Republicans hit the triple with runs batted in, but not a homerun (Harry Reid, house of representatives)
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Tomorrow, you are going to hear a lot of chest thumping from Republicans (which, full disclosure, I am one) and a lot of excuses and whining from the left.
The truth is, my party had a very good night, but it was not a homerun or a wave. As seen from the GOP perspective
THE GREAT
The Governorships: we exceeded expectations, not only winning in Florida, Wisconsin and Chicago, but also picking up an out-of-the-blue in Maryland. The GOP continues to dominate the playing field on the state legislature level.
The House: with the pick-ups tonight, the GOP has reached a kind of ceiling. No more could possibly be accomplished in the House of Representatives.
THE GOOD
The Senate: Even though we took it back, here is where we fumbled a bit. There were seven bellwether races- Colorado, North Carolina, Virginia, Kansas, Georgia, Iowa and New Hampshire.
As good as we did, we lost New Hampshire and will probably lose Virginia. If something changes and they announce tomorrow that Gillespie pulled it out, then it becomes closer to a homerun. Still, given that we did not much expand the playing field into blue states, we really should have at least run the gauntlet on these. Which leads me to...
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
GOP did not expand the playing field: There were bright spots such as peeling off the Chicago governorship, defending Scott Walker and Kasich winning re-election handily, but we really need to be fielding competitive Senate candidates in places like Minnesota and Michigan. If we want a shot at the presidency, we have to open up a few states which are often talked about as purple, but in truth are pretty blue.
SOBERING REALITY HERE
This was a wonk election and in many ways of limited importance: No election is meaningless, and when the dust settles, it will be seen that we, at least for the moment, did better amongst women, Hispanics and millennials. However, This election does very little to change the situation on a national level since:
A) Obama is a lame duck anyway and already seems to have given up.
B) He has been effectively neutered for years after he lost the House, so this changes little
C) The Dems are probably going to take back the Senate in 2 given the number of seats we are defending next time out.
We will get a bit out of this, such as forcing the keystone pipeline as an election issue. But all said and done, it is a triple with runs batted in. That elusive home run that shatters the score board we did not hit.
Last edited by cachibatches; 11-05-2014 at 02:00 AM..
B) He has been effectively neutered for years after he lost the House, so this changes little
not so fast there. remember that obama had harry reid playing catcher for him in the senate. a lot of bills that were passed by the house, were tabled in the senate by reid, and as such obama didnt have to take a stand on many pieces of legislation.
now many of those pieces of legislation have a chance at being voted on in the senate now, and if they pass, then obama is going to have to either veto them, or sign them. and that means obama is going to have to take a stand on things. things like a real budget for instance.
not so fast there. remember that obama had harry reid playing catcher for him in the senate. a lot of bills that were passed by the house, were tabled in the senate by reid, and as such obama didnt have to take a stand on many pieces of legislation.
now many of those pieces of legislation have a chance at being voted on in the senate now, and if they pass, then obama is going to have to either veto them, or sign them. and that means obama is going to have to take a stand on things. things like a real budget for instance.
I agree and this is what I mean when I say that no election is meaningless. But Obama basically sacrificed his presidency for Obamacare, Dodd-Frankin and stimulus. Once the House was gone, any chance of big, sweeping legislation such as immigration reform of carbon taxes was already finished.
Normally the President in power loses in mid term elections. After they win a second term Presidents govern as if they do not care about concerns from the populace because they do not have to run for re election. Presidents in their second term do not handle crises well which in term deflate the President's supporters and inflame the President's opponents. With Bush the crises were Katrina, Iraq . With Obama his rhetoric contradicts his policy. He says he is for the people but his policies goes against the people from Wall Street policy , Free Trade policy, the Security and Surveillance state , Health Care policy that supports the corporate class etc. He says he will go after ISIS but the token air campaign especially the glaring lack of Command and Control Air platforms tells people otherwise. With Ebola anybody wanting people exposed this virus to be quarantined until the incubation period is over is shouted down as hysterical fear mongers not wanting to heed the scientific experts even though these experts have proven to be contradictory changing their guidelines when it does not fit the chosen narrative and rhetoric of the day. On top of all this you had the VA health care scandal where managers falsified wait times for the purpose of receiving bonuses could have been avoided by simply making sure you have an effective Inspector General . All this feeds into mood or vibe that you have an unconcerned detached President in leadership whose policies is taking the nation into the wrong direction. Hillary Clinton will have to separate herself from Obama and not be too overconfident that her base will turnout for her in huge numbers if she is perceived to be a continuation of the Obama Presidency in what was months before perceived as an all but assured election in 2016.
Tomorrow, you are going to hear a lot of chest thumping from Republicans (which, full disclosure, I am one) and a lot of excuses and whining from the left.
The truth is, my party had a very good night, but it was not a homerun or a wave. As seen from the GOP perspective
THE GREAT
The Governorships: we exceeded expectations, not only winning in Florida, Wisconsin and Chicago, but also picking up an out-of-the-blue in Maryland. The GOP continues to dominate the playing field on the state legislature level.
The House: with the pick-ups tonight, the GOP has reached a kind of ceiling. No more could possibly be accomplished in the House of Representatives.
THE GOOD
The Senate: Even though we took it back, here is where we fumbled a bit. There were seven bellwether races- Colorado, North Carolina, Virginia, Kansas, Georgia, Iowa and New Hampshire.
As good as we did, we lost New Hampshire and will probably lose Virginia. If something changes and they announce tomorrow that Gillespie pulled it out, then it becomes closer to a homerun. Still, given that we did not much expand the playing field into blue states, we really should have at least run the gauntlet on these. Which leads me to...
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
GOP did not expand the playing field: There were bright spots such as peeling off the Chicago governorship, defending Scott Walker and Kasich winning re-election handily, but we really need to be fielding competitive Senate candidates in places like Minnesota and Michigan. If we want a shot at the presidency, we have to open up a few states which are often talked about as purple, but in truth are pretty blue.
SOBERING REALITY HERE
This was a wonk election and in many ways of limited importance: No election is meaningless, and when the dust settles, it will be seen that we, at least for the moment, did better amongst women, Hispanics and millennials. However, This election does very little to change the situation on a national level since:
A) Obama is a lame duck anyway and already seems to have given up.
B) He has been effectively neutered for years after he lost the House, so this changes little
C) The Dems are probably going to take back the Senate in 2 given the number of seats we are defending next time out.
We will get a bit out of this, such as forcing the keystone pipeline as an election issue. But all said and done, it is a triple with runs batted in. That elusive home run that shatters the score board we did not hit.
not necessarily. it is possible that obama will end up compromising with the republicans, for real this time and not just suggesting it, and then things can get done properly. early in 2015 though will be tough for the country i think because obama is going to have to truly stand up and actually be for something, rather than just sit back and let the senate insulate him.
Gridlock is what the founding fathers wanted. The correct term is "cheeks and balances."
Not all hope is realistic and not every change desirable.
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