Elections

[Ddrak]

So the Democrats got hammered as expected, but what's more interesting to me is the Tea Party effectively cost the GOP the Senate. Might make some interesting times in 2012 when Palin attempts another Presidential run.

Dd

[Embar Angylwrath]

So the Democrats got hammered as expected, but what's more interesting to me is the Tea Party effectively cost the GOP the Senate. Might make some interesting times in 2012 when Palin attempts another Presidential run.

Dd

I thought the Reps would take the House... but not by amount they did. I expected maybe 45 or so... but 60 last I checked?

I thought Obama struck the right tone after the elections. He acknowledged some of the shortcomings of his administration and leadership, rightly pointed out that the economy cost the Dems their majority, said he'd try to work in a more bi-partisan manner (he's got no choice there really) and pretty much admitted the public didn't like the way he's handled some legislation and relationships with the Reps. Let's hope Boehner puts some real effort into working with the President to get some work done on restoringmomentum to the economy and job creation. Personally... I'm not hoping for much. I don't think either side has an answer to the jobs situation. I don't think anyone does, for that matter.

[Harlowe]

It's going to be two years of gridlock. Boehner isn't going to do jack-squat to cooperate or reach a middle ground with this administration.

[Ddrak]

I'm gonna go for "worse than gridlock". There'll be a whole bunch of bills pushed from both sides that are largely good but contain poison pills that make the opposite chamber turn it down. No Democratic bill will make it past the house and any GOP bill that makes it through the senate will have enough unpalatable stuff in to draw a veto. It's all going to be jockeying for "look what the other side voted against" bullshit to drag into the 2012 elections.

Oh, and to make matters worse there'll be a whole bunch of Tea Party idiocy running around that will just gum up the works.

Dd

[Embar Angylwrath]

Im not so sure about that. The Dems are fractured right now. Centrists and the far left are split. Plus, they all blame the administration for the results of the election. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/44673.html

Given the split of the Dems and how close the Rep/Dem ratio is in the Senate, I bet some more moderate bills can make it through. Im betting there are enough moderates in the Dem party to counter the whackjobs on the right who will vote against everything that isnt far right. But it all comes down to Boehner. If he pushes extreme legislation through, yeah, its gridlock. But if concentrates on common ground issues, then we might see some things happening in 2011-2012.

[Lurker]

Regardless of who some Democrats are trying to blame the results on, lets not lose sight of what actually happened.

1) Midterms are historically bad for the party in power and this was magnified by the bad economy. Republicans spent two years delaying or blocking Administration policies aimed at strengthening the economy.

2) Youth and minorities are less likely to vote in midterms while older whites are more likely to vote.

3) The Democratic base was largely complacent. Some polling actually showed that 20% of Democrats thought we were going to do better this election than we did in 2008! Not sure what planet they were living on.

4) The Republican base was extremely fired up and enthusiastic about voting. Whether you think this is because of Obama's actual policies or because of what they were told about those policies is debatable, but the entusiasm gap was real. Polling right up to election day showed that the Democrats were more popular and more trusted on key issues than Republicans. Unfortunately these were polls of "registered voters". When the same polls screened for likely voters the results flipped.

That's how we got where we are. Moving forward, if the Republicans in the House begin pushing sane policy then we can make some progress.

My money is on the Republicans continuing to push nonsensical proposals like their budget that would drastically increase the deficit while claiming to lower it. They continue to be a one issue party that cares about nothing but tax cuts regardless of the results. That, and regaining the White House. If they think they have a better chance of winning in 2012 by screwing the country they will do that, just like they have the last two years.

We're more likely to see absurd investigations into the Administration (ACORN! New Black Panthers! Sestak!), a government shutdown, and an attempted impeachment than we are any reasonable or sane policies out of the House.

I hope I'm wrong.

[Harlowe]

I think you and Ddrak pretty much nailed it. I hope we're all wrong, but I doubt it. I'm pretty sure there is going to be an excess of theatrics and a whole lot of saber-rattling on top of the Tea Party idiocy.

Moderate Republicans were an endangered species since the Bush administration. They were labeled Rhino's and pushed out. So, I doubt anything remotely moderate is going to come from them or pass through them. Their only goal for the next two years to ensure Obama does not get re-elected. Period.

[Embar Angylwrath]

Lurker and Harlowe - You really think the Reps are going to push for impeachment of Obama? I'd be willing to bet that the committee charged with that particular task never takes it up. You may have isolated whackos calling for Obama's head on a pike, but when it comes down to the people that can make it happen, they'll never do it. I'd be willing to stake another charity bet on that, if either of you two are interested.

And I hope both of you are wrong, for the country's sake. And I also think there is some common ground between the two parties, the extension of the Bush tax cuts is a good example. Will there be cap-and-tax? No. Serious immigration reform? No. But neither will there be repeal of Obamacare or any other legislation Obama signed, because Obama can veto it. So after the chest puffing in the first six months of 2011, the Congress and Obama will have to get back to the task of improving the economy and the jobs situation.

We'll see how it shakes out over the next few months, and really, I think Obama's and the Dem's handling of the lame-duck session will be a telling sign on how they wannt to move forward.

[Partha]

Darrell Issa is already on record saying he wants to investigate ACORN and 'Climate-gate'. You really think someone with that big an axe to grind won't be using it? Dream on.

[Embar Angylwrath]

Darrell Issa is already on record saying he wants to investigate ACORN and 'Climate-gate'. You really think someone with that big an axe to grind won't be using it? Dream on.

Isnt Issa on record saying he wouldnt be pursuing impeachment of Obama?

Edit: Found it

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing- ... -gop-house

[Partha]

Well, you're the only one who's saying 'impeachment'. Look above - Dd and Harlowe never used that word, and Harlowe's comment that they want to make Obama a one term president was absolutely true, according to Mitch McConnell:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/44311.html

Here’s John Boehner, the likely speaker if Republicans take the House, offering his plans for Obama’s agenda: “We're going to do everything — and I mean everything we can do — to kill it, stop it, slow it down, whatever we can.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell summed up his plan to National Journal: “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.”

Hope ya feel good about your votes for it!

[Lurker]

I said impeachment.

We're more likely to see absurd investigations into the Administration (ACORN! New Black Panthers! Sestak!), a government shutdown, and an attempted impeachment than we are any reasonable or sane policies out of the House.

Probably unlikely until Obama wins a second term, but the investigations into fake controversies are guaranteed and a government shutdown is already being talked about as some positive thing they should do. There's also talk about investigating the climate change "hoax".

Sane policies or serious attempts to solve the nations problems aren't really high on the list for the modern Republican Tea Party.

[Harlowe]

I seriously can not fathom how intelligent Republicans can support what is going on or align themselves with a group as ignorant as the Tea Party. Why push out the most sensible and moderate of the party in exchange for extremism and obstructionists. I don't know how anyone can feel good about voting for a party that openly promotes the kind of agenda they've been putting forth and aligns themselves with pure, unadulterated hate-mongering, ignorance and craziness. Do you truly believe that is doing what is best for our country? Really?

Seriously, they want to send us back to the freakin Dark Ages. What's next modern day Salem Witch Trials? Things like evolution, the separation of church and state and climate issues are being treated like fucking heresy. They want to insert their personal extreme religious ideology into the government and upon the people.

If you have any respect for personal liberties and fucking progress as a civilization this has to make you absolutely sick.

I think it's an absolute fucking shame what has happened to the party. I use to vote for Republicans if I felt the candidate was better, now I'm stuck with only two parties to choose from...either Democrats or Independents and frankly, having to vote based on who has the least fucked up agenda isn't exactly comforting.

[Kulaf]

I am a firm believer in gridlock. I like it when it is damn difficult for the Federal government to get anything done, because quite frankly.....they can't do anything well. The only good legislation that ever passes are the ones with overwhelming support, or in dire emergency when both parties have to get it done and work together. Left to their own devices, both parties will pass their partisan BS bills that only send this country further into debt.

[Fallakin Kuvari]

I use to vote for Republicans if I felt the candidate was better, now I'm stuck with only two parties to choose from...either Democrats or Independents and frankly, having to vote based on who has the least fucked up agenda isn't exactly comforting.

I think thats more of a sign of your ideologies shifting.

Unless you somehow pulled an Arlen "The Republican Party left me, I didn't leave the Republican Party" Specter.

[Lurker]

Today's Republican / Tea Party is significantly more extreme and less reality based than it was even a few years ago, let alone going back a decade or more. You're too young and too indoctrinated in the crazy to realize that.

[Harlowe]

Bingo Lurker and Kulaf, I actually agree with you for the most part.