Mid Term U.S. Election

[valo403]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

So instead of spending all the money on military which is a complete falsehood that it stays at home as I am sure you have heard of the bases that are all over the planet.
But I cant believe that you think the amount of money spent is not too bad.
Do you know that out of the 13 biggest armies in the world 11 of them are on our side?
Did you know that the US airforce is the largest airforce in the world? and the second biggest is the US Navy?
The US military budget is 50% of the entire planets military budget.
The US military can whip anybody it is not even close.
I believe they are ready for action and then some. It's like Bill Gates cutting coupons, you got enough already.

How do you justify that when you have underfunded schools?

I also can't believe americans complain about high taxes when they pay squat compared to the rest of the industrialized world as a matter of fact 22 of the first world nations people pay more.

Americans start wars,have aircraft carrriers, domed stadiums, and want more prisons and yet they dont want more taxes? The rich didn't leave america when the wealthy tax rate was at 39% during Reagan and they won't leave now.

You have to remember that half of keeping that military staffed has to do with keeping a good part of the country stupid. Nothing fills up an infantry like a large portion of the population without any other choice. I'd like to say I'm overstating things, but I really don't think I am.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by valo403

You have to remember that half of keeping that military staffed has to do with keeping a good part of the country stupid. Nothing fills up an infantry like a large portion of the population without any other choice. I'd like to say I'm overstating things, but I really don't think I am.

I think you need to go back and look at what infantry have to do. Stupid people don't do very well at it, especially since the U.S. army and marine corp have become fairly technology driven.

As a former infantry member, I strictly disagree with this, we're not knuckle dragging, drooling morons who's only goal in life is to point and shoot.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I think you need to go back and look at what infantry have to do. Stupid people don't do very well at it, especially since the U.S. army and marine corp have become fairly technology driven.

As a former infantry member, I strictly disagree with this, we're not knuckle dragging, drooling morons who's only goal in life is to point and shoot.

Maybe infantry was a poor choice of words, and I certainly didn't mean any offense, just pointing out tha tthe US armed forces are filled to a pretty large degree with people who have relatively limited career choices.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

As a matter of fact, I'm more Bullish about Obama's chances in 2012 today than I was yesterday; I'm off to school, so I can't go into why at the moment, but I'll try to explain it later today. Let's just say that below the line there are some troubling outcomes to-day if you're a Republican.

My conclusion this morning is the opposite It worked out perfectly for the Republicans by NOT taking the Senate. If they had controlled both houses and things are still bad in 2012, it sort of gives Obama a get out of jail card by just pointing out Republican failures.

This way, the Democrats still control the Senate but those Senators up for election in 2012 have to be mighty careful how they vote and can't just pass anything Obama wants.

Those 'hat-trick' yes Democratic Senators who voted yes for stimulus, yes for helathcare and yes for financial regulations got destroyed yesterday.

[SeeBass]

I am not worried about Obama and the next election yet. Politics down there can change real fast. Both Clinton and Reagan had a lower favourability rating at this point than he does now.

If Palin is the nominee (which I doubt will happen) then Obama will win. If it is somebody more moderate like Romney then he could be in trouble.

[SeeBass]

What amazes me is the total incompetance of the Dems getting out their message. They just thwarted a terrorist attack, or so it seems..

The GOP would have been taking victory laps saying that your President has proven he can keep you safe.

Terrorism is not a hot issue compared to the economy right now but they could have bumped up it's importance with this attempt and perhaps got a point or two for it.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

I am not worried about Obama and the next election yet. Politics down there can change real fast. Both Clinton and Reagan had a lower favourability rating at this point than he does now.

If Palin is the nominee (which I doubt will happen) then Obama will win. If it is somebody more moderate like Romney then he could be in trouble.

I would hope that the Republicans wouldn't be stupid enough to let Palin anywhere near the Presidential nomination, because while I would wreck that chick, she is a loon.

The Republican's need to start their presidential campaigning now, and take advantage of these mid term results, because to be honest, Obama is vulnerable right now, and American's are not rating his performance over the first two years very positively.

We're going to see how strong his political saavy is now, he's going to have to work a lot harder to push anything through over the next two years.

His environmental and immigration reform ideas are going to probably die on the vine as its now all about the economy stupid.

[Phaneuf3]

Evil will always triumph because good is dumb.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

What amazes me is the total incompetance of the Dems getting out their message. They just thwarted a terrorist attack, or so it seems..

The GOP would have been taking victory laps saying that your President has proven he can keep you safe.

Terrorism is not a hot issue compared to the economy right now but they could have bumped up it's importance with this attempt and perhaps got a point or two for it.

When Obama decided that the term terrorism was el termo forbineno in his administration and was going to be replaced with the term man made disaster, you know that he's going to down play terrorism.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Phaneuf3

Evil will always triumph because good is dumb.

Sooooo, what your saying is that all people that voted on the right side of the equation are evil?

I'd rather be evil then dumb to be honest.

[automaton 3]

I think the Democrats have an opportunity here if they're smart about it.

IMO the Republicans have gotten by the last few years by largely being a party of "no". The Democrats need to dramatically moderate their agenda. Put Pelosi and Reid on the backbenches. Propose legislation that has broad appeal to the average American and the Republicans will be smoked out a bit.

Great thread and thanks to those that posted their insight, in particular our American friends. American politics are never boring IMO!

[Phaneuf3]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Sooooo, what your saying is that all people that voted on the right side of the equation are evil?

I'd rather be evil then dumb to be honest.

Was talking about my thoughts on the prop 19 vote but left it open ended and unspecific to see if I could get some trolling done at the same time. Gotta be efficient in these tough economic times.


Also, spaceballs.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by automaton 3

I think the Democrats have an opportunity here if they're smart about it.

IMO the Republicans have gotten by the last few years by largely being a party of "no". The Democrats need to dramatically moderate their agenda. Put Pelosi and Reid on the backbenches. Propose legislation that has broad appeal to the average American and the Republicans will be smoked out a bit.

Great thread and thanks to those that posted their insight, in particular our American friends. American politics are never boring IMO!

Yet at the same time the Republicans know they have to have a good showing the next 2 years or they won't have a chance at defeating Obama.

Last night was almost perfect. Except for Reid, Pelosi and Boxer winning.

People may think the people running against them were morons, and they were, but those morons would be in the back of the room if they had won. Reid, Pelosi and Boxer are the Democratic leaders who have been a part of the government that screwed over the US economy the last 20 years.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by automaton 3

I think the Democrats have an opportunity here if they're smart about it.

IMO the Republicans have gotten by the last few years by largely being a party of "no". The Democrats need to dramatically moderate their agenda. Put Pelosi and Reid on the backbenches. Propose legislation that has broad appeal to the average American and the Republicans will be smoked out a bit.

Great thread and thanks to those that posted their insight, in particular our American friends. American politics are never boring IMO!

I don't think you're going to see the Republicans propose any new legislation. New legislation has consequences, and I don't think they want any part of that leading up to 2012.

Here's what I think they will do:

1) They'll actually work hard on extending the Bush tax cuts and will genuinely try to abolish the estate tax. At some point they'll offer companies a change to repatriate foreign profits in the US tax free. Of course all this is in stark contrast to their supposed desire to cut into the deficit, but who cares?

2) They'll demagogue on repealing the healthcare bill, but won't dare touch it.

3) They'll have some pointless committees discussing the new black panther party, earmarks, the supposed "science" of global warm... er... climate change, threaten shutting down the govt again over the debt ceiling, and other assorted items to toss as red meat to certain constituents.

4) They won't touch immigration reform because the elder, white demographic doesn't want any of that bidness.

5) They'll actually work to cut down certain small items of discretionary social / cultural spending using headlines such as "$700,000 to study the red midwestern fox???" Of course that won't do anything meaningful to the budget, but so what...

As for the democrats:

1) They'll cave to the republicans like they usually do because they're a spineless collective. The democrats are mentally weaker than a Flames team that just surrendered 2 goals in 12 seconds.


I think the victims of the next two years will be national efforts such as the National Institute of Health, the National Endowment for the Arts, National Science Foundation, and similar other non-defense related programs.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Azure

Yet at the same time the Republicans know they have to have a good showing the next 2 years or they won't have a chance at defeating Obama.

Last night was almost perfect. Except for Reid, Pelosi and Boxer winning.

People may think the people running against them were morons, and they were, but those morons would be in the back of the room if they had won. Reid, Pelosi and Boxer are the Democratic leaders who have been a part of the government that screwed over the US economy the last 20 years.

Could the same not be said of a number of long term Republican members of congress? It's been a team effort.

[transplant99]

ALl I know is it really does appear that government is headed for 2 full years of gridlock with little to nothing of substance getting done. That cannot help Obama/Dems no matter what the reason is.

[Rockin' Flames]

I think one of the overlooked wins for the Republicans is the number of governer seats picked up as well. This year it's especially important on the pick up of these seats considering this will impact the redistricting the constituency boundries withing the states.

I personally expect nothing to get done in the next 2 years. If that leads to an end to the endless spending bills (ie. bailouts & stimulus packages) I'll be satisfied.

[mikey_the_redneck]

I am disappointed that Harry Reid won despite being behind in the Rasmussen polls leading up to the vote. America needs to get as many old establishment farts out of office as possible. These guys get a little too comfortable imo...there really should be term limits set in place.

[The Goon]

This election would have been a lot more fun if Shaw Cable's local news team had covered it.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by transplant99

ALl I know is it really does appear that government is headed for 2 full years of gridlock with little to nothing of substance getting done. That cannot help Obama/Dems no matter what the reason is.

No question about it. But who will be blamed for that gridlock over the next 2 years? Both parties will be pointing at each other playing the blame game and the voters will have to make a decision in 2012.