EasyEd
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Post by EasyEd on Nov 5, 2014 14:15:50 GMT -5
Since no one else has started this, I'll plunge in.
Repudiation of President Obama's stewardship. Now let's see if the Republicans can craft legislation in cooperation with Democrats; and, if the president will be willing to come halfway. Let's start by producing a law-required budget for a change.
Here in racist, war-on-women, South Carolina we elected an African American senator and reelected an Indian-American woman as governor. Elsewhere the war on women produced two new female Republican senators.
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quickplay
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Post by quickplay on Nov 5, 2014 14:31:31 GMT -5
The most interesting thing about this shellacking to me is that I have no idea what Republicans think their mandate is.
They have been completely devoid of ideas for six years, and there were no major policy priorities for this election besides keystone xl and 'taking America back.'
Will be interesting to see how that actually comes into play when it's time to legislate.
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DallasHoya
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Post by DallasHoya on Nov 5, 2014 19:34:25 GMT -5
"Well, here's the issue. I think elections matter."
- Barack Obama, on Meet the Press, September 2014.
If only he would act that way.
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TC
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Post by TC on Nov 6, 2014 10:54:18 GMT -5
Yes, "if only he would act that way", just like the Republicans did in 2008-2010, and 2012-2014 - when more of the country voted. Republicans don't realize it yet, but their actions the last 6 years are going to either change the strategy for the party in the minority to total blind opposition on every issue, or they are going to lead to changes in the rules of the Senate. Their strategy of complete and total obstruction worked way too well for it not to be adopted.
Democrats need to figure out a way to win a midterm while still in power of the White House.
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TBird41
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Post by TBird41 on Nov 6, 2014 18:02:33 GMT -5
Did we gain a lot of Hoyas? I know Dan Sullivan went to the Law School, and the Chair of Senate Energy is now a Hoya (Lisa Murkowski). Any other Hoyas make it to Congress this year?
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EasyEd
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Post by EasyEd on Nov 6, 2014 19:47:08 GMT -5
Yes, "if only he would act that way", just like the Republicans did in 2008-2010, and 2012-2014 - when more of the country voted. Republicans don't realize it yet, but their actions the last 6 years are going to either change the strategy for the party in the minority to total blind opposition on every issue, or they are going to lead to changes in the rules of the Senate. Their strategy of complete and total obstruction worked way too well for it not to be adopted Didn't I hear that the Republican House sent over 300 bills to the Senate that Harry Reid refused even to bring to the floor? The mantra of Republican obstructionism seems to be only half the story.
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EasyEd
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Post by EasyEd on Nov 6, 2014 19:49:46 GMT -5
Did we gain a lot of Hoyas? I know Dan Sullivan went to the Law School, and the Chair of Senate Energy is now a Hoya (Lisa Murkowski). Any other Hoyas make it to Congress this year? Not the congress and not himself an alumni but I believe Maryland governor-elect Larry Hogan's father was an alumni.
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Elvado
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Post by Elvado on Nov 6, 2014 20:08:49 GMT -5
Yes, "if only he would act that way", just like the Republicans did in 2008-2010, and 2012-2014 - when more of the country voted. Republicans don't realize it yet, but their actions the last 6 years are going to either change the strategy for the party in the minority to total blind opposition on every issue, or they are going to lead to changes in the rules of the Senate. Their strategy of complete and total obstruction worked way too well for it not to be adopted Didn't I hear that the Republican House sent over 300 bills to the Senate that Harry Reid refused even to bring to the floor? The mantra of Republican obstructionism seems to be only half the story. Yes but those were obstructionist non-constructive bills that Senator Ringside knew were not good for America so he spared the Emperor having to veto them.
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hoyainspirit
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Post by hoyainspirit on Nov 6, 2014 20:38:52 GMT -5
Didn't I hear that the Republican House sent over 300 bills to the Senate that Harry Reid refused even to bring to the floor? The mantra of Republican obstructionism seems to be only half the story. Yes but those were obstructionist non-constructive bills that Senator Ringside knew were not good for America so he spared the Emperor having to veto them. True dat.
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Nov 6, 2014 21:39:00 GMT -5
They were just 300 more attempted repeals of Obamacare.
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EasyEd
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Post by EasyEd on Nov 7, 2014 19:19:58 GMT -5
Everybody seems to observe the Republicans have a problem with African Americans and with Hispanics, but equally as important is the Democrats have a problem with non-Hispanic whites. In this election for the House, Republicans got 60% of that vote while the Democrats got about 89% of African Americans and 62% of Hispanics. These numbers are nearly identical to that of 2010 - both, I note, were off-year elections. Republican numbers on whites were about +8 outside the south and +42 in the south.
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hoyatables
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Post by hoyatables on Nov 10, 2014 10:32:51 GMT -5
A lot of the coverage has focused on this vote as a repudiation of President Obama's efforts and/or leadership (and there is of course truth to both claims). But other than articles about the declining relationship between the President and Senator Reid, I have not seen a lot of discussion about Reid's role in all of this. If Obama was callous or cool to any sort of dealmaking with the Republicans, then Reid has been flat out hostile and cold. He almost seemed to revel in his power, and I think that, more than anything, is what cost the Dems the majority. No average American voter thought of it that way, of course, but I believe that Reid was as responsible for Congressional dysfunction as anyone else (including many Republicans).
Here's to hoping that Senator McConnell can show better leadership. And that both McConnell and Rep. Boehner can collectively get things moving. And that President Obama finally decides to work with them. I fear all we're going to end up with is two years of showmanship leading up to 2016, but anything is possible.
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hoyainspirit
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Post by hoyainspirit on Nov 10, 2014 15:31:25 GMT -5
Here's to hoping that Senator McConnell can show better leadership. And that both McConnell and Rep. Boehner can collectively get things moving. And that President Obama finally decides to work with them. I fear all we're going to end up with is two years of showmanship leading up to 2016, but anything is possible. I, too, wish that things work better in Congress and between the parties. I, however, hope that McConnell and Boehner finally decide to work with Obama, and vice versa. Let us not forget that, for the most part, from Obama's earliest days in office, Republicans adopted a strategy to oppose whatever the Administration proposed, even if previously they supported those positions. Further, given the influence of factions within the party, Republicans absolutely refused to compromise. Their way or nothing. A constructive, lively debate between the parties makes for a better democracy (as does increased voter participation, not voting restrictions). Right now the cultural extremism and anti-government absolutism that has increasingly taken hold of the Republican Party makes that almost impossible. Here's to a thaw on both sides, but especially for Republicans.
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Elvado
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Post by Elvado on Nov 10, 2014 15:35:15 GMT -5
Here's to both sides setting about to work for what is best for the AMERICAN people.
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EasyEd
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Post by EasyEd on Nov 10, 2014 19:32:17 GMT -5
Here's to hoping that Senator McConnell can show better leadership. And that both McConnell and Rep. Boehner can collectively get things moving. And that President Obama finally decides to work with them. I fear all we're going to end up with is two years of showmanship leading up to 2016, but anything is possible. I, too, wish that things work better in Congress and between the parties. I, however, hope that McConnell and Boehner finally decide to work with Obama, and vice versa. Let us not forget that, for the most part, from Obama's earliest days in office, Republicans adopted a strategy to oppose whatever the Administration proposed, even if previously they supported those positions. Further, given the influence of factions within the party, Republicans absolutely refused to compromise. Their way or nothing. A constructive, lively debate between the parties makes for a better democracy (as does increased voter participation, not voting restrictions). Right now the cultural extremism and anti-government absolutism that has increasingly taken hold of the Republican Party makes that almost impossible. Here's to a thaw on both sides, but especially for Republicans. I don't recall a single instance where President Obama has offered a concession to Republicans in the spirit of working together. He might start by not taking unilateral action on immigration but seeking common ground with the congress.
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hoyainspirit
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Post by hoyainspirit on Nov 10, 2014 20:39:46 GMT -5
I don't recall a single instance where President Obama has offered a concession to Republicans in the spirit of working together. I'm not surprised.
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SaxaCD
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Post by SaxaCD on Nov 10, 2014 22:00:53 GMT -5
Yes, "if only he would act that way", just like the Republicans did in 2008-2010, and 2012-2014 - when more of the country voted. Republicans don't realize it yet, but their actions the last 6 years are going to either change the strategy for the party in the minority to total blind opposition on every issue, or they are going to lead to changes in the rules of the Senate. Their strategy of complete and total obstruction worked way too well for it not to be adopted. Democrats need to figure out a way to win a midterm while still in power of the White House. They've already figured that out -- massive amnesty.
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tashoya
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Post by tashoya on Nov 10, 2014 23:06:24 GMT -5
I, too, wish that things work better in Congress and between the parties. I, however, hope that McConnell and Boehner finally decide to work with Obama, and vice versa. Let us not forget that, for the most part, from Obama's earliest days in office, Republicans adopted a strategy to oppose whatever the Administration proposed, even if previously they supported those positions. Further, given the influence of factions within the party, Republicans absolutely refused to compromise. Their way or nothing. A constructive, lively debate between the parties makes for a better democracy (as does increased voter participation, not voting restrictions). Right now the cultural extremism and anti-government absolutism that has increasingly taken hold of the Republican Party makes that almost impossible. Here's to a thaw on both sides, but especially for Republicans. I don't recall a single instance where President Obama has offered a concession to Republicans in the spirit of working together. He might start by not taking unilateral action on immigration but seeking common ground with the congress. I'm not surprised that this is only half of the story but, having said that, since when are concessions necessary to get people to do the jobs they were elected to do? It's not a favor to work together. It's the definition of the job. What, exactly, is the alternative to unilateral action when cooperation/compromise isn't an option? I'm not saying I agree with it. I'm saying it's the option available. In any case, both sides should be embarrassed. It's like watching a pair of 3 year olds in a small sandbox with two shovels but only one pail.
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TBird41
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Post by TBird41 on Nov 11, 2014 11:11:15 GMT -5
I don't recall a single instance where President Obama has offered a concession to Republicans in the spirit of working together. He might start by not taking unilateral action on immigration but seeking common ground with the congress. I'm not surprised that this is only half of the story but, having said that, since when are concessions necessary to get people to do the jobs they were elected to do? It's not a favor to work together. It's the definition of the job. What, exactly, is the alternative to unilateral action when cooperation/compromise isn't an option? I'm not saying I agree with it. I'm saying it's the option available. In any case, both sides should be embarrassed. It's like watching a pair of 3 year olds in a small sandbox with two shovels but only one pail. I think, and this is not a new trend, that the concentration of power in the executive is a very bad thing, and its not a good thing when Presidents push the boundaries on unilateral actions. Part of this is a result of congressional inaction, but the precedents that each successive president have set w/r/t increasing their power are bad for democracy and for the ability of anyone to check the executive's powers. Also, it seems really premature to say that it's the only option available, considering that a new congress has been elected / control of the Senate has shifted. There aren't any blue-dogs left to protect in the south, for example, and maybe the Republicans up for reelection in 2016 in blue states want immigration reform to run on. Not sure if its true, but any kind of unilateral action during a lame duck session will destroy any chance of working with Congress.
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EasyEd
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Post by EasyEd on Nov 11, 2014 12:56:39 GMT -5
I believe that, were the Democrats/Obama to accept that the border be closed first, the Republicans would agree to follow that with some sort of amnesty for those already here. They would avoid using the word, amnesty, but it would be de-facto amnesty.
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