Coakley-Brown Senate Race in Mass on Jan. 19 - Dems could 60 seat Majority !

[Genx87]

That's a lie. The Republicans have chosed to obstruct for political gain.

Uh huh

 

[Craig234]

Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but Pelosi and Reid have formally invited President Obama to give his State of the Union address on January 27. This is earlier than reports I'd read suggested the speech was going to be.

Is this an indication that Democrats will try to push through health care before Brown is theoretically seated, and respond to criticism of thwarting the will of the people by saying their timeline was always to get it done before the State of the Union address?

That sounds like the most sensible appproach if they lose the MA election. Thwart the will of the American people? You forget they have well over 50 votes for it without this. It's Republicans thwarting the people.

 

[GoPackGo]

I think it goes back to 1992....its the economy stupid!

 

[Wreckem]

I guess repubs haven't had much to cheer about lately, you would think the future of the earth depended on this senate race And whats really comical is they don't give a rats ass about Mass or even know what the local issues are they just see it as their last best chance to serve up a defeat for Obama. And the 60 seat majority is a farse to begin with, if the dems truly had a super majority we wouldn't still be discussing UHC it would be a done deal already, the blue dogs are nothing more than repubs with blue hats.

If Brown wins tonight it will tell you whats going to happen in November.

Harry Reid is already trailing his opponents in Nevada, as is Fienstien in CA. I fully expect a dozen or so House Democrats announcing their retirement if Brown wins. November 2010 will most certainly be a blood bath from Dems if Brown wins in MA tonight.

Its still early but I see the Dems losing around 5 Senate Seats in 2010. They'll lose atleast 35 house seats as well.

 

[Wreckem]

That sounds like the most sensible appproach if they lose the MA election. Thwart the will of the American people? You forget they have well over 50 votes for it without this. It's Republicans thwarting the people.

What are you going to say in November win the Democrat majority get cuts down to single digits in both chambers and Obama officialy becomes a lame duck?

 

[sciwizam]

The Republicans have already pushed through a rule change. The filibuster is no longer a delay for a few issues. Now it's a veto for 40 Senators over pretty much everything.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but they haven't actually filibustered the bill have they? It's only the threat of a filibuster that somehow makes the Dems shake in their supermajority boots. Why don't the Dems actually make the Reps filibuster it, at least the insomniacs will have a great soporific aid.

 

[Craig234]

Welcome aboard! I have never voted republican...until today.

And the predicted amnesia of who the Republicans are is confirmed again. Doesn't take long.

Hey, Jeb is available for 2012 and I hear those Bushes are very experienced.

 

[Patranus]

In other words the health care deadline has been tied to the address since Christmas, and now the address is coming earlier than anticipated and in time to get Kirk's vote.

Kirk is no longer the Senator at the conclusion of the election.

 

[Craig234]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but they haven't actually filibustered the bill have they? It's only the threat of a filibuster that somehow makes the Dems shake in their supermajority boots. Why don't the Dems actually make the Reps filibuster it, at least the insomniacs will have a great soporific aid.

I'ts pretty pointless. They have 40 people. they'll easily do it and it'll desrupt them getting anything else done. Maybe there'd be some point to making what the Republicans are doing better known.

 

[Carmen813]

I'ts pretty pointless. They have 40 people. they'll easily do it and it'll desrupt them getting anything else done. Maybe there'd be some point to making what the Republicans are doing better known.

Why not allow that to happen? Just force them to keep filibustering for a while (like say, 3-4 months)

 

[Craig234]

What are you going to say in November win the Democrat majority get cuts down to single digits in both chambers and Obama officialy becomes a lame duck?

Whew, that's better than a Republican majority, and sucks a majority of progressives didn't win, maybe it's time for changing the filibuster role since Republicans have abused it to make it a veto.

 

[Craig234]

Why not allow that to happen? Just force them to keep filibustering for a while (like say, 3-4 months)

The short answer is, I'm not really sure why not. But I suspect it's the impact on getting anything done.

 

[Wreckem]

Whew, that's better than a Republican majority, and sucks a majority of progressives didn't win, maybe it's time for changing the filibuster role since Republicans have abused it to make it a veto.

Changing the rule will never make it past cloture. You seem to forget the minority party has always tried to use it as a veto, and yes that means the Dems too.

 

[Wreckem]

Kirk is no longer the Senator at the conclusion of the election.

Incorrect. Kirk is the Senator until the election is certified by the Mass SoS and the winner is sworn in by the President of the Senate(Biden).

 

[Zebo]

I think it goes back to 1992....its the economy stupid!

:thumbsup:

What's funny though is Republican/Brown policy does nothing to address rising poverty, increasing food stamps, decreasing wages , rising bankruptcies, evaporating tax receipts bankrupting states and municipalities, rising foreclosures, decreasing sales, falling rents, higher defaults etc etc etc - this concentric economic contraction can not stop until actual socialist policy i.e. getting money back in little guys hands and clearing debt is implemented . Something republicans will never do.

 

[OutHouse]

where are the exit polls??

 

[Patranus]

Incorrect. Kirk is the Senator until the election is certified by the Mass SoS and the winner is sworn in by the President of the Senate(Biden).

Try again.
(Hint: Read the constitution)
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0110/Kirks_status.html?showall

Let the Democrats try some shenanigans.

 

[Craig234]

I love when people say things like that. "Oh the republicans didn't come up with a better HC reform bill". Big deal. That doesn't mean you HAVE to pass the one the dems came up with. Just because you make a bill and there's no competing bill doesn't mean you HAVE to pass the one you have. Wait until you get a better bill, whether it's from the Dems, Reps, Independents, whomever.

And if that's in more than a decade and a worse bill - who cares.

You don't seem to understand the legislative process about what can get passed.

This bill didn't get gutted because we can pass a better one when it doesn't pass.

It got gutted because with this high number of Democrats, there was still enough opposition from a few people to gut it to get their votes, since 60 were needed by Republican process abuse.

You want a good bill? We could have had a lot better one without the Republicans needed 60 votes. They'll get unished for abusing the rules? Unlikely.

 

[Craig234]

where are the exit polls??

Unreported until the polls close, as they should be.

 

[spidey07]

where are the exit polls??

There won't be any. It was considered to be such a landslide in Coakley's favor none of the networks setup the resources needed to do exit polling.

 

[GoPackGo]

:thumbsup:

What's funny though is Republican/Brown policy does nothing to address rising poverty, increasing food stamps, decreasing wages , rising bankruptcies, evaporating tax receipts bankrupting states and municipalities, rising foreclosures, decreasing sales, falling rents, higher defaults etc etc etc - this concentric economic contraction can not stop until actual socialist policy i.e. getting money back in little guys hands and clearing debt is implemented . Something republicans will never do.

At this point it is a protest vote.

None of what the dems / obama did in the last year meaningfully addressed those issues.

Obamas housing program has done little to help people...and the help is only short term for those who do get it.

If your loan is through freddie or fannie why not adjust the rate down by 2 or 3 points and put real cash into peoples pockets?

People are paying for over-valued homes. Home improvement now does very little to the value of a home as well.

If anyone thinks its bad now...just wait until around November....unemployment is going to be gone for many people....and there are no jobs.

 

[Patranus]

Looks like someone is having a bad day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gs3QbmkYH8&feature=player_embedded

Thats a nice union logo....from out of state.
I guess they really want their "deal" in the revised version.


Why exactly is a NY union running campaign operations in MA?

 

[OutHouse]

Unreported until the polls close, as they should be.

since when? the press has broadcast exit polls in all elections even after the bush/gore crap.

humm just found this.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/19/massachusetts-exit-polls_n_428655.html

Those seeking exit polls for the 2010 Massachusetts Senate Race will be disappointed to know there aren't any.

Mike Allen of Politico reports about the lack of exit polls:

The consortium scrambled to put something together -- for the "why," more than for the call -- but wasn't confident a reliable system could be built so fast."

Allen adds that just days ago the Boston Sunday Globe carried the headline, "Senate poll: Coakley up 15 points." Since the election wasn't expected to be close not long ago, some apparently thought the exit poll process wouldn't be needed.

Curious Americans aren't the only losers. John Fund of the Wall Street Journal writes in his blog that the missing exit polls are "disappointing journalists and political scientists alike."

Also on the matter, MSNBC anchor David Shuster tweeted: "No news organization is doing exit polls in Mass senate race today. Only numbers will be the election results themselves. Voting ends 8pm."

 

[Wreckem]

Unreported until the polls close, as they should be.

There arent going to be any "official" exit polls. The media consortium opted not to conduct them when they beleive Coakley had a 20% lead 2 and a half weeks ago. Since then they decided they could not reliably create a system in such as small time frame. This wont be declared untill 90-99% of the votes are counted or Coakley has a poor showing in Boston returns.

 

[Craig234]

Changing the rule will never make it past cloture. You seem to forget the minority party has always tried to use it as a veto, and yes that means the Dems too.

First, you're assuming rule changes can be filibustered. Not all votes alow it.

Second, no it doesn't. Have you not been paying attention? Filibuster use at all time high by Repubs?

I don't know any study about how often it was used for veto instead of delay. But I do know Republicans haven't had the level of majority Dems do since 1923 IIRC (and the rule may have been 66 then).

So all the votes passing have not had the Dems acting the way Republicans have to block them. Take your 'they both do it equally' falsehood and try being accurate.