I can only assume that life is great for them, if money buys good health, a happy relationship, children who make you proud. Money doesn't necessarily buy all those things. You can be a billionaire and have terminal cancer. You can be a billionaire and have a totally screwed up kid. You can be a billionaire and be bi-polar and on the verge of suicide at the drop of a hat. However, if someone wants to have a big political impact, being a billionaire often buys you that.
Just weighing in myself. I think you and I and much of the electorate have a very different view of the what constitutes worst Republicans. I haven't followed many of these races but am impressed by some of the Republicans running. Many of them come off as competent, less ideological and focused compared to those in recent elections. Other than Fangate there weren't Christine O'Donnells, Todd Akens, or Sharon Angles sticking their feet into their mouths or making ridiculous comments that ended up tarnishing the brand. I was particularly impressed with Cory Gardner in CO who pretty much outmoderated the moderate Udall to win big in CO. This was not the Republican Tea party of 2008, 2010 or 2012 but something more the center right party of Bob Dole. True the Democrats and the Obama Admin. did inflict a lot of damage on themselves but it seems rather late to for the electorate to suddenly have an epiphany about Obama. He already had a first term and was reelected convincingly. If Obama had been so over his head he would've been a one termer. That's interesting but I don't think this is more than coincidence. The truth is the government has very little control over gas prices other than releasing more from the reserve. This election followed a typical pattern of presidents in their 6th year losing seats. Further the Democrats base is very dependent on young and minority voters who historically don't turn out well for midterm elections. Those were trends that already made this promising for the GOP and with poor handling of things in the Mideast, Ebola and embarrassments regarding the Secret Service made it the Republicans elections to lose.
Mitch McConnell press conference highlights: 1) Let me be clear, there will be no government shutdowns and there will be no defaulting on the national debt 2) There are things we can agree on right now. The president has indicated a willingness to work on international trade agreements (moments before press conference) and we can do that. 3) The Senate will function. We will pass bills. 4) 3 "Prominent" Democrats have reached out to me today and indicated and eagerness to be relevant again. 5) Cordial relationship with the president. No personality issues. 6) The American people did not vote yesterday for a government that doesn't act. Just because they voted for a divided government does not mean they don't want us to work together. 7) We will work on things over the next few weeks that we agree on. 8) Repeats that there will be no government shutdowns and no default on the national debt 9) Lots of people want to be president (in his caucus) and he tells them the best day they will ever have is the day before they announce 10) Not troubled by his members' ambition, but we can still make progress for the country 11) Will address the "nuclear option" in the Senate rules 12) Senator Cruz called to congratulate on his victory and was impressed with the margin. 13) Going to pass a budget
Continued... 1) Will work with President to see what more the administration needs financially to deal with Ebola 2) Spoke with Harry Reid. He will not get involved in trying to defeat Harry Reid in 2016. Reid was impressed with McConnell's campaign. Since the defeat of Tom Daschel it has become a new thing for a presidential like campaign to defeat a party leader in the Senate. 3) Will deal with some things that have been sitting around in a dysfunctional senate not getting done. There are things Democrats and Republicans both want to get done that will get done shortly. 4) Will look at Dodd/Frank 5) Hopes Obama will be like Regan and Clinton. Accept the government you have and don't fantasize about the government you wish you had. Move to the center and work with us, don't stay on the course and veto anything we pass. 6) Trade and tax reform are two areas where there appears to be agreement to get something done with the president. 7) McConnell is asked if he will move to the middle to meet the president. He says the vast majority of the senate does not believe they were sent to the Senate to fight. Divided government can be very productive. 8) President still the most important player. Require him to work with us.
Have to admit to being impressed by McConnell who I had previously considered a very uncharismatic, dull, poor speaker. He actually has a nice touch for humor and handles himself well. I don't know if he'll lead the Senate well, but he'll be easier to deal with at the podium than Zombie Reid.
I like what I hear coming from McConnell particularly the no government shutdown and default, but I will hold my breath to see how much actually happens. One issue both the Republicans and Obama have cited are reforming the corporate tax structure. Now might be a good time for Obama to take a page from Clinton and get corporate tax bill passed.
Agreed. Hoping Republicans and Democrats come together to, at the very least, pass bills they agree on.
What if any would those be? Any tax cuts for the rich, roll back of environmental regulation, oil exports, ACA repeal will be filibustered by Dems. Any immigration reform, campaign finance, or Executive appointments will never reach the floor.
Infrastructure. Trade agreements. Jobs Partial immigration. All are things that show signs of compromise.
Hopefully, because I believe all Americans, regardless of party, want a government that works, and works well. My worry, though, is that some will see the results as a "mandate" or a on-ramp to future elections. It will be interesting watch how the different factions within the GOP wrangle with the idea of working with the other side. Hopefully the President makes a real effort to work with Congress, and Congress makes a real effort to work with the President.
Mitch McConnell is a deal maker. I was watching the old White House press secretary on CNN last night and he talked about Mitch McConnell was the guy they would go to bail out John Behner. Behner, of note, has an easier rode now as well. The House got more moderate red yesterday and he has a bigger conference of people who are not going to bail on him if he talks about anything with the president that resembles compromise. Additionally, Republicans in Iowa, Colorado, North Carolina HAVE to know that if the Senate/House act like tea partiers, they aren't going to get re-elected.
Infrastructure takes increased taxes but pays off in the long term. It looks like pork though so I don't think they will share that with democratic Districts. The jobs bill was as beneficial and bi-partisan as it could be but the the GOP killed it just to deny the President. Jobs to Republicans means corporate tax cuts, period. Immigration means 'pathways' to citizenship including paying fines. I'm pretty sure repugs want to keep a cheap undocumented shadow labor force that does not qualify for the social safety net. We know they are not going to increase blue voters.
Having done consulting work in elections in three countries, I can say the copywriting I did was more complex and on-topic for Mexican audiences (full disclaimer: a gubernatorial one in Michoacán) than it was for American ones. Candidates and parties were actually forced to discuss issues. America's insularity, and lack of knowledge of the outside world and macroeconomics is not confined to one political party. There's plenty of ignorance to go around, and it can be seen daily in D&D. In this thread alone, there are posters giving credit to oil prices to Obama, others giving it to the GOP, even though every major news outlet on Earth reported the gas prices were going to go down due to increased production by the Saudis to crush shale extraction and other more costly forms of energy development in places like the US, Canada and Russia. If Americans were actually politically aware and actually voted critically rather than supporting the political parties of their parents as they do sports teams, we would have a political culture that provide better candidates for everyone to support.
Also, there's more to this midterm than just the Senate. When minimum wage increases pass in Arkansas and Nebraska, and when mar1juana legalization passes in DC, Alaska and Oregon, it's hard to make the claim that voters are voting for ideology. This election had no grand debate or message from either party, mostly just negative campaigning to appeal to fear and a grab for power. To quote Gary Younge: According to a CNN exit poll, 8 in 10 Americans disapprove of how Congress has been handling its job, while almost 6 in 10 are displeased with President Obama. A full 44% have a positive view of Democrats; 40% have a positive view of Republicans. Americans have just elected the party they like the least to run the government body they least trust. Even greater cynicism is the most likely outcome. But from a strategic point of view, the GOP did right. They ran non-Tea Party moderates in hotly contested races, avoided ideological campaigns, focused their money and efforts in those races, used social media effectively and got their supporters out to vote. Democratic voters had poor turnout (particularly here in Texas), campaign strategies were weak, but most importantly, of course, they wouldn't hire me as a consultant
I have the same cynicism. He's saying all the right things now about moving forward and getting things done, but I think he's more relieved that he gets to keep his sweet job. And I suspect when the time comes to make some kind of compromise, his own party (and many of his key backers who helped him buy re-election) will pressure him hard not to.
Of course there is going to be tons of divisiveness but this is the key to compromise. This may be wishful thinking but I am hoping that at least corporate taxes can be addressed. No one likes the current situation with corporate taxes. Conservatives don't like it because they think it is too high, liberals don't like it because they think businesses get too many breaks, and both don't like it because it offshores revenue. It seems to me like a reasonable reform would be to lower rates while also reducing the number of the deductions and loopholes. That said reasonable and DC rarely go together but this is an opportunity that the White House and Congress shouldn't pass up.
i think Obama is gonna try to do amnesty by executive order (as if that's something that should be decreed) and a power struggle with congress will ensue. I also doubt much will get done, but I'm okay with that. The notion that something is better than nothing is illogical.
Politic s nowadays can be summed up by this Being boss/In Control is more important than helping the American People Rocket River
