While it would be "nice" to see that, the problem will of course be that no one will be able to decide "who" should get to claim responsibality for said effort.

So of course a commitee will have to be formed to decide which party gets to be responisblity for the effort.

Of course, because they all want to get reelected. There will be those that are scared to like an idea because of voter backlash. Which will lead to more waffeling and we as Americans will continue to suffer.

you know this bi partisan stuff is crap. what the best consensus builders have done ( LBJ / Sam Rayburn / Tip O'Neil / the salamander & Clinton ) was bring the middle together from both sides to get things pasted. Hell LBJ got the voting rights act done with primarily R support. Arm twisting, horse trades, all really and that is what makes a democratic republic ( which is what we are NOT a democracy ) function.

You don't need the elected congress to get along or even do much but pass budgets, keep our asses safe, provide care for those who are unable to care for themselves and insure all citizens are equal. After that just stay the hell out of our lives.

Some assert this was a rejection of the Dems/Bailouts/HCR... Maybe so.

But in a parallel universe -- where the GOP had been in power for the last 2 years across the board, we'd have seen a massive backlash there. The problem is the economy-- and I think NEITHER party has a magic wand. Economies (and stock prices) go into the crapper quickly and recover slowly. This is the way of things...

This was a period where WHOMEVER was in power was going to get blasted. They'd get blasted for different reasons, but they'd get blasted none-the-less.

I agree with IrishRogue. Two years ago, we couldn't wait to vote out the Republican administration. Now, we're bringing them back, probably because things still suck for the average voter. What was the Republicans' fault then must be the Democrats' fault now.

I posted a new topic asking if anyone knew how our new legislative saviors planned to fix things in Washington. So far, it's had over 40 views but no responses. There may be other reasons for the lack of responses, but it sure seems like nobody has any answers.

The two-party system is working to perfection for its benefactors....

Until we can separate candidates from the money, and that means their own money, and those that would support them.
Candidates will say what ever is necessary to get elected, then serve the needs of those who contributed the most to their campaign.
Presently that seems to be what pisses voters off the most, politicians that they supported in the election, not serving the voters wishes, but instead serving those of special interests.
Like it or not our political system is for sale to whoever has the most money.

I agree for the most part, but McMehan, Whitman, and Fiorina would like to have a word with you about that.

M -- "Buck Up or Stay in the Truck"

Hank,

Our state auditor apparently can't audit his way out of a soaking wet paper bag. Very bad performance on three WDFW audits, which should be easy in comparison to some complex state programs.

Sg

Don't you mean McMegan?

Yeah; fat fingers.

Oh, and every now and then I forget to proofreed.

Hankster:

Before you gloat too much more, remember that it was only a few years ago when they were counting the Republicans out for a loong time. I am old enough to remember several such prognostications, all of which ultimately proved to be wrong. The Rs had a resurgence because the people are not happy with the way things are going. If the Rs can’t change that appreciably in the next two year they too will get tossed out. What I am seeing is both parties are viewed unfavorable. We tossed the Dems as the lesser of two evils. Another problem for the Rs is the fact the Tea Party has done such a poor job sleecting cnatidates. They undoubtedly cost the Rs at least two senate seats. They may get better at that with time, but they may continue to back wack jobs like O'Donnel which could really hurt you.

I look forward to the next presidental cycle. I supect Obama will be challanged by someone in his own party and I am certain the Tea Party will have some very major plans for one of their own. Sarah?

If the Rs can’t get unemployment under 8 percent and make some real headway on the deficit they will be washed out on the next wave.

I do think unemployment will gradually improve irrespective of who’s in power. But that deficit is going to be damn hard to reduce without alienating a ton of voters. Cut the military, which I believe is absolutely necessary, and you lose many R voters. Cut the programs like S.S. and Medicare and you lose many D voters. I see no easy solution for either party.

Do enjoy your victory. Throwing the bums out is about all the pleasure any of us get from politics.

Kitzhaber is now being projected as the winner of Oregon's Governor race.
I'll be watching very closely to see that he follows up on his campaign promise to remove the mainstem CR gillnets.

The r leadership keeps saying the same thing, but when followed up with the question of what discretionary spending they'd cut, not a one has an answer. So I'm curious what discretionary spending would you cut? And how much of each agency?

Hankster for President 2012



Mf

The trouble is even if you do both, the deficit will remain!

Washington state isnt done yet and they could still flip BOTH houses.
They will be counting for several more days.

The white house has 1500 employees, just in the whitehouse.

The military isnt shy about cutting, its the vendors that hassle the congress about buying crap they dont need. I wonder why we still have bases in places like Japan or did that close? We send cruise missles from miles off the shoreline, bases cost too much.

One of the most likely scenarios is to put forth a continuing resolution and Cut every budget X amount or go back to 06,07,08 for a base line. The house has to fund these programs, so health care isnt going anywhere if they dont fund it. So many democrats have run from Health care, it will be Obamas veto that gets headlines cause the bill is going to come, if they can pass it in the senate. Even Cantwell might have to rethink her position.

ODonnel lost, but they already did some polls and the guy she beat in the primary would have lost as well.

So far 19 state legislatures have flipped.
Redistricting is going to propel R agenda forward.
After the 2004 Election Soros funded a campaign to elect democrat secretaries of State. That is who signs off on the election. That gave us the Commedian Senator. This year many many military ballots did not arrive in time to get them back. Our mail in ballot system has old names, dead names and people who moved away. The states need to clear the rolls. literally, you could walk into Pierce county and vote without showing ID and the witness do not need to provide a phone number for a follow up. In Chicago, the report is they hand delivered 200 ballots to the local jail or prison. In washington state the number are either going to Put the R in charge or very close and we need to clean up our election system.

If Sam Reed isnt up to the job we need to retire him. Im not happy with his performance.

If you all want to get rid of Sonntag, you need to find a candidate that you all will support and you need the republicans to stop Stumping for the GOOD democrat. They help Sontag win by very large margins.
Im wondering if that office should become NON partisan.

Im in construction and they are not investing because they cannot see what the medical expenses will be. Cap and trade, taxes etc etc and they will not add workers. A lot of people who bought homes are no longer able to buy homes cause their credit it shot. Down payments are required. There is still a large surplus of homes so housing is not going resume near normal levels. The jobs have to come from the private sector not government. During the Clinton Global initiative, he admitted to cnbc that he was lucky to be elected during the expanding technology industry. That in fact is what allowed him to raise taxes and not kill the economy. He also said, Bush only had housing to keep the economy going. Simple fact when you make it cheap for everyone, your market saturation comes quickly. They were down to zero down, no credentials, interest only payments. They allowed too much credit and the banks were mopping up. Even Harley Davidson had 4% of their in house loans on bikes go bad. People refinanced to pay off credit cards over and over and they had zero equity. Banks screwed over the appraisers to come up with bogus values that were high or you never got another job. They stopped requiring appraiser for refies.

Want jobs? Give them something they can count on and stop loading on taxes and regulations. Baby boomer are going to be on the draining side of the ledger, they are buying less. I dont know what the population demographic are of the gen x and those behind us, but if they are not working they cannot buy homes. As long as unions continue to push and push, we are going to lose more and more jobs. Including Boeing.

I didnt miss him at all, but i wondered if he was choking from getting teabagged.

I'd probably go with 25% to 30% of Defense. Might be tough on the military-industrial complex, but they'll get over it.

So, just for starters you're looking at reducing the deficit by less than 1/2 of 1%. Seriously, what discretionary spending should Congress cut to really make a difference? The rs keep talking about it, so some republican here should have the answer.

He's either on a permanent cognitive vacation, or he lacks the requisite mental furniture to develop rational thought.

HANKSTER:
Farm & Ethanol Subsidies... okay, let's do that.
I have Ethanol subsidies at ~$5B (in 2009). Okay, good start.
Farm subsidies... My number there is about 15.4B (2010), another nice chunk. Let's see 15.4B + 5B. Okay, that's 20.4B. Excellent.
Now let's see, the deficit for fiscal 2010 was 1.29 TRILLION... So let's subtract your savings... Okay, that's 1,290B, minus 20B, leaving us 1.27 TRILLION to go...

Plus, just for bonus points, you just a) caved in (spinless) to those pesky Europeans who have been on you to reduce farm subsidies. b) increased unemployment in already devastated sections of the country, c) not come even remotely close to paying for the bush tax cuts, which I presume you want to extend... and d) ensured that you or anyone like you never wins the Iowa caucus, but hey, it's a start.

And the real kicker? What you suggest is at least a LEGITIMATE attempt, unlike what I suspect we'll get from the GOP in the house. They will do only THREE THINGS:

1. Investigate stuff with hearings (today's awesome news they're going to get to the bottom of climategate! Sweet!)

2. Repeatedly attempt to overturn HCR, which they know either the Senate and/or Obama will block, so it's *purely* a political maneuver.

3. Try to extend the bush tax cuts

NONE of which will contribute a thin dime to reducing the deficit, and #3 will add TRILLIONS more to our debt.

LEAD BOUNCER, you wrote "Redistricting is going to propel R agenda forward. "
I can't think of anything more cynical and outright ANTI-DEMOCRATIC than this statement... How can you celebrate this? I can't respect anyone, anywhere who believes the districting process should be exploited for political gain. Even FLORIDA yesterday passed state constitutional amendments to remove partisan ship from this process. This is corruption, pure and simple.