The MAGA Backlash Arrives
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Democrats solidified their 4-3 progressive majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday, and the ramifications are nationwide. The comfortable win by Democratic Judge Susan Crawford is the second sign in two weeks of a political backlash against the Trump Presidency.
Democrats turned out in large numbers to defeat Republican Judge Brad Schimel in a race in which the two sides may have spent as much as $100 million. Democrats sought to make the race a referendum on Elon Musk and Donald Trump , and Mr. Musk responded by trying to mobilize the Trump voters who tend to stay home in spring elections. The Democratic bet paid off.
That’s a warning to the GOP that the Trump-Musk governing style is stirring a backlash that could cost them control of Congress next year. All the more so given the results in two special House races in Florida Tuesday to replace a pair of Republicans.
These are safe seats, and Republicans won the western Panhandle district held by Matt Gaetz with some room to spare. But Jimmy Patronis’s 57% was about nine points less than the 66% that Mr. Gaetz won in 2024. It was a similar story in the Palm Coast seat of former Rep. Mike Waltz, who is now Mr. Trump’s national security adviser.
Democrats had a better candidate, but the swing to Democrats was about nine points from Mr. Waltz’s 66.5% vote share in 2024 to state Sen. Randy Fine’s roughly 57% on Tuesday. Democrats are fired up to make a statement about Mr. Trump’s polarizing second term. Last week they flipped a Pennsylvania state Senate seat long held by the GOP.
Republicans can console themselves that they held the Florida seats and thus their narrow House majority. And we hope the results don’t scare House Republicans into backing away from their tax and regulatory reform agenda. That’s what Democrats would love, so next year they’d get the benefit both ways—motivated Democrats and sullen Republicans after a GOP governing failure.
But the elections are a warning to Mr. Trump to focus on what got him re-elected—especially prices and growth in real incomes after inflation. His willy-nilly tariff agenda undermining stock prices and consumer and business confidence isn’t helping.
As for Wisconsin, Republicans in that state will now have to live with a willful Supreme Court majority that could reverse nearly everything the GOP accomplished under former Gov. Scott Walker. School vouchers, collective-bargaining reform for public workers, tort reform and more are likely to be challenged in lawsuits by the left. Congressional district electoral maps will also be challenged and could cost the GOP two House seats.
The MAGA majority may have a shorter run than advertised.
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Judge Susan Crawford is one shrew that will not be tamed.
Lots of Shakespeare quotes these days,
Biblical quotes seem to irritate people. Will-i-am is my goto Cunk.
There are indeed. And perhaps there should be less...
But OTOH, alls well that ends well!
LOL
I think that the more important take-away from this is that the margins that Trump was touting when he claims the "Mandate of the People" whilst wrecking our institutions in favor of thugocracy are nowhere near as large as he has claimed, and the people he needs to convince are already saying "Hey, Wait! We didn't say you were king."
Trump won Wisconsin by a single point. There were people right here who said it was just about impossible for Schimel to win. This isn't a backlash. It is the elite class trying to hold out.
Polling shows 60% of Wisconsin independents have an unfavorable opinion of Trump. That number jumps up to almost 80% when talking about Musk & DOGE. Trump and Co just need to keep doing what they are doing until next year's midterms.
You can stick a chainsaw into someone's hand and it still won't make him blue collar. Musk is about as elite as one can be.
They were always going to lose this election no matter what Trump did. I'm surprised people don't get this yet. Low turnout, mid term elections are bad for the party perceived to be in power, especially when their voter base consists of lower propensity voters. Republicans traded old and upper income voters for gains among younger, working class and minority voters. It paid off in presidential election years, particularly when Trump is on the ballot. It doesn't when turnout is lower and the opposition's reason to exist is to hate Trump.
Midterms, absent a Kavanaugh like gift, will be bad for Republicans. It doesn't matter what Trump does for the next year and half. There's no backlash or anything else. It's just math.
funny how he calls the democrats the elites....
What is trmp and musk if not elites? Both were born with platinum spoons in their mouths
You called it before it happened.
It would be nice to talk with someone who understood the meanings of words. "Elite" is another of the words that reactionaries are busily making meaningless.
So... someone who just thinks they're superior... does not conform to this definition; is not elite.
According to your definition (with which I agree), a person is or is not "elite" according to objective criteria. "Elite" is not a word that anyone can just assign to anyone else.
Paul Krugman can be termed "elite" because he won a Nobel Prize, for example. A Nobel is an objective criterion.
I guess you missed the whole point..........Well don't really have to guess. It's an attitude. Reread my comment and see if you can make the connection to the know it all faction.
Yes it does.................if they think it, they believe it and play it out. You know, like the whole gender fluidity thing. If there is a difference, it sure as hell isn't shown. Look at the "squad". Know it alls.[✘]
[✘]
So, according to your feelings, Trump, Musk, et.al. are elites.
Got it.
The "know-it-all" faction really just describes people that are educated. They are armed with facts and figures and perhaps they don't "know-it-all" but I'm sure it seems that way to the dumb shits who dropped out of high school because any additional education wasn't needed to work the coal mines or to get trained as a plumber.
So, it's no wonder that the know-nothings would be bitter towards the know-it-alls. The know nothings are just lazy and jealous which is also why they are desperately supporting the dumb shit-in-chief who makes even those with the poorest educations feel smart.
Personally, I'd much rather listen to and get advice from those who have quality educations and do know facts and figures, who have taken the time to study what humans have been able to learn about our universe over the centuries. But I guess there will always be lazy stupid bigots who ridicule those with far better educations, and those simpletons often like to refer to those they know are better educated than themselves as "know-it-alls". It's apparently the best insult their poorly educated brains can come up with.
If Democrats are the educated know it alls now then what does that make the MAGA? The Plumb Dumb Faction?
Personally, I think fuck off is a much better insult. But that's just probably my blue collar, poorly edumacated brains...
IIRC he's actually the #1 richest man in the entire world.
Who do you think is the "elite class"?
(People have differing opinions on who's actually a member of "the elite class").
Being the richest man makes him a statistical outlier. In no way does it prove that he "is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society" - to repeat Jim's definition of "elite".
Musk, like Trump, got rich the way most rich people get rich: he was born to rich parents. That's not "elite".
I have no problem with blue-collar Americans. There's nothing to be ashamed of getting your hands dirty. However, when some blue-collar folk whine and complain and insult others by others by calling them "know-it-alls" when they are really just distinguished professors of economics and the sole winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, all because they don't like educated conclusions that don't align with their blue-collar math of "Trump Good! Merica!", then yes, they should indeed, fuck off.
Example A: Columnist German Lopez (The New York Times). Yesterday he wrote a piece on the Trump tariffs.
Get this:
"The United States no longer needs factories with low-skill workers to make clothes. It can instead invest more in advanced technologies like computers and pharmaceuticals. Those investments lead to jobs that pay better than traditional manufacturing work, making Americans richer.
Open trade then lets high-tech businesses sell their new products to billions of people worldwide instead of just hundreds of millions of Americans. With more customers, these companies make more money, and they can pour their profits into further innovation, well-paying jobs and higher taxes to the U.S. government. In theory, this process leaves the country as a whole better off.
Not everyone wins. Some manufacturing jobs go to China, Mexico and elsewhere. Communities that rely on those jobs suffer unless they find a way to adjust to the new economy."
That is an elitist who doesn't give a fuck about American workers.
Isn't that what we've been saying?
My dad was a coal miner. He had a hs diploma but he spent his life reading anything he could get his hands on. You could say he was self-taught so he had a lot of things to say that I listened to.
Plumbers have to have at least a GED.
Let them learn how to code s/
Like I said, nothing against blue collar workers, society couldn't get along without them. With that being true, even with some of them being "self-taught", I wouldn't want a coal miner no matter how wise, to perform invasive surgery on myself or my family nor would they be my trusted financial advisor or making the nation's most important economic decisions. I would prefer to have someone specialized in their respective fields who has the schooling and degrees along with proven history and body of work to support my trust that they're right for such an important job. Those stupidly trying to dismiss a distinguished professors of economics and the sole winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences by calling him a "know-it-all" is just beyond stupid and borders on criminal negligence as it seems they're intentionally trying to sabotage the economy.
Know it alls?
I know few know it all that can plumb their house. Who knows it all?
I know few know it alls capable of safely disposing of their weekly garbage.
I know few know it alls who wouldn’t kill themselves trying to wire their house
I know few know it alls who could build their office or house. Etc, etc
Know it alls are overrated. Who do you think you need more in every day life. Your plumber or a brain surgeon? That’s not even a question. Don’t disagree until you go a few weeks without a shower, forage for fresh drinking water and shit in a straddle trench in your back yard.
Yeah, you know the answer but I’m sure you won’t admit it.
Can't argue with anything you said. Dad was good at pulling out splinters but I wouldn't want him to set my broken leg
A plumber is needed far more often than a brain surgeon, but that doesn't mean when you need a brain surgeon, you'd call a plumber. Same thing when we need educated economists to help make smart fiscal policies that have the highest chance of success, or to warn us of fiscal missteps. When the country is making major fiscal policy decisions, I'd rather listen to the advice of someone who has actually studied economics and not ask my plumber what he'd recommend in regard to the US economy and tariffs.
I freely admitted it because the attempted argument, that because plumbers are needed more often than brain surgeons, therefore plumbers are what? Smarter than brain surgeons? Can perform brain surgery? There are no surgeons anywhere who are saying to themselves "Man, I guess I should just become a plumber because the skills I spent 8+ years learning to become a brain surgeon are completely useless since I only perform like one or two brain surgeries a week and a plumber unclogs like 7 or 8 toilets a day!".
Fair enough.
Having paid my way through a BS and MS in engineering as a journeyman plumber/pipefitter I tend to bristle at people who look down their nose at blue collar workers. That said, some of dumbest business people I ever dealt with in my 40+ year engineering career were very educated people.
That scalpel cuts both ways.
As usual, you miss the point entirely.
You are batting 1000!
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Don’t be jealous ….. not a good look
Bullshit. You might not want him to, but I bet you would trust him to.
Aha! So that's why he lost!
Now all the Dems have to do is say that a its impossible for their opponent to win-- and Presto Chango their opponents automatically lose!
An excellent example of "the power of the spoken word!
Well not all the members of the so-called "Elite Class" are all that smart-- that Schlemiel guy being the perfect example!
Of course I suppose that you really can't blame the guy-- after all there were people who said he had no chance of winning! (How could anyone have possibly won when people (many of them "right here" no less!) saying there was no chance of winning?
(Call it what you will, IMO there was a sort of "Wicthcraft" going on here -- people saying he couldn't winning, putting a sort of hex on him!)
I work with engineers. Some of the smartest people I've ever met.
He never had a mandate....except for Putin
[deleted][✘]
those were just casual interludes in moscow ...
I think it's too early to put a pin in the midterms. As I recall, Schimel was always the underdog in that fight. But I wouldn't count the Republicans down for the count just yet as they did score another victory in Wisconsin. The requirement to show ID to vote won overwhelmingly to be enshrined in the State Constitution.
The little polling that I could find had the race too close to call right up to election day. The only edge I could find was that Wisconsin independants leaned slightly towards Crawford and most of the state doesn't like Musk or DOGE.
EDIT: I also saw some report that Dems were slightly more likely to vote in early elections than conservatives.
I know Democrats who believe there's too much fraud, too many scammers around in general, and that ID should be shown in order to vote.
Yeah...I do think IDs should be presented when voting
I've voted in France since the 1990s. I show my national ID card. I put the ballot in the box. (No machines.) The process has never taken more than a quarter-hour. Nationwide results are announced at 8:00 PM.
The ID card means "voter, no problem". That's a good thing.
Of course... There must be upstream processes that ensure that every citizen obtains that ID card... without hassle.
absolutely!
It is that hassle part that seems to get us in the States.
Exactly. When a significant portion of the political class wants to do away with voting, "hassle" is going to happen.
Works for me.
No early voting, no mail in ballots, ID required, in person voting, etc, etc.
Talk to liberals. They’re the ones fighting for all that here in the US.
Of course there's early voting. And by mail. And by proxy. I've never used them, because my polling place is a three minute walk from home.
Oh, and... elections are on Sundays, so there's no conflict with a job.
The rules in France are intended to make voting easy... to encourage voting.
That’s interesting. France doesn’t allow mail in ballots or those others mentioned. Oh and as I recall that was because of rampant voter fraud.
You sure you live in France?
in vote by mail colorado, you show your ID to register, they mail a ballot to your address listed, and you fill it out and sign it and then put it in a drop box. your vote doesn't count until the signature is verified. or you can go to a polling place and show your ID to vote.
Yeah, that’s what I thought.
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Its one thing for a candidate to win an election. Its another thing to having something that was already a law put into the Constitution!
It's easier to change a law then it is to get an amendment to the state constitution pushed through.
Another win for Golem.
Congrats
Soros got his win for 90% less than Musk, all you accomplished was elevating George far above Elon.
Time for one and all on the right to drop the anti-Soros gibberish less you be accused of antisemitism much in the way many of y'all accuse those on the left as being antiemetic whenever Netanyahu is criticised.
Democrats have a deep bench of billionaires. So Soros, Pritzker and Reid Hoffman spent more than Musk in Wisconsin.
The denial is copious and quite ridiculous in this case.
Sad, sad, sad …..
What proof do you have of that? Link to actual numbers.
Crawford pulls in cash from George Soros, JB Pritzker
An inconvenient truth for our friends on the left.
So they must engage their Gaslight drives. Full power!
So much for their rants about billionaires being "bad".
According to the link you supplied Soros gave $2 million , Pritzker gave $1.5 million . Your link doesn't mention how much Reid Hoffman gave , but according to this link he gave less than Soros :
Meanwhile, again according to the number you supplied Musk gave at least $19.5 million .
Therefore, based on the actual numbers, including the numbers you supplied, Musk gave many times more than Soros, Pritzker and Reid Hoffman. Accordingly, your own numbers prove that the comment that " Soros, Pritzker and Reid Hoffman spent more than Musk in Wisconsin" is fraudulent .
The truth is the exact opposite of what you claim it is.
Some right wingers are gaslighting in overdrive.
”I” claimed that Golem won and congratulated my friends on the left. This just highlights to those who bag on Musk for donating to the conservative candidate while other billionaires donate heavily to the liberal candidate, are just rocking their usual hypocritical selves.
Rock on!
And Musk was left with a class action suit for not paying canvassers. Hahahahaha!
I bet he’s real worried about bullshit like that
Yea....that will make him bankrupt s/
By your flippant attitude I take you think it's okay to not pay one's debts?
My credit rating sez otherwise ….
Who is "Golem"-- and what office was he elected to?
Illustrated very clearly in my post
who said he was?
Too much is made of these early elections. It’s going to take time for anything Trump does to have such a significant impact that people actually change their minds.
Very true. The only real takeaway from these early elections is that both parties and their lemmings will spin the results to best fit their interests.
There must be something we can do to stop that! Perhaps a law-- that forbids people from acting in their own interest!
Good news!
... and there hasn't been much of that lately.
I'll wait for more before getting excited.
What is good news that a democrat judge claimed the seat of another democrat judge? Just another day that ends in ‘y’ in Wisconsin.
It seems to me, that the elections are showing (I hope) is that areas that were purple are turning a little more blue and some barely red districts are taking on a purpe tinge.
Campaign promises were not kept, at least not the ones that led many in the middle and even a little left of the middle to vote for Trump. Prices are going up on everything, the stock market (and thus the retirement plans of millions of Americans) are on an express trip to hell and the destruction of government agencies is driving fear that services many depend on will be cut back or discontinued altogether.
The midterms are starting to look better for the Democrats
Wait until the cuts for health care exchanges kicks in.
So?
Those only hit old people, and poor people...
Who gives a flying fuck about them?
Actions have consequences. In this case I'll cheer when certain people become unemployed on Jan 20th 2027.
I think that is when he will lose all but the crazy that have been supporting him - the ultra MAGA will never believe anything is his fault just as he will never take the blame for anything that goes wrong.
The only hope in my view is a few strong public servants on the right side of the aisle in the House and the Senate stand against Trump and break his majority
when certain people become unemployed on Jan 20th 2027.
When the control of the House (for sure) and the Senate (hopefully) return to the Democrats
I agree
Those only hit old people, and poor people...
Who gives a flying fuck about them?
I do and a lot of people I know that were MAGA stalwarts are now getting rid of their hats, taking down their signs and wondering what can be done.
People care, we need some Senators and a dozen or so COngressman (Republicans) to care as well and put the brakes on this shit show train.
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I very sincerely hope you're right.
You apparently have the dough to live in two countries. No worries for you.
Since you have no idea what our family budget looks like... that sounds like pure envy.
The people need to mobilize. As Senator booker said, "Get into some good trouble."
And you would be wrong again
Works for me. Bubba is looking for a new roommate.
Go for it.
We need less theatrics and bravado and more organized effort, informative messaging and a real plan - that is what is lacking and that is what Trump took advantage of last November
Well, then "We" need to get out and do something, as well as sit at our computers and type.
Good luck.
Liberals have a real problem. Calm, respectful discussion in no longer in their wheelhouse. The triggered and unhinged have taken over the narrative. Threats, violence, property damage and red ass are the actions of the day.
It’s disgusting to say the least.
Think of all the cars that could be vandalized with a coordinated, well-organized program.
Think of all the vandals that could be caught and punished with a well coordinated, well organized program ….. wait, we already have that. Ten of thousands of federal agents, city police, Sheriff deputies, Marshals, Rangers, security personnel, etc.
Time to set up Sheriff Joes tent jails. Three hots and a cot …. Well maybe not three hots. Dry PB&J or Bologna sandwiches and all the weather channel they can watch.
Club Fed for liberal douche bags.
And think of all the negative allusions that one could make when really they are only allusions and aspersions with no basis or common linkage between the arguments of the one to the arguments of the many. The common theme of fallacious commentary from you is as follows: If one person in a crowd did it, then they, and all of the subsequent protestors to take up the same cause, are guilty of the infraction of the one.
Always open to suggestions - what should "we" be doing?
Here in rural Ohio there are already the beginnings of opposition to MAGA-ites in the House and Senate that are doing Trump's bidding.
Town halls are popping up in areas and candidates from both sides are being invited (not always polite but ideas are exchanged).
What are you doing?
Sort of reminds one of Maga-ites on Jan 6 and in other displays of violence around the nation these part few years eh?
Idolatry of Trump (disguised Maga-itism) is somewhat disgusting
Looks like this came from heaven for Musk after his antics in Wisconsin
Nope, not even close.
Well, here is one suggestion, and I am Going.
I will write it out longform so the fellow objectors can see it also.
I am going to rally called Hands Off! that is hopefully just the beginning of the resistance. It is small-ish, but it is a definite start. I realize that this is rather forward of me to ask, but if you could, gather all your like minded friends and go to one of these rallies tomorrow (well, later today). If you are interested, ask about organizing in your own area. There will be people there to help in the process.
I think that you will not see this till morning, sooooo...
Get up. Get organized (hah) and go to the closest rally point.
I wish you the best of luck and hope that you have a great day.
It has only begun.
He tried to at worst buy or at least unduly influence an election and the people of Wisconsin responded with a resounding "screw you"
Seems an appropriate illustration of what the people of Wisconsin thought of Musk screwing around in their free and fair election process.
Good on you and it begins
Tell it to Soros …… in many, many elections.
Sparty
So because one guy did something shady (probably illegal) that it is okay for others to do illegal things?
How did it go?
Exactly my point. Did you hammer on Soros when he did it.
Doubtful, very doubtful.
Soros has most certainly influenced elections with his money in the past and I was and am against that, but I do not think he ever did so blatantly as Musk offering money for people to sign a petition - some would say trying to buy votes.
So to answer your question I have spoken out against Soros' involvement in politics but not as directly as this
Not that I have seen here but I’ll take you at your word.
Their children?
You have made some good points, but I think there are may be some holes in your arguments...???
Did you hammer on Soros when he did it.
Why does what Robert did or did not do in past elections have anything to do with what's going on now?
P.S: I have to confess--I did not vote for Nixon when he ran for president. So... what do you think that that has to do with the present political situation?
(Curious minds want to know!
)
Then be more curious as to why a Hungarian born hedge fund tycoon is involved in so many US elections. Get really curious, not fake curious.
I'll save my enthusiasm for few steps beyond that ...