Other Political Thoughts
Just random bits, in which, yes, I play 'the game'. The same game I'm bitching about in my previous post.
This does make me a bit hypocritical, but hey - nobody is perfect. :P
* The best thing for Obama right now may *may be* a Republican Controlled Congress.
Democratic Presidents tend to perform the best when they can work with a Republican Congress and strike out for moderate territory. Further, it gives the Democrats something to work against heading into the 2012 presidential election, and they can strike back out as the 'underdog'.
The man is smart, but as President he has been timid, legislatively. Maybe he hasn't wanted to rock the boat with his own party. That's going to work against him - and he's going to have to find his back bone for the next two years - especially if he has to work with a GOP controlled congress. And that will help him in the run up for 2012.
Plus, any further problems could be pinned back on the GOP instead of falling directly onto the Democrats.
Will they be happy if they lose one, or both houses of Congress? Nope. But I think that it may be the best thing that could happen for the Democrats as they get ready for 2012.
* Yes, this is a referendum on Obama, and yes, it will come out strongly against him and yes, every conservative voice from Rush to Glen Beck to Fox News will crow for months about how the people don't like Obama.
It's going to happen. If you are a democrat and/or Obama supporter - just be ready for it. And they may be right. Is it fair? I don't think so, because Obama inherited most of the issues that the right is using against him - but then, EVERY president inherits issues, and they've got to deal with it.
Problem is, people aren't really mad at the democrats. They're mad at politicians, regardless of party affiliation. That'll be the truth of the 'referendum'. The real question shouldn't be 'Do you approve of Obama' but rather 'Do you approve of the current political environment'. People will be answering with a resounding 'NO!'
* Republicans, if they win the house and senate, will not repeal healthcare.
Despite whatever rhetoric they're spewing now, they will not move to repeal healthcare. The left and moderates would destroy them if they did, and they know it.
Instead, I'd expect to see a series of bills to modify healthcare. It's the smarter way to do it, and we could end up with a better system than what originally passed. I think that would provide the most 'win' for both parties.
Of course, I could totally be wrong there. :P
This does make me a bit hypocritical, but hey - nobody is perfect. :P
* The best thing for Obama right now may *may be* a Republican Controlled Congress.
Democratic Presidents tend to perform the best when they can work with a Republican Congress and strike out for moderate territory. Further, it gives the Democrats something to work against heading into the 2012 presidential election, and they can strike back out as the 'underdog'.
The man is smart, but as President he has been timid, legislatively. Maybe he hasn't wanted to rock the boat with his own party. That's going to work against him - and he's going to have to find his back bone for the next two years - especially if he has to work with a GOP controlled congress. And that will help him in the run up for 2012.
Plus, any further problems could be pinned back on the GOP instead of falling directly onto the Democrats.
Will they be happy if they lose one, or both houses of Congress? Nope. But I think that it may be the best thing that could happen for the Democrats as they get ready for 2012.
* Yes, this is a referendum on Obama, and yes, it will come out strongly against him and yes, every conservative voice from Rush to Glen Beck to Fox News will crow for months about how the people don't like Obama.
It's going to happen. If you are a democrat and/or Obama supporter - just be ready for it. And they may be right. Is it fair? I don't think so, because Obama inherited most of the issues that the right is using against him - but then, EVERY president inherits issues, and they've got to deal with it.
Problem is, people aren't really mad at the democrats. They're mad at politicians, regardless of party affiliation. That'll be the truth of the 'referendum'. The real question shouldn't be 'Do you approve of Obama' but rather 'Do you approve of the current political environment'. People will be answering with a resounding 'NO!'
* Republicans, if they win the house and senate, will not repeal healthcare.
Despite whatever rhetoric they're spewing now, they will not move to repeal healthcare. The left and moderates would destroy them if they did, and they know it.
Instead, I'd expect to see a series of bills to modify healthcare. It's the smarter way to do it, and we could end up with a better system than what originally passed. I think that would provide the most 'win' for both parties.
Of course, I could totally be wrong there. :P