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Subscribe to RSSSenate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday that he expects some Democrats –- wary that continued support for Democratic policies will cost them re-election in 2012 -- will "peel off" from their caucus to work with Republicans for the next two years.
“I think the most interesting thing to watch in the next Congress is how many Democrats start voting with us,” McConnell said.
“Every one of the 23 Democrats up [for re-election] in the next cycle has a clear understanding of what happened Tuesday,” he said. “I think we have major opportunities for bipartisan coalitions to support what we want to do.”
President Barack Obama will presumably be at the top of the ticket in 2012, making the dynamics of the next election difficult to predict. (A lot can change in two years -- just think of the difference between the 2008 Democratic pickups and the 2010 Republican ones.) But a quick look at the list of in-cycle Democrats indicates why McConnell is optimistic.
Several Democrats who will be up for re-election in two years already break with their party frequently. Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska has voted with Republicans about 32 percent of the time during this Congress, according to the Washington Post. Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri has broken with her party on about 1 in 5 votes.
Other Democrats who hail from relatively conservative states might be eying Tuesday’s results with concern. Sen. John Tester, who’s up for re-election in 2012, represents red state Montana. And Senator-elect Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who has to run again in two years for a full term, has already promised to take aim at Democratic policies -- literally.
And still others watched Democratic candidates from their home state go down in defeat on Tuesday. Sen. Herb Kohl of Wisconsin will say goodbye to Badger State delegation colleague Russ Feingold; Pennsylvania’s Sen. Bob Casey and Florida’s Bill Nelson will be joined on the Hill in January by conservative Republicans instead of by fellow Dems; and Sen. Sherrod Brown witnessed the Democrat in Ohio’s Senate contest beaten by almost 20 points.
NBC's Ken Strickland contibuted to this report.
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Well Nitch McConnell is not thinking clearly.
18 Voted AGAINST health care reform, and LOST:
2 Voted AGAINST health care reform, and WON:
2 Voted AGAINST health care reform, and WON:
1 Referendum AGAINST individual mandate FAILED:
So apparently not matter which they voted it negates Mitch's wackododdle premises constant with the Fox and right wing echo chamber.
Didn't you post the exact same thing in a previous article?
Now Bev... I know you better than this... surely you're not insinuating he's EVER thought clearly? ;0)
There is one thing and one thing only that the old turtle cares about and that is POWER & MONEY...
To hell with doing the work of the people... it's nothing but a BIG game to these clowns and I for one am NOT laughing!
PERIOD!
If it's naught but a game for power and money...why prop up Democrats while vilifying Republicans?
Bev -
McConnell is in the senate...I only wished that 18 Democrat Senators who voted for OB-care were booted out. Get the facts straight and maybe more people will think of you more intelligently instead of a liberal with blinders on that only see what they are told to see.
I doubt the remaining Dems will be any more in touch with reality than they have been over the past 2 years. Look at Pelosie's comments on their loss:
"We weren't anticipating losing. We knew it was a possibility, but I never discussed that possibility with my family," Pelosi said.
Wow. Simply wow. Either she is completely clueless or still lying to herself and everyone else.
"No regrets. Because we believe we did the right thing, and we worked very hard in our campaigns to convey that to the American people," Pelosi said."
we...we...we, really? YOU did what YOU wanted and then YOU told Americans how great it was and that didn't work? Do Dems even comprehend that their job is to represent their constituents??
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20101104/el_yblog_upshot/with-no-regrets-nancy-pelosi-mulls-her-future
So far the only thing that I've heard GOP leaders talking about now that they control the House is how they are going to undo Health Care Reform and take over the Senate and the White House in 2012.
Sounds like the same old GOP tax breaks for the rich, they have no ideas on job creation, no ideas for energy independence just ideas on gaining more political power to insure a return to the very ways and policies that helped drive our economy into the ground in the first place.
You would think that at the very least they would be talking about getting rid of the tax policies they created that reward companies for shipping jobs overseas.
“I think the most interesting thing to watch in the next Congress is how many Democrats start voting with us,” McConnell said.
This comment sounds very one sided. Start voting with 'us'? How about our hope is to begin working together and coming to a joint decision on issues. That is what we pay you for!!!!
John, here are some facts you can get straight:
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is a fourth-term member of the senate. He is the Minority Leader in the 110th Congress and sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Sen. McConnell's ethics issues stem from earmarks he has inserted into legislation for clients of his former chief of staff, lobbyist Gordon Hunter Bates, in exchange for campaign contributions as well as the misuse of his nonprofit The McConnell Center for Political Leadership at the University of Louisville. Sen. McConnell was profiled in CREW's 2007 congressional corruption report.
So in a nutshell his corruption record by no means puts him in a class all by himself but it certainly diminishes any credibility he has.
Good call Bev-
pjam,
Pelosi also told her party members not to worry about getting reelected, just ram the bills through.
GOP and Tea Partiers - Sure I will work with the President when he follows our POSITIONS.
They are going to have the "debt ceiling" issue come up soon - here's McConnell position "will not be without some strings attached if it happens". Another government shut down like in 1995?
After McConnell's threat to President Obama that he'll get nothing but opposition from Republican legislators if he doesn't adopt the GOP platform, is anyone else reminded of the scene in Superman II where the bad guy threatens to lay waste to the entire country if the president doesn't submit to his authority and kneel before him?
Yeah. That's who America just voted into power. @!$%#in' General Zod.
Right on LJ !!!!
Elise - don't like the shoe on the other foot? Does it pinch a bit? Partisan approaches bring about partisan responses.
Obama isn't Bill Clinton. Clinton moderated and Obama isn't even with the losses and the exit polling saying reverse the policies - he still thinks he is right and the rest of America isn't smart enough to figure it out!
In this country, you hold office by the permission of the majority. IF you don't appreciate it - you lose the office.
I think Rubio said it best. "Don't take this as an embrace of the Republican party - it is an opportunity at a second chance." The McConnell's, Rove's, Lott's and other establishment republicans don't quite get this based on their lack of support and speed to criticize.
54% of Americans in the exit polls termed their vote as repudiation of the Obama policies. Not doing as the Americans wish will result in even more changes in 2012.
I agree with him!
Voter's job is only 1/2 done
1012 Fire the other half of the Carrier Politicians in Congress and Senate.
Are they by chance related to Carrier pigeons?
Did they have carrier pigeons in 1012? I thought they used swallows, you know, migratory European swallows with coconuts tied on lines between them ;P.
Seriously, I think there is a huge disconnect between the political landscape in the country and DC. And not all of it is that bad. The current landscape of the country is fix everything now. The one in DC seems to be a lot of backscratching, but coupled to it is the idea of looking towards the future and seeing just what fixing it now will cost us later on.
HCR and WSR were absolutely necessary. Perhaps they aren't perfect in their current incarnations, but the idea to scrap them completely? Teh STOOPID, it burnses us! HCR was purely about Repub grandstanding, racism, and good old lack of American education. Almost exactly what Repubs wanted in 1996, or what they said they did at any rate. Pure obstructionism for the sake of political gain.
The BlueDogs are Gone Mitch, your biggest problem is watching Dement looking over your shoulder.
America will getta taste of Teaparty "Compromise" & Reject it!
DeMint actually had a decent op-ed the day after (or was it the day of...?) the election. Only bad part about it is that his advice was directed specifically to Tea Party-backed candidates that won; reading it, however, you get the sense that what he had to say could apply to everyone currently holding office as a Congressional representative or Senator.
EDIT: Here it is: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704141104575588612828579920.html
Excellent article. The Republican insiders were looking to subdue the Tea Party winners by offering to provide staffs for them (hand picked supporters). Most of them seem to be aware of this and politely decline. If they succume to the Washington ways, they will be out in one term.
Voter's job is only 1/2 done
1012 Fire the Remaining Carrier Politicians in Congress & Senate
Riding the desperation of unemployment to victory provides only one slim opportunity to deliver credible benefit to the majority rather than selectively serving the interests of corporations. If this opportunity is seized, those elected can literally save the Republican Party. If they pursue business as usual, this election was the last hurrah- and the Tea Party will become the mainstream representatives of disenfranchised and disappointed American Conservatives due to simple lack of anything better- and Obama's second term will end as the first began: with a substantial Democratic majority in House and Senate.
One thing seems clear: the Right's agenda has nothing to do with cooperation- unless it's forcing a sadly spineless Left into capitulation. The terms used are those of a dictator, not of a diplomat.
Just keep talking Turtle Face. The way I see it, John Ensign and Scott Brown are most likely toast in 2012. If the Maine senator up for re-election loses the primary to a teabagger, kiss that seat goodbye too. Joe Lieberman will most likely be replaced by a real Democrat as well. While the American electorate voted for change, they are not in the mood for two more years of "I hope he fails."
If Reid were smart, he and Obama should work close together on this. I hope that Reid and the Democrats allow an up or down vote on every fruitcake idea that the House sends over and not filibuster too much. Let's get people on record for some of the whackier ideas that the Pugs are proposing. As long as Obama can veto it, no harm done. Also it shows that the Democrats are NOT the obstructionist fools that the Pugs are.
Al, I live in NV and can assure you that Ensign will not run in 2012. That seat will have a Repub not a Tea Party canidate in it.
It seems the big story out of NV is that Reid was re elected. It fails to mention that the election was more then about Reid to us that live here. Equally big news was that the Repub now control 2 or the 3 congressional seats. Titus losing to Heck and Heller retaining his seat as did dem Berkley. Also of equal news was that both the Governor and Lt. Governor went Repub. In the state senate Repub gained three seat and took away the super majority of the dems.
Kavika, I don't live in Nevada so I will defer to your knowledge. It would seem to this outsider with Ensign as a Senator, Angle as the nominee, Gov. Gibbons (soon to be gone I know) was the Republican version of Blago, and a state with the highest unemployment rate and foreclosure rate despite no state income taxes, and Republicans controlling the Governor's Mansion for I don't know how long that the Nevada Republican Party has its problems. While I don't know if there are many good Democratic candidates in Nevada, it seems someone could emerge from the muck and run against the Republican status quo there.
I don't think Scott Brown will be toast until 2014.
Ensign isn't toast, but weakened. Not opting to run would be smart.
As for a Tea Party candidate, well wait and see. The establishment fought Angle - and didn't help her much. The Establishment Republicans better re-think things real quick - 2/3's of those that republicans that voted for republicans were tea partiers. Traditionally "conservatives" accounted for between 55 & 60%. The establishment knows this, but has counted on that majority to split over religious issues - the tea party stopped this.
OK GOP. You got your way.
NOW,....show us something real. Make a positive difference FOR THE PEOPLE.
Do it.
No more talking. The stage is yours. Work your magic. You have our attention. You have the whole world's attention.
Can you give us some timeline of when things will improve ?
I know that a lot of countries believed in the actions being taken by our president Barack Obama.
Can you give us even a rough outline of the things that you will actually do that will make a real world difference FOR THE PEOPLE ?
Time will tell. We will all see the truth one way or the other. The whole world will recount the history of what came after this historic "REFERENDUM".
Our eyes and ears are open. Show the American public (and the world) what the wise and responsible GOP will do with the power given to them BY THE PEOPLE.
When we see what the GOP has actually done the with their power it will all be made clear.
The truth about the GOP will soon be seen BY THE PEOPLE.
We are waiting - wise and benificent GOP.
Shape the America that the world will see,....relative to the line of horse @!$%# that you talk.
It's your move.
Perfectly said litmus13!!!!! My hat is off to you!!!
Agree. THE PEOPLE includes all that did not vote for them this time around, for whatever reason, as well as those truly in need. Of course, when you "take down" a President, you take down the country. Is that really their plan?
I think America has had enough of Obama's spending and unkept promises. The people wanttheir country back and don't want the governemtn to make the decisions for them. We want our jobs back and layoffs t stop. I for one would love to be able to work again and just be able to put a decent meal on the table again and no I am not one of those on unemployment. I WANT TO WORK. Washington was not listening to the people they were doing whatever they wanted to, now the people have gotten their attention so lets see what happens, and yes get Obama out of the White House and let the country get back to what it was. How about for starters let Christianity reign again. Can we put Christmas decorations back on the Tree at Christmas time for starters since that is the next holiday after Thanksgiving and the traditions of the Presidents for generations. And I kinda miss a President wearing an American flag on his lapel. Shall I go on?
Texas Girl - no, there is no need to go on.
However, you need to ask yourself this question - why is it that the GOP is more interested in OUTSOURCING jobs to India and China than provide them for AMERICANS? The people that 'want their country back' have just empowered the SAME PEOPLE that are selling the country for the highest dollar they can.
I find it interesting that you WANT TO WORK but are giving your dollars to those that want to deny you work.
I find it interesting that you are willing to accept the word and policies of unnamed corporations but are not willing to have your government - which is YOUm by the way - work for you.
I find it interesting that you want to get President Obama out of the White House and he seems to be the ONLY one that has gotten anything legislatively done in the past 2 years.
I find it interesting that you want 'Christianity' to reigh and yet you are with the people that are doing their best to throw people out on the street with no money to live on. Is that what Jesus would do?
So what say you, Texas girl?
Great response Pietro!
Real Smart Texas Girl!!! Who do you think wants to stop your unemployment benefits? The people you voted for. Who do you think are sending the jobs overseas with rewards for doing it? The people you voted for. WOW TEXAS!!!!
Go get 'em cowgirl!
Pietro, C'mon dude. Seriously Peter. Obama is the only one doing anything for the past two years? You are correct, because he owned the house and the senate.
Your comment on Christianity, laughable at best. The BIBLE says that a man that does not provide for his family is worse than an infidel, it also says that a man that doesn't work, shouldn't eat. I understand disabilities and TEMPORARY unemployment, beyond that, aren't we just enabling others to not be productive? How does that help America? It doesn't, and can't!
I do agree that Washington was not listening to the people, that includes all of washington, not just the democrats. Politics are a nightmare, washington is out of control and something needs to be done. If the GOP running the purse strings is it, Great, if not, lets try something else in two years.
Washington needs to stop playing the blame game, we are the UNITED states of america. Lets become united and change what is not working. (that seems to be our government and about 10% of our country)
Peace to all
awed-and-shocked - First, the name is PIETRO. You did NOT get my permission to shorten my name.
Second, you seem pretty cavalier about 'Washington'. I guess you are OK with the people who have almost bankrupted this country. Now we have given the keys back to them.
Do we expect that the focus and tactics have changed?
I do not, but if you need 2 years to get that point, then I am OK with waiting for you to 'get it'.
As far as the Bible comment is comcerned, Jesus was all about compassion and helping his fellow man. He also commanded us to 'watch out for each other' and for us to 'be our brother's keeper'. I guess you forgot about those passages, didn't you?
Watching out for AMERICANS worked for many years. All of a sudden we want people to 'be on their own'. I have no problem with 'being on one's own', but when the deck is stacked against me - outsourcing, costs continually rising, and NO JOBS - then yes, we need to be looking out for AMERICANS in AMERICA.
I will agree - and stand with you in your plea for us to 'become united and change what is not working'. The operative word is WE. AMERICANS.
And from what I can see, this GOP leadership is more of the same.
What plans does the GOP have to move America forward?
I have YET to hear ANYONE on the right side of the aisle answer that question.
Maybe you can be the first...
Pietro - neither is it obvious tha carolyn asked your permission either. Let that go okay?
Ohioans as a whole recognize that more of the same in our state was not going to cut it. All of the state-wide races went Republican. Let's take a look at the two closest ones.
Gov elect Kasich. The only reasons it was close was because Strickland wasn't totally awful AND because he was demonized for being hired at Lehman Brothers for a number of years as manager of the Columbus branch of Lehman Brothers. There was no allegations of him doing anything wrong - just guilt by association - which is a favorite, unjust weapon of politics.
Attorney General elect Mike Dewine. Mike was booted from the senate for good reason. He was becoming a RINO. His participation in the usurpation of senate procedure by being part of the "gang of 14" along with a number of higher profile votes where he voted different than how he ran.
If people found out, what I found out about Cordray just a week before the election - he would have lost by a landslide. Ohio is struggling to keep jobs. Small businesses still are struggling and many failing. One of the things businesses will do is not pay state or federal taxes just to make payroll. No - they shouldn't do this and should be penalized for it. What Cordray was doing was not permitting them to pay back taxes and penalties in payments so they could stay in business AND still pay taxes. The IRS permits this, why not the state?
Well said "litmus13". To the party of NO, now that you have control of the House, we're waiting to see you turn around the economy in less than "2 years". Show us the "money" - prove you can!?!?!? Stop horsesh!t talking about our President - go to work!
DB Akron - what ARE you talking about? Let what go?
As far as Ohio is concerned, IMHO, they vote against their own best interest(s). After the voters got rid of Taft and his lapdog Blackwell, things started to look up with Strickland. Now, it looks like Kascich will be Governor and we are right back where we started. Kascich is Taft-lite.
Pietro:
I agree with you with some minor considerations:
Since your name is Pietro, I am assuming that you are Italian descendant. If so, the English translation for your name is Peter. It's like some guy called Francis Albert Sinatra ans we used to call him "Frank".
On the political issue, I agree with you 100%.
Non fingere che pensano. Troppo per loro.
Martin33189 - Si può sperare di meglio, no?
Pietro:
Si spera, pero e casi impossibile.
Il chiuso pensiero d'el estremismo, rende impossibile qualsiasi accordo tra le parti.
Purtroppo non c'è niente che puoi fare. Di continuare così siamo destinati a fallire come nazione, e diventeremo un paese del terzo mondo, che così spesso criticano
Auguri
Unbelievably, Mitch is already talking out of both sides of his fat chin. He said his first priority was to make President Obama a 1 term president. What happened to the jobs and leading the country forward; the electorate requested?
Why Republicans Don’t Have A Mandate To Repeal Health Reform
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/11/03/hcr-midterms2010/
Blocking Obama's liberal agenda will in it self boost employment as businesses will have more confidence in the future and hire people back to work.
John-
Companies hire when demand begins to outpace supply. They are going to magically begin hiring people in January simply because Pelosi is no longer Speaker of the House. If unemployment is down below 9% next year at this time, I will stand corrected.
John ... Thanks for the clarification. You are basically saying we need a one party system and that Corproate American rules our government.
John:
Are you saying that after 2 years of no hiring, no openings, no investment in America, and making 14 billion dollars in profits WalMart will start hiring people, investing in America, and opening new stores, just because of the Obama "agenda"????
Do I laugh now or I'll wait until January????
There is a lot of potential for all the Bush Tax cuts to be extended unless Obama wants to do the very unpopular thing and veto a bill so that he may levy an Obama tax increase. Bad for his reelection in 2012 of course.
Lots of potential for repealing the health care bill which a majority of Americans approve of unless Obama does the unpopular thing and veto that too. Health care reform is not something to rush. It needs to be constantly debated over a period of 5-10 years to find the most effective fix.
I believe Obama has already experienced his peak in life, but he will always be in demand to speak at events, much like Clinton. But he's so young to have experienced his peak already. I guess he rushed his political life as well.
Kathy, I agree with most of your points, but the repeal of the HCR will be next to impossible. Funding can be with held but to repeal it I don't think is possible.
You throw out a lot of conclusions without supporting a single one (and which a cursory search of polling data will prove you WRONG). It must be interesting to participate in an actual conversation with you when you believe you already have all the answers. When are you running for office?
Being a bimbo will certainly will help in GOP poltical ambitions!
I bet you still live at home with your parents......Kathy!
Glad to see that republicans consider governing the act of defeating America. Republican priorities
#1 - Defeat the Commandar and Chief
#2 - Tax breaks for the top 1% (Making over $1 million a year)
#3 - Further tax breaks and loopholes for corporations
#4 - Allowing the banks and financial institutions to go unregulated. i.e. set-up for another crash.
#5 - Allow businesses to go unregulated i.e. set-up for another oil spill, food contamination, killed miners,...
Anyone see anything that helps the average American who is trying to find a job or send their kids ot college, or pay their bills each month????
LOL...Look in your driveway or your neighbors to see why there are no jobs here. IT has NOTHING to do with our elected officials other than allowing so many imports of course. If WE don't buy what our country and WE produce then there will NOT be any jobs for us. LEARN IT!!!
St. Louis, you forget. 31 percent of this country watches Fox News and believes everyone else is lying. Why would any of those things matter to them? They are getting the message they want from Fox. Truth be damned.
31% of Americans are stupid.
Wonder if they all are watching FOX news???
The only stupid person here is the one who says 93 million people watch Fox News. Heck, Rush Limbaugh's audience isn't even that big.
And even 1% is 5 times Olbermann's audience.
McConnell is already screwing up. Man, that didn't take long. He's acting like Jo-Jo the Idiot Circus Boy with a pretty new pet.... If he were smart, which he obviously is not, he would playing his cards the same way Boehner is: Talk sense, don't overreach, and be humble. Talk compromise. Talk about working with the President- even if you don't mean it. McConnell is behaving like a 16 year old who's parent's just handed him the keys to a porsche. No one wants to hear that your major priorty is making Obama fail. If Obama fails, we all fail. Just say you are hoping you can work with the President on moving forward on an agenda that gets people back to work and shrinks the deficit, say thank you, and then tuck you head back into your shell and exit stage right.
Right on Jeff, Mitch is worrying about 2012 when all I am worrying about is getting back some of the 60 percent income loss my family suffered 2 years ago. If things dont improve he may need to worry about his job in 2012.
The Democrats will be jumping off the Obama bandwagon like rats fleeing a sinking ship but WE will still vote them out. And only one term and out for Mr. Obama and HIS change. They should have NEVER gone against the American people and passed that STUPID health care plan. They ONLY did it because Kennedy wanted it. POOR reason. Now WE will speak and you will lose.
Lest you forget, Obama campaigned on Health Care Reform and was elected by a huge majority of the people in this country. To say he went against the American People by passing HCR simply isn't true. He campaigned on it, said it was a top priorty, was elected, and pushed it through. Whether or not people like the end product is up for debate, but he did exactly what he said he would do if elected. If there was so many people who didn't want HCR passed, he never would have been elected.
Many Americans support the Healthcare Bill and hope it remains. In fact, many of us are for single payer. How about that!! The Bill won't get repealed. It's good for Americans in the long run and will save us money so we don't have to pay the outrageous premiums that health insurance companies are demanding of us currently. If you want to keep paying through the nose, go right ahead.
Yeah, right. I guess you didn't read the election results.
Jeff -
McCain took the popular vote and the largest number of states. Obama took the big cities. Overall, he took 53% of the electoral vote. Hardly a 'landslide' or even a mandate. He was elected simply because he wasn't Bush. Get over it. He ran saying that he would do certain things from the center. Instead we got a progressive ideologue who can't even speak rationally without a teleprompter.
Hearmytruth You can't speak for everyone concerning the healthcare bill. WEREN'T YOU ONE of the people crying about having to pay for people that don't have insurance that goes to emergency rooms which we all know is very expensive. Most people wait until they are really sick, which cost more money. If they had insurance, they could go for regular check-ups. You can't have it both ways. Why can't you people think about someone other than yourself?
Hearmytruth Don't you mean the republicans bandwagon. You are the only fool that I know.
Tammy,
When Bush won by less an 1% of the popular vote in 2004, the Republicans claimed it was a mandate.
The actual numbers from the 2008 election were:
Presidential
CandidateVice Presidential
CandidatePolitical
PartyPopular VoteElectoral Vote
Barack H. Obama
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
Democratic
69,499,428
52.87%
365
67.8%
John S. McCain, III
Sarah H. Palin
Republican
59,950,323
45.60%
173
32.2%
Ralph Nader
Matt Gonzalez
Independent
739,278
0.56%
0
0.0%
Bob Barr
Wayne Allyn Root
Libertarian
523,433
0.40%
0
0.0%
Other (+)
-
-
750,660
0.57%
0
0.0%
http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/national.php?year=2008
That number you see is 67.8% of the electoral vote. You are entitled to your own opinion, not your own facts.
LOL Tammy just got cracks and lumps from the facts... Texas girl is proof that education is not a priority anymore.
Can you tell me what is so stupid about health reform,Yes it is stupid to want to keep your kids on your plan until they 26,Hell let them fend for themselves,And yes it is stupid to for them to continue providing insurance when you get sick,And yes it is stupid to deny you insurance for a pre exsiting condition,And yes it is also stupid to provide insurance for childern who are sick.What were we thinking.Access to afordable health care in this country should not be a birth right,Who do we think we are,We are Americans and that is not what we are about. Am I my brother keeper, Hell No,you better ask somebody.
I actually wouldn't be surprised if Bob Casey didn't even make it through the 2012 primaries in Pennsylvania. He pretty much won his seat the first time based on name recognition - he's at least the third "Bob Casey" who's held office here since I've been voting, and I don't think they were even all related - and he seems to have been content since being elected to just show up and vote; he's rarely mentioned on the news as having made any waves, either good or bad, and I'll bet few people outside of PA could even have told you who our "other Senator" even was. As a Democrat, I'm grateful for his votes, but I wouldn't mind seeing someone a little more dynamic come along to challenge him in the primaries and increase our chances of holding onto this seat.
On the other hand, people, it's still two years away - can we let the dust settle a bit from this election before we go deciding who's already won or lost the next one?
Joann, don't know much about your first paragraph, but the second one I'm in complete agree with.
Yet another indication that the Grand Obstructionist Party has no wish to see bi-partisanship flourish in Congress, and further proof that the Republicans are simply looking to take over the government, not fix anything. Nothing in anything McConnell has suggested has anything to do with solving anything for his constituents or anyone else, for that matter, except perhaps the GOP political strategists who also don't care about the people but only about winning majorities and winning the White House. Where are the answers and fixes we were promised by all the newly-elected GOP candidates? Will they be able to fix all of the world's ills in the same time-frame that the current administration had been given -- 2 years [less, really]? If they're unable to solve the problems are they going to throw up their hands, resign and ask for a new team to come in where they failed? How long are we to believe the lies that we've been told that we knew were false when they left their lips? How pathetic are we, the electorate, for even believing the garbage we were fed?
Jeff.T I couldn't have said it any better. Number one priority is not Obama, its the country.
So...the ruplical leadership now saya that the main agenda item is to defeat President Obama in 2012 and to take control of the Congress and Presidency (They already have the Supreme Court). Sounds like a power grab to me.
What happened to all the rhetoric during the election of working for the people? Oh, that's right - they had already spent the last two years voting NO on anything that would help the low and middle class economically. The sad thing is that the electorate that they had said no to (unemployment insurance, equitable tax laws, etc) was where they got their largest vote margins.
I hope President Obama, like President Clinton, will have the fortitude to stand up to them.
PipeMyFreedomFlute says:
"My-goodness-gracious, where does Mitch McConnell find the time for all this? --between all his meetings with foreign corporations, Ku-Klux-Klan rallies, planning new obstructionist tactics in Congress -- and NOW plotting a Republican revolution! --he's just so inspiring!"
Tuesday was just the beginning. Only two more years of obama!!! If the other Dumbs want to keep voting with him, then they will be gone too. However, I think Nelson, McCaskill etc. will be smart enough to distance themselves from obama (like Manchin did). Obama has completely destroyed the democratic party.
Obama and the Democratic Party will be just fine...
As for the GOP WITH NO solutions, their Teabagging cancer and its ever shrinking radical base the same cannot be said.
America needs a TRUE Fiscal Conservative Party and the GOP will need to decide if it wants to be that OR a Social Conservative fringe that borders between a cult and a freak show!
At the end game. It won't matter a mouse's fart to the lobbyists, they know that politicos come and go, yet they remain. How did we get here?...http://abraham-ben-judea.newsvine.com/
To All That Actually Believe the GOP wants to work for YOU: Unless you're a big company, Wall Street, the insurance industry, big banks, or an old, wealthy white man, the GOP doesn't give a damn about you. They did, however, need to find a way to get your vote.......LOL. So they started to spew BS about cutting spending and lowering the deficit (how can you both cut spending and lower the deficit AND continue the tax breaks for the wealthy all at the same time???), decreasing the size of government (until one of you yahoos needs the government the next time some major catastrophe happens), creating jobs (Let's see what they do about that one) and covertly used the old "we need to take back our country" mantra that we all know means: only white men should sit in the oval office, and you bought it hook, line, and sinker. BTW: where were all of you political science experts, historians, and economists when Bush was running amok?????????
Smaller Government announced today that the FAA will now be run by, "Joe's Crop Dusting."
ROTFLMAOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Short termer democrats that will be leaving in 2012 will hang with the Obama gang. Those democratic senators faced with re-election in 2012 will have to bow to the republicans if they are within red states or they will be kicked out. The blue state senators will have to shake the dice and take a chance if they stay on the Titanic and go down with Obama.
One Term President....This is not something new, both parties have done this for decades. Each party wants "Their Guy'' in the WH. That's what elections are for.
War lord, tell his sorry ass to bring it cause my only problem with your policies is the one still trying to bury me. I don't like Dr. Phil's bull @!$%# but your biggest problem was that you had a very strong upbringing from your Mom and in ordinary times it would have served you well to look for the good in people but it helps if they care. I truly wish you had the opportunity to spend more time with your father just in case you were faced with opportunistic little bitches cause they are lining up now.
Cut and paste from another blog.
The Ko Ko Expwess is in the tuwn station waw lord.
You better fix your @!$%#ed up clock or you may look like Shameful George for the rest of your life President of the United States.
If he wants to leave this earth unable to acknowledge that his perverted shame, arrogance, and incompetence buried 100,000 people for no @!$%#in reason, and utterly obliterated the Constitution of the United States of America so he could pretend his domestic war crimes never occurred, that is his @!$%#in problem but it should never be ours even if it is yours.
Mitch - don't get too excited (yeah, like that's even possible - does this guy EVER smile). You need to realize that many people don't vote in the mid-terms. These "many" people are not Republicans, let me assure you. And furthermore, most of the Country realizes that you Republicants are nothing but obstructionists. It's not exactly like Americans think you guys are the saviors of the Free World and love you overwhelmingly! We realize you are hateful, mean-spirited liars and will all eventually get what you deserve, which is a ticket out of Congress. You just had a whole lot of corporate, secret money behind you pushing your agenda against the American's peoples best interests which resulted in your winning a lot of seats in the House. We'll see how well you do in 2012, smiley!!
geecee-
They used secret money to run "ridiculous red meat" ads filled with lies to appeal to their radical base!
Lets face the facts, the Debt had nothing to do with the election.
IT was a motivated group of unemployed or retired OLD white men who do not like the fact that a black man is President. Since they hate it so much, cut off their BIG government provided Social Security, Medicare and unemployment extensions and most of them would be dead by 2012.
Repubs said they will make cuts but when asked what they will cut? :crickets..... Pirates I concur cut everything across the board...Cut medicare and social security oh and the dept of defense to cut the debt all welfare/socialist programs...
Obama - one term that is it!
Here's a good deal for the Republicans:
Wholeheartedly embrace the President's Health Care Reform and Energy policy or forget about tax cut extensions for your wealthy pals making over 250,000/year.
How about them apples?
It's not the President's Health Care Reform. It's your health care reform. As I recall, it doesn't apply to him.
They need to file the health 'reform', finance 'reform', and Obama's energy 'policy' in file 13 and start over addressing the REAL problems instead of creating new ones.
With all of these headlines.. you think that the republicans are on a witch hunt to take out all of the Democrats. What happened to doing things for the people that elected them?
I'm speaking strickly on the headlines.. not the content.. its how the media is using the headlines to catch attention.