Republicans, heading for big gains, ready agenda

I don't think the Republicans have "earned" re-election. I would have liked to see the party reassess it's priorites, it's plan of action, and replace it's leadership before returning to power. I am afraid that the GOP has been merely using "Tea Party" calls for small goverenment and fiscal conservatism as a screen for it's big government & socially conservative agenda. I do hope I am wrong in this. On a brighter note, control of the house and near parity in the senate will mean that Republicans can no longer hide behind obstructionism; they will be in charge, and they will have to do something material to better the nation.

I dare say that they will close down the government. And the T-parties will hoot and scream for it. That means.....no more social security checks, so the grandparents of these T-parties will be coming to their children for help....wonder how THAT will turn out. Also, maybe closing down the border as Federalized border immigration people will not be paid. Wonder how that will turn out. No flights or boats in or out! Just wondering, as they turn out the lights.

"Measuring the drapes?" The GOP have gone beyond that, they've already ordered furniture. They have already assumed their win and assumed that they will control the government. I believe that the government will grind to a halt. GOP won't be able to control their T-Party newbies who will likely act like Mcjob workers (or Eikaiwa workers) and do nothing but complain. Any Democrats left in office will lock-step and dig in to resist any change. they will bombard the airwaves with how little the GOP is doing to help and how many they are hurting, and nothing will get done.

I'm glad I'm here in Japan away from all that craziness!

I'm ready to shift the blame from Democrats to Republicans for the on continuing mess.

I dare say that they will close down the government. And the T-parties will hoot and scream for it. That means.....no more social security checks, so the grandparents of these T-parties will be coming to their children for help....wonder how THAT will turn out. Also, maybe closing down the border as Federalized border immigration people will not be paid. Wonder how that will turn out. No flights or boats in or out! Just wondering, as they turn out the lights.

@TheRat, it doesn't happen like that. What happens is that no new spending will be allowed, and those who may be on programs like Social Security will still continue to get them. So playing up the hyperbole that it will all implode is just hype and not true.

When the government shut down in the past, I (back when I was on Active Duty military)still got my paycheck. There were somethings we couldn't do (travel, spending on certain non-vital items) but life went on.

Democrat, Repub or Libertarian, if you are really interested in US politics you cannot help but be staggered by how Obama has so thoroughly squandered the absolute largest amount of political capital and goodwill any president in US history ever had. And like nearly everything else in his life that too was unearned.

I think this is called "counting your chickens before they are hatched." If you have some lukewarm Republicans who are holding the TP candidates at arms length just to avoid the stink.... And then you have some who are pragmatists who are afraid of being called a RINO.... And then you have some fascist brownshirts thrown in there who let their people face stomp 23 year old women. Well, if you have all that, you have "revulsion", "deer in the headlights", and "clueless newbies" I wonder where you start?

I guess a tax cut. LOL. I think some Wall Street accountants will be able to write up a bill so that some Tea Partier can sponsor it. Real quick.

No. Just kidding. You don't start anywhere. You fight with each other for about three months and then watch the economy improve. Then watch your guys get voted out and washed out by scandals. Then the brownshirts start face stomping the Republicans.

You want to know what will happen in 2012? Look at FDR vs. Alf Landon 1936. Polls showed Landon ahead by almost 20 percentage points. Final tally: Landon got all of 8 electoral votes. 8. Unemployment was 17%, but it was an improvement from 19% and 20% that had continued for years. People were relieved, and they knew FDR had gone through the whole thing along with them. Where is Obama going to go but UP in terms of economic news? Bush laid such a huge egg that people voted for Obama out of spite, and in 2012 they will do it again as a reward for a job well done.

But let's get back to the agenda: how is the GOP going to cut income taxes for people with no income? You are going to cut health care NOW? When people have lost coverage along with their jobs? You are going to cut government programs that are supporting people just to make some numbers on paper look better?

Democrat, Repub or Libertarian, if you are really interested in US politics you cannot help but be spout the same tired talking points over and over again whenever the subject of politics comes up.

It's like the Law now, or something.

These mid-term elections would have been a sleeper if Obama and the democrats had bothered to listened to the American taxpayer. High unemployment and reckless, uncontrolled spending have not bode well for them. Now they are about to experience a career change; going from being politicians to Obama's "shovel ready jobs".

Liberals can shriek about the republicans all they want; however, the bottom line is "it's the economy, stupid".

RR

Shouldn't surprise Americans here that according to the latest Gallup poll,graduate students and former graduate students now form the last redoubt of approval for President Obama.

McCarthy said the president should “realize the election’s over, realize the message the voters have sent and maybe go study what Bill Clinton did,” moving to the right to meet Republicans.

Good call... but the Prez just need to go back to the last two years or so to realize why the formula of being too comfortable with the establishment sucks... The Tea Party have made an example of their own 'establishment'-- and exhibited to the American public that they are in fact the brand of change (this year anyway)...

Has the Prez overreached himself? I'm confident of a NO... and he has been quite competent in my opinion, but quite weak in articulating his Administration's sense of direction... dare I add... if any, as I clearly think they look entangled right now.

You want to know what will happen in 2012?

2010 is not 2012. Anything can happen with rumors now floating that La Clinton might replace Biden in the VP ticket.

spending cuts, on the order of $100 billion or more

Why I am I reminded of Dr. Evil planning to demand ONE MILLION dollars?

They think they can solve the economic problems by not spending 100 billion dollars. They are either completely nuts or completely disingenuous. Why don't they just say they plan to stick a finger in a dike?

Has the Prez overreached himself? I'm confident of a NO... and he has been quite competent in my opinion, but quite weak in articulating his Administration's sense of direction... dare I add... if any, as I clearly think they look entangled right now.

@jruaustralia: There was an article posted today about his apperance on the Daily Show. Basically, it stated that he has brought down the office by appearing on these types of shows and other (The View, Oprah, Jay Leno, etc). Nothing wrong, but he keeps being in a campaign mode, trying to convince rather than a leadership role. Too much overexposure, and nothing to show for it. I have to give it to "W" he was not as great as a speaker, but at least he was able to stand up at a press conference and answer questions.

"Democrat, Repub or Libertarian, if you are really interested in US politics you cannot help but be staggered..."

I cannot help but be staggered by the religious devotion you and others give this T-party movement. Especially when it is painfully clear that they will not be able to deliver on any of their promises. And most will eventually end up blended into the existing GOP platform and will be indistinguishable in a year from any other Republican.

One more thing. A GOP landslide this election year, will almost certainly seal a DEM landslide in 2012. When people see that the latest GOP club have lied and failed to do anything to help working people, they will abandon you like a pair of moldy socks.

The sad thing is, two more years of suffering will have been needlessly imposed on people while the system deadlocks and fails to address their problems.

America needs to shake off both GOP (and their fringe elements) and DEM and look for new representation that has the interests of the working people as their #1 priority.

I cannot help but be staggered by the religious devotion you and others give this T-party movement.

Devotion? I'd be back in America if that were the case. It is funny to watch the frustration though. You guys need so badly to demonize ordinary citizens and denigrate their patriotism. It is the same fatal mistake the Left makes every time.

One more thing. A GOP landslide this election year, will almost certainly seal a DEM landslide in 2012. When people see that the latest GOP club have lied and failed to do anything to help working people, they will abandon you like a pair of moldy socks.

I would agree with this assessment (though perhaps not the tone of the post).

I don't think that Republicans are any more likely to positively influence the economy than the Democrats are. Furthermore, there is no indication that they are willing to end their hyperpartisanship and obstructionism. If they can't take a real leadership position, then they'll be out again in 2012. Which will be another tragedy, because the Democrats are equally unlikely to learn from their mistakes as the Republicans are this time around.

Triumvere, the tone of my post is pretty clear. I don't think either party promises to do anything of substance for working people.

This tit for tat struggle between two halves of essentially the same establishment culture does nothing for Americans but discract them for a few weeks every election cycle. Once over, nothing substantial happens to help people.

One more thing. A GOP landslide this election year, will almost certainly seal a DEM landslide in 2012

The economy will be even worse next year. That is how bad things are.

The optimum scenario for next week is a solid Repub majority in the House but Dems keep the Senate and the growing base of conservatives keep hungry for real change, not the Chicago brand.

"... have begun plotting a 2011 agenda..."

I would say it's pretty appropriate wording. Agree with Klein, while I have no doubt they are going to make some grounds, the GOP is definitely counting its chickens before they hatch.

Anyway, let the US go back into the stone ages for all I care -- that's what a lot of them want, so let them have it for a while. Even though of course they'll blame everything on Obama and the Dems for the nutbag antics that the GOP will perform and the chaos they'll bring about, they're going to see things get a whole lot worse if the Republicans make the gains they are proclaiming -- especially if the tea-party nuts get elected (stepping on people's heads, etc.).

TimRussert: "You guys need so badly to demonize ordinary citizens and denigrate their patriotism."

Who's denigrating anyone's patriotism? Methinks you're falling into the sarah palin definition of the word -- meaning 'GOP supporters only'. As for demonizing the 'ordinary citizens', the tea-party movement is doing an excellent job of demonizing itself, and seeing them step on people's heads, make comments about engaging in witchcraft and that the Chinese are taking over, or that Canada is a haven for terrorists, etc. -- these people are far from 'ordinary', they are simply nuts.

smithinjapan - I am discussing patriotism as me and my fellow Americans understand it. Feel free to comment, but don't expect a reply from me on this one, since it is something you do not and by definition cannot understand.

Tim, I am American too and I can tell you brother I have very few understandings of anything political that line up with yours. So you can hardly speak for all "fellow Americans". Try limiting yourself to the fringe right and maybe we won't need to argue that point.

How is this even possible for the Republicans to make big gains? Haven't the Democrats been leading the country in the right direction?

The liberal über shriekfest continues. Heh, now on this day next week when Americans vote the democrats out of absolute power they, too, will become members of the left's "fringe right".

Too funny.

RR

Watching the polls I can't help but wonder if the GOP could have swung this without the tp movement and maybe better. Odonnell may cost the GOP not one but three senate seats...

“I think humility and gratitude is the appropriate response to the midcourse correction that I think is coming — not, you know, sort of chest-beating or spiking the ball in the end zone or acting like we have been entrusted with the entire federal government,” McConnell said in a recent interview.

yes. don't mess it up.

“They come in with an authenticity that nobody has: ‘We were elected in the year of the tea party. We know what the people want. You are just old fuddy duddies who have been here forever and are part of the problem,’”

exactly right.

"exactly right."

And alienate the rest of their potential supporters rendering their movement inert. A hand full of rabid right wingers are not going to help anyone.

A group of serious people willing to cooperate to make real change, that would be good.

Likely outcome. T-partier gets elected, becomes invested and just like all the other GOP members.

smithinjapan - I am discussing patriotism as me and my fellow Americans understand i

As Samuel Johnson, once said (he wrote the first British dictionary if you don't know and some great literature) patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel. You hear someone talk about it, it usually means love of country, whatever this means, and hating a bunch of people that they deem as outsiders, even though they may make up that country's population. It ends up in wars and ethnic cleansing.

As Samuel Johnson, once said (he wrote the first British dictionary if you don't know and some great literature) patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.

Oh yes. You done got me there, Rat.

Cuz anyone familiar with Johnson, his era and nationality knows all too well that he and his compatriots n e v e r unfurled their patriotism.

But since you bring him up - - The Johnson quote I think most appropriate in posts I might direct at smithinjapan would be

"I never desire to converse with a man who has written more than he has read."

And alienate the rest of their potential supporters rendering their movement inert. A hand full of rabid right wingers are not going to help anyone.

A handfull? it takes a majority to elect them. As Obama said "we won. you lost.", but these GOP aren't arrogant like BO.

When people start defining who is "patriotic" and who is "not patriotic" it is the first step down a road that leaves one group of people out and probably in fear of their lives.

Like when Biden calls people who don't want to raise taxes "unpatriotic"?

man... I didn't hear that quote, but same reasoning applies no matter what political party you are from. It is dangerous and people should say so clearly.

When people start defining who is "patriotic" and who is "not patriotic" it is the first step down a road that leaves one group of people out and probably in fear of their lives.

You mean like when Obama tells Latinos “If Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, 'We're going to punish our enemies and we're going to reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us..." ????

I agree.

man... I didn't hear that quote, but same reasoning applies no matter what political party you are from. It is dangerous and people should say so clearly.

look it up, it's everywhere. and I do agree with you about labeling people unpatriotic, it's wrong and has no place anywhere.

but hey, this election is about bringing a simple 3-letter word to all 57 states: J-O-B-S

It is everywhere, but that does not make it right. We are all Americans and need to understand that. Our history alone should invoke fear about letting ourselves become too divided.

It is everywhere, but that does not make it right. We are all Americans and need to understand that. Our history alone should invoke fear about letting ourselves become too divided.

something we totally agree on.

Miracles happen.

lol!!

The Tea Party sure has done wonders for GOP.

But its really hard not to notice parallels to a deceptively named National Socialist Party of a certain country in Europe Exploit public frustration,channel it into mindless anger, create false fears and finally ride on bigotry.

smithinjapan - I am discussing patriotism as me and my fellow Americans understand it.

Tim: Samuel Johnson never sounded truer.

Moderator: Your allusion to the Nazis is off topic.

The worst that can happen is the Republicans gets control of the house, and expose themselves for what they are in the next 2 years.

The National Socialist Party sure has done wonders for what was essentially a clueless, directionless group desperately grasping for issues.

smithinjapan - I am discussing patriotism as me and my fellow Americans understand it.

Tim: Samuel Johnson never sounded truer.

Mods: I accidentally typed National Socialist Party instead of Tea Party in my earlier post, it was an unintentional error.

Moderator: Then you may repost it.

The worst that can happen is the Republicans gets control of the house, and expose themselves for what they are in the next 2 years.

The Tea Party sure has done wonders for what was essentially a clueless, directionless group desperately grasping for issues.

smithinjapan - I am discussing patriotism as me and my fellow Americans understand it.

Tim: Samuel Johnson never sounded truer.

We need to start at the top with this private Federal Reserve banking system and the banking cartel then get serious about where to invest all this money that the banking cartel has been off-shoring or just blatantly stealing. How many Trillions can we afford to get lost or stolen by "our" banking cartel and their Gov before people wake up.

=just putting another puppet like Obama or McCain in the Oval Office will not change anything. >add your puppet (idol) here<

There was an article posted today about his apperance on the Daily Show.

@ Alphaape, heard of it but I think most Australians would miss the show as it'll be played (tonight?) on the Australia's 'local' PBS and on their digital channel. (So that would be less than 1% of the pop.)

A GOP landslide this election year, will almost certainly seal a DEM landslide in 2012.

Perhaps, perhaps... if the name sounds too 'establishment-thingy' then their own renegade bunch will boycott the electoral process (as most of them had in 2008-- remember McCAIN).

Gov CHRISTIE in New Jersey (important Senate race there with union fat cats pouring hundreds of dollars to defeat the conservative-aligned Tom GOODWIN) will be touted, Sara PALIN and the Illinois Gov JINDAL

** CORRECTION: Jindal is Governor in Louisiana, not Illinois

It is everywhere, but that does not make it right. We are all Americans and need to understand that. Our history alone should invoke fear about letting ourselves become too divided.

No offense tkoind2, but do you think that just maybe from the liberal side of the house that the constant calling of conservatives such as myself and who identify with the Tea Party and their basic principles as 'idiots', 'racists' 'ignorant' etc just might have a little bit to do with this divide that you speak of?

No offense tkoind2, but do you think that just maybe from the liberal side of the house that the constant calling of conservatives such as myself and who identify with the Tea Party and their basic principles as 'idiots', 'racists' 'ignorant' etc...

Funny, but a lot of idiots and racists do identify with the Tea Bag Party. The failure of Tea Bag candidate Christine O'Donnell to understand the basic premise of the establishment clause of the First Amendment shows profound ignorance of the constituation and our legal traditions.

Who in their right minds thinks she's truly fit to be a US Senator? Only the supporters of the Teabag Party.

Agenda: F the middle class, handout more money to corporations who offshore jobs, repeal the healthcare bill. Any questions or should we be painting up the "Mission Accomplished" banners? Remember as long as we talk about "god, gays, and guns" we'll get the people to vote against their own interests.

I love all of the comments that have barely anything to do with this article. Another reason why our leaders in government can get away with spending so much time calling people names while getting nothing done.

The GOP has plans to cut $100 billion dollars in spending. WOW, these guys are AMAZING! Why the heck has it taken them this long to figure out how to do it or what should be cut? Why won't they work on this issue now, when everyone in America already thinks the government SPENDS too much. This is not a Republican issue. I'm really curious about what NEW plans they have. If their proposals are any good, they should be implemented. I support progress, not the GOP or the Democrats. The house needs to get in order.

Admittedly by political nature more racists might identify with the right - I'll give you that. But idiocy is bi-partisan. But to consistently classify one party as 'racist and full of idiots' is just more example of liberal snobbery and elitism - and reason why your party is in such trouble.

But to consistently classify one party as 'racist and full of idiots' is just more example of liberal snobbery and elitism

I think that is interesting. Calling liberals names is another way we move nowhere in the name calling debate. There are idiots in both parties as there are racists in both parties. Call it like it is. Dems generally don't side with their racist counterparts if they are acting accordingly. I can't say the same for the GOP. I wouldn't whine about my buddies being call racists just because I may not be. Guilt by association is part of America in all facets of life.

Bigotry is rampant in America and it commonly makes the argument that calling out racism or bigoted comments (by liberals) is just unfair?!?! Well that is quite convenient for the bigot or racist. I would say that many Republicans and conservatives also call out racist actions and people, but don't get ridiculed for doing so. This gives people the impression that the good old boys club is alive and well and just as bigoted as ever.

Perhaps out of all this something good will come of it. Hopefully the concept of something like the "Rally to Restore Sanity" will catch on and the moderate majority of Americans will rein in the extreme left and right because partisan politics has turned American politics into a mockery of it's once former greatness. The current democrats and republicans will do nothing but harm and looking for guidance from the extreme left and right isn't going to help no one. One need only look at both platforms offered by the Republicans and Democrats to see this.

I think that is interesting. Calling liberals names is another way we move nowhere in the name calling debate. There are idiots in both parties as there are racists in both parties. Call it like it is. Dems generally don't side with their racist counterparts if they are acting accordingly. I can't say the same for the GOP. I wouldn't whine about my buddies being call racists just because I may not be. Guilt by association is part of America in all facets of life.

Um - if you'll read other than the last five posts you might notice my comment stated that idiocy is bi-partisan. But the comment was in reply to another that had addressed the frequent use of 'idiot, racist tea baggers' and other charming terminology used by angry liberals on here to describe the right. According to these posters anyone not agreeing with the left spectrum must by nature be a knuckle dragging racist who regularly beats their spouse, have huge gun collections and velvet Jesus painting on the walls of their mobile homes.

According to these posters anyone not agreeing with the left spectrum must by nature be a knuckle dragging racist who regularly beats their spouse, have huge gun collections and velvet Jesus painting on the walls of their mobile homes.

You have it reversed. The knuckle-dragging racist who regularly beats his spouse, has a huge collection and velvet Jesus painting on the wall of his double-wide is also just as likely to be sporting a McCain-Palin sticker on their pickup. That place is definitely not "Obama country."

There is a vast difference between disagreement with an opponent and the constant hate-filled stuff that gets posted here regularly by those who are anti-Democrat, anti-Obama, anti-liberal, etc.

but hey, this election is about bringing a simple 3-letter word to all 57 states: J-O-B-S

Hmm...how are T-partiers going to DO that. They sent ALL of our factories to China in the free trade scam, which is NEVER going to be repealed. Last time I checked, you need FACTORIES to create jobs. So, unless you drive wages down to the level of that of China's, and below, to attract them back, I don't see how job creation is ever going to happen. You republicans live in a pipe dream! And there are more foreclosures now in the US. In Hollywood it is 70 per week. STREETS upon STREETS closed up. Homes falling apart. What do you republicans want to do about that little problem?! Speed it up--make it even easier as this is called creative capitalism. Get rid of that deadwood. Amazing!

Basically the T-partiers are claiming, as Reagan did, that small government and cutting taxes creates more revenue. READ this.

When is the last time you've heard a billionaire say this?

Our country is having an extremely important argument about taxation. We have lived the trickle-down theory since the Reagan years, and are now having a great debate about whether it does or does not work. Clearly, it does not.

Those words came from venture capitalist Nick Hanauer in a conference call with Bill Gates, Sr., father of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and they were music to my ears. Hanauer and Mr. Gates are the leading voices in a Washington state initiative to shift some of the tax burden away from the poor and middle class onto the richest residents in the state.

Hanauer's words were refreshing to hear:

"The public sphere is as essential to the creation of wealth in a democratic society as the private sphere. They are inextricably intertwined. And, to the degree to which we have as citizens the capacity to invest strategically in the public sphere, defines our ability to create wealth for ourselves and our fellow citizens."

Prop 1098 cuts property taxes by 20%, gives small business owners a credit for the state-imposed Business and Occupancy Tax, and imposes a 1.2% income tax on residents who earn in excess of $400,000 (or in the case of a couple, $500,000).

As you might imagine, it has split the wealthy in Washington right down the middle, but Hanauer is undeterred by their arguments. As he pointed out on the call, if libertarian utopias worked the way they are supposed to, there would be many of them everywhere, and if income taxes were such a terrible thing, Silicon Valley would be in Wyoming and Wall Street in North Dakota.

But they're not, and this is because there is value in community and investing in it. The revenues from this proposition would be put directly into Washington public schools and their health care program, which currently has nearly 100,000 on a waiting list according to Mr. Gates.

The most refreshing part of the conversation with these men was hearing their passion and commitment for making their communities better by changing the tax system to benefit the middle class and ask the rich to pay a small piece of their annual income for that to happen. Hanauer's arguments were strong, passionate and heartfelt. This initiative is one to watch on election night. It's good that the leadership for it stems from private, wealthy citizens, because it takes the stain of a "tax increase" away from embattled candidates like Patty Murray.

There is a vast difference between disagreement with an opponent and the constant hate-filled stuff that gets posted here regularly by those who are anti-Democrat, anti-Obama, anti-liberal, etc.

As opposed to the hate-filled stuff posted here by those that are anti-Republican, anti-conservative, and especially, anti-conservative women.

I see this thread has veered off in the predictable direction, but let's get back to the point.

After all the shouting, this is the plan, to NOT spend 100 billion dollars. That is it, that is all you've got? Wow. The day after the election the Federal Reserve is going to start pumping a new 500 billion (that would be half a trillion!) into the US banking system, and who do you think is on the hook for that in the end? So one day after the election you will already be 400 billion more in the hole. In other words in doesn't really matter that the Republican policies of cutting spending in a depression are dead wrong (they are), it is that even if they were right the amounts they are talking about are a drop in the bucket.

The American economy is a multi-trillion dollar train wreck, the result of 30 plus years of corruption and moronic stupidity (don't worry, I am not picking on the USA, it is much the same everywhere). What we see now is a direct line from the ending of the gold standard, the oil price shock, and the rise of free-market, neo-liberal fundamentalist ideology (in reality just an intellectual cover for corruption). And all the Republican have brought to this fight is to say "we will spend 100 million less". The only explanations for their position is that a) they are fools who have no idea what is going on or b) they don't care what is going on, they just want to take the opportunity to find their ideological Holy Grail and take down the federal government.

At a certain point you have to just say who cares if it is a or b. Just get on with it, crash, and get it over with.

The knuckle-dragging racist who regularly beats his spouse, has a huge collection and velvet Jesus painting on the wall of his double-wide is also just as likely to be sporting a McCain-Palin sticker on their pickup. That place is definitely not "Obama country."

Wow. You can almost hear the horrid screech that the bottom of the barrel makes as Yabits scrapes for all he is worth.

What's wrong - - does a record 36 or 37 black candidates running as Republicans in this election have you that freaked?

All empires end. This time, unlike the Soviet Union--which was a little messy, this one will be very messy. NEXT! I say. I see no other option other than the US defaulting on its debt. A big middle finger to Japan, China, and any other creditor. After all, republicans do not pay debts. They create them. The slogan I believe, from Newt, is It's our money.

Yes, the defecit is 1.2 trillion and we'll chop 100 billion. It'll justend up being sorting around spending to suit power politics. How predictable :(

all empires end

Some states of America are profitable. What is stopping say California saying "We are out of here" "We are sick of propping up tens of millions of boneheads in other states who have refused to retrain themselves, take entrepeneurial risk etc".?? "We are making a new country called California"

What is stopping say California saying "We are out of here"

Nukes.

We settled the "we are out of here" issue 150 years ago. :)

So, unless you drive wages down to the level of that of China's, and below, to attract them back, I don't see how job creation is ever going to happen.

Yeah, but that's exactly what Michelle BACHMANN have advocated; and I presume have it not for such policies being repeated like a mantra then more and more Blue Dogs and some BIDEN democrats would have abandoned the ship enthusiastically.

But I think, the American people have already made their minds-- and if you're a Dem that supported Mr OBAMA the last time you're in for the slaughter.

Latest polling: (House) GOP to easily pick up 50 seats in the Lower House (the party only needs 39 seats). (Senate) I doubt very much the GOP/ TP will capture the Upper House majority-- though they're likely to unseat Harry REID in Nevada.

It will probably cost them $100 billion in lawyers,accountants and consultants fees to make the #100 billion cuts! Best to just get on with it and start thinking about how they can start making things that the world wants to buy

What is stopping say California saying "We are out of here"

California? More like what is stopping Texas, which has created waaaaay more jobs than any other state in the nation, from saying it wants out????

Dems have destroyed California.

Having spent a fair amount of time living in AZ I find it amusing to hear you touting the GOP way of running a state ;)

Ok Tim what about Texas then? I don`t know which states have the best profit and loss balances. Any chance of them fleeing the sinking ship? Or is it constitutionally inpossible?

I don`t know which states have the best profit and loss balances. Any chance of them fleeing the sinking ship? Or is it constitutionally inpossible?

Texans talk about a right to secede but this is based on a myth.

However, criticism of the Tea Party Movement here shows a complete lack of awareness of how many people in the Tea Party Movement want an informed national discussion on the 10th Amendment, more respect for states rights in how we are governed - - since states rights are the very essence of federalism.

Both Repubs and Dems seem determined to enlarge the state in nearly every sphere of our lives, by design or by unintended consequence, the result of economic illiteracy.

I waited this long to bring up the Tenth Amendment in order to illustrate the ignorance and intellectual laziness shown by all here who criticize the Tea Party Movement without looking into their views; a significant portion of the Tea Party movement could more accurately be called 'Tenthers', but the mainstream lib media of course wants "Tea Party" even the more puerile "Tea Baggers."

Interpretation of the constitution falls under the judicial branch, to include the meaning of the 10th amendment.

Interpretation of the constitution falls under the judicial branch, to include the meaning of the 10th amendment.

So in other words, the federal gov gets to decide how big and powerful the federal gov is. LOL.

Exactly what the anti-Federalists warned against.

Jefferson advocated Nullification by the states of federal laws and directives they believed were unconstitutional. Madison argued for the same process in combating tyranny.

Pie in the sky?

At least twenty states nullified the REAL ID Act of 2005.

More than a dozen states have successfully defied the federal government over the issue of medical marijuana.

Well push for a change in that then. There's a process to change the constitution.

Conversation reminds of when I was explaining to an Aussie friend why there are so many army bases in the south...

There's a process to change the constitution.

Conversation reminds me of a stat from the last election - 82 percent of McCain supporters,RINO tho he is, believed judges should rule only on what is in the Constitution.

Obama supporters found to be five times more likely to say a judge's personal sense of fairness should influence his/her decision and thus be able impose their will on the public.

Personal sense of justice will end up being appealed because there is no basis for it in law. That's how the system is intended to work.

Personal sense of justice will end up being appealed because there is no basis for it in law.

Obama, like an Justice Kagan and increasing number of lefty lawyers, is a critical legal theory proponent.They are/were students of a group of scholars who have taken the absurdities and abstruse methods of critical theory ('deconstruction', 'semiotics') and the strategies of neo-Marxist theorists and applied them, successfully we are told, to centuries of English and American common law. Their ridiculous conclusion is that the supposedly disinterested rules that we traditionally believed we had are actually prime instruments of "social injustice"; which is to say Obama and the New Left feel traditional interpretation of our laws is an impediment to wealth redistribution, among other un-American objectives, so dear to Obama and his handlers.

Uh-huh, and ..... You want to change the system because someone you disagree with became justice?

Uh-huh, and ..... You want to change the system because someone you disagree with became justice?

Can you read? It is not I who seeks to further change the system - which was was changed looong before Kagan came along. If he gets his way Obama will have our black-robed masters issuing verdicts that will make Wickard v Filburn seem thoroughly tame.

Oh, I can read. I'm just trying to put some connectivity to your posts. Apparently there is none. ;)

Oh, I can read. I'm just trying to put some connectivity to your posts. Apparently there is none. ;)

IOW - you have no reply when facts shoot down the warm and fuzzy that passes for thinking among all the pod people who voted for Obama.

Iow, you're arguing with yourself, which ought to be easy to win. I was talking about the tenth amendment and who by law is to interpret the constitution: the judicial branch ;)

No, you were telling us that essentially the federal gov gets to decide how big and powerful the federal gov is, and then assuring us that the system can be trusted to work.

Err, no I'm telling those are the rules. If you want to change the rules, there are rules for changing the rules. You can argue with this all you want but it's about as pointless as arguing against the sky being blue.

Oh unless, you are advocating something far more radical ;)

John Boehner is reportedly 'not a details man.'

It shows.

John Boehner is reportedly 'not a details man.'

Well then, don't vote for him :)

You have the illegals fleeing the country for refuge otherwhere and you see the political rats jumping off the sinking ship. -I feel sorry for the Elites and Libs that have little to fall back on but their entitlement status. I wonder who will be left to support these criminals or will they just feed upon each other?

I have heard it bandied about among tea party people that cutting the budget by 100 billion dollars is the goal.

Someone please tell me how that is going to work. I think it will go something like the GOP/ TP will cut just about everything and pass those bills in the House and Senate, and be on record for doing that, and then, what, Obama will veto that. And then government by continuing resolution will ensue. Obama will come out the hero. He was the nice guy trying to work with the GOP, and now he will have to let them sit out on their branch way way out on the right, and he will saw it off with a veto. This will be rich.

And if he does not veto it, then something is going to break, I think. All those unemployed government workers at all levels. All those grants to states not forthcoming. All of that negative multiplier effect. All of those clients of government in Texas, Alaska, California, Florida... ouch. 2012 will go up in smoke.

It is quite likely that people will come to realize just how much they need a government big enough to meet their needs and eventually throw the obstructionist anti-Keynesians out once and for all.

I am now looking past the election in wonder at how the GOP/TP can possibly keep their promises. I think they can't. If they do they are gone. If they don't they are gone. The tp has jumped the shark.

"Anyway, let the US go back into the stone ages for all I care -- that's what a lot of them want, so let them have it for a while."

I feel this sentiment in my bones. I am so sick of hearing idiocy from the right that I would love to watch them stumble and muck things up just out of spite. You have Nevada and Alaska, two states just sucking the federal teat for 5 decades or more, breeding these lunatics saying "live free or die." They have no idea. Federal land leases have supported all these cattle ranchers in western states and they will say the same thing about "government pinheads" who have never worn cowboy boots. Florida gets huge sugar subsidies, and has benefitted handsomely from a real live Social Security system, and they are all whining too about big government.

Pork barrel politics, ugly as it is, made the Senate what it is today. Somebody somewhere seems to think you can cut all of US government subsidy program's but not Alaska's, or not Nevada's, or wherever else. When the first votes come up to cut some of those programs, they should sell front row tickets. You will NEVER see such squirming. Haha. And less than half of the squirming will be done by Dems, if the GOP gets its way.

Former Budget Director David Stockman wrote about what happened after Reagan became POTUS. It will be a fun review to go back to that. We will find, as Reagan did, that "no new taxes" and "cut our bloated government" will get people cheering, but once the election is over, nobody but nobody wants to cut spending. In whose interest would that be? And there was almost nothing to cut THEN, let alone now. I am pretty sure that the budget is gridlocked. It is not possible to cut 100 billion without getting sued by someone. Anyway, the book was called, "The Triumph of Politics." Politics triumphed all right, but you have to read the book to know what was vanquished. Ideology. Integrity. Honesty. Reagan flushed it all in his first 6 months in office.

Libs. Rally to this: Get a list of all the GOP/TP campaign promises and keep that list current to 2012. If they can be held to their word early and often, then the only honest GOP/TP left will be the RINOs. And the rest of the right won't let them win anyway.

"I am so sick of hearing idiocy from the right"

I am so sick of hearing and seeing idiocy from the left.

"I am so sick of hearing idiocy from the right" I am so sick of hearing and seeing idiocy from the left.

And most are sick of the left, the right and their increasing childish arguing. Both sides have both good and bad ideas, true fiscal conservatism is a great idea (but perhaps impossible given the amount of debt the average American has willingly/knowingly acquired). A proper social net to catch those that fall through the cracks is good as well, but it needs to free of costly excessive administration and changes done just to spite the other side.

"Anyway, let the US go back into the stone ages for all I care -- that's what a lot of them want, so let them have it for a while."

Yeah. Opposition to Obama's stealth socialism can only mean America, heretofore the most dynamic economy on the planet, is going to devolve into some kind of stone age. Really convincing, Lefty hyperbole.

Obama will come out the hero. He was the nice guy trying to work with the GOP, and now he will have to let them sit out on their branch way way out on the right, and he will saw it off with a veto. This will be rich.

The GOP/TBagP won't care. They are out to destroy an American president, just as they attempted to destroy the previous Democrat. The lesson they took from the political fallout of the complete shutdowns during the 90s was that they have to be more confrontational, not less.

Do think impeachment proceedings against President Obama will be rich? It's one thing to attack a president while the fundamentals of the country are as sound as they were during the Clinton years -- but we are in a very different place now.

Do think impeachment proceedings against President Obama will be rich? It's one thing to attack a president while the fundamentals of the country are as sound as they were during the Clinton years -- but we are in a very different place now.

Clinton was a much better President then Obama. Well, to be fair, my dog is a better President then Obama. But incompetence aside, Clinton's vices led him into making a mistake in which he let himself get cornered. Had he not done that, he wouldn't have been impeached. Obama doesn't have those same vices, and I can't see him making the mistake of committing perjury. While he certainly is incompetent as President, as a man, he is far superior to Clinton.

Yeah. Opposition to Obama's stealth socialism can only mean America, heretofore the most dynamic economy on the planet, is going to devolve into some kind of stone age. Really convincing, Lefty hyperbole.

Here's hoping those deficit hawks-- which the US Prez has lately embraced-- will in fact deliver, as they say they would, to wrestle the deficit problem that has mightily clogged up the US recovery process.

But do you think they'll have the b___s to reject OBAMA's plan of additional stimulus for the American people? I'm predicting it'll be a noisy fight but in the end it'll be just that... noisy.

The lesson they took from the political fallout of the complete shutdowns during the 90s was that they have to be more confrontational, not less.

I agree-- they have to.

But do you think they'll have the b___s to reject OBAMA's plan of additional stimulus for the American people? I'm predicting it'll be a noisy fight but in the end it'll be just that... noisy.

Yeh, business, small and big, LIKE that government SOCIALISM, when it is called.....bailouts, or government incentives, or whatever. Remember, you repubs--TARP was a republican idea. I don't think that the GOP had the balls to let all of the banks go bankrupt and AIG and the car industry. And besides, now they are all doing OK. Most of the money paid back, like Chrystler did back in the 80s. But, in the end, a bill is a bill, and it don't care who is writing the check. The check has to be paid. Which means you have to have REVENUE. And revenue is NOT coming back to the treasury until the GOP. They HATE revenue. After all, it is OUR MONEY, so I see only more and more and more debt. Unload your dollars everyone!!!

Remember, you repubs--TARP was a republican idea. I don't think that the GOP had the balls to let all of the banks go bankrupt and AIG and the car industry

The mandate for change will, come Tuesday, be in the hands of the Republicans and their renegade faction... but it'll be an interesting watch for all the people that again opted for the stale C-word-- "change"-- and to see their hopes dash once more as a House dominated by the Republicans noisily oppose a forthcoming stimulus break... but then in the end would not have the b__s to foment "change".

Remember, you repubs--TARP was a republican idea.

Really? And the Democrat majority in congress at the time was doing what exactly?

Really? And the Democrat majority in congress at the time was doing what exactly?

Saying "Welcome to the world of Keynesian solutions, Republicans! We note that when all the chips are down, that's what you turned to. What took you so long?"

Really? And the Democrat majority in congress at the time was doing what exactly?

On come on! Your LEADER decided on it, and pushed it! What do Democrats DO but loyally follow you clowns, even into the abyss. Look at Obama and healthcare! You OWN and CREATED Tarp, repubs. GET used to it. And if another problem happens again, you business loving people will DO IT AGAIN!

And if another problem happens again, you business loving people will DO IT AGAIN!

They're free-market entrepreneurs after all-- reminded me of one JT poster who thinks that derivative reforms will hurt 'small businesses'... what a bloody joke :(

Saying "Welcome to the world of Keynesian solutions, Republicans! We note that when all the chips are down, that's what you turned to. What took you so long?"

Please look again. Note just how many Republicans voted against it. As in, a majority of Republicans opposed it. Of course they were in the minority, and simply couldn't stop it.

To all you Liberals. Tomorrow is the day. Twist and turn all you want, but there will be a tidal wave. The people have spoken and regardless how you feel Rat, tkoind2, Klein2 that wave is almost upon us nothing you can say or do about it. At this point and time the American people tried 18 months of failed liberal policies and now are saying enough is enough.

Note just how many Republicans voted against it. As in, a majority of Republicans opposed it. Of course they were in the minority, and simply couldn't stop it.

91 Republicans voted for it, including Republican leaders Boehner and Cantor. 108 opposed it. That's a pretty even split.

63 Democrats opposed it. So all that would have been needed to stop the Keynesian relief program would have been 47 Republican votes. The Republicans had all the Democratic votes they needed to have stopped it if they really wanted to.

Twist and turn all you want, but there will be a tidal wave.

LOL!! No. A tidal wave would put both houses of Congress back in Republican hands. That won't happen.

The people have spoken...

Uh, no. That would be election day, and that hasn't happened yet. Nationally speaking, registered voters -- according to polls -- prefer Democrats to Republicans by 5 percentage points, on who can best handle the problems of the nation.

If anyone wants to see a tidal wave, look to the results in New York State, for governor and both Senate seats.

Dems will win all three in landslides.

91 Republicans voted for it, including Republican leaders Boehner and Cantor. 108 opposed it. That's a pretty even split.

And why was that? Because the liberals and many people at that time thought it might be a good idea to overhaul the healthcare system, the people were still calming down from their overly high, hyped anxiety over this President and the Rep. didn't want to be seen as the party of NO especially when they were mostly all against it. The libs just steam-rolled it right through congress and now, how many Dems are taking credit for it? How many? They're all running away from it as fast as they can. Rep. have no power anyway, to say that they were a road block against the Dems radical healthcare overhaul is nuts.

63 Democrats opposed it. So all that would have been needed to stop the Keynesian relief program would have been 47 Republican votes. The Republicans had all the Democratic votes they needed to have stopped it if they really wanted to.

And the Dems had all the votes they needed to pass it. When a majority of one party supports something, and the majority of the other does not, what does this say? Sure its a divisive issue, but if you are really going to give credit where its due, then it was the Dems that passed TARP. Many of those same Republicans who supported it, have since lost their seats. A lot of the Dems who did, will be shortly.

LOL!! No. A tidal wave would put both houses of Congress back in Republican hands. That won't happen.

No, actually, a tidal wave will be if more then 50 seats change hands in the House. The Senate is another story entirely.

Uh, no. That would be election day, and that hasn't happened yet.

Heh, something we agree on. Definitely premature to be speaking of an election that hasn't yet occured, as if it was done. We won't know the results til after the election.

If anyone wants to see a tidal wave, look to the results in New York State, for governor and both Senate seats.

lol, you say that, then point to one of the bluest states out there, where the Republican candidate for Governor is a Jackass. His little meltdowns have pretty much killed any chance he and the other Republican candidates had in New York. Only real question is, how bad will his stupidity spill over in the other New England states.

And why was that? Because the liberals and many people at that time thought it might be a good idea to overhaul the healthcare system, the people were still calming down from their overly high, hyped anxiety over this President and the Rep. didn't want to be seen as the party of NO especially when they were mostly all against it.

I hate pointing out stuff like this, when I agree generally with what you are saying, but we're talking 2 different things entirely. We're talking TARP, which passed under Bush, despite a majority of Opposition to it. Though it was redone and passed under Obama again, with much stronger opposition this time in both the House and Senate. The Dem majorities forced it through. This however is much different from the Health Care stupidity, which passed more then a year later. Or for that matter, Obama's failed "Porkulus Maximus" Bill.

Because the liberals and many people at that time thought it might be a good idea to overhaul the healthcare system

The issue was not about the health-care system. It was about the emergency Keynesian economic measures drawn up by the Bush Administration and passed by Congress.

And the Dems had all the votes they needed to pass it. When a majority of one party supports something, and the majority of the other does not, what does this say?

To answer your question, it doesn't say anything until you look and see just how the votes are split up. Passage of any bill in the House requires a simple majority of 218 votes. A total of 172 Dems voted for the TARP bill. Simple math and basic honesty should tell anyone that the Dems didn't have enough votes to pass it.

but if you are really going to give credit where its due, then it was the Dems that passed TARP

It's not a matter of giving credit. It's a matter of how a Republican administration and nearly half of its representatives in Congress (including leaders Boehner and Cantor) RUSHED to adopt a Keynesian rescue package in a time of crisis -- when the chips were down. Nobody is going to be critical of a Democrat for following Keynes.

It's not a matter of giving credit. It's a matter of how a Republican administration and nearly half of its representatives in Congress (including leaders Boehner and Cantor) RUSHED to adopt a Keynesian rescue package in a time of crisis -- when the chips were down. Nobody is going to be critical of a Democrat for following Keynes.

You also understand why people were and are so critical of those same Republican Representatives. That is why so many of them lost their seats. When you really consider the situation, a majority of Republicans voted against this, despite the administrations pushing. More then 3/4ths of Dems voted in favor of it. Then look at when it was redone under Obama, the number is even more lopsided.

I was going to say: don't waste your time. The lads will just say some bit about those guys not being "true conservatives" :0

The libs just steam-rolled it right through congress and now, how many Dems are taking credit for it? How many? They're all running away from it as fast as they can.

Good point. But I think, after health care and derivative/ financial reforms liberal bloggers/ independents just DISAPPEARED OUT OF SIGHT. I don't think they were decimated by the TP-- though some obviously thought the renegade bunch is worth the try. But for most, they just... retired all of a sudden. Too bad for the Dems then :(

New polling shows Republican will control the House after Tuesday (US) 55%-40% USA Today/ Gallup; Pew Research 48%-42%; In Nevada Angle 49, Reid 45 for Senate CNN/ Time

I was going to say: don't waste your time. The lads will just say some bit about those guys not being "true conservatives" :0

Even true conservatives can be swayed when told that if they don't vote yes, if the delay at all, the entire banking establishment will collapse. I'm actually amazed that a majority of Republicans opposed the measure.

Even true conservatives can be swayed when told that if they don't vote yes, if the delay at all, the entire banking establishment will collapse. I'm actually amazed that a majority of Republicans opposed the measure.

Yeah-- that's called fear-mongering and makes people a bunch of cows that they'll jump on board willy-nilly. Good on these Repubs (and some Dem. commentators) who did in fact opposed the bank measures....

Sad though but after all these midterm noises-- your political leaders will again have a tug-of-war over Phase II of stimulus funding. You reckon the TP renegades will just put on the same noisy path or you guys actually have a plan to derail it?

(Just asking)

michaelqtodd - Some states of America are profitable. What is stopping say California saying "We are out of here" "We are sick of propping up tens of millions of boneheads in other states who have refused to retrain themselves, take entrepeneurial risk etc".?? "We are making a new country called California"

California is broke and hasn't been able to meet all of their financial obligations for a long time. Many State agencies have reduced staff and services. They're relying on federal tax dollars just to meet basic requirements.

California's biggest problem is the State legislature in Sacramento.

Would the new country of California replace the bear on their flag with a begging cup?

Yabits 10:28 AM JST - 1st November

LOL!! No. A tidal wave would put both houses of Congress back in Republican hands. That won't happen.

@arrestpaul I only used California because that is one I am confident of spelling right. Surely some where in America is making a profit lol. God bless you all if you return to the Republicans tomorrow

As I said, a tidal wave would put both houses of Congress back in Republican hands.

That did not happen.

as long as the tax cuts are for the middle class, then i'm with it. I don't want to see Bush-era tax cuts which mainly were targeted for the rich.

As I said, a tidal wave would put both houses of Congress back in Republican hands. That did not happen.

Funny, almost every big news paper and the big 3 cable news networks all said it was. So you're telling all of us gaining 65 seats is NOT a tidal wave? Forget the Senate, most people know that would be more difficult to get, but the house, of course it was and almost of biblical proportions.

Funny, almost every big news paper and the big 3 cable news networks all said it was.

Hyperbole sells more papers and attracts more viewers.

This was not a "pro-Republican" shift as much as it was anger expressed at the Democrats. That sentiment also lessens the power and significance of the "wave."

Agreed! And yet, a "Wave" no doubt!