Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Unreasonable people vote

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  • andin,

    I find Americans lovely. Charming, attentive, and ready to be friendly. Mind you,

    Some aint so charming up Illinois way. And they are wayyyy too quick to take offence.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report

  • Andre Alessi,

    That's pretty standard. He's already served his sentence! How much vengeance do you want?

    You can never have too much vengeance!

    I was genuinely unaware his sentence was already over, which puts a different spin on things. Am I allowed to blame the media for this?

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report

  • Andre Alessi,

    A pretty interesting comment over at Balloon Juice (which sums up my own reaction to the results quite nicely):

    I don’t think the world is ending, and I will tell you why. For most of our modern history, divided government has been the norm. And while the Republicans are fucking crazy, they are not in control of the entirety of Congress, and they aren’t going to be able to get away with the shit they pulled when they ran the entire puppet show in the 2000s.

    And I don’t think this election can be read—at least now—as a Republican tidal wave or massive madate or whatever.

    But you know what? The GOP is going to read it as such. And my hunch is that they overreach. Like Terry Schiavo-level overreach. Some of their folks will take this is a greenlight to do some really unpopular stuff that they will believe is popular. Because they have to. Because their base is now certifiably fucking insane. And they want the impossible: less government, lower deficits, but they will not like the cuts.

    I think the next two years will allow Obama to do what he does the very best: highlight the weaknesses in the other side’s approach. If—IF —he takes from this a realization that the Congress has gotten less compromisey, not more. But the makings of a really incredible opportunity to display a choice for voters.

    But the GOp has overpromised their base, and they may be able to fool their base again, but the rest of the country—independents most particularly—are going to see whether they can deliver.

    As that douchenozzle Mike Pence said, it’s easy to throw grenades than catch them.

    Well now they have to start catching. And they aren’t built for governance. And it shows.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report

  • Just thinking,

    Danielle, please don't be a self-loathing-southerner, it's as bad as hating on them, those people, they are not us.

    I really want a Witch or Vampire to get elected now, I'm sick of all the brain dead zombies.



    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10463579

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report

  • Andre Alessi,

    It's a little puerile, but I did laugh at this: 20 Worst Names In Political History

    Well, OK, it's a lot puerile, but seriously, "Tiny Kox"?

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report

  • David Hood,

    I really want a Witch or Vampire to get elected now, I'm sick of all the brain dead zombies.

    Well, we know that publicly not being a witch gets you not-elected, ergo...

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report

  • Carol Stewart,

    For you, Andre:
    From the obituary of one Harry Carpneter, English sports commentator:

    when commentating on the Boat Race, he came out with: "Ah, isn't that nice, the wife of the Cambridge President is kissing the cox of the Oxford crew."

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    The Dems need California.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Petra,

    It's a little puerile, but I did laugh at this: 20 Worst Names In Political History
    Well, OK, it's a lot puerile, but seriously, "Tiny Kox"?

    I'm only on the first one and I'm laughing!

    "Dick Swett. Integrity in Congress" :D

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report

  • Jake Pollock,

    This explains everything.

    Raumati South • Since Nov 2006 • 489 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Democrats keep the Senate.
    but don't quote me, I am now confused as any US election does to me. Actually ignore it until later thanks :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg,

    but don't quote me, I am now confused as any US election does to me.

    Don't be, Sofie. Very little changes. As you come towards the centre of each they're increasingly indistinguishable these last few decades.

    So we have a black president but not a single Afro-American in the senate now (there have only been 6 since 1870!)

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Marijuana remains illegal.
    4.20 in the park lives on.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    And you can always rely on Grover 'Muppet" Norquist to be incoherent and creepy in one delicious soundbite:

    "I don't want any stinking ideas from presidents," he said, "I want them in harness, pulling the plow."

    That's right -- what passes for a policy wonk in Republican circles thinks all that separation of powers bullshit can go hang. Ideological purity above all. Welcome to Teabagistan!

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    I don't know about you lot, but I would vote for a person named 'Young Boozer' in a heartbeat.

    (I am not a 'self-hating southerner', whatever that means in this instance: just lamenting that most of my American relatives and in-laws aren't even on the same planet with me politically. There are, of course, plenty of southerners who are Democrats.)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Matthew Littlewood,

    I know it's been bad for the Democrats, but you have got to love the weird bit of history-repeating that is Jerry Brown being elected as Governor of California. Say what you will about the guy, but this campaign spot is priceless.


    I do believe Meg Whitman has just been damned by her own words...

    Today, Tomorrow, Timaru • Since Jan 2007 • 449 posts Report

  • Emma Hart,

    most of my American relatives and in-laws aren't even on the same planet with me politically

    I had this experience today when a friend of mine who lives in Oklahoma (and actually has some quite strong views on things like indigenous rights and immigration) said:

    I don't vote. I don't have [anything] against anyone who does vote because hey! Someone has to vote.

    About one thing, we do agree. She shouldn't vote.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    BTW, here's a reason why we shouldn't treat the Tea Baggers as a joke -- they're actually in a position to destroy peoples lives (via Andrew Sullivan):

    A very depressing result in Iowa as all three Justices who voted for marriage equality in the state constitution are removed after a brutal campaign against them by NOM. This has never happened before in Iowa's history of allowing such votes since 1962. NOM is also trying to remove marriage rights from gay couples in New Hampshire - and they may have secured a veto-proof majority to rip gay couples legally apart.

    Funny how Tea Baggers have a rather elastic definition of "judicial activism" isn't it? No, I'm not laughing either...

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    Talking about unreasonable people and politicians I might just sneak this in as a bit of karmic come-uppance.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Crikey

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Just thinking,

    Sleep with dogs = wake up with fleas.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Best names in Cricket?

    lest we forget the greats...
    "The batsman's Holding,
    the bowler's Willey..."

    Perhaps Paul Henry will resurface
    in sports commentary...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Sleep with dogs = wake up with fleas.

    Possibly not entirely warranted?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • David Hood,

    On the other hand the Colarado governor results are awesome. The Republican nomination went to a Tea Partist, so a Republican stood for the Constitution party.
    The final result looks like being Democrat about 51%, Constitution about 39%, Republican about 10%.

    Where is would become the best of all possible worlds is that under Colarado state law, if a party does not get 10% of the vote in the governors race they are regulated to minor party status- they don't get the fund raising advantages of major parties and the candidates are down the bottom of the ballot with the likes of the Greens. This is I gather for all elections held in Colorado until after the next Governor's election (but I am not fully certain on that part).
    Now the last results I saw had the Republican on just barely under 10%, so I await with interest if this awesome combination of circumstances plays out.

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report

  • David Hood,

    And just as an update to Colorado, it looks like the late reporting precincts have favoured the Republicans. With 85% of the vote counted they are going to get around 11% of the vote (to the Consitution Party's 37%). So probably not regulated to minor party status.

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report

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