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Obama Wins - Now What?

by afew Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 02:13:48 AM EST


(xkcd, h/t gk)

Media now involved in spinning new stories to explain what tipped the neck-and-neck finish into a (predictable) Obama victory. Sandy and General Motors making promising showing. Go pundits!

Use this as an open thread for info and comment on reality (if possible...).

Display:
Obama Wins - Now What? | 218 comments (218 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 5)
Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock fall to Senate defeats | World news | guardian.co.uk
Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock, the Republican candidates who made off-the-cuff remarks about rape and abortion, have both been defeated, destroying their party's hopes of taking control of the Senate.
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 02:35:15 AM EST
This crystallises my takeaway (none / 1)
from the election night :

The presidential and House results are about what one would expect, given the demographic and political situations.

The Senate results were all about the quality of the respective candidates.

I suspect that it's all about money.

(Republican) money talks, but it's tone-deaf.

Money can't buy me love. Americans need to love their senator?

(Sorry; I'm rambling. Not enough sleep.)

It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II

by eurogreen on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 03:56:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: This crystallises my takeaway (none / 1)
The presidential and House results are about what one would expect, given the demographic and political situations.

Given the way the House went, I suppose if the Republicans hadn't nominated a lying robot Obama would have lost.

I distribute. You re-distribute. He gives your hard-earned money to lazy scroungers. -- JakeS

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 04:01:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: This crystallises my takeaway (none / 0)
I think he would have hung on his fingernails based on his support for the auto bailout and the demographic changes in Nevada.
by IM on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:45:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: This crystallises my takeaway (4.00 / 4)
The Republicans chose the most electable (by far) of their lot... and lost anyway.

This will reinforce calls for purity by the right.

Wind power

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 06:16:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: This crystallises my takeaway (4.00 / 2)
I agree.  I see a rapprochement between the GOP base and the Roman Catholic Church to appeal to the Latinos who form a massively pro-Obama voting block and one that is constantly growing.
by stevesim on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 06:50:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: This crystallises my takeaway (4.00 / 4)
The Catholic church is not all that homogeneous across the country. There are Irish Catholics, liberal Catholics, Italian Catholics, Latino Catholics--and one really big group: cafeteria Catholics. Look at Biden and Ryan, for example.

Plus, the Catholic church is like the Tea Party in that it bends over backwards to insult and piss off everybody in sight.

by asdf on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 04:14:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: This crystallises my takeaway (4.00 / 2)
No, no, no. In the 'real existing Socialism' of the former East Bloc, nominal collective ownership was de-facto private ownership by the Pary nomenclature. Similarly, the de-facto Catholic Church is not the entire self-denominated population but the hierarchically organised clergy, and the believers with all the different roots and interpretations are just sheeple.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:33:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: This crystallises my takeaway (4.00 / 3)
the de-facto Catholic Church is not the entire self-denominated population but the hierarchically organised clergy, and the believers with all the different roots and interpretations are just sheeple.

That is certainly the view from Rome and from the various Archdioceses in the USA - an oligarchy of elderly, professedly celibate men. But, increasingly, the 'sheeple' are ignoring the shepherds. Plus, the growth of the Latinos in the church brings with it a growth of anticlerical views so common amongst better off Latino Catholics. Add to that the rate at which the second, third and fourth generations are marrying out of the faith and being educated out of simple belief and I get a much more favorable view through my rose colored glasses. :-)  

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 10:15:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: This crystallises my takeaway (4.00 / 2)
How about this: a further mobilization by the left of Latino Catholics by through a rapprochement with and revival of latin american liberation theology?

The hierarchy speaks for fewer and fewer American Catholics, and a schism seems more likely than any success by that group of corrupt incompetents in regaining control of their flock for a Republican agenda.

by Zwackus on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 11:42:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Electability (none / 0)
He was the one with the least reason for not voting for him. Yet he had really nothing by himself to want many people vote for him.
by oliver on Sat Nov 10th, 2012 at 06:04:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: This crystallises my takeaway (4.00 / 6)
Maybe.  A simultaneously more and less optimistic view is that the big Republican wave in 2010 let the Republicans lock in their temporary house advantage via redistricting, making it damn hard for the Dems to get a majority by relying on Blue and Purple areas.

It's not that Obama didn't win big, it's just that an even bigger win than before is necessary to really shift the House.

The Dems need to figure out how to take the fight to these hard-red districts, and gut the Republican party from the inside.  

by Zwackus on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 06:16:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: This crystallises my takeaway (4.00 / 2)
In Colorado, the Republican party controlled the redistricting process and managed to make it worse for themselves...
by asdf on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 04:18:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: This crystallises my takeaway (none / 1)
What I mean is that ostensibly Obama had no coattails for House candidates to ride on. That's a bad sign.

I distribute. You re-distribute. He gives your hard-earned money to lazy scroungers. -- JakeS
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 06:01:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: This crystallises my takeaway (none / 0)
Taking the statehouses in 2010 meant the GOP controlled redistricting.  Gerrymandering works.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere
by ATinNM on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 11:04:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: This crystallises my takeaway (none / 1)
Why John Boehner Has Gerrymandering to Thank for His Majority | Mother Jones
In November 2010, I reported that GOP control of all elements of state government in key swing states--including but not limited to Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania--could ensure a "Republican decade" in control of the House of Representatives. The Democrats' massive 2010 losses couldn't have come at a worse time for the party. Because the census was taken in 2010, GOP control of state


Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 12:53:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]
That's a big "if" (none / 1)
The Republicans could not nominate anyone else.
by jjellin on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 09:55:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: That's a big "if" (4.00 / 3)
To use Goldwater's phrase: They 'ran out of horses'. Of course this is exacerbated by their inability to accept anyone who produces insufficient foam. Perhaps the southern/rural/older white male base of the Republican party will drown on their own foam, creating a space for a new party to which the more moderate Republicans could move. But the fact is that the current Democratic Party IS that more moderate party. It would make more sense for many to just become Democrats.

Perhaps the collapse of the Republican Party as a viable national party would create an opportunity for a more progressive party to emerge on the left, taking the in progressive Democrats. But that is a lot to happen by 2016, let alone by 2014. The bright spot may turn out to be that many of the union organizations came to be familiar with the strategy, techniques and organization of OFA and can replicate that on behalf of more progressive candidates, such as Elizabeth Warren, Alan Grayson and others of that sort in 2014, laying the groundwork for nominating a better candidate in 2016.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 10:28:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: This crystallises my takeaway (4.00 / 11)
There were a few hints of a more conciliatory tone from the loony right during the night.

The Tea Partiers will hate that, but they're just a rentamob anyway. I think the GOP Grandees will forget to feed them now. They'll be angry for a while, but they'll either die of old age or drift into resigned indifference after that.

Meanwhile the phrase 'New America' has been spotted out of media captivity.

Problem is Obama is... Obama, i.e. a small-c conservative center-right placeholder with excellent media skills. Unlike the wingers he doesn't leave a trail of mucus behind him wherever he goes (Paul Ryan, I mean you) but he's hardly a progressive firebrand.

Meanwhile there will be a Bush waiting in the wings for 2016, by which time the Dems will have become boring and unsatisfactory and will need to be voted out in another episode of My Little Bipolar Democracy.

Then again we might see the Obama everyone voted for in 2008. That would be interesting if it happened - but I'm not holding my breath.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 06:42:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Plus, frankly, the astroturf front groups (4.00 / 8)
did not pay their way yesterday. The Koch Bros, et al, may have deep pockets, but they invested quite a few millions for a negative return. Not likely to fit their business plan.

I disagree with the Bush potential. That name is damaged beyond redemption in my opinion. At least in my area my Republican acquaintances cannot say or hear the word "Bush" without a grimace.

Just so everyone knows, I lost again quite handily - not at all unexpectedly. But I saw an upswell of interest and participation among young folks and Latinos with some understanding of the practical results of neoliberal and chauvinist policies. I see a change a-borning that the Obama/Clinton nexus may mean to co-opt, but it may be beyond their grasp - especially if the left gets there first - and I'm working on it.

paul spencer

by paul spencer (spencerinthegorge AT yahoo DOT com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 06:02:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Plus, frankly, the astroturf front groups (none / 0)
Hear here!

Especially the part about union backed organizations.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 10:34:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: This crystallises my takeaway (4.00 / 4)
i woke up on the couch with the tv still on after watching till 3 am, and the first words my ears heard were 'romney has ceded', just as a ray of 7.30 sunshine came right through the window.

lovely way to greet the day!

It's a fine line between homage, parody, and consumer opportunism. Jess Walter

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 01:43:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 6)
Colorado is first state to legalize recreational pot | Reuters

(Reuters) - Colorado became the first state to legalize the possession and sale of marijuana for recreational use on Tuesday, setting up a possible showdown with the federal government as backers of a similar measure in Washington state declared victory.

A third measure to remove criminal penalties for personal possession and cultivation of recreational cannabis was defeated in Oregon, where significantly less money and campaign organization was devoted to the cause.

Supporters of a Colorado constitutional amendment legalizing marijuana declared victory and opponents conceded defeat after returns showed the measure garnering nearly 53 percent of the vote versus 47 percent against.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 02:35:28 AM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 2)
Is Colorado Springs the new Amsterdam?

(Not the new New Amsterdam, mind you)

I distribute. You re-distribute. He gives your hard-earned money to lazy scroungers. -- JakeS

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 03:56:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
"Even old New York was once New Amsterdam"


-----
sapere aude
by Number 6 on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 04:30:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
Colorado springs?

That is a place thehe they still show Reefer madness as an documentary.

Isn't Boulder your liberal hippie paradise?

by IM on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:50:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 6)
Careful, now!  :-)

Yes, Colorado Springs is extremely conservative. Lots of retired military people, active military, evangelicals, cowboys, and just plain misguided. But it's more complicated than that, as it always is. For one thing, Democrats are only outnumbered about 2:1. And there is a strong libertarian component to our politics, a fact pointed out to me by a kid who had been hassled by the cops on the east coast for riding his bike in the wrong place. Here, "what cops?" is the theory. If you see a policeman here, you know there is something going on because otherwise they are invisible.

We already have "medical marijuana" which allows you to get it with doctor's orders, and there are plenty of tame docs who will give you the script if your elbow hurts or whatever. Reefer shops on every corner, seriously. Hundreds of them.

The idea is that by regulating and taxing it just like alcohol, it will move into the mainstream and reduce the problems of drug smuggling, etc. I have my doubts, personally, but that's what we voted for statewide.

So yeah, Amsterdam of the Rockies R Us.

by asdf on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 04:24:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
Washington State also voted to legalize.

Washington Star - Marijuana legalized in Colorado and Washington

by sgr2 on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 02:51:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 10)
Now, I'm well aware that I will have the honor to be the first woman Senator from Wisconsin.

And I'm well aware that I will be the first openly gay member of the United States Senate.

@TammyBaldwinWI

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 02:45:59 AM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 4)
Donald J. Trump (realDonaldTrump) on Twitter
This election is a total sham and a travesty. We are not a democracy!

Donald J. Trump (realDonaldTrump) on Twitter

We can't let this happen. We should march on Washington and stop this travesty. Our nation is totally divided!
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 02:48:36 AM EST
Money can't buy me democracy! (4.00 / 3)


It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II
by eurogreen on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 03:58:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 2)
The Donald marching. No, wait, the Donald and Rowe marching.
They should start in California and make it a reality series.


-----
sapere aude
by Number 6 on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 04:32:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I'd prefer a perp walk. (4.00 / 7)


It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II
by eurogreen on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 04:57:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 3)
Tea Party group unloads on Romney - The Hill's Ballot Box

"For those of us who believe that America, as founded, is the greatest country in the history of the world -- a `Shining city upon a hill' -- we wanted someone who would fight for us," said Jenny Beth Martin, National Coordinator of Tea Party Patriots, on Tuesday night.  

"What we got was a weak moderate candidate, hand-picked by the Beltway elites and country-club establishment wing of the Republican Party. The presidential loss is unequivocally on them," Martin said. 



*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:03:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 4)
The Most Over-The-Top Reactions To Obama's Win

Victoria Jackson said it more simply: "America died."

"I can't stop crying," she added.

Later: "Thanks a lot Christians, for not showing up. You disgust me."



*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:05:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
Brendan Steinhauser appears to be quoting ... Star Wars?
(Hoping there's a previous source for "this is how liberty dies".)

-----
sapere aude
by Number 6 on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:48:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
This crazy lady also wrote on Twitter:

Victoria Jackson (vicjackshow) a Twitteren

The Democrat Party voted God out and replaced Him with Romans 1.

Can someone enlighten me what the hell she means? (Isn't Romans 1 part of the Bible?...)

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.

by DoDo on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:50:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 5)
Guessing it's the end bit, Romans 1:27-32 (King James version)
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Basically "OMG gays".

-----
sapere aude

by Number 6 on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:56:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
Ah, so a casual Bible reference that turned the intended meaning on its head.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 06:01:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
Indeed, especially as Paul has just said
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes [...]

What follows has more of an Old Testament feel. Guess some of the writers had long contracts.


-----
sapere aude

by Number 6 on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 06:11:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
Let the blood flow like wine! Couldn't happen to a better bunch of bastards. Well, I shouldn't gratuitously insult bastards everywhere, but there it is.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 10:41:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 3)
The Hill  |  Conservatives lambast Romney, vow to take over Republican Party:

Conservative leaders on Wednesday lashed out at Mitt Romney, saying his attempts to paint himself as a centrist and hide his principles cost him the presidency.

They vowed to wage a war to put the Tea Party in charge of the Republican Party by the time it nominates its next presidential candidate.



Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere
by ATinNM on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 11:10:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
"Conservative leaders lash out at Mitt Romney for the only things he did that helped his chances of getting elected"

But, of course, they are the same ones who believe the polls were skewed, so they have not reason to BELIEVE that Romney was on course to lose more badly than he did before he tacked toward the center.

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.

by BruceMcF (agila61 at netscape dot net) on Sat Nov 10th, 2012 at 11:49:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Shades of the March on Rome (n/t) (none / 0)


If you only spend 20 minutes of the rest of your life on economics, go spend them here.
by JakeS (JangoSierra 'at' gmail 'dot' com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 10:14:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
It's not clear whether he meant "OMG, based on this outrageous result, obviously we have fallen into some sort of socialist nightmare, we are no longer a democracy!" or "WTF, this isn't a democracy, how come people didn't vote the way we paid them to vote???"
by asdf on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 04:27:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 2)
It's not clear whether he is capable of meaning.
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 04:32:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
Neither: he wrote this idiocy at a time Romney had a momentary slight lead in the popular vote but Obama already had a crushing majority in the Electoral College.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:37:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 9)
What now? Fox News can safely cease operations. Its work is done. Fox style 'fair and balanced' is the de facto standard for most US punditry. Unspoken but also firmly established is the notion that, regardless of how ridiculous a statement seems, if it is uttered by a billionaire it must be taken seriously.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 02:52:15 AM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 7)
Fox is giving the directions to the pundits with an article titled "Five ways the mainstream media tipped the scales in favor of Obama" (sorry guys won't link to propagandists). The five ways are:

1. The Media's Biased Gaffe Patrol Hammered Romney

Hahahaha...

2. Pounding Romney With Partisan Fact Checking

So facts are partisan now?...

3. Those Biased Debate Moderators

Isn't 2 and 3 redundant?...

4. The Benghazi Blackout

Never mind Fox's Benghazi lies out...

5. Burying the Bad Economy

Never mind Romney's spinning good employment numbers as bad numbers.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.

by DoDo on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:16:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 2)
DoDo:
So facts are partisan now?...

Facts have a liberal bias; well-known, er, fact :)

Europeans think a hundred miles is a long way. Americans think a hundred years is a long time.
by Bernard on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 06:03:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 5)
Also numbers. This biased Nate Silver...
by IM on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 06:13:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 5)
To me it looks, after a short survey of the intertubes, that the non-stop elections continue. Some are already discussing who will run in 2016.

Otherwise it will be business as usual. I don't see any big changes coming, but hope I am wrong.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 03:12:25 AM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 3)
I don't see how anything can change.

Congress won't pass a damn thing Obama wants.

The Senate will filibuster any improvements, including Harry Reid's idea to get rid of the filibuster.

Republicans are already talking about Obama having to "reach across the aisle"  which means that, if he wants to get anything done, he's gonna have to do exactly what they want and abandon any hope of doing anything he wants.

so we are where we were and will be so for another 4 years.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 03:31:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 9)
A rule change at the beginning of a new Senate can't be fillibustered.
by gk (g k quattro due due sette "at" gmail.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 03:39:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 10)
Rules of the senate are passed by simple majority at the start of each senate "session". If he does not write the filibuster into the rules this time around, that is not something that can be filibustered. It can be voted down, but not filibustered.
by Thomas on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 03:41:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 3)
Remember that the second term of a President is focussed on him setting up his "legacy." Which can either be a washout if he breaks a promise like "no new taxes" and then raises taxes, or it can be a political disaster like an impeachment due to unsuitable girlfriends, or it can be, in theory, some serious programs.

I would expect Obama to try to pull out of the Middle East, to solidify the health plan, and to bubble up the economy--not necessarily in that priority. Basically what Clinton tried to do except for the bimbo problem...

by asdf on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:14:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 2)
Start working on a strategy for the next one.

A lot of the senate races were not so much won by Democrats as lost by unbelievably incompetent Republicans.

-----
sapere aude

by Number 6 on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 04:50:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 5)
Republicans lost - which goesto show the power of the Tea Party - heed us or you'll lose, and we don't care if we lose some along the way to make our point.

The left takes its left for granted, because it can be taken for granted.

Remember Dune: he who can destroy the spice absolutely controls the spice. If you want to control the Dems, show that you can make them lose.

Wind power

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 06:18:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
Would have voted Obama this time.

Next time (if the Dem majority looks safe and no SCOTUS seats are up for grabs), I would probably say Jill Stein.

-----
sapere aude

by Number 6 on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 07:06:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
That decision depends strongly on strategic voting issues. The Electoral College insulates protest votes in a lot of cases, but not all. In Colorado, this year, a party line vote made sense. In California or Texas it might not.
by asdf on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:18:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 4)
That the Repubs lost because the Baggers didn't turn out is an empirical claim that should be tested against exit poll data. Because my impression is that they lost because they did heed the demands of the Baggers. And the Baggers only have < 50 % +1, and everybody else hates them.

- Jake

If you only spend 20 minutes of the rest of your life on economics, go spend them here.

by JakeS (JangoSierra 'at' gmail 'dot' com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 10:49:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 6)
There isn't an organized Left in the US.  What's worse is the number of talented politicians on the Left, willing to put in the decades of work to rise to a position of national political influence, equals one: Senator Bernie Sanders.  

There are plenty of states where a person could replicate Sander's success - North Dakota springs to mind.  It will take a someone with talent, drive ... "the eye of a tiger" .... and a willingness to strive over the long haul.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 01:23:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]
If you don't see any big changes coming ... (none / 0)
... I hope you are right. The only big changes that are feasible are bad ones.

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.
by BruceMcF (agila61 at netscape dot net) on Sat Nov 10th, 2012 at 11:51:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]
A shining example of democracy (4.00 / 8)
International observers blocked from polls in nine states - POLITICO.com

A group of international electoral observers has been blocked from polling places in nine states and has had to take precautions in the face of security threats.

"We had to tell our people, don't approach a polling place within 100 feet," said Ambassador Daan Everts, who is leading the delegation from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, a division of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. "We have had some unpleasant messages, euphemistically speaking."

by Katrin on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 03:34:59 AM EST
Quick, someone explain the fiscal cliff issue! (none / 0)
What are the positions of Obama and the newly Republican House?

I distribute. You re-distribute. He gives your hard-earned money to lazy scroungers. -- JakeS
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 03:54:29 AM EST
Re: Quick, someone explain the fiscal cliff issue! (4.00 / 2)
Fiscal Cliff.

What has happened in the US is, over the past 30 years, is Neo-Classical Economic policies have been introduced.  The intention was to spur economic growth and instead we got this:

and a Financial Bubble, a Real Estate Bubble, and FIRE sector plundering of the real economy.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 01:32:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Quick, someone explain the fiscal cliff issue! (4.00 / 2)
It would be better if the green line showed total tax burden; the marginal federal income tax rate is only part of what is going on... As soon as somebody starts talking about one specific part of the tax system, your flashing red "danger" lights should be on.
by asdf on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:21:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Quick, someone explain the fiscal cliff issue! (none / 1)
The tax burden ranges from a useless measure to a wildly misleading one in mature industrial economies, due to the size of their public sector income transfers and the way in which you can make accounting fuzzy by paying them out gross or net of taxes.

A more useful measure would be average total effective tax rate - dollars paid over dollars made - for the part of the income which is above a quarter million.

- Jake

If you only spend 20 minutes of the rest of your life on economics, go spend them here.

by JakeS (JangoSierra 'at' gmail 'dot' com) on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 09:35:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Quick, someone explain the fiscal cliff issue! (none / 0)
And what does this show? From this graph I can see no relation between the green line and the other lines.

Based on those data alone I must ask what you want to tell us.

by oliver on Sun Nov 11th, 2012 at 06:06:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Quick, someone explain the fiscal cliff issue! (none / 1)
That's the point:  it show there is no relationship between the Marginal Tax Rate, the Unemployment Rate, and the duration of unemployment.

Despite all claims otherwise.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Sun Nov 11th, 2012 at 07:19:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Quick, someone explain the fiscal cliff issue! (none / 1)
Corps and rich individuals basically want to pay no taxes at all.

The rest is rhetoric and propaganda.

It's clearly nonsense to suggest that tax rates have anything to do with employment levels. Empirically there's no evidence to support the suggestion that corporations are over-taxed. Most large US corps have huge cash reserves, and they're totally not hiring.

There is plenty of evidence to support the suggestion that corps will wage-gouge their employees to the maximum possible extent by 'cutting costs' - i.e. by firing employees and overworking the remainder, or importing cheap labour from overseas.

The challenge is to present this information in a memorable soundbite.

I've suggested 'spendthrift government' and 'spendthrift employers' before. There's doubtless a better option - but it's a start.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Sun Nov 11th, 2012 at 08:03:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Quick, someone explain the fiscal cliff issue! (none / 1)
The above graph is a place to start.  If you'll recall a discussion re: graphs we had some time ago you'll remember arguments with accompanying graphs - and other visuals? - are more persuasive than arguments without.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere
by ATinNM on Mon Nov 12th, 2012 at 12:17:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Its a fiscal hilltop. (4.00 / 3)
The Republicans want to drive the economy over an actual cliff, using the threat of a made-up cliff to justify the course change.

That is, the President wants a "balanced" approach, between driving on the road and driving over the edge of an actual cliff, which is to say that the President wants to drive the economy into a ditch, using the threat of a made-up cliff to justify the course change.

And that's the difference.

If it weren't to justify doing something foolish, they wouldn't all be pretending that a fiscal hill top, starting downhill on a gentle slope that can be easily reversed anytime in the first month, is a "cliff".

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.

by BruceMcF (agila61 at netscape dot net) on Sat Nov 10th, 2012 at 11:53:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
Molly Ball (mollyesque) on Twitter
Molly Ball ‏@mollyesque

Asked a Romney supporter here if he came into tonight thinking he would win. "I read Nate Silver," he said. "That son of a bitch."



*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 04:08:25 AM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
Reality is hard for Conservatives to deal with.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere
by ATinNM on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 01:33:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
Please. Reality is hard for any loser to deal with. And shooting messengers is hardly a rare phenomenon.
by oliver on Sun Nov 11th, 2012 at 06:07:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
Now what? I wonder if Obama can deliver on this:

Barack Obama's victory speech - full text | World news | guardian.co.uk

(Cheers, applause.) I want to thank every American who participated in this election. (Cheers, applause.) Whether you voted for the very first time (cheers) or waited in line for a very long time (cheers) - by the way, we have to fix that - (cheers, applause) - whether you pounded the pavement or picked up the phone (cheers, applause), whether you held an Obama sign or a Romney sign, you made your voice heard and you made a difference. (Cheers, applause.)

There was this, too:



*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.

by DoDo on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 04:23:38 AM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
Well, that is reasonable in general terms. The Electoral College system gives excessive power to the large, low population states in the conservative west. Democrats would naturally want to get rid of that system and go to a national popular vote...
by asdf on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:23:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
Hm? How is your comment connected to insufficient voting booths causing long voter lines and faulty electronic voting machines curiously stealing votes from Obama and Obama only?

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:53:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
The contrast is actually more about big cities compared to suburbs.
  • I have seen a policeman take the top off a voting machine in the middle of voting to "adjust" the counting machine. That was in Massachusetts, heavily Democratic.
  • I have seen a perfectly well behaved voting system in operation in suburban Colorado Springs.

The Electoral College is a structural system that gives way too much power to rural areas. Ratio is almost 4:1.
http://archive.fairvote.org/index.php?page=985
by asdf on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 10:16:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
Ok, I see that I'm not being very clear. Obama suggested that "we" would have to fix the voting system. Problems include lines, insufficient machines, questionable processes. Problems also include the basic system that skews the value of a vote depending on where you live, simply to maintain a quaint 18th century notion that farmers were the core of the economy and society and needed to be able to counterbalance the nasty socialist immigrants in the cities...

Open debate on the Bayh-Celler Amendment proposal [to abolish the Electoral College] finally reached the Senate floor on Tuesday, September 8, 1970 and was quickly faced with a filibuster. The lead objectors to the proposal were mostly Southern Senators and conservatives from small states, both Democrats and Republicans, who argued abolishing the Electoral College would reduce their states' political influence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_College_(United_States)#Bayh.E2.80.93Celler_Amendment
by asdf on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 10:23:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)


*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 04:26:54 AM EST
SADLY (4.00 / 12)
The governing by the criminally insane, and i do mean that literally, continues in the so-called "House of Representatives."

This does not bode well for the "Fiscal Cliff," for the next four years, for the rest of the planet. Especially with Obama's propensity to let the Thugs frame the issues, and his desire to "work with" (read: capitulate) to the deranged.

The various progressive movements, such as Occupy (and, and.. suggestions please) will be hard-pressed to keep the pressure on, as US austerity hits, and people are fighting to have an income.

The House results depress me no end.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 04:54:58 AM EST
On the Positive Side (4.00 / 2)
Esta noche tenemos el comienzo de la dominación de la voz latina en la política presidencial estadounidense. Viva el votantes latinos que van a cambiar la política de este país para el mejor!
     -- Joe Lambert, Head, Center for Digital Storytelling

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin
by Crazy Horse on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:16:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: On the Positive Side (4.00 / 2)


"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin
by Crazy Horse on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:18:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: On the Positive Side (4.00 / 2)
Sent to donors just before the victory speech...

>
> I'm about to go speak to the crowd here in Chicago, but I wanted to thank you first.
>
> I want you to know that this wasn't fate, and it wasn't an accident. You made this happen.
>
> You organized yourselves block by block. You took ownership of this campaign five and ten dollars at a time. And when it wasn't easy, you pressed forward.
>
> I will spend the rest of my presidency honoring your support, and doing what I can to finish what we started.
>
> But I want you to take real pride, as I do, in how we got the chance in the first place.
>
> Today is the clearest proof yet that, against the odds, ordinary Americans can overcome powerful interests.
>
> There's a lot more work to do.
>
> But for right now: Thank you.
>
> Barack

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:24:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: On the Positive Side (4.00 / 3)
And the Electoral Map from Burning Man, Black Rock Desert:



"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:29:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: SADLY (4.00 / 9)
Actually, jumping straight off the "Fiscal Cliff" would be probably the least austerity-imposing deficit reduction measure that is possible at the moment.  By expiring the Bush tax cuts, it would amount to a rather large increase in taxes on the wealthy, and it would cut a rather fair amount from the Pentagon.

It's a heck of a lot better than the various "Grand Bargains" being floated around out there.

And we will have to see how any further economic worsening will affect the social and media environment.  It might silence the Left, or it might empower it.  I'd like to be hopeful, but I'm also beaming with ecstatic happiness at the moment.  The Dems did far better in the Senate than most anyone expected, wiped the floor with Romney, and got rid of Michelle Bachmann, Alan West, and Joe Walsh.  That counts for something.

by Zwackus on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 06:23:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: SADLY (none / 1)
got rid of Michelle Bachmann

Nope, unfortunately.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.

by DoDo on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 09:57:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 10)
I could not muster any enthusiasm, nah, even, interest, for the election, and the results seem to suggest that nothing much will change.

I expect that the "fiscal cliff" crisis will be avoided in a way that does not please us lefties - a compromise between the US hard right and the US center right will be... to the right. DoD cuts (the most attractive part of the fiscal cliff) will be avoided, and social spending will be eroded in ways visible and less visible. Taxes will not be materially increased.

Gridlock will continue.

Wind power

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 06:12:16 AM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 3)
The importance of this election was Romney would have been a financial disaster for the US which would have been exported to the rest of the world.

Romney would also have been incapable of an intelligent, effective, response to the looming political crises and conflicts arising from the decrease of global grain stocks and increase in local food prices in the developing world.  

Mostly, then, Romney really was the worst choice, the lesser of two weasels if you wish.  

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 01:43:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 6)
Speaking of elections, Puerto Ricans just voted out of office (by a hair) the incumbent Republican-aligned Statehood-seeking and austerity-loving governor.

"Beware of the man who does not talk, and the dog that does not bark." Cheyenne
by maracatu on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 06:23:08 AM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 2)
But they did more or less vote for statehood... Would this referendum have consequences ? Especially if the new governor disagrees ?

Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères
by linca (antonin POINT lucas AROBASE gmail.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 06:33:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
None whatsoever.  Of course, a storm in a teacup will ensue, locally.

"Beware of the man who does not talk, and the dog that does not bark." Cheyenne
by maracatu on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 06:38:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 3)
Well,
The referendum, while non-binding, represents the first time a majority of Puerto Ricans have voted for statehood. Any application for statehood will need to be approved by Congress, which has never denied a petition for statehood.
There's always a first time.
by gk (g k quattro due due sette "at" gmail.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 01:13:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]
CNN via dKos (4.00 / 3)

I'm surprised that white women still majoritarily voted for Romney.

Wind power

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 07:27:06 AM EST
Re: CNN via dKos (none / 0)
wow.  3% of black women voted for Romney!!  I am surprised he got that many!
by stevesim on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 07:34:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: CNN via dKos (4.00 / 2)
Interesting stats because in 2016 it's likely the AA advantage will be lost to Dems.

If the vote is along the usual race(ist) lines the R candidate will have a clear popular lead - even if the Dems can find a woman for the ticket. Never mind a black woman. (Do they have any?)

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 07:40:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: CNN via dKos (none / 0)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Moseley_Braun

Former Senator.
Mostly sound on the issues, slightly too liberal for the mainstream. Has been out of the public eye for a bit.
Occasionally suffers from "speaking in anger" syndrome and strange "lefty" friends, like dictators.

-----
sapere aude

by Number 6 on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 07:51:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: CNN via dKos (4.00 / 2)
Interesting - but she's been mugged, had her home foreclosed, and been investigated for possible corruption.

I think the Right would love her. So I'm guessing no.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 08:01:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: CNN via dKos (none / 1)
How about US Representative Barbara Lee? I don't think she has any of those problems.
by sgr2 on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 12:33:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: CNN via dKos (none / 1)
Thanks.
Yes definitely. Man alive, those outspoken views and a Texan! Another stereotype dead.

-----
sapere aude
by Number 6 on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 12:51:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: CNN via dKos (4.00 / 2)
my guess would be warren.

her election and grayson's are both healthy signs, imo.

It's a fine line between homage, parody, and consumer opportunism. Jess Walter

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 01:54:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: CNN via dKos (4.00 / 3)
Warren and Grayson are interesting.  I could see either of them rising in the party and, eventually, making a run for the presidency.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere
by ATinNM on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 02:13:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: CNN via dKos (none / 1)
yup, my thoughts too. she's a bit cool, but intense, he's a firebrand with a (sometimes problematic!) tendency to OTT rants.

It's a fine line between homage, parody, and consumer opportunism. Jess Walter
by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 02:22:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: CNN via dKos (none / 1)
Side note: What happened to black men?
If there are 5% men and 8% women, that would indicate either that black couples have mostly girls, or that black men die at an incredible rate. Possibly also that many black men in jail and not voting.

Or is this simply a "registered voters" thing?


-----
sapere aude

by Number 6 on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 07:44:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: CNN via dKos (4.00 / 10)
The share of disenfranchised "former felons" in the black US population is incredibly high, and the US doesn't allow them to vote.

Jim Crow 2.0 if you ask me...

Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères

by linca (antonin POINT lucas AROBASE gmail.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 08:51:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: CNN via dKos (4.00 / 7)
Many young black men in jail. Many black men die young.
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 09:03:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: CNN via dKos (none / 0)
So the Republicans can get "enough" Latinos if only they can remove female suffrage for Latinas.

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.
by BruceMcF (agila61 at netscape dot net) on Sat Nov 10th, 2012 at 12:00:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
The post-election coverage I have been hearing on CNN International reminds me of the situation in Québec after the 1995 referendum there.  It was considered to be the last chance that the independence question could be won in a referendum because of the changing demographics.  That is going to be the case in the USA as well.  Unless the GOP can position themselves to be more attractive to the minorities, they will continue losing the presidency.  
by stevesim on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 07:37:41 AM EST
Bachmann has probably won (none / 0)
Michelle Bachmann (R-CH) is currently leading 179653 to 175716 with 279 out of 280 precincts reporting.
by gk (g k quattro due due sette "at" gmail.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 08:00:46 AM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 2)
In the epic battle of Math vs Derp, Math won.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.
by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 08:35:44 AM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
Twitter / NewYorker: Margaret Talbot: "If there ...
Margaret Talbot: "If there was a war on women this year, it looks like the women are winning." http://nyr.kr/RfWGw4  #Election2012


Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 08:43:37 AM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
Twitter / Glinner: It must be exhausting being ...
It must be exhausting being so consistently wrong pic.twitter.com/6L5Z7PzK (via @maxrothbarth)


Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 08:44:19 AM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 10)
In Election Day Olympics, US gets an F from the Russian judge - CSMonitor.com

The Russian government seemed to take particular delight in highlighting the "hypocrisy" of the US after a number of states, including Texas and Iowa, rejected the presence this year of international election observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The OSCE has observed US elections for decades, and the US supports its election observer teams in other countries, including Russia.

With just a whiff of sardonicism, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement last week, "It is strange why the US authorities, who often accuse other countries of being not democratic enough, prefer not to notice such violation of democracy in their own country."

He.

A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!

by A swedish kind of death on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 08:57:24 AM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 3)
(The Onion 2000, Bush-Gore)
Serbia Deploys Peacekeeping Forces To U.S.


-----
sapere aude
by Number 6 on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 09:29:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 8)
The US election was a wake up call for data illiterate journalists | Online Journalism Blog

So Nate Silver won in 50 states; big data was the winner; and Nate Silver and data won the election. And somewhere along the lines some guy called Obama won something, too.

Elections set the pace for much of journalism's development: predictable enough to allow for advance planning; big enough to justify the budgets to match, they are the stage on which news organisations grow up in public.

For most of the past decade, those elections have been about social media: the YouTube election; the Facebook election; the Twitter election. This time, it wasn't about the campaigning so much as it was about the reporting. And how stupid some reporters ended up looking.

Twitter / JeffreyFeldman: Big part of last night's results ...

Big part of last night's results is that one guy doing math made most of the media look like shills & charlatans.

Twitter / 417_AM: @JeffreyFeldman This always ...

@JeffreyFeldman This always happens; difference this time is that the shills made the mistake of calling the nerds out.


Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 08:58:25 AM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
subjective and nebulous professional/cultural sense of judgment

Now if we could exorcise those from politics ...

BTW, the GOP candidates graphic (70%, 60%, 63%) is outstanding.

-----
sapere aude

by Number 6 on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 10:09:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
it is isn't it

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 10:45:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 7)


"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin
by Crazy Horse on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 11:29:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 3)
one guy doing math made demonstrated that most of the media look like are shills & charlatans.

FIFY

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 12:30:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
Jonah Goldberg is wondering:
What kind of scholarship do we have to look forward to when, in the words of Krugman, "facts really do have a well-known liberal bias" and a difference of opinion over poll-weighting foretells the end of science?
by das monde on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 04:05:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 3)
Thank golly goodness we have Jonah Goldberg to defend scholarship.
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 04:18:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 4)
I suppose it is obvious that this is exactly the path that the financial world went down with those derivatives and other complex instruments based on mathematical models, probabilities, questionable assumptions, and lay people who didn't understand how they worked...
by asdf on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:30:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 5)
The Critique of Nate Silver's Pure Reason - Jonah Goldberg - National Review Online
Silver, a statistician, has been predicting a decisive Obama victory for a very long time, based on his very complicated statistical model, which very, very few of his fans or detractors understand.

Translation: "I know my readers are morons, so telling them they are in a wide majority who don't get it is not only a safe lie and will reassure them in their ignorance."

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.

by DoDo on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:48:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
A slight Dennis Miller (anyone still remember him?) feel to Goldberg's writing: "intense kerfuffle, Philistines, source of vexation, prodded, unleashed a diatribe, fumed, And on this rock."

"I am smarter than you. Look at the clever words I use."

-----
sapere aude

by Number 6 on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 04:59:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 4)
 
one guy doing math made most of the media look like shills & charlatans.

Nate Silver did not make the media anything! All he did was provide a shining example of competence as the basis for an obviously very invidious comparison.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 11:01:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Didn't watch any of the "fun" yesterday (none / 0)
Woke up this morning to watch Smallville thinking I'd eventually see the election court battles unfolding and I see ... of all things ... a clear cut Obama victory on yahoo/mail page. So I go to FOX to see how they're handling it, and it's like they're in mourning ... somebody's kindly grandmother died. Over on MSNBC they're playing "Power To The People".

Post Election Day ... funniest stuff around. Now on to Democracy Now! to see details of the carnage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wp4O7v5320

by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 10:10:03 AM EST
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (none / 0)
I haven't seen Amy Goodman this chipper in months. A great watch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wp4O7v5320
by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 10:23:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (none / 0)
Rove better join Madoff ... Big Money will be VERY DISPLEASED! Now it'll be very hard to pull off another 911 without getting caught.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wp4O7v5320
by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 10:27:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (none / 0)
But what will Ted Nugent (with all his guns and boastful bullshit) do now? Probably slither back under his rock till next time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wp4O7v5320
by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 10:59:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (none / 0)
In truth, I am based in Tallahassee, Florida this month. Because of jetlag, I watched TV only in early evening yesterday. There were no familiar clown stars on the Foxnews panel then yet, disappointingly. The mood was pretty sober already, no American smiles in your face. They even encouraged viewers to switch to local broadcasters more than once.

NBC was even harder to watch, with a big interactive map in the center of attention. And they called states for Obama more reluctantly than Foxnews at that time.

I checked TV at 12:30am. Foxnews already showed a TV drama.

by das monde on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 11:28:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (none / 0)
I checked TV at 12:30am. Foxnews already showed a TV drama.

That's just plain sad ... like the bully just got his/her ass kicked and needs to find a place to cry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wp4O7v5320

by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 11:37:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (none / 0)
On second thoughts, I may have watched a secondary Fox channel.
by das monde on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 07:41:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (none / 0)
By the Kami, there's more than one?

-----
sapere aude
by Number 6 on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 05:01:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]
What this reminds me of (4.00 / 3)
"Return of the King" ... Tolkein ... right after the ring goes into Mt Doom ... Sauron comes crashing down and the orcs run around witlessly cause they have no brains on their own. Waiting for Rupert's next instructions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wp4O7v5320
by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 11:54:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (none / 1)
Hey, that's where Drew lives.

keep to the Fen Causeway
by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 12:27:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (none / 0)
Did he show up here recently?
by das monde on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 07:43:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (none / 0)
Drew ? No, he's been here for years. Hasn't been on for a day or so, recuperating form the election, but he's in Open thread most nights

keep to the Fen Causeway
by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 02:54:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (none / 0)
Thanks. Drew must see this message, and if he is close to Tallahassee rather than Virginia, then something may happen.
by das monde on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 06:30:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (none / 1)
Drew J Jones
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 02:59:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (none / 0)
MSNBC is trying to hide their glee as they take a victory lap ... this, and the Giants winning the Series. What a year! Will the 49ers taking the Super Bowl next?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wp4O7v5320
by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 11:30:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (none / 1)
and what's even more astounding, is HOW Los Gigantes captured the "World Series."

I'll now step back a moment, to consider that over the past months, THE Twank seems to have mellowed, and isn't so brutally coarse and irritating as in the past, at least to me. I've even agreed with him/her on occasion, though of course pride didn't allow me to say it. I know s/he'll still cross the line now and then, but hey, me too. So, i guess, even i recognize Twank is here to stay.

That said, how about a rundown of Cali propositions and measures?

Go Niners.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 12:35:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (4.00 / 4)
Both sad and disappointed that Prop 37 didn't pass. It would have required GMO labeling on food products. Lots of money put up by Monsanto and Dow Chemical to defeat it, and I guess it worked, but who in their right mind wouldn't want to at least know what's in their food?
by sgr2 on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 03:01:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (none / 1)
Danke sgr2.

I gave an opening to Twank to tell us about "progressive" cali, where not only GMO labeling didn't pass (were there issues?), but prostitutes become sex offenders. Perhaps Twank could explain the complexities of Prop 30, which raises taxes to fund schools and universities.

Or the supermajority in the cali legislature, which makes the Thugs redundant.  But no.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:36:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (4.00 / 2)
At least 32 - banning unions using payroll-deducted funds for political purposes - failed.

A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!
by A swedish kind of death on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 05:56:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (none / 0)
Unions shouldn't be able to do that.

However I'll save my outrage on that point until after Citizens United is overturned and there are no private sector lobbyists left.

-----
sapere aude

by Number 6 on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 06:25:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (4.00 / 3)
As I understand it, it is optional, the right just wants to make it hard to use automatic transfers from many donors.

This source is of course partisan, but well:

What 32 Says, and What It Really Means

In reality, employee contributions to political campaigns are already voluntary under existing law.  The Constitution guarantees everyone that right. 

Prop 32 actually restricts that right.  It adds a new requirement that even voluntary contributions from teachers, nurses, firefighters and other union members must be accompanied by annual, written permission to use the funds.  And payroll deductions are made illegal by Prop 32, even if written permission is given by the employee.

It is also important to remember that no one can be forced to join a union and contribute to politics. Nearly all unions allow members to opt out of contributions to political candidates. Prop 32 makes it illegal to use payroll deductions to collect funding for any political contributions, even if union members specifically authorize those deductions in writing.



A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!
by A swedish kind of death on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 06:36:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (none / 0)
Thanks.
So just good old-fashioned anti-union stuff. Make it harder for Democracs certain people to collect political fund.

-----
sapere aude
by Number 6 on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 06:49:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (4.00 / 2)
I'll be in favor of requiring unions to obtain annual written consent for political contributions the moment I see the same demand made of (Super-)PACs vis-a-vis their donors and corporations vis-a-vis their shareholders. And personal contributions are capped at € 1.000, so billionaires can't buy the election.

- Jake

If you only spend 20 minutes of the rest of your life on economics, go spend them here.

by JakeS (JangoSierra 'at' gmail 'dot' com) on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 09:32:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (4.00 / 2)
" corporations vis-a-vis their shareholders"

...and customers! Whenever we buy something, we fund some reactionaries.

by Katrin on Fri Nov 9th, 2012 at 04:03:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (none / 0)
Well, there's not much else to buy for that kind of money.


-----
sapere aude
by Number 6 on Fri Nov 9th, 2012 at 05:42:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Didn't watch any of the "fun" (none / 0)
Which is the main reason to ban billionaires.

- Jake

If you only spend 20 minutes of the rest of your life on economics, go spend them here.

by JakeS (JangoSierra 'at' gmail 'dot' com) on Mon Nov 12th, 2012 at 02:32:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 3)
Juan Cole -
Top Ten Wish List Progressives should Press on President Obama

Clearly, Obama does not have progressive instincts, and prefers to rule from the center. This impulse is wrong-headed, since the center didn't man his campaign offices or make phone calls for him. [...] This tactic is why we don't have a single-payer health insurance plan. It is why Wall Street reform has consisted of half-measures. [...] When it comes to the arch-conservatives, for the most part, Obama has never learned to just say `no.'
[...]
2. The Citizens United and other such rulings of the Supreme Court that allow dark money to dominate our elections needs to be undone by legislation.
[...]
3. Banking regulation still needs to be strengthened.
[...]
7. [...] PATRIOT Act [...] These unconstitutional provisions must be repealed altogether. Moreover, Obama needs to come clean about the extent of Federal violations of fourth amendment rights, warrantless surveillance of citizens,[...]
[...]
9. Obama must give up the fiction that a Department of Justice review of assassination targets is the same thing as a court trial that ends in an execution.



-----
sapere aude
by Number 6 on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 10:20:45 AM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 4)
From Juan Cole:


It does not help that Obama will face virtually the same, obstructionist Tea Party House of Representatives that stymied him for the past two years. Instead of going to them and asking how he could make them happy, he has to threaten to make an all-out push to turn them out of office in 2014 if they continue to say `no' to everything.
Progressives will have to push Obama to the left if we are to get what we want. This situation is nothing new- FDR's New Deal would not have amounted to much if workers hadn't engaged in widespread wildcat strikes and if people had not resorted to civil disobedience.

As for positive accomplishments, here are a few we should pressure him and Congress on:

1. We need the tax break for wind energy to be continued. Uncertainty here is deadly to the industry. And it is facing competition from cheap fracked natural gas (which is itself an environmental disaster every which way from Sunday). Wind energy could easily provide a quarter of all the electricity the US produces annually, and it is a way of slowing the rapidly rising average temperature of earth's surface. Obama should deploy Republicans from high-wind states such as Iowa and Colorado to help make his case. It is to Obama's credit that green energy doubled in the US from 3% to 6% during his first term. But 6% is almost nothing, with Portugal, Germany, Scotland and others being far more ambitious. Scotland wants to be 100% green by 2020.

We're nummer one!

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 11:04:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 5)
One thing Obama can do is fill the 108 vacant Federal judge openings and staff the executive branch and bureaucracy.  The last Congress didn't fill these positions.  Carefully selected, these people could make a major difference in the coming decades.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere
by ATinNM on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 01:51:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
Does congress get a say in each case like for the supreme court?


-----
sapere aude
by Number 6 on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 05:11:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 2)
No, just like the Supreme Court. Only a "majority" of 60 Senators has to approve them, unless Reid finally does something about that.
by gk (g k quattro due due sette "at" gmail.com) on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 05:28:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Obama (R) (4.00 / 5)
City of Covington moves to paper ballots
There was an error Tuesday morning with the voting machines. If you voted for President Obama, the machine would list the Obama-Biden ticket as Republican. All votes that were cast Tuesday morning will be counted properly
by gk (g k quattro due due sette "at" gmail.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 10:41:42 AM EST
Re: Obama (R) (4.00 / 2)
There was also a voting issue in Tazewell.


-----
sapere aude
by Number 6 on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 11:03:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 4)
Twitter / mckaycoppins: ! RT @mattmfm Just how bad ...
! RT @mattmfm Just how bad was Rasmussen: CT -10, CO -7, IA -7, NH -7, WI -7, VA -5, NV -4, MI -4, FL -3, NC -3, MN -3, OH -2. Avg: 5.2% off


Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 11:05:35 AM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 2)
Rasmussen is a GOP propaganda outfit with a purpose to spread mis-information

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere
by ATinNM on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 02:10:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]
This is a long shot... (4.00 / 2)
Barack Obama stokes expectations of climate change action in second term | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Barack Obama's invocation of "the destructive power of a warming planet" in his victory speech has stoked expectation that he will act on climate change in his second term.

Environmental campaigners are already mobilising to hold the president to that promise.

They argued Obama's re-election, amid the devastation of superstorm Sandy, was a clear mandate for action on climate change, in stark contrast to Mitt Romney, who turned sea-level rise into a laugh line in the biggest speech of his political career.



It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II
by eurogreen on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 11:26:06 AM EST
Re: This is a long shot... (4.00 / 2)
... amid the devastation of superstorm Sandy ...

That was God voting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wp4O7v5320

by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 11:33:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: This is a long shot... (none / 1)
Also
freeing ourselves from foreign oil
although that could mean anything. (And has been around since the 70's)

-----
sapere aude
by Number 6 on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 11:51:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: This is a long shot... (4.00 / 5)
We have always been at war with Eastasia freeing ourselves from foreign oil.

Now where are we going and what's with the handbasket?
by budr on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 01:53:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Also on dKos (4.00 / 9)
most of theclimate denialists in thehouse were beaten, and most of the most vocal supporters of doing something about climate change were (re) elected.

LCV had a "flat earth 5" target list and they all lost.

Wind power

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 12:45:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: This is a long shot... (4.00 / 4)
I would not over-play this: it was one throwaway comment in a 20-minute speech. What got much more emphasis: the hero cult of soldiers, American exceptionalism on crack, thanks to volunteers and calls on them to stay active.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 06:24:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: This is a long shot... (none / 0)
Yes, the part about the most powerful military was disappointing if you bought the "Obama is progressive" shpiel.
If not it was expected and a way to undercut the GOP on their core issues. You might say it's required.

-----
sapere aude
by Number 6 on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 05:15:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Alabama: Amendment 4 (none / 1)
Ala. passes all state amendments except Amendment 4
Civil Rights (Amendment 4v) - 61% voted against this amendment

Remove language in the Alabama State Constitution relating to racial segregation in schools and the imposition of poll taxes.

by gk (g k quattro due due sette "at" gmail.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 11:49:24 AM EST
Re: Alabama: Amendment 4 (none / 1)
Does the Alabama State Constitution say today that there should or that there shouldn't be racial segregation in schools and imposition of poll taxes?

A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!
by A swedish kind of death on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 12:46:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Alabama: Amendment 4 (4.00 / 3)
I would have thought it obvious, but since you asked
SECTION 256

Duty of legislature to establish and maintain public school system; apportionment of public school fund; separate schools for white and colored children.

The legislature shall establish, organize, and maintain a liberal system of public schools throughout the state for the benefit of the children thereof between the ages of seven and twenty-one years. The public school fund shall be apportioned to the several counties in proportion to the number of school children of school age therein, and shall be so apportioned to the schools in the districts or townships in the counties as to provide, as nearly as practicable, school terms of equal duration in such school districts or townships. Separate schools shall be provided for white and colored children, and no child of either race shall be permitted to attend a school of the other race.

While we're on the subject, section 102 was annulled not too long ago (and I think took at least 2 attempts)
SECTION 102

Miscegenation laws.

The legislature shall never pass any law to authorize or legalize any marriage between any white person and a negro, or descendant of a negro.

This section has been annulled by Amendment 667.

by gk (g k quattro due due sette "at" gmail.com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 12:55:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 4)
Troy tea party mayor Janice Daniels recalled | Oakland County | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Troy's tea party mayor has been recalled.

With all 31 of the city's precincts reporting, the recall vote to recall Janice Daniels tallied 20, 763 votes -- for 52.23% -- against 18,993 no votes, for 47.77% of voters wanting to keep Daniels in office.

"Amazing," said John Kulesz, 42, a lifelong resident of Troy who co-organized the recall campaign. "We took a stand and did something we believed in, and so many people agreed with us," Kulesz said.



Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 12:20:49 PM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 2)
Republicans contemplate Romney loss as Florida tallies votes - US politics live | World news | guardian.co.uk

What just happened?

Josh Greenman @joshgreenman

In the state Mitt Romney governed, it's now legal to smoke medical marijuana at your same-sex wedding (so long as you buy health insurance).



It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II
by eurogreen on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 03:07:34 PM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
I read an article at the NY Review of books about Obama that got me thinking.  The article says that Obama is the only Democratic president since Truman that did not have to defend his accomplishments wrt the defense of the USA.

Is that why Obama is doing the drones, extra-judicial killings, illegal wiretapping, just so that the Republicans wouldn't have anything to pin on him? (apart from their pathetic attempts with the events in Benghazi)  It seems rather cynical abuse of power, if it's true.

Here's the article, although they only mention this in passing.

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/nov/22/politics-fear/

by stevesim on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 05:32:05 PM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 2)
Is that why Obama is doing the drones, extra-judicial killings, illegal wiretapping...

Well, the alternative explanation is that he just likes doing these things. Which is more scary?

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Wed Nov 7th, 2012 at 11:12:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 2)
"[...] if a man has you entirely at his mercy, then hope like hell that man is an evil man. Because the evil like power, power over people, and they want to see you in fear. They want you to know you're going to die. So they'll talk. They'll gloat.

[...]

So hope like hell your captor is an evil man. A good man will kill you with hardly a word."

― Terry Pratchett, Men at Arms

-----
sapere aude

by Number 6 on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 05:25:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
WRT drone strikes Obama would be a good man, but he did crow a bit after killing Osama. And, given the capabilities of the NSA and the Pentagon, and, considering the powers conferred on the POTUS by the 911 legislation, we are all at his mercy. So what does that say about his character?

Were Pratchett to be correct, which I doubt, (it is too simplistic), likely none of us would be here and there would be no 'population problem' WRT natural resources. And if you are entirely at the mercy of an evil man you would just suffer much more before you die. If you watched The Borgias I would direct you to the scene where the 'dirty tricks squad' of the King of France have been captured and are being tortured for information. The reward for telling where the gunpowder was stored was a quick end to suffering. Who is good and who is evil.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 10:43:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Its hard to tell whether its cynical or ... (none / 0)
... sincere, since he's been pro-war from long back (as he said when he spoke out against the Iraq invasion, he's not anti-war, just anti-"dumb war").

But it surely would make it easier to pursue that policy knowing that it would win him more votes toward his right than it would cost him toward his left.

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.

by BruceMcF (agila61 at netscape dot net) on Sat Nov 10th, 2012 at 12:03:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Brilliant Election Synopsis (4.00 / 2)
Rachel Maddow, of course

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin
by Crazy Horse on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 01:16:48 AM EST
Re: Brilliant Election Synopsis (none / 0)
'Specially for Yurpeen who haven't seen her much, these 16 minutes are simply captivating.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin
by Crazy Horse on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 02:02:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Brilliant Election Synopsis (none / 0)
that was good

keep to the Fen Causeway
by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 08:21:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Brilliant Election Synopsis (none / 0)
amen, i don't throw Brilliant around lightly.
she's simply amazing here.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin
by Crazy Horse on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 10:45:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 3)
Barack Obama's second-term Cabinet - POLITICO.com Print View

President Barack Obama plans an extensive shuffle of his West Wing and Cabinet, with White House chief of staff Jack Lew most likely headed to Treasury and former Sen. Chuck Hagel, a moderate Republican, under consideration for secretary of defense, administration insiders said.

Planning for a second term has been under way for months, with Lew and Pete Rouse, the counselor to the president and Obama's internal management guru, preparing lists of possible promotions and nominations. The staff process has been gossiped about by the staff, but details have been kept secret, even from insiders.

From what I can see, it looks like business as usual.

A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!

by A swedish kind of death on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 06:37:42 AM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
I'll be interested to see if Clinton stays as Secretary of State.  She has done a terrible job, but she wanted to leave, some say to prepare herself for a presidential run in 2016, and did not want to be associated with Obama' s "leftist" policies.   With the electorate showing a penchant for his policies, she might reconsider.

She would make a terrible president because she is at heart, a Republican.

by stevesim on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 06:50:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
Keep your friends close ...

Any chance of getting Joe in 2016?


-----
sapere aude

by Number 6 on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 07:45:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 2)
He'd be 74 in '16.  Not impossible.  Asking a lot.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere
by ATinNM on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 11:19:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 6)
Montana Quietly Passed a Measure That Says Corporations Aren't Humans | Motherboard

There's one big, but overlooked, development from the election last night: In Montana, a referendum to state that corporations don't have constitutional rights has unofficially passed by a 75 percent to 25 percent margin. Initiative number 166 stated that "corporations are not entitled to constitutional rights because they are not human beings," and thus is a blow to the Citizen's United ruling that helped make this presidential election the most expensive one ever.

Montana has been a leader in trying to buck Citizen's United, the 2010 Supreme Court ruling that equated money with free speech and allowed corporations to contribute unlimited amounts of money to campaigns through super PACs. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a ruling by the Montana Supreme Court that limited political spending in state and local elections. That ruling, which came without a hearing as liberal justices wanted, only strengthened Citizen's United, but now Montana's voting populace has fired back.



Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 07:50:28 AM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
Montana Quietly Passed a Measure That Says Corporations Aren't Humans | Motherboard
It's unclear right now what will happen next. While the initiative states that corporations are not human beings and thus don't have constitutional rights -- Citizen's United was based on an interpretation of the First Amendment -- any changes to spending rules in state and local elections are likely to wind up in the Supreme Court again, which may or may not prompt an actual review of Citizen's United. (Some folks think that the Supreme Court is finally ready to take another look at what has become one of its most controversial rulings in ages, especially now that the election is over.) But one thing is for sure: In Montana, unlimited corporate spending on elections is resoundingly unpopular.

Interesting.

How does the referendum fit legally? Is it just a statement of popular opinion?

A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!

by A swedish kind of death on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 08:07:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 2)
Little to Show for Cash Flood by Big Donors - NYTimes.com

The biggest single donor in political history, the casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson, mingled with other Romney backers at a postelection breakfast, fresh off a large gamble gone bad. Of the eight candidates he supported with tens of millions of dollars in contributions to "super PACs," none were victorious on Tuesday.

And as calls came in on Wednesday from some of the donors who had poured more than $300 million into the pair of big-spending outside groups founded in part by Karl Rove -- perhaps the leading political entrepreneur of the super PAC era -- he offered them a grim upside: without us, the race would not have been as close as it was.



Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 09:30:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
Romneyworld reckoning begins - James Hohmann and Anna Palmer - POLITICO.com

Advisers to Mitt Romney insisted Wednesday that they were surprised by the scale of their loss to President Barack Obama, while big-time GOP donors griped about the campaign's unflinching confidence in the final stretch.

As results began to stream in Tuesday night, prominent Romney supporters in Boston tried to stay positive, reassuring themselves that there was still a path to the White House. But dejection quickly turned to anger a day after an Electoral College rout that shocked many who had heard self-assured projections about voter enthusiasm and turnout in private conference calls and meetings in the campaign's final stretch.



Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 09:31:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Adelson should have known... (4.00 / 3)
You don't win by gambling. You win by owning the casino.

... Oh.

It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II

by eurogreen on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 09:41:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Adelson should have known... (4.00 / 2)
True :)
You can also win by doing catering and services, i.e. owning media and advertising companies.


-----
sapere aude
by Number 6 on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 09:55:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Adelson should have known... (4.00 / 3)
Or selling the service of telling billionaires where to spend there money. Rove did well this year.

A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!
by A swedish kind of death on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 03:43:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Amazing. (none / 1)
The federal level can't interfere at state or local level to ensure that (national) elections are held in a free, fair and uniform manner.

But they can force campaign finance down the throats of the states, right down to dog-catcher level, apparently.

It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II

by eurogreen on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 11:24:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Amazing. (none / 0)
Federal government could use the Voting Rights Act both to force the states into equal opportunity to vote and to prosecute those who violated the VRA.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere
by ATinNM on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 11:34:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
Oops, certain interests bough the Federal government but forgot about some (small and insignificant?) states.


-----
sapere aude
by Number 6 on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 09:05:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 3)
Jon Stewart Gleefully Rips Into Fox News Election Coverage: `There Was An Avalanche On Bullsh*t Mountain' | Mediaite
Jon Stewart recapped all the big news from last night's election, but saved his harshest criticisms for Fox News, Karl Rove, and in particular, five fateful minutes of the network in near-pandemonium after Ohio was called for President Obama that Stewart predicted would live on forever.


Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 09:46:09 AM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Donald Trump threatens to move to Canada

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/07/politics/us-election-bluster/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

Talk about ruining a country

by stevesim on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 10:56:18 AM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
Would it balance out Shatner?

Cohen, the immigration lawyer, said that though the calls inquiring about Canadian citizenship will continue for the next few months, he feels Americans are simply too loyal to leave the country they love.

"I've had Americans tell me this: When your national anthem plays, the hair on their arms stands up, and that's not like most people in the world," he said.

Scary. Shades of USSR or North Korea.


-----
sapere aude

by Number 6 on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 11:14:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (4.00 / 2)
I didn't understand that -- Americans get goosebumps listening to the Canadian national anthem?  
by stevesim on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 11:25:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
He means Americans and the American Anthem.

I distribute. You re-distribute. He gives your hard-earned money to lazy scroungers. -- JakeS
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 11:27:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
I know what you mean, weird use of "your".


-----
sapere aude
by Number 6 on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 11:34:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
oh, ok, thanks guys.
by stevesim on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 11:37:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
Nevermind that Canada already has something even more broad than the Obamacare he rails against...

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 01:14:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
Upon checking: no, stevesim, Trump did not threaten to move to Canada. The wave of would-be immigrants to Canada and Trump's bluster about a march on Washington are separate stories in the same article.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 01:18:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
Must Read:  Inside the Secret World of the Data Crunchers Who Helped Obama Win:

That data-driven decisionmaking played a huge role in creating a second term for the 44th President and will be one of the more closely studied elements of the 2012 cycle. It's another sign that the role of the campaign pros in Washington who make decisions on hunches and experience is rapidly dwindling, being replaced by the work of quants and computer coders who can crack massive data sets for insight. As one official put it, the time of "guys sitting in a back room smoking cigars, saying `We always buy 60 Minutes'" is over. In politics, the era of big data has arrived.

This is where campaigns are headed.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 01:19:16 PM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2012/11/08/mitt-romney-planned-boston-harbor-fireworks-s how-that-was-scotched-election-loss/qmgtVKPq4zNnDyb9FbLWeJ/story.html

Wow, I guess they were pretty confident...

by asdf on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 02:09:52 PM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
Mitt Romney also had a website planned in case he won, and it went live by mistake

http://www.20min.ch/ro/news/dossier/electionsusa/story/Site-du--president--Romney-mis-en-ligne-11301 716

by stevesim on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 02:39:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
But the best story is this: Obama Writes Concession Speech, Romney Does Not (November 6, 2012)
Obama said late Tuesday in an interview with Denver television station KDVR that he had prepared both a victory speech and a concession speech for election night.

"You always have two speeches prepared because you can't take anything for granted," Obama said. Romney on Tuesday told reporters he has only prepared a victory speech.

On the other hand, Romney, who was spending the night in Massachusetts, said he had only written one speech.



I distribute. You re-distribute. He gives your hard-earned money to lazy scroungers. -- JakeS
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 02:49:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
That's why he lost ...

ya don't mess with the wrath from high atop the thing.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 03:28:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
this is part of the Law of Attraction type thinking -  don' t imagine negative outcomes and then they won't happen.  
by stevesim on Fri Nov 9th, 2012 at 03:09:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 0)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/08/jeff-brucculeri-traffic-romney-supporters-canada_n_2094572. html?utm_hp_ref=media
by asdf on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 04:11:52 PM EST
Re: Obama Wins - Now What? (none / 1)
Outside spenders' return on investment - Sunlight Foundation Reporting Group

Tuesday's elections produced some big winners -- and some really big losers -- whose names never appeared on any ballot.  After outside groups spent more than $1.3 billion in independent expenditures to influence the outcome of the election, we now get to see just what all that money bought them -- or didn't.

Turns out some of the smart money wasn't so smart after all when it came to making political bets. This year, the pro-business GOP Crossroads fundraising combine and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce weren't as good at picking winners as the labor movement, which appears to be one of the surprise winners of Election Day.



Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 04:21:37 PM EST
oh yuck (none / 1)

Now hug a Republican?

FFS.

Wind power

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 05:04:33 PM EST
Hug a hoodie (4.00 / 2)


I distribute. You re-distribute. He gives your hard-earned money to lazy scroungers. -- JakeS
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 05:06:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Hug a hoodie (none / 0)
Good stuff (the website).
I thought I was done with lolcats and they drag you back in ...


-----
sapere aude
by Number 6 on Fri Nov 9th, 2012 at 05:48:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Hug a sick kid (4.00 / 3)


I distribute. You re-distribute. He gives your hard-earned money to lazy scroungers. -- JakeS
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Nov 8th, 2012 at 05:07:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Obama Wins - Now What? | 218 comments (218 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)


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