"A black sheriff?!": The Official Topic of Obama and New Era American Politics

[Tristam]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/30/world/asia/30japan.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2&partner=rss&emc=rss

However, some warn that the United States could still get it wrong, especially if the midterm elections produced a sharply divided political landscape.

“The danger is if the U.S. plunges into policy paralysis just like Japan in the 1990s,” said Shumpei Takemori, an economist at Keio University in Tokyo. “Ideological divides and political divides can make bold policy action impossible.”

....

Leading Japanese economists also said their nation’s many failures — like the 1997 tax increase — yielded one crucial lesson on combating the aftereffects of a financial panic: the need to avoid policy flip-flops.

“The lesson is that there is a proper sequence for pulling a nation out of a financial crisis,” said Heizo Takenaka, an economist who was the architect of the successful cleanup of Japan’s banking system in the early 2000s. “First, you restore growth before worrying about deficits.”

Well, we had a good run.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

I don't know what the 2010 era Republicans could bring to the table.

The teabagger movement is such that anyone who assists a Democrat will have to face a tough primary battle when it comes time for re-election.  Obama has already attempted to work with the right only to get shut down time and again.  If a GOP politician risks getting thrown out for compromising, then they probably won't work with Obama under any circumstances.

I think it will just be a cavalcade of nuttery.  The economy might start growing on its own but only because of a momentum that was established this year.  I think there will be a lot of inane investigations like wondering how much of a tab Obama ran up on the last vacation he took or the New Black Panther Party.

Hopefully it will be a Clinton thing and the economic growth will be attributed to Obama rather than teabaggers like Sharron Angle.  That way the far right loon fringe like Palin won't have a chance.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

Also, about 215,000 people showed up to the Colbert/Stewart rally vs. 87,000 for Glenn Beck's August rally:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20021284-503544.html?tag=stack

[Himu]

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-100-best-signs-at-the-rally-to-restore-sanity

100 signs from the rally

For Demi

[Dickie Dee]

[Himu]

[Boogie]

Edit: nevermind I'm an idiot that's what I get for not reading the last posts on the previous page.

[Mandark]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/29/AR2010102905810.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

Look back at FDR and the Great Depression. What finally resolved that economic crisis? World War II.

Here is where Obama is likely to prevail. With strong Republican support in Congress for challenging Iran's ambition to become a nuclear power, he can spend much of 2011 and 2012 orchestrating a showdown with the mullahs. This will help him politically because the opposition party will be urging him on. And as tensions rise and we accelerate preparations for war, the economy will improve.

I am not suggesting, of course, that the president incite a war to get reelected. But the nation will rally around Obama because Iran is the greatest threat to the world in the young century. If he can confront this threat and contain Iran's nuclear ambitions, he will have made the world safer and may be regarded as one of the most successful presidents in history.

What is this I don't even

[Phoenix Dark]

That's pretty brilliant, why haven't we tried that before?

[Human Snorenado]

Pretty standard Conventional Serious Washington Groupthink there- everything will be better if we punch the dirty hippies, do what the Republicans want and above all else, NEVER EVER EVER try to learn anything from what happened before.

[Phoenix Dark]

Lets start a war in the middle east to fix the economy and (more importantly) create bipartisanship.

[Dickie Dee]

You can't make an omelette (bipartisanship) without breaking a few eggs (other countries)

[Oblivion]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/29/AR2010102905810.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

Look back at FDR and the Great Depression. What finally resolved that economic crisis? World War II.

Here is where Obama is likely to prevail. With strong Republican support in Congress for challenging Iran's ambition to become a nuclear power, he can spend much of 2011 and 2012 orchestrating a showdown with the mullahs. This will help him politically because the opposition party will be urging him on. And as tensions rise and we accelerate preparations for war, the economy will improve.

I am not suggesting, of course, that the president incite a war to get reelected. But the nation will rally around Obama because Iran is the greatest threat to the world in the young century. If he can confront this threat and contain Iran's nuclear ambitions, he will have made the world safer and may be regarded as one of the most successful presidents in history.

What is this I don't even

I knew David Broder was annoying, but I didn't think he was an outright distinguished mentally-challenged fellow. This goes into complete teabagger territory.

[Himu]

You can't make an omelette (bipartisanship) without breaking a few eggs (other countries)

[Himu]

[tiesto]

When her underwear came off, I immediately noticed that the waxing trend had completely passed her by.

[Mupepe]

tiesto... no

[Mupepe]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/44449;_ylt=AttZ.s.SC_otIOb4WSrR1tCs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNibmJtdnBoBGFzc2V0A3BvbGl0aWNvLzIwMTAxMTAxLzQ0NDQ5BGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDMQRwb3MDMgRwdANob21lX2Nva2UEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDbmV4dGZvcmdvcGxl

Top Republicans in Washington and in the national GOP establishment say the 2010 campaign highlighted an urgent task that they will begin in earnest as soon as the elections are over: Stop Sarah Palin.
Interviews with advisers to the main 2012 presidential contenders and with other veteran Republican operatives make clear they see themselves on a common, if uncoordinated, mission of halting the momentum and credibility Palin gained with conservative activists by plunging so aggressively into this year’s midterm campaigns. (See: Sarah Palin wreaking havoc on campaign trail)
There is rising expectation among GOP elites that Palin will probably run for president in 2012 and could win the Republican nomination, a prospect many of them regard as a disaster in waiting.

[Fresh Prince]

If Republicans think they can win with Sarah Palin, they'll nominate her- it doesn't matter how distinguished mentally-challenged they think she is.

[Human Snorenado]

So what Senate seats do you guys see Dems losing?  Nevada, Wisconsin, Colorado, Pennsylvania and maybe 1 or 2 more?

[Oblivion]

Sadly, all the ones you listed, plus Florida. I really wish Meek would drop out.

[tiesto]

So, what's the word out on the street? Dems losing the house, losing seats in Senate but still have enough for a majority? What is the effect of not having the House?

[Human Snorenado]

Sadly, all the ones you listed, plus Florida. I really wish Meek would drop out.

Florida was controlled by a Republican to begin with!  It's Mel Martinez's old seat.

[Human Snorenado]

So, what's the word out on the street? Dems losing the house, losing seats in Senate but still have enough for a majority? What is the effect of not having the House?

That's the conventional wisdom.  What it means is that Obama won't be able to do anything except cut taxes, and even that probably won't pass since he won't be cutting them enough/for the right people... you know, the rich.

Also, he's going to get impeached.  For something.  I'm not even kidding.  That will happen, I guarantee it.

[Dickie Dee]

So, what's the word out on the street? Dems losing the house, losing seats in Senate but still have enough for a majority? What is the effect of not having the House?

A Tea Party served up with mmm, Peach Mint Tea

[Oblivion]

Sadly, all the ones you listed, plus Florida. I really wish Meek would drop out.

Florida was controlled by a Republican to begin with!  It's Mel Martinez's old seat.

Whoops! Wasn't even thinking of the right race.

[Human Snorenado]

Also, completely forgot:  dems could lose Obama's old seat in Illinois pretty easily.  That's how fucking shitty this is.  The real hilarity is that the differences in voting between allegedly moderate Mark Kirk in Illinois and obviously insane Rand Paul in Kentucky will be minimal but ye olde conventional wisdom will paint Kirk as a reasonable Republican.

[Phoenix Dark]

I totally forgot that after tuesday we won't have Blanche Lincoln to kick around anymore. Finally some good news

[Human Snorenado]

I totally forgot that after tuesday we won't have Blanche Lincoln to kick around anymore. Finally some good news

Yeah, me too.  That plus Dorgan's ND seat means really bad news tomorrow I'm afraid.  That's ok, America should get the govt. it deserves, and it should get it good and hard.

[Phoenix Dark]

Thank you America. Here's your Sharon Angle sammich, enjoy

[Himu]

I can't wait for tomorrow.

not voting
our new GOP overlords

[Human Snorenado]

I for one can't wait to see what Senators Angle, Rubio and Paul will do for America.  The only downside is that there likely won't be a Senator O'donnell to join them, but I have high hopes for Senator Miller from Alaska.

[Fresh Prince]

guys does your world really change that much if a bunch of republicans gets voted in?

[Van Cruncheon]

if tim eyman's i-1053 in washington passes, we turn into fucking california

[Oblivion]

if tim eyman's i-1053 in washington passes, we turn into fucking california

What does it do? Mandatory abortions for everyone? Or is it something bad?

[brawndolicious]

So, what's the word out on the street? Dems losing the house, losing seats in Senate but still have enough for a majority? What is the effect of not having the House?

Best case scenario with losing the House is that republicans will have enough responsibility in the government that they'll realize they can't keep on obstructing everything.  Worst case is that they'll see that their batshit base approves and justifies just about anything so they'll keep on doing what they're doing now, and maybe even impeach Obama even though he would never be convicted.  IIRC, Clinton's popularity actually increased with his impeachment so maybe the same effect will happen with Obama where people sympathize with the relatively innocent defendant.

[Van Cruncheon]

if tim eyman's i-1053 in washington passes, we turn into fucking california

What does it do? Mandatory abortions for everyone? Or is it something bad?

requires a 2/3rds state congressional majority to pass any tax increases

[Dickie Dee]

if tim eyman's i-1053 in washington passes, we turn into fucking california

need supermajority and/or ballot inititiave for any and all "tax increase" (including closing loopholes)

yup, yer fucked.

any talk of telling eastern washington to gtfo - or would numbers not even matter without them?

[Positive Touch]

in missouri we're going to get wonderful prop. passed that will LET VOTERS DECIDE every five years if they want to end our income tax in st louis & k.c., which will destroy our bond rating immediately, and will eliminate ONE THIRD of our city revenue when the tax is inevitably repealed.  good jon hillbillies

[Van Cruncheon]

well, i-1053, like i-960 before it, is unconstitutional (well, by the wa state constitution), which says that no legislation or legislative action may require more than a simple majority vote. the state suspended i-960; i-1053 reinstates it. ironically, i-1053 does not require a supermajority to pass. unfortunately, populist dumbassery is sure to make it pass. i am sure we will appreciate that california style gridlock!

[Dickie Dee]

Maybe you can pay some "Beaver" US-Canadian people trafficers to get you across to the border into a better life in British Columbia

[Brehvolution]

guys does your world really change that much if a bunch of republicans gets voted in?

No, because I'm white.

Hopefully the blacks and arabs will still get their hour of daily internet access from the internment camps.

[treythemovie]

I absentee voted ages ago and yet Obama keeps txting me to remind me to vote.* You'd think the guy would have a country to run or something. 

*And he's even telling me to vote in the wrong state!

[Cheebs]

Just voted. Republican for governor, democrat for congress. I was tempted to vote straight line democrat but the state democratic party has been running my state so badly and the republican is pretty moderate.  I couldn't just be a rubber stamp vote this time. I believe my partner in crime PD is doing the same.

Yeah, Obama keeps texting me too. I keep getting texts from the white house in the middle of the night and it wakes me up.

[Brehvolution]

[Phoenix Dark]

Just voted. Republican for governor, democrat for congress. I was tempted to vote straight line democrat but the state democratic party has been running my state so badly and the republican is pretty moderate.  I couldn't just be a rubber stamp vote this time. I believe my partner in crime PD is doing the same.

Yeah, Obama keeps texting me too. I keep getting texts from the white house in the middle of the night and it wakes me up.

I'm voting for Synder, fuck it. Doing my research now to see if I have any blue dogs on my ballot

[Positive Touch]

lol voting republican.  have fun when yr "moderate" falls in line with the crazy to keep his numbers up.

i fucked myself out of voting because my address on my i.d. doesn't match the one on the voter registration and i kept putting off getting it changed.  sucks, but missouri is fucked big-time anyway.  only six more months before i can jump ship on this hillbilly hellhole...

[Cheebs]

Just voted. Republican for governor, democrat for congress. I was tempted to vote straight line democrat but the state democratic party has been running my state so badly and the republican is pretty moderate.  I couldn't just be a rubber stamp vote this time. I believe my partner in crime PD is doing the same.

Yeah, Obama keeps texting me too. I keep getting texts from the white house in the middle of the night and it wakes me up.

I'm voting for Synder, fuck it. Doing my research now to see if I have any blue dogs on my ballot

your congressman is as liberal as they come.

Yep Synder for me too. You know we are in for a landslide when like all of the houses I drive by in ypsi have a RICK MICHIGAN sign.

[Phoenix Dark]

Hmm some quick research finds Synder wants a 6 billion tax cut? That's only going to fuck us more smh

[Cheebs]

It's too late. It's already happening. He is like 30-40% ahead in the polls. He'll even win the ann arbor/ypsi area.

[Phoenix Dark]

Cutting the Michigan Business Tax will cut education by almost a billion dollars

and he wants to repeal health care? Nah
http://www.freep.com/article/20101010/NEWS15/10100444/Virg-Bernero-and-Rick-Snyder-Where-they-stand

[Cheebs]

Get used to it buddy boy. Synder is already our governor basically. The GOP is going to sweep basically every single position in state government today. The state Democratic party here is effectively dead for now.

[Phoenix Dark]

I'm gonna vote for Dingell but jeez, he probably shouldn't be running. At his age he should be at home enjoying his last few years

[Cheebs]

I'm gonna vote for Dingell but jeez, he probably shouldn't be running. At his age he should be at home enjoying his last few years

He was part of the same freshman house class with John F. Kennedy back in the 50's. He is oddly facing the first decently close election he has had since forever. That GOP wave even started to nip at his heels. He had to have Bill Clinton come in and do a rally for him.

[Mr. Gundam]

I mailed my ballot in last week. Straight democratic/liberal voting like usual, but I did vote against 1098, which would enact a state income tax for individuals making over $200,000 a year and for couples that make more than $400,000 a year.

[Phoenix Dark]

Just got back from voting (Michigan). Voted for Bernero for governor, even though he has no shot at winning.

Not many people at the polling place. I remember going in 2008 around the same time and the polls weren't full at all either. Only time I've seen a full, long line was in 2006 but I'm guessing it's because I voted around 6pm that year.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

I voted for a bunch of long shots as well.

Not a big deal to me.  If there wasn't early voting where I could vote at my convenience, I probably would have never bothered.

[Van Cruncheon]

THE OLDS ARE OUT EN MASSE

takin' their country back from da kidz!

[Mr. Gundam]

I was so torn on 1098. I have no problem with taxation, but knowing our legislators here in Washington, they'll have everyone paying an income tax on top of a 10% sales tax in two years if it passes.

[Mandark]

requires a 2/3rds state congressional majority to pass any tax increases

Here in Montgomery County we've had an initiative like that on the ballot every two years thanks to a local crank, and it actually passed last time.

Now raising property taxes requires a unanimous (!!!) vote, and I suspect that's behind the current push to start charging ambulance fees, which itself has spawned a ballot initiative and a really bitter fight to go with it.

Functioning government is hard enough without putting up more obstacles, man.