Forum: pol
Page 3485
Subject: election night 2010

  Posted by: Perm Dude - [5510572522] Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 19:57
Some early calls: Rand Paul for US Senate in KY. Not much of a surprise there.

Besides some local races, I'll be interested in the two three-way races: US Senate races in AK and FL.
 
1Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 20:03 		Why not go with a few predictions:

Toomey for PA Senate (over Sestak)
Rubio for FL Senate in a close one in FL (over Crist & Meek)
Haley for SC Senate over Sheheen
Coons for CT Sentate over O'Donnell
Reid (why not) for NV Senate over Angle
Boxer for CA Senate over Fiorina
Brown for CA Gov over Whitman
 
2Frick
      ID: 42825248
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 20:08 		If Christine O'Donnell wins I would vote for the state of Delaware to be removed from the US.

I assume you meant Delaware and not CT.

 
3Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 20:15 		Yikes--yeah, Delaware. Those states are far too small and close together...
 
4Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 20:17 		Hail hail, the (I'm not a) witch is dead.
 
5Seattle Zen
      Leader
      ID: 055343019
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 20:32 		Reid (why not) for NV Senate over Angle

Because the people of Nevada are stupid, hence they will elect the least intelligent member of the US Senate in over a century. Book it.
 
6Seattle Zen
      Leader
      ID: 055343019
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 20:36 		The only races I'm really interested in tonight are Patti Murray over Dino Rossi here in WA, WA initiatives and California Prop 19. The House will be Republican and the Senate will remain Democratic, who knows what sort of legislation will make it to the President's desk, I'm guessing not that much.
 
7Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 20:45 		One of the most important - John Kasich.

Presidential timber right there and a springboard.
 
8Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 20:50 		Unless the GOP pulls off the mathematically-impossible 60 vote victory in the US Senate, nothing will change on the federal level. Except embolden the GOP to go even farther to the right in 2012.
 
9Tree
      ID: 248472317
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 20:55 		Connecticut and West Virginia stay Dem.
 
10Tree
      ID: 248472317
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 21:05 		i like this tidbit from Yahoo's election coverage.

It's worth remembering that the Democratic victory in the Delaware Senate race would have shocked even the Democrats a few months ago. GOP Rep. and former governor Mike Castle was seen as such a formidable opponent that Vice President Biden's own son decided not to run.

But Castle, seen as too moderate and too establishment, was another victim of the energy on the right of the Republican Party and was taken down by Christine O'Donnell in the primary.
 
11Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 21:30 		Just goes to show you the MSM will even repopularize witch-hunting if the cause is getting a bearded marxist elected.
 
12Pancho Villa
      ID: 597172916
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 21:32 		The MSM had nothing to do with O'Donnell's thrashing. That was a small and insignificant piece of the heavy baggage she brought to the party.
 
13Tree
      ID: 248472317
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 21:36 		Just goes to show you the MSM will even repopularize witch-hunting if the cause is getting a bearded marxist elected.

actually, what it shows you is that the Republican party needs to be real careful who it makes its nominee in 2012.

for as much stock as you put in post 7 above, the race in Delaware is an indicator that if the Republicans put Palin up for a Presidential run, she is going to get her reality-show starring butt kicked.
 
14Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 22:15 		Blanche Lincoln goin down.
 
15Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 22:40 		Grayson goes down. Promising career in comedy tho.
 
16Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 22:42 		Jim Traficant loses. I miss him.
 
17Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 22:46 		Very significant ones losing -

Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.)

Rick Boucher (D-Va)

Tom Perriello (D-Va.)
 
18Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 22:53 		Barney Frank just won't go away.
 
19Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 22:57 		Tea Party Mike Lee holds onto Bob Bennett's Utah senate seat.
 
20Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 23:12 		Big key will be who gets to chair appropriations committee. If it's old bull Jerry Lewis and not a cost-cutting Tea Partier, Republicans will have blown their shot at redemption from the get-go.
 
21Pancho Villa
      ID: 597172916
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 23:14 		Great interview with Rep. Darryl Issa, R-Ca on CNBC.
 
22Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 23:15 		Feingold bites the dust but McCain survives to root yet again at George Soros' trough.
 
23Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 23:22 		And my district, Adam Kinzinger (R-IL11) crushes incumbent Pelosi rubberstamp Debbie Halvorson.

Keep your eye on this guy. If his ambition matches his ability the sky is the limit.
 
24Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 23:25 		Phil Hare gets schooled.
 
25Tree
      ID: 248472317
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 23:31 		i think this sums things up nicely.

How the Party of No Became the Party of Yes

but i think the last part of the article is crucial.

As they take control of the House back, their strategy has paid off. But it could quickly become a case of "be careful what you wish for." Just as the Democrats have struggled with the onus of governing in a deep economic recession, the Republican takeover does not come at a time of hope and glory. Most Americans distrust government and disapprove of Congress in greater numbers than they disapprove of Mr. Obama.

Exit polls show that 88 percent of Americans who voted think the economy is in bad shape and 86 percent are worried about the direction the economy takes next year.

The newly elected Republicans will have to take ownership of turning around the economy. If they don't deliver what the American people really want -- results -- they could very much find themselves on the losing side in 2012.
 
26Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 23:32 		Impressive [even to me] freshman rep Bill Foster [D] goes down. You don't see many physicist/successful businessmen dems in congress.
 
27Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 23:35 		Taking bets on whether Obama waits for them to be sworn in before switching from blaming Bush to blaming congress for everything.
 
28Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 23:41 		You gotta put down your partisan crack pipe, B.

The Sestak/Toomey race turning out to be a heck of a lot closer than I thought it would be. I still think Toomey will pull it out--many of the precincts still to report are rural ones. My guess is that it'll be about a 2% win for Toomey when everything is counted.

Kanjorski, as expected, goes down. Lou Baletta, former Hazelton Mayor who would be right at home in Arizona politics, takes his show to Washington.
 
29Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 23:46 		Reid with a surprisingly strong lead, up about 8.5% with about a third or so votes in. I still think he falls, in the end.
 
30Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 23:46 		In IL, the Green candidate is pulling a little over 3%, and the Dem candidate is losing by about 2%. Hmmmm.
 
31Farn
      Leader
      ID: 451044109
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 23:47 		Boldwin, how are you going to post as often now if your only complain can be "Its all Obama's fault?" Will you post half as often or will you double your efforts?
 
32Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 23:55 		I'll be trying to break the habit without letting the trolls claim a victory for trolls everywhere.
 
33Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Tue, Nov 02, 2010, 23:59 		AP calls PA for Toomey (though the numbers have edged even closer--less than 1 percent apart right now). Also calls WI for Johnson (over Feingold) and Boxer for CA Senate.

Dems take back House seat LA-2 over Cao.
 
34Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 00:02 		That Cao race is interesting. The one flaw in the matrix.
 
35Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 00:04 		Watching the four uncalled Senate seats right now. I just don't see how the GOP can go 4-0 on them. Looks like the Senate stays Democratic. All tight races (or should tighten up): WA, CO, NV, and IL.
 
36Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 00:07 		Il.Interim Gov Quinn is trying to ride a one county win back into the mansion in a test of just how many dead people live in Cook County.
 
37Khahan
      ID: 13126822
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 00:11 		I hope Toomey wins in Pa, for PA. Not for any party affiliation reasons.
 
38Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 00:32 		Looks like he's going to pull it off. A lot closer than I thought (and Sestak made it a lot closer than it would have been with Spector).
 
39Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 00:33 		Reid declared in NV. That has just got to be chalked up to fraud.
 
40Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 00:35 		Boxer I can believe even if I can't understand it.
 
41weykool
      Leader
      ID: 41750315
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 00:45 		Big winner of the night...The American people.
And a wave of hope sweeps across the country as they welcome the newest House Minority Leader Pelosi.
 
42Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 00:47 		Angle refused to answer basic questions on her positions, wouldn't sit down with any local media, and continued to ride out-of-state Tea Party money to take down the Senate Majority Leader. There is no surprise where she is right now.
 
43Tree
      ID: 248472317
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 00:53 		i love how a few hours ago, Baldwin gets all pissy with another poster here for "smearing good people", and then when a candidate HE supports loses, he accused that candidate of cheating.

typical.

Angle lost because she was all sizzle and no steak, and the voters ultimately saw that.

if she were in Texas, she might have won, because the strategy PD pointed to above is more or less what Rick Perry did - granted, he was the incumbent.
 
44Tree
      ID: 248472317
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 00:53 		i love how a few hours ago, Baldwin gets all pissy with another poster here for "smearing good people", and then when a candidate HE supports loses, he accused that candidate of cheating.

typical.

Angle lost because she was all sizzle and no steak, and the voters ultimately saw that.

if she were in Texas, she might have won, because the strategy PD pointed to above is more or less what Rick Perry did - granted, he was the incumbent.
 
45Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 00:57 		Reid is sooo out of synch with his state tho. Economy, real estate and immigration issues not to mention rampant voter fraud examples already reported have me doubting that one entirely.
 
46Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 00:57 		Looking over my very local results, I was very surprised to see that my very Republican town was fairly split on most of the races. About even on Sestak/Toomey, Kanjorski/Barletta, and even the PA governorship (which the Republican has won fairly handily).

The weeks before the races were pretty much all GOP signs as well.

It is interesting to see how things really split out, in the end.
 
47Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 01:02 		Angle was probably the best thing to happen to Reid. His approval numbers were way down in NV (mostly because of the unemployment numbers are just awful there, along with new housing construction which fell off the table).

Another example of where a RINO would have given the Senate to the GOP. But proudly the far Right continue in their minority status in the Senate.

This was a perfect storm opportunity for Republicans. And they appear to have fumbled in two states they should have won (DE & NV) because of Tea Party darlings winning the primaries there.
 
48Tree
      ID: 248472317
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 01:02 		Forget the Tea Party—Republicans won because of older voters.

On Tuesday, this senior support helped Republican candidates get the results they wanted. But in the long run, it may prove to be a double-edged sword. It is difficult, for example, to fulfill your promises to balance the budget and reduce the national debt without enacting substantive reforms to Medicare and Social Security, and it's almost impossible to reform Medicare and Social Security if your most important constituents are the people who benefit the most from those programs. The result is a lot of hypocrisy—like Republicans resisting precisely the kind of Medicare cuts they've advocated for decades—and a potential split between spending-obsessed Tea Partiers and the establishment conservatives who know they owe their jobs to seniors.
 
49Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 01:05 		Reid's own son nearly changed his name and wore a disguise to run away from his dad's unpopularity so no, I'm not believing that outcome for one minute. I have already heard of more votes than voters cases and numerous haunted voting machines in that race.
 
50Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 01:07 		Ah, yes--Reid couldn't possibly be getting the votes that polling all along has shown he could get.

The only answer: Portray ourselves as the victims in some way! There must be "massivefraud."
 
51Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 01:10 		Mark my words, that race gets decided in court.
 
52Tree
      ID: 248472317
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 01:13 		I have already heard of more votes than voters cases and numerous haunted voting machines in that race.

of course you have. and of course you can provide links to this. or, are you going to continue to smear good people?
 
53Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 01:15 		Easy to say, I suppose.

Early returns are from Clark County, which holds like 75% of the Nevada population and where Reid held an early 12 point lead. If he loses a 12 point Clark County lead you bet it'll end up in court. Wouldn't surprise me to see a far right "journalist" on a crusade to nudge votes the "right" way.
 
54Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 01:17 		Il. Senate still surprisingly close. Another race a dem couldn't possibly pull off without cheating.
 
55R9
      ID: 2854239
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 01:27 		Looks like Prop 19 in Cali got defeated. Sigh. :( Might seem like a small thing in a big voting day, but I had high (pardon the pun) hopes that it could be the beginning of the end of the useless war on drugs. Mexico and the border could really use the help.

Boldwin cracks me up. I'm still waiting for him to run out a Youtube video detailing the 10-year punking he's pulled on the RG Poli forum's regs.
 
56Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 01:34 		He's like the old guy on the stoop.
 
57Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 01:50 		Expect to be hearing about Rory Reid, Harry's son, who happens to be the commissioner in charge of the SEIU mechanics who service the voting machines which greet you with Harry's vote already registered.
 
58Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 01:52 		Kirk (R) finally called for Il. Senate.
 
59Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 02:23 		Jerry Brown governor of the Titanic. So bad you just have to laff and sadly shake your head. Monumentally the wrong man at the wrong time.
 
60Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 02:24 		NYT calls NV for Reid.

My guess is that he steps down from the leadership position, giving it up for Schumer.

Meanwhile, Palin's endorsements aren't really looking very golden. Angle, O'Donnell, Raese all got beat (two of these got crushed). She took on Murkowski in the primary to get Joe Miller the GOP nod, only to see what is likely Murkowski's write in campaign take the seat in the end (any guess whether Murkowski will be returning any of Palin's calls soon?).

Overall, GOP took back nearly all of the right-leaning and moderate seats Dems took the last two elections. No real GOP victory upsets that I've seen--Feingold, perhaps, but we all picked that race weeks ago.
 
61Boldwin
      ID: 481011122
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 02:35 		You can have Murkowski. Dress her in blue.
 
62Seattle Zen
      Leader
      ID: 055343019
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 03:10 		Because the people of Nevada are stupid, hence they will elect the least intelligent member of the US Senate in over a century. Book it.

Wow, I'm sure am glad that I got that wrong. Not a Harry Reid fan, I just happen to believe in the the institution that is the US Senate.

Baldy can't even enjoy the biggest Republican night in six years without screaming "voter fraud" in some race.

Big winner of the night...The American people.

weykool, you are consistently wrong and your tired cliche is yet another example.

It was a horrible night for Democrats, and THAT, by definition, is a bad night for the American people. Sure, there are a few Americans who will come out ahead, but not many and they don't need the help. (Still is much better than 2004!)

Did anyone, watching any election coverage, hear one mention of the fact that we have around 200,000 soldiers involved in two wars? Seriously, am I the only one wondering why there has been no discussion of what this brand new House and new Senators think of our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan? How will Rand Paul vote on military appropriations bills? Could there be enough anti-war Democrats to jump party lines and kill both wars with a "pull out of the wars on Obama's watch" Republicans to end both of them before 2012? I think it is an embarrassment that no one acknowledges these wars during an election!
 
63Seattle Zen
      Leader
      ID: 055343019
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 03:15 		My guess is that he steps down from the leadership position, giving it up for Schumer.

I think he should, too, but tonight I haven't heard anyone suggest that will happen. He won by the skin of his teeth, Chuck won in a landslide, Reid was ineffective as Leader... I could go on. Let's hope it happens.
 
64Boldwin
      ID: 0102036
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 07:20 		One wonders what it takes to sober Californians? Do they think the rest of the country will bail them out? What will Brown shovel willy-nilly to public sector special interests? Will they accept rubber checks?
 
65Frick
      ID: 42825248
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 08:54 		Re: 62

How can you say it was a bad night for Americans? From the election results it appears that the country is basically in 1/3s. 1/3 Democratic, 1/3 Republican, 1/3 who swing their votes back and forth.

I don't think it was a good or bad night either way. Actually I think it might have been a good night if people realize that most moderates don't think the Tea Party is a good direction. Or at least the Tea Party that is only anti-Obama.

I could support budgetary restraint, but when you campaign as only anti-the other guy, you're most likely going to lose.

The House seat here was won by the Democrat, but could have been very easily won if his Republican opponent had shown any leadership and hadn't driven moderates away. The Libertarian candidate more votes than typical and those votes would have been easily enough to change the outcome of the election.
 
66Tree
      ID: 248472317
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 09:04 		Big winner of the night...The American people.
And a wave of hope sweeps across the country

My friend Scott put it best:

"Republicans back in power! I can't wait...

They'll balance the budget, end the deficit, represent the American people over the American corporation, restore the wholesome straight
white Christian community to its shining glory, and end big government!

*rolls eyes*"

now, let's see the Republicans put their money where their mouths are. stop with the STUPID "The American People are the true winners here!" comments, and fix the economy, end the wars, make the country safer, and get us all jobs (or better jobs).

you've got two years to do it, the clock is ticking.

and if you're successful, i'll be one of the first to say "well, hot damn. you did all you said, and you fixed our problems. i tip my hat to you."

i doubt that hat is going to get much use.
 
67Tree
      ID: 248472317
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 09:10 		per cnn.com - 47% of Tea Party supporters were seniors. that doesn't bode well.

ZERO African-Americans in the Senate... ::sigh:::

62% saying the economy was the number one issue. TWO years to fix it GOP. good luck.
 
68Mith
      ID: 4982142
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 09:15 		All that's chhanged is that the GOP now controls one half of one branch. Hardly "back in power."

The fact is that the economy should continue to improve, as it has done since not long after Obama took office. Boehner will have the advantage of having almost two years worth of slow recovery occured before he takes control. And I suspect it will time out just right for him that the lagging indicator of unemployment will come around just as the new congress swears in, causing the American political right to declare that they have set the economy on the right course without effecting any legislation, but by their presence alone.
 
69Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 09:37 		ZERO African-Americans in the Senate

This is a Dem problem. If they don't run African Americans in the primaries, they aren't going to win any general elections.
 
70Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 11:02 		Boehner wants to continue to play defense, it seems.

Since they weren't elected with an actual agenda, this makes a bit of sense, I suppose. The lesson the new Speaker learned from this election is that sitting back, doing nothing, and criticizing (almost) literally everything the President does gets you power.

Is this why you Republicans elected these guys? To react to the President instead of leading?
 
71walk
      ID: 348442710
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 11:35 		There is better analysis here than in most of the internet. thanks (really).
 
72Boldwin
      ID: 0102036
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 11:55 		Racist Tea Party congratulates their conquering hero Allen West [Fla]

 
73Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 12:00 		Good for him. Really. New blood in the House is a good thing.

But saying you are "post racial" while patting yourself on the back over this guy's race shows how much the GOP still struggles with racial questions in this country.
 
74Farn
      Leader
      ID: 451044109
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 12:01 		What's the official date in January for the changing of power? When do the Republicans go on the clock so to speak?

(countdown to Boldwin telling us if things don't work its because Obama wouldn't cooperate)
 
75Boldwin
      ID: 0102036
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 12:10 		Marco Rubio

 
76Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 12:11 		The new congress begins work January 6th.
 
77Boldwin
      ID: 0102036
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 12:17 		Tea Party Gov of S. Car.

[daughter of Sihk immigrants]

 
78Boldwin
      ID: 0102036
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 12:21 		"Racist" Tea Party winner - first African-American Republican elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives since Reconstruction, takes over a district once represented by Gov. Mark Sanford. He earned his spot on the GOP ticket with a primary victory over the son of the one-time segregationist U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond.

 
79Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 12:29 		#77: But she would never have been elected as SC governor if she was an actual Sihk. We both know that.
 
80Boldwin
      ID: 0102036
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 12:29 		Tea Party elects America's first hispanic governor, Susana Martinez

 
81Boldwin
      ID: 0102036
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 12:35 		BRIAN SANDOVAL beats Harry Reid's son Rory to become the first Latino governor in the state’s history.

 
82Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 12:45 		Sharron Angle boasts about how much of her money, down the stretch, came from out-of-state.

I'm sure that's playing well in Nevada...
 
83walk
      ID: 348442710
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 12:45 		Global Eco Concerns

Interesting read and reactions.
 
84Seattle Zen
      ID: 10732616
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 12:48 		Baldy post 51 - Mark my words, that race gets decided in court.

Okay, I've marked your words, where is your youtube embed of a video showing where Angle is going to overturn Senator Reid in court?
 
85Farn
      Leader
      ID: 451044109
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 12:52 		SZ - its probably all the corrupt judges in Nevada that will prevent that from happening.
 
86The Left Behind
      ID: 66232012
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 13:00 		Maybe NOW we will get the change we have been waiting for?
 
87Farn
      Leader
      ID: 451044109
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 13:05 		we will TLB. I fully expect this country will be turned around now that we have elected some new officials.

So long unemployment.
So long troops in war zones.
So long poor economy.
So long wasteful government spending.
So long Dem controlled Senate in 2012.
So long Obama in 2012.
 
88Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 13:05 		This is a recipe for inaction, TLB. Partisanship will only increase. And with half the Blue Dogs gone, Dems have little internal reasons to give anything over as well.

As long as we're marking words, the next two years will be increased rancor, accusations by the GOP of endless presidential sins, threats of government shutdowns and investigations. Pretty much we just rented a soapbox for GOP outrage for 24 months.
 
89The Left Behind
      ID: 66232012
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 13:17 		And with half the Blue Dogs gone, Dems have little internal reasons to give anything over as well.

The difference Perm Dude is that Republicans know how to get things done with a majority. My hopes are that the debate over Obama's proposed tax increases is dead, cap and trade is dead, and Obamacare will get repealed or obstructed. If Boehner can turn into a Gingrich figure circa 1994 then we really will be on the road to recovery.

I was really hoping that the Tea Party would have made a stronger showing Farn because I think a third party would have kept both sides more honest. As if they could be less honest.

government shutdowns

If only we could be so lucky.
 
90Farn
      Leader
      ID: 451044109
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 13:32 		As if they could be less honest.

Took the words right out of my mouth.
 
91The Left Behind
      ID: 66232012
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 13:49 		Boehner should flex some muscle the first time through the budget and just go for it. Extend the Bush tax cuts permanently, eliminate capital gains taxes, and cut every single piece of federal government spending by 20%. Something so far out of expectations that even a compromise will get us what we want.
 
92walk
      ID: 348442710
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 14:00 		Does that include military spending, TLB?
 
93The Left Behind
      ID: 66232012
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 14:00 		The whole ball of wax walk.
 
94DWetzel
      ID: 278201415
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 14:01 		Of course, cutting all federal government spending by 20% (assuming you don't actually mean "cut all the SS payments by 20% right now", in which case sign me up in theory) won't make much of a dent in the deficit, especially with lower tax revenues, but that's not important, right?

The odds of a Republican House proposing a balanced budget that isn't completely laughable are about as good as the chance that the Democratic House would have done the same thing.


One upside to having split houses is that most of the really silly ideas should, in theory, go right off the table since everyone knows they'd be completely DOA in the other chamber. In theory this would include less spending in general (since only the stuff everyone can agree on gets spent) and tax freezes (since everyone won't give the other guy's constituency piss if they were on fire, eventually this tends to a Mexican standoff) (racism obviously).

Of course, things are so polarized right now (as commented on above) that I wouldn't put it past both of them to propose their ridiculous boondoggles, dig in their heels, and hope that people decide to hate the other guy more.

 
95Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 14:01 		The GOP doesn't have a majority, THB. They have the House but they do not have the Senate and they do not have the White House. Capturing the majority of a third still makes them the minority overall, and the GOP hasn't a clue as to how to propose and nurture policy as a minority party.

I fully expect a showdown on the very first budget, in which the House GOP not only puts forth suggestions that are "so far out of expectations" but I expect a refusal to compromise on those points.

See, that's the difference between the Gingrich House and what will be the Boehner House: Gingrich knew when compromise would actually achieve GOP goals. With Boehner, "compromise" means "defeat."
 
96walk
      ID: 348442710
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 14:11 		Boehner is in a tigher spot because he has the tea party constituency to deal with, and they do not believe in legislative compromise. So, it's an even trickier balancing act for Boehner, and if he does figure out how to work with the TP and the non-TP republicans, as PD said, he only has the clout of the House to move forward.
 
97Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 14:20 		Especially as the real yahoos realize that there is no downside to continuing to advocate clearly problematic ideas--like defaulting on our debt, for instance.

Every new election brings new players into the House, and it is through the crucible of party leadership that new ideas are integrated into an overall party strategy. The GOP, however, is now at the mercy of the freshmen, most of whom now owe their jobs to the Tea Party. Things are flipped for them.

We've seen what short-term populism can do in places like California. Combine that with inexperience and conflicting ideas ("Drop spending! But don't touch the military, Medicare, or Social Security!") and the House GOP will be interesting to watch.

My own belief is that Boehner will complete his morph from a Washington insider to radical Tea Party loudmouth.
 
98walk
      ID: 348442710
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 14:33 		Right, but if lets the freshmen TPers, for example, prevent the passing of the raising of the debt ceiling, and we default on our loans and a worldwide depression follows, that won't look too good. It's an immediate first test for Boehner.
 
99Razor
      ID: 57854118
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 15:47 		Boehner and GOP supporters still talk as though they are in a position of enormous power. Certainly having a huge majority in the House after having a huge minority is massive improvement, but the Senate and White House are still under Democratic control. I think (or at least hope) once all the campaign rhetoric dies down, that all these stupid ideas like overturning the health care bill, which won't ever make it past the Senate much less the President, will go away and some real governing can take place. I know asking the same guys that spent the last few years sitting on the sidelines to govern is asking a lot, but it's their job now.
 
100Boldwin
      ID: 0102036
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 15:54 		Needing to pass legislation while only holding the House would be impossibly tight. In theory however only the house controls the purse-strings so they are eminently capable of restraining spending all by themselves. Unfortunately the Dems also control the fourth estate and every tightening of the spigot will be made to sound like grandmas' tortured death knell. Hence when Clinton/Obama refuse to sign a reduced spending package and create an impass it will be portrayed as Reps shutting down government and starving granny.

Ironically starving granny to death is something Dems literally can get away with ala Terri Schiavo and death panels, but which Reps can't get away with if only in media hyperbole.
 
101DWetzel
      ID: 278201415
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 16:14 		BINGO! Been waiting on Terri Schiavo for weeks. Thanks, Boldwin, for calling roughly half the population of the United States literal murderers!

(This is me attempting to not respond to yet another irrational hate post by Boldwin. Baby steps.)

(PS: Murder doesn't count if it's blowing up a bunch of brown people wearing funny hats, right Boldy?)

(Yeah, I know. I'm slipping already.)
 
102walk
      ID: 348442710
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 16:26 		Great rant, 101.
 
103DWetzel
      ID: 278201415
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 16:31 		I'll be trying to at least do these things in a more humorful way.

(There were about 752348932875492752597 additional logical fallacies in his post -- I know, that's roughly a billion fallacies per word, a new league record! -- but I'm rationing.)
 
104walk
      ID: 348442710
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 16:34 		It was a good one, I'll say it again.
 
111Boldwin
      ID: 0102036
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 20:07 		Best summary of the election: "Republican landslides are apparently inevitable whenever Democrats try to turn our health care over to the Department of Motor Vehicles." - AC
 
112Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 21:49 		Was it this false rumor about Pelosi being resurrected? Or perhaps another I'm not aware of?

I realize that Pelosi is a lightning rod for Far Right smears (She's a Welfare Queen Driving a Cadillac!) but really.
 
114Boldwin
      ID: 0102036
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 22:36 		PD

It goes much further than which plane she insisted on. She ran up a $100,000 bar bill, had her kids and grandkids flying solo in them, made outrageous standby requests 'just in case' and treated the military the way you expect a liberal to.
 
115Pancho Villa
      ID: 597172916
      Wed, Nov 03, 2010, 22:58 		Ann Coulter can afford the most platinum health care policy on the market. For a millionaire elitist to comment on the subject begs comparison to Marie Antoinette.
 
116Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 00:10 		Actually, Pelosi did not have a $100000 bar bill. Your posts about her are merely smears reprinted without any simple checking.

And an attack on her looks, too?

Do you decide to set aside your Christianity when you post such vileness, or does it happen automatically when you boot up the computer?
 
119Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 00:37 		Ultimately, we'll look back on this day realize the difficult decisions Dems made these past two years. Basically, they did the right things in passing health care, financial reform, stimulus funding, and so on and paid for it with their jobs.

They could easily have not done so and saved their jobs. But they put policy above politics.

Republicans, on the other hand, did the opposite. They have no policy plans (reversing all the Dems' work isn't a policy idea and so doesn't count). So for two years they made hay on opposing Obama.

As Jonathan Chait pointed out, health care reform is going to be around a long time. The GOP short-term surge will not.
 
122Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 01:07 		More facts about Pelosi and air travel.
 
128Boldwin
      ID: 0102036
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 06:31 		Bob 'who are you' Etheridge defeated by Tea Partier



Assaulting the electorate is contraindicated.
 
129Boldwin
      ID: 0102036
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 06:43 		PD

We are well into the age when Orwell foresaw words losing meaning. You can find a liberal site the rationalizes, minimizes and calls the moon the sun over every scandal and issue your side is vulnerable on.

Nevertheless objective reality and common sense remain for those who have not decided to reject them for the comforts of groupthink/goodthink.

The common sense and sensibility of a military pilot getting jerked around by Pelosi trumps your liberal funded sites deconstructing the truth.
 
130Boldwin
      ID: 0102036
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 07:42 		As Jonathan Chait pointed out, health care reform is going to be around a long time. The GOP short-term surge will not.

On this we agree. Unfortunately Obamacare seals America's fate having fully travelled 'The Road to Serfdom'.

Unless the new Tea Partiers can neuter this abomination before the majority of Americans feel psychologically dependent on government, America's demise is sealed. Government will no longer be the servant of the people and the American experiment will be over.

 
131walk
      ID: 348442710
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 10:08 		As opposed to physically dependent on using emergency rooms....or (their children) dying because they are denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions.

#119, good one, PD, as usual.
 
132Boldwin
      ID: 0102036
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 10:45 		One potential dark lining I was worried about was that Soros might have shifted all his money to getting Stalin's vote counters to screw up the next election after conceding this one.

It didn't work out very well if he did try it.
 
133Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 10:48 		I genuinely have no idea what #129 is talking about. Perhaps Baldwin misses the point of #119, in which the longer view is that the Dems will be proven right?

#130 completely misunderstands the nature of the health care bill. Americans are already dependent---on the health insurance companies. What shouldn't happen is that those private companies take advantage of people in their dependence. On this, the GOP and I will have to disagree.

There is really no way that the GOP will be able to neuter anything in that bill. I do find it a little ironic, however, that should they magically repeal the whole thing that their plan to reduce out deficit will go up in smoke. The CBO, which scores both the deficit and the health care plan, has that bill as providing medium and long-term deficit reduction. So when it comes to making a decision to reduce the deficit or get rid of health care insurance reform, I fully expect the Republicans to---start blaming Obama for the unemployment rate. Their willingness to engage in misdirection over policy advancement has reached epic heights.
 
134Farn
      Leader
      ID: 451044109
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 11:02 		Boldwin, is it possible for you to comment on politicians or political races without slamming a candidate or without accusing the Dems of cheating the system?

Do you really believe that every Dem who wins got in because the voting booth was rigged or the vote counters cheated?
 
135Boldwin
      ID: 0102036
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 11:13 		Farn

Offhand I only remember contesting six specific dem races over the years. There is no mistaking what Soros is attempting in monopolizing the vote counters everywhere however. Franken was a specifc beneficiary.
 
136Building 7
      Leader
      ID: 171572711
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 11:43 		Rand Paul: "We've come to take our government back."

I hope so.
 
137Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 12:25 		From who?
 
138Mith
      ID: 28646259
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 13:25 		Those with the audacity to guarantee the right of minorities to be served at a lunch counter.
 
139Khahan
      ID: 373143013
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 14:45 		and we're right back to the same old bashing rhetoric that has put our country in the crapper.

Congratz guys. took you all of 24 hours to revert.

Stop with the ridiculous partisan crap trying to smear the other side because both sides do just a fine job of making themselves look like arrogant, greedy jackasses.

Campaign time is OVER. No need for this kind of rhetoric. Its time to turn your attentions to actual people running our government and keep them in line.
 
140Mith
      ID: 28646259
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 14:53 		Sorry if Rand Paul's own words are offensive to you Khahan, but please don't blame me for them. I don't think that particular position of his was campaign speak, either, though declaring his endeavor to "take our country back" sure sounds like it.
 
141Boldwin
      ID: 0102036
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 18:54 		"We've come to take our government back."

From who?

From those who think they deserve to run our life and spend our money.
 
142Farn
      Leader
      ID: 451044109
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 18:57 		From those who think they deserve to run our life and spend our money.

Nobody but me runs my life so I don't by that.

And these newly elected politicians, are they canceling all taxes? If not, then um, wouldn't they be spending our money too?

Btw, if we elected them doesn't that give them the right to think they can spend our money (aka taxes)? Silly me but I'd think that's part of their job as elected officials; to spend tax money. Otherwise why would we have taxes?
 
143Mith
      ID: 28646259
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 19:09 		Farn

You know you're taking all the fun out of their favorite platitudes.
 
144DWetzel
      ID: 33337117
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 19:35 		Re: 141 -- so they're going to take it back from... themselves? I can't wait to see this startling transformation.
 
145Boldwin
      ID: 0102036
      Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 22:32 		You think and act like it's your money once you've figured out how to extract it.
 
146Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Fri, Nov 05, 2010, 01:28 		Patty Murray re-elected as US Senator from Washington.
 
147Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Fri, Nov 05, 2010, 01:40 		Pat Quinn wins IL governor's race

Somewhat of a surprise.
 
148DWetzel
      ID: 278201415
      Fri, Nov 05, 2010, 09:55 		(in before charges of Chicago mafia machine)
 
149Boldwin
      ID: 25103557
      Fri, Nov 05, 2010, 10:25 		Close as I can quote it by memory: [4 hours after polls closed] "Oh I think there's still polls open and they're still cooking the books." - Illinois state senator Rickey Hendon, big Quinn supporter...either letting cat out of bag or accusing downstate as he spun it later.
 
150DWetzel
      ID: 278201415
      Fri, Nov 05, 2010, 10:27 		(in again after ludicrous charges of Chicago mafia machine)
 
151DWetzel
      ID: 278201415
      Fri, Nov 05, 2010, 10:28 		Oh, and I've only got one entry to fill in on the second row. Can we start a talk about tax policy again? I'm about 90% to hit.
 
152walk
      ID: 348442710
      Fri, Nov 05, 2010, 15:30 		Mandates

Interesting read...
 
153walk
      ID: 348442710
      Fri, Nov 05, 2010, 15:33 		The "law of infinite cornucopia."
 
154Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Fri, Nov 05, 2010, 15:44 		Truth is, you can pretty much spin this election any way you want to. And many people have used it to justify what they already believed before the election. That is the beauty (and drawback) of a sprawling national election.

In fact, you can even take away from this election the fact that, when faced with a clear national direction toward one party, you can simply ignore the "mandate" (and combine it with constant demonizing of that party's leadership), since two years later the result will be a sweep for the other side...
 
155Boldwin
      ID: 40104574
      Sun, Nov 07, 2010, 05:48 		Alan Grayson

I have to say a few good words bout Alan Grayson. I have every reason to feel the same way towards him that the average lib feels towards AC, but I am bigger than that.

Alan had that all important virtue going for him, he was never boring. Very quick and witty, acerbic, carried himself far better than any freshman congressman should be expected to. He sadly chose to run a disgraceful 'liberal troll' campaign that should have been beneath him but which seemed acceptable in the troll echo-chambers he must have slummed in. But he was from a district too sensible to forgive him for it.

It wouldn't surprise me to see him pick up Molly Ivan's cape and run with it. I don't think we've seen the last of him. Not quite good enuff to be AC's evil nemesis today but close enuff to see him in the role someday.
 
156Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Tue, Nov 09, 2010, 14:35 		A good piece by Neal Boortz, a smart libertarian who is pointing out that Republican leaders have already begun the delude themselves about the election.

You would have thought that some of the brighter minds in the Republican Party would have realized that the voters didn't vote FOR them ... they voted AGAINST Democrats. This "Hey! How cool are we!" stuff is going to get tiring.
 
157Frick
      ID: 21016718
      Tue, Nov 09, 2010, 16:07 		And it is also worth mentioning that plenty of people voted for the Democrat and not the Tea Party Republican, but keep pushing the Tea Party angle.

I think this will actually help the Dems in the next election. The far right Republicans will push as many Tea Party candidates as they can. The net result is the middle votes for the Democrat, rather than the Tea Partier.

To be fair, when I think of Tea Partier I think of Christine O'Donnell and bat-#&!) crazy is a decent summary. Pretty much the same would be true is the Republicans nominate Palin. It would result in the one of the largest landslide we've seen in a long time. I guess the upside is we might see fewer commercials.
 
158Boldwin
      ID: 311018917
      Tue, Nov 09, 2010, 18:54 		Wait till you see Adam Kinzinger. From my district and one of two Tea Party freshmen picked to guide the transition to majority. Normally only one freshman makes it on these teams but this was no typical election.

Here

Here

Here

Have fun dismissing guys like that and the people who all voted for him as bat$#@^crazy. Don't learn a thing from this election. Digest this, the senate seats which happened to come up this cycle favored Dems, were largely blue states. Next cycle naturally favors Republicans in twice as many states.

Now heads back in sand, forget you heard that. Next cycle will be a Dem cakewalk so you can safely dismiss it and whistle past this years Dem cemetary. Afterall, no one takes the bat$#@^crazy seriously.

 
159Boldwin
      ID: 311018917
      Tue, Nov 09, 2010, 18:59 		they voted AGAINST Democrats - PD

Only half right. just as importantly they voted against republicans who spend like democrats.
 
160Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Tue, Nov 09, 2010, 19:23 		You didn't note that it was a quote, it seems. Missed the point as well.

I'll send flowers to your political funeral. Keep playing that flute.
 
161Tree, not at home
      ID: 18342816
      Wed, Nov 10, 2010, 09:05 		Have fun dismissing guys like that and the people who all voted for him as bat$#@^crazy.

FWIW, just because you actually finally got one of your predictions right doesn't mean the rest will be. so far, you're well below the Mendoza line.

 
162Tree, not at home
      ID: 18342816
      Wed, Nov 10, 2010, 16:46 		Miller sues over ‘Murkowski’ spelling on Alaska ballots

really?!? REALLY? should voter intent not count for anything?
 
163Razor
      ID: 57854118
      Wed, Nov 10, 2010, 16:54 		If the hanging chads in Dade County taught us anything, it's that they don't.
 
164Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Nov 17, 2010, 15:53 		AP calls race for Murkowski.
 
165Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Fri, Nov 26, 2010, 20:22 		Kamala Harris wins CA AG job
 
166Perm Dude
      ID: 5510572522
      Wed, Dec 29, 2010, 15:13 		Joe Miller finally gets some time off to shave.
 
167Seattle Zen
      Leader
      ID: 055343019
      Thu, Dec 30, 2010, 02:30
The judge ruled without waiting for the state to provide its defense of the election. He said state lawyers didn't even need to respond to Miller's latest filings. He ordered Miller's entire federal case dismissed.

Read more...

I've never seen this done, wow, what a slap in his face.
 
168Boldwin
      ID: 4011522918
      Thu, Dec 30, 2010, 06:11 		Never saw Dems so happy to see corrupt insider Republicans win big.

"Hey you Republicans, why don't you nominate all your smoke-filled backroom hacks? There's your winning strategy. Can't you see that?"
 
169DWetzel
      ID: 33337117
      Thu, Dec 30, 2010, 09:28 		IT'S A TEA PARTY SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, wait, the Koch-funded right wing anti-human-rights, anti-earmarks (except their own, of course), anti-fiscal-responsibility party didn't win everything? I'm stunned. What happened? Couldn't even get people to just squiggle in a circle instead of learning how to spell Murkowski?
 
170J-Bar
      ID: 581124222
      Thu, Dec 30, 2010, 22:04 		Kinda funny, I think Boldwin and Dwetzel are mirror images, other than one is left and the other right but both equally irrelevant. LMAO
 
171DWetzel
      ID: 33337117
      Thu, Dec 30, 2010, 22:47 		If it helps, mine was satirical.
 
172J-Bar
      ID: 581124222
      Thu, Dec 30, 2010, 23:11 		If it helps, the reference was historical and not related to just your last post. Still LMAO
 
173DWetzel
      ID: 33337117
      Fri, Dec 31, 2010, 09:06 		Next time at least compare me to Terri Schiavo. That would be far less insulting to me.