DBWI: No 2010 Moderate Republican Revolution

[TheAllTimeGreatest]

In 2010, we saw perhaps the biggest midterm election landslide in recent memory. Republicans gained 16 governorships, 12 Senate seats, and 67 Congressional seats. Many people attribute this to a wave of moderate Republicans who were swept in to office, notably in states where they had no business in winning (Mark Castle in Delaware, Tom Campbell in California, Dino Rossi in Washington, Sue Lowden in Nevada). Many saw this as moderate Republicans finally coming together and seeing eye to eye with conservative Republicans on how Democrats were moving the country too far to the left.

If this never happened, how would things today have changed?

OOC: I based this DBWI around a timeline I found called “A New Path for America: The 2010 Midterms and On.” by @Emperor Charles V. Granted, the timeline never got finished, but I did find it interesting for what it was. Go check it out if you wanna see how it played out. I made a few changes from it though, such as more congressional seat victories and Michael Steele picking up Maryland’s governorship.

 

[Amadeus]

Without the moderates, the Tea Party takes charge and the GOP moves even further to the right. I highly doubt they would be interested in working with Obama on anything, so the Grand Bargain never passes and neither do we get the 2011 Investment Act which pumped new billions into improving America's infrastructure. And the 2012 Republican nominee may be someone other than Romney, it could end up being Gingrich or Santorum of all people.

 

[Red_Crate]

Without the moderates, the Tea Party takes charge and the GOP moves even further to the right. I highly doubt they would be interested in working with Obama on anything, so the Grand Bargain never passes and neither do we get the 2011 Investment Act which pumped new billions into improving America's infrastructure. And the 2012 Republican nominee may be someone other than Romney, it could end up being Gingrich or Santorum of all people.

Hell, maybe it could've been Donald Trump!

 

[James Ricker]

The extreme right-wing would have taken control of the Republican Party. I shudder to think what would have happened. Fox News and right-wing talk-radio went ballistic when the Great bargain was passed.
Rush Limbaugh went on a 45 minute rant calling the Republican Congress traitors.

 

[TheAllTimeGreatest]

The extreme right-wing would have taken control of the Republican Party. I shudder to think what would have happened. Fox News and right-wing talk-radio went ballistic when the Great bargain was passed.
Rush Limbaugh went on a 45 minute rant calling the Republican Congress traitors.

Holy shit, I remember that. I swear I thought he was gonna have a heart attack. But you know, God forbid there’s ...*gasp*...COMPROMISE!

 

[James Ricker]

Holy shit, I remember that. I swear I thought he was gonna have a heart attack. But you know, God forbid there’s ...*gasp*...COMPROMISE!

The old windbag came close to having a heart attack, nitroglycerin pills did save him.
But he did have to have surgery to repair a bleeding ulcer 48 hours later.

 

[TheAllTimeGreatest]

Without the moderates, the Tea Party takes charge and the GOP moves even further to the right. I highly doubt they would be interested in working with Obama on anything, so the Grand Bargain never passes and neither do we get the 2011 Investment Act which pumped new billions into improving America's infrastructure. And the 2012 Republican nominee may be someone other than Romney, it could end up being Gingrich or Santorum of all people.

I know, right? I enjoy seeing how Republicans can reach across the aisle. Plus, the Republican Party has become more diverse as a result.

 

[TheAllTimeGreatest]

The old windbag came close to having a heart attack, nitroglycerin pills did save him.
But he did have to have surgery to repair a bleeding ulcer 48 hours later.

Luckily, Fox News became a lot more friendly to the moderate Republican Congress. Many say this was done to keep their Republican base of viewers, but I think it also happened when conservatives and moderates were able to work side by side.

 

[Amadeus]

I know, right? I enjoy seeing how Republicans can reach across the aisle. Plus, the Republican Party has become more diverse as a result.

But it wasn't enough for Rubio to make it in 2016. Poor guy, maybe he will get a second chance in 2020 now that President Clinton looks vulnerable.

 

[TheAllTimeGreatest]

But it wasn't enough for Rubio to make it in 2016. Poor guy, maybe he will get a second chance in 2020 now that President Clinton looks vulnerable.

Yeah, that election was close as Hell. Some people are hoping Justices Antonin Scalia and Anthony Kennedy can hold out until 2020, because then the Supreme Court will tip 6-3 in favor of more liberal Justices.

These past midterms saw even more Republican gains. They’re up to 59 Senators now, thanks to gains in places like New Jersey, Michigan, and Minnesota with Bob Hugin, John James, and Kevin Nicholson.

 

[Amadeus]

Yeah, that election was close as Hell. Some people are hoping Justices Antonin Scalia and Anthony Kennedy can hold out until 2020, because then the Supreme Court will tip 6-3 in favor of more liberal Justices.

These past midterms saw even more Republican gains. They’re up to 59 Senators now, thanks to gains in places like New Jersey, Michigan, and Minnesota with Bob Hugin, John James, and Kevin Nicholson.

Some are pointing to Nicholson as a potential presidential candidate - but I hope that doesn't happen. From what I've read he's a cynical opportunist who's apparently not very good with people. Definitely not what I want in a President.

Anyone other than Rubio who can take on Clinton in 2020?

 

[TheAllTimeGreatest]

Some are pointing to Nicholson as a potential presidential candidate - but I hope that doesn't happen. From what I've read he's a cynical opportunist who's apparently not very good with people. Definitely not what I want in a President.

Anyone other than Rubio who can take on Clinton in 2020?

I mean, he used to be a Democrat too, so that might not go over well with Republican voters. Plus, he was just elected.

Other than Rubio? I heard Nikki Haley is gearing up for a run. A Gallup poll released yesterday showed that she would be the front runner. Other than here in that poll? Senator Dino Rossi is polling pretty good, former Governor Michael Steele was up there, too. And surprisingly, Rhode Island Governor Allan Fung was in the hunt as well.

 

[manav95]

But it wasn't enough for Rubio to make it in 2016. Poor guy, maybe he will get a second chance in 2020 now that President Clinton looks vulnerable.

Hillary Clinton is gonna lose in a landslide tbh. The Republicans have made major gains among Asians and Latinos, promising more efficient government and lower taxes, which Americans gobble up. They've also agreed to sign the Paris Climate agreement, albeit with the lack of a hard target for carbon emissions. They've also renewed the Assault Weapons Ban and worked to reform the immigration system. It's clear the Democratic base is shifting towards socialism and Clinton could get primaried next year.

 

[Deleted member 109224]

Define moderate though. Most of the GOP moderacy has been on cultural issues.

Campbell's moderate to liberal on climate, drugs, immigration, and electoral reform but is also basically Ron Paul on foreign and economic policy.
Rubio's a big ol' Supply Sider and low-key hawk, but is relatively moderate on immigration and pro-family policies (maternity leave, child tax credits, etc).
Flake succeeded McCain following his retirement, and whereas Flake is one of the most liberal members on the Senate on immigration he's also one of the most Tea Partyish on other issues (namely spending and economic policy).

With the exception of some folks like Castle, most of the moderate revolution was Republican Governors like Christie, Baker, Steele, and Fung or people who were temperamentally moderate and moderate on some key issues but otherwise just as if not more conservative on others.




Clinton basically lucked out that Steve Stockman plucked away enough reactionaries from Rubio to clinch the win. It turns out that if you run a ticket comprised of a Latino and a Woman, cultural conservatives won't vote for you...

 

[Ascendant Warrior]

Define moderate though. Most of the GOP moderacy has been on cultural issues.

Campbell's moderate to liberal on climate, drugs, immigration, and electoral reform but is also basically Ron Paul on foreign and economic policy.
Rubio's a big ol' Supply Sider and low-key hawk, but is relatively moderate on immigration and pro-family policies (maternity leave, child tax credits, etc).
Flake succeeded McCain following his retirement, and whereas Flake is one of the most liberal members on the Senate on immigration he's also one of the most Tea Partyish on other issues (namely spending and economic policy).

With the exception of some folks like Castle, most of the moderate revolution was Republican Governors like Christie, Baker, Steele, and Fung or people who were temperamentally moderate and moderate on some key issues but otherwise just as if not more conservative on others.

That moderateness allows them to compromise with Democrats though, unlike the Tea Party/'Freedom Caucaus' who mostly scream when they don't get thier way. That's the absolute biggest thing, is that these guys are willing to compromise and get things done, things that would not have been close to possible if the Tea Party had been the one in power in the GOP. I'm actually hopefull about the fate of our country and my nieces, and I'm fairly liberal.

 

[James Ricker]

As for Hillary Clinton losing the election don't count your chickens yet. The Republican Presidential primaries look like they are going to be a knife fight in a dark room between 32 people ,well 31 senator Rick Scott of Florida had to drop out because he's now facing charges of defrauding Medicare. Some long-lost documents suddenly resurfaced detailing his involvement in defrauding Medicare out of billions dollars. To quote Rodger Stone the media advisor to Rick Santorum's presidential campaign" this was unexpected but I guess we now know why he took the fifth amendment 70 times."

 

[TheAllTimeGreatest]

Earlier, I mentioned the Supreme Court and how Scalia and Kennedy are potentially holding out until a Republican is elected. Who would Clinton appoint to the Court and would the Senate approve it given the fact that Republicans control it 59-41?

 

[Amadeus]

Earlier, I mentioned the Supreme Court and how Scalia and Kennedy are potentially holding out until a Republican is elected. Who would Clinton appoint to the Court and would the Senate approve it given the fact that Republicans control it 59-41?

Maybe someone like Garland, who got Orin Hatch's support and was confirmed before Clinton's inauguration.

 

[TheAllTimeGreatest]

Maybe someone like Garland, who got Orin Hatch's support and was confirmed before Clinton's inauguration.

Granted, he was confirmed in place of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was a reliable liberal vote on the Court. So far, he’s been kind of moderate if you think about it. However, there might be more controversy if Clinton gets to replace a reliable conservative.

 

[Aisha Clan-Clan]

The GOP's moderating on abortion and LGBT OTL is the only reason why it looks like they'll be able to elect a POTUS in 2020. They still had enough bad memories in the electorate from pre-moderation days on that issue to Elect Hillary "Coherent economics, what's that meme?" Clinton in '16.