Poll: How do you feel about divided government at this point?

[Infohawk]

Would you like to see a Republican Congress with a Democrat in White House?

I would. I think it would produce moderate results. Ideally, Republicans wouldn't give Obama any money to waste and Obama would veto any idiotic socially conservative bills. Also, Obama would be in control of foreign policy which Republicans tend to be terrible on.

I thought the period when Clinton worked with the Republican Congress was great. Solid but not crazy reforms Welfare to Work were put in place and both sides stopped each other from doing too much damage.

 

[JockoJohnson]

Would you like to see a Republican Congress with a Democrat in White House?

I would. I think it would produce moderate results. Ideally, Republicans wouldn't give Obama any money to waste and Obama would veto any idiotic socially conservative bills. Also, Obama would be in control of foreign policy which Republicans tend to be terrible on.

I thought the period when Clinton worked with the Republican Congress was great. Solid but not crazy reforms Welfare to Work were put in place and both sides stopped each other from doing too much damage.

I agree with you on this one. I liked Clinton with a Republican Congress. People said the sky was falling back then but we made it through that. Can't say that I feel the same yet for Bush and Obama.

 

[Jaskalas]

Generally, what would be your ideal government?

Third party, Congress and Presidency.

What, you were expecting a realistic choice? I'm an idealist in this regard. I like neither incumbent party.

Things need to get done, this gridlock we face and that you desire is a dangerous game.

 

[BoberFett]

Third party, Congress and Presidency.

That would be no better. The problem we have is the winner take all mentality. It permeates the entire system.

 

[Genx87]

Repub congress, Dem white house. Just like the good old days of Clinton.

 

[Amused]

The best government is the one that does the least. Our country has been most prosperous when our government is gridlocked.

 

[Jaskalas]

The best government is the one that does the least. Our country has been most prosperous when our government is gridlocked.

Why is gridlock a good thing? We have quite a number of serious problems in this country that need to be addressed. Half measures will not work or change our course.

It is fatal if our course happens to be a cliff.

 

[brencat]

I thought the period when Clinton worked with the Republican Congress was great. Solid but not crazy reforms Welfare to Work were put in place and both sides stopped each other from doing too much damage.

Clinton was an exceptionally capable politician...who also happened to be a moderate at heart. In fact, Dick Morris point blank told him to "go back to governing from the 'center' like when you were governor of Arkansas..." after the Dems lost Congress in 1994, and he did.

Obama is no such moderate. He is an idealogue who never ran anything. There is a big difference and it is showing itself in how bad his administration is running things at the moment.

Anyway, with regard to the poll, I voted Repub president, Dem Congress. Would rather have a Repub in charge of the military, foreign policy, and Federal bureaucracy.

 

[brencat]

The best government is the one that does the least. Our country has been most prosperous when our government is gridlocked.

Absolutely agree 100%

 

[BoberFett]

Clinton was an exceptionally capable politician...who also happened to be a moderate at heart. In fact, Dick Morris point blank told him to "go back to governing from the 'center' like when you were governor of Arkansas..." after the Dems lost Congress in 1994, and he did.

Obama is no such moderate. He is an idealogue who never ran anything. There is a big difference and it is showing itself in how bad his administration is running things at the moment.

Anyway, with regard to the poll, I voted Repub president, Dem Congress. Would rather have a Repub in charge of the military, foreign policy, and Federal bureaucracy.

I was anti-Clinton back in those days. I joined the Army right out of high school in '92 and bashing him while still *cough* respecting the chain-of-command was kind of a pastime for a lot of people. I was kind of a stupid, naive kid at the time and did it just because that's where I was, and where I came from: a very conservative home. In retrospect, I was very wrong. Clinton was a fantastic president. Not perfect, but who is? I think the Clinton/Gingrich combo worked very well.

 

[Infohawk]

Why is gridlock a good thing? We have quite a number of serious problems in this country that need to be addressed. Half measures will not work or change our course.

As other posters have suggested, a government that doesn't do much can be a good thing. The biggest issue with gridlock is the chicken game they play over budgets. Otherwise, it's worked fine in the past.

You should think of half-measures as balanced measures. Think back to Clinton's Welfare to Work reform. Left alone the Dems might not have changed squat. Left alone, the Republicans might have gutted the whole system (like when Bush wanted to privatize social security contributions). Together they had a balanced bill that helped kick deadbeats out but kept the core of the system in place.

Neither party has an ideology that I think will work for our big problems.

 

[misle]

Dem Congress & Rep President or Rep Congress & Dem President is fine by me. I think I voted for the latter.

Gridlock is good.

 

[alkemyst]

I think the bipartizan system has run it's course along with the electoral college.

 

[BoberFett]

As other posters have suggested, a government that doesn't do much can be a good thing. The biggest issue with gridlock is the chicken game they play over budgets. Otherwise, it's worked fine in the past.

You should think of half-measures as balanced measures. Think back to Clinton's Welfare to Work reform. Left alone the Dems might not have changed squat. Left alone, the Republicans might have gutted the whole system (like when Bush wanted to privatize social security contributions). Together they had a balanced bill that helped kick deadbeats out but kept the core of the system in place.

Neither party has an ideology that I think will work for our big problems.

:thumbsup:

 

[Nemesis 1]

Didn't vote . I don't care what tag the person weres Dem/REP. I care about the man and what he stands for . Today I think there all garbage and the only way you can be elected at the national level is if your bought and paid for .

When Obama was running I liked very much what he was saying Infact I loved it . But than I said wait a second here . This sounds to good to be true. So I decided I wouldn't vote . Because I new what Mac was bringing and Obama was saying to much of what I wanted to here so I figured him for a straight out liar and I was right . I was still sitting on the lets wait and see sideline. But when Obama had the WHITE HOUSE post pics of him and daughter in the Gulf swimming I knew instantly that wasn't the Gulf water by the color. Than the 50 billion to construction industry that did it . Obama is trashing the USA . I doubt very much this guy can tell the truth. I would love to debate this Ass wipe it would be a slaughter. I would want a true false question period also were we are hooked up to lie detectors . I would eat this ass wipe alive.

 

[bamacre]

While "gridlock" may sound good, it will not do us any good at this point in time. As David Walker would say, "we are suffering from a fiscal cancer." We need some serious changes, especially changes to Medicare and Social Security, and I'd toss our foreign policy in there as well (since Obama likes our little empire, too). While a gridlocked Congress may not create more problems, it won't solve any current ones either.

 

[Nemesis 1]

I think that after a runner has explained what he wants to do . Than on national TV have reports question them on their stance in true false formate with lie detector so americans could see for themselves the lieing bastards. To have tech in this day and age and not use it to the advantage of its people shows we have tech but are afraid to use it for the benefit of the People.

 

[Nemesis 1]

While "gridlock" may sound good, it will not do us any good at this point in time. As David Walker would say, "we are suffering from a fiscal cancer." We need some serious changes, especially changes to Medicare and Social Security, and I'd toss our foreign policy in there as well (since Obama likes our little empire, too). While a gridlocked Congress may not create more problems, it won't solve any current ones either.

How can SS possiably work when government has stolen the money and used it for other things . I believe Obama just brought forth a plan that employers would be exempt from paying their share of SS for a period of time. It plain and simple both sides are tring to destroy social secruity as neither side wants to pay back the 7 trillion they stole from SS.

 

[Nemesis 1]

It doesn't matter anyway if what scientist are saying is fact about the Gulf stream . One of the Worlds biggest problems will be gone forever . England. This year.

 

[PokerGuy]

While "gridlock" may sound good, it will not do us any good at this point in time. As David Walker would say, "we are suffering from a fiscal cancer." We need some serious changes, especially changes to Medicare and Social Security, and I'd toss our foreign policy in there as well (since Obama likes our little empire, too). While a gridlocked Congress may not create more problems, it won't solve any current ones either.

You're making a big assumption that congress ever really fixes anything. Government does preciously few good things, they mostly find the worst ways to mess things up. Gridlock is good, it's the best alternative when the government is fundamentally broken.

 

[Infohawk]

While "gridlock" may sound good, it will not do us any good at this point in time. As David Walker would say, "we are suffering from a fiscal cancer." We need some serious changes, especially changes to Medicare and Social Security, and I'd toss our foreign policy in there as well (since Obama likes our little empire, too). While a gridlocked Congress may not create more problems, it won't solve any current ones either.

I agree with PokerGuy but would also specifically address the issue of Medicare and Social Security. Don't most moderates and even many experts agree it just needs to be reformed? Again, why would you think either party acting alone would provide a better reform? I don't see it. Instead, I easily see a divided government agreeing on reasonable changes that everyone can live with even if they're not ideal.

 

[bamacre]

You're making a big assumption that congress ever really fixes anything. Government does preciously few good things, they mostly find the worst ways to mess things up. Gridlock is good, it's the best alternative when the government is fundamentally broken.

If our fiscal problems are not solved, we go bankrupt. That's indisputable. The longer we wait to solve them, the worse they become.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

While "gridlock" may sound good, it will not do us any good at this point in time. As David Walker would say, "we are suffering from a fiscal cancer." We need some serious changes, especially changes to Medicare and Social Security, and I'd toss our foreign policy in there as well (since Obama likes our little empire, too). While a gridlocked Congress may not create more problems, it won't solve any current ones either.

Imagine this.

Your car has 4 bad tires and the two mechanics are arguing about it. You say "Hey, this is serious. Quit arguing and come and fix it!"

They say "Sure thing Mac." They indeed stop bickering and come to fix your 4-wheeled baby, one with a blowtorch and the other with a sledgehammer.

Do you feel better?

 

[HumblePie]

Didn't vote . I don't care what tag the person weres Dem/REP. I care about the man and what he stands for . Today I think there all garbage and the only way you can be elected at the national level is if your bought and paid for .

<snip>

This is the most intelligent post, and mostly readable post I have ever seen you do. What is the world coming to when I have finally read and agreed with something Nemesis 1 has posted?

 

[bamacre]

I agree with PokerGuy but would also specifically address the issue of Medicare and Social Security. Don't most moderates and even many experts agree it just needs to be reformed? Again, why would you think either party acting alone would provide a better reform? I don't see it. Instead, I easily see a divided government agreeing on reasonable changes that everyone can live with even if they're not ideal.

Hell I don't trust any of them to solve these problems, I don't care which party has control or if neither of them have control. I was just making sure you all hoping for gridlock know what you're hoping for. Those who have no expectations (me), will not be disappointed.