NPR and the rest of the MSM have been pushing for Democratis in several recent special elections. They keep pushing their narrative and once again they lose. It's amazing that some of these news outlets still try and claim to be unbiased in their reporting. Trump is an idiot but he is right about one thing. The main stream media is the enemy of America.

Could the recent public explosion of angry behavior, from vulgarity to violence, be something like the increases in domestic violence that sociologists have often noted when times are hard? Instead of being abusive only in the kitchen and bedroom, men (for the most part) are taking it to the streets. And the polls. And guys like DT and Gianforte get elected.

Having said that, I was brought up short last night when someone (on CNN?) pointed out that people (including me) still voted for Ted Kennedy after Chappaquiddick. I never thought much of TK's character, but I did believe he best represented my agenda in politics. Maybe it's something like that for the voters in MT.

Still and all, I am wondering how many times Gianforte has hit his wife or kicked his dog.

Gerry Studds was reelected in Mass also. He only raped a boy. My guess is you probably also voted for B Clinton How many women accused him of sexual assault?

The "boy" in question was 17 and stated publicly that it was a consensual relationship. Which makes me doubt your commitment to truth-seeking. And we don't have long enough lives to try to compare the numbers of men on both sides of the aisle (never mind everywhere else in the world) who are guilty of inappropriate sexual behavior.

Besides, my point had to do with why voters vote as they do, often for people they do not respect, conservative and liberal. You do the discussion a disservice when you dart down rabbit holes.

And yes, our political goals can make willfully blind hypocrites of us all. You, included.

The boy was underage. It's called statutory rape or if you like sexual assault. He also admitted to propositioning two others. Your defense of him makes me doubt your commitment to truth -seeking.
The fact that he and Ted . K. were able to keep getting reelected sais more about the voters of this state than about either of them.

I pretty much agree with the rest of your comments.

I just checked again. The age of consent in MA and D.C. is 16. Is there a law against propositioning or having consensual sex with someone 16 or older? Not that I'm aware of.

When you write "your defense of him", may I infer that you think I approve? No more than I approve of any person in a position of power seducing someone with less power, e.g. teacher/student, doctor/patient, congressman/page.

So we're back to where I thought this discussion started. What exactly does it say about voters *anywhere* who will vote for someone they wouldn't want marrying into their families?

Ok we are splitting hairs. Can we both agree Studds was a total scumbag who should have never been reelected.

To answer your question. People vote for these reprobates because they agree with them politically on most issues.
I also think in most cases it is easier for democrats to get away with bad behavior because they face far less scrutiny from the media, and in the case of sexual matters Feminist groups. There was never the uproar over Clintons behavior like there has been with Trump, and Clinton was much worse than Trump.
As a matter of fact Clinton maintained strong support from almost every feminist group. Hypocrites every one of them.

So tell me what you think

I think I'll save my breath to cool my porridge.

Politicians always say they will "go to Washington and fight" for them. This man proved it! I'm glad he won. We have enough castrated cowards in Washington anyway.

Get therapy. You need it.

Not surprised by the vote. The Democrats are morally and intellectual bankrupt. And having so many bought and sold pseudo-liberal reporters in their pockets does not add any JFK glamour to a moribund RULING CLASS political organization.
The fact that Ben Jacobs IS a sleazy reporter ( just Google the name) was not irrelevant to the rich thug's political victory.
Do the " liberal " Democrats still think that " identity politics " and the New McCarthyism is the ticket to a comeback in 2018 ?
By the way, I voted for socialists, White and Niemuth of the Socialist Equality Party. They focus on CLASS oppression; they are anti-imperialist, anti-New Colonialism, anti-war . Interested ?

See bullies and thugs can be rich too. This makes it ok..

Good to see the GOP defending people's rights and upholding moral standards.

Establishment USA openly supported " Corrupt Hillary " : The Pentagon, the CIA, the FBI, Homeland Security, corrupt union leaders, the Zionist Apartheid Israel lobby. NO bullies and thugs here ?
And now the mainstream news media is egging on a " revenge war " with nuclear power Russia . With a gangster mentality !

Look at Trump's budget proposal. It supports the establishment, the very very rich, and shafts others. Better to support corrupt CEOs?

Also if you voted for Trump then you have no place complaining about "Zionist Apartheid Israel" because he promoted less accountability and more letting them do whatever they want than Hillary.

Russia is a "gangster" state the where people are pushed to pay bribes and protection money (no wonder Putin prefers his Russian press under control and Russian elections rigged)-thank you for bringing up that word when discussing Russia.

What is wrong with this country? Why are criminals, bullies and scumbags are elected to be in public offices. It only reflects what kind of voters the people became.

It is not political wisdom for so called " democrats " to imagine themselves morally superior to the working class masses- who will very soon win the day in the USA.

30 years of Republican conditioning. The right wingnut is a Pavlovian dog that drools when the bell rings. Corporate cash set the stage, The rich now control the government and most of the media with the expresas purpose of making half the population hate the other half while they strip us of assets.

You are absolutely right : " the rich now control the government and most of the media". But how did this happen - overnight with a Trump victory ? No, President Obama and Hillary Clinton LED the attack on working class Americans ( with the help of endless and stupid wars ).
BOTH parties represent Corporate America as " Wall St. Hillary " knows too well.