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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

fruitpork Since: Oct, 2010
#268376: Jan 23rd 2019 at 5:13:53 PM

I keep hearing this “fewer people are republicans” reassurance, but how true is it, really? It seems to just be a way of assuring ourselves.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#268377: Jan 23rd 2019 at 5:18:46 PM

I keep hearing this “fewer people are republicans” reassurance, but how true is it, really? It seems to just be a way of assuring ourselves.

It's a real phenomenon

It is not in-fact "just a way to reassure ourselves".

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#268378: Jan 23rd 2019 at 5:24:37 PM

That the drop remains in the single digits does not relieve me as much as I'd like from the fact that the phenomenom exists.

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#268379: Jan 23rd 2019 at 5:30:08 PM

That the drop remains in the single digits does not relieve me as much as I'd like from the fact that the phenomenom exists.

If you think losing 5% of one's voter base is nothing then you must've been sleeping during the midterms. Suburbs defecting is one of the reasons we had the Blue Wave, it would be a mistake to write it off as "single digit".

Furthermore, I'm not the one who said it should be comforting or not. It's a phenomenon that exists and thus should be acknowledged.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#268380: Jan 23rd 2019 at 5:37:19 PM

[up][up],[up] that was a 5% reduction in total, translating to nearly a 12% loss in-faction; that article is from December 2017, amounting to roughly 10 months worth of GOP control post-inauguration. It would be interesting to see a more recent study from the last 2-3 months.

Edited by ViperMagnum357 on Jan 23rd 2019 at 8:37:58 AM

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#268381: Jan 23rd 2019 at 5:42:42 PM

that was a 5% reduction in total, translating to nearly a 12% loss in-faction; that article is from December 2017, amounting to roughly 10 months worth of GOP control post-inauguration. It would be interesting to see a more recent study from the last 2-3 months.

D'oh, I had actually meant to mention the article date.

Thanks for the correction smile

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#268382: Jan 23rd 2019 at 6:20:01 PM

The Republicans have gained tremendously under Trump. Before, the public was voting for them only out of necessity for no alternative to the Democrats.

Now, the racist whites are all united behind their master who has their loyalty far more than the GOP ever did.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#268383: Jan 23rd 2019 at 6:32:02 PM

’This shutdown is stupid’: Simpson becoming Idaho’s lone vocal critic of Trump’s management

https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article224973125.html

The record-breaking partial federal government shutdown has pushed one Idaho congressman, typically known for maintaining a focused, thoughtful and laid-back style, into becoming a vocal critic of congressional dysfunction on all sides.

On Wednesday, Idaho U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson stood behind his words. He was one of just 10 House Republicans to break rank and vote in favor of a Democrat-led bill to reopen the government. The legislation, which passed in a 234-180 vote, would fund the government through Sept. 30. New Idaho GOP Rep. Russ Fulcher voted no.

The other Republicans voting with Simpson are Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Pennsylvania; Jaime Herrera Beutler, Washington; Will Hurd, Texas; John Katko, New York; Adam Kinzinger, Illinois; Chris Smith, New Jersey; Elise Stefanik, New York; Fred Upton, Michigan; and Greg Walden, Oregon.

"Like all Americans, I am extremely frustrated in Congress’ inability to compromise," Simpson said Wednesday in a statement provided to the Statesman.

And he has a message to Idahoans: "I am sorry for the failure of your elected leaders to fulfill their most basic duty. We are a diverse nation with many different viewpoints, but all Americans expect their government to continue functioning, day in and day out."

Not only is Simpson frustrated by political posturing and petulance, but also by how the shutdown is directly affecting Idahoans.

"To Idaho, a shutdown means thousands of furloughs for government workers and contractors, a significant reduction in the work being done by the Forest Service to prevent catastrophic wildfires, and the added backlog to the deferred maintenance on our public lands and National Parks, to name just a few things," he wrote in the statement.

"It is unacceptable to jeopardize the pay of our hard-working civil servants from carrying out their service to the American people. I understand the burden that this has created for many families, and I commend the men and women in our country are currently working with their pay withheld or who are furloughed."

Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#268384: Jan 23rd 2019 at 6:39:07 PM

The Republicans have gained tremendously under Trump. Before, the public was voting for them only out of necessity for no alternative to the Democrats.

Now, the racist whites are all united behind their master who has their loyalty far more than the GOP ever did.

I'm sorry what?

They already had the white racist vote, they've lost the suburbanites (possibly permanently) and have greatly increased Democratic turnout.

That... is not "gained tremendously" by any sane definition of the word.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#268385: Jan 23rd 2019 at 6:42:56 PM

The continued denial the Tea Party has replaced the GOP and grown stronger and more enthusiastic is pretty strange.

The GOP leans on Trump because he'll probably last longer than they will.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Eschaton Since: Jul, 2010
#268386: Jan 23rd 2019 at 6:48:38 PM

I suppose one can argue that the Republican loyalists, by coalescing under the Trump banner, have become more powerful. To the point where they can shut down the government and lockout federal workers in order to demand a racist monument.

And then, despite the Republican party losing voters in raw numbers, the concern is that doesn't matter due to things like the electoral college, Senate representation, and the Supreme Court.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#268387: Jan 23rd 2019 at 6:52:35 PM

The problem is that every reasonable position is one they've abandoned due to loyalty to their paymasters and sponsors.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#268388: Jan 23rd 2019 at 7:06:06 PM

The continued denial the Tea Party has replaced the GOP and grown stronger and more enthusiastic is pretty strange.

The GOP leans on Trump because he'll probably last longer than they will.

Grown stronger?

When was this? When they lost the House?

The GOP is Trump, they haven't gotten stronger. They're simply one and the same.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#268389: Jan 23rd 2019 at 7:15:19 PM

The GOP only seems strong because they have to constantly cheat and subvert democracy and political norms to win and hold onto power.

New Survey coming this weekend!
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#268390: Jan 23rd 2019 at 7:20:32 PM

When they gained Senate Seats and a SCJ.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#268391: Jan 23rd 2019 at 7:22:24 PM

The Democrats won the majority of Senate races in November, the map just had them on the defensive nearly everywhere. The Republicans picked up seats in states that still supported Trump, and outright cheated in at least one.

Edited by Rationalinsanity on Jan 23rd 2019 at 12:03:47 PM

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#268392: Jan 23rd 2019 at 7:43:22 PM

Yeah, the GOP going from a majority in the House and a small majority in the Senate to a minority in the House and a small majority in the Senate is still a loss.

Yes, they won Senate seats. So did we. The net result in the Senate was a paltry -2. Compare that to the House where we steamrolled them and gained an absolutely massive +40.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#268393: Jan 23rd 2019 at 8:04:34 PM

Plus, next year there are at least two seats up for grabs in the Senate; Colorado and Maine. And that's just the ones that I can think of while sleep deprived.tongue

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
TheWildWestPyro from Seattle, WA Since: Sep, 2012 Relationship Status: Healthy, deeply-felt respect for this here Shotgun
RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#268395: Jan 23rd 2019 at 9:18:33 PM

But he's also determined to continue the shutdown for years. And the President is required to inform Congress somehow...

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
Hylarn (Don’t ask)
#268397: Jan 23rd 2019 at 9:19:42 PM

What are the actual consequences of not giving the SotU?

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#268398: Jan 23rd 2019 at 9:34:06 PM

Nothing really. The Constitution just says the president is supposed to give Congress a heads up every now and then. It technically doesn't even have to be an annual address.

If he doesn't give Congress some sort of official address on the Union then I suppose they can add that to his list of crimes if impeachment ever gets underway.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#268399: Jan 23rd 2019 at 10:30:14 PM

Way back, but Evil Turtle didn't actually have these people arrested, that was a normal police action. I am not saying that Mitch isn't evil incarnate, but in this case it wasn't his request.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Hylarn (Don’t ask)
#268400: Jan 23rd 2019 at 10:38:03 PM

What the constitution has to say on the state of the union address:

He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient

It basically amounts to "the president and congress should keep in touch". Not really a constitutional crisis if this ends up not happening


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