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cctxfan
11-05-2008, 12:42 PM
Looks like Obama will finish up with 364 electoral votes when they call North Carolina.

As far as Senate races go, there are still four undecided races. The race in Georgia will probably go into a runoff, and the races in Alaska, Minnesota, and Oregon will result in recounts (Orgeon and Alaska are still counting ballots). Out these, Franken and Begich , I think, have real shots to win.

Speaking of Alaska, it's speaks volumes about the electorate - an electorate that loves Palin - when it votes to reelect a felon, or perhaps almost reelect a felon. If ends up winning and his appeals fail, he will surely be expelled.

Speaking of the GOP, where does it go from here? Frankly, I don't see 'pubs winning either house in Congress or the presidency again until they divorce themselves from the evangelical base that has a stranglehold on the party. If a Palin or Huckster gets the 2012 nomination (which they won't), they will lose in a landslide bigger than what just happened last night. The 14 year experiment of the GOP winning by turning elections into culture wars about abortion, Christianity, and patriotism is nearly over. Independents, and to lesser degrees, socially liberal 'pubs and conservative Dems are simply turned off by candidates and a platform that tries to win simply by painting themselves as better Christians, more patriotic, and more pro-life than the other candidate.

As True pointed out earlier today, there is a place for a GOP that truly focuses on low taxes and small government - a government that doesn't interfere in people's lives and doesn't blow money like it grows on trees. Unfortunately, the GOP of today, controlled by the religious right, goes against everything the GOP used to stand for. The GOP of today wants big government and the power that comes along with controlling the Justice Department, the EPA, FCC, FDA and other agencies to further their agenda.

cctxfan
11-05-2008, 01:32 PM
As a Dem, I'll also be the first to admit that Pelosi and Reid haven't really impressed me in their ability to lead Congress. My hope is that Obama will sit down with them say, look, these are my priorities, this is the budget and legislation I want you to push: tax reform, health care, financial regulations - don't waste my time and Congress' time by dealing with silly and petty bills.

If they stray, Obama should call them out publicly and get them back on track.

Pelosi and Reid don't have the argument that they can't pass anything because Bush will veto it. They also don't really have the filibuster argument either. They will have at least 56 and probably 57, maybe 58 votes. If they can't convince two or three moderate 'pubs like Snowe or Collins to end the debate on a bill, it probably isn't a good bill.

mdhorn
11-05-2008, 01:39 PM
The Pubs don't want oversight. Then when things tank, it's the other party's fault. They also got to where they were blithering idiots. Case in point was listening to Fred Thompson describing the media vetting of Sara Palin on Meet the Press. He claimed more so than any other politician in history, the media has attacked Sara with unfair questions. When asked which questions Fred thought were unfair he said he didn't know because he hadn't watched. That's drivel.

mdhorn
11-05-2008, 01:41 PM
As a Dem, I'll also be the first to admit that Pelosi and Reid haven't really impressed me in their ability to lead Congress. My hope is that Obama will sit down with them say, look, these are my priorities, this is the budget and legislation I want you to push: tax reform, health care, financial regulations - don't waste my time and Congress' time by dealing with silly and petty bills.

If they stray, Obama should call them out publicly and get them back on track.

Pelosi and Reid don't have the argument that they can't pass anything because Bush will veto it. They also don't really have the filibuster argument either. They will have at least 56 and probably 57, maybe 58 votes. If they can't convince two or three moderate 'pubs like Snowe or Collins to end the debate on a bill, it probably isn't a good bill.

Exactly.

ohsooso
11-05-2008, 01:46 PM
Pelosi and Reid aren't leaders. They've gotten to be where they are by being good foot soldiers/whips/rank-and-filers. Obama IS a leader. It would surprise me greatly if he didn't meet with them and if they didn't fall in line. He'll also work with the various factions of the party, he's already met with the blue dog leader.