Jump to bottom

202 comments
1 Vicious Piebola  Nov 5, 2014 8:51:14am
2 Bubblehead II  Nov 5, 2014 8:51:31am

Idaho went the way that I expected. Republican.

3 Backwoods_Sleuth  Nov 5, 2014 8:52:52am

One bright spot in Kentucky: the lunatic TP candidate for Kentucky Supreme Court went down in flames.

4 SteelPH  Nov 5, 2014 8:54:09am

Repost from downstairs:

The election results have been… really depressing (As a sufferer of clinical depression, this just piles it on and the gloating from the right is starting to edge me into dangerous territory. I’m trying to hold up as best as possible).

It absolutely boggles the mind how people so readily vote against their self-interest, or don’t even bother voting at all despite their contempt for the GOP craziness.

Times like this, I wish I drank.

5 Backwoods_Sleuth  Nov 5, 2014 8:54:17am

And the Democrats held on to control of the Kentucky House.

6 Vicious Piebola  Nov 5, 2014 8:54:37am

At least Gary Peters and Brenda Lawrence won the Senate & my district’s House seat in MI, but the Jim Hoft lookalike stays in the governor’s mansion for 6 more years.

7 Aunty Entity Dragon  Nov 5, 2014 9:02:13am

re: #4 SteelPH

From the Daily Beast:

I’m not going where you (especially if you’re conservative) suspect I’m going with this—the standard liberal moan that working-class white people are voting against their interests. That’s something Democrats have to get out of their heads and stop saying. People don’t vote against their interests. They vote for their interests as they see them. And right now, working-class and blue-collar whites think the Democratic Party is just implacably against them.

Of course I don’t think it’s true that the Democratic Party is implacably against them. I think they just think the Democratic Party is implacably against them, and part of the reason—not the whole reason, but part of the reason—they think the Democratic Party is implacably against them is that Democratic candidates in red states have no idea how to tell them they’re on their side.

Right now, working-class and blue-collar whites think the Democratic Party is just implacably against them.

Look at this map. This is something The New York Times posted a week ago showing the percentage of people who gained health insurance under Obamacare, broken down into every county in the country. Look at the map, and look at Kentucky. Huge gains. Just huge. Throughout the state, the percentage of insured doubled in many counties. The Democratic Party has been implacably for the people—in this state, most of them white—who got insurance.

And yet, could Alison Grimes go around the state bragging about this? No, she couldn’t. It’s Obama and race, yes. For sure. But it’s more. It’s hatred of government. In a lot of places, you can’t even get people to believe that Washington had anything to do with them getting insurance. So they sent back to the Senate, by a shockingly high margin, the man who has pledged that he’s going to repeal root and branch the law that got them that insurance.

The Democrats are screwed with these people, in these states.

When only 40% of Americans can even reliably tell a pollster which party controls which house of Congress…you have a major, major problem.

8 Feline Fearless Leader  Nov 5, 2014 9:02:23am

So when does Minnesota mobilize the Franken Army and start the invasion of Wisconsin in order to initiate the great wave of Obama Tyranny?
///

9 teleskiguy  Nov 5, 2014 9:04:25am
10 Weet  Nov 5, 2014 9:05:54am

Look at the exit polls at the Post.
Then click on the 2010 button.
Looks almost exactly the same.
The electorate is whiter and older than the population. Ever heard that before?
I don’t know how we get Democrats to vote in midterms, but that’s the problem that has to be solved.
Post Exit Polls

11 Backwoods_Sleuth  Nov 5, 2014 9:07:24am
12 HappyWarrior  Nov 5, 2014 9:09:02am

re: #9 teleskiguy

[Embedded content]

What a country.

13 dr. luba  Nov 5, 2014 9:10:02am

Thanks to all those concerned young Americans who couldn’t be bothered to vote. Sorry for fucking up your country and the world, but we’ll be dead when the shit really hits the fan. When the Eastern seaboard is under water, and half the country is uninhabitable due to drought, Social Security and health care are something you heard about once from your grandparents, maybe then you’ll get off your asses and vote.

Maybe.

14 dholmes32  Nov 5, 2014 9:10:07am

Now they have to govern. Let’s see them do it.

*snort*

I really do think they’re going to get caught up in trying to repeal ACA, impeaching Obama, BENGHAZI! and other various Teatastic issues. I just hope the electorate gets its whatevers together before 2016. Because I really don’t want my boyfriend’s prediction that Ted Cruz will be president in 2017 to come true. (Neither does he, but he’s really pessimistic.)

15 Mike Lamb  Nov 5, 2014 9:10:41am

I think the real question is how much the Senate Republicans will change the filibuster rules. Normally, I’d think that the gigantic egos that make up the Senate would be a check on any radical change to the rules, as each individual seeks to keep as much power (or potential power) as possible. Unfortunately, I think there are enough nihilists that have been elected that they simply don’t care. The concept of MAD only works if both sides give a shit about continued existence…

16 Aunty Entity Dragon  Nov 5, 2014 9:10:52am

re: #10 Weet

Look at the exit polls at the Post.
Then click on the 2010 button.
Looks almost exactly the same.
The electorate is whiter and older than the population. Ever heard that before?
I don’t know how we get Democrats to vote in midterms, bu
t that’s the problem that has to be solved.
Post Exit Polls

I don’t think it will, since dems lost the union organization that could reliably get workers to the polls. The GOP is a heavy top-down machine with a lot of ability to organize in evangelical churches (pastors from mega churches across the country used to hold weekly conference calls with a member of Bush the lesser’s cabinet on faith based initiatives to strategize)

With the younger voters so utterly fragmented socially, you have better luck herding cats so to speak.

17 Mike Lamb  Nov 5, 2014 9:11:49am

re: #14 dholmes32

Now they have to govern. Let’s see them do it.

*snort*

I really do think they’re going to get caught up in trying to repeal ACA, impeaching Obama, BENGHAZI! and other various Teatastic issues. I just hope the electorate gets its whatevers together before 2016. Because I really don’t want my boyfriend’s prediction that Ted Cruz will be president in 2017 to come true. (Neither does he, but he’s really pessimistic.)

They will turn the Senate into a version of the House with investigation after investigation. They’ll waste millions. They’ll then kvetch about gov’t waste. And people will buy it.

18 jamesfirecat  Nov 5, 2014 9:11:49am

re: #15 Mike Lamb

I think the real question is how much the Senate Republicans will change the filibuster rules. Normally, I’d think that the gigantic egos that make up the Senate would be a check on any radical change to the rules, as each individual seeks to keep as much power (or potential power) as possible. Unfortunately, I think there are enough nihilists that have been elected that they simply don’t care. The concept of MAD only works if both sides give a shit about continued existence…

Let them do away with the filibuster, it will only open the door to more progressive legislation getting through in 2012, and filibuster or no will not make a difference while Obama weilds the veto pen.

19 Skip Intro  Nov 5, 2014 9:11:50am

I expect to see GOP states start passing bills that require you to re-register to vote if you miss an election. Full ID required, including certified birth certificate. That would knock the Dems down another dozen points or so.

20 teleskiguy  Nov 5, 2014 9:11:54am

John Hickenlooper won reelection as Governor of Colorado. He’s up by 25,000+ votes against Bob Beauprez. Beauprez refuses to concede. This may get unnecessarily dragged out but Hick is far enough ahead that there will be no automatic recount.

Remember when Ken Cuccinelli refused to call and congratulate Terry McAuliffe? Bob Beauprez may take the same asshole-ish route.

21 calochortus  Nov 5, 2014 9:12:22am

Someone downstairs mentioned the Keystone XL pipeline. With oil prices sinking, I wonder if that is an economically feasible project. It is expensive to make something useful out of tar sands ( and they are tar sands not oil sands.)

22 nines09  Nov 5, 2014 9:13:05am

As I see it the Democrats only have themselves to blame. They seemed to think they could reason or work with their “counterparts” on the right. When the opportunity to call GOP hopefuls or incumbents out on their actual words and deeds the silence was stunning. When a candidate such as Alison Grimes runs against the GOP machine in Kentucky and will not even admit to having voted for Obama, you have to wonder just what the hell is going on. Just in her instance and I can think of many, many others, she should have asked the questioner weather or not the citizens of Kentucky liked the ACA and Obamacare. Lost opportunity. Just like the attempted recall of Governor Walker a few years back, the eggs were counted as chickens. It’s as if the Democrats were saying amongst themselves that the real election is in 2016. If they prepare and execute that endeavor with the same lackadaisical effort, it will be all over but the crying. The Democratic party needs to grow a set, and push back and realize that the republican party has only one goal. To destroy them and their legacy. I am not a happy soul today, but the sun came up, my life is pretty much unchanged for the time being, and the jackals are gloating and telling all that care to hear that it was a “Mandate,” The only mandate I see is the stupidity of voting for raising the minimum wage and then electing an official to office that will spare no chance to defeat it. The Clown Car Rolls On.

23 Indy GOP Refugee  Nov 5, 2014 9:13:43am

. The young want an electoral system that is as reliable as Amazon, as accessible as Google and as fast as a mouse can click wiki. By system I mean from initial “trial balloon” candidates early on clear through inauguration day.

Can’t really say I disagree with the point. The how of course is a hot mess.

24 Mike Lamb  Nov 5, 2014 9:14:11am

There will also be a huge battle on the narrative: will the GOP be able to convince people that Obama is the obstructionist for vetoing a bunch of insane bills? Or will the GOP finally get called out on putting forward batshit insanity?

I don’t feel good about the answer to that question…at all.

25 Aunty Entity Dragon  Nov 5, 2014 9:14:15am

re: #15 Mike Lamb

I think the real question is how much the Senate Republicans will change the filibuster rules. Normally, I’d think that the gigantic egos that make up the Senate would be a check on any radical change to the rules, as each individual seeks to keep as much power (or potential power) as possible. Unfortunately, I think there are enough nihilists that have been elected that they simply don’t care. The concept of MAD only works if both sides give a shit about continued existence…

Lets see if Boehner can hold off a leadership challenge from the tea party. If he can…maybe no attempt to impeach (although he caved on the shutdown). If the tea party picks him off…watch out.

26 dholmes32  Nov 5, 2014 9:15:14am

re: #25 Aunty Entity Dragon

Lets see if Boehner can hold off a leadership challenge from the tea party. If he can…maybe no attempt to impeach (although he caved on the shutdown). If the tea party picks him off…watch out.

GOHMERT!!!!!

27 Mike Lamb  Nov 5, 2014 9:16:11am

re: #23 Indy GOP Refugee

. The young want an electoral system that is as reliable as Amazon, as accessible as Google and as fast as a mouse can click wiki. By system I mean from initial “trial balloon” candidates early on clear through inauguration day.

Can’t really say I disagree with the point. The how of course is a hot mess.

Obviously the voter ID bullshit creates substantial obstacles. Having said that, the biggest thing that would increase turnout: election day as either a holiday or on a weekend. When I studied abroad in Australia (where voting is mandatory), they could get around the concept that voting wasn’t a legal obligation, but they thought the first Tuesday elections were about the dumbest thing ever.

28 Indy GOP Refugee  Nov 5, 2014 9:16:31am

If you think you can reach young voters via their physical USPO mail box or network television you are in denial or an idiot.

29 Vicious Piebola  Nov 5, 2014 9:17:15am

re: #21 calochortus

Someone downstairs mentioned the Keystone XL pipeline. With oil prices sinking, I wonder if that is an economically feasible project. It is expensive to make something useful out of tar sands ( and they are tar sands not oil sands.)

30 Weet  Nov 5, 2014 9:18:02am

In 2016, Democrats will vote again. Electing the President is important, you see.

Until and unless the ‘normal’ people of this country are educated about how the government works, we will continue to see this feast and famine in Presidential years and midterms, it seems.

As Aunt said above: When only 40% of Americans can even reliably tell a pollster which party controls which house of Congress…you have a major, major problem.

Maybe it’s going to have to get really, really bad before the majority of the population wakes up and realizes how important voting in midterms is.

Our children is not learning.

31 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse  Nov 5, 2014 9:18:11am

re:
#19

I expect to see GOP states start passing bills that require you to re-register to vote if you miss an election.

Or if you don’t vote in any particular election no matter how small you don’t get to vote for two more cycles. Or if you don’t vote in the primary you can’t vote in the general. Or if you got a ticket or fine of any kind you can’t vote that year.

Hey if this makes it more difficult for you to vote Good!!!11

32 Vicious Piebola  Nov 5, 2014 9:18:48am

Keystone pipeline:
Canada & Kochs get the money
China (& other foreign customers) get the oil
U.S. gets the shaft

33 Sionainn  Nov 5, 2014 9:20:21am

re: #30 Weet

In 2016, Democrats will vote again. Electing the President is important, you see.

Until and unless the ‘normal’ people of this country are educated about how the government works, we will continue to see this feast and famine in Presidential years and midterms, it seems.

As Aunt said above: When only 40% of Americans can even reliably tell a pollster which party controls which house of Congress…you have a major, major problem.

Maybe it’s going to have to get really, really bad before the majority of the population wakes up and realizes how important voting in midterms is.

Our children is not learning.

That’s why I talk politics with my 7 and 9 year old children. I take them with me when I vote. They are being taught from a very young age that voting is one of the most important things they can do as a citizen.

34 Aunty Entity Dragon  Nov 5, 2014 9:22:08am

Sahil Kapur, via Sully:

Cruz telegraphed his strategy in a post-election interview Tuesday night on Fox News, calling on Republicans to do whatever it takes to repeal Obamacare and and prevent Obama’s upcoming executive actions on immigration. “The two biggest issues nationwide were, number one, stopping the train wreck that is Obamacare; number two, stopping the president from illegally granting amnesty,” Cruz said. He also appeared on CNN and declined to voice support for McConnell as majority leader, calling that “a decision for the conference to answer next week.”

Cruz usurped Boehner over the shut down. Here: “stopping the president from illegally granting amnesty” …he is talking impeachment on the immigration issue. I don’t know how else to read that since the Congress has no other power to stop certain executive actions (save lawsuits which go nowhere since courts dislike getting into these kinds of disputes)

35 Romantic Heretic  Nov 5, 2014 9:22:47am

re: #4 SteelPH

Repost from downstairs:

The election results have been… really depressing (As a sufferer of clinical depression, this just piles it on and the gloating from the right is starting to edge me into dangerous territory. I’m trying to hold up as best as possible).

It absolutely boggles the mind how people so readily vote against their self-interest, or don’t even bother voting at all despite their contempt for the GOP craziness.

Times like this, I wish I drank.

Take a break from the internet. All media for that matter. Find something pleasant to do.

Works for me. I suffer from it as well.

Speaking of which. I’m off to play WoW. I have a Cloud Serpent chick to raise. She’ll grow into this soon.

tentonhammer.com

36 Indy GOP Refugee  Nov 5, 2014 9:24:07am

re: #27 Mike Lamb

I saw the President of Estonia on Al Jaz. With all due respect to the small size he spoke of their system. And how Poland had adopted their system. Not so small. Long story short, it’s a minimum “two method” online identity verification system and reliable enough to work online with lots of precautions and audit potential. He personally has great expertise in the field. Mentioned Skype was invented there.

37 calochortus  Nov 5, 2014 9:26:28am

re: #29 Vicious Piebola

re: #32 Vicious Piebola

Yes, but the break-even production cost for tar sands is (I think) somewhere in the mid-$60/bbl price range for existing production. Lenders are evidently getting nervous about all sorts of lending for oil production. Pipelines only make money when they are being used.
Now, we do have a shortage of pipeline capacity in the US right now so KXL may still be profitable, but transporting oil isn’t the question here-it is tar sands.

38 blueraven  Nov 5, 2014 9:28:55am

re: #20 teleskiguy

John Hickenlooper won reelection as Governor of Colorado. He’s up by 25,000+ votes against Bob Beauprez. Beauprez refuses to concede. This may get unnecessarily dragged out but Hick is far enough ahead that there will be no automatic recount.

Remember when Ken Cuccinelli refused to call and congratulate Terry McAuliffe? Bob Beauprez may take the same asshole-ish route.

That margin is likely to grow for Hickenlooper as the only counties with significant unreported votes are Adams (68.9 reporting) and Arapahoe (78.7). Hickenlooper is currently leading in those areas by 3 and 6 percent respectively.
There is no path for Beauprez to win.

39 Minor_L  Nov 5, 2014 9:31:54am

re: #17 Mike Lamb

Because the media will be right there telling people to believe it.

40 Skip Intro  Nov 5, 2014 9:32:52am

Haven’t seen this posted here, although I admit I haven’t waded through the 1000+ comments of the previous threads.

Sandra Fluke Loses California State Senate Race

Limbaugh will be having on air orgasms over this today.

41 Mike Lamb  Nov 5, 2014 9:32:54am

re: #39 Minor_L

Because the media will be right there telling people to believe it.

Yup, as well as the narrative of Obama as obstructionist. It plays into the horse race coverage they need.

42 Ace-o-aces  Nov 5, 2014 9:34:22am

re: #7 Aunty Entity Dragon

The problem is, people actually like the ACA, they hate “Obamacare”. No pre-existing condition exclusions? People like it. Staying on your parent plan until 26? People love it. Medicare expansion? People like it.

What people don’t like is this phantom version of the law called “Obamacare”, where the federal government uses healthcare to install a communist/Muslim dictatorship under George Soros, or whatever it is that exists in the fevered imaginations of RWNJs

That’s why Mitch McConell talks about how he wants to end “Obamacare”, while supporting Kentucky’s exchange, created under the ACA. Because people like what the law does, but they hate what they think it does, but doesn’t

talkingpointsmemo.com

43 lostlakehiker  Nov 5, 2014 9:34:28am

I predict no impeachment. More than that, no impeachment resolution brought to the floor of the House for an up or down vote.

How stupid are Republicans? So stupid as to throw away any chance at making hay while their sun shines? There’s been a move in the Republican leadership to steer primary contests away from the Todd Akins and Christine O’Donnells of 2012. This same leadership will steer the hotheads in the House away from the folly that impeachment would be.

In any contest of life, a clear view of the other side, its capabilities, and its intentions, is vital. To think that the Republicans will shoot themselves, and not merely in the foot, by toying with an impeachment that would only be for show, and by going so far as to actually put it to a vote, is not part of that kind of clear view.

44 Higgs Boson's Mate  Nov 5, 2014 9:34:31am

Well, this has to be it. This is when our party’s leadership finally realizes that it needs to spend time and money building strong state-level Democratic parties. This is when they insist that Democratic pols call “bullshit!” whenever and wherever the Republicans spout it. This is when Democratic Congresscritters who run away from a Democratic president get no committee assignments and no further support.

This is when I must be having an acid flashback. Never mind.

45 Skip Intro  Nov 5, 2014 9:36:03am

More high quality GOP winners last night.

Indictment, Dog Killing, Infidelity Overcome By GOP Candidates

How bad was it for Democrats? Rep. Michael Grimm, a Republican facing a 20-count indictment won in New York and another known for outbursts of rage and killing a beagle, Mike Bost, won a seat in President Barack Obama’s home state of Illinois that had been Democratic for 70 years.

Down in Tennessee, Rep. Scott DesJarlais’ past infidelities and pushing of abortion on a mistress continued to not matter to voters, who handed him a landslide victory.

huffingtonpost.com

Republicans will vote for anything with an ‘R’ after it’s name.

46 Skip Intro  Nov 5, 2014 9:38:34am

re: #43 lostlakehiker

This same leadership will steer the hotheads in the House away from the folly that impeachment would be.

That totally depends on whether Sen. Cruz continues as GOP House Leader while John Boehner resumes his job of polishing Cruz’s balls.

47 HappyWarrior  Nov 5, 2014 9:39:31am

re: #42 Ace-o-aces

The problem is, people actually like the ACA, they hate “Obamacare”. No pre-existing condition exclusions? People like it. Staying on your parent plan until 26? People love it. Medicare expansion? People like it.

What people don’t like is this phantom version of the law called “Obamacare”, where the federal government uses healthcare to install a communist/Muslim dictatorship under George Soros, or whatever it is that exists in the fevered imaginations of RWNJs

That’s why Mitch McConell talks about how he wants to end “Obamacare”, while supporting Kentucky’s exchange, created under the ACA. Because people like what the law does, but they hate what they think it does, but doesn’t
And which is why if the Dems had courage of their convictions, they’d call that out but they play right into the hands of the GOP candidates on the issue.
talkingpointsmemo.com

48 Mike Lamb  Nov 5, 2014 9:39:59am

re: #43 lostlakehiker

I predict no impeachment. More than that, no impeachment resolution brought to the floor of the House for an up or down vote.

How stupid are Republicans? So stupid as to throw away any chance at making hay while their sun shines? There’s been a move in the Republican leadership to steer primary contests away from the Todd Akins and Christine O’Donnells of 2012. This same leadership will steer the hotheads in the House away from the folly that impeachment would be.

In any contest of life, a clear view of the other side, its capabilities, and its intentions, is vital. To think that the Republicans will shoot themselves, and not merely in the foot, by toying with an impeachment that would only be for show, and by going so far as to actually put it to a vote, is not part of that kind of clear view.

The problem is that for a good chunk of the House, impeachment is “making hay while their sun shines”.

49 Varek Raith  Nov 5, 2014 9:41:57am

The nerve of firebaggers bitching about a GOP win…
e_e

50 Mike Lamb  Nov 5, 2014 9:42:12am

re: #45 Skip Intro

Which is why the whole “I’m not a Republican, I’m a conservative” is such transparent bullshit. And to be fair, I’d vote for a Democratic candidate in the general that had “warts” over a Republican. I just think it would be highly unlikely that someone that killed animals or was facing 20 counts of criminal wrongdoing would make it out of the primaries.

51 Aunty Entity Dragon  Nov 5, 2014 9:42:21am

re: #46 Skip Intro

That totally depends on whether Sen. Cruz continues as GOP House Leader while John Boehner resumes his job of polishing Cruz’s balls.

Quoted for truth.

They said the same fucking thing about shutting down the government. It was irresponsible. The GOP would pay a price. No way they could be that stupid.

Senator Cruz took over the tea party caucus in the House (how the hell he did that is one for historians to figure out) and forced the shut down.

Who got blamed? Obama.

They will go for the brass ring. They have utterly no reason not to as long as everything can be blamed on Obama and some of it can be rubbed off onto Hillary as well in time for 2016.

52 Eventual Carrion  Nov 5, 2014 9:42:23am

re: #32 Vicious Piebola

Keystone pipeline:
Canada & Kochs get the money
China (& other foreign customers) get the oil
U.S. gets the shaft

And maybe some of that crude spilled on us when a mishap occurs with that shaft.

53 Charles Johnson  Nov 5, 2014 9:43:49am

I wonder how much of the apathy of young voters is due to Glenn Greenwald and Edward Snowden’s message of nihilistic paranoia.

54 dog philosopher  Nov 5, 2014 9:44:25am

vainglorious boasting
executive orders
apocalyptic rhetoric
veto
veto
veto
veto
budget crisis
deadlock
veto
executive orders
veto
veto
hillary monster
hillary outpolls mitt
hillary outpolls jeb
hillary outpolls rand
hillary outpolls cruz
veto
hillary monster
hillary monster
hillary monster
wailing and gnashing of teeth

55 HappyWarrior  Nov 5, 2014 9:44:30am

Considering their past stunts and actions, there’s no reason for me to expect good faith from a GOP controlling both houses. In fact, i think it will embolden the Cruz types. They see this as a mandate for them.

56 nearly-headless smith25  Nov 5, 2014 9:44:30am

re: Coach K’s criticism of President Obama’s ISIS strategy:

57 psddluva4evah  Nov 5, 2014 9:45:08am

Wow, is it afternoon on the mainland already? It’s only 730am here in Honolulu.

Good morning from not so sunny Hawaii! It’s a bit rainy and overcast but hopefully it’s just scattered showers that end by the time the sun is high in the sky, but this rainbow makes up for the rain. Today is my 38th Birthday! I’m going out to have some fun…rain or no rain!

58 Ace-o-aces  Nov 5, 2014 9:45:19am

Going to be a nail bitter here in the California 52nd.

kpbs.org

Oh, well, either way at least we’re getting someone who is pro-choice, pro-LGBT and believes in global warming. Though if DeMaio wins, I expect he’ll be greeted as a RINO by the RWNJs.

59 Skip Intro  Nov 5, 2014 9:45:20am

re: #51 Aunty Entity Dragon

This is what Sen. Cruz has planned for his House next year:

The first priority next year, he told the Post, should be a string of hearings on President Barack Obama, “looking at the abuse of power, the executive abuse, the regulatory abuse, the lawlessness that sadly has pervaded this administration.”

Sounds like Impeachment to me.

60 blueraven  Nov 5, 2014 9:45:30am

re: #43 lostlakehiker

I predict no impeachment. More than that, no impeachment resolution brought to the floor of the House for an up or down vote.

How stupid are Republicans? So stupid as to throw away any chance at making hay while their sun shines? There’s been a move in the Republican leadership to steer primary contests away from the Todd Akins and Christine O’Donnells of 2012. This same leadership will steer the hotheads in the House away from the folly that impeachment would be.

In any contest of life, a clear view of the other side, its capabilities, and its intentions, is vital. To think that the Republicans will shoot themselves, and not merely in the foot, by toying with an impeachment that would only be for show, and by going so far as to actually put it to a vote, is not part of that kind of clear view.

You discount Ted Cruz? He is already talking about “investigating”. He has power with many in The House. Probably more so now with all the newbies. Poor old John Boehner!
Who will the Senate follow? McConnell or Cruz?

I don’t know if it will go as far as impeachment, but it is hard to see them as a compromising body on anything of importance. Seems their number one goal is, still, to undo everything Obama has done and erase him from the history books.

61 Sionainn  Nov 5, 2014 9:46:03am

re: #43 lostlakehiker

I predict no impeachment. More than that, no impeachment resolution brought to the floor of the House for an up or down vote.

How stupid are Republicans? So stupid as to throw away any chance at making hay while their sun shines? There’s been a move in the Republican leadership to steer primary contests away from the Todd Akins and Christine O’Donnells of 2012. This same leadership will steer the hotheads in the House away from the folly that impeachment would be.

In any contest of life, a clear view of the other side, its capabilities, and its intentions, is vital. To think that the Republicans will shoot themselves, and not merely in the foot, by toying with an impeachment that would only be for show, and by going so far as to actually put it to a vote, is not part of that kind of clear view.

Oh, I believe they will shoot themselves in the foot. Most definitely.

62 Franklin  Nov 5, 2014 9:46:09am

re: #53 Charles Johnson

I wonder how much of the apathy of young voters is due to Glenn Greenwald and Edward Snowden’s message of nihilistic paranoia.

I think it steered votes away from Atty Gen. Martha Coakley for MA Gov.

63 HappyWarrior  Nov 5, 2014 9:47:49am

re: #53 Charles Johnson

I wonder how much of the apathy of young voters is due to Glenn Greenwald and Edward Snowden’s message of nihilistic paranoia.

Honestly and I say this as a young voter, young voters placed way too much hope in President Obama without understanding how shit gets done. In otherwords I think many set themselves up for disappointment when Obama inevitably had to cave on some issues.

64 Aunty Entity Dragon  Nov 5, 2014 9:47:56am

re: #53 Charles Johnson

I wonder how much of the apathy of young voters is due to Glenn Greenwald and Edward Snowden’s message of nihilistic paranoia.

I doubt many of them even know who Greewald even is. The under 35 crowd is apathetic about the process becasue they haven’t seen it ever work in their lifetime. They don’t remember Tip On’Neil and Reagan cutting deals after hours over drinks. They don’t remember a Senate that actually did something. All they have seen is preposterous legalized graft and a President they voted for who hasn’t been able to actually preside over much of anything..and the GOP likes broken government just fine.

65 Resident of The United States of Jesus  Nov 5, 2014 9:49:16am

re: #57 psddluva4evah

Wow, is it afternoon on the mainland already? It’s only 730am here in Honolulu.

Good morning from not so sunny Hawaii! It’s a bit rainy and overcast but hopefully it’s just scattered showers that end by the time the sun is high in the sky, but this rainbow makes up for the rain. Today is my 38th Birthday! I’m going out to have some fun…rain or no rain!

[Embedded content]

Happy Birthday!

66 calochortus  Nov 5, 2014 9:49:37am

re: #57 psddluva4evah

Happy Birthday!

67 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse  Nov 5, 2014 9:49:38am

re:
#64

I doubt many of them even know who Greewald even is.

Do you know who I AM???????

68 Aunty Entity Dragon  Nov 5, 2014 9:50:46am

re: #62 Franklin

I think it steered votes away from Atty Gen. Martha Coakley for MA Gov.

Coakley has never been a good candidate(remember the senate race 4 years ago?)…and she has her own baggage from her prosecuter days that would have made it impossible for me to pull a lever for her.

69 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse  Nov 5, 2014 9:51:34am

re:
#59

Well, since Cruz has already determined that “abuse” and “lawlessness” abounds in the administration, then no hearings or investigations are needed.

//

70 HappyWarrior  Nov 5, 2014 9:51:55am

re: #64 Aunty Entity Dragon

I doubt many of them even know who Greewald even is. The under 35 crowd is apathetic about the process becasue they haven’t seen it ever work in their lifetime. They don’t remember Tip On’Neil and Reagan cutting deals after hours over drinks. They don’t remember a Senate that actually did something. All they have seen is preposterous legalized graft and a President they voted for who hasn’t been able to actually preside over much of anything..and the GOP likes broken government just fine.

There’s that too but I really do feel too much faith was had in President Obama and it’s really not his fault since he repeatedly said I can’t do it alone.

71 Feline Fearless Leader  Nov 5, 2014 9:52:21am

re: #57 psddluva4evah

Wow, is it afternoon on the mainland already? It’s only 730am here in Honolulu.

Good morning from not so sunny Hawaii! It’s a bit rainy and overcast but hopefully it’s just scattered showers that end by the time the sun is high in the sky, but this rainbow makes up for the rain. Today is my 38th Birthday! I’m going out to have some fun…rain or no rain!

[Embedded content]

UFG* in that first photo?

* - Unidentified Flying Grouper

72 Shiplord Kirel  Nov 5, 2014 9:52:35am

First time you hear some liberal bitching about the depredations of the GOP Congress and, worse, the new state administrations, your first question should be “Did you vote in 2014?”
If their answer is “no,” ask them if they know the meaning of the term “cause and effect.”
I know a life-long civil rights activist, now 70 years old, in Lubbock. He is absolutely disconsolate over the poor turnout. “Don’t they realize that people risked their LIVES to get that right?”

73 Franklin  Nov 5, 2014 9:53:04am

re: #68 Aunty Entity Dragon

Coakley has never been a good candidate(remember the senate race 4 years ago?)…and she has her own baggage from her prosecuter days that would have made it impossible for me to pull a lever for her.

I agree completely.

74 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse  Nov 5, 2014 9:53:04am

re:
#70

There’s that too but I really do feel too much faith was had in President Obama and it’s really not his fault since he repeatedly said I can’t do it alone.

Although I’m not sure what people want or expect Obama to have accomplished that he hasn’t already.

75 Aunty Entity Dragon  Nov 5, 2014 9:53:59am

re: #70 HappyWarrior

There’s that too but I really do feel too much faith was had in President Obama and it’s really not his fault since he repeatedly said I can’t do it alone.

True. The expectation around him was humanly impossible to actually match…and nobody (except the Clintons perhaps) expected the sheer malevolence and vitriol that would emanate from the GOP after January 2008.

76 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse  Nov 5, 2014 9:54:10am

re:
#73

Well, Martha Coakley hasn’t run for president yet. Perhaps she can run for that, and fail as well.

/

Sorry not sorry to be mean.

77 Timothy Watson  Nov 5, 2014 9:54:14am

re: #56 nearly-headless smith25

re: Coach K’s criticism of President Obama’s ISIS strategy:

[Embedded content]

As if I needed more reason to dislike Coach K and Duke.

78 Mike Lamb  Nov 5, 2014 9:54:30am

re: #57 psddluva4evah

Wow, is it afternoon on the mainland already? It’s only 730am here in Honolulu.

Good morning from not so sunny Hawaii! It’s a bit rainy and overcast but hopefully it’s just scattered showers that end by the time the sun is high in the sky, but this rainbow makes up for the rain. Today is my 38th Birthday! I’m going out to have some fun…rain or no rain!

[Embedded content]

Why is there a fish swimming by that rainbow?

79 withak  Nov 5, 2014 9:54:36am

re: #53 Charles Johnson

I wonder how much of the apathy of young voters is due to Glenn Greenwald and Edward Snowden’s message of nihilistic paranoia.

My age group doesn’t qualify as “young” anymore, but most of the apathy I saw was based on “voting doesn’t matter,” “voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil,” “both parties serve the same masters” kinds of excuses, rather than any angst about any particular issue. Most people just aren’t informed enough.

80 Feline Fearless Leader  Nov 5, 2014 9:54:44am

re: #74 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse

re:
#70

Although I’m not sure what people want or expect Obama to have accomplished that he hasn’t already.

Flying cars, closed Gitmo, and a sparkly unicorn in every living room. Of course.
//

81 Internet Tough Guy  Nov 5, 2014 9:55:39am

re: #43 lostlakehiker

I predict no impeachment. More than that, no impeachment resolution brought to the floor of the House for an up or down vote.

I’m sorry, but I predict impeachment and/or default by the end of 2015. With Ted Cruz having both Mitch and Boener by the balls, I see no other outcome.

82 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse  Nov 5, 2014 9:55:39am

re:
#56

re: Coach K’s criticism of President Obama’s ISIS strategy:

I actually don’t disagree with Coach K’s criticism, if you’re going to do war than probably should have all options on table.

But Coach K can still STFU.

83 Feline Fearless Leader  Nov 5, 2014 9:56:32am

re: #82 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse

re:
#56

I actually don’t disagree with Coach K’s criticism, if you’re going to do war than probably should have all options on table.

But Coach K can still STFU.

I don’t think I want to know what the nuclear option is for an ACC basketball game.
/

84 HappyWarrior  Nov 5, 2014 9:57:33am

We wanted Obama to give the sky and then got disappointed that he only got a few stars.

85 Aunty Entity Dragon  Nov 5, 2014 10:01:35am

re: #79 withak

My age group doesn’t qualify as “young” anymore, but most of the apathy I saw was based on “voting doesn’t matter,” “voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil,” “both parties serve the same masters” kinds of excuses, rather than any angst about any particular issue. Most people just aren’t informed enough.

To some extent there is actual truth in some of the accusations. Money and influence has so thorughly corrupted the process that even when American support something like additional background checks for certain firearms at north of 75%…you can’t get it. Our vote mean very little once the person gets into office because money talks…and 95 % of American don’t have enough money to actually get an average congress critters ear.

That being said…even if your congress critter is not doing what you like, control of the house or senate sets important constraints as to what the POTUS can do and who gets onto court benches. This is a lesson they have yet to learn.

86 Aunty Entity Dragon  Nov 5, 2014 10:04:26am

re: #80 Feline Fearless Leader

Flying cars, closed Gitmo, and a sparkly unicorn in every living room. Of course.
//

I though flying cars came with the Blade Runner dystopia where we have non stop acid rain, murderous replicant slave revolts and burning trash in the streets coupled with soul crushing, invasive technology.

hey…we might just get the flying cars!

87 Vicious Piebola  Nov 5, 2014 10:06:01am

re: #86 Aunty Entity Dragon

I though flying cars came with the Blade Runner dystopia where we have non stop acid rain, murderous replicant slave revolts and burning trash in the streets coupled with soul crushing, invasive technology.

hey…we might just get the flying cars!

Where are the hoverboards? We were supposed to have hoverboards!

88 De Kolta Chair  Nov 5, 2014 10:06:11am

Has the GOP claimed they have a Senate supermajority yet?

89 Indy GOP Refugee  Nov 5, 2014 10:07:12am

What happens when an unwise application of old technology renders gun control pretty much moot? What about when there is no gun but still a bullet that can kill? This damn thing is like a pipe bomb.

90 dog philosopher  Nov 5, 2014 10:07:20am

re: #86 Aunty Entity Dragon

I though flying cars came with the Blade Runner dystopia where we have non stop acid rain, murderous replicant slave revolts and burning trash in the streets coupled with soul crushing, invasive technology.

hey…we might just get the flying cars!

dystopian futures tend to change every ten or twenty years

91 teleskiguy  Nov 5, 2014 10:07:38am

The hits keep on coming.

92 withak  Nov 5, 2014 10:07:58am

re: #85 Aunty Entity Dragon

To some extent there is actual truth in some of the accusations. Money and influence has so thorughly corrupted the process that even when American support something like additional background checks for certain firearms at north of 75%…you can’t get it. Our vote mean very little once the person gets into office because money talks…and 95 % of American don’t have enough money to actually get an average congress critters ear.

That being said…even if your congress critter is not doing what you like, control of the house or senate sets important constraints as to what the POTUS can do and who gets onto court benches. This is a lesson they have yet to learn.

Agreed 100%. The point I like to make when confronted with this argument is, even if you believe that both parties are in cahoots with monied interests (and whether or not those interests are the same or different for both parties is immaterial), the two parties are so far apart on social issues that it does make a big difference.

93 HappyWarrior  Nov 5, 2014 10:08:11am

re: #91 teleskiguy

The hits keep on coming.

[Embedded content]

Party of Lincoln huh.

94 dog philosopher  Nov 5, 2014 10:08:30am

re: #88 De Kolta Chair

Has the GOP claimed they have a Senate supermajority yet?

hmmm, filibusters

it seems they work both ways

95 Vicious Piebola  Nov 5, 2014 10:09:15am

re: #91 teleskiguy

The hits keep on coming.

[Embedded content]

HURR HURR THAT CANTS BE TEH GOP IS TEH PARTY OF ABE LINCOLN!!!!! & TEH CONFEDERATES WAS TEH DEMOCRATS!!!!!1!!!@

96 Ian G.  Nov 5, 2014 10:09:28am

I hope for impeachment right off the bat. Does anyone remember the last (and one of the extremely few) times the President’s party picked up seats in Congress in year 6 of the presidency? It was 1998, when Clinton impeachment was in full swing.

Go for it, Ted. Get the House to impeach. And then buy stock in RJ Reynolds for all the cancer sticks Boehner is going to be puffing on as you lead the party off a cliff again.

97 Charles Johnson  Nov 5, 2014 10:09:35am

Impeachment talk is at a fever pitch. I think the GOP is going to have to start the proceedings in the House at the very least or their base will rise up against them. You’ve got the top Republican Senators and Representatives now openly threatening it.

For what “crimes?” Who cares? They’ll find something and make it fit even if it’s a laughably obvious sham.

I’ll be surprised if the House doesn’t impeach President Obama.

98 teleskiguy  Nov 5, 2014 10:10:20am

re: #93 HappyWarrior

Party of Lincoln huh.

Michael Peroutka is the scariest elected official that I know of. Worse than Gorden Klingenschmitt in my home state.

99 dog philosopher  Nov 5, 2014 10:11:30am

i suppose both sides in the senate are gonna be quoting each other’s sulfurous rhetoric regarding the evil/sacred nature of filibusters

100 klystron  Nov 5, 2014 10:11:32am

re: #96 Ian G.

I hope for impeachment right off the bat. Does anyone remember the last (and one of the extremely few) times the President’s party picked up seats in Congress in year 6 of the presidency? It was 1998, when Clinton impeachment was in full swing.

Go for it, Ted. Get the House to impeach. And then buy stock in RJ Reynolds for all the cancer sticks Boehner is going to be puffing on as you lead the party off a cliff again.

Clearly not, no, given all the sky is falling flailing.

101 Ian G.  Nov 5, 2014 10:11:36am

re: #95 Vicious Piebola

HURR HURR THAT CANTS BE TEH GOP IS TEH PARTY OF ABE LINCOLN!!!!! & TEH CONFEDERATES WAS TEH DEMOCRATS!!!!!1!!!@

You know, the GOP couldn’t even win New Hampshire in a wave election last night. The GOP is officially extinct in New England.

I only mention this because the GOP was born in New England among progressives and abolitionists opposed to Dixie. Somewhere, Charles Sumner is shaking his head, as what was his party now belongs to Preston Brooks.

102 withak  Nov 5, 2014 10:11:42am

re: #98 teleskiguy

Michael Peroutka is the scariest elected official that I know of. Worse than Gorden Klingenschmitt in my home state.

That’s a significant feat. Klingenschmitt is certifiable.

103 Kragar  Nov 5, 2014 10:12:40am

re: #97 Charles Johnson

Impeachment talk is at a fever pitch. I think the GOP is going to have to start the proceedings in the House at the very least or their base will rise up against them. You’ve got the top Republican Senators and Representatives now openly threatening it.

For what “crimes?” Who cares? They’ll find something and make it fit even if it’s a laughably obvious sham.

I’ll be surprised if the House doesn’t impeach President Obama.

The fun part will be watching all these “smaller government/ State Rights” jackasses pushing their bullshit social agenda at the Federal level.

104 Higgs Boson's Mate  Nov 5, 2014 10:15:11am

re: #76 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse

re:
#73

Well, Martha Coakley hasn’t run for president yet. Perhaps she can run for that, and fail as well.

/

Sorry not sorry to be mean.

Clinton/Coakley 2016: Because Success is Not an Option

105 Feline Fearless Leader  Nov 5, 2014 10:16:21am

re: #93 HappyWarrior

Party of Lincoln huh.

Well Lincoln did claim that ‘Dixie’ had been fairly won by the United States.

106 BigPapa  Nov 5, 2014 10:17:23am

Young people don’t vote in mids, and the 6 Year Itch.

Looking forward to the 2 year clown show and their undoing in the next election.

I will also be surprised if their isn’t an impeachment proceeding, also Benghazi, and I hope… birth certificate madness. There it is, let the hate flow.

107 klystron  Nov 5, 2014 10:17:42am

I laugh at the delusions of some that the Republicans are interested in good governance at all, despite all the evidence we’ve had over the past 6 years.

108 teleskiguy  Nov 5, 2014 10:18:03am

re: #102 withak

That’s a significant feat. Klingenschmitt is certifiable.

Klingenschmitt is certifiable, yes. Virulently anti-gay religious wacko.

Peroutka takes it to the next level with his talk of Southern Secession, Dominionism, and his close association to the virulently racist League of The South.

109 Blind Frog Belly White  Nov 5, 2014 10:18:09am

A lot of blame goes to Democrats, who excell at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, who lack the courage of our convictions. What did running away from the President do for those candidates in the Red States? Nothing.

Mind you, I think the biggest problem is the total misapprehension of reality so many people have, alluded to above - a strong majority of people love every policy that makes up Obamacare, with the exception of the mandate, but they don’t like Obamacare. Republicans refuse to compromise AT ALL, with Obama giving up most of his position to reach a deal while the GOP STEPS AWAY, and most folks seem to think it’s Obama refusing to compromise, or AT BEST ‘both sides do it’.

The thing is, the GOP knows how to capitalize on ignorance. They cultivate ignorance and apathy, and they have the assistance of newsmedia frightened into ‘balance’ for fear of being accused of the dreaded Liberal Bias.

But just like the Dem candidates in the Red States, nothing that they do to appease the Right is enough. If Chuck Todd goes on NBC and says, “Obama and House Republicans failed to reach a deal. Obama needs to compromise more!”, the Right will say, “Even the Liberal Chuck Todd says Obama needs to compromise!”

I guess for me it all boils down to an ignorant apathetic electorate, and a party who are happy to foster and benefit from that ignorance and apathy. It’s depressing.

110 Aunty Entity Dragon  Nov 5, 2014 10:18:53am

re: #103 Kragar

The fun part will be watching all these “smaller government/ State Rights” jackasses pushing their bullshit social agenda at the Federal level.

Social conservatives like Rod Dreher (who is saying some truly vile things about Lena Dunham now) have zero problem legislating their religious bias into law while claiming the who time that they are the victims protecting themsleves from the ghey lavender mafia and the anti religious cretins and bigots are coming to throw us into jail.

No. Fucking. Joke.

Dreher is especially bad about this at American Conservative. Two days ago he was schilliing the line that the next top American Catholic cardial will be jailed and the one after that will be executed.

Because democrats are Nero fetishists or something. Damned if I can figure it out. He needs a shrink. Really, really bad.

111 Randall Gross  Nov 5, 2014 10:21:38am

It’s a voluntary dive into the pit of existential despair day at my house - when you see a vote like this you have to step back and examine your stances, aesthetics, life choices, biases, political philosophies, and assumptions in depth. You do it because if you don’t then people have a right to use that “sheeple” word with intent at you. You do it so you aren’t a kneejerk ripple of someone else’s thoughts, you do it to reaffirm that person who you really are.

So far I find myself flying frequently out of that pit at faster than light speed with great ease and a smile, so I’m looping Pink Floyd and Morrisey wall to wall to keep me headed back in just to do a thorough job of it.

112 Mike Lamb  Nov 5, 2014 10:22:08am

re: #103 Kragar

That’s different…

113 Mike Lamb  Nov 5, 2014 10:24:39am

re: #106 BigPapa

Young people don’t vote in mids, and the 6 Year Itch.

Looking forward to the 2 year clown show and their undoing in the next election.

I will also be surprised if their isn’t an impeachment proceeding, also Benghazi, and I hope… birth certificate madness. There it is, let the hate flow.

114 Aunty Entity Dragon  Nov 5, 2014 10:24:56am

re: #111 Randall Gross

And I can feel one of my turns coming on. I feel cold as a razor blade, Tight as a tourniquet, Dry as a funeral drum.

Or:

It was just before dawn
One miserable morning in black ‘forty four.
When the forward commander
Was told to sit tight
When he asked that his men be withdrawn.
And the Generals gave thanks
As the other ranks held back
The enemy tanks for a while.
And the Anzio bridgehead
Was held for the price
Of a few hundred ordinary lives.

When the Tigers Broke Free still makes me break down and cry.

115 EmmaAnne  Nov 5, 2014 10:25:26am

I totally get the desire to dissolve the electorate and form a new one, but it can’t be done. :-( We have to meet them where they are. My young voter daughters knew what the issues were in our state, because I told them. They knew about amendment 67 (personhood amendment) because it came up in the communities where they hang out (Tumblr? Imgur? Hell if I can remember). Nothing else made much of an impression.

They don’t watch TV. They don’t listen to the radio. They don’t have landlines. They certainly don’t read political mail. They don’t even do much email or Facebook anymore - mostly just to placate their older relatives.

And leaving aside the young voters - we are falling down on the job with low information voters as well. Yeah, yeah, they should educate themselves and know the issues and vote for candidate that agree with their views. But they don’t. We need to figure out a way to get our preferred narrative in front of them. The classic example is the voters who like Kynect and hate Obamacare, but it is everywhere.

116 Charles Johnson  Nov 5, 2014 10:25:33am

Republicans will try to use the threat of impeachment to stop Obama from issuing executive orders, or failing that, they’ll try to use the executive orders as cause for impeachment by saying they’re unconstitutional.

117 Randall Gross  Nov 5, 2014 10:26:28am

re: #116 Charles Johnson

Republicans will try to use the threat of impeachment to stop Obama from issuing executive orders, or failing that, they’ll try to use the executive orders as cause for impeachment by saying they’re unconstitutional.

They will do both, crazy pranksters that they are.

118 EmmaAnne  Nov 5, 2014 10:27:37am

re: #50 Mike Lamb

Which is why the whole “I’m not a Republican, I’m a conservative” is such transparent bullshit. And to be fair, I’d vote for a Democratic candidate in the general that had “warts” over a Republican. I just think it would be highly unlikely that someone that killed animals or was facing 20 counts of criminal wrongdoing would make it out of the primaries.

I don’t think I could vote for a candidate who killed a dog no matter who was running against him. That isn’t warts, that’s horrifying.

119 Shiplord Kirel  Nov 5, 2014 10:27:58am

We need a series of PSAs that directly confront the crucial misconceptions that are so much a part of the Republican base’s worldview.
We can start with one explaining that Bibles have not in fact been banned from schools. If we want to be a little bolder we could mock the absurd notion that God has been expelled from the classroom.
We can move on to a simple, easy to grasp explanation of the crime rate and how it has been declining for many years.

120 Blind Frog Belly White  Nov 5, 2014 10:29:01am
What? Over? Did you say “over”? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

Germans?

121 Indy GOP Refugee  Nov 5, 2014 10:29:08am

re: #57 psddluva4evah

Wow, is it afternoon on the mainland already? It’s only 730am here in Honolulu.

Good morning from not so sunny Hawaii! It’s a bit rainy and overcast but hopefully it’s just scattered showers that end by the time the sun is high in the sky, but this rainbow makes up for the rain. Today is my 38th Birthday! I’m going out to have some fun…rain or no rain!

[Embedded content]

Happy birthday. Say hi to the aliens in that UFO.
//

122 jamesfirecat  Nov 5, 2014 10:29:35am

re: #120 Blind Frog Ebola White

Germans?

Forget it he’s rolling.

123 Charles Johnson  Nov 5, 2014 10:30:34am

Obama has actually issued very few executive orders, of course. I wonder if he was deliberately holding back because he suspected he’d need to start using them heavily after 2014?

124 Randall Gross  Nov 5, 2014 10:31:27am

re: #123 Charles Johnson

Obama has actually issued very few executive orders, of course. I wonder if he was deliberately holding back because he suspected he’d need to start using them heavily after 2014?

Few XO’s, few Vetos too.

125 dog philosopher  Nov 5, 2014 10:32:38am

bringing arguments and statistics to a shit-flinging contest

what’s a person to do?

126 Khal Wimpo  Nov 5, 2014 10:32:51am

re: #116 Charles Johnson

Republicans will try to use the threat of impeachment to stop Obama from issuing executive orders, or failing that, they’ll try to use the executive orders as cause for impeachment by saying they’re unconstitutional.

There’s some serious political calculation going on in the White House these days. Does Obama issue the executive order on immigration? It would surely trigger impeachment proceedings in the House. Fox would be screaming night and day, and Limbaugh would chortle with glee as his ratings went through the roof. The GOP would publicly crucify Obama for daring to treat Latinos as though they were human beings.

And then in 2016, the results of this would sweep the GOP out of every statewide office in Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Louisiana, North Carolina, Arizona, Colorado, etc. etc. It would lock in a Democratic advantage at the polls that would be like the one that has reigned in California since 1994 and Pete Wilson’s ugly, racist Prop 187 proved that the GOP was the party of old white men with nothing but hatred in their shriveled hearts.

Would it be worth it? Can the U.S. survive the next two years of dysfunction, with Joe Biden at the helm after Obama is convicted in the Senate and sent to prison? The riots here in L.A. after that conviction would make 1992 look like pattycake.

127 Vicious Piebola  Nov 5, 2014 10:33:02am
128 The War TARDIS  Nov 5, 2014 10:33:03am

re: #109 Blind Frog Ebola White

I honestly don’t think things will get better. The Republicans have a hold on media, thus Democrats don’t have a way to get our message out.

This is why I despair.

129 Shiplord Kirel  Nov 5, 2014 10:33:04am

re: #123 Charles Johnson

Obama has actually issued very few executive orders, of course. I wonder if he was deliberately holding back because he suspected he’d need to start using them heavily after 2014?

The actual number of Obama’s executive orders compared to that of past presidents is something else the Democrats need to present to the public in concise form.

130 Bubblehead II  Nov 5, 2014 10:33:27am
131 EmmaAnne  Nov 5, 2014 10:33:34am

re: #97 Charles Johnson

Impeachment talk is at a fever pitch. I think the GOP is going to have to start the proceedings in the House at the very least or their base will rise up against them. You’ve got the top Republican Senators and Representatives now openly threatening it.

For what “crimes?” Who cares? They’ll find something and make it fit even if it’s a laughably obvious sham.

I’ll be surprised if the House doesn’t impeach President Obama.

I predict that there won’t be an actual impeachment vote, but there will be high-profile hearings to explore what Obama ought to be impeached for. That makes their base relatively happy without raising the profile enough to annoy the rest of the voters.

132 Aunty Entity Dragon  Nov 5, 2014 10:34:04am

re: #126 Khal Wimpo

Conviction in the Senate means removal from office. It is not a criminal trial in any sense.

133 Islamo-Masonic Vourdalak  Nov 5, 2014 10:34:24am

Proposed election reform:
1. Voting is mandatory. Fine for non-voters.
2. Introduction of the “none of the above” choice.

half-/

134 Vicious Piebola  Nov 5, 2014 10:35:36am

re: #129 Shiplord Kirel

The actual number of Obama’s executive orders compared to that of past presidents is something else the Democrats need to present to the public in concise form.

135 DodgerFan1988  Nov 5, 2014 10:36:26am

Get ready for the new Right Wing Congress to pass new federal laws banning birthright citizenship for hispanics, abortion even in cases of rape and incest, gay marriages, and medical marijuana.

136 GlutenFreeJesus  Nov 5, 2014 10:36:49am

re: #13 dr. luba

Thanks to all those concerned young Americans who couldn’t be bothered to vote. Sorry for fucking up your country and the world, but we’ll be dead when the shit really hits the fan. When the Eastern seaboard is under water, and half the country is uninhabitable due to drought, Social Security and health care are something you heard about once from your grandparents, maybe then you’ll get off your asses and vote.

Maybe.

Don’t bother them. The new Call of Duty just came out.

137 Khal Wimpo  Nov 5, 2014 10:36:49am

re: #132 Aunty Entity Dragon

Hm. I thought that the trial for “crimes in office” carried with it the penalty of jail time for conviction of crimes? To hear the RWNJs screech, after impeachment, Obama gets carted off the senate floor, and out to the nearest tree where the noose dangles.

They will be very disappointed if they don’t get their lynching.

138 Vicious Piebola  Nov 5, 2014 10:37:13am
139 andres  Nov 5, 2014 10:37:17am

re: #133 Islamo-Masonic Vourdalak

Proposed election reform:
1. Voting is mandatory. Fine for non-voters.
2. Introduction of the “none of the above” choice.

half-/

3. Election day is a Federal Holiday.

140 Skip Intro  Nov 5, 2014 10:37:49am

re: #81 Internet Tough Guy

I’m sorry, but I predict impeachment and/or default by the end of 2015. With Ted Cruz having both Mitch and Boener by the balls, I see no other outcome.

And Screechy Sarah will be squawking about it every week on Fox. By the time she and Fox are done Obama will be lucky to not be facing the death penalty for presidenting while black.

141 Islamo-Masonic Vourdalak  Nov 5, 2014 10:38:04am

re: #139 andres

3. Election day is a Federal Holiday.

Yes.

142 Vicious Piebola  Nov 5, 2014 10:38:36am

UCCCCH THIS STUPID SHIT

143 Aunty Entity Dragon  Nov 5, 2014 10:38:43am

re: #126 Khal Wimpo

The riots here in L.A. after that conviction would make 1992 look like pattycake.

That, however…would be very likely.

There wouldn’t be just riots. This would be a multi state nightmare. Furguson but more tanks, more machine guns and a lot more dead in the street. Also…it utterly destroys the Constitutional process of government since two impeachments in a row for sitting democrats would necessitate retaliation the next time dems held the house in a GOP administration.

The country would unravel. Seriously, I don’t think the Republic can survive that kind of trauma. It would end the United States as we know it.

144 jamesfirecat  Nov 5, 2014 10:39:26am

re: #126 Khal Wimpo

There’s some serious political calculation going on in the White House these days. Does Obama issue the executive order on immigration? It would surely trigger impeachment proceedings in the House. Fox would be screaming night and day, and Limbaugh would chortle with glee as his ratings went through the roof. The GOP would publicly crucify Obama for daring to treat Latinos as though they were human beings.

And then in 2016, the results of this would sweep the GOP out of every statewide office in Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Louisiana, North Carolina, Arizona, Colorado, etc. etc. It would lock in a Democratic advantage at the polls that would be like the one that has reigned in California since 1994 and Pete Wilson’s ugly, racist Prop 187 proved that the GOP was the party of old white men with nothing but hatred in their shriveled hearts.

Would it be worth it? Can the U.S. survive the next two years of dysfunction, with Joe Biden at the helm after Obama is convicted in the Senate and sent to prison? The riots here in L.A. after that conviction would make 1992 look like pattycake.

What makes you think Obama would be convicted by the Senate? They would need a 2/3rds majority or 67 votes to convict, at most there are only going to be 55. Do you really expect them to get TWELVE defectors to vote to impeach the Obama?

145 klystron  Nov 5, 2014 10:39:32am

re: #128 The War TARDIS

I honestly don’t think things will get better. The Republicans have a hold on media, thus Democrats don’t have a way to get our message out.

This is why I despair.

Well, guess you won’t be voting in 2016, since there’s no point.

////

146 Eventual Carrion  Nov 5, 2014 10:39:49am

re: #116 Charles Johnson

Republicans will try to use the threat of impeachment to stop Obama from issuing executive orders, or failing that, they’ll try to use the executive orders as cause for impeachment by saying they’re unconstitutional.

All they will have to do is prove that every US president (except William Henry Harrison) was guilty of this treason.

147 GlutenFreeJesus  Nov 5, 2014 10:40:00am

re: #17 Mike Lamb

They will turn the Senate into a version of the House with investigation after investigation. They’ll waste millions. They’ll then kvetch about gov’t waste. And people will buy it.

The thing is. Those that voted them in don’t see that as waste, but as money well spent.

148 Vicious Piebola  Nov 5, 2014 10:40:03am

Janie gets pwn3d but she don’t give a shit

149 jamesfirecat  Nov 5, 2014 10:40:48am

re: #128 The War TARDIS

I honestly don’t think things will get better. The Republicans have a hold on media, thus Democrats don’t have a way to get our message out.

This is why I despair.

Traditional Media is dieing a slow death as more and more information goes online.

Like I said take a chill pill and don’t worry about moving out till after the Republicans take the White House, if they can do that, then you will have my permission to cry.

150 Islamo-Masonic Vourdalak  Nov 5, 2014 10:40:49am

Time is on the good guys’ side. But meanwhile the Rethugs have enough time to wreak havoc.

151 Islamo-Masonic Vourdalak  Nov 5, 2014 10:41:36am

152 Vicious Piebola  Nov 5, 2014 10:42:05am

My surprise, let me show you it.

153 Feline Fearless Leader  Nov 5, 2014 10:42:39am

re: #152 Vicious Piebola

My surprise, let me show you it.

[Embedded content]

Lone wolf. Of course.
//

154 De Kolta Chair  Nov 5, 2014 10:42:46am

155 Khal Wimpo  Nov 5, 2014 10:43:01am

re: #144 jamesfirecat

What makes you think Obama would be convicted by the Senate? They would need a 2/3rds majority or 67 votes to convict, at most there are only going to be 55. Do you really expect them to get TWELVE defectors to vote to impeach the Obama?

Look at the number of Democrats who ran away from Obama this election year. Look at what Grimes did in Kentucky. The utter lack of spine on the (D) side of the aisle should, by now, be known to all.

So hell yes, we’d see at least 12 defectors. Probably more. They’d throw Obama to the wolves to save their own miserable hides for another election cycle. They’ve already proven they will do so.

156 Shiplord Kirel  Nov 5, 2014 10:43:16am

re: #131 EmmaAnne

I predict that there won’t be an actual impeachment vote, but there will be high-profile hearings to explore what Obama ought to be impeached for. That makes their base relatively happy without raising the profile enough to annoy the rest of the voters.

Agreed. I think they will make a lot of deceptive noise about impeachment but will not risk putting it to a vote in the House.
They would need 218 of the 246 Republican votes in the new House to pass articles of impeachment. I don’t think they quite have it. I

This is especially so when there is no chance at all of a conviction in the Senate. Given the likely nature of the charges, ie obvious horse shit, they would be subjecting themselves to worldwide mockery and condemnation just to score some points with a base that is already fanatically devoted to them.

157 jamesfirecat  Nov 5, 2014 10:44:17am

re: #154 De Kolta Chair

[Embedded image]

There’s a lot of flag burners
Who have got too much freedom,
I wanna make it legal
For policemen to beat ‘em.

‘Cos there’s limits to our liberties,
Least I hope and pray that there are,
‘Cos those liberal freaks go too far.

158 danarchy  Nov 5, 2014 10:45:01am

re: #129 Shiplord Kirel

The actual number of Obama’s executive orders compared to that of past presidents is something else the Democrats need to present to the public in concise form.

The only problem with that is the number of executive orders is irrelevant, If one president had 1000 executive orders all about what food will be served in the white house cafeteria vs another president with a single executive order naming himself dictator for life, the 1 would clearly outweigh the 1000.

Don’t take this to mean I think the president has done anything wrong with his executive orders, I don’t, I just think it is kind of a silly argument to compare the numbers.

159 Indy GOP Refugee  Nov 5, 2014 10:45:05am

re: #144 jamesfirecat

Which is why I pretty much dismiss any and all worries about actual impeachment to be unnecessary. Sure noise and fury will happen. Anything real? Nope. I suspect it would not even pass the lower house.

A better focus would be hold feet to the fire for much needed long delayed legislation. Enough posturing and maneuvering. Write it, pass it, own it, see about getting a signature.

160 Vicious Piebola  Nov 5, 2014 10:45:43am

re: #156 Shiplord Kirel

Agreed. I think they will make a lot of deceptive noise about impeachment but will not risk putting it to a vote in the House.
They would need 218 of the 246 Republican votes in the new House to pass articles of impeachment. I don’t think they quite have it. I

This is especially so when there is no chance at all of a conviction in the Senate. Given the likely nature of the charges, ie obvious horse shit, they would be subjecting themselves to worldwide mockery and condemnation just to score some points with a base that is already fanatically devoted to them.

They will do it anyway just to pander to their devoted fan base, in order to avoid “recall” movements

161 teleskiguy  Nov 5, 2014 10:45:55am

re: #151 Islamo-Masonic Vourdalak

It’s like Russia’s whole economy is dependent on the price of crude oil.

THANK YOU CAPTAIN HINDSIGHT!!!

162 Islamo-Masonic Vourdalak  Nov 5, 2014 10:46:50am

Sergey Ivanov’s son has drowned in UAE. In 2005 a 68 y.o. woman died after he had hit her with his car. He was, of course, never indicted. I won’t write here what I think of this.

163 jamesfirecat  Nov 5, 2014 10:47:38am

re: #155 Khal Wimpo

Look at the number of Democrats who ran away from Obama this election year. Look at what Grimes did in Kentucky. The utter lack of spine on the (D) side of the aisle should, by now, be known to all.

So hell yes, we’d see at least 12 defectors. Probably more. They’d throw Obama to the wolves to save their own miserable hides for another election cycle. They’ve already proven they will do so.

You’re worrying over nothing in my opinion.

I’m sorry, but remember if this election did one thing, it thinned out a great many of the Democrats from the Senate who were in the most precarious positions, the ones who had to worry the most about running away from Obama.

If the Democrats vote to convict Obama on a crime of Presidenting while Democrat, then they know NONE of them will ever hold the white house again.

In your particular line of thought, why would the Republicans not next Impeach Joe Biden so that they can get a Republican in the white house without needing to bother with the whole electoral college issue?

Name the 12 Democrats you think are going to vote to impeach Obama.

164 EmmaAnne  Nov 5, 2014 10:47:42am

re: #128 The War TARDIS

I honestly don’t think things will get better. The Republicans have a hold on media, thus Democrats don’t have a way to get our message out.

This is why I despair.

Action is the antidote to despair.

- Joan Baez

165 Randall Gross  Nov 5, 2014 10:47:52am

re: #126 Khal Wimpo

The assumption that Hispanics are automagically democrat is erroneous. Some in the anti-immigrant movement are US born hispanics, and look at folks like George Zimmerman. Some are very conservative. I dislike the democrats assuming that demographics will save them whether it’s age or ethnicity - neither works when your opponents are slimey snakes willing to pit people against each other with populist demagoguery, fear, lies, and tons of money.
The Democrats have to come up with things, people, and stuff that people really want to vote for.

166 klystron  Nov 5, 2014 10:48:27am

Just for shits and giggles, here’s info about Oman.

Freedom House declared in 2005 that “Oman is, overall, a religiously tolerant society,” noting that while non-Muslims “are able to practice their religious rites freely, they are required to register with the government and may not proselytize or publish religious materials.” The U.S. State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report for 2011 notes that non-Muslim communities in Oman “are allowed to practice their beliefs without interference only on land specifically donated by the sultan for the purpose of collective worship.”

Citizens require government permission to marry foreigners unless the latter are citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Permission is not always granted. If a citizen marries a foreigner abroad without approval, the foreign spouse may be denied entry into Oman and any children of the marriage may be denied citizenship of Oman.

Oman’s government monitors cell-phone conversations, e-mail exchanges, and Internet chat rooms, and restricts free speech on the Internet, blocking access to many websites and posting notices on other sites warning against criticism of the sultan or other officials. In the same way, the government limits the freedom of academics to discuss or write about certain matters, with faculty members engaging in systematic self-censorship.

Oman engages in extensive filtering of pornographic Web sites, gay and lesbian content, content that is critical of Islam, content about illegal drugs, and anonymizer sites used to circumvent blocking. There is no evidence of technical filtering of political content, but laws and regulations restrict free expression online and encourage self-censorship.

Although discrimination against women is technically prohibited, with women officially enjoying equality in regard to such matters as employment rights, cultural traditions still reject equality of the sexes, and sharia law continues to enshrine discrimination in practice.

There is considerable discrimination against LGBT persons, and individuals engaging in homosexual conduct are subject to prosecution and can be imprisoned for up to three years. In 2009, nine persons were prosecuted for sodomy. Any discussion whatsoever of sexual orientation in Oman is taboo; LGBT content on the Internet is censored.

Republicans would probably love it, if it weren’t for the whole Muslim thing.

167 Lidane  Nov 5, 2014 10:48:53am

re: #128 The War TARDIS

It’s not that Democrats don’t have a way to get their message out. They do. They’re just goddamn cowards about it.

Red State Democrats spend every election running as Republican Lite. In some cases, they ARE Republican Lite because there’s a good chance they were an (R) that decided to run as a (D) because they could win or because there were already 148957109487514 other candidates trying to run in the GOP primary. Why would anyone in a red state vote for a Republican Lite candidate when they can vote for the real thing?

Also, Democrats rarely, if ever, make full defenses of their ideas and policies. The last one I remember who gave a full defense of Democratic ideas was Bill Clinton in his DNC speech in 2012. Most of the time liberals and Democrats play right into the GOP and RWNJ narrative and make excuses for why their ideas aren’t communism or whatever. Bullshit. Don’t play their game and they don’t get the advantage. Just articulate your ideas FFS.

168 withak  Nov 5, 2014 10:49:28am

re: #139 andres

3. Election day is a Federal Holiday.

4. Election Weekend is three federal holidays!

169 Khal Wimpo  Nov 5, 2014 10:50:18am

re: #160 Vicious Piebola

They will do it anyway just to pander to their devoted fan base, in order to avoid “recall” movements

Yep. You’ve just hit the nail on the head. Worrying about world opinion? Worrying about anything other than getting re-elected? Not gonna happen.

Any Republican who didn’t vote for impeachment would be primaried, or, as you say, recalled. Facing a further-right challenger in a primary is about the only thing that can cost a GOPer his/her seat.

It all depends on whether Roger Ailes sees the endgame of impeaching Obama. If he recognizes that doing so will destroy all chances of the GOP winning elections for the next 20-40 years, then nope, won’t happen. If, however, he’s still working through his stifled rage leftover from his formative years with Nixon, then he’ll want to vent that fury on Obama, and we’ll get impeachment.

Strange that the fate of the nation depends so much on the internal resentments of one childish, wounded man.

170 blueraven  Nov 5, 2014 10:50:39am

I want the Democrats to own up to this loss and quit blaming the Republicans, the electorate, the president …

They decided to each have their own “small” campaigns and not hang together, so as the saying goes, they hung separately.

Many of the campaigns were just plain out cowardly.
They did not present big ideas, big solutions. They didn’t even defend their own accomplishments. Hell, they ran away from them.

It was embarrassing to watch.

Hand it to the republicans, they got their people out in waves.

171 Eventual Carrion  Nov 5, 2014 10:51:03am

re: #152 Vicious Piebola

My surprise, let me show you it.

[Embedded content]

At least he didn’t behead someone.

//

172 Lidane  Nov 5, 2014 10:51:07am

re: #97 Charles Johnson

Impeachment talk is at a fever pitch. I think the GOP is going to have to start the proceedings in the House at the very least or their base will rise up against them. You’ve got the top Republican Senators and Representatives now openly threatening it.

For what “crimes?” Who cares? They’ll find something and make it fit even if it’s a laughably obvious sham.

I’ll be surprised if the House doesn’t impeach President Obama.

How quickly they forget. Bill Clinton’s impeachment made him MORE popular in the aftermath, not less.

And do they REALLY want to go on record impeaching the only two Democrats elected since Carter?

173 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Nov 5, 2014 10:53:02am

re: #129 Shiplord Kirel

The actual number of Obama’s executive orders compared to that of past presidents is something else the Democrats need to present to the public in concise form.

why? they are facts. and facts are useless against frothing ideologues

174 jamesfirecat  Nov 5, 2014 10:53:03am

re: #169 Khal Wimpo

Yep. You’ve just hit the nail on the head. Worrying about world opinion? Worrying about anything other than getting re-elected? Not gonna happen.

Any Republican who didn’t vote for impeachment would be primaried, or, as you say, recalled. Facing a further-right challenger in a primary is about the only thing that can cost a GOPer his/her seat.

It all depends on whether Roger Ailes sees the endgame of impeaching Obama. If he recognizes that doing so will destroy all chances of the GOP winning elections for the next 20-40 years, then nope, won’t happen. If, however, he’s still working through his stifled rage leftover from his formative years with Nixon, then he’ll want to vent that fury on Obama, and we’ll get impeachment.

Strange that the fate of the nation depends so much on the internal resentments of one childish, wounded man.

Roger Ailes looks out for whats good (makes money) for Roger Ailes not the GOP party.

Having the GOP dissolve into a mindless unelectable ball of rage that continually gets 40% of the vote nationally insures him lots of upset people to sell his hate to.

Fox does better when the GOP is out of power (it’s easier to rage against people who you can claim are doing a bad job for whatever reason you want then to explain why someone you’re supposed to support is doing a good job) that’s the ultimate irony of the parasitic relationship between Fox and the GOP.

175 EPR-radar  Nov 5, 2014 10:53:21am

re: #165 Randall Gross

The assumption that Hispanics are automagically democrat is erroneous. Some in the anti-immigrant movement are US born hispanics, and look at folks like George Zimmerman. Some are very conservative. I dislike the democrats assuming that demographics will save them whether it’s age or ethnicity - neither works when your opponents are slimey snakes willing to pit people against each other with populist demagoguery, fear, lies, and tons of money.
The Democrats have to come up with things, people, and stuff that people really want to vote for.

This is very true. In particular, the 2016 POTUS race is not automatically a (D) win just because of demographics. There are millions of swing voters out there that will be receptive to an (R) message of ‘it’s our turn’.

176 EmmaAnne  Nov 5, 2014 10:54:59am

re: #167 Lidane

It’s not that Democrats don’t have a way to get their message out. They do. They’re just goddamn cowards about it.

Red State Democrats spend every election running as Republican Lite. In some cases, they ARE Republican Lite because there’s a good chance they were an (R) that decided to run as a (D) because they could win or because there were already 148957109487514 other candidates trying to run in the GOP primary. Why would anyone in a red state vote for a Republican Lite candidate when they can vote for the real thing?

Also, Democrats rarely, if ever, make full defenses of their ideas and policies. The last one I remember who gave a full defense of Democratic ideas was Bill Clinton in his DNC speech in 2012. Most of the time liberals and Democrats play right into the GOP and RWNJ narrative and make excuses for why their ideas aren’t communism or whatever. Bullshit. Don’t play their game and they don’t get the advantage. Just articulate your ideas FFS.

I think this is very insightful. Think about Obamacare. If the Democrats all trumpeted the benefits and talked about what the voters would lose if it went away, at least people would understand that they can’t get rid of OCare and keep Kynect. Obviously that one keeps sticking in my craw. :-)

177 jaunte  Nov 5, 2014 10:57:35am

re: #176 EmmaAnne

they can’t get rid of OCare and keep Kynect

If I was Kentucky voter, I would be pretty annoyed with McConnell for his accurate bet that the voters there would be fooled by that false distinction.

178 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Nov 5, 2014 10:58:38am

re: #177 jaunte

If I was Kentucky voter, I would be pretty annoyed with McConnell for his accurate bet that the voters there would be fooled by that false distinction.

You have summed up their overall approach: the people’s ability to be deluded by false distinctions and even more spurious comparisons.

179 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi  Nov 5, 2014 10:59:03am

…

180 withak  Nov 5, 2014 10:59:15am

re: #177 jaunte

If I was Kentucky voter, I would be pretty annoyed with McConnell for his accurate bet that the voters there would be fooled by that false distinction.

I’m guessing the number of Kentucky voters who believed Kynect to be an Xbox peripheral was nontrivial.

181 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse  Nov 5, 2014 10:59:15am

re:
#152

In PA, “accused cop killer Eric Frein had…a book of the New Testament, a religious plaque…random prayers” stashed

Religious Leftist!!!1 Here is Facebook page with like for Occupy group!!!!1111

182 Aunty Entity Dragon  Nov 5, 2014 10:59:17am

re: #175 EPR-radar

This is very true. In particular, the 2016 POTUS race is not automatically a (D) win just because of demographics. There are millions of swing voters out there that will be receptive to an (R) message of ‘it’s our turn’.

As has been pointed out repeatedly, Hillary will also use the “It’s our turn” with respect to a woman in the White House (and it has traction) and she does quite well with older white southern voters.

Both my parents are GOP…but they like her and would vote for her.

183 jaunte  Nov 5, 2014 11:00:28am

re: #178 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

You have summed up their overall approach: the people’s ability to be deluded by false distinctions and even more spurious comparisons.

We’re all waiting now in Texas for Greg Abbott to seal the Mexico border, like he promised…
….
….
….

184 Chez Ko Pe  Nov 5, 2014 11:01:16am

Hello, pseudoprogressives who spent the last several months getting back into their “Dems and Repubs are the same, Obama betrayed me, gonna just stay home with my pure, clean conscience and jack off” groove: job well done!

Take the next year and a half off, enjoy the two-steps-back, and then you can start doing your part to make the whole country suffer for your petty self-indulgent emotional needs again.

“Nuh-uh! It’s the Democrats’ fault for not being convincing enough! Besides…Dems and Repubs are the same!!”

185 EmmaAnne  Nov 5, 2014 11:01:22am

re: #170 blueraven

I want the Democrats to own up to this loss and quit blaming the Republicans, the electorate, the president …

They decided to each have their own “small” campaigns and not hang together, so as the saying goes, they hung separately.

Many of the campaigns were just plain out cowardly.
They did not present big ideas, big solutions. They didn’t even defend their own accomplishments. Hell, they ran away from them.

It was embarrassing to watch.

Hand it to the republicans, they got their people out in waves.

Yeah, the Republicans were able to get their story; their theory of governing in front of their voters. It wasn’t a very coherent story and didn’t make sense, but it was very compelling. I think it goes something like this: ISIS and Ebola are terrifying threats!; Obama can’t protect you or get anything done; we will protect you and not let Obama take away your guns.

The Democrats story was what - actually, we are the ones who fund the CDC, which is best equipped to handle outbreaks like Ebola, and by the way the flu is much worse, and … (snore).

186 Indy GOP Refugee  Nov 5, 2014 11:02:39am

re: #161 teleskiguy

It’s like Russia’s whole economy is dependent on the price of crude oil.

THANK YOU CAPTAIN HINDSIGHT!!!

Captain Hindsight and Captain Obvious walk into a bar…

They hit their heads on it and Hindsight says to Obvious “you didn’t see that coming?!”

187 Khal Wimpo  Nov 5, 2014 11:07:56am

re: #163 jamesfirecat

Name the 12 Democrats you think are going to vote to impeach Obama.

I’ll give you 14.

Perhaps I am being a bit pessimistic, but if nothing else, this election demonstrates that Congress votes the way that the rich moneyed interests holding their leashes tell them to. To predict their behavior, you have to look past any thin veil of decency, or service to a higher cause, or anything other than doing whatever The Man Who Gives Them Their Checks tells them to do.

Thus, this list:

1. Mark Begich, (D-Big Oil) AKA “Vulnerable in Alaska”
2. Michael Bennet in Colorado is a total weasel, in hock to Big Agra up to his eyeballs
3. Maria Cantwell in WA (also for Big Agra)
4. Tom Harkin in Iowa (ditto)
5. Martin Heinrich - New Mexico (border state, will be forced to impeach to prove he’s against “Amnesty”)
6. Heidi Heitkamp, North Dakota (agra)
7. Tim Johnson, SD (agra)
8. Tim Kaine, VA (former confederacy)
9. Angus King, from “the Mississippi of the North,” Maine - where they just re-elected a batshit crazy GOPer to Governor
10. Joe Manchin, WV (D-Coal)
11. Bill Nelson, FL (“Florida Man” demands Obama blood)
12. John Rockefeller, WV (D-Coal)
13. Mark Warner, VA (may not belong on this list, but could go)
14. John Walsh, MT (agra)

I’ve excluded Senators from safe, true-blue states. There are distressingly few of them. They may not even be able to hold a filibuster with these kinds of numbers.

188 klystron  Nov 5, 2014 11:09:56am

re: #187 Khal Wimpo

…you might update your list to reflect the fact that some of those folks got voted out last night.

189 Higgs Boson's Mate  Nov 5, 2014 11:10:26am

re: #167 Lidane

Well put. While we’re at it let’s stop looking for that pony named Republican Overreach. They’ve held the House since 2010, they’ll hold it at least through 2016. The voters have punished their overreach by handing them the Senate.

190 HappyWarrior  Nov 5, 2014 11:13:19am

re: #188 klystron

…you might update your list to reflect the fact that some of those folks got voted out last night.

Some of them retired too.

191 Timothy Watson  Nov 5, 2014 11:21:33am

re: #187 Khal Wimpo

Really, Tim Kaine, the former head of the DNC, is going to vote to impeach Obama?

192 HappyWarrior  Nov 5, 2014 11:25:07am

re: #191 Timothy Watson

Really, Tim Kaine, the former head of the DNC, is going to vote to impeach Obama?

One of Obama’s earliest backers at that too.

193 Khal Wimpo  Nov 5, 2014 11:25:43am

re: #188 klystron

…you might update your list to reflect the fact that some of those folks got voted out last night.

Yeah, I probably should. Was going from memory, mostly. Can’t quite bring myself to look at the complete listing of Dems who have been ousted just yet. (groans, *stomach gurgles unpleasantly*)

194 dabertman  Nov 5, 2014 11:25:44am

Pennsylvania has already dealt with this midterm madness before with Corbett. I fear Maryland and Massachusetts are now doomed to experience the same.

195 Ojoe  Nov 5, 2014 11:26:46am

re: #19 Skip Intro

Your ID should be your thumbprint (with work-arounds for amputees). Everyone has one, you can’t lose it, and if your thumb was dyed purple when you voted (none of this fraud-prone mail in stuff) the problem would be solved.

196 Khal Wimpo  Nov 5, 2014 11:32:28am

re: #192 HappyWarrior

One of Obama’s earliest backers at that too.

And yet, Kaine is from a state where the major economic activities all pretty much stem from the military-industrial complex. Which is not known for their leftist views.

If Fox had the entire country whipped up in an impeachment hysteria, would he really demonstrate courage and principle, and stand up to screaming crowds in front of his office, and thousands of calls/emails/faxes from his constituents? His real constituents, that is - the defense contractors and the people employed by them?

Perhaps he would.

197 Khal Wimpo  Nov 5, 2014 11:41:13am

re: #191 Timothy Watson

Really, Tim Kaine, the former head of the DNC, is going to vote to impeach Obama?

Go to his homepage - it’s http://www.kaine.senate.gov/. Watch the slider. Count how many items scrolling past have to do with taking military action. Or visiting troops. Or “standing up for veterans.” Note that one of the big menu items has to do with veterans & the military. Note that he lists as a big legislative accomplishment the passing of a bill to pour more money into the military.

Does that really sound like someone who is rock-solid, true-blue? Who realizes that keeping the U.S. on a constant war footing is impoverishing our infrastructure and completely destructive to our future? Or a political opportunist who puts his finger in the wind before making a decision.

198 Islamo-Masonic Vourdalak  Nov 5, 2014 11:41:52am

re: #196 Khal Wimpo

Please. Bullshit.

199 Feline Fearless Leader  Nov 5, 2014 11:44:46am

re: #177 jaunte

If I was Kentucky voter, I would be pretty annoyed with McConnell for his accurate bet that the voters there would be fooled by that false distinction.

McConnell was just on a podium right now saying that Obamacare is a disaster and that the Senate is broken and needs to be fixed.

200 Mike Lamb  Nov 5, 2014 12:14:34pm

re: #187 Khal Wimpo

I’ll give you 14.

Perhaps I am being a bit pessimistic, but if nothing else, this election demonstrates that Congress votes the way that the rich moneyed interests holding their leashes tell them to. To predict their behavior, you have to look past any thin veil of decency, or service to a higher cause, or anything other than doing whatever The Man Who Gives Them Their Checks tells them to do.

Thus, this list:

1. Mark Begich, (D-Big Oil) AKA “Vulnerable in Alaska”
2. Michael Bennet in Colorado is a total weasel, in hock to Big Agra up to his eyeballs
3. Maria Cantwell in WA (also for Big Agra)
4. Tom Harkin in Iowa (ditto)
5. Martin Heinrich - New Mexico (border state, will be forced to impeach to prove he’s against “Amnesty”)
6. Heidi Heitkamp, North Dakota (agra)
7. Tim Johnson, SD (agra)
8. Tim Kaine, VA (former confederacy)
9. Angus King, from “the Mississippi of the North,” Maine - where they just re-elected a batshit crazy GOPer to Governor
10. Joe Manchin, WV (D-Coal)
11. Bill Nelson, FL (“Florida Man” demands Obama blood)
12. John Rockefeller, WV (D-Coal)
13. Mark Warner, VA (may not belong on this list, but could go)
14. John Walsh, MT (agra)

I’ve excluded Senators from safe, true-blue states. There are distressingly few of them. They may not even be able to hold a filibuster with these kinds of numbers.

I’ve got a better chance of contracting ebola than there is of getting 12 Democrats to support removal of Obama. It’s crazy talk.

201 Mike Lamb  Nov 5, 2014 12:15:40pm

re: #197 Khal Wimpo

Go to his homepage - it’s http://www.kaine.senate.gov/. Watch the slider. Count how many items scrolling past have to do with taking military action. Or visiting troops. Or “standing up for veterans.” Note that one of the big menu items has to do with veterans & the military. Note that he lists as a big legislative accomplishment the passing of a bill to pour more money into the military.

Does that really sound like someone who is rock-solid, true-blue? Who realizes that keeping the U.S. on a constant war footing is impoverishing our infrastructure and completely destructive to our future? Or a political opportunist who puts his finger in the wind before making a decision.

So what? You think Obama’s presidency has hurt the military industrial complex?

202 Backwoods_Sleuth  Nov 5, 2014 12:27:17pm

re: #176 EmmaAnne

I think this is very insightful. Think about Obamacare. If the Democrats all trumpeted the benefits and talked about what the voters would lose if it went away, at least people would understand that they can’t get rid of OCare and keep Kynect. Obviously that one keeps sticking in my craw. :-)

I talked with some Kentucky folks today who didn’t vote (they had no clue who had even won) and flat out told them that if they need any healthcare they’ve been putting off, then they need to get it ASAP because Mitch has promised to kill that new affordable health insurance they were so happy to get this year.

Deer in the headlight look followed with “he can’t do that!”
I said “oh, yes, he can. And he will. You should have taken the time to vote. With any luck, there will be a next time and maybe you’ll still be alive.”


This article has been archived.
Comments are closed.

Jump to top

Create a PageThis is the LGF Pages posting bookmarklet. To use it, drag this button to your browser's bookmark bar, and title it 'LGF Pages' (or whatever you like). Then browse to a site you want to post, select some text on the page to use for a quote, click the bookmarklet, and the Pages posting window will appear with the title, text, and any embedded video or audio files already filled in, ready to go.
Or... you can just click this button to open the Pages posting window right away.
Last updated: 2023-04-04 11:11 am PDT LGF User's Guide RSS Feeds

Help support Little Green Footballs!

Subscribe now for ad-free access!Register and sign in to a free LGF account before subscribing, and your ad-free access will be automatically enabled.

Donate with
PayPal Cash.app
Recent PagesClick to refresh
The Pandemic Cost 7 Million Lives, but Talks to Prevent a Repeat Stall In late 2021, as the world reeled from the arrival of the highly contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus, representatives of almost 200 countries met - some online, some in-person in Geneva - hoping to forestall a future worldwide ...
Cheechako
3 days ago
Views: 118 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 1
Texas County at Center of Border Fight Is Overwhelmed by Migrant Deaths EAGLE PASS, Tex. - The undertaker lighted a cigarette and held it between his latex-gloved fingers as he stood over the bloated body bag lying in the bed of his battered pickup truck. The woman had been fished out ...
Cheechako
2 weeks ago
Views: 279 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 1