Republicans shooting themselves in the foot

[palemale]

The reason these candidates did so well in the "northeast" by the way. Is because they are conservatives. That's what America wants. That's why Reagan did so well, because he was a "conservative" not a rino. (Thank you TheFireGod)

The reason these candidates are doing well in the Northeast is that the Republicans have become so extremely conservative, moderate Republicans have just left the party, leaving mostly extreme conservatives behind.

 

[BostonPirate]

True, but after Kennedy died there was Democratic appointment by the governor of MA who held the seat until the special election, which I believe was at the very beginning of last year. The Senate had already passed their version of the Health Bill before they lost the filibuster proof majority. That is why the House couldn't pass it's own and then send it back to Senate after Brown was in, so they had to pass the Senate's bill through reconcilliation. This caused for some of the more progressive ideas that would have been added by the house to be scrapped.

you are getting into detailed Massachusetts politics now. Kennedy himself was instrumental in changing the rules so that appointments by a governor HAD to be extremely short. The effect of the appointment timed with teddy's death and the dates of the votes did not work out in favor of the democrats.

Teddy died while the senate was in recess in august. that put the five month max replacement in the juncture when things are getting written, and senators are consulting with their constituencies in their home state, not the time votes as a rule take place.

 

[MoltenRock III]

he had 60 -40 WITH specter, and then he had 59 -40 when kennedy died. which is not enough to overide a fillibuster.

Not to mention that Robert Byrd was deathly ill, and nearly non-existent in the Senate. Also, Traitor Joe (Libertard), is nothing more than a vain, thin-skinned, ego driven, Republican that is an (I), and not to be counted on by Democrats.

Every time Harry Reid, called the Senate to stay over a weekend, pulled out the cots for 24 hour Senate votes/debate, and forced Republicans into actually having to stand up and filibuster (as the original rule was all about), the Republicans caved immediately! Why the old fuck can't get that thru his thick skin is beyond me. He needs to force these people into standing up for hours on end, in front of the cameras of NBC, ABC, CBS, MSNBC, CNN, HNN, PBS, C-SPAN, and the other networks that the Republicans are against unemployment benefits, financial reform, credit card reform, or ______________.

I hope this old fart Reid forces the Republicans to filibuster the tax cuts for 100% of America with the top 2% having their top rates go up on schedule under Bush's law. I want to see them on camera for hours holding up tax cuts for everyone in order to feather the top 2% with additional cuts. It's a win-win-win-win for Democrats regardless of what happens. If Republicans filibuster, Democrats win by being able to hammer Republicans for being only interested in the rich. If Republicans cave, and give in, Democrats win for cutting taxes for all Americans while still clawing back $700 BILLION from the top 2%. If Republicans filibuster it, and win the filibuster taxes for everyone goes up and the blame lies squarely at Republican's feet, again a Democrat win! If the filibuster holds, taxes go up, then the deficit starts coming down significantly, again the Democrats win!

 

[justndav]

I do want to see Chuck Schumer (D-NY) as the democratic leader in the Senate. I, also, don't think he'll put up with the Republican BS either.

Also Molten, you're right about the tax issue. Let the Republicans try to filibuster cutting the bottom 98% of Americans taxes while raising the top 2%'s taxes back up and see how moderates/independents like that. That issue alone could turn some Senate and House races back in the Democrats favor... when people see the Republicans trying to preserve the richest of Americans tax cuts they are going to be called out on it by every Democrat running, or they should at least... if they are smart. If I were running as a Democrat I would bang that drum every chance I got.

Us Dem's have to stand for something and I think the majority of Americans would like to see their taxes remain low but hey if the Republicans block it and people's taxes go up can only blame one party... the R's. Although something tells me you might get Snowe/Collins/Voinovich or Bennet (UT) or any other Republican in the Senate not running for re election (Murkowski also) to possibly vote on killing a filibuster and letting a bill come to a final vote.

 

[MoltenRock III]

I do want to see Chuck Schumer (D-NY) as the democratic leader in the Senate. I, also, don't think he'll put up with the Republican BS either.

Also Molten, you're right about the tax issue. Let the Republicans try to filibuster cutting the bottom 98% of Americans taxes while raising the top 2%'s taxes back up and see how moderates/independents like that. That issue alone could turn some Senate and House races back in the Democrats favor... when people see the Republicans trying to preserve the richest of Americans tax cuts they are going to be called out on it by every Democrat running, or they should at least... if they are smart. If I were running as a Democrat I would bang that drum every chance I got.

Us Dem's have to stand for something and I think the majority of Americans would like to see their taxes remain low but hey if the Republicans block it and people's taxes go up can only blame one party... the R's. Although something tells me you might get Snowe/Collins/Voinovich or Bennet (UT) or any other Republican in the Senate not running for re election (Murkowski also) to possibly vote on killing a filibuster and letting a bill come to a final vote.

I personally think getting rid of Reid would rally the base. Just 3 months ago or so, there were nearly 150 pieces of legislation, of which over two dozen could be considered major pieces of legislation that had already passed the House, that was just dying on the vine in the Senate. The Energy Reform Bill, passed the House last a YEAR AGO! And yet the Senate is still twisting in the wind, even after having one of the worst ecological disasters the Earth has ever seen, down in the gulf. *shakes head*

So often Democrats are so afraid to stand for what they believe in, even though it's extremely popular if they'd just frame it correctly. No, instead what they do is wait for their opponent to frame them, and the debate and then try to battle back against it. It's codependent, I swear.

 

[rareboy]

It's codependent, I swear.

Who could disagree?

I think it tells you thought that legislation only movesw at the pace that the corporate owners of the Senate and House want it to move.

 

[frankfrank]

First dumb post in this thread. And it doesn't surprise me at all who it's from, lol.

Republicans have killed their chances of taking back the Senate with these candidates.

Not so fast.

These TEABAGGERS are really friendly toward corporations, because they would help to assure that the corporate world returns to the legal Wild West, where "By any means necessary, the means justifies the end" would be the law.

There is still time for the corporations to invest hundreds of millions of dollars each into the campaigns of O'Donnell, Angle, Rand Paul, etc. After all, the Citizens United decision from January (the US Supreme Court) said that corporations can spend as much on campaigns as they can TOLERATE spending, because free speech and money are entirely equal, and corporations are PEOPLE.

I expect saturation infomercials pre-empting regular programming on at least some TV services (over-the-air? Fox?) often, as November approaches - entirely bought by corporations or even groups such as OPEC, etc.

 

[frankfrank]

he had 60 -40 WITH specter, and then he had 59 -40 when kennedy died. which is not enough to overide a fillibuster.

With people like Ben Nelson and Joe Lieberman in that 60, there weren't really 60 votes a lot of the time.