How Republicans Lost In 2012 Yet Still Won

b.c.

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A report from tonight's NBC Nightly News explains why some Republicans in Congress (and Democrats, for that matter) don't much give a damn about public opinion - how and why THEY figure their positions are guaranteed:


“When Republicans won the majority of state houses in 2010, it insured they’d be redrawing the maps in those states, and lo and behold, it paid off in 2012. Nationwide Democrats running for congress GOT 1.1 MILLION MORE VOTES, but Republicans sent 33 more members to the House.”


http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/53280343/#53280343


"In 2012 Both Republicans and Democrats had a paltry 15% approval rating, and yet 90% of House members were re-elected."
 
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D_Likma_Taint

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Clearly u don't understand politics. Look at individual members approval ratings they are almost very high. Congress as a whole is disliked
 

YankeeJoe

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Yes, I saw that report and they tried very hard to make it sound scary and unprecedented. It's neither. This is how it works and both parties do it--the Republicans hold the House now, so they are only doing what the Democrats do when they control the House. It reminds me of the election of 2000 when Gore won the "popular" vote, but lost the Electoral vote, and all of a sudden the electoral vote became an issue with some calling for the Electoral college to be abolished, never mind the fact that THAT is how presidents have always been elected. It's politics.
 

b.c.

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Clearly u don't understand politics. Look at individual members approval ratings they are almost very high. Congress as a whole is disliked

I don't know what is it about this post would lead you to conclude I "clearly don't understand politics". Perhaps those who produced the report don't as well, since I only quoted what THEY said.

Not withstanding your rather condescending remark, I DO understand politics, understand that both parties have benefited from gerrymandering, and that because of it the approval ratings of congressional members may be high within their own districts.

That still does not change the point of the report that suggests it might be time for changes in the way districts are drawn up, nor change the fact that 90% of an overall unpopular Congress continues to do business as usual, which as it now stands, is NO business at all.
 
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YankeeJoe

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Yes, now it's time to make changes to an admittedly flawed system because it's the GOP that has the upper hand, right? Next year, if the Democrats retake the House, you'll hear no more about making changes to the system.
 

Bardox

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Despite their approval in nation wide polling, most Reps and Senators poll high in their specific districts/states. When the majority of people who say they want 60% of congress immediately removed and replaced, it's important to note that they aren't talking about the members of congress they voted for. "My congressman is doing his best for us. It's all the other people there that are the problem." Sad, but true.
 

b.c.

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Yes, now it's time to make changes to an admittedly flawed system because it's the GOP that has the upper hand, right? Next year, if the Democrats retake the House, you'll hear no more about making changes to the system.

IF the Democrats retake the House it won't be because they did so with a minority of the popular vote, or because they've got districts drawn up in a manner designed to dilute the voting strength of so-called liberals and minorities.

It'll be because, even with districts drawn up in THEIR favor, ENOUGH people would've had enough of THEM, (which given the mindset of the GOP's constituency, isn't likely to happen TOO soon anyway).

But thanks for admitting, at least, to the "system" being flawed.
 
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StormfrontFL

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Yes, now it's time to make changes to an admittedly flawed system because it's the GOP that has the upper hand, right? Next year, if the Democrats retake the House, you'll hear no more about making changes to the system.
Cynical much?

You might be surprised to find out that there have been calls for changes to our system that go back many years from both sides.

As an aside I just love how people come across Large Penis Support Group in searches and join to immediately run to the Politics forum. Makes one wonder whether LPSG is listed in some search engines as Local Politics Support Group:rolleyes:
 

D_Malcolm_MacPudd

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republicans in the media are portrayed as complete quacks, insane in the membrane. How anyone identifies with them is beyond me. Even if i didnt approve of Obamacare, i still wouldnt swing to the Rubio, Cruz, and Bachman side. By the way, the republican presidential debates was like a meeting of an evangelical freakshow. The irony is most of the republican ideals are the opposite of what Jesus preached yet they point to the bible for almost everything. You gotta seperate that shit:eek:
 
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cruztbone

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and , egg, Cory Booker of Newark, New Jersey joins the other 54 Dems in the US senate to return the standings where they were last November, despite Sarah Palin and all the GOP wingnuts who did their best to elect of the tea party's most WACKO jello molds ever to the senate.
by the way, Booker is only the FOURTH African-American elected to the US senate since Reconstruction ended in the mid-1870's. he is to be CONGRATULATED.
more diversity for the Senate is sorely needed. we already have too many old, white, protestant, wealthy men ( more than 50) in the senate now. the time has arrived for even the GOP to embrace the tossed salad that the USA is, not a mayonnaise-based melting pot.
white supremacists, get over it or GET OUT of the USA.
 

Eric_8

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and , egg, Cory Booker of Newark, New Jersey joins the other 54 Dems in the US senate to return the standings where they were last November, despite Sarah Palin and all the GOP wingnuts who did their best to elect of the tea party's most WACKO jello molds ever to the senate.
by the way, Booker is only the FOURTH African-American elected to the US senate since Reconstruction ended in the mid-1870's. he is to be CONGRATULATED.
more diversity for the Senate is sorely needed. we already have too many old, white, protestant, wealthy men ( more than 50) in the senate now. the time has arrived for even the GOP to embrace the tossed salad that the USA is, not a mayonnaise-based melting pot.
white supremacists, get over it or GET OUT of the USA.

Well, to be fair, Tim Scott SOUNDS like an old white guy's name :rolleyes:
 

Mensch1351

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IF the Democrats retake the House it won't be because they did so with a minority of the popular vote, or because they've got districts drawn up in a manner designed to dilute the voting strength of so-called liberals and minorities.

It'll be because, even with districts drawn up in THEIR favor, ENOUGH people would've had enough of THEM, (which given the mindset of the GOP's constituency, isn't likely to happen TOO soon anyway).

But thanks for admitting, at least, to the "system" being flawed.

Isn't that how Allen West managed to lose his seat in a heavily Republican district (you just cannot SAY that you think there are communists in Congress and not get slam dunked for it).

I "used" to live in a heavily Republican district in Kansas and for 12 years we sent a Democrat to Congress. Why? Because the big battle was the primaries and when an "ultra" conservative won, the moderate Republicans turned out in droves to elect the Democrat. Just because you have an "R" or a "D" behind your name, doesn't secure your seat -- anywhere! Stupidity and lies won't get rewarded with votes!
 

b.c.

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Isn't that how Allen West managed to lose his seat in a heavily Republican district (you just cannot SAY that you think there are communists in Congress and not get slam dunked for it).

I "used" to live in a heavily Republican district in Kansas and for 12 years we sent a Democrat to Congress. Why? Because the big battle was the primaries and when an "ultra" conservative won, the moderate Republicans turned out in droves to elect the Democrat. Just because you have an "R" or a "D" behind your name, doesn't secure your seat -- anywhere! Stupidity and lies won't get rewarded with votes!

Sometimes they don't, sometimes they do.
 

Eric_8

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Sometimes they don't, sometimes they do.

I like how when Republicans do it (lies and stupid campaign promises), it's condemned, but when Obama (too many to count) does it, it's par for the course...all part of the campaign process.

Now, don't get me wrong, the Republicans have done a lot of stupid stuff, especially recently, but this rose colored view so many here give their people (fellow Liberals) is pretty astonishing.
 

bar4doug

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Clearly u don't understand politics. Look at individual members approval ratings they are almost very high. Congress as a whole is disliked

Every voter likes the pork they eat.
They hate the pork someone else gets to eat.

That still does not change the point of the report that suggests it might be time for changes in the way districts are drawn up, nor change the fact that 90% of an overall unpopular Congress continues to do business as usual, which as it now stands, is NO business at all.

Which might be fine in the view of some. Maybe each state should look to finance their own agendas instead of expecting other states to do so.

Personally, I wish the Federal Government would just deal with international relations, and have each state set its own internal policies. We are, actually, united states, and each has its own identity. We shouldn't be bred to be one homogenous mix of people. Diversity make us interesting. ANd anyone who doesn't look around to see different things is not living life to the fullest. Just my two cents.

And besides, since states are required to present balanced budgets, it might not be such a bad thing... Only offer what you can pay for instead of putting in on the credit card..


and , egg, Cory Booker of Newark, New Jersey joins the other 54 Dems in the US senate to return the standings where they were last November, despite Sarah Palin and all the GOP wingnuts who did their best to elect of the tea party's most WACKO jello molds ever to the senate.
by the way, Booker is only the FOURTH African-American elected to the US senate since Reconstruction ended in the mid-1870's. he is to be CONGRATULATED.
more diversity for the Senate is sorely needed. we already have too many old, white, protestant, wealthy men ( more than 50) in the senate now. the time has arrived for even the GOP to embrace the tossed salad that the USA is, not a mayonnaise-based melting pot.
white supremacists, get over it or GET OUT of the USA.

Please do not say that the representation of the US Congress should be based on Affirmative Action. A candidate should be elected on his character as a statesmen alone, and not simply because of his race, just to fill a quota.

Districting is a job of the state, and not of the federal government, unless it's done to put down a protected class, and then maybe the Fed oversees it. But since Texas' redistricting between census' was upheld by the Supreme Court, good luck proving any redistricting is biased. Unfortunately, both sides of the aisle are willing to keep their strongholds, which is why you don't see the turnover typically expected in Congress.

I have seen and heard from many who have suffered from AA. AA, in my opinion, if reverse-racism backed by "social justice" that is no better than the "good old boy" network. Better qualified persons have lost their job because someone of lesser quality was needed to make quota. Sad indeed.
 

b.c.

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Every voter likes the pork they eat.
They hate the pork someone else gets to eat.



Which might be fine in the view of some. Maybe each state should look to finance their own agendas instead of expecting other states to do so.

Personally, I wish the Federal Government would just deal with international relations, and have each state set its own internal policies. We are, actually, united states, and each has its own identity. We shouldn't be bred to be one homogenous mix of people. Diversity make us interesting. ANd anyone who doesn't look around to see different things is not living life to the fullest. Just my two cents.

And besides, since states are required to present balanced budgets, it might not be such a bad thing... Only offer what you can pay for instead of putting in on the credit card..




Please do not say that the representation of the US Congress should be based on Affirmative Action. A candidate should be elected on his character as a statesmen alone, and not simply because of his race, just to fill a quota.

Districting is a job of the state, and not of the federal government, unless it's done to put down a protected class, and then maybe the Fed oversees it. But since Texas' redistricting between census' was upheld by the Supreme Court, good luck proving any redistricting is biased. Unfortunately, both sides of the aisle are willing to keep their strongholds, which is why you don't see the turnover typically expected in Congress.

I have seen and heard from many who have suffered from AA. AA, in my opinion, if reverse-racism backed by "social justice" that is no better than the "good old boy" network. Better qualified persons have lost their job because someone of lesser quality was needed to make quota. Sad indeed.

I think if you do a little research you'll find that Affirmative Action and similar concepts are NOT synonymous to your "good old boy network" analogy at all.

Fact is, many countries throughout the world (and the U.N.) have recognized the LEGITIMATE need for "policies that take factors including race, color, religion, sex, or national origin into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresented group in areas of employment, education, and business"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affirmative_action
 

Eric_8

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I think if you do a little research you'll find that Affirmative Action and similar concepts are NOT synonymous to your "good old boy network" analogy at all.

Fact is, many countries throughout the world (and the U.N.) have recognized the LEGITIMATE need for "policies that take factors including race, color, religion, sex, or national origin into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresented group in areas of employment, education, and business"

Affirmative action - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Noble in its intention, though not always in its implementation.
 

dandelion

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I think if you do a little research you'll find that Affirmative Action and similar concepts are NOT synonymous to your "good old boy network" analogy at all.
Actions which give a boosts to people from disadvataged groups are entirely justifiable on grounds of giving a job to the most able. In the UK private schools sytematically achieve better qualifications for people who attend them than do public schools. Comparing job applicants without taking this into account is simply unfair. And unwise, because you may end up with an imbecile from a private school instead of an intelligent employee who never had the chance to learn.
 

StormfrontFL

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Like many Democrat programs.

I think I read a firefighter program that accepted more students under AA. Results? Highest dropout rates in years.
If you look back at your posting history you'll find that you quite often begin your rants with " I think I read". Please don't post some fantasy that you believe. Wait until you have some actual facts.