Re: let's break that down
Originally posted by qazplm:
I think if you think the dems are in bad shape after this election, you'll share the same fate as any dems who thought the reps were in bad shape after 2012, or 2008, or the reps who thought the dems were in bad shape after 2010. There's a pretty clear and consistent pattern to all of this.
Yep. The Republicans screwed up by not doing this in 2012 because they had too much in-fighting with the Tea Party. They probably could've won more seats, if not the majority, by simply uniting
then. They were much smarter on a national scale, removing the "third" candidates in races like Colorado and Kansas, and letting it go in places like Louisiana where they'll win the runoff anyway.
I am interested to see how the next two years shake out.
Most likely? Republicans put a bunch of partisan bills (like a full Obamacare repeal) on the President's desk, and he vetoes them all. Republicans spin it as obstructionism and try to paint that as the Democrats' style of governance, hoping to prop up their Presidential candidate. Hillary is the Democratic candidate, and rides into the White House on the "cool" vote (much like Obama), and the Republicans narrowly keep their advantages in the House and Senate because the voter base will turn out trying to put Hillary down.
What would I like to see? Republicans make legitimate efforts to craft more bi-partisan bills rather than just overturning Obamacare; they put the Keystone XL pipeline, tax reform, and immigration reform at the top of the list - Presidential priorities - and put Obama on the spot to make tough calls. Obama allows some popular items, like Keystone XL, through but vetoes obvious stuff. Republicans trumpet how they were able to work with Obama, who is unpopular anyway so it doesn't hurt the Democrats, and how they should be the governing party. This boosts the strength of whomever is running against Hillary and we get a good election, rather than one based on "Hope and change."
Either way, I expect the Democratic party to further distance itself from the President over the course of the next two years. If nothing else - and Obama said himself that his policies were on the ballot prior to the election - last night's result was a demonstration of the public's frustration with Obama. Not sure if it's his policies or his divisiveness or what, but
he is not in great shape right now. It's up to him and the Republicans to see if he drags the rest of the Democrats down.
), and 100% filled with politicians.
