Huge midterm losses for the incumbent, economic collapse

[Alcibiades]

The economy just cannot get back onto its feet. Voters, discontented with the way things are, shellac the governing Democratic majority by electing 72 more Republicans than in the previous congress.

72! That's huge! The incumbent Democratic president must have failed to win reelection!

Um, no. The year was 1938, the president was FDR, and he went on to win reelection to the presidency. Twice.

Some folks are lying to the people. The fact is, the fact that Obama's name wasn't on the ballot did more to cause the losses than anything. It is a lot easier for Republicans to win a majority in a 42% turnout election than in a 63% turnout election.

A majority of 42%. What? Some 23% of the eligible electorate? Some mandate. I have a hypothesis: this will be the last time the Republicans control either house of Congress for at least a decade.

[Denninmi]

1. Well, I hope you're right.

But, I think that the deck is so unfairly stacked against us, for many reasons -- right wing corporate control of the media, right wing funding of candidates and advocacy ads, redistricting will shift more seats to states like Texas AND will also be controlled by Rethugs in most states.

I think the biggest hope we can have is that 1) the Dems in power show some spine and stand up for things that average people want and will help them, and 2) voters again feel that repukes "own" the issues and so take the blame when things continue to crumble.

[aquart]

2. That's what they said after George. But here they are.

[Alcibiades]

7. I actually had Pat Buchanan in mind

He wrote a piece in which he called Obama irrelevant:

http://www.creators.com/opinion/pat-buchanan.html

Funny thing is, Obama is in the White House, and Buchanan's just sitting around writing stuff for other old reactionaries. Obama is where Buchanan wanted to be badly enough to run for the presidency three times, but somehow Obama's irrelevant.

They also said we wouldn't have a black president. They were wrong about FDR in 1938, and wrong about Obama today.

This is the last gasp of a largely inchoate mass of reactionary old white people angry that the world has left them behind.

[BolivarianHero]

8. Rich comming from Puke Cannon...

One guy's running the world's most powerful country. The other's attending two-bit White supremacist "confereneces" run by semi-literate Neanderthals.

http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2009/06/banner-day-at-english-only-conferenece.html



VS.

[BeFree]

3. write

A small minority is what managed to squeak this election.

There will be great enthusiasm to get rid of the republicans in two years.

It is our problem that so few were concerned enough to vote this year. But the pubbies love it.

[Merlot]

4. 2 things would change our elections forever:

1. no more voting machines, paper only

2. motor voter registration in every state.

My guess is our country would look pretty blue if everyone voted and every vote was counted.

[DJ13]

5. 2012 will probably be a return to voters choosing Democrats

Not because things will be dramatically better, but because the voters will assign more blame on the GOP for not working to fix the economy, so the Democrats are the only other choice.

If the economy doesnt improve substantially by 2015 (and lets face it, the corps want low wages and high unemployment, as its better for their profits, so they wont be of any help) we may actually see the rise of a real third party.

But which side of the political spectrum they might come from is up in the air.

I would hope the liberals would begin considering the start of a third party by 2014 if the economy still sucks, otherwise the far right will resurrect the tea party since they already have the template for it.

[deacon]

6. The lunatics brought bush's budget advisor back. And you thought halloween was over. n/t

[Bigmack]

9. 2 Big differences now...

Corporations can spend unlimited amounts. (Yes, they spent in the past, but not like this past election.)

&

The Internet can spread lies at the speed of light. (Pres. Obama... the Kenyan Muslim who spends $200 million a day on trips.)

Big diff.

[slackmaster]

10. Help us, Incumbents! You're our only hope.

[Number23]

11. Rec'd