With recent history (as in since 2000), what is your trust level in our elections?

[Awsi Dooger]

9. I trust the recorded count

Nothing has swayed me from that position, although the foreign hacking is far more troublesome than anything debated here in the past 16 years.

The opposition realizes it can continue to voter suppress and get away with it, while the public moronically assesses suppression and fraud as mostly equal concerns. As long as that remains true we're suffering a steady small leak. Republicans may lose an occasional legal battle over suppression or gerrymandered districts but since it's such an ongoing priority they know they'll gain and gain, in small but meaningful numbers.

I don't trust stupid people to avoid being stupid. That's our primary obstacle, far beyond empty whining about fraudulent returns. I have no idea why we haven't already launched a campaign devoted to mocking fake news. The possibilities are endless. People don't like to be laughed at. You can cut the impact of fake news to one cycle as soon as you get enough Facebook types to associate fake news with something like pleated pants or an outdated hairstyle.

The big picture is positive. Last November the percentage of self-identified liberals rose to 26% in the national exit poll compared to 35% self-identified conservatives. It's the first time that gap has dipped below 10% in my lifetime. It was 12% when I first started betting politics. Naturally the media completely ignored that development. Bush was incredibly unpopular post Katrina. Obama was relatively popular. Now Trump begins with record low approval for a new elect. It means a steady diet of young new voters who align Democratic. They will remain that way for the most part but it doesn't attach full impact until they are older and voting more dependably. I may not be here to see it but I know it's coming.

Right now we're stuck with very little opportunity to hold the House unless a very unpopular Republican is president. So there's some hope in 2018. I'll pay attention this time. But while we have been fretting election returns since 2000 the devastating development is both parties moving toward the extremes. That could only benefit the GOP, as I warned Chris Bowers when he started the incomparably ignorant cleansing push on MyDD in maybe 2004. That 35-26 ideological gap dictates outcomes all over the place. Moderates and complacency were our friends, our only chance at holding the House despite so many districts that logically should favor the other side. Once both parties began paying more attention to primaries and treating/funding run of the mill House races like mini Senate races, it was the equivalent of voter suppression...we can't break even.