# Can the Democrats win the Alabama senate special election in December? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 13, 2017, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504 "2017-08-13T00:49:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 30
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/581 "2017-11-13T18:04:28Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > This is just amazing. > > Men with mental illness. Just amazing. We’re not asking for men to use the ladies’ rooms, just transgender women. With guys like Moore on the prowl, I think the ladies have a lot more to fear from horndog men than from TG women. > > The right wing lives in alternate reality. There is no arguing with them, we just need to outvote them. For the ignorant right wing (there are still moderates and smarter ones like the senators from Arizona) it has come to this. They see that it is a sin to vote for Pedro, but it is ok to vote for the Pedo. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/582 "2017-11-13T18:31:26Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > He has the “political courage and moral indignation” to read 1)the polls and/or 2)rumblings that Moore shoes might be dropping soon. Y’all are giving him too much credit. This is a cynical ploy by McConnell to make the argument to the Alabama governor that the election will need to be delayed as the R’s no longer have a candidate. Here is my prediction as to how this will shape out: 1. Moore will step down (I’m sure with promises in his pocket). 2. McConnell (or surrogates) makes the case. 3. The Governor agrees, delaying the election. Maybe installing an interim Senator until Nov 2018? (Can that be done?) 4. D’s will argue that R’s should have done a better job vetting their candidate, R’s will argue that it’s up to X authority, the legal case will be expensive to both parties. D’s will lose. 5. An R will eventually represent AL in the Senate, Moore will work as a lobbyist on a 6, 7-figure retainer. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/583 "2017-11-13T18:39:47Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Y’all are giving him too much credit. This is a cynical ploy by McConnell to make the argument to the Alabama governor that the election will need to be delayed as the R’s no longer have a candidate. > > Here is my prediction as to how this will shape out: > > 1. Moore will step down (I’m sure with promises in his pocket). > 2. McConnell (or surrogates) makes the case. > **3. The Governor agrees, delaying the election. Maybe installing an interim Senator until Nov 2018? (Can that be done?)** > 3. D’s will argue that R’s should have done a better job vetting their candidate, R’s will argue that it’s up to X authority, the legal case will be expensive to both parties. D’s will lose. > 4. An R will eventually represent AL in the Senate, Moore will work as a lobbyist on a 6, 7-figure retainer. Probably can’t be done at this point, and it doesn’t [sound like the Governor has plans to do it](http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/11/gov_kay_ivey_has_no_plans_to_c.html). ([AL.com](http://AL.com)) It’s already been moved once and absentee voting has been taking place since October 18th. Looks like whatever is going to happen is going to happen on December 12th. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/584 "2017-11-13T18:51:29Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Were Bill Clinton’s accusers lying? No, they weren’t. Bill Clinton was a goddamn scumbag, and I assume still is. He’s probably a rapist. If Clinton had been 20-30 years younger and had run for President in 2016, I honestly wish the truth about his harassment and assault had come to light and completely destroyed him. Men like Clinton and Roy Moore must be smashed to bits. Their careers must be thrown into the garbage, their reputations sullied, as an example to all others. Every rapist and child molester should be drowned in social opprobrium and legal consequence as close to the fires of Hell as a civilized society can roast them in. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/585 "2017-11-13T18:57:13Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > No, they weren’t. Bill Clinton was a goddamn scumbag, and I assume still is. He’s probably a rapist. > > If Clinton had been 20-30 years younger and had run for President in 2016, I honestly wish the truth about his harassment and assault had come to light and completely destroyed him. > > Men like Clinton and Roy Moore must be smashed to bits. Their careers must be thrown into the garbage, their reputations sullied, as an example to all others. Every rapist and child molester should be drowned in social opprobrium and legal consequence as close to the fires of Hell as a civilized society can roast them in. Hear, hear. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/586 "2017-11-13T19:06:27Z")
[A new woman plans to accuse Moore of sexual assault](http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/11/roy_moore_alabama_sex_claims.html#incart_m-rpt-2) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/587 "2017-11-13T19:06:35Z")
Agreed. It is not hard to imagine a world in which we would have been better off had Clinton resigned in 1997/8 because of these issues. This current wave of accusations would have been 20 years earlier, Gore would have been President (and have a better chance of carrying FL in 2000 😉 ), 20 years of horrible behavior may have been curtailed, more. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/588 "2017-11-13T19:16:46Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > [Here](http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/11/10/erick-erickson-dont-blame-roy-moore-voters-for-sticking-with-him.html) is what all you GOP critics are looking for: Jeez. Erick Erickson. Yeah, just the voice we needed to hear from. The scary thing is, he’s what passes for an intellectual in that crowd. And most of the people on this board could run circles around the guy, intellectually and literally. Take this one: > [@Erick son of Erick](#): > > there are a lot of voters who are really damn tired of the culture war and they just want to be left alone. But the left won’t leave them alone. Right now, Trump, at the behest of his wingnut base, is stocking the Federal bench with unqualified judges who will base their rulings on the right-wing party line. That’s the **right** not leaving people alone. It’s also the right not leaving people alone when they pass laws restricting abortions and abortion clinics. The culture war, Erick, was a right-wing creation from the get-go. And you were fine with it as long as it seemed to you folks that you were winning it. And you’re still pressing your advantage on every front where you think you’ve got an advantage to press. That’s quite reasonable - politics ain’t beanbag - but it’s bullshit to turn around and complain that you want to be left alone, but those mean old lefties are still fighting the culture war that you’re oh so tired of. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/589 "2017-11-13T19:36:42Z")
> [@](#): > > …a baby’s brains can be harvested with taxpayer subsides… What? I didn’t even get a chance to vote for this, much less an opportunity for pay-per-view! ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/590 "2017-11-13T19:47:33Z")
> [@](#): > > …a baby’s brains can be harvested with taxpayer subsides… Shit, I’ve been doing it on my own dime all these years. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/591 "2017-11-13T19:48:47Z")
Pretty sure a grapefruit spoon does the job better than taxpayer subsidies. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/592 "2017-11-13T20:09:39Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > [A new woman plans to accuse Moore of sexual assault](http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/11/roy_moore_alabama_sex_claims.html#incart_m-rpt-2) [George Freakin Will endorses Doug Jones](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/roy-moore-is-an-embarrassment-doug-jones-deserves-to-win/2017/11/13/0dcb24e2-c89b-11e7-8321-481fd63f174d_story.html?utm_term=.d8a1eea81d13). I know he left the Republican party over Trump’s nomination, but I don’t think he actually went so far as to endorse Clinton (despite a typically dishonest Breitbart headline). Is this unprecedented? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/593 "2017-11-13T20:43:03Z")
Yeah, the Culture Wars are based on people just trying to be left alone to begin with. If everyone gets left alone, that’s called victory. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/594 "2017-11-13T20:46:13Z")
This woman who spoke today was very difficult to listen to as she described attempted rape by Roy Moore. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/595 "2017-11-13T20:47:08Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > If Clinton had been 20-30 years younger and had run for President in 2016 Why the ‘20-30 years younger’ part? He’s 71, same age as Trump. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/596 "2017-11-13T20:50:30Z")
I just wish Gloria Allred wasn’t involved. She’s poison to most Republican voters. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/597 "2017-11-13T20:56:58Z")
[Moore threatens to sue the WaPo](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/roy-moore-threatens-to-sue-washington-post/ar-BBETeoL) > [@](#): > > At a Christian Citizen Task Force forum here, Moore said the newspaper published false allegations — “for which they will be sued.” So, he pretty much HAS to sue them now. If not, I think many supporters will take it as a sign that he is actually guilty. Or worse, gutless. Because if he is innocent, he HAS to sue. But what are his chances if he goes to court? He would have to prove that A) the story is wrong and B) WaPo _knew_ it was wrong and ran it anyway. Just proving A will not be enough. The paper is allowed to be wrong about a story, just not _knowingly_ wrong. WaPo will bring its reporters and their notes, call the accusers and they will swear under oath. And if he cannot \*prove \*they were wrong… ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/598 "2017-11-13T20:59:03Z")
The latest victim has [a highschool yearbook with Roy Moore’s signature](http://www.businessinsider.com/roy-moore-yearbook-sexual-assault-beverly-young-nelson-2017-11). The handwriting checks out: > [@](#): > > As evidence of their relationship, Nelson presented a page of her yearbook that Moore asked to sign during one of his earlier visits to the restaurant. > > As Business Insider’s Josh Barro pointed out, Moore’s signature in the yearbook matches his signature on his US term limits pledge this year… ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/599 "2017-11-13T21:46:00Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > …Here is my prediction as to how this will shape out: > > 1. Moore will step down (I’m sure with promises in his pocket). > 2. McConnell (or surrogates) makes the case. > 3. The Governor agrees, delaying the election. Maybe installing an interim Senator until Nov 2018? (Can that be done?) > 4. D’s will argue that R’s should have done a better job vetting their candidate, R’s will argue that it’s up to X authority, the legal case will be expensive to both parties. D’s will lose. > 5. An R will eventually represent AL in the Senate, Moore will work as a lobbyist on a 6, 7-figure retainer. Yeah, I don’t think so. Roy Moore doesn’t sound at all like a man about to step down. In fact, I’m beginning to think his ego and narcissism may rival that of our President. [Moore released a fundraising appeal](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/13/us/politics/roy-moore-alabama-senate.html) to Alabama voters headlined “Mitch McConnell’s plot to destroy me.” > [@](#): > > Apparently Mitch McConnell and the establishment G.O.P. would rather elect a radical pro-abortion Democrat than a conservative Christian. [Here is a Facebook post](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1918173478198628&set=a.691807780835210.1073741825.100000179835928&type=3&theater) by his wife where she says > [@](#): > > Going on two months now they’ve been on a witchhunt here in Etowah County and our state advertising people to step forward with accusations and we are gathering evidence of money being paid to people who would come forward. Which is part of why we are filing suit! > > Washington establishment and Democrat Party will stop at nothing to stop our campaign. Sounds to me like someone gearing up for war, not like someone about to drop out. And if you click that link, the comments are equally disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504/600 "2017-11-13T21:51:29Z")
So here’s a question, which may be better suited to a new thread: Could the Washington Post effectively sue Moore (or Trump)? I mean, I know anyone can sue anyone. But it seems to me that Moore has tarnished their reputation by claiming that they’re reporting false news; both his attacks and Trump’s attacks on the media have probably caused material damages to them. If it comes out that Moore is lying, that means he’s also lying when he accuses WaPo of propagating false news. Doesn’t that constitute slander on his part, and could they sue him and win damages? I don’t know that that’d be wise: descending into suits and countersuits over news stories might not be the best thing for our democracy. But I’m curious whether they have a plausible case here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504.md?page=29) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democrats-win-the-alabama-senate-special-election-in-december/793504.md?page=31)