I was always hoping it wouldn't happen.

Wait till the electorate gets a load of Obamarxism.

The decline of Republican strength occurs by having strong Republicans become weak Republicans

yep

re: #2 jcm

Wait till the electorate gets a load of Obamarxism.

I'm reserving judgement until after he really gets started in Jan. 2009.

Geeez, you lose one election...an election that the GOP was supposed to lose....and everyone is singing their death knells?

I gotta wonder if the same people who sat out the 2006 election to teach the party a lesson are the same ones who sat this one out?

If so, thanks SO much you illegitimate gits.

...groups as Latinos, educated professionals, Catholics and single women.

I just don't understand this at all.

Another post pushing the same bogus claim. Again, just look at the county map from this year's election. If you didn't know the result, you'd say whoever was red was the clear winner. Charles, really, this is getting silly - the points they're making are just plain wrong.

Here's the deal - Obama is a dead-left candidate. McCain is center-left, based on his amnesty votes, McCain-Feingold, votes against tax cuts, and other matchups with democrats. He was exactly the candidate that these morons are saying that the electorate wants, yet he didn't win. Explain that!

Throughout our wonderful history our political pendulum has swung left to right and right to left. I have confidence in our democracy. It is a robust mechanism never equaled in human events.

re: #4 Walter L. Newton

I'm reserving judgement until after he really gets started in Jan. 2009.

Let's say I would like to be surprised. But I'm not expecting much from someone immersed in Marxist ideology of 48 years.

re: #10 jcm

Let's say I would like to be surprised. But I'm not expecting much from someone immersed in Marxist ideology of 48 years.

The first eight don't count..he was only 8. /

The shift is just starting. Obama will legalize 20 million illegals and import another 10 million. The Democrats will control most of the redistricting for the 2010 census and conservative talk radio will soon be off the air.

The half of the people in this country who don't pay taxes have figured out that they can make the other half fund their degenerate ways.

re: #13 PerfectSense

The shift is just starting. Obama will legalize 20 million illegals and import another 10 million. The Democrats will control most of the redistricting for the 2010 census and conservative talk radio will soon be off the air.

So who's going to go about setting up streaming internet to cars?

re: #12 spirochete

The first eight don't count..he was only 8. /

He was a red diaper doper baby, his mom, his father, and Marshall on Hawaii. I count from conception.

re: #7 NYCHardhat

...groups as Latinos, educated professionals, Catholics and single women.

I just don't understand this at all.

There's nothing to understand. It's the pendulum of American politics swinging, that's all.

It swings one way...then it swings the other. After Bush was re-elected in '04, the Democrats were questioning themselves the same way.

Time to stop crying and wondering what happened, and time to start rebuilding. It's that simple.

re: #15 spirochete

The big three.

These center-left/center-right eras are cyclical. Note the later part of the article:

Today's Democrats may well overreach in much the same way that Republicans did after they won their congressional majority in 1994, when they took the "center" out of center-right. If so, Democratic hubris will create opportunities for the GOP to get a hearing.

But it was this 1994 majority that forced Clinton toward the center.

re: #17 DesertSage

I agree wholeheartedly, but I just don't see what is in it for them.

re: #10 jcm

Let's say I would like to be surprised. But I'm not expecting much from someone immersed in Marxist ideology of 48 years.

Since I have come to the belief that politicians are just doing the bidding of special interest and other big money players in DC, I can only hope that they will reign him in.

This will still hurt us, since my belief above precludes that what happens in DC is never for our own good, we just sometimes benefit from it.

But, it would be a bitter pill worth taking to keep us away from socialism.

I don't believe it for a second that this country in 4 years has become a socialist nation (of course I know the Left has been working on turning it into one for a lot longer than four years, though). However, this does not mean that we don't need to expend a LOT of blood, sweat, tears, and treasure to stop the leftward trend.

This stops NOW. This is the high-water mark of socialism in this country. Commit yourself to victory. No retreat, no surrender.

I'm sorry but all this "in-depth" analysis of the election does not make sense to me. Here is what I think:

Obama is a phenomenon. A spectacle.

He is the ultimate Manchurian candidate, driven by a publicity machine like no other in history. Kudos to his handlers for flawlessly executing the largest debacle in American voting history. We still know virtually nothing about the man.

No other candidate would have stood a chance - NONE.

I think American people in general are shallow mindless sheep. They voted for the Hope of the Obama they dream about.

Americans voted for the guy they found most like a TV idol. He is a good looking black man who is articulate and "clean". Ask yourself this - if McCain had Romney's good looks, and had a blend of the policies put forth by Rudy, Mitt, and McCain, AND communicated in that southern folksy drawl that Fred Thompson has, in other words the perfect GOP candidate, would he have had a chance against Obama?

Nope. Not a chance.

"Perhaps, as Rove says, Obama was running to the center. But can anybody make a serious case that people were mistaking him for a center-right politician?"

That is precisely how he was running after the primaries were over.
People mistook him, period.

Putting head in oven.......damn electric stove!

I just hope Obama is a quick learner.

re: #21 NYCHardhat

I agree wholeheartedly, but I just don't see what is in it for them.

That's easy....moose traps!

Has anyone seen anything about a Palin book deal?

When the line between Democratic and Republican is as blurred as it has become, what did you expect? How many had no horse in this race? The true sorrow lies in the fact that all we had to choose from was one of these two. McCain did not get it. Now we get to see who does. I normally keep my yap shut, but the ditch we are in was dug by both parties and all are dirty. Who cleans up better?

Two weeks after the election and pundits have all the answers? Puhleez, you can pick whatever data you need to prove your point.
Best explanation I've heard: turnout did not increase. More new voters came out for Obama; too many 2000 and 2004 Bush voters stayed home. You can blame Palin, McCain, Bush, or the economy for that. It doesn't mean that the GOP will lose in 2010 or 2012.

re: #5 DesertSage

Geeez, you lose one election...an election that the GOP was supposed to lose....and everyone is singing their death knells?

Actually, the singing of the GOP's death knells started BEFORE the election.

I think the effect of the MSM covering up and not reporting Democrat corruption ie Fannie Mae, over focusing on every corrupt Republican, misreporting historical facts ie MLK was a Democrat, giving Democrats far more positive coverage, bashing President Bush at every turn, and a ridiculous amount of Obama with halos photos, is a huge factor that is being over looked. The daily trashing of Republicans and the daily lauding of the Democrats by the MSM is going to have a effect on how people define themselves. I think the realities of a few years of Obama and his Democrat Congress may undo the MSM efforts.

There is only so much economic horse hockey the American people will eat.
After BHO drives us completely in to penury, we will wake up.

What makes a Republican a RIDA (Rep in Deed Also)? Is it limiting government or pushing an evangelical agenda? Can you do both? If I'm anti-tax, anti-bailout, pro state popular determination on marijuana and gay marriage, pro-defense, anti-aff ax, anti-union, and recognize that global warming is bull, but I'm pro-choice to a point, and am an agnostic Jew, does that make me a RINO? If so, how successful will the remaining RIDAs be appealing (or rather, praying) to the center?

re: #25 Racer X

A good politician could have brought up Obama's lack of experience, radical connections, socialist philosophy and really embarrassed him him in the debates. McCain chose not to. A good politician could have offered a real world practical alternative to Obama's hollow hopenchange slogans. Obama was very beatable.

My theory has always been related to crap. Republicans don't want you to crap anywhere. Democrats want to crap everywhere. The crap everywhere philosophy was approved this election cycle. Republican's need more public toilets.

re: #24 buzzsawmonkey

I think you are right on target here. I dinged you up one, and would have done more if Charles allowed it.

re: #22 Walter L. Newton

Since I have come to the belief that politicians are just doing the bidding of special interest and other big money players in DC, I can only hope that they will reign him in.

This will still hurt us, since my belief above precludes that what happens in DC is never for our own good, we just sometimes benefit from it.

But, it would be a bitter pill worth taking to keep us away from socialism.

DC is seriously broke for sure. I'd love to throw a pitchfork and torch party, dress 'em all in tar and feathers and start over again.

My hope is the security briefings scared the holy crap out of him, and he's decided on a more cautious approach and no precipitous actions.

re: #33 buzzsawmonkey

By the way, all of us who enjoyed "24" should consider just how much the two black presidents on that show laid the groundwork for Obama to step up and assume the presidential mantle, on that score alone.

Do I exaggerate? Possibly. But then consider that much of this country actually gets its "news" from the Daily Show, David Letterman and Jay Leno.

Exactly!

To most Americans Obama is not real. He is a character in a TV show. And they like to watch. They want him to succeed. They hope he will bring change. Big difference between that and reality.

re: #27 taxfreekiller

on the amnesty... if he and McCain try it 80% or more will not accept the deal... Its still our country, bring it on and find out loons.

It hasn't been our country for a while. We just think it is because we go through the motions of a populace that is supposedly dictated by democratic values and procedures.

It makes us feel like we are effecting something. Meanwhile special interest and big money is calling all the shots, inside the beltway.

The 700 billion dollar bailout is current evidence of that. Over 70 percent of the population was against it, yet it took them under a week to do what they wanted to do, we had no say in it.

And they are at it again this week. I don't see what's ours anymore.

re: #5 DesertSage

Geeez, you lose one election...an election that the GOP was supposed to lose....and everyone is singing their death knells?

Two in a row, with a critical one in 2010 ahead. 2010 is census year, 2011 creates new districts, and reapportions. It's really important that we do not go into that process way down in seats in the house and senate, or it will take a generation to recover after the dems reapportion.

while I think the nation is still center-right, people gave Fauxbama a chance because he misrepresented himself as a centrist, when he is in fact, a radical lefitst.

however, we are nearing the tipping point from where there is no going back. when a certain proportion of the country becomes dependent on the government for everything, and the ideas of personal liberty and responsibility go out the window, its over. kind of like a ratchet - it can move in one direction, but not the other way.

re: #25 Racer X

Obama is a phenomenon. A spectacle.

/he got 100% of the moron vote

Wrong! We had a moderate candidate and he got his clock cleaned. We need candidates that aren't afraid to run as a true conservative - social and economic. Most people actually thought Obama would cut their taxes - ha ha ha such fools.

re: #35 gmsc

Actually, the singing of the GOP's death knells started BEFORE the election.

Which is silly. Everyone knew that the GOP candidate had a next to zero chance of winning this election....no matter who the nominee was. It was just a Democrat year...period.

What amazes me is that this 72 year old man...who almost nobody here on LGF liked very much as the GOP nominee...got almost 48% of the vote.

Almost half the country voted for an old, uncharismatic, wishy-washy Republican.

Hmmmm.....

re: #40 Killgore Trout

A good politician could have brought up Obama's lack of experience, radical connections, socialist philosophy and really embarrassed him him in the debates. McCain chose not to. A good politician could have offered a real world practical alternative to Obama's hollow hopenchange slogans. Obama was very beatable.

Perhaps, but McCain was mercilessly beat up in the media every time he attacked Obama. How dare he insult The One™! We all saw it. Despicable. Hillary said it best - if Obama was a white man he would not have received a second sniff.

re: #39 SFGoth

What makes a Republican a RIDA (Rep in Deed Also)? Is it limiting government or pushing an evangelical agenda? Can you do both? If I'm anti-tax, anti-bailout, pro state popular determination on marijuana and gay marriage, pro-defense, anti-aff ax, anti-union, and recognize that global warming is bull, but I'm pro-choice to a point, and am an agnostic Jew, does that make me a RINO? If so, how successful will the remaining RIDAs be appealing (or rather, praying) to the center?

Ensures liberty.
Defends the Constitution.
Limits government.
Controls spending.

I think this premise is crap and will continue to lose elections for the Republicans. The political junkies (us) knew Obama for what he was. We are the minority. The rest of the schmucks got their information from sound bites and the MSM, who didn't even make overtures of being impartial in this election. The stars were aligned for this guy and the media took full advantage of this. The end result is what we got.

That being said, 4 years of this clown will do a lot for the party. We should take advantage of that. Meanwhile, let's get our acts together, please, and put someone up who can 1. debate solidly and 2. espouse conservative values (fiscal and social) without sounding like a member of the Clergy. Don't shun the religious sect, but don't let them be the face of our party either. Family values, strict view of the constitution, small government and fiscal responsibility will win every time. Don't stray from that message.

You can definately see the rift playing out on this site. So many are on this side because of security issues, not because they are social conservatives. People are waking up and finding themselves in bed with religious conservatives and don't like it.

re: #50 DesertSage

Which is silly. Everyone knew that the GOP candidate had a next to zero chance of winning this election....no matter who the nominee was. It was just a Democrat year...period.

What amazes me is that this 72 year old man...who almost nobody here on LGF liked very much as the GOP nominee...got almost 48% of the vote.

Almost half the country voted for an old, uncharismatic, wishy-washy Republican.

Hmmmm.....

That explains the Presidential election, it doesn't explain the losses in Senate and house two election cycles running. Time to stop whistling by the graveyard folks.

re: #47 bluedawn

kind of like a ratchet - it can move in one direction, but not the other way.

But ratchets have a directional switch. The country has one every two years.

If Obama and the Dems can keep it together, I believe the country will continue to slouch blithely along in the direction of a socialist, essentially one-party state. However, I believe that there is going a be a good chance of some rough unforeseen events in the next four years, and that the Messiah and his Clintonite retreads are going to respond poorly. If this is the case, the pendulum will swing back in a big way and a lot of what we've had to put up with will be discredited. Unfortunately, we may suffer greatly along the way.

re: #50 DesertSage

Yes. 48% voted against Obama.

re: #51 Racer X

Let me clarify - I do not mean that to be racist. I meant that based on experience and track record Obama is lacking. His ties to radicals and shady characters would have eliminated just about any other candidate. But not The One™

re: #48 Killian Bundy

/he got 100% of the moron vote

true dat

re: #47 bluedawn

while I think the nation is still center-right, people gave Fauxbama a chance because he misrepresented himself as a centrist, when he is in fact, a radical lefitst...

I thought he did a damn fucking good job of representing himself as a radical leftist. And he got the vote. And ALL, and I mean ALL the people I know that voted for him did it with FULL knowledge of his radical views.

I kept harping on this before the election and I didn't get much consideration for it. Most of the people who voted for him WNAT socialism. Plain and simple.

We have gone 14 years since 1994 without a political class who actually RUNS FOR ELECTION by articulately enunciating common-sense conservative core beliefs and the practical policies which blossom from these core beliefs: unalienable liberty, equality, basic human rights, and self-governance.

The Left has hijacked the Republican Party and successfully given the populace two choices: "Slow Strides Towards Totalitarian Socialism" or "Pell Mell Towards Totalitarian Socialism".

The faces of the former are old, ugly, and familiar. The faces of the latter are young, attractive, and new.

The only choice which was given was, "Do you want sexy old socialism immediately, or do you want dusty old socialism eventually?"

re: #53 taxfreekiller

This is the ,Obama, just elected.

This is the real,,,,,,,,, in office.

I never could figure out what you think commas are for.

re: #57 solomonpanting

kind of like a ratchet - it can move in one direction, but not the other way.

But ratchets have a directional switch. The country has one every two years.

I think you will find, my friend, that I am the ultimate pessimist : )

But seriously, I think what is happening is unprecedented, and this Republic is in trouble. Fauxbama will be in power through 2016 and he will name his successor. Thats my prediction; I hope I am wrong.

re: #43 jcm
My hope is the security briefings scared the holy crap out of him, and he's decided on a more cautious approach and no precipitous actions.
I sure hope you are right, though I have my doubts that very much scares this man. His ego will beat them, he thinks.

re: #60 NYCHardhat

Yes. 48% voted against Obama.

And if the video is to be believed half of those didn't have an effin' clue.

re: #56 Thanos

That explains the Presidential election, it doesn't explain the losses in Senate and house two election cycles running. Time to stop whistling by the graveyard folks.

If Republicans would stop beating up on each other, this thing can be turned around quite easily.

You know what? Republicans need to lose their fixation on the presidency. We've lost seats in house and Senate steadily, and large majorities for the dems there make who's president moot. 2010 is coming.

re: #9 experiencedtraveller

Wonderful.

re: #68 Wishing

My hope is the security briefings scared the holy crap out of him, and he's decided on a more cautious approach and no precipitous actions.
I sure hope you are right, though I have my doubts that very much scares this man. His ego will beat them, he thinks.

Speaking of security, my thoughts are leaning more and more that Israel will strike Iran before Bush is out.

re: #53 taxfreekiller

This is the ,Obama, just elected.

This is the real,,,,,,,,, in office.

LOLOL OBAMA THE COMMA!

re: #68 Wishing

My hope is the security briefings scared the holy crap out of him, and he's decided on a more cautious approach and no precipitous actions.
I sure hope you are right, though I have my doubts that very much scares this man. His ego will beat them, he thinks.

He's problem thinking, these are the same people, the same processes that have been in place for 8 years. And dismisses the briefings.

re: #66 taxfreekiller

#45

If you have quit, say so clear, then go join the boo hoo bunch and cry and bawl your eyes out, hell hide in a closet or go tell your mother.

Quitters never win.

TFK. If I was quitting, I wouldn't be posting these comments. Don't give me that shit.

re: #75 jcm

He's problem thinking, these are the same people, the same processes that have been in place for 8 years. And dismisses the briefings.

That is even scarier...God help us all.

re: #69 jcm

I know everyone who I spoke to who backed O was taken by his rhetoric. He had alot to say, he had alot of nothing to say.

re: #36 seekeroftruth

I think the effect of the MSM covering up and not reporting Democrat corruption ie Fannie Mae, over focusing on every corrupt Republican, misreporting historical facts ie MLK was a Democrat, giving Democrats far more positive coverage, bashing President Bush at every turn, and a ridiculous amount of Obama with halos photos, is a huge factor that is being over looked. The daily trashing of Republicans and the daily lauding of the Democrats by the MSM is going to have a effect on how people define themselves. I think the realities of a few years of Obama and his Democrat Congress may undo the MSM efforts.

I certainly hope so, as in the case of Carter, but why in the world do we have to have these crappy cycles? I'll tell you why: The American voter has been so dumbed down by the MSM and our public "schools" that they haven't a clue. They don't know history, and they certainly don't know the Constitution, or why it was written as it was. So, they have to be taxed to smithereens or be thrown out of their jobs to get their attention. Sheesh.

re: #73 spirochete

Speaking of security, my thoughts are leaning more and more that Israel will strike Iran before Bush is out.

I bet otherwise. Israel's leadership doesn't currently have the nads.

This happens every time there's war or economic problems: The incumbent party gets blamed. Then they lose the election. Then the losers sit and cry and mope about how what they did was wrong and how they should change. Why does everyone assume the direction and pulse of the voters has gone center-left after one election in which Republicans had virtually everything against them?

Going left isn't going to solve it. Waiting until the public sees that Obama and the rest of the leftists aren't the answer and then coming out with strong conservative ideals communicated by someone who can correctly illustrate them.

Charles and any of you others blaming social conservatives are off track in my opinion. Lack of fiscal conservatism is more to blame. That and the overwhelming media bias. I don't care if abortion or "gay marriage" are forefront issues in the future, but I for one sure as hell won't vote for people who switch to the leftist side or are ashamed of what they believe in.

re: #55 Sea Salt

Please note I am a social conservative, but I am NOT a religious fanatic. I will always stand in line to protect the right TO be religious or NOT to be religious. I don't support a religious litmus test, or forcing anyone to be religious, but that doesn't mean practice religion in secrecy. We can have the 10 commandments on the wall, we can have Christmas trees (really, we can). That doesn't equate to me forcing you to be Christian any more than reading blog post by atheists makes me atheist, too.

re: #66 taxfreekiller

#45

If you have quit, say so clear, then go join the boo hoo bunch and cry and bawl your eyes out, hell hide in a closet or go tell your mother.
Quitters never win.

You know I am not quitting. I've been all over LAGF suggesting that it's actually going to take a full clean out of the criminals in DC, if not something short of a real civil war if judicial means don't work.

I don't think I sound like a quitter.

re: #65 Cato the Elder

I always read them as compensatory pauses. It works well.

re: #78 NYCHardhat

I know everyone who I spoke to who backed O was taken by his rhetoric. He had alot to say, he had alot of nothing to say.

I listened too, when he wasn't carefully saying nothing, what came out was socialist at best.

re: #78 NYCHardhat

I know everyone who I spoke to who backed O was taken by his rhetoric. He had alot to say, he had alot of nothing to say.

She speaks, yet she says nothing....
-Romeo and Juliet, Scene II

Maybe the GOP should just put a new sign on their door?

re: #59 neocon hippie

"Daddy, let me taste that cup..."

Child, its bitter.

"Please, Daddy? PLEASE?"

But Child, it is bitter, indeed...

"Please, Daddy, LET ME TASTE from that cup!"

As you wish.

"AAACK! Pfah! Blecch! Daddy! This is BITTER!"

***
Neo, we're in for some bitter medicine of our own devising!

McCain was too soft and did not build any connections with voters. Palin was a great boost but it wasn't enough. Nice guys finish last and that's what happens when you play too nice. I mean that in the whole sense of how the campaign was run and marketed to the voters for the last 8 months.

Here's a better explanation: it's the economy, stupid!

Honestly, I hope Obama is successful at bringing the country together and solving our most pressing problems. I really do.

I don't think anyone anticipated the depth of the financial crisis he is now up against - which is why investors world wide are now seriously panicked.

Obama I wish you the best of luck!

For my kids sake.

re: #82 ArmyWife

Please note I am a social conservative, but I am NOT a religious fanatic. I will always stand in line to protect the right TO be religious or NOT to be religious. I don't support a religious litmus test, or forcing anyone to be religious, but that doesn't mean practice religion in secrecy. We can have the 10 commandments on the wall, we can have Christmas trees (really, we can). That doesn't equate to me forcing you to be Christian any more than reading blog post by atheists makes me atheist, too.

Can we have the Koran on the wall too? Because that's where all this goes when you advocate public displays of religion. The only reason that Islam was kicked out of Spain circa 1492 was because of outright violence and bloodshed. That ain't likely to happen unless the whole shithouse goes up in flames, which means we get Islam by stealth. Recall that just before 9/11 you had leading evangelicals trying to make common cause with Muslims. That would have just been grand.

re: #89 DesertSage

ROFL.
And I keeeel you!

I believe that the SoCons are a valuable and necessary part of the GOP coalition. However, I do not want them to have veto power over presidential nominees. Either Rudy or Mitt, who were anathema to the SoCons, although they both had weaknesses exploitable by the Dems/MSM, would have much more effective candidates against Obummer. Neither of them would have played McCain's "honorable" nicey-nicey game.

re: #88 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Tool
Eulogy

re: #90 Karridine

"Daddy, let me taste that cup..."
Child, its bitter.
"Please, Daddy? PLEASE?"
But Child, it is bitter, indeed...
"Please, Daddy, LET ME TASTE from that cup!"
As you wish.
"AAACK! Pfah! Blecch! Daddy! This is BITTER!"

***

LOL, that, at 10 or 11, was essentially my first drink of scotch. Next one was when I was 17. Then again, it *was* Cutty Sark (still can't drink it).

When we succeed it's always on a positive message, and that's what the Dems were offering this year. We have to go from negative to positive. From dwelling on divisive issues to a positive vision of the future. That's what Reagan was, that's what the contract with America was. That means all segments of the party need to do some truly open surveying instead of seeking the answers and evidence they want to see. They have to listen and we all have to go grassroots. The bench starts in your state legislatures.

re: #97 NYCHardhat

huh?

I haven't been happy w/the Republican party for many years. They've become "Democrat Lite" and are steadily tilting left-ward.

I would have voted for 'most any (R) running against The Obamessiah, but I voted for Governor Palin not the guy she ran with.

I've gotten numerous mailings from the Republican Nat'l Committee which I shred upon receipt.

re: #101 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

The band Tool
The song Eulogy
Sorry. My age is showing.

re: #100 buzzsawmonkey

If I had been running for President, and somebody asked me about same-sex marriage, I would say:

"Marriage criteria are determined by the states; it is not a federal issue, and I will not discuss it."

If someone asked me about abortion, I would say:

"As long as the current court decisions stand, abortion is not a federal issue. I will appoint jurists who respect the Constitution and prior decisions--but who will vote, when necessary, to overturn a decision that they believe to be in error. There will be no single-issue litmus test."

"And now, let us focus on what the President can actually do, and what I will do as President."

Bullshit disposed of. On to the issues.

So run already!

re: #100 buzzsawmonkey

buzzsawmonkey '12

re: #100 buzzsawmonkey

Buzzsawmonkey 2012!

re: #98 SFGoth

There is a lot that alcohol, meth, ecstasy, coke and Prozac can cover for, SFG, but sooner or later the Lotus-Eating Dreamers either DIE or wake up, with or without a serious hangover!

Can't cheat Reality, Pal!

/Roundabout way of saying, "Every Socialist experiment has ended DREADFULLY."

re: #100 buzzsawmonkey

If I had been running for President, and somebody asked me about same-sex marriage, I would say:

"Marriage criteria are determined by the states; it is not a federal issue, and I will not discuss it."

If someone asked me about abortion, I would say:

"As long as the current court decisions stand, abortion is not a federal issue. I will appoint jurists who respect the Constitution and prior decisions--but who will vote, when necessary, to overturn a decision that they believe to be in error. There will be no single-issue litmus test."

"And now, let us focus on what the President can actually do, and what I will do as President."

Bullshit disposed of. On to the issues.

Uh huh, Uh huh, Uh huh.... but what are you going to do for ME?
/

re: #100 buzzsawmonkey

I like it. Its genius.

re: #97 NYCHardhat

Tool
Eulogy

Oh, I get it.

Thought you were calling me a tool. Which would not be incorrect, but would hurt my feelings. Then I'd cry.

re: #91 AMER1CAN

McCain was too soft and did not build any connections with voters. Palin was a great boost but it wasn't enough. Nice guys finish last and that's what happens when you play too nice. I mean that in the whole sense of how the campaign was run and marketed to the voters for the last 8 months.

Yep, and I guarantee you that Bobby Jindal wouldn't play footsies with Obama....he would play HARDBALL!

Not that I'm proposing that Jindal be the nominee in 2012, but if the guy is tough enough to play in the big leagues, then I wouldn't pass him up either.
And no, I don't give a f*ck that he exorcised a gay chicken that he killed during a sacrificial seance.
As long as he can kick butt in a campaign and the debates, that's all I care about.

re: #102 least

I haven't been happy w/the Republican party for many years. They've become "Democrat Lite" and are steadily tilting left-ward.

I would have voted for 'most any (R) running against The Obamessiah, but I voted for Governor Palin not the guy she ran with.

I've gotten numerous mailings from the Republican Nat'l Committee which I shred upon receipt.

I swear I got more begmail than the 700 bucks I spent on various candidates would have bought, I'm sure they burned through that money just asking for more.

Need to focus on the bread and butter topics: economy, security, immigration, education, healthcare, social security, national debt, environment

I think those are what voters care about at the end of the day.

This is a bunch of carp.

It all comes down to the candidates.

Go fish.

re: #105 Racer X

buzzsawmonkey '12

re: #106 neocon hippie

Buzzsawmonkey 2012!

Wow.

Simply. Wow.

I reckon I'm done with the pity party, now we start , at my local level, where a concrete difference CAN be made and see where it takes us.
I refuse to cede my country to these morons.

re: #56 Thanos

The way I recall it, the election two years ago turned on the Republicans big government deficit spending that anything else. And certainly at least some of the winning Democrats were Conservative Democrats. Webb in Virginia would be the most obvious of these.

Now this is a Leftist Revolution? The last time the Democrats believed that it cost them the House and Senate for the first time in forty years. If the Republicans had stayed true to the ideas that won in 1994 they might very well still hold the House and Senate.

Just four years ago Bush won re-election and held the House and Senate. Four years of the Media and the Democrats trying to lose the war in Iraq. If Bush would have called them on it, again, we might very well not be here.

Instead we now have one of, if not the, most inexperienced President-elect ever. Already the Press and Democrats want to act as if he's had a successful term. In reality, he hasn't even taken the oath of office yet. He's won the Presidency in a close election. He does have a Democrat House and Senate, and that may make it easier for him to push his agenda. Perhaps that agenda will be well received by the voters, perhaps not. He'll have all the cooperation of the lapdog media as well.

But now the hard part starts. He can't vote "Present" in the Oval Office.

re: #110 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

You definitely aren't a tool... unless you voted for the One.

re: #100 buzzsawmonkey

If I had been running for President, and somebody asked me about same-sex marriage, I would say:

"Marriage criteria are determined by the states; it is not a federal issue, and I will not discuss it."

If someone asked me about abortion, I would say:

"As long as the current court decisions stand, abortion is not a federal issue. I will appoint jurists who respect the Constitution and prior decisions--but who will vote, when necessary, to overturn a decision that they believe to be in error. There will be no single-issue litmus test."

"And now, let us focus on what the President can actually do, and what I will do as President."

Bullshit disposed of. On to the issues.

2012 buzzsawmonkey 2012

re: #118 NYCHardhat

I voted for the one...that lost.

Steele/Hunter 2012

/clean Obama's clock they would

re: #120 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I'm a loser as well. Care for a scotch?

Tom Coburn from Oklahoma?

re: #100 buzzsawmonkey

THAT, however, is precisely why you and I will NEVER be elected, Buzz!

The welfare-cheats and their enablers KNOW they are lying, KNOW they are prostituting themselves, KNOW they are gaming the system, KNOW they have not the courage to defend this system that feeds their bellies while stealing their freedom, their self-respect and their very souls, ultimately.

They WANT a Liar-in-Chief, not YOU, Buzz!

Have ya'll seen this ballot that is being challenged by Al Franken?

We did'nt leave the Republican party....they left us.

re: #122 NYCHardhat

Why, thank you, but Scotch makes me drunk. Better make that two.

PJ Media: Conservatism 2.0

re: #125 reine.de.tout

Have ya'll seen this ballot that is being challenged by Al Franken?

/under Minnesota law, that counts

re: #97 NYCHardhat

Tool
Eulogy

We'll miss him!

Damn I love that song :)

re: #107 Karridine

There is a lot that alcohol, meth, ecstasy, coke and Prozac can cover for, SFG, but sooner or later the Lotus-Eating Dreamers either DIE or wake up, with or without a serious hangover!

Can't cheat Reality, Pal!

/Roundabout way of saying, "Every Socialist experiment has ended DREADFULLY."

What the Hell does that have to do with drinking scotch for the first time?

re: #130 Killian Bundy

/under Minnesota law, that counts

Looks like a very clear vote for Coleman to me.
Franken is challenging it.

My favorite line:

The McCain campaign was not shy about letting voters know about the elements of Obama's record that marked him as a man of the left.

BS.

The McCain campaign was not The media was shy about letting voters know about the elements of Obama's record that marked him as a man of the left.

fixed

re: #117 Iron Fist

I'm not saying we need to be leftist, that goes against my grain. I am saying we need to measure our core principles in the light of a new century, new millenium, and newer demographics. We can surely take our message from divisive and negative to positive but we can't do it if we don't pay heed to reality. The issues of the 50+ crowd are not resonating with newer Republicans, some are just going libertarian, or sitting it out. We need to apply conservative principles to the reality we face today, not those of past years.
We voted those people in did we not? We bought their lines because they threw us the standard red meat did we not? So to me it's about what a pol's plans are on each issue henceforth.
If Jindal runs, I'll be posting steadily against him, just as I did with Brownback.

re: #125 reine.de.tout

Have ya'll seen this ballot that is being challenged by Al Franken?

It's clearly a vote for Franken, a little bit of the mark is point toward Franken's circle.
/

I tend to agree with Rush on this one:

"I don't remember, when we wiped the floor with the libs, I do not remember the libs rejecting their theories and their ideas and their policies. I didn't see 'em reevaluate who they are. I didn't see them say the era of FDR is over. I didn't hear them say or do, "We've gotta change who we are. We gotta go out and try to attract those southern conservatives. We have to go out and try to attract those pro-lifers." They don't do that. The left never waters themselves down. They don't water down liberalism. They don't say the era of FDR is over. All of a sudden when we lose we're supposed to do that, we're supposed to throw away everything we believe in, we're supposed to toss aside every conservative principle we believe in, because the Republicans lost? Conservatism did not lose, except when it wasn't on the ballot..."

re: #130 Killian Bundy

/under Minnesota law, that counts

What does law have to do with it? A democrat is challenging it.
/

It's going to be interesting where Obama stands in his own party in two years. He's already ticking off the lunatic left with his appointments of Clinton folk and his quickly backing off his knee-jerk, appease-the-left campaign promises (i.e., immediate withdrawal from Iraq, closing Gitmo). He's going to surround himself with Clintonites who will have to decide between undermining him for the sake of HilBilly or helping him out. He's in novel territory in that he'll have to take a stand on some things and tick off the far left or the centrist left.

More popcorn!

re: #125 reine.de.tout

Have ya'll seen this ballot that is being challenged by Al Franken?

Of course he's challenging it. Voter was clearly trying to scratch out Coleman's name, not vote for him.
/

The White House catches up to Zombie.

re: #131 tedzilla99

Yes. It is a great song.

re: #89 DesertSage

I want one of those! :)

re: #107 Karridine

Mass murder and mass graves are horrible? Not according to William Ayers. 25 million dead is just a statistic.

re: #111 DesertSage

We need strong leaders who can unite people. They come in all sizes, shapes and colors!

re: #134 bellamags

Blaming others for Republican problems is very unconservative. The MSM is not going to carry conservative water for you and you shouldn't expect them to. This mentality is part of the problem.

The issue that may foretell Obama's longevity into a second term is the media. Like Clinton, Obama has the media in his pocket but even to a larger degree. It is now worship. A few members of the media will recall over his term why they became journalists but for the most past, Obama is looking at a Kennedy-esque relationship. That propaganda campaign which began two years ago cannot help but penetrate the majority of Americans who do not follow politics as closely as we do here. (Take a look at recent interviews of voters for Obama and how utterly ill informed they were). When the voting public resemble "sheeple" - a conspiring media can be the bane of an informed voting public. Over the past several weeks, many of us have disagreed on the direction of the country. Ascertaining the root cause of the election loss remains elusive however. Obvious causes like the point just made about the media as the primary cause being submerged to an all out attack on the social conservatives is unsettling because anyone who pays a wit of attention can see that the GOP candidate was not a true conservative on a plethora of issues. The finger pointing is about agenda shaping. That is fine. But that is not conducive to winning elections. A bad choice here, McCain, a spectacular Manchurian candidate - yes folks, spectacular, in BHO, and a media who were absurdly complicit was, and is the problem. Perhaps we can better spend our time figuring out what we can control, legitimate and targeted attacks on the MSM propaganda - something by the way this site has been known for.

re: #139 livefreeor die

It's going to be interesting where Obama stands in his own party in two years. He's already ticking off the lunatic left...

I'm not denying your contention, but who on the left has been ticked off over his appointments?

re: #129 buzzsawmonkey

But, if I had a loose millionbillionskillion dollars, or a website with credit-card verification disabled and a few corruptocrats running interference for me on that, I would love to give it a try.

In that alternate reality, Buzz, CHOOSE ME for your Road Manager! We'll make lotsa dough, have a great time, meet some wonderful people and learn a lot!

Promise! Win, lose or draw, we'll have the time of our lives! :D

re: #100 buzzsawmonkey

If I had been running for President, and somebody asked me about same-sex marriage, I would say:

"Marriage criteria are determined by the states; it is not a federal issue, and I will not discuss it."

If someone asked me about abortion, I would say:

"As long as the current court decisions stand, abortion is not a federal issue. I will appoint jurists who respect the Constitution and prior decisions--but who will vote, when necessary, to overturn a decision that they believe to be in error. There will be no single-issue litmus test."

"And now, let us focus on what the President can actually do, and what I will do as President."

Bullshit disposed of. On to the issues.

Like: What is on Bashar Assads Ipod? Bunch or fold? Paris have a new tape out?

/That's what is important!

re: #135 Thanos

. . .We need to apply conservative principles to the reality we face today, not those of past years.
. . .
If Jindal runs, I'll be posting steadily against him, . . .

yes and yes

re: #131 tedzilla99

We'll miss him!

Damn I love that song :)

He had a lot to say.
He had a lot of nothing to say.
We'll miss him.
We're gonna miss him
We're gonna miss him

So long.
We wish you well.
You told us how you weren't afraid to die.
Well then, so long.
Don't cry.
Or feel too down.
Not all martyrs see divinity.
But at least you tried.

re: #135 Thanos

If Jindal runs, I'll be posting steadily against him, just as I did with Brownback.

And if you do that, then I'll continue to hang out with the Libertarians.

I refuse to be involved or to vote for a party who purges their own.

This is why McCain lost. Far too many uninformed people voting. They get most of their information from the MSM and they voted for Obama.
You can only fault the MSM so much. In the end, we are all responsible for getting our information, but sadly, most people can't be bothered

[Link: www.zogby.com...]

OT: Al Franken is challenging the voter intent of this ballot. Which candidate do you believe the voter intended to choose?

If you are counting on Obama to make a dog's lunch of things, you better stop that. He's got a big machine behind him, one that doesn't take their eye off the ball. They sure do know how to get us to focus on non essentials however.

re: #132 SFGoth

What the Hell does that have to do with drinking scotch for the first time?

Americans have drunk bitter psychedelic/self-delusion for the first time on such a massive scale, and are in for a BITTER TIME, SFGoth...

/dats what it has to do... :D

re: #59 neocon hippie

If Obama and the Dems can keep it together, I believe the country will continue to slouch blithely along in the direction of a socialist, essentially one-party state. [snip]

Come on. We've had a one-party state since the Second World War. Republicrats. Demublicans. It's all a matter of dividing up the spoils, and who gets to take credit (or blame) for what. Remember Eisenhower's warning about the military-industrial complex. Truer, more prescient words were never spoken. Unfortunately he was on his way out when he said them, not heading into his term. If he had been, he might well have been "removed" to keep him from trying to do anything about it.

Want proof that it's all about power struggles among the elite on "both sides"? Look at the fact that none of the big four candidates gave up the office they currently held in order to run for president/vice president. They all had fallback positions. Nothing to lose, really.

More proof? How about that the Democrats, supposedly now some kind of Gramscian socialist neo-Marxist gang preparing to destroy the Republic and send anyone who disagrees with them to re-education camps, couldn't even bring themselves to punish Joe Lieberman for his "betrayal".

Everything stays the same. Everything except a few details. Pork flies in different directions. In four years, people will perhaps choose to send it flying back in the old directions. But the winners are roughly the same.

* Lockheed Martin
* Boeing
* Northrop Grumman
* Raytheon
* General Dynamics
* United Technologies
* Science Applications International Corporation
* TRW (acquired by Northrop Grumman, 12 Dec 2002)
* Health Net
* L-3 Communications Holdings

If you see even a five percent decrease in defense spending (remember, McCain was the one who was promising to cut all those wasteful programs) over the next four years, you can pick a hat and I'll eat it.

So Blackwater, Carlyle, Halliburton might make a little less under Obama. Some other guys will make a little more.

The big ones are safe. They've paid to be so.

re: #128 Killgore Trout

The Glenn Reynolds interview with Huckabee is very interesting.

re: #125 reine.de.tout

Have ya'll seen this ballot that is being challenged by Al Franken?

WA '04 we had the same shit going on. Dino Rossi (R) v. Christine Gregoire (D) a write in was for "Christine Rossi."

It was awarded to Gregoire.

re: #146 Killgore Trout

Did you understand the first part of my post? McCains message was not clear. He did not make clear distinctions between himself and Obama. McCain (and the repubs) fumbled big time. My point is the combination of an inept campaign and media bias (which we all know is a huge problem) is the reason republicans are in this position. I am not totally blaming the media, but they had a significant role in this election.

re: #135 Thanos

We need to apply conservative principles to the reality we face today, not those of past years.

Amen.

Way, waaaaaay to much backward looking by many who want "true" conservativism, when by what is meant by "true conservative" is simply that which has gone before.

We must live in the 21st century and deal with what we have and what will come.

In 2000 GWB barely beat Al Gore. In 2004 the Democrats ran a very weak candidate and GWB won again by a small margin. Importantly though the GOP didn't make any ground in congress and by 2006 the GOP had lost congress.

It is difficult for the GOP to get to that 50.1 mark as spoken of by Lindberg. Hopefully all those people yearning for "true conservative" politicians will finally accept that, and see that they will have to be part of a compromised coalition if they are to have any influence.

re: #161 bellamags

Did you understand the first part of my post?

Yes.

re: #153 DesertSage

And if you do that, then I'll continue to hang out with the Libertarians.

I refuse to be involved or to vote for a party who purges their own.

It's that ever so deadly ideal that has been responsible for the deaths of millions. The 'C' word: Communism. Creationism... and a sprinkling of exorcism...

re: #135 Thanos

I just got home from trying to track down some .45 ACP jacketed hollowpoints. They are sold out all over the city. People are buying guns and ammunition because they are afraid of what Obama may be about to do. That is not an auspicious way to begin your term. If Obama governs from the hard Left, he'll have the same thing happen to him that happened to Clinton.

We've got two years.

re: #144 Iron Fist

Mass murder and mass graves are horrible? Not according to William Ayers. 25 million dead is just a statistic.

I HEAR YOU, Iron! I listened to that insider speak truthfully of Ayers' plans...

Can Pol Pot happen in America? The first few steps of the process are in-place, Iron, and the Camps come soon, 'for the greater good'

re: #148 Walter L. Newton

I'm not denying your contention, but who on the left has been ticked off over his appointments?

Here's one from CNN. There were some other news and blog items yesterday and the day before about grumblings about Clintonites being tapped and it being the "same old stuff" instead of Hopenchange.

re: #152 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I believe that song is about L. Ron Hubbard.

re: #155 gmsc

OT: Al Franken is challenging the voter intent of this ballot. Which candidate do you believe the voter intended to choose?

al franken is a labourer farmer?
WTF

A lot of this commentary is aimed at Sarah Palin. I'm disappointed by how many intelligent people have fallen for the meme that she's stupid. She proved herself capable with fewer gaffes than any of the other candidates and a rabid press corps attacking 24/7, but she's a she and so her few missteps are 'blond moments' rather than simple mistakes.

But we can be happy and embrace the light because we'll have 'real thinking women' like Christie Todd Whitman (a decent governor who was a disaster at the EPA) and Kathleen Parker (if she can pull herself away from her naval) to show us the way to the 'New Moderate GOP' righteousness that worked so well for McCain.

Alleluia! (Oops! Wrong word. I'm thrown under the bus.)

:p

re: #166 Iron Fist

Leads me to ask a question I've been thinking about. Who are people getting ready to shoot? I'm not understanding the run on guns.

re: #166 Iron Fist

I just got home from trying to track down some .45 ACP jacketed hollowpoints. They are sold out all over the city. People are buying guns and ammunition because they are afraid of what Obama may be about to do. That is not an auspicious way to begin your term. If Obama governs from the hard Left, he'll have the same thing happen to him that happened to Clinton.

We've got two years.

He's got a big machine behind him, they aren't going to let him fail. I don't expect him to do terrible like everyone's predicting simply because of that. The Dems are not going to allow a four and out scenario.

re: #137 Oh no...Sand People!

I tend to agree with Rush on this one:

Rush is simply ignoring the real issue - governance.

The Clintons indeed represented a movement away from leftist ideology. When Gingrich successfully engineered the contract with America, Bill Clinton did not fight it so much as triangulate on it.

Obama likewise appears to be a very practical politician, not so much a left wing ideologue. Time will tell if that turns out to be true, but so far it looks like he is more interested in getting re-elected in 4 years than sticking to pure left-wing positions.

re: #171 Shug

al franken is a labourer farmer?
WTF

Well he is what comes out of the south end of a north bound mule.

re: #167 Karridine

First they have to disarm us. We'll see what happens if they try that.

re: #166 Iron Fist

I gotta get some hollows for the Glock 19. Gun sales are WAY up.

re: #160 jcm

WA '04 we had the same shit going on. Dino Rossi (R) v. Christine Gregoire (D) a write in was for "Christine Rossi."

It was awarded to Gregoire.

That makes as much sense as awarding to Rossi.
Should have been thrown out

re: #158 Cato the Elder

You detailed better than I have in some of my above posts, but this is what I have been trying to say here. My rhetoric may be a bit more grass roots or populist, but this say it all.

Special interest runs the show. Period. It isn't us, we have very little control or affect on the process.

re: #174 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Leads me to ask a question I've been thinking about. Who are people getting ready to shoot? I'm not understanding the run on guns.

Remember that guns were made to shoot politicians.

re: #125 reine.de.tout

Have ya'll seen this ballot that is being challenged by Al Franken?

Under Lil' Al's name:

Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Not: Democrat, but Democratic.

re: #176 freetoken

Rush is simply ignoring the real issue - governance.

The Clintons indeed represented a movement away from leftist ideology. When Gingrich successfully engineered the contract with America, Bill Clinton did not fight it so much as triangulate on it.

Obama likewise appears to be a very practical politician, not so much a left wing ideologue. Time will tell if that turns out to be true, but so far it looks like he is more interested in getting re-elected in 4 years than sticking to pure left-wing positions.

And we will all wait and see.

Hubby and I came up with an idea for running the primaries. States that went red get to have the first primaries. That way we avoid our candidate being picked by the Democrat's version of Operation Chaos (which seemed to occur in some of the earlier primaries, including NH).

re: #157 Karridine

Americans have drunk bitter psychedelic/self-delusion for the first time on such a massive scale, and are in for a BITTER TIME, SFGoth...

/dats what it has to do... :D

Your point has been made many times in the past. You are not original.

re: #161 bellamags

Did you understand the first part of my post? McCains message was not clear. He did not make clear distinctions between himself and Obama. McCain (and the repubs) fumbled big time. My point is the combination of an inept campaign and media bias (which we all know is a huge problem) is the reason republicans are in this position. I am not totally blaming the media, but they had a significant role in this election.

McCain's message was SO UNCLEAR, and lacking any force, that the MSM didn't have to promote it, there was nothing to report even if they did.

re: #164 Killgore Trout

The media did not do their job. I am not expecting the media to "carry water" for anyone. But you must admit, there was a tanker truck following the Obama campaign around with the letters MSM painted on it.

re: #168 livefreeor die

Here's one from CNN. There were some other news and blog items yesterday and the day before about grumblings about Clintonites being tapped and it being the "same old stuff" instead of Hopenchange.

Thanks.

It's a little hard for a party to run on small-government principles and fiscal sanity when they've been whooping it up in Congress on the taxpayer's cash.
No Child Left Behind. Medicare expansion. Pork, pork, pork. A GOP president who signs McCain-Feingold.

re: #124 Karridine

THAT, however, is precisely why you and I will NEVER be elected, Buzz!

The welfare-cheats and their enablers KNOW they are lying, KNOW they are prostituting themselves, KNOW they are gaming the system, KNOW they have not the courage to defend this system that feeds their bellies while stealing their freedom, their self-respect and their very souls, ultimately.

They WANT a Liar-in-Chief, not YOU, Buzz!

In the next four years, hopefully only two, a majority of Americans will see that the parasite CANNOT become the host.

re: #180 reine.de.tout

That makes as much sense as awarding to Rossi.
Should have been thrown out

Hard [deleted] hard is it to fill in a bubble next to the name?
Really.

We use the bubble paper ballots. Voter at the precinct scans his or her ballot and gets a report, if it's what they wanted they turn it in. After that if a selection doesn't scan it does count period.

A generation and a half of left of center indoctrination, including cultural relativism, revisionist history, and loss of classical education in our universities.

It takes a toll, you know.

Will it take 40 years A.O. (After Obama) to pull out of this death spiral?

re: #192 wolfie

It's a little hard for a party to run on small-government principles and fiscal sanity when they've been whooping it up in Congress on the taxpayer's cash.
No Child Left Behind. Medicare expansion. Pork, pork, pork. A GOP president who signs McCain-Feingold.

True. GOP got no one to blame but a bunch of fat, old, white men -- Congressional Republicans.

re: #10 jcm

Let's say I would like to be surprised. But I'm not expecting much from someone immersed in Marxist ideology of 48 years.

It shouldn't surprise us if the country has shifted to the left. Institutions that transmit culture have shifted left: social mores, universities, K-12 education, news media, entertainment, the arts, and nonprofit and social service sectors. For about 30 years, give or take, acting in concert, first the institutions and then the people have absorbed a new consensus that would be unrecognized by Americans of 40 or 50 years ago. Now, acting autonomously and instinctively from a shared left viewpoint, these institutions have fully matured. The people have been influenced, in some ways positive and in some ways detrimentally--but truly changed.

Will the pendulum swing back? If freedom of thought is protected, if the Republican Party renews itself without hurling away into the inky void, there is a good chance that another shift could take place.

In all the dismal news and negative trends, still I see so many bright, courageous young people in the 18 - 25 age group. They are smart, results-oriented, tolerant and yet very tough critics in their own way. I think that among those who are skeptical, those not consumed by ideology, we might see strong pragmatists, realists, and in that case there is hope of retaining them. There is great hope through libertarian principles, and as they move into other phases of life, it is also the norm for classic conservative concerns and attitudes to emerge.

The challenge is daunting, isn't it.

re: #192 wolfie

It's a little hard for a party to run on small-government principles and fiscal sanity when they've been whooping it up in Congress on the taxpayer's cash.
No Child Left Behind. Medicare expansion. Pork, pork, pork. A GOP president who signs McCain-Feingold.

That and fiscal neglect of the economy. The movements to reform freddy and fannie died on the vine because too many R"s have big support from the building contractor trade.

re: #190 buzzsawmonkey

Obama did not get where he is by showing his hand. He is laying the groundwork for heating the frog-water over a slow four-year flame, and the frog of America will be boiled without noticing.

Souper way to put it.

Obama has never made a decision in his whole life. And now, we wait to see what direction he goes? He has been trained to be a communist. Communist do not make decisions. They always go left. Sorry, if others think otherwise. That is were he will go.

Recount: Coleman’s lead shrinks by nearly 20 percent

With the first day complete tonight in a state-mandated recount in the contest for U.S. Senate between Republican incumbent Norm Coleman and Democratic challenger Al Franken, Coleman’s lead shrank by nearly 20 percent.

Based on a Star Tribune analysis of partial recount numbers released this evening by the Secretary of State’s Office, Coleman lost a net of 41 votes and now holds a 174-vote advantage. He started the day up by 215.

These new numbers come after the state has recounted 18 percent of the ballots. They come from 27 percent of the state’s precincts. At this point, Coleman has lost 86 votes, while Franken has lost 45.

Observers for the two candidates together are challenging 269 ballots so far. Coleman is contesting 146, Franken 123. The challenged ballots will go before a State Canvassing Board for a final determination.

/not a good trend

re: #188 Walter L. Newton

McCain's message was SO UNCLEAR, and lacking any force, that the MSM didn't have to promote it, there was nothing to report even if they did.

I agree with you.

In the future we should insist on two words, "Closed Primaries".

"Al Franken" is pseudo-comedicspeak for "insipid sleaze-ball."

re: #197 buzzsawmonkey

The parasite cannot become the host? I see you have never been to a New York cocktail party.

How about a parakeet?

re: #193 Taqyia2Me

In the next four years, hopefully only two, a majority of Americans will see that the parasite CANNOT become the host.

Taqy, that is a VERY potent way to state it!

The bloodsucking welfarist-freebies CANNOT be everywhere, because then there's no suckers producers to stand still for their parasitic feast!

Minnesota? I will never forgive you.

I'll keep repeating this until it sinks in:
We lost seats in the house and the senate the last two elections. Census is in 2010, reapportionment in 2011.

re: #194 jcm

Hard [deleted] hard is it to fill in a bubble next to the name?
Really.

We use the bubble paper ballots. Voter at the precinct scans his or her ballot and gets a report, if it's what they wanted they turn it in. After that if a selection doesn't scan it does count period.

I've never used that system.
We had machines with levers.
Now we have electronic voting machines.

re: #174 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

People are buying guns for a couple of different reasons. It seems likely that Obama will have some kind of gun control effort. What that will be is unknown. It could be anything from exhorbitant excise taxes of firearms and ammunition all the way up to a complete ban on civillian ownership of firearms like they have in Britain.

That is a large range of options. If Obama tries to re-authorise the "assault weapons" ban and it gets through Congress, guns of this type will get scarce. They will run up in value dramatically (300-500% would be about like it was last time). Some people are buying them as
an investment, intending to make a fat profit.

Some people are buying them because they know they will get scarce, and they want to make sure they have theirs. These people aren't buying them with the intent of turning them in next year.

Where things will go from here is too fluid to be able to predict. Obama may remember what happened to Clinton in 1994, and decide to leave well enough alone. He certainly made noises to this effect while he was running for President.

For now, people are buying weapons, and they will have to wait and see what Obama does, not what he says.

Tomorrow's market may be a pogo stick.

The Nikkei and Hang Seng are getting hammered following our train wreck of today.

But the early futures are point ever so slightly up. Oil is down to $52.95 a barrel.

I think you can count on another 25 basis point cut in the discount rate by the Fed's to an historical rate of 0.75%.

We are looking at a very long and hard recession, folks.

Figure on unemployment reaching 10% and underemployment at another 10%.

Do not be surprised if the DOW drops another 1,000 points or so. Many analysts are starting to think that is more and more likely. I think it will take 5 years or so for the DOW to recover from this.

At least Congress so far is telling the Big 3 to go take a hike.

re: #211 Thanos

I'll keep repeating this until it sinks in:
We lost seats in the house and the senate the last two elections. Census is in 2010, reapportionment in 2011.

Yet you're still willing to throw some of the brightest minds in the GOP under the bus?

Because of some stupid "C" word?

re: #172 kynna

A lot of this commentary is aimed at Sarah Palin. I'm disappointed by how many intelligent people have fallen for the meme that she's stupid. She proved herself capable with fewer gaffes than any of the other candidates and a rabid press corps attacking 24/7, but she's a she and so her few missteps are 'blond moments' rather than simple mistakes.

But we can be happy and embrace the light because we'll have 'real thinking women' like Christie Todd Whitman (a decent governor who was a disaster at the EPA) and Kathleen Parker (if she can pull herself away from her naval) to show us the way to the 'New Moderate GOP' righteousness that worked so well for McCain.

Agreed. There was serious sexism eminating from the old boys club. How could she possibly have had an 80% approval rating in Alaska after almost 2 years on the job and cleaning up the Alaska house?
Alleluia! (Oops! Wrong word. I'm thrown under the bus.)

:p

Children are the major issue for parents. Children are why Prop 8 passed. McCain did an awful job explaining why Republicans need to reform education - to not do so is child abuse.

re: #209 buzzsawmonkey

That was the name planned for his victory party! "Insipid Sleaze Ball." How'dja know?

Isn't that the big ornament to be dropped on Minnesotans if he wins?

re: #166 Iron Fist

I just got home from trying to track down some .45 ACP jacketed hollowpoints. They are sold out all over the city. People are buying guns and ammunition because they are afraid of what Obama may be about to do. That is not an auspicious way to begin your term. If Obama governs from the hard Left, he'll have the same thing happen to him that happened to Clinton.

We've got two years.

Where do u live, Iron Fist? Our Walmart seems to have plenty (NE TN).

re: #199 Thanos

Yes. That's a good point. The big players in the game may have been Dems, but the GOP didn't stop it because too many of their own boys had an interest in the spoils.

Kinda funny. On drudge right now,

"It's on. California Supreme Court to take up gay marriage ban"
Right underneath? Picture of Chavez and Castro holding hands warmly.

re: #215 3 wood

Tomorrow's market may be a pogo stick.

The Nikkei and Hang Seng are getting hammered following our train wreck of today.

But the early futures are point ever so slightly up. Oil is down to $52.95 a barrel.

I think you can count on another 25 basis point cut in the discount rate by the Fed's to an historical rate of 0.75%.

We are looking at a very long and hard recession, folks.

Figure on unemployment reaching 10% and underemployment at another 10%.

Do not be surprised if the DOW drops another 1,000 points or so. Many analysts are starting to think that is more and more likely. I think it will take 5 years or so for the DOW to recover from this.

At least Congress so far is telling the Big 3 to go take a hike.

Good grief.
I retired a year ago.
I might have to go back to work.

I have an idea -

Lets do what Rush Limbaugh recommends - run a candidate who will be absolutely uncompromising on any and all culture war issues.

Because that is the problem - all of the Latinos, Blacks, College graduates, Women and Catholics have been saying to themselves "I'd vote Republican, but when it comes to social issues they just put up pussy candidates who aren't big enough ass holes when it comes to regulating sex, reproduction, abortion, what people can watch on television and what people are allowed to do on the Internet. I would vote for a Gary Bauer rather than a John McCain. Oh well - I guess I will vote for a Democrat instead who is diametrically opposed to social conservatism on every one of those issues because the Republican wasn't hard core enough."

Makes perfect sense.

re: #212 reine.de.tout

I've never used that system.
We had machines with levers.
Now we have electronic voting machines.

I don't like electronic. If someone could hack it there would be no record of what the voter actually did, with paper there is.

Fixing the election system isn't really hard, it's just that the will to do it isn't there.

re: #171 Shug

al franken is a labourer farmer?
WTF

That's Minnesota's version of the DNC. DFL = Democrat Farmers-Labor.

re: #214 Iron Fist

Thanks Iron.

re: #189 bellamags

The media did not do their job. I am not expecting the media to "carry water" for anyone. But you must admit, there was a tanker truck following the Obama campaign around with the letters MSM painted on it.

There is a monster sized blackhole in the Republican party in terms of 'leadership'. Yeah, we can complain about the MSM all we want (and I do) but at the end of the day the 'Republicans' had better step up the fight. The left understands this. There goal is power at all costs and they are doing all they can to get the 60 senators then they don't have to ever 'reach across the aisle'...they never do anyway, it is always the 'right' that is expected to sell out. Overt ideological war...they, the left, know if they cry hard enough for 'unity' the 'nice guys' will cave. We don't have the leadership or anyone with the guts to even draw a line, let alone toe a line. As soon as we get a group that realizes you can't deal with the other side without losing freedom, the sooner we might actually have an energized base.

re: #217 DistantThunder

...McCain did an awful job explaining why Republicans need to reform education...

McCain did an awful job explaining anything. He spent most of the time explaining why Obama would make a good president.

re: #221 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Kinda funny. On drudge right now,

"It's on. California Supreme Court to take up gay marriage ban"
Right underneath? Picture of Chavez and Castro holding hands warmly.

China's Hu, not Chaves, but a great juxtaposition.

Moderates may have liked the leftist rhetoric ala Santa Claus - but the reality is far more sobering. Leftist government means fewer jobs, higher taxes, less physical security, higher crime, lower academic achievement - but that's not what the scan artists have told them.

Europe is accustomed to being 2nd class - wait until America has tasted the sour brew.

re: #216 DesertSage

Yet you're still willing to throw some of the brightest minds in the GOP under the bus?

Because of some stupid "C" word?

If you are talking about Jindal, absolutely for me. If you are talking about Palin, no way.

re: #221 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Kinda funny. On drudge right now,

"It's on. California Supreme Court to take up gay marriage ban"
Right underneath? Picture of Chavez and Castro holding hands warmly.

HAhahahaha.

re: #221 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

"It's on. California Supreme Court to take up gay marriage ban"

/um, wasn't this latest referendum put on the ballot precisely to stop that from happening again?

But on the positive side, the NYT stock price lost another 10% today and fell to $6.35 a share.

A year ago it was at about $20 a share.

I can't wait to see their bankruptcy announcement.

re: #230 jcm

China's Hu, not Chaves, but a great juxtaposition.

Oh damn. (chagrin)

I'm gonna' spend the next four years smoking dope and figuring out how to win at Ratatouille on my PSP.

re: #174 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Leads me to ask a question I've been thinking about. Who are people getting ready to shoot? I'm not understanding the run on guns.

Dinner!

re: #219 Wishing

Where do u live, Iron Fist? Our Walmart seems to have plenty (NE TN).

re: #190 buzzsawmonkey

That is certainly one way that this could play out. I really doubt that Russia, China, Syria, Iran, North Korea, al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and on and on...well, I doubt that they are going to back off and let Obama have four trouble-free years to consolidate his position.

Even Biden has said essentially that. Four years is a long time.

re: #222 reine.de.tout

Good grief.
I retired a year ago.
I might have to go back to work.

I retired in August.

I went back to work in October.

re: #216 DesertSage

Yet you're still willing to throw some of the brightest minds in the GOP under the bus?

Because of some stupid "C" word?

I'm in Louisiana. I voted for Jindal for Gov.
Jindal is not the guy for Pres. His administration is . . . odd . . . I'm not at all sure he could carry out a Presidency with the way he completely isolates himself, and listens to very few people.

re: #188 Walter L. Newton

McCain's message was SO UNCLEAR, and lacking any force, that the MSM didn't have to promote it, there was nothing to report even if they did.

Let's face it. McCain was a crap candidate who ran a crap campaign. I plugged my nose and voted for him, anyway. I felt it was my duty to cast my lot for the lesser of two evils rather than act like a WHINY, PETULANT CHILD and not vote at all.

At least I can now offer criticism on the campaign or the new president and not feel like a HYPOCRITE.

re: #163 freetoken

Amen.

Way, waaaaaay to much backward looking by many who want "true" conservativism, when by what is meant by "true conservative" is simply that which has gone before.

We must live in the 21st century and deal with what we have and what will come.

In 2000 GWB barely beat Al Gore. In 2004 the Democrats ran a very weak candidate and GWB won again by a small margin. Importantly though the GOP didn't make any ground in congress and by 2006 the GOP had lost congress.

It is difficult for the GOP to get to that 50.1 mark as spoken of by Lindberg. Hopefully all those people yearning for "true conservative" politicians will finally accept that, and see that they will have to be part of a compromised coalition if they are to have any influence.

Look, if we can't get that 50.1 percent, then let's go for 60+. In other words, let's find candidates who understand our world, our Constitution, our economics, and how to WIN! It's really not that hard . . .

re: #236 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Oh damn. (chagrin)

You seen one commie thug dictator, you seen 'em all.

re: #232 Thanos

If you are talking about Jindal, absolutely for me. If you are talking about Palin, no way.

Well, if you're going to through Jindal under the bus, one of the brightest minds in the GOP, someone who would shred Obama in a debate....then that's it for me.

I'm out. I would probably never vote for a Republican again.
Any party that would purge their best and brightest is definitely not the party for me. And I would encourage everyone I know to do the same.

I think the LAST thing we need to do right now is think about presidential candidates for 2012.
We need to think about principles. We need to think about statewide and Congressional candidates.

Thrown in money, ACORN, vote fraud and stupidity of the younger generations and you get Obama... simple as that

re: #234 Killian Bundy

/um, wasn't this latest referendum put on the ballot precisely to stop that from happening again?

Election results are only acceptable to them if it gives them what they want.

Otherwise sue, riot, whine, etc.

re: #248 wolfie

I think the LAST thing we need to do right now is think about presidential candidates for 2012.
We need to think about principles. We need to think about statewide and Congressional candidates.

Buzzsawmonkey 2012!

Otherwise I agree with you

re: #219 Wishing

Knoxville. I hit two Wal Marts and Gander Mountain. The only .45 ammo is FMJ. One of the Wal Marts had about a thousand rounds of that. Other calibers were either sold out or in very low supply.

The number of people that I have talked to that didn't vote for McCain solely because he picked Palin rather large. It's the social conservatism that is the problem. Did you notice how Obama won while promising "tax cuts"? That's because free markets still sound like a good idea to everyone. Had he phrased it as a "stimulus" or a "bailout" it wouldn't have worked. Meanwhile he framed McCain as an entrenched politician. McCain wasn't eloquent, so he had difficulty arguing himself out of that title, and the media is too in love with Obama to scrutinize him. Still, the republican obsession with the Religious Right makes a lot of people squeamish.

re: #223 karmic_inquisitor

I have an idea -

Lets do what Rush Limbaugh recommends - run a candidate who will be absolutely uncompromising on any and all culture war issues.

Because that is the problem - all of the Latinos, Blacks, College graduates, Women and Catholics have been saying to themselves "I'd vote Republican, but when it comes to social issues they just put up pussy candidates who aren't big enough ass holes when it comes to regulating sex, reproduction, abortion, what people can watch on television and what people are allowed to do on the Internet. I would vote for a Gary Bauer rather than a John McCain. Oh well - I guess I will vote for a Democrat instead who is diametrically opposed to social conservatism on every one of those issues because the Republican wasn't hard core enough."

Makes perfect sense.

Latinos and blacks voted overwhelmingly for Prop 8. A caller to Rush today said his mother is staunchly pro-life, pro-traditional marriage and a church going Catholic - but she was absolutely lied to via Telemundo and Univision that Obama was going to give her all this stuff and solve all her problems. He said she bought the message that Democrats are for the poor -Republicans are for the rich - and we know that Democrats are job and growth killers - and create systems that abuse children and families. I've seen it.

The worm will turn.

re: #247 DesertSage

Well, if you're going to through Jindal under the bus, one of the brightest minds in the GOP, someone who would shred Obama in a debate....then that's it for me.

I'm out. I would probably never vote for a Republican again.
Any party that would purge their best and brightest is definitely not the party for me. And I would encourage everyone I know to do the same.

Jindal's not our best or brightest. I've got nothing against Christians, I'd back Palin again 100 percent. It's about who's backing Jindal that has me worried about him, and his anti-science move.

re: #231 DistantThunder

Moderates may have liked the leftist rhetoric ala Santa Claus - but the reality is far more sobering. Leftist government means fewer jobs, higher taxes, less physical security, higher crime, lower academic achievement - but that's not what the scan artists have told them.

Europe is accustomed to being 2nd class - wait until America has tasted the sour brew.

CHANGE... :(

/Never liked being a world leader in terms of freedom, ambition, courage, talent, and thought anyway...

Indeed Jindal's anti science move makes him rather a dim bulb in the Republican starscape.

re: #228 Oh no...Sand People!

I agree. but the media still swayed many uninformed people. I deal with the public for 12 hours a day 6 days a week. I live in a very conservative area and I still overheard people saying things like "I didn't vote for McCain because if he died that stupid Sarah Palin lady would be in charge." I heard that come out of the mouths of people wearing camouflage, getting out of 4x4 trucks with rebel flag stickers on their rear windows. These are not liberal people. The combination of an inept Republican party, the liberal media and an uneducated public is a problem for conservatives.

The republican party is non-existent in my opinion. The only conservative I can think of in plain view is Sarah Palin.

I doubt many will be happy with Obama's performance these next 4 years, but there is no visible alternate party to vote for a few years from now.

All the Republican contenders are liberal in my opinion with the exception of Fred Thompson, who I doubt will run again. The media will make sure Sarah Palin is still un-electable 4 years form now.

re: #253 buzzsawmonkey

We're going to run you for Senate seat Hillary vacates as a set-up for 2012!

I just purchased 50 shares of Ford Motor Co for a whopping $70 to go along with my 25 shares of General Motors. And just to show that companies can turn around (even after chapter 11), I give you Winn-Dixie:

Winn-Dixie shares fell 8 cents, to $1.47 on Friday [Feb '05]. The stock has declined 77 percent in the past year.

It's now at roughly $13.00 a share.

Suck it, Skeptics! :D

One other thought on this left right subject. Obama is very intellegent. There needs to be a fall guy when his early policies fail and they will. Clinton and his/her people should line up soon for new heads. Then we can go even futher left.

re: #252 Iron Fist

Can you get it online?

I was at one of my local gunshops last Friday and they were actually pretty quiet. However, they were out of both the SP101 and GP100; they usually have a fair number of them in the display case.

re: #238 MandyManners

I'm gonna' spend the next four years smoking dope and figuring out how to win at Ratatouille on my PSP.

If it takes you 4 years, you're smoking rope, not dope.

re: #59 neocon hippie

If Obama and the Dems can keep it together, I believe the country will continue to slouch blithely along in the direction of a socialist, essentially one-party state. However, I believe that there is going a be a good chance of some rough unforeseen events in the next four years, and that the Messiah and his Clintonite retreads are going to respond poorly. If this is the case, the pendulum will swing back in a big way and a lot of what we've had to put up with will be discredited. Unfortunately, we may suffer greatly along the way.

Sinking feeling, neocon hippie might be right.

re: #258 Thanos

Indeed Jindal's anti science move makes him rather a dim bulb in the Republican starscape.

And Jindal has not been as impressive as hoped for as Governor, for many reasons, not just the anti-science move.