Politics in America - what now?

erikka

I don't know if this is the right place for the topic, but I am so stoked the past two days as a result of the elections

Rumsfeld, gone!
Missouri oks stem cell research!
Minnesota elects first Muslim legislator to Capitol Hill!
Dems in control of house, hopefully the senate too!
Arizona rejects gay marriage ban!
South Dakota rejects abortion ban!
Pelosi is the first female speaker in the house!

(Big Howard Dean WOOOOOOOOO! sound)

more here: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/09/us/politics/09ballots.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Did I just trip and fall in a some alternate universe?!? I was sick on Tuesday/Wed, so I thought I was just hallucinating, but it's all wonderfully true.

What will this all mean for the future? Is it just backlash? What do y'all think?

drano

I for one welcome our new Democratic overlords.

carnivore

Drano wrote: I for one welcome our new Democratic overlords.

Is that a Kent Brockman ref?

doctorj

I was really elated to see the Republicans lose. Then I remembered it means that the Democrats have won.

erikka

doctorj wrote: I was really elated to see the Republicans lose. Then I remembered it means that the Democrats have won.

Don't blame me. I voted for Kodos.

drano

Carnivore wrote: [quote=Drano]I for one welcome our new Democratic overlords.

Is that a Kent Brockman ref?

You got it!

idlewild

It means the right wing talk show hosts will get back in the swing of things and blame every thing going wrong in America on the "liberals" who hate George Bush and therefore hate America. That and bin-Laden will probably release a video tape within two years to get a Republican back in the White House.

doctorj

Idlewild wrote: That and bin-Laden will probably release a video tape within two years to get a Republican back in the White House.

Mr bin-Laden has so not kept up with the times. He really ought to be releasing simultaneously on Blu-ray and HD-DVD in time to get them into the Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa stockings.

erikka

Idlewild wrote: It means the right wing talk show hosts will get back in the swing of things and blame every thing going wrong in America on the "liberals" who hate George Bush and therefore hate America. That and bin-Laden will probably release a video tape within two years to get a Republican back in the White House.

So nothing at all will change is what you're saying

pitu

for starters, Charlie Rangel is gonna Chair Ways & Means

I'm trying not to get too excited about the Dems taking Congress, but there really is a massive difference when you consider what the Republicans have gotten away with the past few years.

I really like Brian Ross' blog on ABC News. Fer instance:
Payback Time: Who the Democrats Will Target

idlewild

I'm also worried about eminent domain. Remember which Supreme Court Justices validated it, and remember how many Dems don't mind enforcing it. People should also worry about inheritance going up, or at least back in full effect. Regular income tax I think will go up regardless no matter who is in power. The money for the war, programs (especially ones that may have been tapped in to) have to come from somewhere. And, as far as relaxing rules on stuff like the Patriot Act, I think at first they may, but in the long run the Dems will call it something else. I hope people don't forget that as incompetent and bullyish as the GOP is that the Dems are kind of smarter but very spineless when it comes to doing the right thing. And finally, the Dems have never provided a solution for Iraq or Al-Queda.

pitu

At least eminent domain ballot initiatives lost in a few states...

From The Center for Public Integrity:
http://www.takingsinitiatives.org/index.php

Despite months of campaigning and millions of dollars in contributions from organizations tied to Howard Rich, a wealthy political activist in New York, regulatory takings initiatives failed Tuesday in three of the four Western states where they were on the ballot.

escap

pitu wrote: At least eminent domain ballot initiatives lost in a few states...

From The Center for Public Integrity:
http://www.takingsinitiatives.org/index.php

Despite months of campaigning and millions of dollars in contributions from organizations tied to Howard Rich, a wealthy political activist in New York, regulatory takings initiatives failed Tuesday in three of the four Western states where they were on the ballot.

It looks like the measures that lost would have limited the use of eminent domain. ie, these decisions appear to be a boost for eminent domain supporters, not the other way around. No?

pitu

here's clearer info on how the eminent domain balloting went

Voters restrict eminent domain
Eight states vote to prohibit or restrict the use of eminent domain to take property from one private individual and give it to another.

idlewild

pitu wrote: here's clearer info on how the eminent domain balloting went

Voters restrict eminent domain
Eight states vote to prohibit or restrict the use of eminent domain to take property from one private individual and give it to another.

Great for those states. What about NYS?

erikka

Idlewild wrote: [quote=pitu]here's clearer info on how the eminent domain balloting went

Voters restrict eminent domain
Eight states vote to prohibit or restrict the use of eminent domain to take property from one private individual and give it to another.

Great for those states. What about NYS?

Who needs an apartment when you can have a brand spankin' new stadium and parking lot!

I think for the time being we're pretty much screwed.