Robert Kuttner of The American Prospect sums up the Alabama election: Democracy held.
DECEMBER 13, 2017
Kuttner on TAP
The election of Doug Jones portends several hopeful things. First, it shows that under the right circumstances, 30 percent of white Alabamians will vote for a Democrat, even a pro-choice Democrat; and that black anger can be turned into black voter mobilization. We may have a biracial progressive coalition yet.
Second, it deepens the schisms in the Trump-era Republican Party. The defeat of Roy Moore made a fool of Steve Bannon, and forced Trump into one of his bizarre dances with the truth: He was against Moore before he was for him. Most obviously, the win gives Democrats one more crucial Senate seat.
But let’s not kid ourselves. This victory was a one-off, and everything had to break right for Jones. It took a GOP candidate not only as fringe as Moore, but one who is also an accused child molester; combined with Alabama’s other Republican senator, Richard Shelby, denouncing Moore almost on election eve and refusing to support him; and Mitch McConnell signaling that he’d refuse to seat Moore. And with all of that, Jones won by just 1.5 points—barely more than the margin of theft.
Even so, coming in the wake of the Democrats’ stunning blue wave on Election Day, this win continues the momentum, and the narrative of Democrats on the march and Republicans in disarray. As Trump becomes increasingly unhinged by a resurgence of sexual complaints against himself, combined with Special Counsel Robert Mueller closing in on Trump’s own obstruction of justice, it’s not a great time to be a Republican.
Most importantly, in a state that is one of the worst offenders when it comes to voter suppression, with a long history of denying voting rights to blacks, democracy held. Given all the threats of the Trump era, that is the best news of all. ~
ROBERT KUTTNER
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I dunno. We had a barely acceptable Democrat running against a bigoted child predator. The Democrat wins by a razor margin and this is what we now call democracy. Call me cynical, but, to steal from Shania Twain, that don’t impress me much.
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I also found hopeful the voting stats showing that a much smaller proportion of younger voters (I believe it was under 45yo) went for Moore; his biggest crowd of supporters were over 65.
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What if Trump’s presidency ends up capsizing the Alt-Right’s movement to turn the United States into a racist, billionaire oligarchy that was very close to revising the U.S. Constitution and turning the country into an extremist Christian theocracy ruled by ignorant idiot nut cases like deplorable and evil Betsy DeVos and Steve Bannon.
What if, when Trump goes under and sinks to the bottom of the septic tank, he pulls most if not all of the GOP with him.
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My problem with your posts is that I don’t think your real issue is with Trump. It’s with the Republican Party. If Abraham Lincoln was running today as a Republican, you would find fault with him.
I don’t share your fondness for liberal Democrats. I have seen what a liberal governor and the liberals who control the NYS Assembly have done in recent years to public schools and public school teachers. Both the governor and Assembly have supported the charter school movement and allowed it to grow. Both have supported the endless testing regime and rigid teacher evaluation policies.
You never seem to criticize the Democrats. You only take aim at the Republicans. Because of that, you lack credibility with me.
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What are you talking about, Fed up Teacher?
Gov. Cuomo is not a liberal – that’s why he hates NYC Mayor de Blasio so much and tries very hard to undermine him and get him removed. de Blasio is progressive and Cuomo is right wing. And Cuomo — because he is a right wing Democrat – has joined with Republicans in the NYS Assembly to fund and support charter schools and undermine public education.
The majority of Democrats in Albany are “liberal” but they all support public schools and public school teachers so it’s extremely odd that you’d attack them. It is the REPUBLICANS in the NYS Assembly who are the ones supporting charter schools. Those Republicans control the Senate and promote and fund charters because a small group of extremely conservative Democrats in Albany who call themselves the IDC (Independence Democratic Conference) vote with Republicans and allow Republicans to control the Senate.
Why would you blame “liberal” Democrats? Calling the few Dems who support charter schools “liberals” is like saying Ted Cruz is a “liberal” Republican so it is all the “liberals” fault that the tax reform takes from the middle class to give to the very rich.
I’m surprised a NY state educator would be so ignorant of Albany politics. And rather doubtful you are who you say you are.
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Fed up Teacher
Never heard Diane attack Democrats . Then you have not been following. But as a NYS tax payer you could save me a lot of money by seeing to it that Republicans get elected . I doubt you can figure that one out . .
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“What if, when Trump goes under and sinks to the bottom of the septic tank, he pulls most if not all of the GOP with him.”
It’s early in the morning and that sounds absolutely beautiful. One still can dream of better days. The GOP of today has gone way too far to the right to be of any use.
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But that turtle-face criminal McConnell is pushing the biggest tax bill in HISTORY through , so that Jones will not be sworn in yet.
I signed a petition to Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader which says:
“Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he wants to “let the people of Alabama make the call” about who our next senator will be.
The people have spoken, and we want Doug Jones to immediately step into his rightful role as elected senator from Alabama so he can vote on the pending tax bill which could give cuts to the wealthy at the expense of the middle class and poor.
Tell Mitch McConnell there should not be a tax vote until Doug Jones is seated. The people warrant a voice.”
Will you sign this petition?
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/tell-mitch-mcconnell-10?source=s.em.mt&r_by=1660958
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First the State of Alabama will not certify the vote before they ram it through .
But the Democratic response is rather lame . But if you’re circulating a petition . Make it an anti Norquist pledge and make Democrats sign on to reversing every cut back to 86.
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Democrats can start winning big if we can persuade youth, blacks and Hispanics to the polls. Only 46% of young people voted in the 2016 presidential election!
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And we might persuade them to vote if they didn’t have a Hobson’s choice…
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I don’t see how it’s a Hobson’s choice. It’s evil and insanity vs. imperfectly good.
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