StrangeSox

A positive note from last night: Prop 23 failed in California. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/11/03/03...-law-13439.html

Also there will be no African Americans in the next Senate. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20021572-503544.html

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Nov 3, 2010 -> 09:31 AM) So, Balta is claiming they're the most productive Congress since Johnson, you guys are claiming they weren't able to get anything done because the GOP somehow stopped them. Which is it? They were able to get a lot done because of the strong majorities they had. That doesn't change how hard the Republican minorities in both sides of Congress tried to block just about every single thing. Seriously, this is easily quantifiable. This article is from last March. Since they lost control in 2006, they've more than doubled previous obstruction measures.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Nov 3, 2010 -> 09:29 AM) I don't see how this is true. You have a 50/50 Congress. Either they all sink together or they all get something accomplished. Either way, there won't be an entire country pissed that the party in power "did nothing" despite having 2 years to do it, because there is no one party in power who takes all the responsibility. Obama might be the scapegoat, but not anyone in Congress. I agree with what you're saying here. Two years, no improvement? Blame it on the Democrat President and Senate. Not enough time to fix all the bad policies enacted in 2009 and 2010. Two years, economic recovery? Pat yourself on the back, that watershed election in 2010 was the turning point. Without the courageous Republicans, we'd be over 10% unemployment! I'd say the Democrats would do the same, but they're generally too weak, ineffectual and just bad at messaging.

Going by obstructionist measure counts, yeah, they're the worst. By a long shot. edit: The point of two political parties isn't for the minority party to break Congress as much as possible so nothing gets done. Or, at least it shouldn't be, if you want a functional government.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Nov 2, 2010 -> 07:18 PM) ah i see aqua-buddah is declared victorious in KY Stupid campaign strategy. "I did something stupid when I was young but was saved!" is a common narrative for evangelical Christians, which Kentucky is full of.

That, though I presume kap is more familiar with his f***tardary.

QUOTE (Brian @ Nov 2, 2010 -> 07:20 PM) Even though my side is gonna lose tonight, this puts a smile on my face. Time for the martyr complex.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Nov 2, 2010 -> 07:21 PM) ugh That's my reaction to any result of that race.

Nate Silver will be live-blogging the election returns and his models will be continually updated based on incoming data. http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2...election-night/ I'd love to see the algorithms they have for that.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Nov 2, 2010 -> 04:57 PM) [Those are parentheses.] {what are these guys called?}

Because if we continue down that path, we're all f***ed anyway. I liked the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear. Stop drawing my depressing cynicism of our political landscape back out. edit: Mind shaft Gap!

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 2, 2010 -> 05:04 PM) Why shouldn't they? The other side is going to cry it. Because s***ty, broken politics has gotten us to where we are now?

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Nov 2, 2010 -> 03:50 PM) If it didn't reference smoke detectors or batteries, I can easily see where people could think that. Yes, it could have been done intentionally by someone at the FD to give them plausible deniability while still getting across a political message. But, I still think that the voter was a little over-sensitive. Partisans on both sides are looking for reasons to cry "election fraud!"

Where does the "100 ft" start? There were definitely signs within 100 ft to the entrance of my polling place, but probably more than 100 ft from the actual polls and polling room.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Nov 2, 2010 -> 04:49 PM) I believe the Tea party crowd would be fine as long as it isn't a retread like Newt, Huck or Palin. GOP on a shorter leash with a lot of voters than the Dems are. yeah, they both suck, but if the Repubs go right back to business-as-usual when they get power again, they will lose it for a long, long time. Huh? She's one of the loudest voices of the segment of the tea party crowd actually getting people nominated and elected.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Nov 2, 2010 -> 03:53 PM) Kinda like Obama? Although yeah, I would like for him to wait his turn, but not waiting behind Obama. As far as a Repub that may contest in 2012, I hope to god it isn't Palin or Huckabee. I would prefer Pawlenty, however you spell it. Or give me the fatman from Jersey. He would bring some fiscal smackdown to the office, for sure. QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Nov 2, 2010 -> 04:09 PM) Obama had 2 years under his belt before he ran. The problem with Marco Rubio is that campaigning for the 2012 presidential election basically starts in January/Feb of next year. He's have to be in office one day, then start gearing up fro the presidential primaries. Exactly. Obama announced his campaign in February 2007. Obama's time as a dedicated Senator was short, but it was at least a couple of years. Rubio would have a month. edit: not saying I doubt a Rubio run because a lack of Federal experience, just that the timing wouldn't exactly line up. It'll be interesting/incredibly painful to watch what happens in the Republican primaries. Just going on this election, we'll probably see the more sane part of the GOP start to coalesce around one candidate with the Tea Party people (Palin Beck etc.) supporting another. Ultimately, only one will get the nomination and it'd be interesting to see what the Palin crowd would do if it wasn't their person.

Silver with a complex, but seemingly useful breakdown of all races, poll closing times and current model projections: http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/02/3225/ edit: just for an update, 538's latest projections give the Dems a 94% chance to hold onto the Senate, but only a 17% chance to retain control of the House.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Nov 2, 2010 -> 03:16 PM) Not even state races, or things that don't quite vote like Sec of State or Attorney General? How closed minded. Even I voted for two people with a D after thier name today. If you straight party ticket the whole ballot, you are just lazy and do a disservice to your right to vote. I generally agree with what you're saying here. I don't have an objection a priori to voting for a Republican for some local or maybe even state-level offices. National is a different story. That said, I didn't vote for any R's today, but I didn't vote all D either.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Nov 2, 2010 -> 03:12 PM) I believe the GOP will quietly groom Marco Rubio for a Presidential run instead of your guy from Texas. After his victory today, he will rise like Obama did in popularity. Dems got the first black president, GOP may have the first hispanic president. I dunno, he would basically need to start running now, meaning he'd never really be much of a Senator. 2016 would make more sense, assuming a second Obama term.

A dentist!

What do you call someone who failed out of med school?

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Nov 2, 2010 -> 10:58 AM) Nice find. I can vouch for this. I was watching the game, and he didn't even break off the route. All he had to do was reach toward the ball, it literally landed within a foot of him. I can deal with some of the bulls***, but treating people like that (the restaurant owners), well, I'm glad I read that. Moss can take a hike. I thought that as well, seemed odd but the announcers didn't comment.

You missed the joke. edit: Corrupt Bastards Club = CBC Columbia Broadcasting Company = CBS she also used "complicit" as a noun yesterday.

Sarah Palin: CBS stands for "Corrupt Bastards Club" uhhh....