Ye Olde US Midterm Elections Thread (With Extra Vitimins)

[Lacadaemon]

May 2009 Times cover:

Lol what happened?

All I see is a massive democratic loss in the house, a major pick up of senate seats, a massacre in state legislatures and a spanking of the governor seats. It was an election shake up at all levels for the democrats, not only contained at the national levels.

Time has to be one of the most retarded magazines in history. If something is put on the cover of that thing you can almost guarantee that it will turn out not to happen/be untrue.

I guess it's karma for making hitler man of the year. (Yah, I kno, the actual article was not very complimentary, but you get the point).

[NERVUN]

*shrugs* And after the 2002 midterms when the GOP gained seats, Rove predicted a permanent GOP majority.

What I mean is that I am shocked.

I was expecting major changes in the house but was not expecting a 60+ seat lose, and even if I did expect the senate to hold firm but the republican gain of senate seats upward of 6 seats is amazing.
What I am not expecting are the loses at state levels, nor did I expect major shifts in state legislatures and/or state posts all across the nation. I mean 2 years ago we were expecting a dying republican party and now all I see is a repudiation of the left.

It's not, exactly. If you read about the whole picture, minus the tea party, they ain't happy with the dems, but they still ain't happy with the repubs. Pretty much one article noted Americans are not just not happy, they're depressed. I have a feeling that we're still attempting to find the balance after a lot of extremes. Might take a few election cycles.

[Drachmar]

*shrugs* And after the 2002 midterms when the GOP gained seats, Rove predicted a permanent GOP majority.

What I mean is that I am shocked.

I was expecting major changes in the house but was not expecting a 60+ seat gain by the repubs, and even if I did expect the senate to hold firm but the republican gain of senate seats upward of 6 seats is amazing.
What I am not expecting are the loses at state levels, nor did I expect major shifts in state legislatures and/or state posts all across the nation. I mean 2 years ago we were expecting a dying republican party and now all I see is a repudiation of the left.
The district changes will have a major impact in the next 10 years.

Never prematurely claim the demise of the GOP. They will miraculously rise from the dead...unfortunately.

They must be zombies in disguise...or vampires...or mummies...or some other form of the undead.

[Sierra Lobo]

May 2009 Times cover:

Lol what happened?

All I see is a massive democratic loss in the house, a major pick up of senate seats, a massacre in state legislatures and a spanking of the governor seats. It was an election shake up at all levels for the democrats, not only contained at the national levels.

Time has to be one of the most retarded magazines in history. If something is put on the cover of that thing you can almost guarantee that it will turn out not to happen/be untrue.

I guess it's karma for making hitler man of the year. (Yah, I kno, the actual article was not very complimentary, but you get the point).

Point taken.
P.S.: Ohhh I did not know they made Hitler man of the year.

[OMGeverynameistaken]

May 2009 Times cover:

Lol what happened?

All I see is a massive democratic loss in the house, a major pick up of senate seats, a massacre in state legislatures and a spanking of the governor seats. It was an election shake up at all levels for the democrats, not only contained at the national levels.

Time has to be one of the most retarded magazines in history. If something is put on the cover of that thing you can almost guarantee that it will turn out not to happen/be untrue.

I guess it's karma for making hitler man of the year. (Yah, I kno, the actual article was not very complimentary, but you get the point).

I'd say that cover's actually rather accurate. The real Republican party died in the 90's. What we've got now is the lovechild of Orwell and Lovecraft prancing around in an elephant skin.

[Innsmothe]

Time has to be one of the most retarded magazines in history. If something is put on the cover of that thing you can almost guarantee that it will turn out not to happen/be untrue.

I guess it's karma for making hitler man of the year. (Yah, I kno, the actual article was not very complimentary, but you get the point).

I'd say that cover's actually rather accurate. The real Republican party died in the 90's. What we've got now is the lovechild of Orwell and Lovecraft prancing around in an elephant skin.

Not a nice picture.

[OMGeverynameistaken]

I'd say that cover's actually rather accurate. The real Republican party died in the 90's. What we've got now is the lovechild of Orwell and Lovecraft prancing around in an elephant skin.

Not a nice picture.

I'm personally not entirely convinced that Nyarlathotep isn't responsible for the present political situation in the US.

[Lacadaemon]

Then here's a scary thought for you all. Look at teh changes in the state houses, and then remember that its a census/redistricting year.

[The Lone Alliance]

More likely we can expect the government to shut down completely by Spring.

Fine with me, maybe the government employees will riot, and when the free market fairy doesn't show up to save the Teabaggers they'll realize that they'll need the Ebil Government.

[Miami Shores]

Reflective:

I admit I am obssed with that campaign slogan Change We Can Believe In as Sdaeriji said its creepy. But I cant resist one last time for now. Ironically the American People have voted for Change We Can Believe In, Obama's own campaign slogan, lets hope they get it this time.

You know its funny we can all call the candidates in office and outside of office greedy, corrupt and selfish, but to most of them they really believe they try to do good, even if they are greedy, corrupt and selfish. The winners feel happy, the loosers feel said and hurt, well thats politics. I am sure we would all feel the same way.

[Les Drapeaux Brulants]

Then here's a scary thought for you all. Look at teh changes in the state houses, and then remember that its a census/redistricting year.

If only the 17th amendment never was...

Anyway, my two cents worth is that this isn't an election Republicans should be celebrating. It is more of a referendum against Obama and the Democrats. The Republicans need to do the work they were elected to do, i.e. shrink the size of government, make the Bush tax cuts permanent, repeal Obamacare, etc, within the limitations that they have to work with. In other words, compromise needs to become acceptable.

On the other hand, the Democrats ought to wake up and realized that bi-partisan doesn't mean "Do what I say because I have the most votes". They need to see that Obama's policies are wildly unpopular and that they need to start paying attention to the electorate more than to the wacko in the White House. Democrats need to realize that compromise is no longer a four letter word.

But the folks that have the most work to do are us. We need to stay engaged with our representatives and never let them forget that we brought them into the world of politics and we can take them out. We can always find another politician.

[Alien Space Bats]

With large GOP gains expected, how do you think the left will explain the midterm results?

Superior mobilization of the Republican base.

In '08, Republicans were not enthusiastic about McCain in the same way that Democrats were about Obama; that made a difference in turnout, which resulted in a solid victory by the Democrats across the board. The Republican response was to begin the '10 campaign (and ultimately, the '12 campaign) the day after the '08 election was run, repeatedly acting to agitate and energize their supporters just as the Democrats were congratulating themselves and going home.

The failure of the Administration to accomplish all its supporters hoped for (a failure brought on, in part, by excessive post-election expectations on the part of Obama supporters) demoralized the Democratic base. Combine this with a general failure on the part of Democrats to campaign on their accomplishments (which might have given their supporters fewer reasons to dismiss them as ineffective blunderers and even reminded them of what was at stake going forward), and the stage was set for the tidal wave we saw today: Republicans got out and voted in huge numbers while Democrats didn't. We saw it here in Michigan, where Rick Snyder's landslide victory over Verg Bernano (58% to 40%) is in no way indicative of the two parties actual voting strengths as displayed over the last several years (indeed, the auto bailout - which was a negative in other states - was a massive Democratic positive here, and yet Democrats said barely a peep about it during this election, pretending as though they hadn't saved tens of thousands of local jobs from getting shipper oof overseas or down to Alabama (which, from our perspective, is pretty much the same thing) - or, for that matter, that the GOP had been quite adamantly outspoken about wanting GM to be left to die.

The voters aren't stupid, but it's always good political practice to remind them why they elected you, especially when you actually did the things they wanted you to do (like save their jobs in a dreadful economy).

tl&dr: Republicans very effectively took charge of the issues while the Democrats did nothing to try and persuade the voters they should stay; Republican voters were strongly motivated to turn out by two years of forceful agitation on the part of pro-Republican media, while Democratic voters were uninspired due to unmet expectations and poor campaigning.

[Alien Space Bats]

I say we wait and see what happens. If the economy soars, it'll be a result of the GOP's victory. If the economy tanks, there will be huge Democratic wins. We can't tell what's going to happen. The people simply don't see things getting any better, and they're reacting. If things continue to go badly, they'll react again. Calm down and stop creating bogeymen or else you're no better than the teabaggers you attack.

That there is already a talk of a double dip I wouldn't bet on the economy soaring.

Especially when the Tea Party activists filibuster the coming increase in the debt ceiling.

But, as Keith Olberman rather dryly pointed out, one way of making certain that government gets off your back is to essentially get rid of it altogether.

[Miami Shores]

That there is already a talk of a double dip I wouldn't bet on the economy soaring.

Especially when the Tea Party activists filibuster the coming increase in the debt ceiling.

But, as Keith Olberman rather dryly pointed out, one way of making certain that government gets off your back is to essentially get rid of it altogether.

Have we the American people elected Republican Tea Party Libertarians?

[Innsmothe]

Especially when the Tea Party activists filibuster the coming increase in the debt ceiling.

But, as Keith Olberman rather dryly pointed out, one way of making certain that government gets off your back is to essentially get rid of it altogether.

Have we the American people elected Republican Tea Party Libertarians?

Most libertarians left when they were infiltrated by the religious right.

[Lacadaemon]

Especially when the Tea Party activists filibuster the coming increase in the debt ceiling.

Haha. No.

That puppy is being raised for sure, and they won't do anything to stop it.

[Consaria]

I'm glad some fiscally conservative people got voted in, but I'm kinda sad. No more Pelosi jokes.

I think not winning the senete was good for the republicans. They can still blame the senate, the part everyone follows, for the problems and, at least, keep their seats in 2012

[East Lithuania]

I can be glad of 1 thing. Of all the gains the Republican's got this year, Cristine O'Donnell was not one of them.

Because of that, I am satisfied with this.

[Miami Shores]

Have we the American people elected Republican Tea Party Libertarians?

Most libertarians left when they were infiltrated by the religious right.

I spent the night so busy following the Florida election numbers that the margin and scope of victory in the house and the somewhat close in the Senate has not really hit me yet. I think the Republican Tea Partiers may prove to be more Libertarians than you think.

[Innsmothe]

I can be glad of 1 thing. Of all the gains the Republican's got this year, Cristine O'Donnell was not one of them.

Because of that, I am satisfied with this.

i am kind of disappointed, she had comedy value.

[Alien Space Bats]

Especially when the Tea Party activists filibuster the coming increase in the debt ceiling.

Haha. No.

That puppy is being raised for sure, and they won't do anything to stop it.

We'll see. It will be an early test of how well the GOP establishment can control its own radicals. Mitch McConnell, among others, understands the consequences of not raising the debt ceiling; several of the new class of Republicans, OTOH, are clamoring for the party to refuse to do so. Rand Paul is among them, and all it takes under current rules is for a single Senator to declare a filibuster. It's a certainty that Paul will insist on a cloture vote, whatever McConnell wants.

The real question then is whether the GOP caucus follows McConnell or caters to the party base. Of course, an added factor is that the radicals may not fully understand the consequences of not increasing the ceiling.

Or, alternately, may not care.

If I were with a foreign exchequer, I'd be dumping Treasuries and dollar deposits as fast as I could manage it.

[The Snake Brotherhood]

OK kids, here are the car keys. Would you like an adult with you in the car - Y/N?

I'm glad the GOP took control of the House. Now they'll really have to grow up and take some responsibility instead of being the party of No.

Alas, those eleeteests in the Senate will now block every noble incentive that comes from the good old party. Damn eleeteests...

Oh well, never mind. Reform can wait for 2 more years, when they elect Palin to finally take the country Back. What could possibly go wrong?

Btw is it just me, or changing the watch in the middle of a crisis looks like a harakiri? Any bets on when China will actually have a major giggle?

;-)

[Sierra Lobo]

I have some questions:

In the run up to this midterm election, the liberal pundits painted a picture that the american voters were morons, that the current agenda by obama was supported by the majority but was only drowned by a noisy minority, that the generic polls were biased and were slanted by Fox news.

I would like to know if:
1.Is this election result a clear sign that there is a real disconnect between obama and the people, and that the majority of these voters are really not morons?
2. Is Fox really correct on the major sentiments on some of these current political issues? Or are the mainstream/liberal media in denial?
3. Did the democrat's attacks on voters rather than trying to explain its accomplishment created a rift in the independents?
4. Is this election a referendum on the democratic policies?

[Wilgrove]

I still say the Democrats should sit back and do nothing for the next two years. Let the Pubs in the house run things, and when they screw up again (and they will), then they'll win in 2012.

You are clueless Darell Issa will be the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He will have subpoena power all he will have to do is subpoena Eric Holder on things like the Black Panther voter intimidation and then have fox news amplify everything by 1000x. Have Fox news and talk radio make the people believe the failing economy is a Marxist conspiracy to destroy America. If the Republicans play these next two years right in coordination with fox news and talk radio the dems do not have a chance. Repubs just need to find a problem amplify it with conservative news and tie it all into some conspiracy to destroy America. It will be game over for the Dems for generations if republicans play the fear and conspiracy card right.

The problem is, that fear and conspiracy has a shelf life. Obama won in 2008 on Hope and Change. People get tired of being told to be afraid and angry.

[OMGeverynameistaken]

As far as #4 goes, there can't really be a referendum on democratic policies since they've hardly managed to get half of anything done besides, as the Onion so expertly put it, striving to distance themselves as much as possible from their own policies.

So I suppose you might say this was a referendum on the Democratic policy of Democrats distancing themselves as much as they can from Democrat policy.