Last call: The incomplete, informal outdoor industry "election review" review
Like its sister sport of public relations, politics is largely about taking credit. And last week saw new levels of credit taking post-election, from celebratory “hell yeahs” at the macro level to strikingly honest reports from the front lines. The good news, the bad news, the ‘meh’ news … it was all out there, being shared, being echoed and being debated by a variety of true believers (depending what you truly believe in, of course).
That said, you’ve got to admit this election felt more important, more urgent and simply more essential than your average midterm. There were record numbers of get-out-the-vote campaigns, massive pushes by rock stars and rock climbers to get everyone, particularly those who opted out of the last national election, to opt back in.
So after that massive push, it’s natural that the pushers wanted to do some explaining to the pushees. After all, nothing actually felt different the morning after the election. The sun still came up, the world still turned, and there was still a little bit of weariness out there (“I voted, and that person is still on Twitter).
In my own answer-seeking tour, the “glass half full” post-election analysis was best evoked by the Outdoor Alliance, who predicted that extremist threats to the Outdoor world like large-scale public land transfers will be sidelined for the next few years due to a more balanced Congress. They also listed a dozen major initiatives worth watching in the coming months (LINK).
And the glass half empty? The easy winner was definitely the editorial board at the Wall St. Journal, which giddily danced on the grave of major national “green” ballot initiatives that failed, handily (LINK … “A Green Ballot Trouncing”).
OUTSIDE MAGAZINE … “We won. Let’s have a drink!”
Key quote: The Outdoor Industry Association’s first-ever #VoteTheOutdoors campaign reached 14 million Americans, and 19 of the 23 candidates it endorsed for the Senate, the House, and governorships succeeded. LINK
WALL ST. JOURNAL … “No, we won. Frack away, Colorado!”
Key quote: "Tuesday’s election results may have been a mixed bag for Republicans and Democrats, but for climate alarmists they were a complete disaster. Climate initiatives in two states, Washington and Arizona, were defeated and, in both cases, it wasn’t even close." LINK
NEW REPUBLIC … “Pesky conservative billionaires outspent us again. Drink up!”
Key Quote: "Democrats did not quite get the blue wave they wanted, but it was even worse for environmentalists. There was no green wave whatsoever. That’s partially because of record political spending by the fossil fuel industry to oppose pro-climate initiatives, but also because of the Democratic Party’s failure as a whole to draw much attention to the issue.” LINK
HEARTLAND INSTITUTE … “Pesky liberal billionaires outspent us again. No drinks for you!”
Key quote: "Ballot issue after ballot issue to increase energy costs and make it harder to make America more energy independent failed,” said Huelskamp. “The global warmists will continue to fund these efforts because their coffers seem bottomless, but the voters know it’s a scam." LINK
THINK PROGRESS … “No, seriously, we won. Put the drink down.”
Key quote: "With midterm election results still coming in late Tuesday night, several decisive victories pointed to a clear trend: candidates who embraced policies to fight climate change and expand clean energy won the favor of voters." LINK
ANGLING TRADE … “Sorry to be the realist at the bar, but they won. Drink away.”
Key quote: "The good news is that fly fishing fought the good fight. Outspent, outgunned by the deeper pockets of the extraction industries, outdoor voices were indeed heard, and I suspect the other side will be hearing more footsteps in the future. Heartfelt congratulations and thanks to all the people who worked on behalf of these initiatives. Thanks to the businesses that supported them publicly. This was still a landmark for our industry" LINK
PEOPLE FOR BIKES … “We won! Drink electrolytes from a water bottle!”
Key quote: "U.S. voters approved legislation that will commit nearly $2 billion to bike projects during the next decade as 10 out 11 local ballot measures considered “pro-bike” pass." LINK
RV INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION … “Honestly, we have no idea what to drink.”
Key quote: "Opinions on the midterm elections vary depending on who you ask or which side of Capitol Hill you are standing on." LINK
OUTDOOR ALLIANCE … “Drink or don’t drink. Here are a dozen key conservation bills at stake for the remainder of the year.”
Key quote: "Expect that the most dire legislative threats—for example large-scale public lands transfers or sell-offs—will recede, with Republicans lacking the votes to push through their most extreme legislative proposals.” LINK
BOSTON UNIVERSITY …. “I’ll have what they’re having”
Key quote: “A Democratic House majority will benefit science, environment, and climate. For over a decade, the influential House Committee on Science, Technology and Space had chairs who doubt the science of climate change. The new House majority will not have that obstacle. Climate and clean energy research will be less stifled going forward.” LINK
VOX … “Actually, make mine a double.”
Key quote: "The next phase of the Trump era will begin in Washington with a Republican Party purged of most of the members of Congress who sought — and largely failed — to act as the party’s conscience. The question is whether it matters." LINK