[talaniman]

Be happy Tom, it could have been a lot worse with McCain/Palin at the helm. Imagine that disaster hitting us, and where we would be now.

[excon]

They damaged the nation enough with their budget busting spending .

If the Dems claim their "generosity "in letting some workers temporarily keep some of their money is a tax cut then they are more delusional than I thought.

Hello again, tom:

Out of one side of your mouth, you complain about budget busting deficit spending... Then, without missing a beat, you call for tax cut for the rich that would add $700 BILLION to the deficit.

You say they need this money to create jobs... That's laughable on its face. They already HAVE 89% of ALL the money. If THAT doesn't help 'em create jobs, NOTHING will. In fact, I agree with David Stockman, Ronald Reagans Budget Director, the tax cuts for the rich should EXPIRE..

excon

[tomder55]

Here's what I think. McCain would've done more modest stimulus and supply side solutions. There probably would've been some sort of health care reform proposed that would've been bi-partisan because McCain knows with a Dem majority he could not have gone too far in his proposal .
In foreign affairs the policy would've remained the same... even Obama realized that American foreign policy doesn't stray all that much with the change of adminstrations .

So what does that mean ? Economically we would be somewhere close to the same pace in the recovery as we are now ;but our long term obligations would be in much better shape.

And the Democrats would NOT be looking at a tsunami today.

Perhaps Obama is the best thing that could happen to the country regarding clarity. Not since the 1930s have the Fabians had a chance to accelerate their utopian folly as theyhave in the last 2 years. The backlash coming was predicatable and is necessary.

[tomder55]

Ex there is 2 ways to balance an imbalanced budget. The Dems are hard wired to tax and spend . They implode at the thought of cuts in spending .
Tax cuts work and you know it . Even your hero JFK recognized that and implemented it.

[excon]

The Dems are hard wired to tax and spend . They implode at the thought of cuts in spending . Tax cuts work and you know it

Hello again, tom:

The Republicans, on the other hand, IMPLODE when asked specifically WHAT cuts they'll make. They don't HAVE an answer. They'd rather smear the Dems with the "S" word.

Tax cuts, in and of themselves, DON'T work. If a nation is OVERTAXED, they would. But, our rich aren't overtaxed. NOBODY, says these tax cuts for the rich will pay for themselves... That means your children and your grandchildren will pay for them. Now, if you proposed $700 BILLION in spending cuts that PAY for the tax cut, I'll listen...

Remember when we talked about you guys voting against your own interests?? THIS is one of those times... You AREN'T the super rich. I don't know WHY you want to burden yours, and MY children for them. I have NO idea... Nope... I AIN'T buying the job creation BS. David Stockman doesn't either. It's a GIFT, pure and simple - a gift to those who need it LEAST! George Bush knew it was a gift.

excon

PS> Oh, good luck with privatizing SS or cutting Medicare. Good luck too, with repealing Obamacare... Ain't happening...

[tomder55]

There was record revenues into the Federal coffers with the current tax cuts. The problem is that spending was never reigned in .
Here is the facts according to the CBO :
Extending the tax cuts would make revenues at 18.2% of the GDP (above the 50 year average) . Spending on the otherhand is 26.5% of GDP (exploding above the 20.3%50 year average ).The growth end of this is in the spending . The budget deficit, historically 2.3% of GDP, is projected to leap to 8.3% of GDP by 2020 under current policies. By the end of this year , the federal government will take in about $2.1 trillion in revenue while spending $3.6 trillion.
No my friend... spending is the problem. I would reform the tax structure and simplfly it and cut number one would be to make many of the accountants in the IRS jobless.

I don't know about Republicans... but I have plenty of ideas on how the budget could be trimmed. Let's start with the Federal transfer of funds to the States . That one should be a no brainer for the libs because the states with the high urban populations suffer the most from this wealth transfer .

How about eliminating completely the Dept of Education and that 'do nothing' bloated bureaucracy .Let the States use the savings to properly fund their school districts. How about this ? Bring Federal salaries and benefits DOWN to the level of the private sector.
There are many more including ending earmarks ,agricultural subsidies ,and other corporate welfare... and yes ,moving some of the entitlement structure into the private sector.
Each of these are worthy of their own op so I'll stop here. Suffice it to say that the next congressional session will have more members that think like me than there are today.

[speechlesstx]

It's 'Time' to gloat. As Mark Twain famously said, the reports of his death were greatly exaggerated, so were the reports of the death of conservatism and the Republican party.

Time trumpeted the death of the Republican party in 2006. As Elliot noted a while back, "Sam Tanenhaus, an liberal historian, recently wrote a book called "The Death of Conservastism." The totals for this election?

Republicans gained over 650 seats in state legislatures, gaining 18 chambers - the most since 1928. Can you say redistricting? Landslide in the House, pickups in the Senate and what is it, 7 or 8 governorships including a female Republican in New Mexico.

It must feel like Armageddon to the left.

[talaniman]

Don't get too happy my friend, you still have to prove your vocabulary goes belong ONE word.

[RickJ]

Most of you know that I am a "conservative"... and/but...

I am somewhat happy with the election results, but I am with some many others who say "This is your chance, do it well or we will kick your butt out next time around".

[tomder55]

Rick . What exactly do you think can be accomplished with a Dem President and Senate ?
At best this election puts them in a better position to block the President's agenda and perhaps set one of their own that the Dems will block. The proof in the pudding can only be the legislation they propose and pass in the House . It is doubtful the bills will move much further than that.

This is what I will be looking for... I don't want to see the corruption that plagued the GOP when they were previously the majority. I also want them to assert their oversight role .

[speechlesstx]

Don't get too happy my friend, you still have to prove your vocabulary goes belong ONE word.

Don't worry, it was just a minor gloat. But speaking of vocabulary, if I hear the word "bagger" one more time...

[excon]

"This is your chance, do it well or we will kick your butt out next time around".

It's 'Time' to gloat.

Hello Fellas:

Here's how I see it shaping up. When Obama won, we gloated. What we DIDN'T realize, was the vote wasn't a vote FOR Democrats... It was a vote AGAINST George W. Bush. But, the Dems acted as though they were loved... They weren't.

The electorate is saying the same thing this time. This was NOT a vote in favor of right wing ideas, as much as it was a repudiation of Obama. By virtue of there NOT being a viable third party, the onus fell to the Republicans... But, don't make the mistake of thinking this happened because they LOVE you. They don't. But, they HAVE given you a chance... Don't blow it.

It looks, however, like Mitch McConnell is conducting business as usual... That ain't going to work. In short order, I think there will Be a viable third party, or even TWO - one run by Russ Feingold, and the other run by Sarah Palin.

excon

[speechlesstx]

But, don't make the mistake of thinking this happened because they LOVE you. They don't. But, they HAVE given you a chance... Don't blow it.

Something you might agree with, it could depend on who controls the conversation.

The left's message isn't going to change, Obama should have been more liberal and the right is nothing but racist 'baggers' mindlessly controlled by evil corporations, duped by Rush Limbaugh and Fox News. It worked well for them this time around...

[tomder55]

Cool!! Rush Feingold , Howard the scream and possibly Evita running primary challenges against the President!! For not being liberal enough?? Bwaaa Haa Haaa!!

[excon]

The left's message isn't going to change,

Hello again, Steve:

Like yours changed when you got tromped?? In fact, you doubled down. It worked. Why shouldn't the lefty's try the same thing? Dude!

The arrogance here, is that you righty's actually EXPECT the message to change. It's OK, though. I'm guilty of it too. For over 10 years, I've expected YOU to change when you heard the logic and reason of my positions... Didn't happen.

excon

[speechlesstx]

Like yours changed when you got tromped???? In fact, you doubled down. It worked. Why shouldn't the lefty's try the same thing? Dude!

Actually I congratulated him, said it was historic and defended him repeatedly against the birther nonsense. And yes, I doubled down against his agenda... but I never talked like this.