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Republican Retreat? More like LOLapalooza

Washington Republicans must be tired of all the winning they did at their retreat in Baltimore. That retreat concluded on Friday in a cascade of headlines laying bare just how little they learned from the resounding defeat the American people handed them in November of 2018.

If you didn’t catch the action, Republicans doubled down on their commitment to their health care repeal plan, claimed they’d reduce the deficit they created, and proved once again they do not understand what Actblue is and how it works. Some things never change…

 

Here’s a look at what you missed:

Bloomberg: House GOP to Run in 2020 on Reducing the Debt They Helped Grow
By Erik Wasson

House Republicans plan to run on tried-and-true issues in 2020: repealing Obamacare and reducing the national debt, even though the GOP fell short of both goals the last time the party had full control of Washington.

…This week, the annual budget deficit reached $1 trillion under President Donald Trump’s watch. When Republicans controlled the House, Senate and White House last year, they enacted tax cuts estimated to add $1.5 trillion in deficits over 10 years.

Republicans plan to reduce the debt by repealing Obamacare, McCarthy said…

Democrats view health care and the defense of Obamacare as the key issue that sealed their takeover of the House in the 2018 election.

[…]

Politico: Republicans clash with Trump-aligned operatives
By Melanie Zanona

BALTIMORE — House Republicans sparred behind closed doors with Trump-aligned political operatives at a GOP retreat over the new online fundraising platform backed by party leaders and the White House.

The fight Thursday over WinRed’s data and competitiveness highlights long simmering tensions between GOP lawmakers and operatives allied with the president, and underscores the growing frustrations in the party as they try to hash out a strategy to win back the House next year.

The creation of WinRed was a top priority for the GOP that has been plagued with implementation problems over the last year. If the initiative isn’t a success, Republicans fear their chances of taking back the House and holding on to the White House in 2020 will be imperiled.

During a testy exchange on the first day of the House GOP’s annual retreat, members expressed misgivings with WinRed, a small donor apparatus designed to compete with the Democrats’ online fundraising behemoth ActBlue that was launched this summer by the national campaign arms after months of delays.

…GOP leaders who gathered here in Baltimore have tried to paint a rosy picture for Republicans, who are coming off a bruising midterm election and have been rattled by a recent wave of retirements.

But privately, members acknowledge that it’s going to be extremely difficult to flip the 19 seats they need to seize back power, especially amid mounting anxiety about the economy and the president’s trade war.

[…]

The Hill: GOP lawmakers raise concerns over fundraising platform at retreat

By Juliegrace Brufke

Several Republican lawmakers expressed concerns over the party’s online fundraising platform, including the access to data and the effectiveness of the tool, following a presentation at the House GOP retreat in Baltimore.

…The party is counting on WinRed to help Republicans raise money ahead of 2020 races after they have faced a series of recent hurdles, including a wave of retirements.

But one source familiar with the discussion that took place at the presentation on Thursday evening described the meeting as “contentious,” with others saying they were left unsatisfied with the answers they received over concerns including who could access their data.

“WinRed was more like ‘see red’ as the presentation ended with more questions than answers,” one GOP lawmaker told The Hill. “Questions were asked about the scope of the WinRed program, who would control the data and how information could be protected.”

…“Most members were underwhelmed with the depth of the presentation,” one lawmaker told The Hill.

[…]

 

And what they’re tweeting:





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