Signs and omens? - Part 2

[I]n Ohio's 12th district, in which Troy Balderson edged ahead of Denny O'Connor, but not far enough that provisional ballots might not throw the whole thing into a recount and, considering that these two have to run again in November, Balderson may well end up being an actual congressman for approximately 11 minutes.

It is just as ominous a result for Republicans as people are saying it is, despite the mendacious little cock-a-doodle-doo from the president*, who is treating Balderson at the moment as though he were a valet parking attendant at the old Taj. This is a district designed by Republican state legislators to the specifications of John Boehner—who used to be someone, as you may recall. If Balderson is still sweating death by tabulation at noon on the day after the election, something truly is up.

[...]

This is not a party in turmoil or disarray. This is a party covering all the bases.

And that's where the Missouri referendum comes in.

Right to work is a fundamental Republican issue. It is a conservative article of faith. It has been a goal of the corporate conservative movement ever since that beast was revived in the 1970s. It is the emotional core at the heart of the careers of people like Scott Walker, the goggle-eyed homunculus hired by Koch Industries to manage their midwest facility formerly known as the state of Wisconsin. There is almost nobody in the party who is opposed to it in principle or in practice. It was central to the mission of all those Republican state legislatures that got elected in 2010 and 2014. The assumption was that right-to-work was unassailable.

  Charles P Pierce

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.