Dems lose GA, lose filibuster proof majority.

D_Marazion Analdouche

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GOP's Chambliss wins Ga. runoff - Decision '08- msnbc.com

Turnout was light throughout the state Tuesday. A spokesman for Secretary of State Karen Handel predicted between 18 and 20 percent of the state's 5.75 million registered voters would cast ballots — far less than the 65 percent who voted in last month's general election.

Seems people didn't care to come out and vote after the General Election. A runoff turned into a landslide......

With 92 percent of the precincts reporting, Chambliss captured 58 percent to Martin's 42 percent.

Well at least there will be balance in Washington.
 

Pitbull

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Well at least there will be balance in Washington.

Democrat
President

Democrat - Control of House
Congressional Representatives - 255

Democrat - Control of Senate
Senators - 56 (plus 2 independents that caucus with the Democrats)

Republican
Congressional Representatives - 175
Senators - 41

1 Senatorial Race Undecided (MN)

This equals balance?
HOW????????????

If I put 56 lbs on one side of a scale and 41 lbs on the other side and they balance - the scale is broken.
If I put 255 lbs on one side of the scale and 175 lbs on the other side and they balance - the scale is broken.

Our Government in Washington is broken.
The latest election is not going to fix it.
Sorry.
 

mindseye

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How do you get that the Democrats "lose filibuster proof majority"? By my reckoning, the Democrats lost their filibuster-proof majority in 1979.

Remember the words of John Ensign:
Mr. Ensign said Democrats’ hopes of winning 60 seats were far-fetched. “If they have the best night they could have,” he said, “they would get like 55-56. The best night we could have, we get back in the majority.”
(source)

Even on the best night they could possibly have, there's no way Democrats could get more than 56 seats in the Senate.
 

Pitbull

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Is that a surprise? No offense, but I have family in Georgia and I imagine that many Georgians, like them, only think the POTUS election is the one that matters.

Every election matters.
Until people realize that we will continue to be poorly represented and poorly served by our elected officials.

2008 Potus Election
Obama needed to win the 2004 Senate Election to become a viable candidate.
Obama needed to win 1997 Illinois State Senator electioin to be the 2004 US Senate candidate.
Perhaps even his election as President of the Harvard Law review was needed.

Every election is important.
 

marleyisalegend

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Every election matters. Until people realize that we will continue to be poorly represented and poorly served by our elected officials.

I agree wholeheartedly. I don't like people who complain about local and state problems, yet can't name their mayor, governor, etc... The black community is notorious for complaining about state and federal government not being concerned with their issues, that white issues take priority. Why? Because white people go to the polls, white people go to the school board meetings, white people go to the PTA meetings, and so on and so forth. I have many black acquaintences who can't even name their child's principal. Then they get outraged when they find out it's a pedophile or former drug dealer. Much like I'd say to any American who voted for Bush, you shoulda vetted.
 

D_Marazion Analdouche

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Democrat
President

Democrat - Control of House
Congressional Representatives - 255

Democrat - Control of Senate
Senators - 56 (plus 2 independents that caucus with the Democrats)

Republican
Congressional Representatives - 175
Senators - 41

1 Senatorial Race Undecided (MN)

This equals balance?
HOW????????????

If I put 56 lbs on one side of a scale and 41 lbs on the other side and they balance - the scale is broken.
If I put 255 lbs on one side of the scale and 175 lbs on the other side and they balance - the scale is broken.

Our Government in Washington is broken.
The latest election is not going to fix it.
Sorry.

Because regardless of the numbers Demos cannot more or less pass whatever they want, Repubs can filibuster. What's so hard to understand?
 

mindseye

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Because regardless of the numbers Demos cannot more or less pass whatever they want, Repubs can filibuster. What's so hard to understand?

That's pretty oversimplified, though. For the Republican party to successfully filibuster a bill, they'll have to have almost complete party unity: any two defections will end the filibuster.

Possible sources for defection:

Arlen Specter and Judd Gregg are both from solid blue states that recently (PA in 2006 and NH in 2008) ousted their Republican colleagues in the Senate by wide margins. To a lesser extent, Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, Chuck Grassley, John Ensign, George Voinovich, and (assuming he wins the recount) Norm Coleman are also representing blue states.

Mel Martinez has already announced his retirement in a swing state, and doesn't want to energize the Democratic candidate for his open seat by being an "obstructionist".

They'll probably succeed on Iraq war issues, because Joe Lieberman is likely to defect the other way and join in a filibuster, but given the dismal state our domestic affairs are in, I don't think the Republican party can hold all 42 Senators in line on Obama's domestic agenda.
 

D_Fiona_Farvel

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I see the two parties that as basically the same, so I wasn't concerned.

I think there always would have been "balance" - because regardless of political party, each representative has the potential to fall anywhere along the political continuum depending on the issue.

However, it will be interesting to see if the Republicans some accuse of being liberal, like Susan Collins, Snowe, Lindsey Graham, et al., will adopt a more conservative stance next year.

That's pretty oversimplified, though. For the Republican party to successfully filibuster a bill, they'll have to have almost complete party unity: any two defections will end the filibuster.

Possible sources for defection:

Arlen Specter and Judd Gregg are both from solid blue states that recently (PA in 2006 and NH in 2008) ousted their Republican colleagues in the Senate by wide margins. To a lesser extent, Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, Chuck Grassley, John Ensign, George Voinovich, and (assuming he wins the recount) Norm Coleman are also representing blue states.

Mel Martinez has already announced his retirement in a swing state, and doesn't want to energize the Democratic candidate for his open seat by being an "obstructionist".

They'll probably succeed on Iraq war issues, because Joe Lieberman is likely to defect the other way and join in a filibuster, but given the dismal state our domestic affairs are in, I don't think the Republican party can hold all 42 Senators in line on Obama's domestic agenda.
Exactly. I forgot about Coleman and Ensign, but also wonder how McCain will vote. :scratchchin:
 

Principessa

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Is that a surprise? No offense, but I have family in Georgia and I imagine that many Georgians, like them, only think the POTUS election is the one that matters.
I don't think that's the problem so much as many Dems born and bred in Georgia know they are out numbered. :frown1: Blacks in particular do not have bred into them the 'audacity to hope' for a better life. :frown1:

My parents and I voted for Martin last Tuesday because I had to have an outpatient procedure yesterday. Then again we are diehard Democrats and recent transplants to this backwards red state.





And people wonder why I still miss my beloved New Jersey. :rolleyes: :duh: It's corrupt, but it's blue. :cool:
 

pronatalist

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I'm not entirely unhappy that the Dems don't have an absolutely filibuster-proof majority. [Qualifiers anyone?] No one party should be able to enact their ajenda in a slamdunk without taking pause; a slight tilt toward moderation rarely hurts.

Lose filibuster-proof majority? Huh? That makes it sound like the Dems supposely had some rights to it? How is this a loss, when the better guy got elected?

It's a very scary thing, for a wicked government to be able to do whatever it wants, with no proper "checks and balances." Or do people not know any of their theory-of-government? Especially when it is the wrong, immoral, tax-and-spend socialist Party in power.

Even liberals should be happy with this runoff-election, as perhaps the "liberal agenda" isn't exactly so unified, and even liberals might see some place for "checks and balances" and for freedom-of-speech conservative (and liberal) talk-radio?

It's a hopeful sign, that if Obama doesn't behave himself, and seeks to tax-and-spend our economy into oblivion, that Republican and real conservative "opposition" can only be expected to increase, as early as the next 2-year election, if not sooner. So for everybody's sakes, I do hope he jettisons most of his "radical" views, and does try to do the right things.
 

D_Marazion Analdouche

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I agree wholeheartedly. I don't like people who complain about local and state problems, yet can't name their mayor, governor, etc... The black community is notorious for complaining about state and federal government not being concerned with their issues, that white issues take priority. Why? Because white people go to the polls, white people go to the school board meetings, white people go to the PTA meetings, and so on and so forth. I have many black acquaintences who can't even name their child's principal. Then they get outraged when they find out it's a pedophile or former drug dealer. Much like I'd say to any American who voted for Bush, you shoulda vetted.

Agreed, from my understanding this past election turned out record numbers in the younger vote as well as various ethnic groups. But then when a pretty important run-off occurs people are not paying attention. It's almost like the Superbowl, after it's over nobody really gives a shit about the Pro-Bowl because there isn't any "hype" put into it.

There are more ways to get involved than voting as you said, parents and adults across all races should be more involved in their communities.

That's pretty oversimplified, though. For the Republican party to successfully filibuster a bill, they'll have to have almost complete party unity: any two defections will end the filibuster.

Obviously, but at least there is that potential to keep certain things from passing versus having a blank check to do whatever demos want. Of course people will jump the aisle for certain legislation, both sides have and will continue to do it.
 

dong20

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So for everybody's sakes, I do hope he jettisons most of his "radical" views, and does try to do the right things.

Everybody's ... or yours, - don't worry, it was rhetorical.

I'd suspect that with the current state of the US (and through connection much of the global economy), some of these 'radical' views may well be the right views.

I doubt few could form cogent arguments against reigning in the influence of special interest groups, seeking to redress racial and social imbalance, curtailing pork barrel politics and preventing a reprise of the gross socio-economic distortions of financial sector excess and incompetence we have just begun to pay the price for ... to list but four.

That Americans made the right choice remains to be seen, that those that voted for Obama believe they did, many in the hope that radical may be required is surely undeniable. Give them some credit for that.

In any government, proper and effective checks and balances are required, I quite agree, but perhaps you could at least let the man take office before you seek to clip his wings.
 

Pitbull

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Because regardless of the numbers Demos cannot more or less pass whatever they want, Repubs can filibuster. What's so hard to understand?

They will be able to pass most of what they want.
The Republicans will not filibuster just any legislation.
It has to be something quite outlandish and the Republicans will have to be 100% behind the filibuster.
If a filibuster is in progress not much else is getting done so it is a very big negative for them to be viewed as obstructionist.

I stand by my original contention.
It is a misuse of the English language to use balanced.
It is not balanced when the democrats control the executive branch and both the House and Senate by wide margins.
The democrats have all the power - committee chairs, leadership positions, cabinet posts, nomination of judges etc etc etc

The Republicans have the threat of a filibuster.

Kind of like one football team having better coaching, offense, defense and home field advantage and the other team says it is balanced because they can throw the "Hail Mary" pass.

Most of what the democratic leadership wants they will pass and it will get signed.
The Republicans will get very little of what they want passed. It must be something that meets the approval of significant numbers of democrats.

The filibuster will be used very little if at all.

And as was correctly pointed out - The Republican party does not have the cooperation of some of their senators on many issues.
 
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D_Marazion Analdouche

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They will be able to pass most of what they want.
The Republicans will not filibuster just any legislation.
It has to be something quite outlandish and the Republicans will have to be 100% behind the filibuster.
If a filibuster is in progress not much else is getting done so it is a very big negative for them to be viewed as obstructionist.

I stand by my original contention.
It is a misuse of the English language to use balanced.
It is not balanced when the democrats control the executive branch and both the House and Senate by wide margins.
The democrats have all the power - committee chairs, leadership positions, cabinet posts, nomination of judges etc etc etc

The Republicans have the threat of a filibuster.

Kind of like one football team having better coaching, offense, defense and home field advantage and the other team says it is balanced because they can throw the "Hail Mary" pass.

Most of what the democratic leadership wants they will pass and it will get signed.
The Republicans will get very little of what they want passed. It must be something that meets the approval of significant numbers of democrats.

The filibuster will be used very little if at all.

And as was correctly pointed out - The Republican party does not have the cooperation of some of their senators on many issues.

Thank you Captain Obvious.

The entire point, as I will say again, is having the difference between having some resistance and Demos having the ability to do whatever they more or less want all the time.

How's this for misuse? The football can't grow peaches because a dog swims upwards. :squintfinger:
 

Pitbull

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The entire point, as I will say again, is having the difference between having some resistance and Demos having the ability to do whatever they more or less want all the time.

Some resistance does not equal balance.

How's this for misuse? The football can't grow peaches because a dog swims upwards. :squintfinger:
Yup. That's misuse.
 

Hotrocker

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I don't think that's the problem so much as many Dems born and bred in Georgia know they are out numbered. :frown1: Blacks in particular do not have bred into them the 'audacity to hope' for a better life. :frown1:

My parents and I voted for Martin last Tuesday because I had to have an outpatient procedure yesterday. Then again we are diehard Democrats and recent transplants to this backwards red state.





And people wonder why I still miss my beloved New Jersey. :rolleyes: :duh: It's corrupt, but it's blue. :cool:

Hey... not all New Jerseyans are Democrats. My entire family has been republican for the last 40 years. My dear, we are the resistance force in Lawrenceville.