Simple Math And The 9% Factor

Keith Oblermann unearthed a statistical nugget and re-visions the 2016 election with the Mango Menace going down in flames. Politically, we should pay close attention to what he came up with.

The Brazile Effect

Last night's election results were surprising in one regard: the Brazile Effect didn't cost the Democrats the governorship of Virginia. Many Democrats were running around wringing their hands and screaming the sky is falling after Brazile accused SOS Clinton of rigging last years primary election. Of course, the claim was pure nonsense, which Josh Marshall, among others, deconstructed quite effectively. (Here is an excellent summary post.)

No one knows what was clattering through Brazile's mind when she made her specious charges. Some people, like me, were suspicious that she was deliberating creating another round of chaos between Sanders and Clinton supporters, who are trying to get together, though many of the Sanders supporters continue promulgating their CDS. But it looks like the Brazile Effect was negligible, which gives me hope for the future. Perhaps, voters can actually see beyond and through all the propaganda and misinformation spewed by the GOP in general and Fox News and the Russians in particular.

How tRump Wins

 From USA Today:

...The question is not whether Trump has any decency left, but whether we have any decency left.

Trump is not against the ropes. Not even close. Republicans are marching in lockstep. What frightens me is that what Trump is unleashing, he cannot control. When I look at what happened months back in Charlottesville, Va., I realize it doesn’t take much to change a cadence — how easily marching in lockstep morphs into a goosestep.

Flake wrote, “We can no longer remain silent, merely observing this train wreck, passively, as if waiting for someone else to do something. The longer we wait, the greater the damage, the harsher the judgment of history.”

True. But if Flake believes what he said, he should go down losing. So should other Republicans fearful of Trump or Steve Bannon or some other boogeyman with a slogan-branded hat.

If sensible Republicans cede the playground to the bullies, the bullies win. Flake said we can no longer stand silent. Talking while walking away is not an improvement.