. Our site becomes true DU again. 