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Reexamining GOP obstruction in the obama era

When Obama told republicans to get "back in line" and told then "I won" I knew it wouldn't be good, because Obama started the divisiveness just by saying those words. Do you democrats really blame republicans for not working with Obama after that?
 
Gerrymandering is not inconsequential.

By the way, it works both ways. If I remember right, Maryland is gerrymandered in Democrats favor. This year's state races are important for the same reason--census year. District maps are only drawn once a decade, following the census.

Please explain to me how you gerrymander the presidency, the US Senate, and state governors, all of whom won big during the last 10 years. It's stupid to claim that even though Republicans won tons of races that can't possibly be gerrymandered that they won the others only due to gerrymandering. It's nothing but an excuse, like the right claims that illegals voting is a big problem.

You wrote: "Gerrymandering is quite inconsequential, just like illegals voting is quite inconsequential, just like Russians influencing our elections is quite inconsequential."

I replied with facts, providing examples of various state legislatures rendered unrepresentative of the actual vote by gerrymandering, and an example of how US Congressional representation in North Carolina is highly misaligned due to it.

Your response was to call my response stupid. Why do so many conservatives think that being belligerent is in any way persuasive? Of course gerrymandering doesn't affect state-wide races. That goes without saying. Resting your argument on the obvious is...well, I won't call it stupid. How about odd?

Please explain to me how you gerrymander the presidency, the US Senate, and state governors, all of whom won big during the last 10 years. It's stupid to claim that even though Republicans won tons of races that can't possibly be gerrymandered that they won the others only due to gerrymandering. It's nothing but an excuse, like the right claims that illegals voting is a big problem.

How else do you explain Pennsylvania, where Democratic candidates won 54 percent of the statewide House popular vote but walked away with just 45 percent, or 92 seats, of the 203-seat state legislature. Just a coincidence that it's heavily gerrymandered?

Okay, then there's Michigan and North Carolina. The states draw their legislative districts by passing bills in the legislature. Whichever party controls the legislature controls the redistricting, and Republicans happened to be in charge of both legislatures following the 2010 Census.

In 2018, both states saw a six percentage-point gap between Democrats' share of the popular vote, and the share of state House seats they won. Michigan Democrats won 200,000 more votes statewide than Republicans did but will get 52 out of 110 seats. North Carolina Democrats prevailed in the popular vote by 79,000 votes but won 54 out of 120 seats.

You remind me of Trump claiming that he actually won the popular voting except for massive voter fraud in New Hampshire. Or Trump claiming there were more people at his Inauguration than at Obama's.

Please explain to me how you gerrymander the presidency, the US Senate, and state governors, all of whom won big during the last 10 years. It's stupid to claim that even though Republicans won tons of races that can't possibly be gerrymandered that they won the others only due to gerrymandering. It's nothing but an excuse, like the right claims that illegals voting is a big problem.

Are you trolling me?

Of course they didn't win non-state races due only to gerrymandering. I never said they had. You stated that gerrymandering is inconsequential. I provided clear examples of non-state-wide races where the popular vote was not reflected in the final results. Some of that was almost certainly due to gerrymandering. A state could easily, say, vote GOP for governor in 2012 and then six years later vote popularly Democratic in 2018 but not get a representative number of house seats due to gerrymandering. Why is that so hard to believe?

So answer me this. In the examples I gave you, Pennsylvania, Michigan, NC, why wouldn't gerrymandering be a rational explanation for the statewide vote not be reflected in the number of seats won? What other explanation do you have?

Please explain to me how you gerrymander the presidency, the US Senate, and state governors, all of whom won big during the last 10 years. It's stupid to claim that even though Republicans won tons of races that can't possibly be gerrymandered that they won the others only due to gerrymandering. It's nothing but an excuse, like the right claims that illegals voting is a big problem.

Yep. Troll.
 
When Obama told republicans to get "back in line" and told then "I won" I knew it wouldn't be good, because Obama started the divisiveness just by saying those words. Do you democrats really blame republicans for not working with Obama after that?

I blame Republicans for deciding on the night of his inauguration that their number one goal was to make him a one-term president. Not to rescue the nation out of the worst economic crisis in our lifetimes.

The Republicans were happy to see Americans suffering the ravages of unemployment--suicide, broken homes, broken marriages--if that meant getting the White House back in 2012. It was sick.
 
I blame Republicans for deciding on the night of his inauguration that their number one goal was to make him a one-term president. Not to rescue the nation out of the worst economic crisis in our lifetimes.

The Republicans were happy to see Americans suffering the ravages of unemployment--suicide, broken homes, broken marriages--if that meant getting the White House back in 2012. It was sick.
Kind of like democrats did 17 minutes after Trump was inaugurated right? I mean there are several bi-partisan issues the dems could work with Trump on like infrastructure, but they refuse.
 
I blame Republicans for deciding on the night of his inauguration that their number one goal was to make him a one-term president. Not to rescue the nation out of the worst economic crisis in our lifetimes.

The Republicans were happy to see Americans suffering the ravages of unemployment--suicide, broken homes, broken marriages--if that meant getting the White House back in 2012. It was sick.
Actually not true, the grand bargain to reduce the deficit included tax hikes and spending cuts which should've been bi-partisan, but of course Barry rejected it. Everyone got something out of it, but oh no Obama whined about it.
 
Kind of like democrats did 17 minutes after Trump was inaugurated right? I mean there are several bi-partisan issues the dems could work with Trump on like infrastructure, but they refuse.

No, any Democrats still on the fence decided after hearing the Access Hollywood tape that this guy was a threat to all decency in our nation. The fact that Republicans didn't is a travesty.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House Democrats on Wednesday unveiled a proposed $760 billion infrastructure spending bill over five years that aims to rebuild sagging roads and bridges and reduce carbon pollution.

Mitch McConnell's Senate won't touch this with a ten-foot pole because infrastructure shows how big government can work for the general good--which is anathema to Republicans.
 
I blame Republicans for deciding on the night of his inauguration that their number one goal was to make him a one-term president. Not to rescue the nation out of the worst economic crisis in our lifetimes.

The Republicans were happy to see Americans suffering the ravages of unemployment--suicide, broken homes, broken marriages--if that meant getting the White House back in 2012. It was sick.
They don't realize that America was in a great recession brought on when Bush was in office and they filibustered everything they could in the first two years so the Dems had to fight tooth and nail to get anything out of Congress, unlike the first two years Trump was in
as you said the Republicans didn't care what the American people were going through all they wanted to do was make Obama a one term President and then when he was re-elected they tried to make him look as bad as Bush II WAS.
Maybe IF they had taken into concern just how bad it was going through the Recession and took the welfare of the American people FIRST ( instead of making Obama a one term President ) we could have been out of the Recession sooner and had have had a more robust recovery , sooner and stronger, but they didn't give a dang about what the American people were going through, all they could think about was destroying Obama
Have a nice night
 
No, any Democrats still on the fence decided after hearing the Access Hollywood tape that this guy was a threat to all decency in our nation. The fact that Republicans didn't is a travesty.



Mitch McConnell's Senate won't touch this with a ten-foot pole because infrastructure shows how big government can work for the general good--which is anathema to Republicans.
OH WHO CARES!! It's just freaking locker room talk and it has nothing to do with politics!! Dems need to move on seriously!!!
 
This is a conservative country anyways, I shouldn't even care what dems think.
 
I blame Republicans for deciding on the night of his inauguration that their number one goal was to make him a one-term president. Not to rescue the nation out of the worst economic crisis in our lifetim
The Republicans were happy to see Americans suffering the ravages of unemployment--suicide, broken homes, broken marriages--if that meant getting the White House back in 2012. It was sick.
They don't care , McConnell decided on the day Obama was elected he was going to do everything he could do to make Obama a one term President
it didn't matter to them what the American people were going through, they didn't care about the welfare of the people of the US that was the least of their worries, all they wanted to do was destroy Obama.
at that time they still had the Filibuster and they used it every time they could to slow down any thing that would help the people of the US as long as they could and when they took over they changed the rules so the Dems. couldn't do the same thing.
Maybe iF they really cared about what was going on and the welfare of the people of the USA, and had tried to do their job and help get us out of the great recession, remember the one that started under Bush II, we would have been out of it sooner and it could have been more robust years ago
But they didn't give a dang about the American people all they wanted to do was make Obama a one term President and when he was re-elected all they wanted to do then was make him look as bad as Bush II was.
I believe some of them were hopping that we would go into a depression just so they could say look at what Obama did, and get their wish to make Obama a one term President
and it didn't happen, so they did everything they could to slow down the economy and when Trump was elected turned around and did all they could to make him look good on the back of Obama
good luck with these guys
Have a good night
 
They don't care , McConnell decided on the day Obama was elected he was going to do everything he could do to make Obama a one term President
it didn't matter to them what the American people were going through, they didn't care about the welfare of the people of the US that was the least of their worries, all they wanted to do was destroy Obama.
at that time they still had the Filibuster and they used it every time they could to slow down any thing that would help the people of the US as long as they could and when they took over they changed the rules so the Dems. couldn't do the same thing.
Maybe iF they really cared about what was going on and the welfare of the people of the USA, and had tried to do their job and help get us out of the great recession, remember the one that started under Bush II, we would have been out of it sooner and it could have been more robust years ago
But they didn't give a dang about the American people all they wanted to do was make Obama a one term President and when he was re-elected all they wanted to do then was make him look as bad as Bush II was.
I believe some of them were hopping that we would go into a depression just so they could say look at what Obama did, and get their wish to make Obama a one term President
and it didn't happen, so they did everything they could to slow down the economy and when Trump was elected turned around and did all they could to make him look good on the back of Obama
good luck with these guys
Have a good night
One more thing
the Republicans have been saying the House hasn't done anything to help the American people all they have been doing since Trumps first day in office was try to get him out
well that is a lie, much like most of everything they say, the House has passed several hundred bills that would help the American people and they are sitting on McConnell's desk in what he calls the graveyard and HE won't let the Senate see any of them.
it is McConnell that hasn't done his job , all he is doing is just what Trump tells him too
again good luck with these people
and have a good night
 
OH WHO CARES!! It's just freaking locker room talk and it has nothing to do with politics!! Dems need to move on seriously!!!

Yes. We should move on to more important issues, such as Trump's overt appeals to racism. And his rampant, unending corruption. And his undermining a free press. And undermining an independent judicial system. And destroying the free trade regime the US build since Bretton Woods. And his destruction of rules helping keep our air and water clean. And his exploding the deficit for no reason other than big tax giveaways to those who don't need it. And his undermining NATO because his buddy in Moscow doesn't like it. And his cozying up to dictators around the world while scorning allies of democratic nations. And undermining our military leadership at every turn. Are those the kind of serious issues you had in mind?
 
Actually not true, the grand bargain to reduce the deficit included tax hikes and spending cuts which should've been bi-partisan, but of course Barry rejected it. Everyone got something out of it, but oh no Obama whined about it.

I have a feeling everything you think you know about the world you leaned on Fox "News" and the Washington Examiner.
 
They don't realize that America was in a great recession

Remember during the 2008 financial crisis McCain "suspended his campaign" in a big splash, and went to DC for a big confab with Bush, Obama, and all the congressional leadership?

At the meeting McCain hardly said two words, Bush neither. So Obama provided a concise and detailed summary of the problem and peppered Treasury secretary Paulson questions. The GOP leaders slunk back to congress and just obstructed everything.

It's funny how the public tends to give Republicans higher marks on handling the economy. But they were either clueless or openly obstructionist during the biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression.
 
There is all this talk by Trumpsters about how the economy and country were such a disaster under Obama, and how things are SO much better now with Trump.

Obama had 4 quarters with over 4% growth in GDP. Trump? None.

Once we were out of the recession, the deficit was decreasing every year under Obama. Now in an economic boom, the deficit is INCREASING every year with Trump.

Trump supporters were upset about "Obama's lies", where in trying to imrpove the uninsured rate in the country, he once said "if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor", but then they heard a handful of people on Fox News who supposedly couldn't. Outrageous! But now we have over 15,000+ and counting lies by Trump- bald-faced, vicious, insulting, mean-spirited lies meant to provoke anger, fear, hatred, and division in the country, and they laugh it off as "Trump telling it like it is".

Trump wanted to "drain the swamp" and become the "law and order" president. He has made a completely mockery of American law and the Constitution and filled the government with with a bunch of felons, crooks, and mobsters.
 
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Remember during the 2008 financial crisis McCain "suspended his campaign" in a big splash, and went to DC for a big confab with Bush, Obama, and all the congressional leadership?

At the meeting McCain hardly said two words, Bush neither. So Obama provided a concise and detailed summary of the problem and peppered Treasury secretary Paulson questions. The GOP leaders slunk back to congress and just obstructed everything.

It's funny how the public tends to give Republicans higher marks on handling the economy. But they were either clueless or openly obstructionist during the biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression.
Yes the Republicans did everything they could to slow the recovery down and didn't give a dang about what the American people were going through all they could do was to try and make Obama a one term President
If they could have I think they wanted to send us into a full blown depression just so they could say see Obama did nothing and seeing he can govern we are now in a depression.
again maybe IF they would have helped a little we would have been out of the recession a lot sooner and it might have been more robust but we will never know for sure
and now that the Dems have the house they are saying is that the House is doing nothing but trying to get Trump out , well they have sent several hundred Bills over to the Senate and McConnell is sitting on them and not letting the Senate even see them
He has stacks of them on his disk in what he calls the graveyard
The House has been doing their job it is McConnell who isn't
have a nice day
 
How Republicans Sabotaged the Recovery

Here's the details of how the GOP sabotaged the economy. Thanks to the GOP putting politics over the good of the nation:

More unemployment, which means more broken families, more divorces, more suicides.
 
Yes. We should move on to more important issues, such as Trump's overt appeals to racism. And his rampant, unending corruption. And his undermining a free press. And undermining an independent judicial system. And destroying the free trade regime the US build since Bretton Woods. And his destruction of rules helping keep our air and water clean. And his exploding the deficit for no reason other than big tax giveaways to those who don't need it. And his undermining NATO because his buddy in Moscow doesn't like it. And his cozying up to dictators around the world while scorning allies of democratic nations. And undermining our military leadership at every turn. Are those the kind of serious issues you had in mind?
Free trade means shipping jobs overseas and I always thought liberals hated corrupt trade deals.
 
They don't care , McConnell decided on the day Obama was elected he was going to do everything he could do to make Obama a one term President
t

which is better than what Democrats did,which was do everything they could to make Trump less than a one term President.

So get off the spiritual hilltop. You have no moral high ground,m'kay?
 
How Republicans Sabotaged the Recovery

Here's the details of how the GOP sabotaged the economy. Thanks to the GOP putting politics over the good of the nation:

More unemployment, which means more broken families, more divorces, more suicides.

Wait. I thought the Obama economy was boffo?
How much
could the GoP have sabotaged it?
 
Yeah. They're major hypocrites empowered by Rush and Sean.
 
I put him on ignore weeks ago. He simply refuses to debate in good faith.



I am glad to give a glutton for punishment their fill until they vomit to make room for more and oblige from there on.
 
Free trade means shipping jobs overseas and I always thought liberals hated corrupt trade deals.

Free trade can cause local disruptions, so there are costs that go with the benefits. But economists are largely in agreement that free trade is a net benefit to each of the trading nations.

Since the facts support free trade in general (there can always be arguments over the specifics), I support free trade. I don't care what liberals like me are supposed to think about it.
 
Wait. I thought the Obama economy was boffo?
How much
could the GoP have sabotaged it?

Quite a bit. And yet it managed to do fairly well despite GOP efforts to the contrary.

Then, in 2010, Republicans took control of the House and were in a position to force Obama into years of spending cuts that exerted a significant drag on economic growth. This drag wasn’t enough to prevent a sustained economic recovery, but the recovery could and should have been much faster. There was no economic reason we shouldn’t have returned to full employment by, say, 2013; instead, largely thanks to fiscal austerity, the average unemployment rate that year was still above 7 percent.
 
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