Slog Comments
President Obama Just Hit Congress with the Mandate Stick
1
If Bush could claim a mandate in 2004 with 284 Electoral College votes and a 3.5 million popular vote margin, Obama should be just fine with a 303 EC count and 3M (as of today) popular lead. Anyone remember, "I earned capital in this campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it"?
3
@2 um, dude, we picked up seats in the Senate.
Right now Patty Murray could block any extension of the Bush Tax Giveaways with a secret hold. And they would expire.
Boo ya!
Right now Patty Murray could block any extension of the Bush Tax Giveaways with a secret hold. And they would expire.
Boo ya!
4
Besides, Patty already called Boehner's bluff by signaling she is quite willing to put a secret hold on any extension of the Bush Tax Giveaways to the Rich.
I'll survive without the $5 per paycheck.
I'll survive without the $5 per paycheck.
6
How is it shitty that Obama didn't take questions from a corporatized news media that has been completely, utterly, and thoroughly delegitimized?
These mendacious little assholes have been lying through their teeth for the past decade. There's not a decent reporter in the entirety of traditional media. Fuck em.
These mendacious little assholes have been lying through their teeth for the past decade. There's not a decent reporter in the entirety of traditional media. Fuck em.
8
Filibuster reform is a nuclear option away. Reid just has to invoke. Majority vote. No Lieberman shit-head to piss on it. Doesn't even need the two independents. Then, once passed, it can be invoked continuously for majority.
I expect Reid to either threaten to drop the bomb to prevent filibuster attempts on key legislature or to lay down that hammer. Americans aren't going to care. Rules of cloture too obscure. Americans think of filibustering as Jimmy Stewart (which would still be allowed under nuclear option, of course).
I expect Reid to either threaten to drop the bomb to prevent filibuster attempts on key legislature or to lay down that hammer. Americans aren't going to care. Rules of cloture too obscure. Americans think of filibustering as Jimmy Stewart (which would still be allowed under nuclear option, of course).
9
He doesn't have to answer another question from the "media" again. He should only answer questions from actual journalists when the mood strikes him.
He should have a ton of press conferences just like that, though, keep messaging, without taking soundbite tv filler questions from the "media".
He should have a ton of press conferences just like that, though, keep messaging, without taking soundbite tv filler questions from the "media".
10
Who f'n cares what Boehner thinks?
That ultra-loser couldn't even make it through Navy basic training?????
Drunken halfwit, anyone who even bothers to pay any attention to him is dimwitted....
That ultra-loser couldn't even make it through Navy basic training?????
Drunken halfwit, anyone who even bothers to pay any attention to him is dimwitted....
12
http://phys.org/news/2012-11-australian-…
700,000 new galaxies ---- WTF???
I can't even locate my own...
700,000 new galaxies ---- WTF???
I can't even locate my own...
13
The Pres just announced (multiple MSM sources) that he will veto any extension of Bush Tax Cuts for top 2 percent.
@11 you really don't get what a secret hold is or how the Senate works, do you? Seriously, retake Civics.
@11 you really don't get what a secret hold is or how the Senate works, do you? Seriously, retake Civics.
14
@8, all true.
The problem then is the House that just watched the Senate lose seats to the Dems. Do enough Republicans choose to solve problems or do they take a beating for two years and then make that choice?
The problem then is the House that just watched the Senate lose seats to the Dems. Do enough Republicans choose to solve problems or do they take a beating for two years and then make that choice?
16
@11, sadly, Will is correct.
The "60" number is in a Senate Rule. The Senate (and House) routinely decide on their Rules by simple majority voting.
They could pick 51, or 53, or 70, or whatever the majority of Senators agree to use.
The "60" number is in a Senate Rule. The Senate (and House) routinely decide on their Rules by simple majority voting.
They could pick 51, or 53, or 70, or whatever the majority of Senators agree to use.
17
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/08…
Contrary to GOP talking points, if majority Americans supported ANY directional moves by Congress it was in the Democrats direction. Even though the GOP holds more seats, it is due to gerrymandering. Democrats got most the votes.
Contrary to GOP talking points, if majority Americans supported ANY directional moves by Congress it was in the Democrats direction. Even though the GOP holds more seats, it is due to gerrymandering. Democrats got most the votes.
19
@17 is correct. America is blue, it just has a thin veneer of red filter on top. So is Texas, actually.
20
@19 I'll believe it in Texas when more Democrats start winning actual policy making state-wide races. It doesn't matter if it is full of our allies. Unless they are voting for us, they are part of the problem.
21
@20 - fwiw, the Republicans lost their supermajority in the Texas Senate and the Texas House on Tuesday. Change it is a'coming.
22
@ 16, the Senate needs to agree to get rid of the filibuster. I'm not so sure they want to do that because, some day, Dems are going to be the minority again.
I think they'll wait to see whether the new Senate GOP is finally going to play ball, before changing or eliminating the cloture rule.
I think they'll wait to see whether the new Senate GOP is finally going to play ball, before changing or eliminating the cloture rule.
23
@16, Except that the vote to change the rules by "simple majority" is itself susceptible to filibuster, thus @11 is correct that reform would require 60 votes.
24
Who are the people standing behind the president? And why are they so damn important that they need to be on risers for maximum photo op goodness?
25
I'd for once just like them to actually enforce the filibuster, rather than cave at "the threat of a filibuster." Seriously, introduce important policy and then make them actually waste American time by reading from the phone book. Let them explain why drastic economic changes are coming, but they felt it was more important to read names Quinn to Stan, you know, on principle.
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