The Mid-Terms Results Thread [W:517]

[Linc]

Re: The Mid-Terms Results Thread

Mindset, maybe. But what I seen so far the two parties haven't work together for the last 6 years. That could change as you say, but I doubt it very much. At this juncture going on past history, experience, I fully expect McConnell to be a Republican version of Harry Reid. Party over country.

But time will tell, I have been wrong before and will be wrong again. Rhetoric is cheap, most politicians always say the right things in a speech. That doesn't count, it is their actions that count. Time will tell.

This was not a speech by McConnell--it was a wide-ranging press conference where he showed a superior grasp of the issues.
Linc has a gut-feeling that McConnell, who has a history of working with VP Biden, wants to go down in history as a great Majority Leader.

It would appear that immigration could derail all this positive feeling in my mind.
Dems are correct to call for a vote in the House.
Is Obama correct to threaten executive action if the House doesn't act?
Again, I believe McConnell will squash Rubio, Cruz, Paul and Lee as the four little bugs they are.

For me, I'm still too pissed-off at Blacks and Browns for not voting in Presidential year election numbers--again--just as in 2010 and 1994.
Obama was damned if he did and damned if he didn't on immigration and many other issues--not saying he didn't make mistakes.

I wonder how long this GOOD mod/con Democrat can continue to give so much time/energy to volunteering for people who don't vote.
I hope you know Beaudreax--he's great GOP--of the Goldwater variety.
Linc needs to retool his focus on the people who matter to him--like you.

I was proud to have a few beers last night with some American Legion guys and
my new political friend who was stationed in Germany when JFK was assassinated .

 

[Grant]

There can be no logical rationale for claiming those who lost didn't sufficiently embrace Obama and his policies. That's because those Democrats who lost were primarily in States that Obama carried in 2008, even though they were traditionally more conservative, and States that Obama lost to Romney in 2012 as the luster/novelty of voting for the first black President wore off and reality of his disastrous first term set in. Senate Democrats who got swept into Washington on the Obama wave, six years ago, got washed back out to sea this year.

This is compounded by the fact that several States that are traditionally left leaning, such as Maryland and Massachusetts, elected Republican governors. Obama policies, embraced by these Democrats, were rejected even by left leaning electorates. Leading into the election, most pundits on the left were claiming that the Democrats would pick up a couple of governorships and yet they ended up losing a total of three, I think. That tells you as well that the left totally misread the mood of the electorate this time.

This could be a very significant election moving forward if the Republicans who gained office and power don't blow it - not a sure thing.

The phrase "Mugged by Reality" springs to mind.

 

[Linc]

Re: The Mid-Terms Results Thread

I agree on Boehner, but I hope the GOP chooses someone else besides McConnell.

No Senator in the GOP Senate can touch McConnell's grasp of the issues.
I also am comforted by McConnell's work with Biden the last six years.

I see McConnell as the bridge between gridlock and compromise WITHIN his party.
He'll allow Boehner to save face, as he did today in a combined op-ed.

I've really come to respect his essence as a master politician.
He now has the full faith, credit and good will of this Proud American and GOOD Democrat .

 

[Dittohead not!]

This could be a very significant election moving forward if the Republicans who gained office and power don't blow it - not a sure thing.

They have a long and proud history of blowing it.

They blew it in the last presidential election.
They blew it when they had both houses of Congress and the presidency.

They'll blow it again, just wait and see.

 

[Linc]

Re: The Mid-Terms Results Thread

If the Republicans are reading this as a mandate, they are 100% wrong. This was a hold you nose and vote for the least disliked party/candidate. At least that was my take on it. Watching CNN this morning, they stated the President's approval rating at 44%, the Democratic Party at 42% and the Republican Party at 39%. Approval of congress at 13%, I forget the exact favorable rating for Boehner, Pelosi, McConnell and Reid, but they were in the teens and twenties percent.

CNN went on and on. The fact was neither party and the president, congress is well liked. But the president was the face of the election. Then according to the exit polls Republicans won the white vote 60-38 vs. Romney receiving 57% back in 2012. Republicans lost the black vote 89-10 but in 2012 they had lost it 94-5. Hispanics, Republicans lost them 36-62 whereas Romney lost them 27-72. Women went Democratic 51-47 vs. 53-45 in 2012 and so it went.

My quick takeaway on elections is that 2014 was 2010 on steroids--minorities, young people and women didn't vote.
The very people who demand the Dems do their bidding but refuse to turn out.

Why should Obama give away the rest of the party for people who won't vote?
Again, I believe this is legacy time for Majority Leader McConnell.

I finish with tears in my eyes as we just lost a student last night driving and two more are in critical condition according to my wife who just called me.

 

[CanadaJohn]

They have a long and proud history of blowing it.

They blew it in the last presidential election.
They blew it when they had both houses of Congress and the presidency.

They'll blow it again, just wait and see.

You could be right, but they do have the benefit of a President who's clueless so they may still look good in comparison.

 

[poweRob]

Re: The Mid-Terms Results Thread

And this is what you are satisfied with and support leading the country? Hmm. Not sure I could.

I'm talking about voters and their turnout. But I think you knew that. Besides, what good does it do to hop behind Republican leadership that is confident when it will confidently lead you off a cliff?

 

[Grim17]

Since this a "mid-term results" thread...

I think when the dust settles, the Republicans will hold 54 seats in the senate and 244 seats in congress... Anyone disagree with that?

 

[Perotista]

Re: The Mid-Terms Results Thread

This was not a speech by McConnell--it was a wide-ranging press conference where he showed a superior grasp of the issues.
Linc has a gut-feeling that McConnell, who has a history of working with VP Biden, wants to go down in history as a great Majority Leader.

It would appear that immigration could derail all this positive feeling in my mind.
Dems are correct to call for a vote in the House.
Is Obama correct to threaten executive action if the House doesn't act?
Again, I believe McConnell will squash Rubio, Cruz, Paul and Lee as the four little bugs they are.

For me, I'm still too pissed-off at Blacks and Browns for not voting in Presidential year election numbers--again--just as in 2010 and 1994.
Obama was damned if he did and damned if he didn't on immigration and many other issues--not saying he didn't make mistakes.

I wonder how long this GOOD mod/con Democrat can continue to give so much time/energy to volunteering for people who don't vote.
I hope you know Beaudreax--he's great GOP--of the Goldwater variety.
Linc needs to retool his focus on the people who matter to him--like you.

I was proud to have a few beers last night with some American Legion guys and
my new political friend who was stationed in Germany when JFK was assassinated .

I am not sure if I shared with you some of the exit polls CNN had the morning after concerning the minority vote vs. Romney and 2012.
Blacks voted 89% for Democrats last Tuesday vs. 95% in 2012
Hispanics voted 38% for Republicans last Tuesday vs. 27% for Romney in 2012
Whites voted 60% for Republicans last Tuesday vs. 59% for Romney in 2012.

But you are right about the numbers, whites made up 75% of the vote last Tuesday vs. 72% for 2012.

Biden could become a key player with McConnell, they have known each other forever and they respect each other. On immigration, I am still a big fan of the Gary Johnson plan which by the way Rubio stole a lot of it from him in his plan. But for any immigration plan or reform to work, our laws must be enforced which they are not being at this point in time.

It could be the president will over reach on immigration, especially if he grants amnesty on his own. The Constitution is quite clear on that. Article I Section 8, congress shall have the power to establish a uniform rule on naturalization. Of course the lawyese language has to be attached and understanding of that.

I suppose I will wait and see.

 

[Perotista]

Re: The Mid-Terms Results Thread

No Senator in the GOP Senate can touch McConnell's grasp of the issues.
I also am comforted by McConnell's work with Biden the last six years.

I see McConnell as the bridge between gridlock and compromise WITHIN his party.
He'll allow Boehner to save face, as he did today in a combined op-ed.

I've really come to respect his essence as a master politician.
He now has the full faith, credit and good will of this Proud American and GOOD Democrat .

We'll see. I do not have a warm and fuzzy on McConnell. It remains to be seen if he is just another Reid or as you say.

 

[Perotista]

Re: The Mid-Terms Results Thread

My quick takeaway on elections is that 2014 was 2010 on steroids--minorities, young people and women didn't vote.
The very people who demand the Dems do their bidding but refuse to turn out.

Why should Obama give away the rest of the party for people who won't vote?
Again, I believe this is legacy time for Majority Leader McConnell.

I finish with tears in my eyes as we just lost a student last night driving and two more are in critical condition according to my wife who just called me.

I don't know if your 2010 analogy is correct. One should give it time to settle in. In 2010 the vote was against Pelosi and Reid more than the president. Against the ACA and the time spent on health care that was taken away from the economy and jobs. At least that was how I seen it.

This election was against the president and his policies. On most issues he is above 50% in the negative. On the Economy 55% disapprove, Terrorism 55%,Ebola 51% disapprove, Health Care 57% disapprove, Foreign Policy 57%, ISIS 58%, Immigration 61% and so it goes.

Back in 2010 the president was on the plus side of those that applied back then except health care.

 

[jmotivator]

Re: The Mid-Terms Results Thread

We'll see. I do not have a warm and fuzzy on McConnell. It remains to be seen if he is just another Reid or as you say.

Well, as I see it the warm fuzzies we see from Dem supporters today are simply the parroting of Obama's comments about McConnell yesterday. Does anyone believe that Obama would be speaking so warming about McConnell if the Democrats in the Senate hadn't just gotten trounced in the midterms? He certainly never seemed to find the time in the last 6 years to praise McConnell's leadership.

 

[Perotista]

Re: The Mid-Terms Results Thread

Well, as I see it the warm fuzzies we see from Dem supporters today are simply the parroting of Obama's comments about McConnell yesterday. Does anyone believe that Obama would be speaking so warming about McConnell if the Democrats in the Senate hadn't just gotten trounced in the midterms? He certainly never seemed to find the time in the last 6 years to praise McConnell's leadership.

Being in the minority there was no need to praise McConnell. The president had Reid to run his interference. But the president could have worked more closely with Boehner. One only has to go back to Tip O'Neal and Reagan and to the behind the scenes of working together of Clinton and Gingrich.

I think this whole election turned when the president said, "I may not be on the ballot, but my policies are." Until then Hagan, Nunn, Shaheen, Begich, Landrieu and perhaps a couple more had the lead in the polls. He certainly didn't do any favors to his side that was running in red states.

 

[eohrnberger]

Re: The Mid-Terms Results Thread

Democrats will wake up because they are ALWAYS asleep in the midterms. Bunch of lazy, apathetic bastards.

And this is what you are satisfied with and support leading the country? Hmm. Not sure I could.

I'm talking about voters and their turnout. But I think you knew that. Besides, what good does it do to hop behind Republican leadership that is confident when it will confidently lead you off a cliff?

Dunno about you, but I'd be concerned that the most prevalent constituent voting for your party is as quickly and easily described such as you have. All this with what's been described as a 'record ground game' to get them out to vote, and still fall this far short?

Funny that you are claiming that it's the Republicans which 'will confidently lead you off a cliff', when that's exactly what's happened to the Democrats following Obama's lead. What more proof of this do you need besides the election results?

You can tell that this was a serious concern in the mind of the Democrats campaigning, as they asked that Obama keep his distance from them. My, how fortunes have changed 180 degrees over just such a short while ago.

In an interview on Sharpton's radio program, Obama said

“These are folks who are strong allies and supporters of me, and I tell them, I said, ‘You know what, you do what you need to do to win. I will be responsible for making sure our voters turn out.’ ”

Obama: Dem candidates avoiding me 'have supported my agenda' | TheHill

Since Democratic voter turn out was as low as it was, I guess that'd be yet another failure of his to add to his list, and they just continue piling up. This one's significant in that it's damaging the Democratic brand, as we have seen.

Man, I'm telling ya, the Democratic leaders need to get into his office and tell him to stop killing the Democratic party like he is, now that the electorate have gotten wise to him and his lying and craptastic policies. There is potential here for jeopardizing the 2016 presidential election for the Democrats if he keeps going like he is, i.e. his rhetoric and posturing to the Republican congressional leaders and his demand for Illegal Alien Amnesty, or he'll do it via Executive Order, and all the rest of his un-statesmen like behavior. No, he needs to learn from history, from the history of Clinton's pivot to the center when dealing with a Republican held congress. That'll lead to effective governing, but not his usual petulant behavior and attitude.

Obama's continuing to damage the Democratic brand in the minds of the swing voter electorate, yet all of you deny this as even being possible. Wake up guys. He's putting you and the Democratic party behind the 8 ball, with an even longer time to recovery and reconstitution. He's safe as he'll never run again, and has nothing to lose, so don't count on him watching your back. You know he's not going to do that. He's going to arrogantly march forward to his drummer, and, as the picture above depicts, over the edge of the cliff, to greater Democratic party destruction. Yes, he's that arrogant, that narcissistic, and that self-centered.

 

[Dittohead not!]

You could be right, but they do have the benefit of a President who's clueless so they may still look good in comparison.

They do have that advantage.
It's the same advantage that the Democrats had back in '08.

 

[clownboy]

Re: The Mid-Terms Results Thread

I finish with tears in my eyes as we just lost a student last night driving and two more are in critical condition according to my wife who just called me.

Really sorry to hear that, condolences to family and friends. Will pray the other two pull through and meet with a successful recovery.

 

[Hamster Buddha]

They do have that advantage.
It's the same advantage that the Democrats had back in '08.

You mean 06 right? In 08 he was leaving... or were you talking about the same guy?

 

[jmotivator]

Re: The Mid-Terms Results Thread

Being in the minority there was no need to praise McConnell. The president had Reid to run his interference. But the president could have worked more closely with Boehner. One only has to go back to Tip O'Neal and Reagan and to the behind the scenes of working together of Clinton and Gingrich.

I think this whole election turned when the president said, "I may not be on the ballot, but my policies are." Until then Hagan, Nunn, Shaheen, Begich, Landrieu and perhaps a couple more had the lead in the polls. He certainly didn't do any favors to his side that was running in red states.

Well, if the goal is to work with the opposition in Congress then the President shouldn't have been giving stump speeches calling the opposition terrorists and hostage takers.

If it takes losing everything for him to finally behave like a statesman then he should never have been president. His behavior now looks more like someone working through a 12 step program.

 

[CanadaJohn]

They do have that advantage.
It's the same advantage that the Democrats had back in '08.

I presume you mean '06, when they took control of the House with GWB as President.

 

[Perotista]

Re: The Mid-Terms Results Thread

Well, if the goal is to work with the opposition in Congress then the President shouldn't have been giving stump speeches calling the opposition terrorists and hostage takers.

If it takes losing everything for him to finally behave like a statesman then he should never have been president. His behavior now looks more like someone working through a 12 step program.

That's true, demonizing the opposition is not the way to go to get some of them to cooperate with you. I have said this many times in the past, successful presidents always reach across the aisle to someone they can work with. This president hasn't ever done that.

 

[Meister]

Clown? That is disrespectful to the max! Yes, I am angry, but not at Obama! Not that I agreed with everything that he did, but for the most part I thought he was doing a pretty good job..

Middle America making less than they were 6 years ago
Debt will be around 20 trillion when Barry leaves office
47 million on food stamps
Welfare on the rise
Poverty on the rise

You are liberal with the term 'pretty good job'.

 

[Conservative]

America did wake up on Tuesday, get rid of the clowns

Send out the clowns - YouTube

 

[Fearandloathing]

Re: The Mid-Terms Results Thread

Yeah, that's what he does. Personal politics uber alles.

Seriously, I really hope that they, the congressional leaders and Obama, find some common ground to address the pressing issues that face the nation.

It is kinda what they are sort of supposed to do. Right? As the nation's leaders and all?

:2rofll:

 

[Fearandloathing]

Re: The Mid-Terms Results Thread

Well, if the goal is to work with the opposition in Congress then the President shouldn't have been giving stump speeches calling the opposition terrorists and hostage takers.

If it takes losing everything for him to finally behave like a statesman then he should never have been president. His behavior now looks more like someone working through a 12 step program.

I doubt that will teach him anything.

I hope I am wrong, but I suspect we are going to see even more heated warfare. This is not a mature man we're dealing with

 

[Fearandloathing]

Middle America making less than they were 6 years ago
Debt will be around 20 trillion when Barry leaves office
47 million on food stamps
Welfare on the rise
Poverty on the rise

You are liberal with the term 'pretty good job'.

I suspect in this case "pretty good job" means he wore nice suits....

I also have to note the past tense..."was doing a pretty good job..." Even his most admiring supporters see him as beyond his best before date.

Say by Barrack, and don't forget to wave, but it's Hillary now