What Tomorrow Holds

[mburbank]

I'm gonna say 'nothing yet'.

I believe we will see some seriously deadlocked races, and some majorly active lawyers, and some pre-packaged ready to go protesters, and it may be some time before we know who 'won'. Since the voting machines can't be trusted, whichever side wins, the other will legitimately be able to call them illegitimate. ow it all shakes out is going to be anybodies guess.

I think, though, that called winning or loosing, the D's will gain some seats with enough margin that they won't be contested. And I'm okay with that. Yes, I'd really like to see the House and the Senate be won by D's, though I'm an independent now, since I think divided government at this moment in history offers the best chance for the continuation of the American Experiment.

But W has no more elections left, the Baker report is coming, and Republicans in the House and Senate have their futures to look toward. This time, I don't think (and I truly hope) %51 will not be enough for George to govern like a king.

However many days or weeks it takes to hash out all the results, I think we are moving into a better time. Here's hoping.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

I think there will be voting errors tomorrow, but I think you may be overstating it for two reasons. 1. The number of absentee ballots being used in this election is unheard of. Some races, they may comprise as much as half of the ballots. In TN for example, the Ford people have in fact pushed absentee ballots in their strong holds (Knoxville, Memphis, etc.) in expectation of long lines and machine errors.

2. This will be the most closely watched election ever. Forget all of the lawyers each party has lined up to sue the other, the parties will have ground troops out at a lot of polling places, particularly watching for long lines as the day winds down.

I think the Dems will take the House. The senate is a toss up at this point, but i think it'll stay GOP. Webb will win, Ford will lose.

[theapportioner]

Is it established that Lieberman will caucus with the Dems if (when) he wins?

[mburbank]

I think so, but he's also said that while he'll caucus with them, he's inclied to be even more 'outspoken' then he has been. So for counting a majority, he counts, but he's being coy about how he votes.

[theapportioner]

It's too bad these robo-calls the republicans are sending out are leaving a bad taste in dem voters. This really should be a huge story.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

Robo-calls should be a huge story?

Lieberman will caucus Dem, although he has every right to scare the shit out of the party. He just wants his committees.

[Preechr]

I think the real story there is whether he'll get them, and that won't be decided till after he wins and upon whether he kneels back at Pelosi's throne. He was a staunch Democrat voter for years, and I actually see the party having the balls to demand more of exactly that and nothing more of him in return for his senority.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

He'll get his seniority, and i don't think Pelosi can effect that(?). Maybe you just couldn't resist a Pelosi jab.....

[theapportioner]

Robo-calls should be a huge story?

Yeah. People all over are complaining about them, and they think the calls are from the Democrats. The messages start off by saying, for instance, "let me tell you about Diane Farrell" before getting into negative stuff about her. Of course, they call 10-20 times, and even during the middle of the night, so people hear just that, hang up, and get pissed. At the very end of the message, of course, they say "this message is brought to you by the Republican National Campaign Committee", so technically it's in compliance. But it's absolutely sleazy, and in New Hampshire the Republicans had to stop because the practice was breaking state laws.

[Preechr]

He'll get his seniority, and i don't think Pelosi can effect that(?). Maybe you just couldn't resist a Pelosi jab.....

Will he, automatically? I'm not as up on the inner workings of the Hill as you are... I thought his run as an Independent was in effect him starting all over...

...and, no, I can never resist a Pelosi jab, though I have shown, at least in my opinion, tremendous restraint, given the evil being she is.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

I read they're calling in 20 districts. Sure they're annoying, but they're much like push polls. i don't think they help anyone's cause, but I also don't think it should be a big story.

There were reports of excessive calling in NY-16, and both Sue Kelly and the NRCC have said they didn't do it. Why would you want to annoy voters like that? You won't increase turnout that way, you'll just piss people off.

it's stupid, but i don't think it's a big story.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

Will he, automatically? I'm not as up on the inner workings of the Hill as you are... I thought his run as an Independent was in effect him starting all over...

Lieberman pulled a shrewd move a few weeks ago and came out and said that Harry Reid promised him his rank, were he to get re-elected (Reid of course denied that this meeting happened). my gues is the truth is somewhere inbetween, but the bottom line is that the senate will be tight either way and the Dems ned all they can get.

But sure, there ae no guarantees. I guess tomorrow can only tell! Woohoo!

[mburbank]

Buckle your seatbelts. Here we go. My money is on us not knowing who controls the house twenty four hours from now. I think we'll know the Senate is R but anything could happen.

Let me ask this. Who the FUCK is Chenney's bird huntin' partner today? I hope they are wearing a diving bell helmet, 'cause he's likely to be in a pissy mood.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

I think it might be Mark Foley. They're gonna deal with him Fredo style.

[theapportioner]

If the Dems can't win the house, especially in this political climate, that party needs to go the way of the Whigs.

[theapportioner]

Record turnout in Connecticut, according to the Kos. Could Lamont score a huge upset?

Bodes well for the Democrat Reps. too.

[theapportioner]

Hey Kevin, maybe this is already common knowledge on these boards, but I haven't been around so much in recent times. What are you doing these days in DC, anyway?

[mburbank]

Oh, the many, many, many, many potential jokes.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

Yeah, I think I'd rather have Max expalain it. He turns a phrase so well.

I work for a direct mail fundraising group and do grad. school P/T. :/

[theapportioner]

Apparently Lieberman's position on the ballot is really terrible. Given how stupid most people are, this will actually make a difference.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

That could be interesting, although I think most folks who intend to vote in Connecticut will be driven there by that race, and know pretty damn well who they want.

[theapportioner]

http://static.flickr.com/112/291623331_9870d74ce5_o.gif

[KevinTheOmnivore]

Are the Libertarians even running anybody????? I love how the weakest of the main three is up at the very top. That could help him a lot.

[theapportioner]

I think Joe will still win, but if anything, this ballot makes for a good laugh.

[theapportioner]

Senator Macacawitz's phone lines are down, bwahahahahahaha

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NzI3YjgxZGE2Y2Y5YTg1YTNjMTA2MGY3MGViMmJlM2Q=

[mburbank]

Kevin, jokes aside, did you ever say who all or what all your group does direct mail for? Does it have a slant, or iis it just for hire?

Oh, and how do you sleep at night?

Kidding, kidding, just kidding.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

It has a slant, a liberal one.

And no, I never said who it is.

[mburbank]

I didn't mean you should say who it was, just if it was strictly gun for hire stuff or if it had a leaning. No wonder your sour on liberalism. I would be too.

[Abcdxxxx]

They were hitting hard with the phone solicitations in California. Hillary and Bill, Arnold, Kerry, Pelosi...they were all calling. Al Gore was calling me on an hourly basis sweating my vote. I guess they didn't hear I'm on the No Call list? (hey Max, don't feel bad, I couldn't get Al to talk about the issues either).

But yeah - It really did reach the point of harrassment. Fuck the war, I voted according to the candidates stance on phone marketing.

I vote absentee, and I'm still getting the booklets AFTER the election. Sometimes even the ballots. I reached out to the Secretary of States election fraud dept. , and while they opened an investigation, it wasn't very clear as to wether or not they had to count the absentees at all. Supposedly, it's a district choice, and changes county to country, and it's the City elections offices who decide how they proctor elections or submit votes within set guidelines. I'm pretty sure my vote is regularly trashed because of petty local politics.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

I didn't mean you should say who it was, just if it was strictly gun for hire stuff or if it had a leaning. No wonder your sour on liberalism. I would be too.

yeah, not gun for hire. Mostly liberal interest groups and a few Dems here and there.

[kahljorn]

i live in california and we haven't received a single ballot or any information about voting other than a "TO THE BUZBY RESIDENCE" your voting location is here! We aren't the buzbies though.

Maybe because we live in a republican city or something?

[Chojin]

I voted provisionally because i am so not driving an hour each way to get to a voting booth to wait an hour. And because I was way too busy or something to reregister before.

This absentee votes not being counted business is TROUBLESOME though can someone please source/corfirm/deny that ;< That's what I was gonna do next year cause fuck lines ;<

[Abcdxxxx]

Maybe Kahl. It's always hard to tell when California is corrupt or just incompetent.

I know I had to sign an affidavit form of some sort requesting to vote - even though I had already voted in numerous elections...and I promptly recieved a summons for Jury Duty as a reward.

[kahljorn]

we just reregistered to vote like a few months ago, so I don't understand what's going on exactly. It's weird because neither my girlfriend nor I got a single piece of information. Although we did get a phonecall reminding us to vote. Thanks america.

[Abcdxxxx]

I can only really speak on my experience with San Francisco, where they have since started to do recounts on half the local elections. I don't know if it was in part due to my complaint or what, but they have started making a big deal about counting absentees, and how drastically different the vote counts are turning out. What's still implied, and what the State told me was that most elections offices only bother to count the absentees if the election is close...meaning they don't do it until after the polls have closed. It's my understanding that it's up to the local office's discretion on how they handle them.

I went to a Bay Area politics insider message board and posted to see if there were others having the same problem, and got accused of voter fraud. So even though the State allows what's called "permanent absentees" there is a line of thinking that this is somehow illegal, and people like me (who own property and keep a residence there) should serve jail time for it.

Another story I can share - about two years ago, the elections committee there asked to use an Irish Bar in a building my family owns, as a voter location. Not the library, post office, banks, or various community centers in the area, they picked a dive bar with an alley entrance. The electronic ballot boxes were dropped off the night before, left outside the door until the next day - and the voting was proctored by a couple voulenteers from the neighborhood with photocopy lists of names they were crossing off with pencil. There were several ballot boxes they never put out, that were just hanging out. Scary shit!

The ballots do have a receipt, and you can inquire if your vote was counted - but I couldn't find what the hell I did with mine.

[Preechr]

I didn't vote this year

[KevinTheOmnivore]

just wondering, how would you react if republicans retain the control of house and senate, especially after what we've witnessed in the foley scandal and the waning support for iraq war?

How WILL you react when that happens? It's gonna.

[theapportioner]

Dems are poised to win the Senate. Incredible.

[thebiggameover]

it only took me 30min to vote today. hayworth lost! yes!!!!

[Geggy]

just wondering, how would you react if republicans retain the control of house and senate, especially after what we've witnessed in the foley scandal and the waning support for iraq war?

How WILL you react when that happens? It's gonna.

Oops!

I can't believe it...we've gotten our first black governer in massachusetts.

I really thought there was going to be a massive voting fraud with all the problems facing yesterday but I guess it wasn't enough for the republicans.

Heres hoping for a party in the house that's not as morally bankrupted and insane as GOPs, and will TAKE ACTION against corruption, instead of taking part in it. If democrats sweep up senate as well then the next two years is going to be veeery interesting. Cheney must be furious right now :lol

[KevinTheOmnivore]

Tell it, Bruce! DLC! DLC! :)

http://www.slate.com/id/2153167/#Painkiller

Happy Nights
Why Democrats won for a change.

By Bruce Reed

Updated Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2006, at 12:03 AM ET
Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006

Painkiller: Going into tonight, Democrats had celebrated a grand total of three truly happy Election Nights—1986, 1992, 1996—in the past three decades and three truly miserable ones in this decade alone. So, for Democrats, an election in which we were destined to win back the House and a majority of governorships for the first time in 12 years is more than a good night. It's a new lease on life.

On Election Night six years ago, my long-suffering wife and I stood in the rain in Nashville. I had just broken my shoulder playing touch football, but that was what hurt the least. Two years ago, we stood in the freezing cold in Boston. I'd just lacerated my wrist but had to share all my painkillers with the Kerry-Edwards staff. This year, we skipped the emergency room and spent the evening at the happiest place in town—the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's victory party on Capitol Hill. No painkillers necessary: Democrats were partying like it was 1992.

After six years during which the Democratic Party lost two straight presidential elections it should have won, lost the Senate, and lost ground in the House, tonight's triumph felt like the weight of a giant Rovian albatross finally being lifted off our necks. Democrats are so accustomed to having the football snatched away at the last minute, this year we actually ran a congressional candidate named Charlie Brown—and we still can't believe we finally get to watch the other side kick the dust and mutter, "Good grief."

For a party that had been on such a cold streak, tonight's victory provided clues to two of political life's eternal questions: How come we won this time? And what can we do to make sure it happens again?

In one sense, the answer to the first question is easy: Democrats never had a chance to blow this election because Republicans blew it first. Nancy Pelosi and Rahm Emanuel won't thank Bush by name, but they could. The president and his party have dedicated his entire second term to electing a Democratic Congress, from Iraq to Katrina, Schiavo to Miers, Ney to DeLay. It now looks like Bush, not Iraq, is the one who's just a comma—a presidency that was on the brink of failure before 9/11 and in the voters' eyes has now officially found its way back there.

But give Democrats credit. Apart from a foolish summer fling with Ned Lamont and a late Laugh-In cameo from John Kerry, Democrats did just about everything right and ran their best campaign in a decade. Field marshals Rahm Emanuel and Chuck Schumer ignored the virtual industry of self-help nonsense that has paralyzed Democrats' chattering classes and went back to a simple, proven formula: From the suburbs to the heartland, elections are won in the center.

Emanuel and Schumer went out of their way to recruit candidates that could put the party's best face forward in otherwise-hostile territory. Despite pressure from various interests, they refused to impose ideological litmus tests. The result? Democrats did the opposite of what Republicans have been doing (and what losing Democratic campaigns usually do). Instead of shrinking their tent, Democrats made their big tent a lot bigger.

Winners like Heath Schuler of North Carolina, Brad Ellsworth of Indiana, and Gabby Giffords of Arizona are straight out of centrist casting—candidates with broad appeal who have put Democrats back on the map in red districts that the party hasn't won in years. With mainstream Democratic candidates who weren't vulnerable on values and weren't afraid to hit back when attacked, Republican social issues were the wedge that didn't bark.

Against Bob Casey, Rick Santorum spent more than $20 million to lose a swing state by over 20 points. (Santorum did, however, get one of the biggest cheers of the night at the DCCC party—for his concession speech.)

In fact, the best news of the 2006 elections is the opportunity it gives Democrats to earn the lasting support of the independents and disgruntled Republicans whose votes just dropped in our laps. Tuesday was the death knell for Rovism—the quaint and now fully discredited theory that majorities are built not by expanding support with ideas that work but by mobilizing extreme minorities with ideas that aren't meant to be enacted and wouldn't work if they did.

Ever since watching Rove's success in 2002 and 2004, some on the left and in the blogosphere have been trying to persuade the Democratic Party to follow suit and develop our own smashmouth politics aimed less at persuasion and more at motivating our base. As Lamont discovered, that approach wins primaries—but as Joe Lieberman showed him, that's no match for pragmatic problem solving in a general election.

Today's elections, fought in territory where the Democratic Party needed to expand its reach, showed how many swing voters there are—enough to turn districts, states, and even entire houses of Congress. As Republicans found out the hard way, the elections also proved that parties can't count on any American's vote if they can't solve the country's problems. That's the most important lesson Democrats learned this year: It is better to beat Rove than to join him.

[El Blanco]

So, what are they going to change? Why is Cheney pissed? Is there some legislation that will or won't get passed?

Did they win seats on merit, or simply because they yelled" Hey, that guy was with Bush!"?

Is social security going to be fixed? Is healthcare going to be addressed? What about Iraq? National security? Immigration?

What is going to change?


Wait, lets rephrase that....what will improve?

[KevinTheOmnivore]

Did they win seats on merit, or simply because they yelled" Hey, that guy was with Bush!"?

This is a kind of funny argument. How often do any politicians get elected because they're super awesome?

[mburbank]

What was improving before? I don't have what you'd call high hopes for improvement. I just want to slow down the bleeding a little in terms of congress ceding al authority to the executive without even saying 'uhm... hey... now."

In any case, it all remains to be seen.

Oh, and I am pleasantly surprised to find myself wrong about the House. Anybody have ideas about wether wee talking hours, days or weeks efore we know the senate results?

[KevinTheOmnivore]

I've heard we might hear about Montana as soon as today, not accounting for any lawsuits.

I think Virginia will be a mess. It's within the margin of a state financed recount, so we'll see.

[AChimp]

I've never understood why recounts in the U.S. take so long. In Canada, polls close at 8pm and all votes across the country are counted by 10pm. If a recount is needed, they do it right away, even if they're counting all night. :/

And I don't think anyone has ever sued anyone else because they lost or whatever.

[Geggy]

So, what are they going to change? Why is Cheney pissed? Is there some legislation that will or won't get passed?

Did they win seats on merit, or simply because they yelled" Hey, that guy was with Bush!"?

Is social security going to be fixed? Is healthcare going to be addressed? What about Iraq? National security? Immigration?

What is going to change?


Wait, lets rephrase that....what will improve?

Payback Time: Who the Democrats Will Target (http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/11/payback_time_wh.html)

November 08, 2006 8:24 AM

Rhonda Schwartz Reports:

Halliburton, the CIA and big tobacco companies are among the early targets identified by top Democratic staff to ABC News as likely targets for investigation once the Democrats take control of the House at the beginning of next year.

The staffers say Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), now expected to become speaker, has told top Democratic donors there is a "100-hour agenda" she wants to push through -- taking on the minimum wage, drug and energy prices and corruption.

Defense contractors, including Halliburton, the intelligence rationale for the war in Iraq and CIA secret prisons are what one staffer called "uninvestigated scandals."

Here's a look at who's in line to take over the most powerful committee chairmanships and the investigations they are likely to pursue:

In the House:

Henry Waxman (D-Calif.): Described as "a pit-bull with a fantastic staff," Rep. Waxman is in place to take over as chairman of the powerful House Government Reform Committee. Insiders look for this to become the powerhouse investigating committee "where the action is at." Expect Rep. Waxman to start by issuing subpoenas for top Halliburton and KBR executives. Others issues will include Iraq war contracting and Katrina and Gulf Coast re-building.

The last time executives from tobacco companies were called to testify was when Congressman Waxman was Chairman of the Health and Environment Subcommittee of Government Reform in 1994.

Jane Harman (D-Calif.): As a possibility for Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Harman is eager to pursue the ties between convicted Congressman Duke Cunningham and defense contractors. But she is far from assured of taking over as chair of the committee due to long-standing opposition by the Congressional Black Caucus and Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) who wants the job himself. Insiders say the job most likely goes to Sylvester Reyes (D-Texas).

Regardless of who is chairman, one of the first issues most likely will be the Cunningham scandal. Also on the agenda is pre-war intelligence: Who forged the Niger documents?

George Miller (D-Calif.): Rep. Miller is slated to take over the Education and the Workforce Committee. Expect a full rehearing of allegations involving convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the Northern Marianas Islands and Tom Delay.

John Conyers (D-Mich.): Rep. Conyers is in line to take over the Judiciary Committee. While one top hill staffer says, "His appetite for true investigation is untested," his new book takes on President Bush for violating the law on Iraq and secret prisons. Internet blogs are hyperventilating about possible impeachment hearings.

John Dingell (D-Mich.): In line for the Chairman of the House Commerce Committee, Rep. Dingell's office says he plans to hold oversight hearings on Medicare and energy policies. His first goal would be to push through a bill aimed at lower prescription drug prices for Medicare.

[El Blanco]

No, both Haliburton and Big Tobacco fund the Dems. Empty threats.

CIA, good luck with that.

And am I alone in not being wild with terms like "payback" being thrown about when there are real concerns to be addressed?


Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see Haliburton investigated, but it just won't happen.

[kahljorn]

i dont know elblanco that article looked like a farce to me.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

Pic of the night:

http://www.wonkette.com/assets/resources/2006/11/santorumconcedes.jpg

I don't know why Santorum's crying children brings me such joy.

[Emu]

Why is that guy flipping off the camera?

[KevinTheOmnivore]

Daddy lost.

[Grislygus]

I had heard his spoiled children were emotionally shattered, but I had yet to see with my own eyes. Thank you, Kevin, for allowing me the opportunity to see that.

[Abcdxxxx]

The problem is Pelosi can out evil any Republican evil doer if she puts her mind to it. Beware of the Pelosi-Boxer-Fienstien troika out of CA. They're bad fucking news.

[mburbank]

Kevin, common ground! I have to say the shot I saw of Santorums sobbing, doll carrying child made me smile, and I felt so small about it! I mean, she' just a kid, it's not her fault her dad's Rick Santorum, of course she loves him! And yet, there it was, the picture made me happy. Oh well. I'm only human.

[RectalWart]

Never mind.

[kahljorn]

So what's so bad about this Pelosi lady?
I'm really interested to see what these democrats can do beyond "fixing" everything the republicans "Fucked up".

[Chojin]

Oh shit son, Ds take House and possibly the Senate, and Rumsfeld steps down.

http://www.naprazdniny.info/sponzor/i'm%20lovin'%20it%20logo.jpg

I wonder if this means an implosion of the Republican party in general. Really, the only thing that would top this is if Bush was found dead from heroin overdose tomorrow ;<

Oh and a preemptive fuck off - i'm a registered independent and I haven't had anything to be a giddy little cheerleader about in a long while ;<

[Chojin]

Also, where would one go to find county-specific election results? Google's onyl giving me shit from 2004.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

I may be wrong, but that might not be available for a while. Even the numbers you get on election night aren't from the government, they're from the AP.

I'd call your county board of elections (or equivalent) and put in an order for a print copy. Might cost you a $1.

[theapportioner]

CNN has that info on the website.

[theapportioner]

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h281/janthony99/2006108rr_santorum_concedePJ_580.jpg

[Preechr]

I honestly don't know why Santorum's always creeped me out. I've never found any hints of corruption on him, but I'm really kinda glad he didn't make the cut. Max, you're a terrible person. You should never take pleasure at the sight of a.... aw, fuck it. Santorum had her on the stage for a reason. Maybe that's the perfect image for the Republicans of today: a sniffling child that has no idea what's going on.

Yeah, I had full confidence the Republicans would emerge unscathed from this one, but that's not because I had faith in them. I really couldn't see the Democrats suddenly figuring out how to do anything right after they've shown no capacity for doing so in 5 years, and I had even less faith in the American public to think about their votes... I'm still not convinced that's what happened in either case, though. The numbers are not out yet, and I think when we can see the full picture of what happened there will be some interesting motivations to observe.

Chojin, you should be able to get county by county info on your Secretary of State's website. Geggy, how in the HELL can you sit there and ignore the obvious fact that when the Dems win, all that "voting fraud" and all those legal challenges and recounts we've come to accept since 2000 suddenly disappear? Do you think the Republicans just forgot to fix this one? "Stolen elections" is now officially a myth, though I truly hope we can find the time within the next two years to add printers to every voting machine in the country and tighten up security to the point we can dispense with the endless BS we've had to sit through in this regard for 6 years now and move on.

Max, VA is all digital, with no paper, so there's really no point in a recount. It will, however, be three weeks before the vote totals are certified, so stop holding your breath. Unless the GOP breaks out the lawyers on this one and contests the vote in court, ala Florida 00 or Ohio 04, the Dems got both houses.

That's the reality, and I'm good with it. As Blanco said, it's up to the Democrats to prove they can actually do more in the way of governance than mere obstructionism now. If they can, we will have a better country to show for it. The best wars ever fought in modern times were prosecuted by unity governments. Hopefully, the finger-pointing can stop and the left will take up the reins on a fight that should have been theirs from the beginning.

I'm really quite anxious to see this plan of theirs they've been touting. They've been working on it in secret for so long now, I'm sure it must be impressive as hell.

Bush's speech today was revealing. He acted as if his guest worker baby had just slipped his mind. He somehow forgot that the only thing standing in the way of a program he campaigned on in 99 and 03, his masterwork, was a Congress and Senate dominated by members of his own party. With Rummy gone, the new leaders of the Legislative Branch kind of have to get to work, don't they?

It's time for a new direction. I'm ready.

I made a point to listen to as much of Boortz, Limbaugh and Hannity as I could today... I wouldn't have missed their shows on this day for the world. I can't wait for Savage! Rush really surprised me. Bush's speech aired during his show, but he'd already become audibly unhinged before the announcement of Rumsfeld's departure. He actually admitted relief at not being in the position of having to "stick his neck out" for Republicans that simply haven't been doing their jobs. He confessed to being a GOP shill.

Nothing the Democrats have done in the last 5 years has impressed me, politically, strategically or morally. I think some new blood has the potential for positive steps in a better direction, but I have little or no confidence that the Party of Pelosi has it in it to know good from bad, right from wrong. If they can adjust their framework away from win vs loss and actually govern instead of just bitch about everything that happens, this might just be a great time in History.

[Preechr]

I feel liberated, and I'm going to tell you as plainly as I can why. I no longer am going to have to carry the water for people who I don't think deserve having their water carried.

[Chojin]

that picture makes me feel bad :<

[Grislygus]

That picture made me crack up even more. Her face is so absolutely priceless, I can't help it.

And that kid on the right looks like a deer in the headlights. I'm making this my desktop background.

[theapportioner]

I love their outfits :)

Oh well, poor spoiled brats.

[theapportioner]

It was kinda cool seeing Limbaugh speaking so frankly about this election. Party ideology aside, these Republicans deserved to lose because of corruption etc.

[Preechr]

Yes, because only half the politicians are the corrupt ones.

Yep.

[Immortal Goat]

All politicians are corrupt. They just run over different people to get to where they are. And the R's were running over friends of mine, so the D's got my vote this time.

[kahljorn]

"And that kid on the right looks like a deer in the headlights."

DOE!

[mburbank]

But didn't Limbaugh aslo basically admit

"Fans, I was lying to you and if you didn't know that, you're stupid. I'm a shill, a liar, a jester, and if you ever take me seriously afgain you've learned nothing, but that's what I'm counting on."

[Geggy]

I read somewhere that if you pop a tab of oxycontin before a lie detector test, you're most likely going to pass.

[theapportioner]

I didn't mean you should say who it was, just if it was strictly gun for hire stuff or if it had a leaning. No wonder your sour on liberalism. I would be too.

yeah, not gun for hire. Mostly liberal interest groups and a few Dems here and there.

Well, if you hate your job you could always move back to Albany. I hear Spitzer's hiring...

[KevinTheOmnivore]

Don't hate my job. :)

[Chojin]

I can't believe this forum got so dead after all this big news ;< What the fuck, people

[Preechr]

Well, here's how it works: Nobody really expected this, for whatever reasons, so we've all sort of turtled in to see what somebody else has to say about it. Unfortunately, it'll be about two months before anything happens, so whatever happens between now and then will likely be just regurgitation of some punidts assertion.

It actually speaks highly of those that post here to not have spoken out immediately, in a way.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

Speak for yourself, you were the one who said the House wouldn't change. :lol

[kahljorn]

Yes, I'm just waiting to see what happens.

[Preechr]

:lol

Alrighty, laughing boy... I know it's fun to get all giggly, but can you point me to the post where I actually SAID I wanted the Republicans to win anything? I said I believed they would retain their dominance, and then I said that belief was based in a lack of faith in the American electorate and the inability for the Democrats to do ANYTHING right lately. You yourself didn't think they'd take BOTH Houses, didja? ...and I don't see you forecasting what's gonna happen come January.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

I think Charles Krauthammer, who I generally detest, put it nicely on this election:

This is not realignment. As has been the case for decades, American politics continues to be fought between the 40-yard lines. The Europeans fight goal line to goal line, from socialist left to the ultranationalist right. On the American political spectrum, these extremes are negligible. American elections are fought on much narrower ideological grounds. In this election, the Democrats carried the ball from their own 45-yard line to the Republican 45-yard line.