How high will the tidal wave be on Tuesday?
Republicans will take back the House, the Senate is in flux but probably will remain in Democrat hands (barely).
But when the dust settles, what will change?
What to you think?
Minnesota Governor Pawlenty just explained on Face the Nation that the battle would be over reducing government via, of course, reducing entitlement programs.
George Will's Sunday column encourages us to watch carefully certain races in order to fully appreciate the depth of the revolution of 'less' government that is upon us.
Ummm...less, continually less, less and less spending. I get it. But few specifics. Nearly never any explanations of how to spend a lot less. Just what do the Republicans agree among themselves to reduce? Will representatives and senators from Arizona and Florida, two hubs of retirees, dare to cut Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security? How about reducing military spending in states that have major military installations? How about closing down federal agencies? Which ones? Will repeal of Obama's health care plan bill be a safe effort for them?
I don't fear the Republican wave because they will be just as inefficient, just as unwise, just as unwilling to cross the aisle as the Democrat and Republican majorities that preceded them.
And ultimately, it is unclear what, if anything, will change for the better in our lives.
3 comments:
Based on the generic poll in which the Republicans lead by 9 points, my prediction is 60+ House seats, but no more than 8 Senate seats. Republicans rarely lead in the generic poll and even if they do, it is only by a few points. A 9-point lead indicates a blockbuster turnover in the House.
Despite my joy that the Obama agenda will come to a screeching halt, I do not have a lot of optimism. Even if the Republicans get a backbone and try to cut spending, Obama's loathing of everything Republican will force him to veto everything. The Republicans will be vilified as uncaring child abusers who hate the elderly, and since the MSM always carries the Dems' water, the Republican resurgence could be short-lived. In fact, the Republican party is in a precarious situation. It must appear to be doing what the Tea Party wants and still keep independents in their camp. Though the Dems were in the exact same situation, I think they thought that the world had changed with the advent of Obama and that independent's would love them forever, so they rammed everything through and ended up alienating independents.
As for the spending cuts, Republicans will pass spending cuts in the House, but the bills will fail in the Democrat Senate, and even if the Democrat Senate passes such cuts. Obama will likely veto, so nothing significant will get done.
All I can say is that I did vote. We'll see if my vote means anything.
Nick voted early before leaving town this afternoon. I will vote tomorrow.
In my district, where Dems win 65-35 nearly every time, the State House will be taken by a Dem as well as the State Senate seat (pro-gay marriage active Mormon Ben McAdams). But our votes for statewide or federal races feel futile, but we will vote anyway.
On the federal level, I think that the next two years will be long and without any advances at all. Partisanship is so intense that Alan's comments will prove to be true, and will apply to both sides of the aisle. The Republican House will vote down everything proposed and nothing emanating from the Senate or the President will be given serious thought, such proposals will have difficulty getting through any committee.
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