Election Day in the USA -- Short term results and long term implications

[Seamus Fermanagh]

It is election day in the USA, though early voting is featured in more states then ever before.

Last moment polls suggest a GOP controlled Senate as well as HOR; numerous GOP governors (maybe even in New England) and a resurgence of the establishment GOP as opposed to the TEA party wingers.


For the rest of the World: Expect the USA to turn inwards with an Obamacare coming under fire and efforts at illegal immigrant amnesty generating a firestorm of controversy. We will continue to bumble along inconsistently in international affairs.


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[Greyblades]

It is election day in the USA, though early voting is featured in more states then ever before.

Last moment polls suggest a GOP controlled Senate as well as HOR; numerous GOP governors (maybe even in New England) and a resurgence of the establishment GOP as opposed to the TEA party wingers.


For the rest of the World: Expect the USA to turn inwards with an Obamacare coming under fire and efforts at illegal immigrant amnesty generating a firestorm of controversy. We will continue to bumble along inconsistently in international affairs.


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You have my condolences. Please explain what these polls are and how they are in any way an accurate prediction.

[HoreTore]

John Oliver chimes in.

[drone]

Regardless of the results, I don't expect anything to get accomplished in the next 2 years. If Congress is deadlocked, we get the same as we have now. If the GOP wins the Senate, Obama can (and will) veto whatever nonsense actually does get passed, and the Senate will go back to the Dems in 2016. And the campaign for 45 starts about 20 minutes after the polls close.

[Sarmatian]

John Oliver chimes in.

Yeah, but I don't really care whether you can throw midgets in some parts of America.

What happens in Congress can affect me on, on the other hand.

[HoreTore]

Yeah, but I don't really care whether you can throw midgets in some parts of America.

What happens in Congress can affect me on, on the other hand.

Trade standards do affect you, and they often come out of state legislation.

Passed by guys who would rather debate dwarf-throwing.

[Beskar]

So, two years of complete deadlock as a solution to the 'political crisis' is a great move for the electorate.

[Beskar]

Forgot to post this:

[Gregoshi]

Forgot to post this:

Now I feel like Ned Beatty.

[Hooahguy]

And the Republicans dont have a veto-proof majority so Obama is just going to veto everything anyways.

Something distressing I saw yesterday when I voted was that it was exclusively older white folk; I was the youngest person at the tender age of 22 to come so far that day (and I got there at 5pm). At least that is what one of the people who was working there that day said. I would say this explains why the Republicans managed to win so handily, as the demographics which brought victory to the Democrats the past few times were most likely absent.

Real shame, the political deadlock is just going to get worse, and people will soon realize that its congress who is to blame, not Obama as the GOP likes to argue.

[Sarmatian]

Maybe it's time to make Head of State and Head of government two separate positions in the US.

[Husar]

Forgot to post this:

"Hello, I'm into animal cruelty, but I would like to torture humans next! Vote for me!"

Maybe it's time to make Head of State and Head of government two separate positions in the US.

Only if that adds a fourth layer of potential deadlock that people can vote for.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Maybe it's time to make Head of State and Head of government two separate positions in the US.

Would help be removing a lot of the "ceremonial" duties of the Presidency -- someone else could make the Presidential Freedom Award speeches and the like -- but the thrust of executive governance would remain the same.

Queen handles head of state ceremony -- PM all real duties

Israeli Pres handles head of state duties and serves as advisor at large -- PM runs the whole show (though the Knesset must seem like herding cats)

[drone]

Congrats, GC, don't get too baked.

[Sarmatian]

Would help be removing a lot of the "ceremonial" duties of the Presidency -- someone else could make the Presidential Freedom Award speeches and the like -- but the thrust of executive governance would remain the same.

Queen handles head of state ceremony -- PM all real duties

Israeli Pres handles head of state duties and serves as advisor at large -- PM runs the whole show (though the Knesset must seem like herding cats)

I'm not talking about workload distribution (you can dump all ceremonial duties on the VP, he's got less authority than European monarchs anyway), it is about avoiding deadlock and having a functional government that Congress can work with., so you could avoid having a head of government from party A having all his work blocked by party B who is in control of both Houses.

Also, having away with a two-party system would mitigate the problem somewhat.

[GeneralHankerchief]

You know, in spite of the implications of what's going to happen in the next two years (absolutely nothing), I'll be sorry to see this election cycle go. Partly because it's been the first time in over a decade that this hasn't been The Single Most Important Election Of Our Lifetime™. The endless posturing tends to get old, fast.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

You know, in spite of the implications of what's going to happen in the next two years (absolutely nothing), I'll be sorry to see this election cycle go. Partly because it's been the first time in over a decade that this hasn't been The Single Most Important Election Of Our Lifetime™. The endless posturing tends to get old, fast.

Try living in Florida....vicious governors race (that convinced me both were unworthy), Congress, and medical marijuana

The ads were lethal in their intensity. I am not sorry to be done with it.

[drone]

Try living in Florida....vicious governors race (that convinced me both were unworthy), Congress, and medical marijuana

The ads were lethal in their intensity. I am not sorry to be done with it.

You missed out here in your old state. I didn't get any political robocalls, and the ads were fewer than I can ever remember. Not many signs littering the roads either.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

You missed out here in your old state. I didn't get any political robocalls, and the ads were fewer than I can ever remember. Not many signs littering the roads either.

...aaaah the Commonwealth with its periodic (if short-lived) moments of clarity.

[Hooahguy]

Maybe its just me, or does Mitch McConnell look almost plastic here? Definitely getting a creepy vibe.



EDIT: here too-

[a completely inoffensive name]

This election result was expected more than a year ago. Congress always swings towards the opposition party during the last two years of a President's second term. This has been the pattern for every president since Truman I believe.

This election was not hyped because both sides were going to win key victories and neither side wants to waste resources on a pointless midterm before the 2016 primary cycle.

Oregon, Washington DC and Alaska have legalized marijuana. Kansas just had its same sex marriage ban struck down by the courts. Republicans took control of a Congress that will not actually do anything because the Republicans only want the ability to use this midterm as a referendum towards Democrats for 2016. Obama will veto, the Senate will filibuster, both sides go about planning for the future.

The only real tragedy is that Florida continues to be filled with voters mentally delirious from sun exposure. 58% in favor of medical marijuana is not enough because of a proposition passed in 2004 that requires a 60% vote or higher to pass. That same proposition requiring 60% approval was passed at the time with less than 60% approval. You really can't make this stuff up.

Everyone calm down and get ready for some entertaining primary elections...

[GeneralHankerchief]

You missed out here in your old state. I didn't get any political robocalls, and the ads were fewer than I can ever remember. Not many signs littering the roads either.

Yeah, I'm actually a bit surprised about that. Maybe because Gillespie decided not to bother with NoVA?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Maybe its just me, or does Mitch McConnell look almost plastic here? Definitely getting a creepy vibe.



EDIT: here too-

Only his embalmer knows for sure.

[drone]

Yeah, I'm actually a bit surprised about that. Maybe because Gillespie decided not to bother with NoVA?

Could be, even though that race was closer than expected. Most of the ads I saw/heard were from Comstock, who crushed Foust for Wolf's old 10th seat. I can't really remember any ads from Foust, and not any spillover from the car salesman in the 8th either. The lowest margin if victory for the VA House races was 15%, so I think we are well and truly gerrymandered. While I dislike the foregone conclusion aspect of it all, it's nice to have some respite from the voter harassment masquerading as campaigning. I can only imagine the hell Florida voters go through...

[Kadagar_AV]

This might be a stupid question, but why mid term elections?

Isn't it rather obvious that the democratic party wont go all-in when they know the president can only sit 2 more years anyway.

Also, why is this? Lots of democracies go without this rule, and they seem to do well enough.


From my perspective, this system only seem to be good if you really want a lame government who can't force an agenda. Admittedly this might be a reason of its own, but really, is that a good way to run politics?

I don't mean to troll or derail, I am just honestly interested in the reasoning here.

[drone]

This might be a stupid question, but why mid term elections?

The terms for House representatives, senators, and the president reflect the purposes and constituency of their roles as originally intended. The House representatives are the people, they are supposed to reflect the current will of the populace. Senators are supposed to represent the States, they are meant to be a more stable part of the government. Hence the 6 year term and staggered term endpoints. The president is meant to be a mixture of both, thus the 4 year term and the electoral college.

This kind of falls apart when the Senate no longer represents the States, and presidential term limits are enacted. Prior to the 17th amendment, State legislators selected senators when their terms came due.

[Kadagar_AV]

The terms for House representatives, senators, and the president reflect the purposes and constituency of their roles as originally intended. The House representatives are the people, they are supposed to reflect the current will of the populace. Senators are supposed to represent the States, they are meant to be a more stable part of the government. Hence the 6 year term and staggered term endpoints. The president is meant to be a mixture of both, thus the 4 year term and the electoral college.

This kind of falls apart when the Senate no longer represents the States, and presidential term limits are enacted. Prior to the 17th amendment, State legislators selected senators when their terms came due.

Good info, but may I ask what your thoughts on it is?

I get the idea, at large. But it seems to work really bad?

See, in the nations I have dwelled in, you elect a ruling party every X years. They then have more or less free reign, until the next election. The only controlling factor is that if they do bad, they will be punished in the next election. We also assume they want to do good (and practise show they try).

So what are the benefits of having a system where the ruling party gets deadlocked mid term?

The way we see it here, is that it's better that one party can make decisions, than it is to have a non-functional government.

Don't read me wrong, I don't flame the idea... I am just curious on the thoughts and practices behind it.

[ICantSpellDawg]

I think this is going to be a big 2 years for getting things passed. Obama and the GOP Congress are going to get along just fine - passing bill after bill with enough in there for both interests.

[drone]

I get the idea, at large. But it seems to work really bad?

See, in the nations I have dwelled in, you elect a ruling party every X years. They then have more or less free reign, until the next election. The only controlling factor is that if they do bad, they will be punished in the next election. We also assume they want to do good (and practise show they try).

So what are the benefits of having a system where the ruling party gets deadlocked mid term?

There is not supposed to be a "ruling party". The theory was that we elect people, not parties (political parties are not in the Constitution). But even with parties, the control is split amongst the branches. The checks that exist between the branches of government are meant to be roadblocks, something most parliamentary democracies are lacking. The UK system gives me the heebies, especially since they neutered the Lords. "Free reign" of government is what the Founding Fathers were trying to prevent.

The system is supposed to work through compromise, the GOP has opted to watch the world burn instead. A lot of this can be blamed on the Democratic leadership, their ineptness knows no bounds, but Congress is fundamentally broken since the two houses are essentially identical. There were problems with the old way of selecting senators, but the consequences of removing State power from Congress are being felt.

[Veho Nex]

Yeah, for me I see the parties as wanting two shades of the same thing. Democrats want purple cows with white stripes while the republicans want white cows with purple stripes. It makes no sense to me so I don't vote for anything above local govt. They are normally the only ones that I see get anything done around me. The second it goes above county it seems like nothing gets past the whole "my idea is better than your idea so i wont listen to your thoughts stage."