Republicans make gains in House, Senate, win the Executive

[daepp]

Will they?

[Joeaksa]

After the Dems cocked everything up by promising the world and delivering very little of their promises, things are looking very bright for the Repubs.

Dems made their mud bath, now let them play in it...

[MRM]

Too many Republicans retiring and creating open seats for them to make many gains. They'll take back some of the seats from freshmen who shouldn't have won last year, but in the end it will probably be about even. The anger at the Republicans from last year hasn't yet turned completely toward the Democrats. The attiude I see is "A pox on both your houses" more than a swing back to the Republicans.

It will depend on who emerges as the presidential candidates for both parties. If one emerges I can see either party following the lead and having things break in that direction by election day, the way things broke for the Democrats last time. If no one perdonality emerges I think 2009 will look a lot like 2008.

[KFC911]

Are folks disgusted with the Democrats? Yep! Are folks TOTALLY disgusted with the Republicans...ditto. Vote 'em all out of office and institute term limits as both parties have failed miserably imo...that's not gonna happen .

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by MRM

Too many Republicans retiring and creating open seats for them to make many gains. They'll take back some of the seats from freshmen who shouldn't have won last year, but in the end it will probably be about even. The anger at the Republicans from last year hasn't yet turned completely toward the Democrats. The attiude I see is "A pox on both your houses" more than a swing back to the Republicans.

It will depend on who emerges as the presidential candidates for both parties. If one emerges I can see either party following the lead and having things break in that direction by election day, the way things broke for the Democrats last time. If no one perdonality emerges I think 2009 will look a lot like 2008.

+1000

You can't get around the retirement and open seat thing. After being in the majority for a while, when the pendulum swings the other way, a lot of folks don't want to stick around to be in the minority much longer. Some of the open seats can be filled by appointment from GOP governors and the safe seats will stay that way even through the special elections. Republicans deserved to lose in '06 and I hope the lesson is sinking in. I think John Boehner and Roy Blunt have risen to the occasion and outwitted Pelosi on parliamentary procedure at most turns. Reid and Pelosi have very precious little to show for their year in charge. But that doesn't make anyone like Republicans more. Bush ain't helping either. As usual, it's a race to the bottom and voting for whom you hate less.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I'm truly hoping for a split executive/legislative. It means less stuff gets passed and frankly I believe that's better for everyone. The less government does, the better off the rest of us are.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

I'm truly hoping for a split executive/legislative....

Bingo! I'm convinced that both parties are self serving, and it's in the best interests of EVERYONE to have some sort of counter-balance in place. I don't care which party it is, I don't want to see the executive branch and both houses all singing the same tune...I've heard it, and it sucks

[Moneyguy1]

I am not enamored of either party, but unless the legislative branch has a veto proof majority, which should include members of both parties doing what the people want, ideally, then the veto pen will make any effort to pass specific legislation an exercise in futility. And, no matter if the Repubs or the Dems are in charge with razor thin margins, nothing gets done.

Which, in some cases, ain't such a bad thing.

Politics trumps patriotism every time.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Moneyguy1

... And, no matter if the Repubs or the Dems are in charge with razor thin margins, nothing gets done.

Which, in some cases, ain't such a bad thing....

Works for me! Judging by the results of things getting done, "nothing" seems like a lofty, achievable goal that we should strive for

[Normy]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

After the Dems cocked everything up by promising the world and delivering very little of their promises, things are looking very bright for the Repubs.

Dems made their mud bath, now let them play in it...

"Mud bath"? Oh...you must be refering to the republican debacle known as Iraq...

Or was that actually a "blood bath"?

The way I see it, the Democrats promised nothing and have done the honorable: Simply not screwing anything up. Sort of like Bill Clinton.

"Looking very bright for the repubs." Shall I remind you of dubya's approval rating?

Listen, I, like most people, realize that the past 8 years of republican leadership have done more damage to this country than nearly any period in our history. This "administration" will go down in history as arguably the WORST ever, and the party that sponsored this idiocy is directly responsible and only promising more of the same.

Good luck, but I think you are kidding yourself-!

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by KC911

Works for me! Judging by the results of things getting done, "nothing" seems like a lofty, achievable goal that we should strive for

I concur with respect to doing no additional damage from the current state of malaise. But I want change...a return to a constitutional republic.

We need a revolution, not more of the same. In that sense, either of the two parties leave me wanting.

[Moneyguy1]

The citizens are revolting!!!!

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Normy

"Mud bath"? Oh...you must be refering to the republican debacle known as Iraq...

Or was that actually a "blood bath"?

The way I see it, the Democrats promised nothing and have done the honorable: Simply not screwing anything up. Sort of like Bill Clinton.

"Looking very bright for the repubs." Shall I remind you of dubya's approval rating?

Listen, I, like most people, realize that the past 8 years of republican leadership have done more damage to this country than nearly any period in our history. This "administration" will go down in history as arguably the WORST ever, and the party that sponsored this idiocy is directly responsible and only promising more of the same.

Good luck, but I think you are kidding yourself-!

Surely, you jest. Dems promised plenty and delivered none of it.....well, unless you consider a min. wage hike to be a major change. How many votes have they tried on ending the war in Iraq? How many have they won? Remember the promise to end earmarks? Did it happen? No. Lobby reform? Didn't happen. Nancy Pelosi spent $16k taxpayer dollars on flowers alone in her first year!!!! She paid a non-staffer $20k (your money) to write the speech she gave to the Israeli Kneesset. Yeah, great steward of your tax dollars. How did her trip to coddle Bashar Assad go? The SCHIP (socialized medicine)? Couldn't override either of Bush's vetos. BTW, Bush's approval ratings have stayed well above Congress's. Why is that? He sure is trying his best to piss everyone off, yet Congress manages to do it even more.

[Hugh R]

I don't think its a good thing when one party controls both houses and the executive branch. No real checks and balances. I have a gut feeling that a republican will become president and both houses will stay democratic.