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Republican House Gains

By Jeralyn, Section Elections
Posted on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:26:00 PM EST
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The media is over-focused on the Republican's House gains. Republicans and tea-partiers aren't going to take the Senate, and as I opined early this morning, the House win is of limited duration and it will be tough for them to get anything of substance passed.

Republicans will make gains in the House and they will crow about it until January, but it will be empty posturing. The radical right won't get any serious legislation passed during the next two years. They'll have greater success at being obstructionist and blocking Democratic proposals, just like they've done the past two years, only on a bigger scale. It will backfire on them in 2012. We'll be in worse shape and the voters will rightfully blame them and boot them out.

It's pretty clear the Democrats will keep control of the Senate. The headlines should read, Tea Partiers Fall Short.

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    Republican House Gains | 78 comments (78 topical)

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    Exactly (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by glanton on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 10:24:06 PM EST


    Absolutely right, Jeralyn (5.00 / 3) (#9)
    by NealB on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 10:43:48 PM EST
    At the state level, where I live anyway, it looks pretty bleak. Wisconsin's going to have a Republican Governor with a Republican legislature. (Not to mention Feingold's loss.)

    Republicans will be doing serious damage here for the next few years. Nothing compared to the damage Republicans have done to states in the south and the non-coastal west since the end of the civil war, so Wisconsin's not so much to worry about.

    It's certainly not so much to do with teapartiers. 24 years ago a Wisconsin Democrat did it. Money was all it took for a Republican rich guy to buy another Senate seat this year.

    It took more than money. It took Doyle (none / 0) (#16)
    by Cream City on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:06:00 PM EST
    with that top story in the media this morning, on election day, of his dealings already on the hot-button issue of the interurban.  Terrible timing that galvanized the GOP vote even more, but just another awful move by the Dem gov to undercut any other Dems in the running for anything.

    Doyle lost the single largest group of workers in the state, the state workers -- 70,000-80,000 votes -- years ago with his terrible treatment of state worker Georgia Thompson, followed by his impulsive and desperately done fiat of pay cuts that ruined state revenue projections, too . . . and even lost the state a lot in federal funds that had to be returned for state employees who were to be paid by the feds but instead were forced to take the pay cuts, too.  Doyle's plan was that badly designed and implemented.

    And Doyle's and the White House's treatment of the only Dem candidate in the running for gov, only months ago, added to the debacle for state Dems.  We will see what will rise from the ashes, and may it finally not be Madison leadership of the party again.  

    At least I keep my mayor, my silver lining!

    Parent

    And MKE County is rid of Walker (none / 0) (#79)
    by NealB on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 10:19:34 PM EST
    .

    Parent
    3 Oregon Democrats re-elected to House. (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by caseyOR on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 10:54:51 PM EST
    The Oregonian has called the election for 3 Democratic incumbents: Earl Blumenauer, David Wu and Kurt Shrader are heading back to D.C.

    Peter DeFazio is in trouble. A vindictive hedge fund guy in NYC poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into ugly, ugly ads attacking Peter and supporting his opponent, Art Robinson. Two years ago Peter got around 80% of the vote. Robinson is sad in the same way Christine O'Donnell is sad. Clueless but dangerous.

    Hopefully, Peter pulls it out.

    Hasn't the GOP already stated its (5.00 / 3) (#31)
    by oculus on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:33:37 PM EST
    goal is to stop all Dem.-sponsored legislation and make sure Obama isn't reelected?  That's a "plan."

    Reid wins (5.00 / 2) (#34)
    by MKS on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:40:33 PM EST
    And Bennet may win in Colorado.

    And Meg Whitman loses...

    Moral of the story:  Pis* on Latinos and reap the whirlwind.

    Just heard Reid got (none / 0) (#37)
    by MKS on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:47:36 PM EST
    90% of the Latino vote. That seems too good to be true.

    Republicans cannot win the White House without Nevada.

    Angle ran the most anti-Latino ads possible.

    Parent

    Actually 2-1 Latinos for Reid (none / 0) (#40)
    by MKS on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:51:17 PM EST
    The GOTV in Nevada wins it.

    Rove was dispatched to Nevada to boost GOP GOTV--Rove knows the folly of dissing
    Latinos.....

    Parent

    I don't really know (none / 0) (#71)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 11:47:53 AM EST
    what the GOP plan is for Presidential elections after say 2016- I mean how do they get a bigger share of the latino vote without alienating the bigot vote?

    Parent
    Hispanics Put Reid Over the Top? (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by Dan the Man on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:47:40 PM EST
    Interesting comment in the WSJ.

    "preliminary exit polls from Nevada hold what could be an important clue: 16% of the Senate electorate today was Hispanic. Aides to Mr. Reid, the Senate majority leader, had said if that number was 15%  matching Hispanic turnout from 2008  he would defeat GOP candidate and tea party favorite Sharron Angle. The data show Mr. Reid won two-thirds of the Hispanic vote."

    Were all of the GOP gains in (none / 0) (#51)
    by hairspray on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 12:38:41 AM EST
    other states due to a low turnout amongst the young?  How can this whole thing change on a dime unless a large demographic stays home?

    Parent
    Well, wasn't it shown O didn't (none / 0) (#52)
    by nycstray on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 12:51:59 AM EST
    have coat tails in the 2008 primaries? and wasn't it CW that the youth vote could vacate this time around if he failed to deliver (no matter how short term)?

    I'm not surprised, but deeply disappointed . . .

    Parent

    Yep (none / 0) (#59)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 04:53:53 AM EST
    The O wasn't too much into party building. His voters just voted for him and left the rest blank.

    Parent
    Not sure where I saw it ... (none / 0) (#53)
    by FreakyBeaky on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 12:56:12 AM EST
    ... but the electorate this evening was way older and more conservative - 25% over 65 - than 2008 or 2006.  

    Why do these people want social security privatized?  Should they get their wish?

    KIDDING, PEOPLE, KIDDING.

    Parent

    I don't know (none / 0) (#73)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 11:51:30 AM EST
    I keep hearing how Obama needs to keep the government out of there medicare- maybe he should?! (Yes, its hard to take these people seriously when they argue for cutting government spending while the spending they hold sancrosanct- Medicare, Social Security, and Defense makes up more than 2/3rds of the budget).

    Parent
    Some of it was (none / 0) (#72)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 11:49:19 AM EST
    2006- was the exception- other than that the GOP over the last two decades has always done better in off-year elections because the youth vote is always lower.    

    Parent
    Of course it matters (none / 0) (#2)
    by jbindc on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 10:29:16 PM EST
    Chairmanships will now change hands - say hello to Lamar Smith as Chair of the Judiciary Committee.  The majority gets 2/3 of the budget for committees and the minority gets 1/3.  There will be a couple of thousand Dems out of work on the Hill come January.

    You also assume it's "limited duration".  On what do you base that?  With the redistricting that is going to take place, and more Democratic seats being lost, this could be the beginning of 20 years or more of Republican dominance.

    Could be, yes (none / 0) (#3)
    by andgarden on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 10:32:00 PM EST
    I need a drink.

    Parent
    Have a double: Paul Ryan (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by Cream City on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 10:35:55 PM EST
    will chair the House Budget Committee, so I read.

    And so, when it's time to raise the deficit ceiling, get ready for a fedrul gummint shutdown showdown.

    Parent

    shutdown already set up and spinning (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by nycstray on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 10:39:26 PM EST
    with full blame on Obama . . .

    we the people will continue to get trampled.

    Parent

    Sitting on my shelf is a bottle (none / 0) (#6)
    by andgarden on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 10:37:27 PM EST
    of blue label Stoli. That's 100 Proof.

    I just opened it.

    Parent

    What's your pleasure sir? (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by nycstray on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 10:37:24 PM EST
    If you were out my way I would suggest a trip up the road to the vineyards, sadly it looks like I can only pass you a virtual one :(

    Parent
    Here's what we have to look forward to (none / 0) (#8)
    by jbindc on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 10:41:52 PM EST
    Lamar Smith's possible agenda for the House Judiciary Committee

    Parent
    And other possible chairmanships (none / 0) (#10)
    by jbindc on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 10:44:06 PM EST
    Link

    Dear heaven - Candice Miller in charge of Homeland Security.

    Now I need a drink too.

    Parent

    You think now the Salahi's will be (none / 0) (#15)
    by Inspector Gadget on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:05:16 PM EST
    charged with something for their appearance at the State Dinner?

    Parent
    And don't forget (none / 0) (#27)
    by jbindc on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:26:58 PM EST
    The Republicans also get subpoena power, should they choose to use it.

    Parent
    I am quite confident the House GOP (none / 0) (#29)
    by oculus on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:30:44 PM EST
    will follow Pres. Obama's example and look forward, not back.  (snk.)

    Parent
    I am sure you are correct. <snark> (none / 0) (#32)
    by jbindc on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:33:51 PM EST


    Parent
    I'm willing to wager that the (none / 0) (#65)
    by observed on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 08:05:41 AM EST
    House GOP WILL go "birther" on Obama, despite what BTD thinks.

    Parent
    Well I'd imagine (none / 0) (#74)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 11:53:42 AM EST
    part of BTDs belief is stemmed in the same thing that pushed Reid over the top- namely the Hispanic Vote- its the fastest growing major segment of the electorate by far and the GOP seems to be intent on increasingly alienating it.

    Parent
    By the same measure Obama (none / 0) (#75)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 11:55:51 AM EST
    could be the start of a long run of Democratic Presidents- because if Nevada and Colorado are fair indicators- the GOP is in serious trouble in terms of national election because Hispanics- yeah not to fond of the GOP these days.

    Parent
    What is John Boehner crying about? (none / 0) (#11)
    by vicndabx on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 10:47:26 PM EST
    I ask this in all seriousness.

    I can tell you why I'm crying (none / 0) (#12)
    by andgarden on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 10:49:13 PM EST
    I just turned on the TV for some late night fluff, and found that the news was extended 20 minutes tonight. POWER OFF.

    Parent
    Hit that stoli my friend (none / 0) (#13)
    by vicndabx on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 10:53:23 PM EST


    Parent
    That is one way to look at it (none / 0) (#17)
    by Slado on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:08:06 PM EST
    Another would be that this is a historic election.

    More house seats will flip tonight then in 1994.  

    More house seats will flip tonight then in any election since the 1940's.

    Perhaps (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by andgarden on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:10:55 PM EST
    But not everything "historic" is good.

    Parent
    Well . . . . (5.00 / 2) (#20)
    by nycstray on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:14:03 PM EST
    Obama seems to like "historic" . . . .

    Parent
    All depends on who you ask (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by Slado on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:16:13 PM EST
    but it is wrong to pretend that this election is anything short of amazing.

    The 6 months of polls and predictions have made us forgetful that no one a year ago saw this coming.

    Only one year ago TIME magazine declared republicans dead and now they will win the house with a 60 plus seat flip.

    Parent

    What TIME should've (5.00 / 2) (#39)
    by jondee on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:48:05 PM EST
    declared dead, once and for all, is this recurrent  sado-masochistic right wing fixation on deregulation as some sort of magic bullet for all the country's economic woes.

    But, apparently part of the country can think of nothing better than to return to gorge on and vomit up that swill over and over again; which is "historic" only in the sense that some people never learn anything from history.  

     

    Parent

    History class used to drive me nuts (none / 0) (#42)
    by nycstray on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:55:03 PM EST
    for that reason

    some people never learn anything from history.  

    and they still made me take years of it!

    Parent

    As has been mentioned already (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by jondee on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 12:17:21 AM EST
    by others, the psychological comfort of having your world-view (no matter how ultimately self-defeating it may be), vindicated by a majority of like-minded folks, seems to trump all other considerations for a lot of people in this country..

    So, now it's historic and amazing. Morning in America again. And this time they'll get it right.

     

    Parent

    so this is the . . . (none / 0) (#48)
    by nycstray on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 12:21:32 AM EST
    Misery Loves Company effect?

    Parent
    One year ago (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by andgarden on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 12:03:11 AM EST
    Christie beat Corzine.

    I don't know who you were paying attention to, but the political climate was pretty dire even then.

    Parent

    no kidding (none / 0) (#68)
    by CST on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 09:18:03 AM EST
    and Scott Brown won Ted Kennedy's old seat.

    This was blatantly clear a year ago.

    Parent

    I think that was an anomaly (none / 0) (#76)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 11:57:14 AM EST
    look at MA- it went solid blue- last night- I think its fair to say the Brown won almost entirely due to the Dems picking a horrendous canidate in Coakley.

    Parent
    I think I kinda saw something like this (none / 0) (#24)
    by tigercourse on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:21:06 PM EST
    coming a year ago. I knew we were going to lose the House. During the near riots of that Summer over healthcare I knew Democrats we going to get a shellacking.

    Parent
    You (none / 0) (#60)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 04:57:40 AM EST
    know what? Time magazine declared the GOP dead in the 70's and they were wrong about that too.

    Obama's problem is that he has been continuing the failed policies of supply side economics.

    Parent

    It's also the first election where the nation (5.00 / 2) (#21)
    by tigercourse on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:15:15 PM EST
    chose a yellow/orange man for Speaker of the House. What a great time to be alive!

    Parent
    I met him at a fund raiser (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by Slado on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:16:54 PM EST
    He is funny and very personable but he is disturbingly tan.

    Parent
    Spray on or booth? (none / 0) (#25)
    by Inspector Gadget on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:23:32 PM EST
    I don't think DC has enough sunshine for his year-around golden color.

    Parent
    The lights in the hotel bars (none / 0) (#66)
    by KeysDan on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 08:59:42 AM EST
    are bright.

    Parent
    Is there anyway (none / 0) (#77)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 11:58:18 AM EST
    its just a natural thing- I mean I have to believe that a guy like Boehner would have consultants to tell him to lay off the instatan.

    Parent
    Someone (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by jbindc on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:25:51 PM EST
    Just watched The Daily Show - didn't you?  :)

    It's politically correct to say "An American of orange descent"

    Parent

    I haven't actualy watched the Daily Show in (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by tigercourse on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:29:53 PM EST
    years. Somewhere back then it all got too depressing to be funny.

    Anyway, I do want to see Mr. Boehner's birth certificate.

    Parent

    Ah (5.00 / 2) (#30)
    by jbindc on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:33:14 PM EST
    They just had part of a segment where the correspondent had a whole thing about how, with John Boehner's ascendancy to the Speakership, little boys and girls all across this country who had fake tans could stand up and be proud and realize that they, too, could be someone important. Before his great victory, "orange Americans" only had college mascots (the Syracuse Orangeman), bad reality show stars (Snookie from Jersey Shore), or gay muppets (Ernie) were their only career options.

    Parent
    I'd prefer Snookie at this point. (none / 0) (#36)
    by tigercourse on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:46:43 PM EST


    Parent
    My Rep, John Hall, just went under to (none / 0) (#19)
    by tigercourse on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:12:47 PM EST
    a basic idiot who has sworn not to bring home money to the district. She actually did that. It's one of the main reasons we elect them!

    Oh, well. The great circle of $#!@ goes on.

    At least Boxer and Brown made it. (none / 0) (#33)
    by hairspray on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:38:22 PM EST
    If Brown can make some real magic in the next few years and pull California out of the ditch it could help the Democrats fortunes. I am rereading "What's the Matter with Kansas" and it is more like what's the matter with America?  Citizens have a short memory. Bush? Bush who?

    Last time they flashed the Boxer race (none / 0) (#35)
    by nycstray on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:45:44 PM EST
    it was tied @ 47%. I think that was about 15min ago . . .  Brown race was also getting tighter, but I haven't seen what they are counting in either race.

    Parent
    Conservative rural counties report first (none / 0) (#44)
    by FreakyBeaky on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 12:07:42 AM EST
    Typically.  LA County usually comes in last.  So it often looks like a nail-biter even when it isn't.  Stay tuned.

    Parent
    thanks! was just looking at maps (none / 0) (#45)
    by nycstray on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 12:12:48 AM EST
    trying to figure it out, lol!~ been 20yrs since I voted here . . . .

    Parent
    B 48.8% to F 46.6% at 35.9% reporting (none / 0) (#54)
    by FreakyBeaky on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 01:16:25 AM EST
    ... and getting fatter.  Per LA Times.

    Parent
    I like that Brown just spoke at the Fox Theater (none / 0) (#55)
    by nycstray on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 01:36:11 AM EST
    That's my oldest friend's fav theater for it's restoration work (we go back to mud pie days!). I also like that he included the arts kids :) Boxer also sounded good vs what we would/will hear from eMeg. Looks like SF is losing a Mayor also.

    Thanks for the update and helping me out in my new terrain here :)

    Parent

    yes. . . . . (none / 0) (#56)
    by nycstray on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 01:41:04 AM EST
    160 mil later, eMeg concedes!

    Parent
    Anyone know? (none / 0) (#41)
    by kdm251 on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:51:56 PM EST
    I am out of the country and cannot watch coverage, does anyone know which areas still need to report in Colorqdo in Colorado?  I am hoping that some urban areas are left as it would suck for Colorado to have to call Ken Buck Senator.

    We're waiting on.... (none / 0) (#47)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 12:17:52 AM EST
    ...Arapahoe (9%)--something fishy going on there, El Paso (18%) and Denver at 50%.  JeffCo is at 0% for some reason...

    Here's a link that breaks out the Gov's vote on a county by county basis to give you some idea of the vote totals.  

    Parent

    Clueless talking head on CBS (none / 0) (#49)
    by shoephone on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 12:21:43 AM EST
    now seriously fellating Boehner and his so-called commitment to the Amurikan people.

    I'd like some of andgarden's Stoli, please.

    I'd like the whole (none / 0) (#50)
    by nycstray on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 12:25:10 AM EST
    F-in' bottle and I don't feel like sharing any more . . . . {saw part of the speech}

    Parent
    Boehner says (none / 0) (#57)
    by Jlvngstn on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 03:33:13 AM EST
    Obama must change course.  Obama did not run last night, it appears congress must change course.

    Andrew Card on the BBC last night said that obamas arrogance cost him.  
    Obama did not run last night.

    Mark Kirk beat Alexi because alexi is an awful public speaker, his parents own a failing bank and republicans showed up.

    I don't think the majority in Illinois wants to repeal hc, lower min wage or extend the tax cuts.  

    congrats to mark kirk.

    Yeah, (none / 0) (#61)
    by weltec2 on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 05:40:52 AM EST
    should read. Good luck with that.

    I may have to move to Hawaii. . . (none / 0) (#62)
    by andgarden on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 07:21:42 AM EST


    It also has beaches! (none / 0) (#63)
    by jbindc on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 07:29:04 AM EST


    Parent
    Wrong (none / 0) (#64)
    by jbindc on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 07:31:56 AM EST
    The headlines should read, Tea Partiers Fall Short.

    As I've posted elsewhere here, it was Sarah Palin's night. She was 30 of 43 in her House picks and 7 of 12 in her Senate picks.

    Doesn't sound like the Tea Partiers fell short of anything.

    How exactly is it impressive to pick house seats (none / 0) (#78)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 12:01:44 PM EST
    - in the Senate she picked the Winner in KY (oh impressive), Florida (decent pick), while somehow losing her home state, Nevada, and Delaware- the last of which swung the election by perhaps 40 points (from +20-25 R to +15 D).  

    Parent
    political knife fight (none / 0) (#67)
    by souvarine on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 09:08:09 AM EST
    I had hoped that Obama would live up to his reputation as a pragmatist, see past his conservative economic ideology, and implement economic policies adequate to our current crisis. But that was just a hope, it was clear early on that he was blind to the economic facts and that he would stick with his commitment to laissez-faire policy even in the face of financial collapse.

    Obama's political skills are a different matter. I bet, with Jeralyn, that Obama's knife fighting skills will serve him well through 2012. I can see him setting the Republican Congress up for a fall, and placing the blame for continuing stagnation on Republican incompetence. Despite their historic win most of the country hates them, and the Tea Partiers are begging for a set-up.

    Two years of gridlock (none / 0) (#69)
    by blueaura on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 09:19:35 AM EST
    That's what we have to look forward to.

    And (none / 0) (#70)
    by jbindc on Wed Nov 03, 2010 at 09:40:01 AM EST
    The Corner is reporting this (yes, yes, I know):

    Still trying to chase down results in key legislative races around the country, but at the moment it looks like this:

    • Going into the 2010 elections, Democrats held 60 partisan legislative chambers and Republicans held 36, with a couple of ties.

    • It looks like the GOP has picked up an astounding 20 chambers, including both houses in Alabama, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Wisconsin and additional chambers in Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

    • In total legislative seats, it is possible that after all the results are posted, Republicans will have won a nationwide majority.

    • Republicans haven't enjoyed this much power in state capitals since the 1920s.

    Which is frankly more important than a divided Congress at this point.

    Republican House Gains | 78 comments (78 topical)

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