Dems inching to a Supermajority in Senate

[JEDI]

Dems now have 58 seats (including the 2 independents).

2 races have not been decided:
Minnesota- Democrat Al Franken trails by 215 votes. Hand re-count will take weeks
Georgia- Republican won by 110k votes, but that was only 49.9%. by georgia law, you need >50%, else a run-off on 12/2.

dems own the whitehouse, and the House of Reps.

with a fillbuster proof senate, the Dems can pass laws at will.

no one party should have absolute power. Look at all the damage Bush did when he had 6yrs of Republican Congress, and that was when he didnt have a Fillbuster proof senate.

The pendulum will swing to the other extreme with the Dems. In fact, it will be worse w/a SuperMajority senate. W/o opposition, they have power absolute.

And abolute power corrupts

 

[kedlav]

While a supermajority would be a bad thing, its unlikely that Pelosi will be able to keep the troops as lockstep, in-line as the Repubs did. For the love of pete, Repubs were able to keep McCain voting with Bush 90% of the time. You have the Blue Dogs and the indies who are not exactly bleeding heart liberals here. I don't much want a supermajority, but if it happens, after the honeymoon period, Dems will probably not be a complete 'superblock'...

 

[Stunt]

How many seats are required for a supermajority?

 

[Throckmorton]

What do you think will happen with a Democrat supermajority? What scares you so much?

Stupid wars? Violation of constitutional rights? Treason? You think Democrats are going to do and allow worse things? That's asinine. Politics isn't a balanced yin and yang where "both sides are just as bad".

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: JEDI

And abolute power corrupts

as we saw with Bush and his buds 2001 to 2006.

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: JEDI

And abolute power corrupts

as we saw with Bush and his buds 2001 to 2006.

I think that's a fallacy that they were good people until power corrupted them. They did exactly what their ideology said. The problem isn't corruption, it's right-wing ideology.

 

[Gothgar]

Originally posted by: Stunt
How many seats are required for a supermajority?

I think it is 60

 

[miketheidiot]

i don't think dems will be able to keep a very tight leash, at least not on the blue dogs on the more 'liberal values' legislation

 

[jpeyton]

Doesn't worry me a bit. I hope they hit 60 and put the Republitwats in their place for the next 8 years.

 

[Stunt]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: JEDI

And abolute power corrupts

as we saw with Bush and his buds 2001 to 2006.

I think that's a fallacy that they were good people until power corrupted them. They did exactly what their ideology said. The problem isn't corruption, it's right-wing ideology.

Right wing ideology works
Left wing ideology works
Combining the two doesn't...

The only difference between left and right is public goods and services versus private goods and services. Either you tax your citizens and offer single payer services or you don't tax your citizens and those same services are purchased by individuals. You cannot offer services and not tax to pay for it, similarly you cannot tax and not offer services; both are unsustainable. The Republicans and indirectly the American people want government to do everything for them; they want tax cuts and don't want to pay for services, yet want healthcare coverage, more roads, reduced pollution, social security.

The problem is people are being unrealistic with their demands of government.

 

[nageov3t]

Georgia seems like a safe Republican bet.

the only reason it was competitive was increased democratic and african american turn-out to vote for Obama, most of whom I'd imagine won't care enough about some random senate race to show up, whereas on the other hand, republicans can be pretty easily energized to show up by making them afraid of a Pelosi/Reid supermajority with no checks or balances.

 

[retrospooty]

Originally posted by: loki8481
Georgia seems like a safe Republican bet.

the only reason it was competitive was increased democratic and african american turn-out to vote for Obama, most of whom I'd imagine won't care enough about some random senate race to show up, whereas on the other hand, republicans can be pretty easily energized to show up by making them afraid of a Pelosi/Reid supermajority with no checks or balances.

You are probably right - but in 2010, the dems could easily gain several more seats... Unless they totally blow it for the next 2 years.

Its pretty easy to see now that I think about it. If they stay fair and centered, they will likely win more seats in 2010. If they go totally liberal haywire for the next 2 years, they will lose seats.

Political Darwinism at work. Just like in 2006, we had 12 years of republican rule in senate and the most recent 6 had the presidency too. They totally blew it and the country swung majorly to the dems. The same will happen in reverse if they do a lousy job.

 

[Infohawk]

The reason this doesn't completely scare me is that I want sweeping health care reform passed. I'm for either complete deregulation of healthcare or universal health care. Since I'm more likely to get universal health care, I'm looking to the Democrats.

A supermajority will be a big test for the Dems. If they are stupid enough to pass amnesty for illegals or increase affirmative action, there will be a backlash. If they focus on practical goals, they could get a lot done.

 

[Jhhnn]

Dems aren't exactly very unified- never have been. Will Rogers said it best

"I don't belong to an organized political Party. I'm a Democrat."

It's not like goose-stepping to the tune of the radical right...

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
What do you think will happen with a Democrat supermajority? What scares you so much?

Stupid wars? Violation of constitutional rights? Treason? You think Democrats are going to do and allow worse things? That's asinine. Politics isn't a balanced yin and yang where "both sides are just as bad".

They already have allowed such to happen.

 

[retrospooty]

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
What do you think will happen with a Democrat supermajority? What scares you so much?

Stupid wars? Violation of constitutional rights? Treason? You think Democrats are going to do and allow worse things? That's asinine. Politics isn't a balanced yin and yang where "both sides are just as bad".

They already have allowed such to happen.

Umm... sorry, Bush and the republicans did that. They had the House and Senate from 1994 to 2006. The dems will be UNdoing that. (I hope)

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: retrospooty

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
What do you think will happen with a Democrat supermajority? What scares you so much?

Stupid wars? Violation of constitutional rights? Treason? You think Democrats are going to do and allow worse things? That's asinine. Politics isn't a balanced yin and yang where "both sides are just as bad".

They already have allowed such to happen.

Umm... sorry, Bush and the republicans did that. They had the House and Senate from 1994 to 2006. The dems will be UNdoing that. (I hope)

Poor, naive boy.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: retrospooty

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
What do you think will happen with a Democrat supermajority? What scares you so much?

Stupid wars? Violation of constitutional rights? Treason? You think Democrats are going to do and allow worse things? That's asinine. Politics isn't a balanced yin and yang where "both sides are just as bad".

They already have allowed such to happen.

Umm... sorry, Bush and the republicans did that. They had the House and Senate from 1994 to 2006. The dems will be UNdoing that. (I hope)

That's certainly true. The reason they had that power is that the Dems had complete control, and having such corrupted them. They disregarded the will of the people and became self indulgent. They knew best and held their own counsel and excluded the rest. Because they were "right thinking", they weren't answerable to anyone else. Power corrupted them, and they were removed by the People. That's why the Reagan era ensued. The Reps did likewise, and now the Dems have a chance to do precisely the same all over again.

Want to know what will kill the Dems? The "Liberals are Good, Conservatives are Evil" attitude. Hubris will. It's just a matter of time unless they've learned. I remain unconvinced of that until I see the evidence of change.

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: loki8481
Georgia seems like a safe Republican bet.

the only reason it was competitive was increased democratic and african american turn-out to vote for Obama, most of whom I'd imagine won't care enough about some random senate race to show up, whereas on the other hand, republicans can be pretty easily energized to show up by making them afraid of a Pelosi/Reid supermajority with no checks or balances.

For a guy who voted for Obama you're pretty smart.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
What do you think will happen with a Democrat supermajority? What scares you so much?

Stupid wars? Violation of constitutional rights? Treason? You think Democrats are going to do and allow worse things? That's asinine. Politics isn't a balanced yin and yang where "both sides are just as bad".

universal healthcare. amnesty for illegals. bigger (inefective) govt.

w/a supermajority, they will set up a system w/o care of what the opposition has to say.

*shudder*

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
What do you think will happen with a Democrat supermajority? What scares you so much?

Stupid wars? Violation of constitutional rights? Treason? You think Democrats are going to do and allow worse things? That's asinine. Politics isn't a balanced yin and yang where "both sides are just as bad".

universal healthcare. amnesty for illegals. bigger (inefective) govt.

w/a supermajority, they will set up a system w/o care of what the opposition has to say.

*shudder*

universal healthcare - maybe a good thing, maybe not... depends on how it's done

amnesty - why is this such a terrible thing? Those people are already in the US, you're not going to get rid of them all, why not at least make them start paying taxes?

the repubs were the ones who super inflated the government...

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: silverpig
universal healthcare - maybe a good thing, maybe not... depends on how it's done.

This is our government we are talking about. Can you name one major program created in Washington that has done exactly what it said it would do??

 

[Veramocor]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

Originally posted by: silverpig
universal healthcare - maybe a good thing, maybe not... depends on how it's done.

This is our government we are talking about. Can you name one major program created in Washington that has done exactly what it said it would do??

Military.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: Veramocor

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

Originally posted by: silverpig
universal healthcare - maybe a good thing, maybe not... depends on how it's done.

This is our government we are talking about. Can you name one major program created in Washington that has done exactly what it said it would do??

Military.

That's fair enough, but I've seen what happens when government gets involved with health care. It's awful. It took years to come up with a system that legally prevents me from answering questions like "my 80 year old husband is having problems. Could it be his medication?" unless she fills out forms and has power of attorney. Government removes common sense and replaces it with regulations which if you don't abide by allows them to ruin you.

Recently in NY the former governor figured out that by enforcing the letter of many conflicting regulations he could make money for the state. Inspectors went into pharmacies, and they were fined thousands of dollars for not recording the time of a physicians phone call on the prescription. No one I knew was aware of that particilar one buried in thousands of pages of regulations scattered all over NY laws and regs. The resulting fine for one pharmacy was over a million dollars for paperwork errors. The gov. declared that he was cracking down on fraud. Hardly.

That's government's involvement in healthcare. I don't trust them, and with cause.

 

[Jiggz]

Originally posted by: JEDI
Dems now have 58 seats (including the 2 independents).

2 races have not been decided:
Minnesota- Democrat Al Franken trails by 215 votes. Hand re-count will take weeks
Georgia- Republican won by 110k votes, but that was only 49.9%. by georgia law, you need >50%, else a run-off on 12/2.

dems own the whitehouse, and the House of Reps.

with a fillbuster proof senate, the Dems can pass laws at will.

no one party should have absolute power. Look at all the damage Bush did when he had 6yrs of Republican Congress, and that was when he didnt have a Fillbuster proof senate.

The pendulum will swing to the other extreme with the Dems. In fact, it will be worse w/a SuperMajority senate. W/o opposition, they have power absolute.

And abolute power corrupts

It shouldn't worry you for this is the ultimate test! If things get worse, there is no finger pointing of any kind except for themselves. In fact, this was already demonstrated in the last two years, the only difference is that they still have W. Bush to point to. Next year it'll be different story, either point to themselves or point to their fellow Dems. It's be very interesting!