Fuck the Republican Party.

[weeklymix]

The Senate will hold.

[stinkbutt]

I think it will too. Even if the House does go it won't be the end of the world, some of the best things Clinton did was with a Republican congress.

[weeklymix]

Times were less polarized then as Clinton "received" his Republican congress before the Lewinsky nonsense.

Unfortunately due to the nature of politics as of late this could easily be two years of no legislation with a Democratic Senate and a Republican House. I am always in favor of a divided government though, because if something actually does pass it is generally favored by most Americans.

For clarification, I mean divided evenly numbers-wise... or in this case, a majority Republican House and a majority Democratic Senate. Even numbers is a good thing in democracy.

[canexplain]

Some pundits say it might be a good thing if the repubs control the house then other pundits can’t say, “See he never got anything done and the dems controlled both houses and the president.” Not sure if I totally buy that reasoning though.

[JebusLives]

What I just don't get, and I'm sure i'm not saying anything really new here, is this:

a) Conservatives don't like Obama because he's not "focused on the economy".
b) Conservatives don't like when Obama tried to fix the economy with stimulus, because "you can't spend your way out of debt" (it sounds like a truism, as long as you don't think about it too hard).
c) The best way to fix the debt, say conservatives, is to cut taxes for the rich, causing the debt to skyrocket. Then they'll systematically dismantle all government services. That's apparently how a government "focuses on the economy" - by crippling its ability to do anything about it.
d) Then the economy will just fix itself, or something. This part is a bit foggy.

[boarderwoozel3]

Speaking of Reps, Dems, and economics; this is an interesting piece on personal income growth under republican and democratic administrations from 1948-2005. Specifically table 2.1 on page 32.

Total family income grew more for every percentile--especially the poor, surprise, surprise--during democratic administrations over their republican counterparts.

[gaypalmsprings]

[TomAz]

What I just don't get, and I'm sure i'm not saying anything really new here, is this:

a) Conservatives don't like Obama because he's not "focused on the economy".
b) Conservatives don't like when Obama tried to fix the economy with stimulus, because "you can't spend your way out of debt" (it sounds like a truism, as long as you don't think about it too hard).
c) The best way to fix the debt, say conservatives, is to cut taxes for the rich, causing the debt to skyrocket. Then they'll systematically dismantle all government services. That's apparently how a government "focuses on the economy" - by crippling its ability to do anything about it.
d) Then the economy will just fix itself, or something. This part is a bit foggy.

You might mean this as parody, but this is actually pretty much accurate. A conservative would reword d) to say "with the government out of the way, private enterprise is free to prosper, bringing jobs and growth and wealth to the economy. A rising tide floats all boats. etc etc." Of course they turn a blind eye to the part how in the absence of strong laws (and a strong government to enforce those laws) what you also wind up with is the powerful exploiting the weak, scams, forced labor, poor working conditions, etc etc.

[faxman75]

Conservatives don't like Obama because he's not conservative enough.

Liberals are mad at Obama because he's not liberal enough though they still support him.

I'm curious as to how things would be different had Obama ignored Health Care the first two years and focused on job creation. We already know if the Republicans had power they would still be insisiting that cutting taxes for corporatins and the rich would create more jobs but the problem with that theory is we have evidence that it doesn't in fact work so they simply haven't figured out a plan for the economy.

What will be fun is once the right takes control tonight, they will finally find themselves in the biggest hole they have ever been in. Those middle of the road folks aren't going to be any happier in 2 years when they find out the Republicans not only didn't have a plan for the economy but with control of congress they didn't accomplish a god damn thing they had hoped to.

In fact they will waste a shit ton of time pretending that they are close to having the number of votes to repeal the healthcare bill all the while wasting our tax dollars and time spinning their wheels.

Meanwhile... the citizens will continue to be ashamed of their leadership on both sides of the aisle.

[gaypalmsprings]

CNN predicts winners with only 0-5% of vote in. Maybe we should just have pollsters do all the voting for us.

[faxman75]

and we have our first Tea Party winnar!

Republican Rand Paul wins U.S. Senate race in Kentucky

[JebusLives]

You might mean this as parody, but this is actually pretty much accurate. A conservative would reword d) to say "with the government out of the way, private enterprise is free to prosper, bringing jobs and growth and wealth to the economy. A rising tide floats all boats. etc etc." Of course they turn a blind eye to the part how in the absence of strong laws (and a strong government to enforce those laws) what you also wind up with is the powerful exploiting the weak, scams, forced labor, poor working conditions, etc etc.

Well not only that, but forced austerity is just going to make the economy (and ultimately the deficit, as GDP drops) worse. "Oh no, unemployment is high! Quick, lets lay off all the government workers and cut social security!".

None of this shit makes any sense, and I'm getting frustrated. And please don't say "what do you care, you're Canadian". We are directly affected by your collective inability to vote properly, yet completely powerless to do anything about it.

[J~$$$$]

"We dont care. You're Canadian"

[gaypalmsprings]

Why vote?

[TomAz]

We are directly affected by your collective inability to vote properly, yet completely powerless to do anything about it.

You could build fighter jets and stealth bombers. That would be a start.

[TomAz]

Why vote?

because projected winner is not the same as actual winner.

[JebusLives]

You could build fighter jets and stealth bombers. That would be a start.

Or better yet, we could all build a bunch and then start blowing shit up again. Wanton destruction is about the only kind of stimulus people will get behind, and if WW3 doesn't start soon, I'm not going to be able to retire.

[TomAz]

don't make me post a picture of clubbed bloodied baby seals again.

[stinkbutt]

"Really, all Americans want is cold beer, warm pussy, and someplace to take a shit with a door on it. I mean you don't want the dog looking at you."

[StegoDee]

I am always in favor of a divided government though, because if something actually does pass it is generally favored by most Americans.

Agreed. Balance of powers is a GOOD thing. I consider myself socially liberal and economically conservative, so I would never want any one party to have total control of the government. That's just bad news.

[TomAz]

It's funny how you never find anyone who is economically liberal and socially conservative.

[PotVsKtl]

I can't wait for Rand Paul to try to actually enact some of his half-assed policy proposals.

[JebusLives]

don't make me post a picture of clubbed bloodied baby seals again.

You know that stuff is like porno up here.

[faxman75]

I can't wait for Rand Paul to try to actually enact some of his half-assed policy proposals.

It is Kentucky. The state where 1 out of 4 blacks can't vote.

http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/16321951.html

[TomAz]

Really? I've encountered a fair share of Christians (at least here in Georgia) who would identify as such. They support social welfare programs in keeping with the sentiment that they are their "brother's keepers", but for obvious reasons, oppose social issues like gay marriage, abortion, yadda yadda yadda.

I wonder where someone like that comes down on undocumented immigration and healthcare reform.

[PotVsKtl]

He'll be a United States Senator, not a Kentucky Senator.

[ShyGuy75]

lol

[faxman75]

He'll be a United States Senator, not a Kentucky Senator.

I was pointing out why it's not surprising they elected him and how absurd it is that so many blacks can't vote in that state. I know he was elected to the US Senate lol.

[ShyGuy75]

its absurd that convicted felons can't vote? sure, ok.

[Alchemy]

Christine O'Donnell lost. So hott.