View Full Version : US Republicans seize lower house
US Republicans win control of the lower house of Congress in key elections, setting up a new challenge to President Barack Obama's agenda.
* Mark Mardell: Voters punish Obama
* The new rulers of the House
* Boehner emotional at victory Watch
* In pictures: US Election results
* Republican joy in Chicago
* As it happened: US mid-terms
* Pundits' views on what next
* Gratitude from victorious Reid Watch
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11684522
Note:3 November 2010 Last updated at 11:42 GMT
papa_smurf
11-03-10, 07:35 AM
This has been interesting to watch from a non-US perspective. Does this mean President Obama will find it difficult getting laws passed? Will the Republicans try to block new legislation or not risk it, as that might dent their chances of getting into power in 2 years time:hmmm:
Still, much more interesting than the bunch we got:har:
Mr. Obama, has a veto, which I suppose it could be beneficial
papa_smurf
11-03-10, 07:46 AM
Mr. Obama, has a veto, which I suppose it could be beneficial
Like when the UK had one in the early days of the EU, where we would veto everything no matter what time of day is was:D.
Gloating from obvious sources begins in five...four...three... :hmmm:
NeonSamurai
11-03-10, 08:04 AM
Ya lets widen the gulf between parties even more and make each side even more rabid and extreme :yeah:
Honestly I think American politics have gotten way more polarized in the last 20 years. With less critical thinking going on, and more blind backing your chosen religion.. I mean party.
Here in Canada it's the exact opposite, where voter apathy rules and we don't trust or like any of the candidates very much. Sure there are some dyed in the wool liberals and conservatives, but not that many.
This has been interesting to watch from a non-US perspective. Does this mean President Obama will find it difficult getting laws passed? Will the Republicans try to block new legislation or not risk it, as that might dent their chances of getting into power in 2 years time:hmmm:
Still, much more interesting than the bunch we got:har:
The Senate is still dem, but much important stuff will need both houses in agreement.
The net result is nothing sweeping can possibly come from Obama except if it is liked by the Republicans. Sadly, in the first 2 years he set up stuff where unelected regulators will set policies that can still fubar the country (much of the real problem with the healthcare bill is that the specifics were not passed, but they set up things so huge changes could come later with no votes at all by people appointed).
The country would have been better off with this kind of gridlock for the whole Obama admin (not to mention Obama would be better off, because he would have had to been centrist to pass anything.)
AVGWarhawk
11-03-10, 09:02 AM
The people(country) have spoken. Obama needs to govern from the center. Just as he stumped in 2008.
Does this mean President Obama will find it difficult getting laws passed? Will the Republicans try to block new legislation or not risk it, as that might dent their chances of getting into power in 2 years time:hmmm:
If the Republicans are smart they will do more than be obstructionist. In two years they will need to be able to show that they came up with some ideas themselves, even if the Senate Dems and White House block them.
SteamWake
11-03-10, 09:42 AM
Gloating from obvious sources begins in five...four...three... :hmmm:
No time for gloating the work is just getting started.
It is time to hold these jokers feet to the fire and make sure they act in the manner they promised us.
I am really dissapointed about Reid's race thouth. I guess they managed to demonize Angle and surround themselves with last minute union orginzation. How that guy is still in office is beyond me.
nikimcbee
11-03-10, 10:19 AM
If the Republicans are smart they will do more than be obstructionist. In two years they will need to be able to show that they came up with some ideas themselves, even if the Senate Dems and White House block them.
Dude, you guys re-elected Barney Frank, waz up with that?:nope:
Dude, you guys re-elected Barney Frank, waz up with that?:nope:
Who knows. Anyone actually watch his appalling victory speech? What a disgusting boor. His whole speech rang of entitlement. Seems peeved he even had to run. Useless POS.
gimpy117
11-03-10, 10:28 AM
to be honest, nothing will get done. Democratic executive branch, democratic senate; and republican house
that spells out deadlock to me
Dude, you guys re-elected Barney Frank, waz up with that?:nope:
My state is infested with Democrats and the state GoP is kept weak by crossover primary votes. It's a sad situation. He's not my congresscritter though. Different district.
The media needs to switch the colors. If they can't get the right colors assigned, then each election should switch red and blue. Why? Reds are the bad guys. The choice of red for reps by the media is no accident. Red=bad in military exercises, for example, and the side closer to the Reds are the democrats (not all democrats are communists, but all communists existing within our two party system are democrats).
Skybird
11-03-10, 11:03 AM
The atmosphere has been poisened like I cannot remember it ever has been the case during my adult lifetime since I started to observe politics. Plenty of hate, sheer hate, from the tea party - no way to call some of the campaign stunts any different than that.
That is no good mixture to expect compromise. I think both parties will try to be very and the tea party will try to be extremely destructive, for the sake of destruction done to the political oppon... - no, the political enemy.
I wonder if even Bush was so polariisng to the US society. I think not.
However, the Dems were sort of lucky. I expected them to lose the senate, too. Senate is no more filibusterproof, too (60 of 100 are needed to prevent it, or am I mistaken?)
O'Donell failed to win. Good for the Reps in two years. They really need to start sorting her likes out. But I think, more relaistic is to expect that the Reps will start to rip themselves apart between tea-party and non-tea party. The first will try to take over control in the Rep party.
What it all means? A further degeneration of political culture, where the cause to claim power will justify EVERY means. Would one have thought that that could even be imagined: a further degeneration? It seems the hole is bottomless, so is the fall into it endless.
SteamWake
11-03-10, 11:20 AM
Quit looking through those media polarized glasses.
The tea party is not the party of hate as it is commonly portrayed. Yes there is indeed anger. But anger and hate are two different things.
What exactly is so extreme and hatefull about wanting fiscal responsability?
Quit looking through those media polarized glasses.
The tea party is not the party of hate as it is commonly portrayed. Yes there is indeed anger. But anger and hate are two different things.
What exactly is so extreme and hatefull about wanting fiscal responsability?
Shows you just how effective the lefts character assassination efforts really are. They can't address the Tea Parties entire reason for existence because after all who can argue against fiscal responsibility?, so they concentrate on personal attacks instead and they are quite good at it.
AVGWarhawk
11-03-10, 11:48 AM
So I need to ask, is the Obama Presidency a failed social studies experiment? :hmmm:
As the 2010 midterm elections wrap up, TIME looks at the weirdest, wildest and most telling moments of a memorable campaign season.
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2028959_2028935_2028925,00.html
Takeda Shingen
11-03-10, 12:08 PM
Well, now it is time to see just how effective these people will be. Will they reign in government spending? Will they provide a voice against America's self-destructive interventionist policy? Will they secure the border and enforce our laws? Or, as I suspect, will they act in the interests of the Republican establishment? Will they stand in opposition to the Republican agenda, or will they be crushed beneath the boot heels of the Neo-Conservatives?
nikimcbee
11-03-10, 12:11 PM
So I need to ask, is the Obama Presidency a failed social studies experiment? :hmmm:
yes, next question.
Now what was it that obama said after he won in 08?
nikimcbee
11-03-10, 12:15 PM
Well, now it is time to see just how effective these people will be. Will they reign in government spending? Will they provide a voice against America's self-destructive interventionist policy? Will they secure the border and enforce our laws? Or, as I suspect, will they act in the interests of the Republican establishment? Will they stand in opposition to the Republican agenda, or will they be crushed beneath the boot heels of the Neo-Conservatives?
I think the current trend in US politics, is un-doing what the other party did.
Party "A" wins, puts party "B" on trial for corruption, blah, blah blah
(four years later)
Party "B" wins and puts party "A" on trial blah blah blah.
repeat as nessicary (sp)
Buddahaid
11-03-10, 12:24 PM
This whole political climate seems like one long hostile unisex divorce proceeding. (missing barf smiley)
Bubblehead1980
11-03-10, 12:35 PM
The people(country) have spoken. Obama needs to govern from the center. Just as he stumped in 2008.
Obama is too much of an ideologue to do that.Bill Clinton enjoyed the office and the power more than he cared about his principles so he listened to Dick Morris and gave the appearance of moving to the center, cake for the people so to speak.Obama may try this but doubt it, he is too committed to his lefty ways.
Bubblehead1980
11-03-10, 12:40 PM
This has been interesting to watch from a non-US perspective. Does this mean President Obama will find it difficult getting laws passed? Will the Republicans try to block new legislation or not risk it, as that might dent their chances of getting into power in 2 years time:hmmm:
Still, much more interesting than the bunch we got:har:
Yes Obama will not have free reign as he has had for two years to implement his agenda, which is not popular with the citizens but he has ignored us time and time again.
With Republicans controlling the house now, he will not be able to rape this country any longer.So either he will budge or there will be gridlock.
GoldenRivet
11-03-10, 12:49 PM
Plenty of hate, sheer hate, from the tea party - no way to call some of the campaign stunts any different than that.
please clarify and cite an example or two
I'm not a TEA party member myself, but i know a lot of people who are and i call some of them friends.
Each of them who i have spoken to do not vilify anyone, they do not express hatred for anyone... they have all said the same thing which boils down to this:
for years they have grown more and more disgusted with and tired of a government which only grows larger and larger, takes more and more from the people, expands greater and greater power and most importantly to them it seems... SPENDS trillions upon trillions of dollars like there is no tomorrow.
They seem to - correctly - understand that this debt, this mounting prison of debt is something that will have to be passed down to the generations of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The TEA Party from what i have viewed with my own eyes is simply a group of people who are tired of being promised change at each election by each candidate and are instead given the same old routine.
I have seen no messages of red in the face "Hate" coming from them when they speak.
nor i have heard any wishes to put democrats, or leftists in ovens and gas chambers or prison camps.
nor i have spoken with has ever once used any unacceptable hate speech when talking about the leadership of this nation.
any YOU may have seen were either "plants" or they represent a small and uneducated group of A-Holes who think they "fit in" with the TEA Party.
The atmosphere has been poisened like I cannot remember it ever has been the case during my adult lifetime since I started to observe politics. Plenty of hate, sheer hate, from the tea party - no way to call some of the campaign stunts any different than that.
You're delusional, or see things from bizarrely filtered media. Seriously.
One, any student of US history would find the current climate fairly normal.
Two, the "hate" is certainly less than vs Bush. We had major movies (Moore) spouting insanity about him. Posters not just calling him Hitler, but with cross hairs, or other death wishes. The Tea party is amazingly benign compared to that, frankly. Ever read Kos, or Huffpo during the Bush years? or DU? LOL. I recently started listening to Firewater, and their last albumn has a song saying they're gonna put Bush "in the ground" (Hey Clown). Same song has the lyric "all my troubles are because of you and your pathetic crew." I laugh, it's a decent song actually, but he's so delusional if he thinks all his troubles are from the POTUS. That's just silly. As silly as over-hyping the dislike of Obama.
The Third Man
11-03-10, 02:01 PM
Clinton could easily move to the center in 1994, because he came from a history of governing from the center as governor of Arkanas. Obama has no history of such a thing. His news conference today shows his inability to recognize the change. He is much like a gangland boss in his defiance.
To use Obama's own words....'we won'!
BTW, why is Klaus Nomi sing about Nancy Pelosi?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vXR5gjRMPk
Well, now it is time to see just how effective these people will be. ? :hmmm:
Platapus
11-04-10, 05:33 PM
Well, I wish the new Congress good luck and hope they will pass legislation that will benefit the country and not just their party.
It is very easy being the minority party. All you have to do is sit back and say "I think you are doing it wrong".
Well, now you are the majority party and America is awaiting to see if the party of no can actually accomplish something other than start wars.
And just remember, the impatience of the voters that got the Democrats out of office will be focused on the Republicans just in time for the next elections.
I, and I am sure the rest of America, will be eagerly awaiting some solutions.
When you are in the majority, you can't just say no. You have to work the issues.
Good luck with this. :yeah:
Well, I wish the new Congress good luck and hope they will pass legislation that will benefit the country and not just their party.
It is very easy being the minority party. All you have to do is sit back and say "I think you are doing it wrong".
Well, now you are the majority party and America is awaiting to see if the party of no can actually accomplish something other than start wars.
And just remember, the impatience of the voters that got the Democrats out of office will be focused on the Republicans just in time for the next elections.
I, and I am sure the rest of America, will be eagerly awaiting some solutions.
When you are in the majority, you can't just say no. You have to work the issues.
Good luck with this. :yeah:
Majority party in only one half of the Congress you mean.
Now my question is will the Democrat controlled Senate and Executive branch work with them or will the they become the new Party of No? I guess time will tell but you're absolutely right, the American voter is not going to have a lot of patience for business as usual in Washington.
reignofdeath
11-04-10, 06:16 PM
Im wondering how it will turn out. Personally Im disgusted with the current administration. The healthcare in particular and all the promises he made and went completely opposite of what he said. That and the "Hate mongering" that seems to come from the tear party is a joke. I watched many videos of tea party members and didnt see one incident of it. I DID however watch a Union worker I believe beat the living daylights out of a Tea-Party member on video and the Tea-Party(An African American one none the less, and people say theyre racists too) member did nothing to retaliate. Yeah theyre really fight / hate mongerers. :hmmm:
I remember in particular watching a newscast where Mr. John Kerry said himself (Albeit in a nice way) The voters were too stupid to understand the matters at hand, meaning the economy,etc. etc... I just dont see how someone can vote for someone who insults them like that??:shifty:
I also remember a bailout of GM for billions of dollars, of which my father who has worked his ass off there for 15 years didnt recieve a single penny. Theyre not bailing out the company, theyre bailing out the CEOs. Pssh
As much as I am republican however, I voted independent as much as I could because I do see bits and pieces of the both parties being equally as corrupt. Sorry this post is a bit off-topic. Im just tired of being weaseled by some slick politicians.
/end rant
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/252570/return-norm-charles-krauthammer
Another one hit out of the park by Krauthammer.
Some tidbits (bolded bit done by me):
For all the turmoil, the spectacle, the churning — for all the old bulls slain and fuzzy-cheeked freshmen born — the great Republican wave of 2010 is simply a return to the norm. The tide had gone out; the tide came back. A center-right country restores the normal congressional map: a sea of interior red, bordered by blue coasts, and dotted by blue islands of urban density.
...
Moreover, Obamacare and the stimulus were passed on near-total party-line votes — legal, of course, but deeply offensive to the people’s sense of democratic legitimacy. Never before had anything of this size and scope been passed on a purely partisan basis. (Social Security commanded 81 House Republicans; the Civil Rights Act, 136; Medicare, 70.)
...
This is not, however, a rejection of Democrats as a party. The center-left party as represented by Bill Clinton remains competitive in every cycle. The lesson of Tuesday is that the American game is played between the 40-yard lines. So long as Democrats don’t repeat Obama’s drive for the red zone, Democrats will cyclically prevail, just as Republicans do.
Spot on.
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