Arlen Specter switches sides lmao.

[fallinup]

It's close enough to magic for me...I'm happy to see the end or at least slow down of grid lock in the senate.

There is, however, one automatic change that comes with having 60 votes. The greatest power that the minority has in the Senate is the power to grind things to a halt. By filibustering, the GOP not only blocks the piece of legislation it's opposing, but also any other action that is bottle-necked behind it. The threat to grind things to a halt is one that the majority takes seriously. It gives the minority veto power over small (but important) pieces of legislation that the majority wants but can't afford to lose several weeks pushing. With 60 votes, the majority can push through those smaller measures over the objections of the GOP.

It's a point Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, the third-ranking Democrat, underscored. "The bottom line is, it's still not going to be easy. This is a bold, comprehensive agenda. But the sort-of-just-doing-a-filibuster-at-every-whim to block us is not there and that makes legislating a lot easier," he said.

[Imperial]

All the Democrats in the Senate are still independent, type A personality people. I'm sure that they will find plenty to disagree about. Having 60 Dems doesn't mean anything when every single Senator has their own agenda in mind. I hope that Obama actually does try to get Republicans and Democrats on board, it will make his life all the easier and numbers wouldn't be an issue. He ran on bipartisanship, now let's see it

[fallinup]

Well, lets look at it this way. I saw an ABC news poll today saying that only 21% of the people questioned identify themselves as Republican. Obama is still popular as hell no matter what conservatives throw out there. Nothing has been sticking. And nothing has improved for Repubs except more turmoil and confusion on their part. Unless Obama lays a giant shit burger within the next year or so...2010 is looking better and better for more seats for Dems.

If anything, Specter leaving better be a big time wake up call for repubs.This can't be good PR for them.

[James Davis]

Could you post links for some of those claims?

-21% GOP? The last time I checked, it was 31%
-From the reliable polls, Rasmussen being the gold standard, Obama's approval rating is at around 55%, a historic low for presidencies this young.
-the GOP generic congressional ticket is running stronger now than it has at any point since 2006.

Also, you need to read the NY Post's 100 days, 100 mistakes by Obama.

[fallinup]

Originally Posted by James Davis

Could you post links for some of those claims?

-21% GOP? The last time I checked, it was 31%
-From the reliable polls, Rasmussen being the gold standard, Obama's approval rating is at around 55%, a historic low for presidencies this young.
-the GOP generic congressional ticket is running stronger now than it has at any point since 2006.

Also, you need to read the NY Post's 100 days, 100 mistakes by Obama.

Ahh, I read wrong.

More discouraging for a party trying to pick itself up after two bad elections is the wide gulf in public trust between the president and congressional Republicans. Sixty percent of the country trusts Obama to make the right decisions for the country's future -- but just 21 percent trust Republicans in Congress.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/...l?hpid=topnews

I don't do NY Post. They'd do anything to sell a few copies.

[bigdaddychacha]

Originally Posted by Imperial

Umm JD, the Dems already had that person. Joe Lieberman

QFT

[Nedved I]

Lieberman: 'Sorry i tried to destroy you guys."

[Villalba]

JD if you look at history usually presidents that begin to loose their popularity in their second year were considered by history to have become successfull presidents.

Both Lincoln and Raegan were on their 40's of popularity sometime in their presidency. Lincoln received 40% of the popular vote. Raegan popularity decline during his second year in office. Bill Clinton as well. But they both left the presidency with high marks.

[The Corporal]

Originally Posted by Nedved I

Ahh lieberman (motto:Betrays his own party and asks to be keep his cushy job) Uh JD Ill trade you We get Spectre and you Get Lieberman

Works for me.

Originally Posted by James Davis

Meh, 60's not the magic number, more like 63 or 64. There are still a few sane Democrats in the Senate, my Senator, Ben Nelson comes to mind as one of the people who won't be having any of this socialized healthcare crap, for example.

This. Just because there will be 60 Democrats in the Senate (assuming that left wing mouthpiece Franken eventually wins) doesn't mean that the über-liberal agenda will magically pass without issue.

Originally Posted by fallinup

It's close enough to magic for me...I'm happy to see the end or at least slow down of grid lock in the senate.

"Makes legislating a lot easier" = pushing through ideological crap without letting anyone else have a say in their government. If the Democrats use a filibuster-proof majority to push through their ideological wishlist, then half (yes half, just because 31% identify as Republicans doesn't mean there are conservative independents) of the country will lose its voice in the Senate. That is totally unacceptable.

Originally Posted by Villalba

JD if you look at history usually presidents that begin to loose their popularity in their second year were considered by history to have become successfull presidents.

Both Lincoln and Raegan were on their 40's of popularity sometime in their presidency. Lincoln received 40% of the popular vote. Raegan popularity decline during his second year in office. Bill Clinton as well. But they both left the presidency with high marks.

Okay, first off (this has been bugging me for awhile), it's spelled "Reagan." Second, we'll just have to wait until Obama's second year to see what his popularity rating is. There's a lot that can happen between now and then, who knows? He may just pull his head out of his ass and deliver on a few of his campaign promises. He may not. Time will tell.

[Villalba]

Lol my spelling sucks. I did spell Lincoln correctly, i could have just said Lincon and leave it as is