BAxios just posted — the GOP's midterm blame game is already starting, before the polls close.
BOf course it has. Losing parties write their excuses while the polls are still open.
BThe piece says Republicans are already blaming donors, candidates, the White House.
BMy question is whether this is real or political media making a story from a few cranky staffers.
BIt's Axios. They don't run with nothing. Somebody is already leaking.
BLeaking to Axios is not a strategy. It's a staffer covering their own tail.
BThat's exactly my point — if people are covering their tails this early, they think the night's going south.
BOr they're getting ahead of a close result. You don't wait until after the loss to write the memo.
BCome on, Brian. A party that thinks it's winning doesn't start the blame game Monday night.
BIt's not the party. It's a handful of anonymous aides. You're giving them too much credit.
BAnonymous aides are the party. They're the ones who see the real internal numbers.
BThen maybe they should worry less about the blame and more about turning out voters.
BThat's the problem. If they've moved to blaming, they think turnout is already lost.
BSo what would you call it? Accountability? You lose, you should know why.
BAccountability comes after the fact. This is pre-emptive excuse-making.
BI'd call it risk management. Somebody has to be responsible if the money people ask questions.
BOh, come on. Donors? That's not governance, that's survival.
BWelcome to politics. It's always survival for somebody.
BAnd that's the part voters hate. They hear this and stay home.
BOr they hear this and say the party's already given up, so why bother?
BWhich is why the blame game itself can become the story. Self-fulfilling.
BThat's fair. The leak itself may cost more than whatever they're blaming.
BFine, but we don't have to like it.