# GA special election **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 28, 2017, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575 "2017-05-28T02:22:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575/281 "2017-06-22T04:30:20Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Do you think it would have done much good for the base to see a race that looked like there was a long-shot chance, and to watch the DNC ignore it? > > It’s a bit dispiriting to lose a fight you fought hard for. But it’s at least as dispiriting to see a fight lost because no effort was put into it. In this regard I think it was very refreshing to see the fight over SC - 5, a battle the local Dems could easily have punted, and so often have in the recent past in this state. Not a ton of resources spent, but a decent candidate recruited. By contrast, the money and effort expended in GA - 6 after the primary was ridiculous. Once the result of the primary was known, the result was a foregone conclusion, in my opinion. The party should have eased up on the pedal and saved the resources for another battle down the road. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575/282 "2017-06-22T04:55:21Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > That is the message I wish the Democrats will take away from this election. “Boo Trump” didn’t work in 2016, it’s not working in 2017, and it’s irresponsible to risk 2018 on this strategy. Run stronger candidates on a better platform. This wasn’t a “boo Trump” campaign, though. Ossoff didn’t talk about Trump much at all in the last couple of months. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575/283 "2017-06-22T05:09:19Z")
Ossoff might not have, but what about all the outside money pouring in? What did those ads/mailings/etc. say? ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575/284 "2017-06-22T05:50:30Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > I’ve said for a while that the Dems need a little internal triangulation. To find a message that both unifies and transcends Clintonite corporatism and Sandersian semi-socialism, while not coming across as pandering. When the minorities, the intelligentsia and the white working class vote Dem, they’re unstoppable. > **[The formula Democrats need: Less Clintonism, less Sandersism, more Warrenism...](https://www.businessinsider.in/The-formula-Democrats-need-Less-Clintonism-less-Sandersism-more-Warrenism/articleshow/59261125.cms)** > > Thomson ReutersSen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) speaks with the media following the Democratic policy luncheon on Capitol Hill in WashingtonAfter Democrats missed the mark in another special election, Matt Yglesias writes that Democrats "could use a... Josh Barro has a very good column on exactly this point where he distinguishes Warren’s ideas from those of both Sanders and Clinton. The essence is fighting corporate monopoly power. > [@](#): > > The idea of “concentrated economic power” is a bit abstract and probably doesn’t rate high on a lot of voters’ list of concerns. But large and small manifestations of concentrated economic power - high drug prices, companies treating their workers like interchangeable widgets, mushrooming airline fees - are very real voter concerns, and Democrats could make a lot of hay by focusing on them. > > Democrats should make a list of corporate practices that grind people’s gears and ask whether there’s a compelling economic rationale for them. If there isn’t, they should propose to prohibit them, penalize them, or at least have the government stop subsidizing them. > > And they should explain how doing so will make it easier for people to buy the things they need to live the way they want, with their own earnings. He goes on to give some good examples. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575/285 "2017-06-22T09:48:39Z")
I still think that it matters less what your ideology is than that you a) actually believe in it and convince voters you believe in it, and b) make a good case for your worldview. I think Ossoff fell short for the reasons Democrats usually fall short: a carefully calibrated set of positions and a carefully calibrated message(cut spending!) designed to appeal to the median voter in the district. Which would be fine, except that I don’t think the media voter believed Ossoff. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575/286 "2017-06-22T11:26:11Z")
> [@notheretoargue](#): > > I didn’t read the entire 6 page thread to see if it had been asked, but do you feel you deserve some sort or prize, or trinket for your findings? Thank you, that would be lovely. Do you pick, or is there a catalog I can choose from? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575/287 "2017-06-22T13:27:24Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > This wasn’t a “boo Trump” campaign, though. Ossoff didn’t talk about Trump much at all in the last couple of months. Ossoff didn’t say much at all of substance, whether regarding Trump or anything else. But why do you think this off-year special election was the most expensively funded House race in history, with both sides bathed in outside dark money contributions? Everybody else made it about Trump, and Ossoff quietly assumed the mantle. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575/288 "2017-06-22T13:47:30Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Ossoff didn’t say much at all of substance, whether regarding Trump or anything else. But why do you think this off-year special election was the most expensively funded House race in history, with both sides bathed in outside dark money contributions? Everybody else made it about Trump, and Ossoff quietly assumed the mantle. I think you’re probably both right. The race was about Trump for progressive voters, who felt a greater sense of urgency to get out and vote in a mid-term election. However, Ossoff himself didn’t really make the campaign into an anti-Trump diatribe. He ran as a moderate democrat because the majority of the district is still either vocally supporting Trump or not ready to abandon him. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575/289 "2017-06-22T13:51:24Z")
The race wasn’t all about Ossoff either. Ossoff didn’t attract over $30M in spending because people all over the country were so dedicated to electing him to Congress. It was all about Trump - or, more accurately, Democratic attempts to translate anti-Trump feeling into election success. The reverse holds true on the Republican side. Basically this election was larger than either candidate, and was a proxy for the Trump/anti-Trump wars, regardless of what either candidate said or did. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575/290 "2017-06-22T14:07:16Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > I’ve said for a while that the Dems need a little internal triangulation. To find a message that both unifies and transcends Clintonite corporatism and Sandersian semi-socialism, while not coming across as pandering. When the minorities, the intelligentsia and the white working class vote Dem, they’re unstoppable. You forgot to add “and results in world peace”. 🙂 Seriously, and with all due respect, that sound so complicated as to be literally impossible. I have to believe there is a simpler way. Perhaps picking 3 key issues that most Americans are concerned about, and rallying around the solutions. Get the wonky papers out there for the literate folks to munch on, but keep the mass campaign simple and direct. And you (the generic you) can never go wrong with: It’s the economy, stupid! Transgender rights are important and all, but not really something that is going to get the people’s attention. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575/291 "2017-06-22T14:20:29Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Ossoff might not have, but what about all the outside money pouring in? What did those ads/mailings/etc. say? They were anti-Handel. Talked about her Susan Komen flip flop, Lexus SUV paid by taxpayers, etc, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575/292 "2017-06-22T15:11:28Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Basically this election was larger than either candidate, and was a proxy for the Trump/anti-Trump wars, regardless of what either candidate said or did. I think it was more of a Democrat/Republican party war, myself. Dems were stung in the presidential election and they wanted to do everything in their power to make Repubs feel the same sting in this election. Basically “You took something we thought was surely ours, we want to take something you think is surely yours”. Ossoff lost, in my opinion, for 3 main reasons: 1. He wasn’t different. He campaigned on the same platform as a Republican - cut wasteful spending and portraying his opponent as a big spender. Why on earth would one vote across parties for someone who is saying the same thing as the other candidate? That one really stumped me. 2. He ain’t from here - literally. He does not live in the district. He offered to move to the district _if elected_. That indicated to many residents that he had no real interest in representing the people, but only the party. I know there are other Senators who do not live in their district, but Ossoff showed no inclination or motivation to represent GA-6. 3. His money ain’t from here, either. Only 14% of his $23.6 million in direct contributions raised came from within the state. Handel, OTOH, got 56% of her $8MM in direct contributions from Georgia donors. It smacked of buying the election, Handel’s ads played that angle masterfully and it resonated. I’m actually relieved he lost, but not because of his views. I think that if he had won, both parties would have sped headlong into selecting personalities to run for Senate seats, no matter where they live and bankrolling them to a victory. It will continue to happen, but it’s not how it is supposed to be. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575/293 "2017-06-22T16:24:30Z")
[http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/06/22/handel-republicans-suburban-nightmare-215289](http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/06/22/handel-republicans-suburban-nightmare-215289) Interesting post-election write-up by Politico, and I tend to agree with the main thrust of it. The Republican party may have won in 2016, and it may have managed to claw its way to victory in these recent special elections, but increasingly, it is gradually losing control of the suburbs. I think progressives and left-leaning centrists such as myself ought to keep in mind that not much has changed over the last several years. The Republicans are intellectually bankrupt. They’re a party that’s held hostage to special corporate and religious interests that the vast majority of the country doesn’t relate to very well. They’re winning in terms of tactics and organization, but they’re not really winning on ideas, and increasingly, they’re running out of people who believe in their bullshit. On the flip side, this is also what makes them dangerous. Knowing, as we do, that they’re really incapable of winning using straightforward, conventional democratic means, they’re resorting to less and less democratic means of keeping themselves in power, everything from race-based gerrymandering and voter intimidation to going after journalists and trying to invent their own version of reality. It’s critical that progressives, whatever their differences on everything else, stand in unison against these tactics. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575/294 "2017-06-22T17:17:17Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > I think it was more of a Democrat/Republican party war, myself. Dems were stung in the presidential election and they wanted to do everything in their power to make Repubs feel the same sting in this election. Basically “You took something we thought was surely ours, we want to take something you think is surely yours”. > > Ossoff lost, in my opinion, for 3 main reasons: > > 1. He wasn’t different. He campaigned on the same platform as a Republican - cut wasteful spending and portraying his opponent as a big spender. Why on earth would one vote across parties for someone who is saying the same thing as the other candidate? That one really stumped me. > 2. He ain’t from here - literally. He does not live in the district. He offered to move to the district _if elected_. That indicated to many residents that he had no real interest in representing the people, but only the party. I know there are other Senators who do not live in their district, but Ossoff showed no inclination or motivation to represent GA-6. > 3. His money ain’t from here, either. Only 14% of his $23.6 million in direct contributions raised came from within the state. Handel, OTOH, got 56% of her $8MM in direct contributions from Georgia donors. It smacked of buying the election, Handel’s ads played that angle masterfully and it resonated. > > I’m actually relieved he lost, but not because of his views. I think that if he had won, both parties would have sped headlong into selecting personalities to run for Senate seats, no matter where they live and bankrolling them to a victory. It will continue to happen, but it’s not how it is supposed to be. None of that really rings true. It’s not like the Dems parachuted him in from New York. He lived most of his life in the district, afaik, and is currently living one district over til his wife finishes school. I guess the out of state money could have been meaningful to some. However there is the fact that Dems haven’t won that seat in decades. Why do we need to look at these little details to figure out why this Dem lost? ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575/295 "2017-06-22T17:27:49Z")
The basic lesson of these special elections is that the Democrats will have a number of paths to a majority in 2018. They will be competitive in suburban, affluent places like GA-6 or more downscale districts like the SC one. However being competitive and winning are different and Democrats still need to do a few things: a)Recruit better candidates with some experience and stature in the key races. No more Ossoff’s. b)Allow candidates to adjust their positions to their district particularly on guns,abortion and immigration. c)Develop a strong national message about how Democratic policies will help the average voter. Dropping Pelosi, who has become an electoral deadweight, would be nice too but that isn’t looking likely so it will just be a burden they have to bear, which should be OK if they do the other things. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575/296 "2017-06-22T20:22:47Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > The Republican party may have won in 2016, and it may have managed to claw its way to victory in these recent special elections, but increasingly, it is gradually losing control of the suburbs. Yes, the Republicans may have won the White House in 2016, and may have managed to win each and every contested special election, and may control 33 governor’s mansions, 68 state legislative chambers, the U.S. House, and the US Senate. But by God, they’re on the ropes, desperate and ineffectual. In the suburbs. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575/297 "2017-06-22T20:31:18Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Yes, the Republicans may have won the White House in 2016, and may have managed to win each and every contested special election, and may control 33 governor’s mansions, 68 state legislative chambers, the U.S. House, and the US Senate. > > But by God, they’re on the ropes, desperate and ineffectual. In the suburbs. You think the Republican party is in great shape overall right now, with great prospects for the future? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575/298 "2017-06-22T20:48:00Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > You think the Republican party is in great shape overall right now, with great prospects for the future? In my view, the Republican party is in better shape right now than the Democrats. “Great shape,” is really only relevant here as a comparative. “I don’t have to outrun the bear. I just have outrun you.” ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575/299 "2017-06-22T21:05:28Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > In my view, the Republican party is in better shape right now than the Democrats. “Great shape,” is really only relevant here as a comparative. “I don’t have to outrun the bear. I just have outrun you.” Fair enough. If the future of the Republican party is Trumpian, will you remain a Republican? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575/300 "2017-06-22T21:43:24Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > In my view, the Republican party is in better shape right now than the Democrats. “Great shape,” is really only relevant here as a comparative. “I don’t have to outrun the bear. I just have outrun you.” In Trump America, bear outruns you (both)! 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ga-special-election/787575.md?page=16)