So who should play nice now?

[96Qowner]

Ok, so it's pretty clear - a Party doesn't lose 60+ House seats in an election unless there was something wrong with the way it was performing.

Who needs to compromise now? The Republicans refused to compromise for 2 years and won 60+ seats. Does that mean Democrats need to change their ways, or should they refuse as well, and see how 2012 goes?

[bigbadberry3]

Refuse.

Republicans stood on the morals and became the party of no. Look at the power they have now.

Dem's need to take a stand and play hardball.

[IBCoupe]

Doesn't matter which way Democrats go; they'll likely do well by it. Democrats can stand up to the Republicans and argue that the Republicans aren't even trying to compromise (kinda like what the Republicans did to Democrats this time around - though it was a specious claim then and probably would be in the future), or they can cooperate with Republicans and say, "Look at how bipartisan we're being!"

There's a reason that every time in American history (Truman in '48, Eisenhower in '56, and Clinton in '96) where a midterm election has caused at least one house of Congress to change hands that the sitting President wins reelection. Republicans may have won the battle for the next two years, but in doing so, they might have set themselves to lose the war for the next six.

[Jesda]

As long as the donkeys and elephants dig their heels in, neither is able to ruin the country. I favor this arrangement, permanently.

When they "reach across the aisle" we end up with:
Patriot act
No Child Left Behind
Campaign finance reform

Upon passage, sleazy guys like McCain and Kennedy (RIP) tell the world they've heroically "reached across the aisle" and made peace.

[IBCoupe]

We also end up with:
A budget.

[HashiriyaS14]

Yeah, this is going to be really tough for the GOP. It would've been much better for them to lose the House and win the Senate.

Now they HAVE to set the agenda. There are two problems with this (for them).


1.) They have set unrealistic expectations. They claim that they're going to Washington to repeal the Health Care bill, but they obviously can't execute on this because any such legislation would have to pass the Senate and the White House. They don't have enough seats for a veto override. The incoming Tea Party legislators are also going to propose some sweeping reforms (i.e. no earmarks by any GOP Senator - expect DeMint to propose this), but the GOP establishment is going to squash it. Same for spending cuts and lots of other promises they made. Long and short, Tea can't execute on their promises, and it often won't even be because of the Dems, it will be killed in their own committees.

2.) If the House somehow passes GOOD legislation, then a Democratic Senate and White House will get to (at least partially) take credit for "working across the aisle" to pass it. If the status quo of a GOP House and Dem Senate/WH works, then people will support that status quo and the GOP will never get farther than the House.

[dusred]

Dem's need to take a stand and play hardball.

They've been doing that for the last 2 years. . . except they were playing hardball with their constituents. They all act shocked when their constituents throw them out. When we called our representatives they ignored us. When we rallied at the capitol they ignored us. When we demanded they not vote for Health Care they ignored us. If they continue to play hard ball in forcing s*** down our throats we don't want they'll continue to lose power.

[stebo0728]

Heres whats gonna happen, IMO ....

Reubes are going to

* Try to repeal ObamaCare ........ unsuccessfuly due to Dems in the Senate
* Try to extend ALL the tax cuts .......... unsuccessfully due to the Dems in the Senate
* Try to tighten immigration and border control ......... unsuccessfully due to the Dems in the Senate
* Shut down Card Check legislation before it passes ......... successfully
* Try to repeal Cap n Trade ............. unsuccessfully due to Dems in the Senate
* other stuff I cant think of ATM

This combination of things, if played properly will lead to a larger shift of power to the Repubes in 2012 due to the Dems complete lack of interest in the demands of the populous.

[IBCoupe]

WE DON'T HAVE CAP & TRADE.

Are these the Republican talking points? What else have you been lied to about?

[stebo0728]

WE DON'T HAVE CAP & TRADE.

Are these the Republican talking points? What else have you been lied to about?

Quite right, i botched that point, it should have read similarly to the Card Check point.

*They will shut down Cap n Trade before it passes ............ Successfully

Another point too

* They will protect private pensions from robbery policies ................ Successfully

[audtatious]

* Try to extend ALL the tax cuts .......... unsuccessfully due to the Dems in the Senate

I hear that Obama is going to request the Bush tax cuts be extended for 2 years now?

I've been listening to "America's Left" on XM the last few days and those people are furious with Obama. They all think Obama should take a hard left turn and they will follow. Force more UHC, expire tax cuts, increase corp taxes, increase taxes to the "top 2%", more stimulus (Republicans fault it was not as successful because people were afraid to spend the money), etc etc etc. I've listened to a lot of talk AM and I have heard more negative terms (a-hole, etc) applied to Republicans in one day on that station than I hear in a couple of weeks on other news orgs. Sure, there are some crazies who talk crap on right-leaning talk radio but they pale in comparison to everyone I've heard on this one. Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz need some medical attention or they are going to have a stroke.

[IBCoupe]

And you ask me why I think President Obama is a left-leaning moderate, near-centrist...

[audtatious]

In usual terms I would agree. But, due to those he has surrounded himself with I have my doubts. I am surprised with his current direction so we shall see what happens.