The US Politics Thread

[Jacob]

... because not every minor development needs a thread of its own.

Anyhow, 538 says it looks about 50-50 that the GOP will get a majority in the senate right now: http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/senate-control-in-2014-increasingly-looks-like-a-tossup/

So, assuming a GOP majority in both the house and the senate, what could we expect to see for the next two years? Would the GOP push a bunch of hard right legislation and dare Obama to veto all of it?

[MadImmortalMan]

Yay stalled nominations forever.

[fhdz]

... because not every minor development needs a thread of its own.

Anyhow, 538 says it looks about 50-50 that the GOP will get a majority in the senate right now: http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/senate-control-in-2014-increasingly-looks-like-a-tossup/

So, assuming a GOP majority in both the house and the senate, what could we expect to see for the next two years? Would the GOP push a bunch of hard right legislation and dare Obama to veto all of it?

There'd definitely be a move to roll back Obamacare.

I don't agree with the Republicans on much these days, but I do agree with them on that. Health care reform is a necessity but the Obamacare bill is just awful.

[MadImmortalMan]

It would get filibustered. I don't think anyone will be able to repeal it at this point. I think we'll see a bunch of tweaks over the next few years on certain aspects though. Like they are doing with pushing back the employer mandate a year.

[Admiral Yi]

Having a tough time seeing a GOP majority in the Senate.

[katmai]

Having a tough time seeing a GOP majority in the Senate.

[sbr]

... because not every minor development needs a thread of its own.

Anyhow, 538 says it looks about 50-50 that the GOP will get a majority in the senate right now: http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/senate-control-in-2014-increasingly-looks-like-a-tossup/

So, assuming a GOP majority in both the house and the senate, what could we expect to see for the next two years? Would the GOP push a bunch of hard right legislation and dare Obama to veto all of it?

There'd definitely be a move to roll back Obamacare.

I don't agree with the Republicans on much these days, but I do agree with them on that. Health care reform is a necessity but the Obamacare bill is just awful.

Where do you see a middle ground between our current system and the Euro-Canuck single payer method?

The insurance reforms are nice but the biggest change that needs to happen is what the provider is charging the payer.

[Jacob]

Having a tough time seeing a GOP majority in the Senate.

What's your take on 538 and did you read the link? Mr. Silver is saying it looks about fifty-fifty right now.

Seems like something you and Dguller should take a bet on.

[Admiral Yi]

What's your take on 538 and did you read the link? Mr. Silver is saying it looks about fifty-fifty right now.

Seems like something you and Dguller should take a bet on.

Didn't read the link.  Too busy formulating a response to The Big Bean's thoughtful comment.

[Barrister]

Having a tough time seeing a GOP majority in the Senate.

What's your take on 538 and did you read the link? Mr. Silver is saying it looks about fifty-fifty right now.

Seems like something you and Dguller should take a bet on.

I dunno - I read it and kind of took "well it's a long way off and lots can happen between now and then"...

[katmai]

I think it's just too fricking early to be making such projections.

[CountDeMoney]

I have complete faith in the American public's ability to fuck this country up even more by giving the GOP both houses of Congress.

[DGuller]

I can see it.  Midterm elections during the president's second term rarely turn out well for the party holding the presidency, and Obama has had a few setbacks.  Some of them was just manufactured foam-at-the-mouth Republican bullshit, but the spying stuff could be bad for him.  The economy may also improve enough to the point that Americans would again feel secure enough to actively try to fuck it up.

[Jacob]

The analysis was predicated on the specific seats up for grabs and the candidates as they stand.

[Sheilbh]

but the spying stuff could be bad for him.

Has that really gained any traction among normal voters? My guess would be the people who care generally don't vote if there's not a Paul on the ballot.