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[stressboy]

8 weeks of additional lolly-gagging and we get 1 irrelevant vote from Olympia "My vote today is my vote today. It doesn't forecast what my vote will be tomorrow." Snowe.

They should have compromised. Compromised! COMPROMISED!!

 

[cntr]

Probably a bit pointless at the moment, but here's something too hilarious to pass up posting.

Historical Sex Scandals

It’s interesting how even as our popular culture has become raunchier, our official political culture has in a lot of ways become more prudish. Consider the case of Grover Cleveland:

Maria claimed that [New York Governor and Presidential candidate Grover] Cleveland was the father, although there was no way to prove it one way or another. However, Cleveland was a bachelor while the other paternity candidates were married. When the child was born in September 1874 she named him Oscar Folsom Cleveland. (Oscar Folsom was Cleveland’s law partner.)

Despite uncertainty Cleveland decided to accept paternity. He had less to lose than other possibilities. He acknowledged the boy and provided for his support. When one of his campaign leaders tried to publicly blame the deceased Oscar Folsom as the father, Cleveland had the story squelched.

Not long after the birth Maria began drinking heavily, and Cleveland had a judge commit her to an insane asylum and the child to an orphanage. He paid the orphanage expenses of $5 per week. When Maria was released, Cleveland had her set up in a business in Niagara Falls. Later she tried unsuccessfully to get custody of her son, and he was placed for adoption with a family. Cleveland paid her $500 and she left town. The son grew up to become a medical doctor.

The Republicans used the campaign slogan, “Ma Ma, Where’s my Pa?” The controversy about public service and private morality raged across the nation. The choice was between a man of personal immorality and public service integrity (Grover Cleveland) and one of a model family man guilty of using public office for personal gain (James G. Blaine). Cleveland narrowly won. After his election the Democrats answered the Republican ditty with “Gone to the White House, ha ha ha!”​

This campaign also featured Blaine’s supporters accusing the Democrats of being the party of “rum, romanism, and rebellion”—another memorable slogan. The presidential elections of this period were noteworthy for being extremely close and simultaneously lacking in clear ideological content. Hence a premium was put on coming up with fun slogans.

Also, Cleveland's slogan against Blaine was:
“Blaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine
Contential Liar from the state of Maine.
Burn this letter.”

The was a reference to an incriminating letter which said “burn this letter” at the end.

 

[Big Baybee]

now for something else entirely

New Orleans cops use ancient "unnatural copulation" law to turn prostitutes into sex-offenders

I have a love/hate relationship with my state. So ridiculous and backwards at times. This is some bullshit right here.

 

[HocusPocus]

What a great day! A republican has the Kennedy seat. Just the start of the people who make the country work taking their government back. I love it!

 

[Mgoblue201]

What a great day! A republican has the Kennedy seat. Just the start of the people who make the country work taking their government back. I love it!

From the hands of the big business, big spending party, into the hands of the big business, big spending party. Choice is great, isn't it?

 

[milkyjay20]

From the hands of the big business, big spending party, into the hands of the big business, big spending party. Choice is great, isn't it?

such beauty

such eloquence

asl?

 

[S1lent]

Howard Dean: The Message of Massachusetts Election Results Is 'We Gotta Be Tougher'

Yes. Wouldn't it be great if this caused Obama to change course, get tougher, and actually fight the special interests? If it caused Reid to ignore the Republicans and go nuclear?

One can dream.

 

[Diablos]

If this doesn't teach the Dems to become more aggressive and go nuclear they almost deserve to lose every seat they have up this year. STOP FUCKING AROUND.

Obama has to pass something and call it health care reform or else he's going to look so, so awful. Will never be able to recover from it. Fucking pass something. This is what Democrats get for dicking around more than six months to pass a fucking health bill. Argh, I'm so pissed off right now.

 

[GrotesqueBeauty]

If this doesn't teach the Dems to become more aggressive and go nuclear they almost deserve to lose every seat they have up this year. STOP FUCKING AROUND.

You may as well tell the sun not to shine.

 

[Tamanon]

"In many ways the campaign in Massachusetts became a referendum not only on health care reform but also on the openness and integrity of our government process. It is vital that we restore the respect of the American people in our system of government and in our leaders. To that end, I believe it would only be fair and prudent that we suspend further votes on health care legislation until Senator-elect Brown is seated,"

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/...-sen-webb-no-hcr-votes-until-brown-seated.php

Jim Webb, looking for an excuse to bail out. Congrats to the Senate, you did what you wanted.

 

[Diablos]

Good for the Senate. If Obama doesn't pass this his first term will be a failure; he said so himself.

 

[Tamanon]

Yeah, but you don't care about the Health Reform bill, they shouldn't have even voted on it the first time for you. Gotta get that jobs bill through!

 

[Amir0x]

So hey how about HCR crumbling and the US having the wait yet more decades before worthwhile reform can be delivered?

Eh? Isn't that awesome guys? I think I'm going to vote for Obama and his PA cronies again so that all this dramatic change and leadership can be continued.

God the USA is so dumb.

 

[itsinmyveins]

I thought US Politics used to be fairly direct and that the ruling party often could press things prioritized on their agenda through rather quickly, or at least a bastardized version of it. This whole thing with the health care just looks like one big mess where there's always someone prepared to completely stall the process and often succeeds in doing just that, surprisingly enough.

 

[Tamanon]

So hey how about HCR crumbling and the US having the wait yet more decades before worthwhile reform can be delivered?

Eh? Isn't that awesome guys? I think I'm going to vote for Obama and his PA cronies again so that all this dramatic change and leadership can be continued.

God the USA is so dumb.

OK, you go and vote for Perot!

Either way, it's more the fault of folks who suddenly put all the power in the 60th seat when it was 58 at election day. That just made it so that the GOP could effectively turn into a counter-party instead and push everything as the liberal agenda.

 

[kitch9]

Man, you Yanks are a fickle bunch! :lol Does this mean the love affair with your first black president is over?

I don't get how some americans can possibly think your current system of those with money can be healthy and those with none can get fucked works......

Take the UK, we still have the option to have private medical insurance if we want, but most don't bother because whilst the NHS has its faults, (some of them glaring) it does work reasonably well.

Do people can stuck in a vicious circle of being too unhealthy to work, but unable to pay to get healthy enough to work?

A healthy workforce is a productive one, simple as that. Our political parties are mostly assholes, but one thing the UK would keep regardless of who was in power would be our healthcare system.

 

[teruterubozu]

Kennedy should have endorsed Hillary, that dumbass.

 

[itsinmyveins]

Either way, it's more the fault of folks who suddenly put all the power in the 60th seat when it was 58 at election day. That just made it so that the GOP could effectively turn into a counter-party instead and push everything as the liberal agenda.

Well yeah, to my untrained and foreign eyes this seems a lot like an issue coming from the people in the house/senate/whatever they're called, aided and abetted by lobbyists and the staggering lack of journalistic cohones in the media. While Obama may be the governor of governors, I don't know if you can blame him for people being assholes and sellouts -- he's trying to act like a grown up in a room filled with self-absorbed children. Maybe you could call him naive for believing that you could actually have a reasonable discussion with politicians though.

 

[Aaron Strife]

Man, you Yanks are a fickle bunch! :lol Does this mean the love affair with your first black president is over?

I don't get how some americans can possibly think your current system of those with money can be healthy and those with none can get fucked works......

Take the UK, we still have the option to have private medical insurance if we want, but most don't bother because whilst the NHS has its faults, (some of them glaring) it does work reasonably well.

Do people can stuck in a vicious circle of being too unhealthy to work, but unable to pay to get healthy enough to work?

A healthy workforce is a productive one, simple as that. Our political parties are mostly assholes, but one thing the UK would keep regardless of who was in power would be our healthcare system.

It doesn't hurt that 30% of our electorate is retarded.

 

[radioheadrule83]

How on earth did GWB take the USA to two wars and pass shit like The Patriot Act, sign more Executive Orders than any other president, and in his 8 years send the entire world to hell in a hand-basket... and the American people only just managed to stop the republicans getting a 3rd term?

And how after 1 year of Obama, after having inherited those wars, an unprecidented budget defecit and an unprecidented financial crisis - are people 'disappointed' and why are they railing against him so soon? What the fuck is wrong with you America?

Congratulations on being completely ass backwards.

Your healthcare and insurance systems are a pathetic self inflicted injustice, and they NEED reforming just to bring you in line with the rest of the developed world. Maybe you disagree with particulars of the democrat bill, but if you fight any reform altogether, its on your own heads.

The dems should push it through just to drag you kicking and screaming into the modern age. The same way GWB dragged the world kicking and screaming into that last shitty decade of 'war on terror'.

 

[RiskyChris]

People are disappointed in the same way as Bush because both Bush and Obama were leaders when the country was going to hell.

 

[besada]

You're rude and disrespectful. Why? This has no place in political debate.

Hey, you finally decided to respond to me. Shame you ignored the substance of the false argument you were peddling and got involved in a conversation that had nothing to do with you.

 

[Jason's Ultimatum]

HA! I was pretty damn close! I predicted 47-51.

November should be interested. I wonder how many weak democrats will defect and vote out the democratic incumbent. :lol

 

[Dram]

How on earth did GWB take the USA to two wars and pass shit like The Patriot Act, sign more Executive Orders than any other president, and in his 8 years send the entire world to hell in a hand-basket... and the American people only just managed to stop the republicans getting a 3rd term?

And how after 1 year of Obama, after having inherited those wars, an unprecidented budget defecit and an unprecidented financial crisis - are people 'disappointed' and why are they railing against him so soon? What the fuck is wrong with you America?

George Bush had 9/11.

 

[Tamanon]

George Bush had 9/11.

Also, there's no such thing as a Liberal Republican in congress.

 

[gkryhewy]

God the USA is so dumb.

So true

 

[Tamanon]

Eh, it's nothing wrong with the electorate, there's no reason you should have to have nearly the same level of support in one part of the legislative branch for any bill as you do a constitutional amendment.

Especially if that area is the one that's not population based.:lol

 

[Sirpopopop]

People are disappointed in the same way as Bush because both Bush and Obama were leaders when the country was going to hell.

Yeah, let's ignore the fact that Bush's policies actively got us into our mess, while Obama has been unable to do anything because Bush's patsies are blocking him at every angle with the threat of a filibuster.

Go fuck yourself.

 

[gkryhewy]

Yeah, let's ignore the fact that Bush's policies actively got us into our mess, while Obama has been unable to do anything because Bush's patsies are blocking him at every angle with the threat of a filibuster.

Go fuck yourself.

I understand your sentiment, but this is a little revisionist. Yes, Bush's tax cuts and wars combined with the economic collapse to create the massive deficit that has consumed the political dialogue (such as it is) in this country.

But the economic collapse itself, which is the real elephant in the room, has plenty of blame to go around.

 

[Sirpopopop]

I understand your sentiment, but this is a little revisionist. Yes, Bush's tax cuts and wars combined with the economic collapse to create the massive deficit that has consumed the political dialogue (such as it is) in this country.

But the economic collapse itself, which is the real elephant in the room, has plenty of blame to go around.

This is true, but that's not my point, and that's not Chris' point.

He is saying that Bush and Obama are both to blame for our present predicament. Do you agree with that?

Because if you do, that's fucking retarded. I'm not going to even put a veneer of civility on it anymore. I'm genuinely ticked off right now, and not happy that I'm stuck in the U.S. for the foreseeable future.

 

[Jason's Ultimatum]

Eh. This is your typical election cycle. That's all. In the 1982 midterm election, republicans lost 26 house seats. People are angry about the economy and voters will just blame the incumbents.

 

[Sirpopopop]

Eh. This is your typical election cycle. That's all. In the 1982 midterm election, republicans lost 26 house seats.

There was a lot more willingness to actually solve problems back then. Even though, the Republicans lost seats, the Dems of that team, as lead by people like Tip O'Neill were willing to work with Reagan.

As a power, America was still nascent. We're going downhill, and this election signals to me that we aren't going to do anything to stop it.

 

[teruterubozu]

Everyone knew the Dems were never going to hold all 60 seats throughout Obama's term anyway. Now that it's happening it's suddenly all doom and gloom. We have no fucking backbone, I swear. The fact that the healthcare passage came down to this particular election speaks all kinds of degrees of ineptitude.

 

[Steve Youngblood]

So I was reading the story on the local paper's website, and then, because I like to torture myself, reading the comments section. I always find the divorce from reality to be simultaneously depressing and hilarious. That's not to fault voters on the right from taking some degree of pleasure in seeing the Dems lose the MA seat. However, I don't understand the hyperbolic celebration where this becomes the sign that "America is sick of Obama's radical, liberal agenda, and we're taking this country back!" (paraphrasing).

It's been a year, and he hasn't accomplished much of anything. "The long nightmare is finally showing signs of ending!" What nightmare? Nothing happened. We got a stimulus bill passed when he first took over! That was about it.

 

[Tamanon]

So I was reading the story on the local paper's website, and then, because I like to torture myself, reading the comments section. I always find the divorce from reality to be simultaneously depressing and hilarious. That's not to fault voters on the right from taking some degree of pleasure in seeing the Dems lose the MA seat. However, I don't understand the hyperbolic celebration where this becomes the sign that "America is sick of Obama's radical, liberal agenda, and we're taking this country back!" (paraphrasing).

It's been a year, and he hasn't accomplished much of anything. "The long nightmare is finally showing signs of ending!" What nightmare? Nothing happened. We got a stimulus bill passed when he first took over! That was about it.

Folks are probably still under the impression that we have a unitary executive. They're not used the 200+ years before that where we didn't.

 

[teruterubozu]

So I was reading the story on the local paper's website, and then, because I like to torture myself, reading the comments section. I always find the divorce from reality to be simultaneously depressing and hilarious. That's not to fault voters on the right from taking some degree of pleasure in seeing the Dems lose the MA seat. However, I don't understand the hyperbolic celebration where this becomes the sign that "America is sick of Obama's radical, liberal agenda, and we're taking this country back!" (paraphrasing).

It's been a year, and he hasn't accomplished much of anything. "The long nightmare is finally showing signs of ending!" What nightmare? Nothing happened. We got a stimulus bill passed when he first took over! That was about it.

Well, just to play devil's advocate - the nightmare is exactly that he can't get shit done wasting our time with his stupid liberal agendas. America's sick of it.

 

[gkryhewy]

This is true, but that's not my point, and that's not Chris' point.

He is saying that Bush and Obama are both to blame for our present predicament. Do you agree with that?

Chris can speak for himself, but I think his point was rather that both Bush and Obama have been present for 2008-09, when the country appears to be going to shit, and both have appeared fairly impotent about it.

 

[Tamanon]

Chris can speak for himself, but I think his point was rather that both Bush and Obama have been present for 2008-09, when the country appears to be going to shit, and both have appeared fairly impotent about it.

I'd probably stop arguing with RiskyChris anyways. He's the one that believes health care would've passed if it was single-payer from the start.

Either way, it all comes back to people having different views of the power of a very largely domestically ceremonial position. The Presidency has very little power in the US itself, the main outlet of the office is foreign. And, just like I thought when Obama took office, he's done outstanding there.

 

[HylianTom]

As a power, America was still nascent. We're going downhill, and this election signals to me that we aren't going to do anything to stop it.

 

[sonicmj1]

This is just one state in America. They don't speak for America. Brown ran a better campaign in a state that is 50 percent independent. Brown was the beneficiary of running in a special election that was being viewed by the entire country. For the common voter, this was a perfect time to "send a message". Not to Obama, not to Democrats. But to all the lazy politicians that take their vote for granted. Both nationally and to the local "machine" that churns out uninspired, safe candidates and just expects the votes to roll in. When the going gets rough, you just churn out the same old polarized playbook to remind the voter of who the "other guy" is (and boy, is he EVIL) and then you coast to a 10 point win.

Not this time.


So Democrats (and incumbents) are going to have to be smart. Just simply using the same playbook (trying to pin a candidate to Bush is one) is not going to work in this political climate. You better be focused on jobs, you better campaign hard and you better not get too negative. Or even a "sure thing" can be lost to a relative nobody.

If it weren't for the larger consequences, I'd sort of appreciate that voters threw out someone who ran such a poor campaign. Coakley made just about every possible mistake.

Not in the mood to let bullshit slide.

This is 5 months ago.

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/30594

8 weeks of additional lolly-gagging and we get 1 irrelevant vote from Olympia "My vote today is my vote today. It doesn't forecast what my vote will be tomorrow." Snowe.

This is what I'm talking about.

Republicans have been using their refusal to vote for anything as evidence of the President's partisanship, but they haven't been willing to compromise on anything, even when they get concessions.

 

[sonicmj1]

This is true, but that's not my point, and that's not Chris' point.

He is saying that Bush and Obama are both to blame for our present predicament. Do you agree with that?

Because if you do, that's fucking retarded. I'm not going to even put a veneer of civility on it anymore. I'm genuinely ticked off right now, and not happy that I'm stuck in the U.S. for the foreseeable future.

Isn't he implying the opposite: that neither Bush nor Obama were responsible for the predicaments they faced when they became President?

 

[Tamanon]

Isn't he implying the opposite: that neither Bush nor Obama were responsible for the predicaments they faced when they became President?

He's not talking about Bush and 9/11. He's talking about all 8 years.

 

[LosDaddie]

WEll this thread was certainly an entertaining read while drinking my morning coffee. One statement I NEVER want to read again is how PoliGAF leans far-Left. The last 10 or so pages prove the ideological PoliGAF split is 60% Dem 40% Repub.

And really, Brown winning is no surprise. The economy is still in the shitter and the best thing people can say about the HCR bill is "It's better than nothing".

Dems and Obama should be scared as fuck right now.

 

[mckmas8808]

Who's not watching the news tomorrow?

*raises hand*

It's time for me to finish Modern Warfare 2 and Ass. Creed 2 anyway. And I need to start watching SportCenter more so it shouldn't be too hard.

 

[Jason's Ultimatum]

I just really cannot see a republican winning in 2012. Voters cannot be that stupid to vote for more trickle-down economics.

 

[besada]

I just really cannot see a republican winning in 2012. Voters cannot be that stupid to vote for more trickle-down economics.

You'd think Bush's second term would clue you in to how stupid the electorate is capable of being.

 

[ViperVisor]

Your healthcare and insurance systems are a pathetic self inflicted injustice, and they NEED reforming just to bring you in line with the rest of the developed world. Maybe you disagree with particulars of the democrat bill, but if you fight any reform altogether, its on your own heads.

The dems should push it through just to drag you kicking and screaming into the modern age. The same way GWB dragged the world kicking and screaming into that last shitty decade of 'war on terror'.

True but devil is in the details. Most all people politicians worry about are already in the system. And most all people in it aren't getting a raw deal in their eyes. They are not sick or diseased.

So we are trying to fight the good fight when dealing with as Chris Rock said...
They shouldn't even call it insurance.
They just should call it 'in case shit.'

Hard to get people energized with what ifs. It is much easier to get people on board with the Idiocracy of taxes suck, "I like Money". And blowing shit up and killin' brown feraners.

When we ever get close to a serious discussion of anything people have little tolerance. And it is not like we don't put in spoonfuls of sugar with it. That just buys you some time before it becomes like this to people.

Bart: [laughing at I&S] You know, this isn't so bad. I'll just spend the summer getting better acquainted with an old friend called television.
[kids cheer, Krusty appears and laughs]
Krusty: Hope you enjoyed that, kids, 'cause Krusty's out of here for the summer. In the meantime, we'll be running [groans] "Klassic Krusty". [laughs uncomfortably] Enjoy...
[the Krusty Show from February 6th, 1961 comes on]
Krusty: [chuckles] Good evening. Tonight my guest is AFL/CIO chairman George Meany, who will be discussing collective bargaining agreements.
Meany: It's a pleasure to be here, Krusty.
Krusty: Let me be blunt: is there a labor crisis in America today?
[looks bored]
Meany: Well that depends what you mean by "crisis"...
[Bart groans]

 

[Jason's Ultimatum]

You'd think Bush's second term would clue you in to how stupid the electorate is capable of being.

Even though turnout was high in 2004, BushCo pounded national security into every american's face and "voting for Kerry is another terrorist attack!"

 

[Tamanon]

Shockingly, elections come down to how good of a campaigner you are.

Brown was a much better campaigner for Mass than Coakley, who was just downright moronic.

Stuff like "Schilling being a Yankee fan" is just suicidal politically, especially since he's already right-wing and ready to call you out on it.

Unless Romney REALLY brushes up his campaigning and persona, there's no real challenger for Obama.

 

[Sirpopopop]

Chris can speak for himself, but I think his point was rather that both Bush and Obama have been present for 2008-09, when the country appears to be going to shit, and both have appeared fairly impotent about it.

So, it's Obama's fault that he can't get anything done because the Republicans will filibuster anything he's trying to do to solve our problems?

Yeah, you're fucking retarded.