[Pops]

Once again the revolution occurred without a shot, not the revolution I'd have preferred but a change none the less. This time it's a bigger sweep than in '94 and even though that time the dems had been in control for 40-something years it seems like it's an even bigger vote for the Devil You Don't Know over the one you do.

So what happens now?

I hear all the time that there is no difference in the parties, so will they just go skipping merrily down the isle to consensus?

Does this mean we'll address our economic problems in some better fashion?

And, on a side note, what does this mean for that sometimes mentioned problem of fossil fuels depletion?

[Newfie]

More waffling and inaction.

The wound is festering underneath.

My BOLD PREDICTION is that this will prime us for a reactionary third party Presidential run in '15.

[mos6507]

Greer wrote a blog post a while back that talked about the see-saw effect going on between the voters waffling between R and D, and how this isn't going to put the economy back together again. I think he was spot on.

The problem is that every time the pendulum swings to R, we'll reinstitute the "war on science" and gut environmental regulation and alternative energy R&D which will lock us into ever worse climate feedbacks and a harder peak oil crash.

[Plantagenet]

The problem is that every time the pendulum swings to R....

Have you forgotten that Obama is still the president and the dems still control the Senate?

The pendulum hasn't actually swung to R----the dems are still mostly in control. We can look forward to more wonderful liberal leadership from Obama and his brilliant economic team (at least those that haven't resigned yet) over the coming years.

[Pops]

There are some conservative Peakers here but I'm thinking the average freshman 'pub rep is about as far from peak oil (Drill Baby) and AGW (DOA) as you can get.

If the main theme is to gut the socialist entitlements, won't that mean even more drag on the meager alt energy (except ethanol), conservation, transit initiatives?

[PrestonSturges]

Greer wrote a blog post a while back that talked about the see-saw effect going on between the voters waffling between R and D, and how this isn't going to put the economy back together again. I think he was spot on.

The problem is that every time the pendulum swings to R, we'll reinstitute the "war on science" and gut environmental regulation and alternative energy R&D which will lock us into ever worse climate feedbacks and a harder peak oil crash.

Nothing is going to happen about the "Haliburton exemption" in the Clean Water Act that protects hydrofracking gas well.

They are drilling in on the edges of major reservoirs - if this goes on, chunks of the country may be rendered uninhabitable.

[Plantagenet]

If the main theme is to gut the socialist entitlements, won't that mean even more drag on the meager alt energy (except ethanol), conservation, transit initiatives?

GIven how little to nothing was accomplished on those fronts despite Obama pushing through 3 trillion in government deficit spending over the last two years, there isn't much ground to lose.

Right now its probably smarter to cut government spending, cut the deficit and try to get the economy restarted (i.e. focus on getting the private sector going---not the government).

[Mesuge]

My BOLD PREDICTION is that this will prime us for a reactionary third party Presidential run in '15.

Hm, 2015-2020, Russians in open panic mode from effects of export land model and way slower/lower developments on the supposedly new bonanza arctic fossil frontier. Seems homo-ape extinction trigger aka "thermo-nuke your brother" event a bit closer than expected.

[vision-master]

Another Revolution is all dissussed in length @ the 'It's time to read my ugly head' thread.....

[gollum]

There are some conservative Peakers here but I'm thinking the average freshman 'pub rep is about as far from peak oil (Drill Baby) and AGW (DOA) as you can get.

If the main theme is to gut the socialist entitlements, won't that mean even more drag on the meager alt energy (except ethanol), conservation, transit initiatives?

Yea pops, I've been wondering how those people who protested that they didn't want government involved in health care will react when they get their wish.

[PrestonSturges]

Once again the revolution occurred without a shot, not the revolution I'd have preferred but a change none the less. This time it's a bigger sweep than in '94 and even though that time the dems had been in control for 40-something years it seems like it's an even bigger vote for the Devil You Don't Know over the one you do.

So what happens now?

I hear all the time that there is no difference in the parties, so will they just go skipping merrily down the isle to consensus?

Does this mean we'll address our economic problems in some better fashion?

This was financed by the same people that backed Bush, and just like 2000, the outcome was decided by the radical wing of the Supreme Court. It's not the-devil-you-don't-know, it's the same old crowd.

As I said in another thread the only way to reduce the deficit without raising taxes is to outright kill Social Security effective immediately.

So now the GOPers are like the dog that caught the car - what do they do now?

John Bolton is on Fox banging the war drums this morning. That is the one thing about the Skull&Bones wing of the GOP (I say that half in jest, but you know who I mean) that has remained constant - they want multiple wars. perpetual war, war for the sake of war, war to purify and unite the country, preemptive war. Fascism on a silver platter. Yep, that's what the Tea Party brought back into power, the obsessive GOP war hawks.

The real political agenda of the people that financed the Tea Party can't be enacted democratically, but maybe they can get there by collapsing the system. For instance, Rand Paul could fillibuster raising the debt ceiling and cause a global currency crisis overnight. Remember to buy some extra toilet paper.

[gollum]

The real political agenda of the people that financed the Tea Party can't be enacted democratically, but maybe they can get there by collapsing the system. For instance, Rand Paul could fillibuster raising the debt ceiling and cause a global currency crisis overnight. Remember to buy some extra toilet paper.

Were headed there anyway, is getting it over with really a bad thing? Let's be honest here both parties got us here and now we are in for some real pain.

[gnm]

John Bolton is on Fox banging the war drums this morning. That is the one thing about the Skull&Bones wing of the GOP (I say that half in jest, but you know who I mean) that has remained constant - they want multiple wars. perpetual war, war for the sake of war, war to purify and unite the country, preemptive war. Fascism on a silver platter. Yep, that's what the Tea Party brought back into power, the obsessive GOP war hawks..

Not that I think the GOP is going to do a damn thing to change the status quo, but I would point out that the wars continued unabated and the largest military spending in history was signed under a COMPLETELY dem controlled admin...

Would you prefer to be robbed and beaten with the right fist, or the left fist? Nothing will change. Two sides of the same face...

-G

[Ludi]

Would you prefer to be robbed and beaten with the right fist, or the left fist?

There is no significant Left in the US, politically. Here's where people get very confused, thinking the Dems represent the Left. They do not. They represent the slightly less right.




http://www.politicalcompass.org/uselection2008

[Pops]

This was financed by the same people that backed Bush, and just like 2000, the outcome was decided by the radical wing of the Supreme Court.

Speaking of which, in the senate campaign here in MO, the out of state groups spent more than either candidate. They weren't the same groups for both sides however, the Corps & the Chamber & insurance Cos supported the repub and government unions & conservation voters supported the dem. I'm sure there is more to it than that but it's against the law to know who is buying elections now.

[Pops]

There is no significant Left in the US, politically. Here's where people get very confused, thinking the Dems represent the Left. They do not. They represent the slightly less right.

...and slightly less libertarian.

[PrestonSturges]

John Bolton is on Fox banging the war drums this morning. That is the one thing about the Skull&Bones wing of the GOP (I say that half in jest, but you know who I mean) that has remained constant - they want multiple wars. perpetual war, war for the sake of war, war to purify and unite the country, preemptive war. Fascism on a silver platter. Yep, that's what the Tea Party brought back into power, the obsessive GOP war hawks..

Not that I think the GOP is going to do a damn thing to change the status quo, but I would point out that the wars continued unabated and the largest military spending in history was signed under a COMPLETELY dem controlled admin...

No, the Liz Cheney wing of the GOP has been very explicit that they want several more wars. That bunch has largely gone silent since Dick Cheney's last heart surgery, but people like Bolton are definitely demanding a seat at the table this week, and the people that bankrolled the neocons are still pulling strings even if Cheney has dropped out of sight.

[Pops]

Oh yeah, Rove and Armey contributed mightily to Blunts Senate campaign in MO...

[gollum]

John Bolton is on Fox banging the war drums this morning. That is the one thing about the Skull&Bones wing of the GOP (I say that half in jest, but you know who I mean) that has remained constant - they want multiple wars. perpetual war, war for the sake of war, war to purify and unite the country, preemptive war. Fascism on a silver platter. Yep, that's what the Tea Party brought back into power, the obsessive GOP war hawks..

Not that I think the GOP is going to do a damn thing to change the status quo, but I would point out that the wars continued unabated and the largest military spending in history was signed under a COMPLETELY dem controlled admin...

No, the Liz Cheney wing of the GOP has been very explicit that they want several more wars. That bunch has largely gone silent since Dick Cheney's last heart surgery, but people like Bolton are definitely demanding a seat at the table this week, and the people that bankrolled the neocons are still pulling strings even if Cheney has dropped out of sight.

I guess we will see if the "tea party" is really any different in the next year or so. I'm especially watching Rand Paul to see if he scammed the money men, or the voters.

[Sixstrings]

There is no significant Left in the US, politically. Here's where people get very confused, thinking the Dems represent the Left. They do not. They represent the slightly less right.

Ludi's right! We're just going back and forth about different shades of gray, they're all freaking Republicans these days!

I saw Dem mover and shaker Ed Rendell on TV talking about cutting entitlements and even suggesting Colin Powell for Obama's chief of staff..

Now with a Republican house, Obama gets to be the Republican prez he always wanted to be. Maybe we'll get another war out of this.. can someone win two peace prizes?