2010 midterm predictions

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ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
18,161
7
0
The same public who thought wasting hundreds of billions in Iraq, electing Bush and Republicans to create this mess in the first place was a good idea, now is telling us we need to put Republicans back in charge to clean it up. We'll see how that goes.
The stimulus cost more than the ENTIRE Iraq war.
 

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
6,197
126
The stimulus cost more than the ENTIRE Iraq war.

So? It went to Americans who would otherwise be unemployed. And it helped maintain infrastructure that would otherwise be allowed to deteriorate.

So:
With stimulus employed Americans, better infrastructure.
Without stimulus, unemployed Americans, worse infrastructure.

Only a penny wise, pound foolish idiot would prefer to have Americans unemployed and infrastructure deteriorating.
 

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
6,197
126
There were also small business loan provisions under the stimulus when banks were not lending to small businesses.
So:
With stimulus: Small businesses can borrow, and create jobs.
Without stimulus: Small businesses shut down or don't get started, no jobs.
 

zsdersw

Lifer
Oct 29, 2003
10,505
2
0
My prediction:

100% of American citizens and other residents will be screwed.

No matter who you vote for or if you don't vote at all, you lose. Everyone loses.

This prediction probably applies to the 2012 election too.
 

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,839
2,625
136
Things are looking pretty good in my state (CT). I predict a Democratic sweep, except possibily the governor's race, which is a tossup. Outsiders think of us as one of the bluest states despite the fact that the GOP originated here in New England and dominated it until roughly the 1980s. As far as the governor's race goes, the GOP is running a self-financing corporate raider against the Dem big city mayor (who has lost at least once before). Polls put them in a statistical dead heat. Except to true party hacks neither one is inspiring at all.

For the past three decades or so, we have almost always had a Republican (or former Republican) governor and a solid Democrat majority in the state legislature. Wouldn't surprise me to see that again. All recognize the state finances are pretty dismal.

The tea party is not really resonating here except with your cranky uncle/grandpa types. Our voters are too rational to fall for an O'Donnell type-we have a milder version running for Atty General but I expect her to get trounced.
 

zsdersw

Lifer
Oct 29, 2003
10,505
2
0
The government that has the power to tell you what's right and wrong in the bedroom, on TV and other media, in a woman's reproductive decisions, and what is and isn't safe to consume is the same government that has the power to tax and spend us into oblivion. This is an axiom... and also what is guaranteed to doom us all.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,479
19,992
146
The government that has the power to tell you what's right and wrong in the bedroom, on TV and other media, in a woman's reproductive decisions, and what is and isn't safe to consume is the same government that has the power to tax and spend us into oblivion. This is an axiom... and also what is guaranteed to doom us all.

Yep.

Folks, both sides are wrong. But lately, one side has been winning... and it ain't the rightwing authoritarians. You've got your reproductive and sexual freedoms. Those aren't going anywhere.

But now, censorship attempts are being led by the left. As well as the end to economic freedoms. And we won't even go into safety laws and a whole host of limits, fees, taxes and laws designed to protect you from yourself.

What the people who support the left don't seem to understand is that the left wing ends up being just as authoritarian as the right, even more so. You cannot be under the care of others without having to live by their rules. Socialism is anathema to freedom. The more you socialize, the less freedom you will have.

The rightwing is pious and seeks to force you to live by their religious dogma.

The leftwing is elitist and firmly believes you require government supervision and control in all aspects of your life because you're too stupid to do it yourself.
 

BoberFett

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
37,562
9
81
The government that has the power to tell you what's right and wrong in the bedroom, on TV and other media, in a woman's reproductive decisions, and what is and isn't safe to consume is the same government that has the power to tax and spend us into oblivion. This is an axiom... and also what is guaranteed to doom us all.

And of course the opposite applies as well. The government with the power to tax and spend us into oblivion also has the power to insist upon certain personal behaviors. Taxing and spending as a tool of social engineering is simply vile. The absurdly broad interpretation of the commerce clause is what has given us the wonderful war on drugs.
 

SP33Demon

Lifer
Jun 22, 2001
27,928
143
106
And of course the opposite applies as well. The government with the power to tax and spend us into oblivion also has the power to insist upon certain personal behaviors. Taxing and spending as a tool of social engineering is simply vile. The absurdly broad interpretation of the commerce clause is what has given us the wonderful war on drugs.

And which party is less likely to use the "Commerce Clause"?

It sounds like you're pretty upset about it.
 

BoberFett

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
37,562
9
81
Whats with the lack of predictions in this thread?

I predict that no matter who wins, things will get worse. Why would I care which of the two terrible parties is in charge of that?

I'll be voting third party when possible. Except for Bachmann, I know how much the loony lefties around here hate her, and I'd hate to see the end of those threads. I just had a DFL rep come knocking at the door and she said Tarryl Clark was still polling behind Bachmann, so chances are good we'll get a few more years of "liberal" screeching out of this one.
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
any thoughts on who'd be the next Majority Leader if Reid loses tomorrow?

I'm crossing my fingers for Senate Majority Leader Schumer, but I'm biased... what's good for Wall St is good for me.
 

BoberFett

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
37,562
9
81
And which party is less likely to use the "Commerce Clause"?

It sounds like you're pretty upset about it.

The Libertarian Party.

Edit: I should probably clarify. I'm not a huge fan of the Libertarian Party, but you did ask which party. I'm a (small L) libertarian, not a party member. I'm against the existence of political parties, I think it's one of the major failings of US politics.

Where'd you get upset out of that post? It's the source of much of the bloat in the federal government, so it's a problem. I hardly get emotional about it though. I leave the crying for "liberals." They do a much better job of shedding crocodile tears.
 
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spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
any thoughts on who'd be the next Majority Leader if Reid loses tomorrow?

I'm crossing my fingers for Senate Majority Leader Schumer, but I'm biased... what's good for Wall St is good for me.

Senator Mitch McConnell from KY.

/crossfingers
 

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
126
The stimulus cost more than the ENTIRE Iraq war.

Even if you were right, which you aren't from the numbers I've seen, not when you consider the benefits it provided, compared to the waste of the war expenses.

Remember the years and decades of medical costs for hundreds of thousands. Remember the lost economic productivity of a million people not contributing at home.

Had we done it better, we could look more to the benefits - even the moral ones - of freeing Iraq from Saddam and making it a better country. We do have some of that.

We've also done things like strengthen harmful organizations - tens of billions for the military-industrial-congressional complex making it yet more powerful, Blackwater...

And what would the costs of not doing the stimulus - which economists say was too small - have been, as our economy further collapsed making recovery less possible?

No, your argument is as the usual you do, cherry pick two numbers (right or wrong) and misuse them for a false claim.
 

BoberFett

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
37,562
9
81
That is true, we will have Republicans obstructing recovery measures either way.

The only obstruction I see is the one preventing oxygen from getting to your head. It's like you have little pieces of Bush blocking your arteries causing you to think irrationally.
 

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
6,197
126
The only obstruction I see is the one preventing oxygen from getting to your head. It's like you have little pieces of Bush blocking your arteries causing you to think irrationally.

Idiots like you fail to learn from history, will have to repeat it and learn it the hard way.