krypt0nian
Banned
What? They only have four years to make a Democratic president's life miserable to setup their next presidential run.
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United States Election: Nov 6, 2012 |OT| - Barack Obama Re-elected
- Thread starter Amir0x
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What? They only have four years to make a Democratic president's life miserable to setup their next presidential run.
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Felix Lighter
Member
I think they will at least figure something out last minute to avoid the fiscal cliff. After that, business as usual, I'm afraid. It will take big Democratic gains in 2014 for any real work to get done.
RustyNails
Member
I'm not sure if we live on the same planet, but the Republicans basically fillibustered every Obama proposal, reneged on their own proposals (Obamacare is the brainchild of Heritage Foundation), Dream act, deficit reduction deal ($1 revenue for $10 cuts), held unemployment extension hostage so Obama would renew bush tax cuts, etc. And their leader is on record saying their number 1 priority is to make Obama one term President.
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
So you feel that the congressional makeup during Clinton's run was essentially similar to the congress Obama dealt with? The one that said on day 1 "our priority is making sure he doesn't do anything" and in 2010 received an influx of extremists that would almost certainly have not gotten elected in the 90s?
EDIT: beaten
krypt0nian
Banned
Amazing.
When Clinton was in office, the GOP wasn't the obstructionist party -- now they are and it's what Obama has had to contend with.
American elections are funny to watch as a German, because we actually vote for parties and generally don't give a shit about the actual people that are put into places.
Now in America it's all about finding a "new Jesus" who can fix everything all alone and lead the country into a golden age.
I call this the "American hero syndrome".
Oh and things like same sex marriage/homosexuality and religion actually having any kind of sway on politics always makes my belly ache from laughing.
Now in America it's all about finding a "new Jesus" who can fix everything all alone and lead the country into a golden age.
I call this the "American hero syndrome".
Oh and things like same sex marriage/homosexuality and religion actually having any kind of sway on politics always makes my belly ache from laughing.
Rosy memories of about one of the more embattled sagas in congressional history.
The ghost of compromise with the current congress is the greatest farce in politics. When Bohener and Cantor are both saying they would refuse to vote on the payroll tax this year, which everyone agrees should be extended, I'm not sure how that goes on the President.
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
Who says there's no chance for a black guy (or gal!) to win the 2016 election? Cory Booker is term-limited and has all of 2014 to raise his national profile. Deval Patrick isn't going to run in 2014. Condoleezza Rice is still young enough to run and has escaped this cycle untarnished and has a positive rep. Not that I think any of them are excellent candidates or anything, but it's not like it couldn't happen.
Kai Dracon
Writing a dinosaur space opera symphony
Whether anyone likes the race angle or not, Obama will always be remembered as the first black president. It's that simple. But because he'll always stand out, people will at least examine him a little more closely than other middle tier office holders. So they'll see all the things he did do or say.
I think the main problem Obama has is that, from a historical perspective, he's in a just plain sucky situation. First non-white guy, "other" president. Targeted explicitly by a campaign to block everything he does, even when it's reasonable and compromises. He may be more centrist than authentically liberal, yet he champions several get progressive causes, during an age when America's far right conservative movement is energized and whipped into a frenzy of fear and paranoia. He was expected to "fix everything" in an age where few people seem to have any understanding of how the economy really works.
This is not to make an excuse for him, because a lot of the decisions he has made are questionable and there may be a solid argument for his own lack of political experience further hurting his own efforts. But he did go in with the deck stacked against him. The sad part is that if he loses today, it may very well be because of his own supporters feeling burned for reasons that aren't all reasonable. Apathy may defeat him rather than the other side.
This is probably going to get people to think I'm super nuts, but looking back I think Nixon was one of the best presidents we had. Dude was nuts and kind of corrupt, but if you look at what he accomplished, it's striking.
It's also funny to realize that he was probably to the left of Obama today. That's how far right the country has moved.
It was the beginning of it. Republican obstructionism is basically the legacy of Newt Gingrich (Well, actually I blame Lee Atwater. I think he was the one who brought the win at all costs mindset to the right). It was around the time of the Contract with America that it became a total war situation: The other side must lose so I can win.
RepairmanJack
Member
Being in Ohio, I am somewhat scared of electronic voting machines. :lol Seems like a bad choice for such an important state. But I could just be paranoid.
Rocket Scientist
Member
lol it's just faulty machinery man, but still, damn.
ErasureAcer
Banned
There's other races other than President ya know? Which Congressional district are you in?
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
He is yesterday's news.
Why do people keep bringing Ron Paul
It feel like there trying too hard to be edgy online and irl
reggieandTFE
Member
Cory Booker is terrible on education and financial regulation. He will not be a national democrat without moving a lot on those issues.
I think you are painting Americans with a pretty broad brush there and I would urge you to reconsider your viewpoint.
Uhhh...yes?
Do you think LBJ is some forgotten figure?
I don't know if most of our electorate could name him but most of our electorate probably can't name anyone beyond Jefferson, Washington, Lincoln, JFK, Reagan, Bush I and I, Nixon, Clinton and FDR.
GotEmRunnin
Member
South Carolina eh?
Man I love my home state. Love it so much in fact that I moved to our more multicultural, better economical sister state in the North.
let's go obama!! about to go cast my ballot - USA USA USA!
from iowa and wanted to vote against obama? yikes, didn't realize you hated america
from iowa and wanted to vote against obama? yikes, didn't realize you hated america
God...frey Jones
Banned
I don't know how the Americans see it, but the rest of the world is pro-Obama almost exclusively! A vote for Obama is a vote for common sense. Do it for us, America.
Interfectum
Member
I live right on the SC/NC border. I wish I could have voted in NC where I it would've made a difference.
darkside31337
Tomodachi wa Mahou
2 and a half hour wait to go vote down here in Orlando. still was a shorter wait than voting at early voting place near me.
either way, fuck rick scott.
either way, fuck rick scott.
PoweredBySoy
Banned
+2 Obama in MN, wife and I.
Took 15 minutes.
Took 15 minutes.
My point is that if most people can't name LBJ today, then think about in a hundred years. Do you really think Obama will be recalled as a great president then? I don't believe he will be.
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
Its stupid that other states don't. We have it in Minnesota as well and it rocks, I just walked in and registered the day of the 2010 elections
this x10000000. I dont understand how a party like the republicans in its current state can still exist.
This planet won't be around in about 36 days, so who cares!
Rocket Scientist
Member
We need more Facebook posts etc. Please.
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
I don't disagree--although I don't agree either, I think a black Democrat has an enormous amount of personal capital to run against teachers unions and/or for vouchers without being accused of elitist snobbery the way white Republicans would be--but I think it's worth noting that every candidate has their own baggage. Senators and Congresspersons have to deal with their voting record. Members of past executive branches are tied irrevocably to their former bosses. State politicians have to reconcile the eccentricities of their state politics with the national scene (often by running away from their state record entirely).
The primary process is about modulating your personal record to better match the party's base, and incorporating shifts in the party's base caused by dark horse-type candidacies that cause a reconsideration of issues. Some people have records so ghastly they can't repair them, but a lot of massaging can be done.
(I would think it more likely that either party runs a hispanic candidate in 2016 than an African-American)
Interfectum
Member
After Romney loses there will probably be some restructuring with that party. It's a mess.
soul creator
Member
seriously, I'm not getting any fucking work done today.
If you were in Canada voting would most likely take 5 minutes or less so you could do it on the way to the hospital.
I can't help it that all American's are obese and drive around on scooters while shooting their guns in the air!
(I never actually said I think all Americans are like what I wrote. I love you, Ameri-bro!)
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
That's one thing that could happen. They could also go rabidly insane
First African American President. That'll serve as a good bookmark to make sure his name is remembered for quite some time. His accomplishments should hopefully make sure that's not all people think of when they do.
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
Commit right now to name your child after whoever wins.
That's a type of restructuring.
BFIB
Member
I expect the latter. The more they lose, the more extreme this party seems to get.
PoweredBySoy
Banned
Awesome - congrats man!
I believe the Republicans will continue to lurch further to the right until it schisms between the values wings and the business wings. That's where the next viable third-party will come from.
Recall that it wasn't always just the Democrats and the Republicans.
He'll definitely be remembered for that. But as a great president? That's a different question.
God...frey Jones
Banned
Where I live, if the Republicans tried it on here, they'd get chased out of town. Only in America could the Republicans have and sway. And while I think Romney is a decent enough man, it's the party he (poorly) represents which scares me the most.
The problem is less the party and more the people, the party is just pandering to a demographic it knows exists. I fear this issue wont resolve itself for years.
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