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    speechlesstx's Avatar
    speechlesstx Posts: 1,111, Reputation: 284
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    #1

    Jan 19, 2010, 07:25 PM
    Coakley concedes
    The Boston Globe reports that Martha Coakley has called Scott Brown to concede, according to a Brown aide.

    Two Democrats confirmed the concession to POLITICO.

    Her concession marks the most dramatic political upset in a generation, one that will be plumbed for meaning and spun over the next few days.
    Sweet. :D
    paraclete's Avatar
    paraclete Posts: 2,706, Reputation: 173
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    #2

    Jan 19, 2010, 10:56 PM
    Well I guess you could say this result is a down with everything approach, some say it's a revolution likening Obama to the hated King George others that it is an epiphany and the end of a era which hadn't really got started but seriously it isn't a shot heard around the world but just a wimper but one thing appears certain, Obama is now a lame duck or as we say here out for a duck
    speechlesstx's Avatar
    speechlesstx Posts: 1,111, Reputation: 284
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    #3

    Jan 20, 2010, 05:53 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by paraclete View Post
    Well I guess you could say this result is a down with everything approach, some say it's a revolution likening Obama to the hated King George others that it is an epiphany and the end of a era which hadn't really got started but seriously it isn't a shot heard around the world but just a wimper but one thing appears certain, Obama is now a lame duck or as we say here out for a duck
    If I recall even CNN said it was a shot heard round the world (just before the big 3, O'Donnell, Matthews and Olby, said the Dems' only hope was to be more liberal). A Republican hasn't held that seat since Henry Cabot Lodge. It's a state where only 12 percent identify as Republican, where Brown will be the only Republican in the state's congressional delegation. A state which voted for Obama with 61.8% of the vote. It's a pretty significant win.
    tomder55's Avatar
    tomder55 Posts: 1,742, Reputation: 346
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    #4

    Jan 20, 2010, 06:02 AM
    Well I guess you could say this result is a down with everything approach
    That is a fair analysis. There is certainly no love affair with the Republicans here . They need to demonstrate this year that they will not repeat the mistakes they made when they were the majority.

    The reason there is this reaction is also because of misplaced priorities by the Dems. With unemployment in double digits ;it was not the right time to shove down the country's throats major radical social legislation that doesn't have broad support.

    If they want to succeed they need to bring Republicans into the mix and together take real steps to get the economy running .

    These steps should not include phony bucket list spending ;but instead should concentrate on tax reform . One easy one would be to compare how we punitively tax corporations compared to even the most socialist nations. Only Japan, at 39.54%, has a higher corporate rate than the U.S. which is 39.1% .Even France and Sweden has a lower corporate tax rate than the United States.

    The administration should also look at the success of the company that refused bail-out money... Ford. Ford is experiencing a renaissance;gaining market share and reporting profits.For all of the greenies here;Ford refused government subsidies and instead has in development a number of hybrid and electric cars on their own.

    The President should clean house of the losers who are advising him on the economy . He needs to bring in someone who understands monetary policy . The economy needs a strong currency to survive ;and it has been a decade since we have had a strong dollar policy.
    George_1950's Avatar
    George_1950 Posts: 3,099, Reputation: 236
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    #5

    Jan 20, 2010, 06:45 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by tomder55 View Post


    The President should clean house of the losers who are advising him on the economy . He needs to bring in someone who understands monetary policy . The economy needs a strong currency to survive ;and it has been a decade since we have had a strong dollar policy.
    My feelings, exactly! This is a watershed moment for Obama and the country. How will Obama react after repudiation in Massachusetts? My theory of 'organizational accountability' says Obama should fire everyone close to his administration within thirty days and start anew. Glenn Beck postulated that the Whitehouse crowd will 'devour their own', first. This will be fun.
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    spitvenom Posts: 1,266, Reputation: 373
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    #6

    Jan 20, 2010, 07:15 AM

    It may not be a shot heard round the world but it is months definitely a shot that was heard loud and clear here.
    speechlesstx's Avatar
    speechlesstx Posts: 1,111, Reputation: 284
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    #7

    Jan 20, 2010, 07:47 AM

    Here's how Olby reacted:

    I wanted to apologize for calling Senator-elect Scott Brown an "irresponsible, homophobic, racist, reactionary, ex-nude model, tea bagging, supporter of violence against women and against politicians with whom he disagrees." I’m sorry, I left out the word "sexist."
    He also implied we're just racists:

    "the Republicans and the Tea Partiers will tell you what happens with Scott Brown tonight whether he wins or comes close is a repudiation of Obama policies. And surely one of Obama's policies from the viewpoint of his opponents is it's OK to have this sea-change in American history—to have an African-American president. Is this vote to any degree just another euphemism the way 'states rights' was in the '60s?"
    And people complain about Fox News...
    tomder55's Avatar
    tomder55 Posts: 1,742, Reputation: 346
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    #8

    Jan 20, 2010, 09:47 AM

    ... and the 2 people who still watch his show went rabid.

    They have to think now about what might have been . President Bush got much of his agenda passed in the 1st year by getting Kennedy et al to come on board. Just imagine how many Republicans would've broken ranks on a filibuster if they had just included something simple like tort reform in the health care legislation.

    But instead of learning from this I expect they will take the advice of people like Katrina Vanden Heuvel of the Nation or Ed Schultz who think the problem is that the President has not been "progressive" enough.
    The Massachusetts Lesson: Go Populist Now
    Tokugawa's Avatar
    Tokugawa Posts: 22, Reputation: 3
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    #9

    Jan 20, 2010, 10:28 AM

    As far as I can tell, all that has happened here is that Cloakley has been given a lesson on electioneering. I have been invovled in more than one election (in Aus and NZ), and I can tell you that having a lazy nobody rely on the goodwill of their predecessor, is a kiss of death, even in seemingly "safe" seats. Perhaps things are different in the U.S.

    No doubt this is a huge win for Republicans, however it seems to me that the Dem's "lost" it, rather than the Rep's "winning" it. If this was so important to the Dem's, the big names should have been invovled sooner (do you guys have "whips"?).

    Either way, it makes for great viewing. It looks more like "Wrestlemania" on FOX with each passing day.
    tomder55's Avatar
    tomder55 Posts: 1,742, Reputation: 346
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    #10

    Jan 20, 2010, 10:52 AM

    Dem's "lost" it, rather than the Rep's "winning" it.
    That is a given. Since the Republican party barely exists in Mass. Brown was on his own without any real party help. Perhaps he will be the lead in a party revival in the North East ,but you can never go wrong betting on the ability of the Republican to shoot themselves in the foot.

    The reason why this and the Virginia and New Jersey Governor races are notable is because the Dems have proven that when their ideas are put into practice the public rejects them. The other reason this race was crucial was because this seat was part of the Democrat super-majority in the Senate. No longer can the Dems think they can go it alone without Republican cooperation. They will have to build a consensus to get any of their agenda passed.
    speechlesstx's Avatar
    speechlesstx Posts: 1,111, Reputation: 284
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    #11

    Jan 20, 2010, 11:12 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by tomder55 View Post
    But instead of learning from this I expect they will take the advice of people like Katrina Vanden Heuvel of the Nation or Ed Schultz who think the problem is that the President has not been "progressive" enough.
    The Massachusetts Lesson: Go Populist Now
    As I alluded to earlier, Norah O'Donnell and Matthews insisted the only way the Dems' aren't goners this year is if they double down on the progressive agenda. And people think Sarah Palin is dumb?
    Tokugawa's Avatar
    Tokugawa Posts: 22, Reputation: 3
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    #12

    Jan 20, 2010, 12:15 PM

    Brown was on his own without any real party help.
    Hmm. Makes me think it comes down to good old "campaigning". Getting out there, shaking hands, expressing local knowledge, talking with people, etc. Sounds corny, but I've seen some "big players" get embarrassed by these simple tactics (John Howard for one).

    Good luck to the young man. I'm sure he stands for most things I don't.
    Skell's Avatar
    Skell Posts: 1,863, Reputation: 514
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    #13

    Jan 20, 2010, 03:11 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Tokugawa View Post
    Either way, it makes for great viewing. It looks more like "Wrestlemania" on FOX with each passing day.
    Vince McMahon for Pres.. He knows how to get things done, and with an iron fist.
    speechlesstx's Avatar
    speechlesstx Posts: 1,111, Reputation: 284
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    #14

    Jan 20, 2010, 03:19 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by Skell View Post
    Vince McMahon for Pres.. He knows how to get things done, and with an iron fist.
    Jesse Ventura couldn't, might as well let the big guy try.
    tomder55's Avatar
    tomder55 Posts: 1,742, Reputation: 346
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    #15

    Jan 20, 2010, 03:22 PM

    Vince McMahon for Pres.. He knows how to get things done, and with an iron fist.
    His wife has more than a puncher's chance to take the Senate seat from
    Connecticut being vacated by Dodd.
    tomder55's Avatar
    tomder55 Posts: 1,742, Reputation: 346
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    #16

    Jan 20, 2010, 04:03 PM
    Hmm. Makes me think it comes down to good old "campaigning". Getting out there, shaking hands, expressing local knowledge, talking with people, etc. Sounds corny, but I've seen some "big players" get embarrassed by these simple tactics (John Howard for one).

    Good luck to the young man. I'm sure he stands for most things I don't.
    A closer examination will find that he is quite moderate by American standards.

    It is true that he out worked his opponent in this race ;but the seat he took was the seat of a democrat icon and the symbolism of that defeat should be shaking the dems to their core.

    In 1994 the Dem majority was swept out of power ;leaving Bill Clinton no choice but the shift focus on his agenda.Gone was a crazy fabian agenda ;replaced by a more moderate one that ultimately positively reformed welfare. Due to the lesson he learned he was able to secure a second term .

    President Obama should take a page from that book and redirect his administration that has done a poor performance to date.
    twinkiedooter's Avatar
    twinkiedooter Posts: 12,172, Reputation: 1054
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    #17

    Jan 21, 2010, 07:44 AM

    If Jesse Ventura ran the USA like he did Minnesota he'd ditch all the Washington baloney in a heartbeat. He is one no nonsense guy. Too bad he's not running for President anytime soon.
    tomder55's Avatar
    tomder55 Posts: 1,742, Reputation: 346
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    #18

    Jan 21, 2010, 08:13 AM

    Most of his plans never made it to the floor of the legislature because he did not have any party support . So although he did a nice job with his veto pen;he never really got his agenda in place.
    George_1950's Avatar
    George_1950 Posts: 3,099, Reputation: 236
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    #19

    Jan 21, 2010, 11:08 PM

    I would argue that Obama is not yet at the point of Clinton's 'the era of big government is over'. The disciples of big government are still in play, minus one. Remember, ol Clinton was on the Hill saying the Dems were clobbered because they didn't pass legislation; and some Dems are using that tack today. I haven't heard anything from ol Clinton since Tuesday's result. But if Obama believes that, then we will get an earful at the State of the Union address, and expect Pelosi and Reed to turn the dogs loose, again.
    paraclete's Avatar
    paraclete Posts: 2,706, Reputation: 173
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    #20

    Jan 22, 2010, 01:06 AM
    Well now we will see what support there is for trimming the fat cat's whiskers. Is the move populist or long overdue anti-trust reform?

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