Impending Cataclysm
Several months ago, National Review had an article entitled "The Coming Cataclysm" regarding the prospects of a further erosion of GOP congressional influence. One of the points the author made was that the message of the GOP now carries very little positive brand equity.
With gas prices poised to reach $5 for a gallon of unleaded regular before the July 4th weekend, unemployment rising, and McCain calling for policies that favor the top 1% of income earners, it appears that the spillover into state races may be exactly that -- cataclysmic.
Here is one man's take on where the rubber meets the road.link.
There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism,... those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.
I'm not sure I follow. Republicans have lost a lot of credibility and face, therefore the economy is tanking?
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Not exactly. The failing economy is largely identified with the failed economic policies of the president and the GOP controlled congress of the first 6 years of his two terms -- in particular, the taxation and energy policies.
At a time where the average lunchbucket is suffering, it is a pretty hard sell for congressional Republicans to get elected on a platform that emphasizes: 1) lower taxes for the top 1%, 2) no movement on healthcare reform, 3) continued big involvement in Iraq, and 4) subsidies for big oil.
I expect to see a further 20-25 seat shift in the House and perhaps 7-9 seats in the Senate toward the Democrats.
There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism,... those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.
edit: never mind, too slow
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baggachipz: Who cares about Japan, let them have their silly pointless dog games and countless re-hashes of anime-based dragon princess super lucky crapitty crap.
The cataclysm is that the democrats will have a super majority in 2 of the 3 branches of Government and the republican's handed them a nice wrapped set of laws giving them power to go $#$^&@*$^ nuts with.
I'm almost looking forward to it.
Unfortunately, if I slash my wrist with my lightsaber it cauterizes instantly. - PurEvil on emo Star Wars plots.
Here's the kicker. A supermajority and control of the White House gives you the ability to.....link
There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism,... those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.
Link isn't working for me (though that could be a work issue..)
Unfortunately, if I slash my wrist with my lightsaber it cauterizes instantly. - PurEvil on emo Star Wars plots.
From the article:
There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism,... those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.
Whoa. That's batsh*t crazy.
Unfortunately, if I slash my wrist with my lightsaber it cauterizes instantly. - PurEvil on emo Star Wars plots.
Wow. I learned something new today. I can't imagine what would have happened if Bush and company could have achieved this in 2002 or 2004 *shudder*.
Somewhere on a deep ocean vent no man has ever seen, God smites a small colony of tube worms because you masturbate.-JoeBedurndurn, on sin
I wouldn't count the Republicans out yet. Hillary could still hand them the election.
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The only possible good thing that could come of it would be to repeal much of what has been added over the past 2 terms and closing those loopholes that let the executive branch work without oversight.
Despite me being left of left I don't want all three branches of government controlled by the same political party. Checks and Balances were built into our government for a reason.
Fletcher wrote:
I don't like the idea of all three branches being controlled by one party either. That said, I certainly don't like any one branch being controlled by Scalia and his willing flunky.
There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism,... those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.
Heh. Paleo finally bought into my court-stuffing scenario.
Been touting that one for years.
Everyone I've talked to is staying home this election or voting Democrat in response to the last 8 years of insanity. Our congressman would probably be considered a liberal in most states and honestly hasn't done that bad of a job, but the R after his name means that he's going to lose, and lose bad.
I never minded piracy. Anyone who minds about piracy is full of sh*t. Anyone who pirates your game wasn't going to buy it anyway! -Warren Spector
Neither do I. Such is the nature of things, though. The pendulum will swing left for a while, until something else comes along that makes the public discontent with TPTB. Then it will shift Republican again, because heaven forbid if we ever have a choice other than the Big 2. It's almost depressing.
Psychotic Foreign Teenage Chicks are so hot. - Legion
I find it ironic anytime a healthy vaccinated person bitches about science...on the internet. - MaverickDago
You'd have to be "batsh*t crazy" to try and defend anything that's happened in Bush's last two terms. Let's just pray that we don't have to endure a third term with Bob Dole....err John McCain.
Sorry, I keep getting those two mixed up.
You DO have choices. They are sometimes kept off the ballot by restrictive ballot-access laws that heavily favor existing major parties, but they ARE there. There are also other options like write-ins. People say that choosing a third party is a wasted vote, which is silly - just because your candidate doesn't win doesn't make it a wasted vote. The Big 2 have done nothing but get us in deeper and deeper over the last seventy years. It's time to do something else.
Remember: this conversation is just between you and me ... and the NSA.
Here's the thing. Punish telecoms for their illegal wiretaps? Repeal of the Patriot Act? Competent Homeland Security? I'll believe it when I see it. They aren't interested in changing things, other than changing how they spend your money; they are in it to regain power and push their own agenda. The Democrats will take what George Bush has given them and run with it. Obama is already talking about an "economic stimulus package", which is no more than taking taxes, skimming admin costs off the top, and then handing them back. What's the difference?
Remember: this conversation is just between you and me ... and the NSA.
Think of it this way - you *know* one of the parties has made a mockery of fiscally conservative ideals over the last 8 years. Sure, we could mope that they're all the same, etc... but why not give the other guys a chance? At least when the Dems spend money it tends to be more domestic and less foreign wars.
I never minded piracy. Anyone who minds about piracy is full of sh*t. Anyone who pirates your game wasn't going to buy it anyway! -Warren Spector
Well if my choices are Bush III or Carter II, I'm not sure, Bush at least managed to get reelected...
"Also, I have four legs and am covered in wool. Baa!" *Legion* reveals his inner furry.
Yes, and we've seen how well that turned out.
I want neither Bush III or Carter II. I want Obama I.
I accrue pens like Hefner accrues bimbos. -- duckideva
I agree on the balls. Not a fan of the balls. -- wordsmythe asserting himself in OOC Theater
I think it is a bit of a misnomer to call McCain Bush III. George Herbert Walker Bush was a pretty good president. He, unlike his predecessor, actually practiced the fiscal conservatism that he preached. That, more than anything else, resulted in his being abandoned by the GOP. He also successfully waged the first Gulf War, building a coalition that ensured cheap oil and a stable region.
In sharp contrast, George Walker Bush (43) is a complete and utter failure as a human being. He has broken the treasury, ravaged the economy, committed the country to a senseless war, squandered American influence, and undone the Bush family legacy. All that was good in the father has been corrupted by the son.
McCain appears just to be a boot-licking opportunist who will say and do anything to win the favor of the folks who told him to screw himself 8 years ago. He is a person without vision who knows that the only way to get on a ticket is to parrot whatever it is that Bush says. He is more concerned with winning the office than actually doing anything with it.
There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism,... those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.
You sure? I seem to recall that being open to debate...
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Well he is the sitting president, is he not? I bet McCain can at least distinguish between and inhaler and a Breathalyzer, and actually say inhaler without adding extra letters...
"Also, I have four legs and am covered in wool. Baa!" *Legion* reveals his inner furry.
Yes, he is the sitting president, and after both elections he and his followers quelled any attempt to investigate the election. Because questioning the outcome of the election is "unpatriotic."
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And all the recounts that went on showed that he had indeed won, even by those that weren't exactly his supporters.
"Also, I have four legs and am covered in wool. Baa!" *Legion* reveals his inner furry.
So you're willing to settle for the lesser evil when there's another choice? Might as well vote Cthulu then.
Remember: this conversation is just between you and me ... and the NSA.
But did we look into whether the election in Florida in 2000 (where his brother happened to be Governor and the Secretary of State(?)(whoever was in charge of the election) was one of his biggest supporters? The state where thousands of people in Miami-Dade (an incredibly democrat leaning county) were not allowed to vote because they had the same name as a convicted felon (who also aren't allowed to vote although that's a separate issue) and thousands of votes in elderly/Jewish communities were not counted because of "hanging chads".
I'm not saying there was beyond a doubt fixing of the election, but there is a doubt and it should be investigated and if it's found to have happened, the people responsible should be punished appropriately.
Fletcher wrote:
Was the exclusion of voters because of having the same names as felons only done in Miami-Dade? and if so by whom? Why do you assume that everyone in the county would ahve voted against Bush? Did anyone ask those that were barred from voting whom they had intended to vote for in a valid record of some sort? What about all the military votes that were ignored, whom almost exclusively vote Republican? Why did the DNC only want selective hand recounts in Democratic leaning counties? Why not also push for the "hanging chads" that might have been in Republican leaning counties?
"Also, I have four legs and am covered in wool. Baa!" *Legion* reveals his inner furry.
You might want to watch the HBO special Recount. Answers a lot of your questions. Bush was given the election by a handful of people.
Unfortunately, if I slash my wrist with my lightsaber it cauterizes instantly. - PurEvil on emo Star Wars plots.