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Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Republicans have lost hope for a last-minute surprise that will substantially change midterm math that's increasingly adding up against them.

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A US President now siding with the Kremlin.

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-- Mark Chadbourn (@chadbourn.bsky.social) 7:10 PM · Oct 12, 2026

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Republicans have lost hope for a last-minute surprise that will substantially change midterm math that's increasingly adding up against them.

Instead, they're doing what they can to save themselves.

Many are distancing themselves from some of President Donald Trump's most unpopular policies " in some cases, ones they agreed with only weeks before " as polls show the president is deeply unpopular and at risk of dragging Republican candidates down with him.

#1 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-10-14 07:06 PM | Reply

Good. ---- the entire party of gutless cowards, racist pigs, and grifting fraudsters

#2 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-10-14 08:14 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

These people are knawing rats who but a short time ago saw Donald Trump as a magic carpet ride to endless power and money,

Eff these nasty pieces of sh". .

#3 | Posted by Zed at 2026-10-14 08:23 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

they hitched themselves to Trump.....if he goes off a cliff.......you deserve to go with him.

#4 | Posted by eberly at 2026-10-14 08:36 PM | Reply

Maybe a tranny will go on a shooting spree and make everything okay again.

#5 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-10-14 08:37 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"With no October surprise in sight"

The month isn't even half over yet. By definition, an October Surprise isn't something you can see coming in advance!

#6 | Posted by sentinel at 2026-10-14 09:00 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

Related (also from Politico):

House control all but gone, top Republicans privately concede

Some top congressional Republicans have privately concluded that it is likely impossible for them to keep control of the House of Representatives in the midterm elections, and they are now focused on limiting the scale of the defeat and salvaging the party's Senate majority.

Five senior Republican lawmakers, all granted anonymity to speak candidly about their party's dire position, told POLITICO the House had all but slipped away.

One senior House Republican said the GOP's goal at this point was to "save as many Republican seats as we can." The president, this person said, was not helping.

"President Trump has made this election all about himself," the lawmaker said. "Now we have to survive that political storm."

www.politico.com

#7 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-10-14 11:25 PM | Reply

Sentinel: History shows that in order for an "October Surprise" to have an impactful effect on Election Day it needs to take place in the first ten days of October.

#8 | Posted by moder8 at 2026-10-15 01:16 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

Let's don't let our guard down too early. The October surprise could come in January when Johnson refuses to seat the newly elected Democrat members of the House based on a charge (suspicion) of fraud that is underway, one that was initiated by Donald Trump. It also means that Johnson could keep his job for months until the matter is resolved in a long string of court filings and appeals all the way up to the Supreme Court which Trump perceives as his "bought and paid for" ace-in-the-hole.

And that's not the only option Johnson has to delay the certification of the votes. There isn't anything Johnson won't try to help Trump hold onto power, last ditch Hail Marys included.

#9 | Posted by Twinpac at 2026-10-15 05:17 AM | Reply

Trump is really slipping in his dotage. A younger Trump would have convinced MAGAts that Haitians are eating their dogs and stealing their geese by August, at the latest. 80-year-old Trump can't even get MAGAts to believe affordability is a hoax made up by the Democrats.

#10 | Posted by anton at 2026-10-15 05:18 AM | Reply

I have no doubt there's something dastardly afoot. There's no way Trump is leaving office, except in waist fetters, and there's little chance of that happening--given his continued support among the evergreen MAGA faithful. I expect industrial-strength, unconstitutional shenanigans, one right after another.

#11 | Posted by dutch46 at 2026-10-15 05:20 AM | Reply

Trump is a long way from being finished with his destruction of the midterms. He could do something so heinous that it would stir up torch bearing riots all across the country as justification for using the Insurrection Act . . . or even declare Martial Law.

What might that heinous(s) acts be? One can hardly imagine. Personally, I would recommend that a certain former President start wearing a Kevlar vest.

#12 | Posted by Twinpac at 2026-10-15 05:31 AM | Reply

I would also suggest that America's very popular former President ...and Trump's #1 nemesis . . . not fly commercial any time soon.

Trump's tentacles spread far and wide.

#13 | Posted by Twinpac at 2026-10-15 06:13 AM | Reply

Buying Iranian diesel via Russia, and throttling Starshield so defensive interceptors don't work, definitely surprised people. Mostly Ukranian.

#14 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2026-10-15 07:42 AM | Reply

SITZ

"Buying Iranian diesel via Russia,"

Right now the contents of that tanker would only last about 12 minutes in the USA.

IOW, no impact at all. It's just Trump's way of fooling voters again.

#15 | Posted by Twinpac at 2026-10-15 08:07 AM | Reply

If MAGA was good at math they wouldn't have voted for Trump.

#16 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2026-10-15 08:22 AM | Reply

Trump was in Alaska doing a rally with Sullivan two days ago. I don't buy what this article is selling.

#17 | Posted by qcp at 2026-10-15 09:27 AM | Reply

The senate race in Kansas is insane. both candidates are unloading on each other.

99% attack ads. I'll bet 90% of the money is out of state on both sides.

It's not even about these candidates.....it's all about the seat.

#18 | Posted by eberly at 2026-10-15 11:13 AM | Reply

-There's no way Trump is leaving office, except in waist fetters, and there's little chance of that happening--given his continued support among the evergreen MAGA faithful.

That was the overwhelming message in both 2004 and 2008 regarding GWB.

He was revered by the left as the same danger to our constitution as Trump is being revered. GWB was going to declare martial law and remain in office. 100%!!!

Was the left just kidding the last time?

#19 | Posted by eberly at 2026-10-15 11:16 AM | Reply

It's not even about these candidates ...

It's not about the constituents either.

#20 | Posted by horstngraben at 2026-10-15 11:17 AM | Reply

I don't recall GWB sending his monkey army of ---- flingers into the Capitol building or openly talking about cheating in elections or declaring Martial law if the opposition wins. Regardless of what the left said at the time.

I am getting old though, so my memory could be failing me. But if my memory isn't failing me (which I don't think it is), then Trump is a lot worse than GWB.

Simple logic. You should try it, eb. Unless your memory is failing you, which I don't think it is.

#21 | Posted by horstngraben at 2026-10-15 11:25 AM | Reply

Was the left just kidding the last time?

#19 | POSTED BY EBERLY

GWB: "The Constitution is just a god-damned piece of paper".

Memory fades so quickly. What was to become MAGA also wanted to put his face on Mt. Rushmore. The desire for a replacement Jesus is strong in these people.

GBW personally approved human torture.

No, no one was kidding.

Just because Trump is worse doesn't make GWB better.

#22 | Posted by Zed at 2026-10-15 11:39 AM | Reply

MAGA ditched GWB because he failed. Instead of resolving to choose their candidates for godhood better, they elected to triple down on their mistakes. Hence Trump, the most impotent and unpleasant god of anyone's pantheon.

The sorry fact is that we ca do even worse than Donald Trump. MAGA may well be willing to prove that.

#23 | Posted by Zed at 2026-10-15 11:42 AM | Reply

I fear, like many, that there will be a November surprise.

#24 | Posted by Zed at 2026-10-15 11:45 AM | Reply

Zed,

These elections are starting to seem like a Schrodinger's Box.

There could be a blue Tsunami and America starts to recover from this nightmare. Or MAGA wins somehow and holds both Houses of Congress and we slide deeper into dystopia.

And both are true!

Until you open the box.

#25 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-10-15 12:07 PM | Reply

21

You're not reading me correctly at all.

I didn't say they are similar or the same or done the same things.

My point is quite clear....and you missed it completely (think about that) is the reaction from the left is exactly the same.

same predictions, same conclusions drawn, same damage to our country, our constitution, our world reputation, our economy, etc....all the same.

You're interpreting this to mean I making you justify your outrage.

Don't justify anything to me.

My memory just fine, BTW. I remember all of it. All the paranoia, doomsday predictions, etc.

22

all good points, Zed. Memory fades. Outrage fades........but I remember it.

#26 | Posted by eberly at 2026-10-15 12:18 PM | Reply

-It's not about the constituents either.

You got that right.

the attacks are insane and juvenile.

#27 | Posted by eberly at 2026-10-15 12:19 PM | Reply

-The desire for a replacement Jesus is strong in these people.

it's a sporting event.

people are rooting for their team and rooting hard against the other team.

It's tribal.

which is why it's so predictable.

Doesn't mean you win.....and it doesn't mean fans won't boo their own team.

#28 | Posted by eberly at 2026-10-15 12:21 PM | Reply

ZED @ #22

"GWB: "The Constitution is just a god-damned piece of paper".

that was NIXON.

In the GWB administration, Dick Cheney was the one pushing for a Unitary Executive.

"W" tuned Cheney out after Cheney lied to him about the Yellow Cake/Scooter Libby incident.

Scooter Libby took the fall for Cheney. Then Cheney got pis**d at "W" because "W" reneged on a promise to pardon Libby.

That was the end of their friendship. Kaput!

Don't quote me on anything. I'm having memory problemsm too.

#29 | Posted by Twinpac at 2026-10-15 12:51 PM | Reply

"Sentinel: History shows that in order for an "October Surprise" to have an impactful effect on Election Day it needs to take place in the first ten days of October."

Nope. There's nothing in history that indicates that.

In fact, quite a few counterexamples: the Comey announcement about reopening the investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails happened on October 28. George W Bush's DWI was leaked on November 2 (he lost the popular vote and barely won the electoral vote, which some people still dispute). Kissinger's "peace is at hand" press conference happened 12 days before the election.

#30 | Posted by sentinel at 2026-10-15 02:48 PM | Reply

My point is quite clear....and you missed it completely

I don't think I'm missing your point, EB. You repeat it quite regularly on the DR, and as you say, you're quite clear. Let me repeat it and you be the judge of my understanding.

The libs are forever stuck in a cycle of increasing fear and hatred for whoever happens to be the Republican POTUS (or any politician). The fear and hatred step up a notch along with the next Republican, regardless of who that Republican happens to be. It's an irrational reaction to Republicans winning elections that you think is funny.

My point was that your point was stupid and a lazy attempt to gaslight. Republicans are indeed getting worse, regardless of the degree to which libs freaked out over past Republican presidents (or any politician).

#31 | Posted by horstngraben at 2026-10-15 04:11 PM | Reply

31

well, that is about 10,000 miles from your 21.

So, you're not missing my point anymore but you obviously and massively missed it with your 21.

but you caught up. Congrats.

Let's leave it at that.

#32 | Posted by eberly at 2026-10-15 04:18 PM | Reply

Let's leave it at that.

Oh, we'll leave it when I say we can leave it.

But, probably a good idea. My sarcasm and wit fly right over your head, and stating my arguments plainly and with a small modicum of respect just isn't any fun at all.

#33 | Posted by horstngraben at 2026-10-15 04:34 PM | Reply

-My sarcasm and wit fly right over your head

sorry....but you misspelled "anger" and "hysteria"

#34 | Posted by eberly at 2026-10-15 04:45 PM | Reply

"My point was that your point was stupid and a lazy attempt to gaslight"

thanks for agreeing with me???

"The libs are forever stuck in a cycle of increasing fear and hatred for whoever happens to be the Republican POTUS (or any politician). The fear and hatred step up a notch along with the next Republican, regardless of who that Republican happens to be. It's an irrational reaction to Republicans winning elections that you think is funny."

well said.

And before someone accuses me something not true....I think your reaction is funny. Not the lost election.

#35 | Posted by eberly at 2026-10-15 04:56 PM | Reply

""The libs are forever stuck in a cycle of increasing fear and hatred for whoever happens to be the Republican POTUS"

Well, in my lifetime...George HW Bush wasn't as good as Reagan.
Dubya was much worse than his father; the most incompetent governance I'd ever seen.
Trump 1.0 was MUCH worse than Dubya. And MORE incompetent.
Trump 2.0 is the worst of all: TOTALLY incompetent.

If it were in 2-D chart form, "Republican Presidential Performance" would look like a downhill ski slope.

#36 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-10-15 05:06 PM | Reply

thanks for agreeing with me???

Just because I can restate your argument to your own satisfaction doesn't mean I agree with it.

It's part of the critical thinking process. You should try it.

#37 | Posted by horstngraben at 2026-10-15 05:34 PM | Reply

Is this argument going to be about substance . . . or an infantile, picayunish fight over who's going to get the last word?

#38 | Posted by Twinpac at 2026-10-15 05:48 PM | Reply

Infantile, picayunish fighting, for sure.

Wait, why are you here?

#39 | Posted by horstngraben at 2026-10-15 06:17 PM | Reply

Then there's this ...

Six Reasons Democrats May Fall Short of a Midterm Landslide in November
www.usnews.com

... Republican President Donald Trump's low approval ratings, voter concern over high prices and dissatisfaction with the Iran war have led many analysts and opinion polls to predict significant Democratic gains in the November 3 midterm elections.

But six analysts and party strategists told Reuters several factors could prevent Democrats from turning those favorable political conditions into a landslide, even if the party ultimately makes gains in Congress.

Here are six reasons Democrats may fall short of expectations. ...

...

#40 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-10-15 06:41 PM | Reply

Democratic Socialists appear poised to win a significant amount of Democrat and Republican seats.

When Trump refuses to leave office, hiding in his bunker as MAGA surge the grounds.. will the CIA nuke DC?

Imo, he'll need a false flag, maybe one that goes sideways..

Anyhow, Republicans are getting their way so far - the government can barely function whatsoever now.

The bribes and profiteering generates more and more weenie billionaires each day.

We are economically paralyzed and the inflation is just beginning.

"As Rome falls, falls the world."

#41 | Posted by redlightrobot at 2026-10-15 06:45 PM | Reply

One thing (of many about the election) that has been on my mind of late ...

Does the timing of the Democrats have them peaking too early?

Have the Democrats chosen a wave to ride that was too close to the shore, and the wave may not last as long as they need it to last to ride to a win?


#42 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-10-15 06:45 PM | Reply

Republicans don't need an October surprise.

They've already won the election.

#43 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-10-15 06:49 PM | Reply

@#43

I understand the [apparent?] sarcasm of your comment.

But it adds credence to my concern regarding the Democrats.

Are the polls showing how well the Democrats may perform two and a half weeks from now helping or hindering?

Or are those polls discouraging those Democrat voters who have a, let's say, marginal, motivation to vote in an off-year to actually vote?

Ditto, but the inverse for the marginally motivated Republican voters. Are the polls giving them the reason to go out and vote in this off-year?

imo, the Democrats seem to be stuck in celebration mode too early ...

Kool & The Gang - Celebration (1980)
www.youtube.com



#44 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-10-15 07:11 PM | Reply

@#43
I understand the [apparent?] sarcasm of your comment.
But it adds credence to my concern regarding the Democrats.
Are the polls showing how well the Democrats may perform two and a half weeks from now helping or hindering?
Or are those polls discouraging those Democrat voters who have a, let's say, marginal, motivation to vote in an off-year to actually vote?
Ditto, but the inverse for the marginally motivated Republican voters. Are the polls giving them the reason to go out and vote in this off-year?
imo, the Democrats seem to be stuck in celebration mode too early ...
Kool & The Gang - Celebration (1980)
www.youtube.com
#44 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-10-15 07:11 PM

Centrists are in perpetual denial.

Consider the addition of Liz Cheney to turn away Progressives under the guise of "big-tent inclusion".

Both of these "two parties" operate on behalf of the same donors.

Anyone who is involved with Israel is a traitor, for instance.

Our national wealth and global security is being sacrificed for their expansionist project.

If we cement over the billionaire bunkers and nuke Tel Aviv we'd have a chance at bribing US legislators for Americans needs.

"Let the savings hit the floor!"

OR, we replace the two parties with a new party.

#45 | Posted by redlightrobot at 2026-10-15 07:33 PM | Reply

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