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US Democrats take the House

it may be a positive result but its certainly overall the 'best democracy money can buy': News 24 has reported on the fact that Hilary spent over 30 million dollars on her campaign including 30'000 on a restaurant meal for supporters!

oh and wasn't it Clinton who cut benefits for single mothers and introduced workfare....
 
Roadkill said:
Very true, and it's an all too common misconception. Besides, on most issues you'd have difficulty fitting a fag paper between the parties.

However, I do think it's a good result. In the first place, in this particular instance we've a uniquely loopy Repub administration in power, and if a Democrat House helps to neutralise the ultra-hawks then that can only be a good thing. Doubtless they'll launch their own dirty wars, but equally, I think they might row back a bit from the sort of ultra-militaristic rhetoric that's been all too common over the last few years.

In the second, on domestic issues the Democrats are more liberal - less bawling about God, guns and gays - and for that reason alone I find them preferable to the Republicans. Indeed, one might make a case for suggesting that liberal America is having a bit of a minor resurgence, thanks to outcomes like this:



I'm under no illusions that all will be wonderful now, but they might be marginally better than they were.
Click to expand...


Roadkill knows the score, I'm no particular fan of Democrats, but this win for them -- an amazing one, really -- is a kick in the teeth for ultra-NeoCon Republicanism and thats a good thing in and of itself.

None too optimistic that it'll mean any quick change in Iraq though ...
 
Any news on the last two senate seats yet?

Could be a real coup.

*crosses paws, legs, and tail*

*chews claws*

:)

Woof
 
Nothing as yet Jessie, I'm keeping an ear and eye out - while crossing them.

:D

Question for the Americans - Lieberman's been elected and says he's to do exactly what the Democrats do. Would that swing them the senate if they only get one out of Virginia and the other one.
 
Roadkill said:
In the first place, in this particular instance we've a uniquely loopy Repub administration in power, and if a Democrat House helps to neutralise the ultra-hawks then that can only be a good thing.
Click to expand...

Does the House of Representatives act as a buffer for any acts that the government try to put through then? They can block stuff - a bit like the Lords over here?
 
The other important thing to remmeber is that, having been out of any kind of real power for over a decade, the Dems will have a HUGE backlog of hate, animosity and bitterness toward the GOP and now have the chance to really fuck it over on a variety of levels - leaving Iraq aside, my guess is that you'll see a lot of new committees looking at a whole slew of dodgy GOP dealings and fuck ups - proper House investigation into Katrina anyone?
 
It's like someone just turned over the Republican rock and shone a floodlight onto the creepy crawlies.

:)
 
Balbi said:
Question for the Americans - Lieberman's been elected and says he's to do exactly what the Democrats do. Would that swing them the senate if they only get one out of Virginia and the other one.
Click to expand...
Well, he's been counted as an independant so I'd say it's 49/48 to the Gay old Party at the moment.

eta: cnn are counting the independants as Dems so it's 49/49.
 
PieEye said:
Does the House of Representatives act as a buffer for any acts that the government try to put through then? They can block stuff - a bit like the Lords over here?
Click to expand...

Please?

I'm aware it's not the cleverest post of the thread :o :mad:
 
slaar said:
Montana is tighter than a duck's ass:

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/MT/S/01/index.html

A Democrat lead of 2,000 with 10 percent of precints still to report.
Click to expand...
Thanks slaar.

This is the one to watch then.

What skulduggery will peeps be engaged in as they re-re-re-re-count, mewonders?

I would've imagined that most involved see a lot at stake here. No doubt a few legal challenges will be thrown in the mix, here and there, too. A greater than expected turnout in places, new voting machines crashing/not working and inexperienced staff adding to the problems, will inevitably be open to question.

And what's Montana like anyway, I only know it from a Zappa song?

:confused:

Woof
 
Jessiedog said:
Thanks slaar.

This is the one to watch then.

What skulduggery will peeps be engaged in as they re-re-re-re-count, mewonders?

I would've imagined that most involved see a lot at stake here. No doubt a few legal challenges will be thrown in the mix, here and there, too. A greater than expected turnout in places, new voting machines crashing/not working and inexperienced staff adding to the problems, will inevitably be open to question.

And what's Montana like anyway, I only know it from a Zappa song?

:confused:

Woof
Click to expand...
Not sure, but I've been watching closely, and the margin of the Democrat has gone from 5,000 to just over 2,000 between 80 percent and 91 percent complete. It's going to be bloody close.
 
PieEye said:
Does the House of Representatives act as a buffer for any acts that the government try to put through then? They can block stuff - a bit like the Lords over here?
Click to expand...
I don't think so, they can mainly hold investigations and that sort of thing. In the US the president has the power and the senate has the check on that. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong)
 
PieEye said:
Please?

I'm aware it's not the cleverest post of the thread :o :mad:
Click to expand...
I think it's more like parliament.

The executive draft bills that must pass the house and then the senate (which I guess, therefore, is more like the lords - although 100% elected).

:)

Woof
 
slaar said:
Not sure, but I've been watching closely, and the margin of the Democrat has gone from 5,000 to just over 2,000 between 80 percent and 91 percent complete. It's going to be bloody close.
Click to expand...
Yeah.

Under 2,000 now (1,700ish). And heading in the wrong direction.

:(

Let's hope that's the last of the current batch and the new box comes from just a slightly different demographic (maybe it caught a particular type at a particular time of day, etc.).

:)

Maybe.

:)

Woof
 
sleaterkinney said:
I don't think so, they can mainly hold investigations and that sort of thing. In the US the president has the power and the senate has the check on that. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong)
Click to expand...

cheers both of yous :)

So they can make the government look very bad but can't stop them passing draconian bills. Let's hope they make them look very bad then.
 
@ PieEye

There's an old aphorism in US politics, 'The President proposes, Congres disposes'

It's not entirely true - Congressmen can propose their own legislation - but Congress basically has to approve policies before the President gives his assent to bills etc, and is also tasked with 'oversight' of the Executive branch - i.e keeping it in check, ensuring that power remains reasonably balanced between the 3 pillars of the USG system (Exec, Congress, Supreme Court) etc.

One way they can block legislation proposed by the executive is by filling any bills he/she sends down by padding them out with little (often completely unrelated) amendments - the 3rd episode of the West Wing gives a brillaint example of this, with one Congressman basically saying that unless his amendment was included, he wouldn't vote for a big bill that Bartlett wanted to get through.

The most famous example of this is the Federal Budget. Famously known as the pork barrel, Federal money is distributed on various projects and schemes - from defence to social stuff - to different states, and is used by the Pres to buy favour and influence from specific states/districts ('Hey there Mr Senator, here's $5bn to build a new highway' type of thing, which obviously also helps said congressman get re-elected when they can turn round and say 'Hey, look at me! I got us $5bn from the Federal Govt and that's created XXX jobs, XX growth in the state'), and during the approval process is used by Reps&Sens to insert their own little funding requests.

For a very funny look at the US budget, I'd suggest reading PJ O'Rourke's 'Parliament Of Whores' which, for a right winger, is a very funny and outraged look at how the whole US political system works (his stuff on farming still makes me equally outraged/laugh).

Or watch the West Wing - it's spot on with it's portrayl of the actual process of US politics, and it has everyone's I would wish for President...
 
What chance of bush being impeached?

Or will the Dems do some backstairs deal?

I rekon Bliar is shitting himself at what might come out of any investigation as well.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by PieEye
Does the House of Representatives act as a buffer for any acts that the government try to put through then? They can block stuff - a bit like the Lords over here?


Please?

I'm aware it's not the cleverest post of the thread
Click to expand...

The yanks have a checks and balances system.

Congress (House of Representatives and the Senate) is the Legislative branch of Government, they make Federal law, approve treaties and Presidential appointments, declare war etc.

The President and Cabinet are the Executive Branch who administer the law, can veto bills etc

The Supreme Court is the Judicial branch and interpret the constitution.

Thats a really basic version it can be a hell of a lot more complicated than that!
 
The only outside chance of Bush being impeached is his undoubted failure to ensure the Security of the Nation - things like the JIS report saying that since Afghanistan and Iraq the US was more at risk and had actively created that risk are good evidence of this.

The strongest reason I can think for the Dems not to do a deal is to get the GOP back for Whitewater/Lewinsky and royally fucking Clinton over (He spent years under vicious investigation for lying about getting a blowjob - Bush lies about WMD and invades a country...), but I still don't think it's likely as it's not in the Dems psyche to do it, whereas the GOP are rabid bastards, many of whose senior members actually hate, loathe and despise their opponents.
 
Belushi said:
We havent even got on to the division of powers at Federal, State and Local level yet... ;)
Click to expand...

:D But that's just like a political version of spaghetti.

PieFace, get The West Wing - it's class.
 
The new Democratic leader in the house was on the news yesterday saying that they'd taken 'impeachment of the table' in a bid to woo moderate republican votes.
 
kyser_soze said:
For a very funny look at the US budget, I'd suggest reading PJ O'Rourke's 'Parliament Of Whores' which, for a right winger, is a very funny and outraged look at how the whole US political system works (his stuff on farming still makes me equally outraged/laugh).
Click to expand...
He's a real right winger, but as you say has a great and bitter wit - 'Parliament Of Whores' is superb.


Or watch the West Wing - it's spot on with it's portrayl of the actual process of US politics, and it has everyone's I would wish for President...
Click to expand...
It's on TV tonight - I stay up late on Wednesdays to get the latest episode.

Superb.

:)

Woof
 
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