Obviously, tonight sucked. But as the saying goes, crisis provides opportunity. 2016 is two years away. And other than this sentence, I promise (in this post) not to mention Hillary, pro or con.
So what are the silver lining(s)?
* Progressive ISSUES did better than democratic candidates. Two red states passed minimum wage laws by popular election. Oregon legalized pot. (Oregon was awesome tonight in most ways, though a few other progressive ballot measures failed) North Dakota turned back a nasty anti-abortion law.
* On many "culture war" issues, we're winning. Gay marriage was a major winner for the GOP in 2004. It was a major winner for Democrats in 2012. It was pretty much a non-issue in 2014, and I expect it will be a non-issue in 2016, just as votes for women and alcohol prohibition have been non-issues in US politics for years.
* There are many signs that in quite a few places--a progressive economic message has traction. Too bad few Democrats ran on such, instead either turning tail and running as GOP-lite (Grimes) or focusing on the yuppie urban liberal vote (Udall). While some of the working class is racist or retrograde in their politics, a far bigger segment simply doesn't see politics working for them, so they don't vote or vote for whoever makes the bigger media splash.
* Lots of deadwood was sent packing. I will miss Mark Udall significantly, his poor campaign tactics notwithstanding. There are quite a few I won't miss anywhere near as much. Of course, Charlie Crist would be infinitely preferably to four more years of Rick Scott--but on the other hand, is he the best that Florida Democrats can do?
* I'm certain the GOP will overreach; it's the nature of the beast. One reason the GOP did well is they managed to avoid overreach post-shutdown crisis, leaving "you can keep your plan" as the most recent domestic foobar on voters' minds. They're usually not that disciplined, though--Ted Cruz wants to run for President very badly; and will be an immense pain in Mitch McConnell's backside, just as the Tea Party faction of the House has been a pain in Boehner's. Not that the next two years will see any progressive reforms at the national level (it won't), and watching Obama play defense will be frustrating--but they no longer have Harry Reid to hide behind.
And lots of work to be done:
* We need a scientific (i.e. good sound polling and research, not speculation from various factions within the Democratic Party) as to why the Democratic turnout was poor. We all have our suspicions, and I have mine--but they are suspicions only.
* We need to resume the 50 state strategy, and have competent Democratic operations everywhere. Texas delivered the Dems a bloody nose once again (though Wendy Davis at least made the race interesting, if not competitive), but the Texas Democratic Party has been a frigging mess since 1994. It's hard to win statewide offices like Governor when you can't field competent candidates for many local offices. Start local, build up the party. The Texas GOP is sclerotic and corrupt, but has no competent opposition in most cases. (And pray the GOP doesn't take the same advice in solid blue states like Oregon).
* Continue to focus on local politics. Run referenda advancing progressive goals in states that permit it.
* Don't worry about impeachment or any of that. There aren't 67 votes to convict. It would be a freakshow, much like the last time--and unlike with Bill Clinton, Obama hasn't done anything that remotely resembles a "high crime or misdemeanor". (See overreach comments above).
* The most dangerous, immediate concern: This will be interpreted as a referendum for Obama to escalate the situation in Iraq/Syria further. Obama needs to resist that, and Democrats need to ensure he does. (I doubt there is much popular support for any sort of resumed ground war in the Middle East, but the hawks will claim such a mandate--after all, a mandate for nothing is often a mandate for everything).
* And finally: Focus on the economy. This can be hard for Democratic elected officials, because the political donor class wants them to advance Republican policies (or centrist policies) on the economy (even though they generally prefer actual Republicans). But tonight's election was not a referendum supporting GOP policies or issues; in most places, the GOP didn't campaign on the issues. Even the hated Obamacare was off the radar in many places. The GOP won despite being -20 in approval (Dems are -8 overall, but the Pres is -10). Instead, this was a "malaise" election; the electorate writ large--especially in much of middle America--is not feeling comfortable, and lashed out at the party in power. And many Dem candidates, unfortunately, played right into the hands of this strategy.
I'm off to make some lemonade. Spiked thoroughly with some harder stuff.