When is a wave not a wave? Colby Itkowitz of the WaPo takes on the challenge of spinning last night as a "wave" win for the Dems, or else not.
Let me skip past the Dem triumphalism and get to the frowny face:
Trump tweeted that the night was a “tremendous success.” And from his vantage point, it was.
The massive repudiation of Trump that Democrats hoped for simply didn’t happen. In fact, in many states where Trump campaigned hard for Republicans, it seems the opposite occurred. He focused throughout the campaign on saving the Senate for the GOP, and it appears his efforts paid off.
And while House Democrats can now go forward with impeachment if they like, Trump is buffered by a Republican Senate that would never convict him.
Notably, the Democratic candidates who received the most national attention and fanfare lost or are on track to lose. In Georgia, even appearances by Oprah Winfrey and former president Barack Obama don’t seem to have gotten gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams across the finish line. And O’Rourke, who reached almost rock-star status (Beyoncé posed on Instagram Tuesday wearing a Beto hat!), couldn’t overtake Cruz in the end.
There is no way Trump views last night as a repudiation.
PILING ON: Newt Gingrich on how to deal with the Dem House:
“The White House should drag it out, bog it down, take the momentum away and make it go on forever,” said Gingrich. He also encouraged conservatives to foster what he believes would be counter-productive impeachment talk among Democrats. “Make it the speaker’s problem, make her deal with the nutty wing of her party.”
He says 'nutty', I say 'crazy' - we may be able to find a compromise here.
Posted by: Dave (in MA) | November 07, 2018 at 02:20 PM
Tommy boy
Are Huber and Horowitz going to save the day? LOL
Posted by: Eye Doctor . | November 07, 2018 at 02:24 PM
If I were in charge, there would be no more handing out of microphones to these people. They'd have to come up to the stationary mic once recognized, and that woman would have a button to turn off the mic when their turn is over.
Posted by: Extraneus | November 07, 2018 at 02:25 PM
Apparently there’s a good chance that the new Speaker will not be Pelosi but rather Maxine Waters. If nothing else the next two years could get really entertaining—in a watching a train wreck kind of way.
Posted by: derwill | November 07, 2018 at 02:34 PM
Miss 'socialize the corporation's teh horror.
Posted by: Bernardi Dr la paz | November 07, 2018 at 02:38 PM
Posted by: Dave (in MA) | November 07, 2018 at 02:42 PM
"WOAH. The FULL LEWANDOWSKI. He should have been put down
on the ground by SS."FiFY Dave (in MA)
At the least, Senor "Machismo" Acosta should have a lengthy time out period from even being in the WH press room and mandatory anger management training. He is giving Hispanic men a bad name.
Posted by: Frau Indianerherz | November 07, 2018 at 02:46 PM
POTUS just accepted Jeff Session's resignation per Fox, which was requested by POTUS this am
Posted by: anonamom | November 07, 2018 at 02:46 PM
CNBC Now @CNBCnow
17s
BREAKING: Attorney General Jeff Sessions is out.
Posted by: henry | November 07, 2018 at 02:46 PM
82% Gillum
That's shockingly low. Does he have a white wife or something?
Posted by: Ralph L | November 07, 2018 at 02:47 PM
I think every R rep should vote for Maxine for Speaker.
Posted by: anonamom | November 07, 2018 at 02:47 PM
don't wear white!
It's after Labor Day, she won't.
Posted by: Ralph L | November 07, 2018 at 02:48 PM
Sessions resigns!
Posted by: maryrose | November 07, 2018 at 02:50 PM
There goes a fair portion of the 4D theory.
Posted by: Extraneus | November 07, 2018 at 02:52 PM
Anonamom and Henry:
Thanks for the information.
Posted by: maryrose | November 07, 2018 at 02:53 PM
Acosta is a certified thug.
Terminate him from the Press room indefinitely.
Posted by: maryrose | November 07, 2018 at 02:54 PM
Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
We are pleased to announce that Matthew G. Whitaker, Chief of Staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the Department of Justice, will become our new Acting Attorney General of the United States. He will serve our Country well....
Posted by: lurkersusie | November 07, 2018 at 02:54 PM
Apparently Sessions is replaced by his Chief of Staff, whoever that is.
Posted by: henry | November 07, 2018 at 02:55 PM
Well, I really respect and like Sessions as you all know. Good chance Trump might never have been elected without him.
But it's Trump's call. If it's time, it's time. Thank you AG Sessions.
Gloves appear to be off now. :)
Posted by: Porchlight | November 07, 2018 at 02:55 PM
I have to wonder if we would even have a country if after a battle with mixed results and many losses General George Washington said, "Okay. That's it. I'm outta here! I'm going home to Mount Vernon."
Posted by: Barbara | November 07, 2018 at 02:55 PM
Sessions resigns
Posted by: Jane | November 07, 2018 at 02:57 PM
I tweeted him my thanks for his service. He's at
@jeffsessions
He wrote a most gracious resignation letter.
Class act.
Posted by: anonamom | November 07, 2018 at 02:57 PM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Whitaker_(lawyer)
Whitaker was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa by President George W. Bush.
Posted by: henry | November 07, 2018 at 02:57 PM
Jane on prev thread, "Trump hands Jim Acosta his ass."
I hope he was wearing gloves on a ten foot pole.
Back to catchup.
Posted by: hoyden | November 07, 2018 at 02:58 PM
HowardKurtz
Verified account @HowardKurtz
34s35 seconds ago
OK, there's no debate. The Jeff Sessions letter says "at your request, I am submitting my resignation"
cathyf, Here's your answer.
Posted by: Miss Marple | November 07, 2018 at 02:58 PM
I don't have a Twitter account, anonamom, but thank you so much for doing that.
Posted by: Porchlight | November 07, 2018 at 02:58 PM
matt: "the Left just took their best shot. $2 billion worth and an incredibly energized base of haters."
I bet if anyone searched diligently they'd find Russia, China and some EU countries found ways to help the Dems.
Posted by: JimNorCal | November 07, 2018 at 03:01 PM
We are pleased to announce that Matthew G. Whitaker, Chief of Staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the Department of Justice, will become our new Acting Attorney General of the United States.
Well that's interesting. Who knew he could bypass Rosenstein?
Posted by: Extraneus | November 07, 2018 at 03:01 PM
Scott Walker concedes.
I love that the Sessions resignation stamps on the news that the Dems have retaken the House.
Posted by: maryrose | November 07, 2018 at 03:01 PM
Whitaker is the tell, that rosenstein is next.
Posted by: narciso | November 07, 2018 at 03:02 PM
Tommy boy?
Posted by: Eye Doctor . | November 07, 2018 at 03:02 PM
There goes a fair portion of the 4D theory.
You misunderestimate 4D theory. It can be twisted to fit any fact. Just wait.
Posted by: jimmyk | November 07, 2018 at 03:03 PM
So is Mueller now reporting to an unrecused Whitaker?
Posted by: henry | November 07, 2018 at 03:03 PM
Was Whitaker approved by the Senate for his current position? I thought that was a requirement to be acting in a Cabinet role, like the current acting EPA secretary.
Posted by: Extraneus | November 07, 2018 at 03:04 PM
Yes, and so is Rosenstein
Posted by: Eye Doctor . | November 07, 2018 at 03:04 PM
Ah, CNBC thinks so:
CNBC Now @CNBCnow
1m
MORE: New acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker will oversee Mueller probe
Posted by: henry | November 07, 2018 at 03:04 PM
Good question, henry!
Posted by: Miss Marple | November 07, 2018 at 03:05 PM
Sessions being asked to resign doesn’t really help... The people committing crimes are still there and continue to obstruct justice.
Now if the new acting AG cleans house, maybe that helps. But I think somebody needs to be prosecuted, too.
Posted by: cathyf on iPhone | November 07, 2018 at 03:05 PM
I agree, Porch. The gloves are off.
Posted by: Extraneus | November 07, 2018 at 03:07 PM
So is the kraken finally going to be released? More to the point, is there even a kraken?
Asking for a friend.
Posted by: derwill | November 07, 2018 at 03:07 PM
Its a minefield Cathy f, he needs flexibility to fire mueller,
Posted by: narciso | November 07, 2018 at 03:07 PM
Jus' getting it all out there :) :)
Posted by: JimNorCal | November 07, 2018 at 03:08 PM
S&P up 1.9%
NASDAQ up 2.3%
Posted by: Extraneus | November 07, 2018 at 03:08 PM
He was apoointes last September, was a public critic of Mueller's method.
Posted by: narciso | November 07, 2018 at 03:09 PM
Ext:
Ding dong 4D is dead.
Hidden, ulterior plan revealed as hokum.
No foolproof plan to hold the House.
Kabuki theater only in some people’s imagination.
Left on the table and the field:
Wiretapping, FIDA warrants illegally obtained,
False dossier paid for by Clinton, emails of a plan to take down Trump and stop him from winning and then upend his presidency.
No warrants for arrest, no perp walks, no indictments of Dem
Stock market loves the midterm results.
My sweetest moment:
Take down of 4 Dem senators because of their egregious vote against Kavanaugh.
Revenge is sweet.
Not calling that Georgia Governor race - the low point.
Posted by: maryrose | November 07, 2018 at 03:09 PM
OK, so the argument that Trump would not declassify before the midterms because he would be charged with obstruction is now history, and Sessions is out. The other problem with declassification was that our "allies" would be compromised. I say, let them. Let's see the evidence!!
Posted by: JohnS | November 07, 2018 at 03:09 PM
Notice: no leaks.
Posted by: Porchlight | November 07, 2018 at 03:10 PM
Seriously, I think Trump just went on the offensive against muh Russia. And he’s got two months to get it going. The Dems have to wait until January and by then who knows how much the kraken (if there is one) will have changed the narrative.
Posted by: derwill | November 07, 2018 at 03:11 PM
It seems obvious to me that the delay in declassification was entirely political/electoral.
Decks are now cleared post-midterms.
Posted by: Porchlight | November 07, 2018 at 03:12 PM
Sarah Sanders should accuse Acosta of assault now. Yes, the aide tried to grab the mic, but she didn't touch Acosta. He clearly toughed her in an aggressive manner.
Fair is fair.
Posted by: Extraneus | November 07, 2018 at 03:12 PM
New
Posted by: JimNorCal | November 07, 2018 at 03:13 PM
Sessions out. New thread?
Posted by: Pinandpuller | November 07, 2018 at 03:13 PM
Renacci failed Senate candidate blaming Kasich for dividing state Repubs and not enough money from Repub Senate committee.
The Republican Senator Cory Gardner do d a bang up job of securing 4 Dem seats to pad our majority.
Posted by: maryrose | November 07, 2018 at 03:14 PM
Project Veritas video at link.
Posted by: Miss Marple | November 07, 2018 at 03:16 PM
You misunderestimate 4D theory. It can be twisted to fit any fact. Just wait.
That is what 4D is---flexible. Very flexible.
Not subjected to the usual rules.
Right???
The Sessions resignation sure changes the subject from the MSM's "Big Win."
Posted by: anonamom | November 07, 2018 at 03:17 PM
Somebody needs to be prosecuted too” by Cathyf
From your lips to God’s ears.
Posted by: maryrose | November 07, 2018 at 03:17 PM
Anonamom:
It sure does.
Poor Dems: foiled again!
Posted by: maryrose | November 07, 2018 at 03:18 PM
Jimmyk:
You are hilarious!
Posted by: maryrose | November 07, 2018 at 03:20 PM
All of a sudden StealthJeff isn't such a good handle.
Time for RG to show up. Confession is good for the soul.
Posted by: Captain Hate | November 07, 2018 at 03:26 PM
I hope I am wrong about everything and this is not a national suicide. But Acosta and the other journalists in the White House press corp are the kind of kids who grew up thinking they were the smartest in school until the nerdiest kid won a scholarship to MIT or Harvard, and they got one to Missouri or Columbia Journalism School.
The MIT kid goes on to invent a cure for cancer, and the journalist goes on to assault a press aide in the White House.
Posted by: Harry | November 07, 2018 at 04:50 PM
love your JOM de plume there, Frau! :D
Posted by: Kevlar Kid | November 07, 2018 at 05:25 PM
LOL Harry!
Posted by: Jane | November 07, 2018 at 05:47 PM