Goodbye Socialist Obamerica ... goodbye.

[IndigoV]

If the election was a mandate against Democrat policies, why did Democrat policy initiatives pass across the country, including in deep red states? Environmental protections, public infrastructure investment, science investment, minimum wage increases(passed by large margins, even in red states), marijuana legalization(58% in Florida), the list goes on and on.

Like I said, voter turnout was only 36%. People simply didn't show up to vote. If over half the electorate showed up, as they do in presidential elections, the outcome in the Senate and House elections would have leaned in Favor of the Democrats. Even with that measly 36% voter turnout, Republicans only gained 52% of the popular vote in House elections. That's practically a tie. In 2012, the Senatorial vote was 54% in favor of the Democrats and 51% to 47% for the Presidency. Mind you, I don't love the guy, I just think he is clearly superior to the alternative. That being Completely ineffective, supply-side economic minded sellouts, NeoCons who will put us in unsustainable wars and engage in unpopular "culture wars" against those who don't fit in with their narrowminded so called "traditional family values"(Patriarchy). People like Ted Cruz, Romney, and Lindsay Graham. The nation clearly does not want people who shake hands with Pat Robertson and Dick Cheney running this country.

Refer to this article, written by a conservative with his ear to the ground in Texas once again:

http://blog.chron.com/goplifer/2014/11/the-missing-story-of-the-2014-election/

As for the action on illegal immigration, Obama is doing exactly was Reagan and Bush Sr. did. It isn't "amnesty". They aren't being given citizenship, or voting rights, or access to any Federally funded programs. They are being given work permits. As someone who went to high school with some people who might have been brought across the border as children, I find the idea that we could simply kick out 4 million people, some of whom are more American than Latino, offensive, as well as morally and fiscally irresponsible. We would be shooting ourselves in the foot doing this. This is nothing like the immigration policy of the UK, which was passed mind you with liberal and conservative votes also. The immigration policy of the U.S., even with Obama's executive action(echoing Reagan and Bush Sr. actions), is no where near as lenient at the UK.

The UK is a more centrist nation historically. The U.S. is a center-right nation historically. Obama as well as half the Democrat party(the party that holds the leadership mind you) has more in common with David Cameron than Ed Millibrand on economic and foreign policy matters. Social policy is determined in a populist way, so despite Obama being more socially progressive, that really matters little, since the popular will of the people wins on cultural/social issues eventually anyway through on the basis of their self evident arguments winning in the judicial system. This is why non-heterosexual marriage is now recognized in over half of the States in the U.S, the court system is slowly, but overwhelmingly siding with equality advocates.

Edited November 25, 2014 by IndigoV

[JRRaff]

'gators.......

More people are killed by hippos than gators. A full grown hippo can bite a crocodile in half and run as fast as a horse. Good thing they're not carnivorous. Even if hippos were in the Rio Grande, the Mexicans would figure out a way to make them into tacos. :tongue:

 

They aren't being given citizenship, or voting rights, or access to any Federally funded programs. They are being given work permits.

Sorry to say, but you're wrong concerning what I have underlined. Once a resident alien gets a Green Card they start paying Social Security tax. That makes them eligible for Social Security Disability, Medicare (if they pay the tax) and Supplemental Security Income.

 

Resident aliens also qualify for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or SNAPS. Depending on the status of the Green Card issued, resident aliens may qualify for food stamps after five years. If they are political refugees, victims of human trafficking or Cubans, they can get food stamps immediately.

 

Since we have no idea what Obama has really planned, he might intend to make this new batch of 4 million plus LPRs (Legal Permanent Residents) and if he does that they get the whole enchilada. That could burden an already strained system; a system set up for legal residents and legitimate immigrants.

 

I'm not going to bother addressing the rest of your post. It reads like a half-baked op ed piece in the Huffington Post with the typical talking points no one believes. Opinions are like A-Holes, but you can't give an opinion an enema.

 

I'm a Democrat but I'm no longer an Obama/Pelosi/Reid/Clinton Democrat. I'm tired of their policies and their views are not mine. I voted straight Republican this last cycle for a reason, and that was to get rid of them or at least stop what they're doing.

[IndigoV]

"I'm not going to bother addressing the rest of your post. It reads like a half-baked op ed piece in the Huffington Post with the typical talking points no one believes. Opinions are like A-Holes, but you can't give an opinion an enema."

 

I've already said that the Democrats are going to need to change course to win future elections, but regardless, they have a huge advantage in 2016. They have the potential to further increase their advantage turning to a more populist direction and keeping their turnout among their base high. That's the only strategy that has ever worked for them, and with a declining elderly demographic, the electorate are trending in a more populist direction.

If Republicans keep going back to the ideas of Bush and even more extreme(Tea Party), they will continue to suffer huge losses in the presidential elections, where voter turnout is higher. They can't keep rehashing the same ideas forever like they have been the last two decades and expecting a different result. The reality is people are fed up with the establishment of both parties, but it's the Republican party who refuses to reform it's own policies. Democrats on the other hand have been all over the place, unable to figure out whether to appease Republican voters or the progressive base. Clearly betraying their base has not worked for them, because they will not come out and vote for people who seem inauthentic and unprincipled.

I agree that the Democratic party needs to let Obama, the Clintons, Pelosi, and Reid go. They are all toxic. But same with the Republicans, they need to ditch McConnell and the Tea Party obstructionists if they want to have any credibility in the realm of bipartisan governance. They will never govern this country with like people like Ted Cruz and Sarah Palin openly sabotaging any chance of cooperation between the parties.

Edited November 25, 2014 by IndigoV

[JRRaff]

American voters not turning out this last cycle is nothing new, according to 'the experts' (paid pollsters, MSNBC/FOX commentators, etc.). People not voting in midterms might be true. Something else that might be true is Democratic voters didn't turn out for a reason, or they voted against other Democrats because maybe they didn't agree with how things are being handled. In the same breath Obama can say the midterms were about his policies and then blame the losses on low voter turn out. One or both might be true, but when combined (no one votes in the midterms and no one likes my policies), that is an epic fail on the part of the Democratic Party. Being a Democrat, I can say they deserved it.

 

When the 2016 cycle starts we need someone other than Hillary Clinton. Political candidates need to reflect the party values. Only candidates who fit the party should be nominated. Clinton is a lawyer and a 'celebrity'. And just like Obama she doesn't have what it takes to be President. If Clinton gets the nomination the Democratic Party will bend to her agenda, she will not bend to what is best for the party. That's one reason why I won't vote fro her; I'll vote against her.

 

Another reason is her comments after Benghazi and her attitude. When pressed by Congress she yelled "What is the big deal about whether that attack was by militants who swarmed in response to the video or militants who attacked planned?" Well, the difference is she gets to celebrate Mother's Day with her daughter, she gets to be a grandmother. The parents of the operatives who were murdered at Benghazi won't have that. She placed them in harms way and then ran from the responsibility. I know this is an emotional reason not to vote for her and I don't care. I think she is a horrible human being and the more I look at my own party the more I hate the people in it.

 

America is wreck. Legalized pot, inflated costs of living, and a welfare state with open borders. That is Obama's legacy and I helped him do it.

[Aurielius]

I agree that the Democratic party needs to let Obama, the Clintons, Pelosi, and Reid go. They are all toxic. But same with the Republicans, they need to ditch McConnell and the Tea Party obstructionists if they want to have any credibility in the realm of bipartisan governance. They will never govern this country with like people like Ted Cruz and Sarah Palin openly sabotaging any chance of cooperation between the parties.

 

The democrats have been attempting to portray the Tea Party as a group of lunatic extremists...since as we all know adherence to the Constitution is such a radical idea in this era spineless populists. Lets see... a balanced budget, states rights, enforcement of federal laws, adherence to the separation of powers ...oh yeah those are some radical obstructionist concepts. As for cooperation kindly look in Senator Reid's desk to see the over 330 bills sitting in stasis passed by the House that have been gathering dust....not a single senate debate on their merits...that is going to change . Obama will finally no longer have a front man to exempt him from having to sign or veto something.

[IndigoV]

The Tea Party just "claims" to have a Constitutional view. Anyone who is educated knows their view of the Constitution is whatever justifies fascism and privilege. This is why they do not condemn the rising police-state in this country, or U.S. military imperialism. As a a portion of the electorate, they are overwhelmingly represented by middle age and elderly Southerners pining for "the days of Reagan", and not minorities, young people, or the country as a whole(which opposes the Tea Party). If you actually look at Reagan's policies and views, you know in reality, he would been far too liberal for the Tea Party.

As for legal pot, I live in Colorado, and it has been a great success, so much that Republicans aren't even opposing it in this state. There has been decreased crime, more tax revenue, and virtually no problems. Arresting people for marijuana is absurd and counterproductive. It's also fiscally irresponsible and empowers the police-state's ability to thwart our freedom of privacy and movement.

Edited November 25, 2014 by IndigoV

[Aurielius]

@IndigoV.

"Anyone who is educated"...chuckes.....the classic liberal refrain......'if you were only as bright as me you would see my way'.

The rather large assumption here is that your credentials are superior. I think that I detect wafting odor of Hubris in the air.

[HeyYou]

Some democratic measure passed at the STATE level. It's the federal level that folks are beginning to have issues with. (and showing it.)

 

Voter turnout has never been all that good, if you break 40% in a mid term election, you are doing good. At this point, I suspect most folks don't vote, simply because they realize their vote really doesn't change anything. We still see pretty much the same things happening, just a different crowd doing them. This time around, I believe the backlash was more to stop obama from doing more stupid stuff...... but, that doesn't appear to have worked..... he is still being stupid.

[JRRaff]

Anyone who is educated knows their view of the Constitution is whatever justifies fascism and privilege.

And this is where you need to put on the brakes with the rhetoric. "Anyone who is educated", that would be me and I don't see the Tea Party that way. They are hardcore Constitutionalists with a sprinkling of religious types and nothing more.

 

And when you throw out words like fascism and equate that ideology to Conservatism you couldn't be more wrong. Religious freedom, all people deserve equal treatment, small government, free enterprise; those are the hall marks of conservatism. Compare that to what Obama and his clique have done; intrusive government, some people are more equal that others, exerting control over private business, reigning in religious institutions. That sir, is Fascism. Center-left; Franco's Spain, Peron's Argentinian, Mussolini's Italy. Fascism is a leftist ideology. It is Communism-Lite.

 

I fought in circles with my Poly-Sci professor about this. He didn't see it either, even when presented with facts and real life comparisons. He firmly believed that Republicans and Nazis were the same thing and that is what he tried to push in class. I eventually had to go to the Dean of Students and then his department head to get him to stop.

 

This is why they do not condemn the rising police-state in this country, or U.S. military imperialism. As a a portion of the electorate, they are overwhelmingly represented by middle age and elderly Southerners pining for "the days of Reagan", and not minorities, young people, or the country as a whole (which opposes the Tea Party). If you actually look at Reagan's policies and views, you know in reality, he would been far too liberal for the Tea Party.

What I have underlined. :dry: Dude, you sound like a complete lunatic and your debate tactic is to insult people. Juss say'n.

[kvnchrist]

I often wonder if the ferver for the policies of either party is dampened by the way both parties attack eachother. I don't see the mass of the American voter being moved by the drama each side plays against eachother. It's the radical fringe groups who are moved by these quasi-despotic moves each plays against eachother and it is those groups, I think that came out to vote in the election for the left. I think the center left stayed home because they were discussed with the attmousphere and the right came out because of ideology.

 

Does anyone remember the countries attitude when the Dems took both congress the last time? I would think the attitude was the same as it was in the last ellection, but against the other side.