The Final US Election Thread

[Lemur]

A final pre-bed thought: I know the odds were always low that the Dems would achieve the magic 60 in the Senate, but still I'm glad they didn't get it. That would have been too much temptation for any party. Which is not to say that they may not already have too much temptation, what with holding both houses of Congress and the Executive. But I have some degree of faith that President-elect Obama will whip his unruly party into line and get them doing something productive.

Forcing the Dems to move their party headquarters to Chicago was a masterstroke.

[ICantSpellDawg]

A final pre-bed thought: I know the odds were always low that the Dems would achieve the magic 60 in the Senate, but still I'm glad they didn't get it. That would have been too much temptation for any party. Which is not to say that they may not already have too much temptation, what with holding both houses of Congress and the Executive. But I have some degree of faith that President-elect Obama will whip his unruly party into line and get them doing something productive.

Forcing the Dems to move their party headquarters to Chicago was a masterstroke.

Part of me hopes that the Dems screw this country to the wall for this. The reasonable pragmatist in me hopes that the Democrats fix what they can and then get crushed in 4 or 8 years.

Obama is a real talent. I just hope that talent falls flat on abortion and translates beyond words. The success that he has had with his fabricated message of "crossing the isle" might stick since it has worked so well for him. Hopefully hey buys his own narrative.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Obama speech started out good but I don't see how "yes we can" is a timeless creed.

Obama/biden certainly exceeded expectations. My optimistic prediction in late september was Obama: 329 McCain:209. Passed that already.

[deguerra]

Obama speech started out good but I don't see how "yes we can" is a timeless creed.

Granted, the phrase itself may not be, but the idea behind it surely is.

It is the shaping impulse of America that neither fate nor nature nor the irresistible tides of history, but the work of our own hands, matched to reason and principle, that will determine our destiny.

[CountArach]

The reasonable pragmatist in me hopes that the Democrats fix what they can and then get crushed in 4 or 8 years.

No party can fix things and not get re-elected. Even in America.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

It'll be interesting. George Bush messed things up and still got reelected. Obama won't have trouble. He runs too good a campaign to be blamed for the economic woes that we will still be experiencing.

[OverKnight]

So, less than 1500 days to the next Presidential Election!!!!! Who does everyone see as the front runners?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Just kidding. While I'm glad that Obama won, I'm relieved that we get a break from campaigning for a few years. A part of me envies the much shorter campaign season of Parliamentary systems.

So what's the over under on how many fillibusters we're going to see in the next year?

[Pannonian]

A final pre-bed thought: I know the odds were always low that the Dems would achieve the magic 60 in the Senate, but still I'm glad they didn't get it. That would have been too much temptation for any party. Which is not to say that they may not already have too much temptation, what with holding both houses of Congress and the Executive. But I have some degree of faith that President-elect Obama will whip his unruly party into line and get them doing something productive.

Forcing the Dems to move their party headquarters to Chicago was a masterstroke.

Can you explain to a Brit?

[CountArach]

Can you explain to a Brit?

Washington is full of people who have distinct ideas about how to win an election and about how things should be done. Chicago on the other hand, is underutilised by campaigns as it has a lot of very highly educated professionals (lawyers, etc) who can give a fresh perspective on things. Plus it borders on Indiana, which apparently helped.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Can you explain to a Brit?

The "magic 60" refers to a filibuster-proof majority of 60 Senate seats and would virtually prevent the minority opposition party from blocking legislation on the Senate floor.

Definition of filibuster: The legislative tactic of delaying a vote on a controversial matter through protracted debate. A tool occasionally used by the minority party in the US Senate where unlimited debate can be ended only by a successful cloture vote.

Not putting words into Lemur's mouth, but what he means is that he'd rather not see the Democratic Party majority have unopposed power to ramrod their agenda through the House & Senate without having to "reach across the aisle" to the Republican Party minority. Legislate by consensus and deference, not by fiat.

I agree with Lem. This kind of legislative dominance really brings out the dark side of political human nature and partisanship.


GLAD TO SEE YOU BEIRUT!!!

[Beirut]

You too, Hosa.

Couldn't pass the day without a hello to my American friends on this incredible day.

Excelsior! I think the whole world is happy today.

[OverKnight]

If Stevens wins and then resigns, Palin could appoint herself as his replacement, correct?

Whilly stunningly Machiavellian, I could see it happening.

As for electing convicted felons: I give you a local Massachusetts folk hero:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Michael_Curley

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

He served in various municipal offices and one term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1902-1903). He is noted for having been elected to the Board of Aldermen in 1904 while in prison, having been convicted of fraud. Curley and an associate, Thomas Curley (no relation) took the civil service exams for postmen for two men in their district to help them get the jobs with the federal government. Though the incident gave him a dark reputation in respectable circles, it aided his image in working class or poor circles because they saw him as a man willing to stick his neck out to help a poor man.

. . .Curley's popularity within Boston remained high – despite even a felony indictment in 1943 for influence peddling, which stemmed from his involvement with a consulting firm seeking to secure defense contracts. On the slogan "Curley Gets Things Done" he won an unprecedented fourth term as mayor of Boston in 1945. A federal jury then found him guilty of the felony charges, but he remained mayor even after he entered a federal penitentiary in 1947, serving until 1949.

In 1947, during his last mayoral term, he was convicted for a second time on federal charges of official misconduct, including mail fraud. He spent five months in jail during this term, but still retained a considerable degree of popularity with the working classes. Out of political expediency and because of pressure from the Massachusetts congressional delegation, President Harry Truman pardoned him, enabling his release.

He was a corrupt politician, but he was their corrupt politician. I'm sure the same thinking applies in Alaska.

[Beirut]

Yeah baby!

God bless the United States of America!

[InsaneApache]

Yeah baby!

God bless the United States of America!

I concur. Congratulations to the Democrats, commiserations to the GOP. Fascinating to follow from the 'right' side of the pond.

BTW. Nice to see you around Beirut. You've been missed.

[CountArach]

BTW. Nice to see you around Beirut. You've been missed.

Yeah IA said it. I hope your life is shaping up as you have wanted.

[LittleGrizzly]

Ahh my favourite middle eastern place, your wit and intelligence has been greatly missed!