2014 Election Megathread

[CountDeMoney]

August 2009.

[Savonarola]

Medical Marijuana failed in Florida.

They got 57%, why did they need 60%?

State constitutional amendments in Florida require a 60% super majority.

[alfred russel]

When did Captain Chappaquidick kick the bucket?

I think CdM isn't counting Byrd, because he wasn't in good health.

[Neil]

Out of curiousity, when has one party actually had the "reins of power"?

Obama's first term as president featured a large majority in the house and at points a supermajority in the senate.

But even then, the party was hugely divided against itself.  The most popular leader in the party was incredibly weak and inexperienced, and the strongest leader in the party was incredibly unpopular and high-handed.  And the third leader was just venal and short-sighted.

[CountDeMoney]

When did Captain Chappaquidick kick the bucket?

I think CdM isn't counting Byrd, because he wasn't in good health.

Neither was the Senate, because you can't vote from a hospital bed.

[derspiess]

and at points a supermajority in the senate.

Big myth, consistently regurgitated.  The Dems never had the supermajority of 60.

They did for part of 2009.  And don't get all aspie on us and differentiate the two independents that caucused with the Dems.

[alfred russel]

When did Captain Chappaquidick kick the bucket?

I think CdM isn't counting Byrd, because he wasn't in good health.

Neither was the Senate, because you can't vote from a hospital bed.

I know he was in and out of the hospital, but the last time he was admitted was just days before he died.

I don't think there was a single filibuster the Republicans pulled off because the Democrats only had 59 votes because Byrd wasn't well.

[Admiral Yi]

They did for part of 2009.  And don't get all aspie on us and differentiate the two independents that caucused with the Dems.

He's right.  They needed Snowe and Specter or the third lib Republican to pass Obamastimulus.

Or at least one of those three.

No, I think Specter had already jumped parties.  Snowe and 2 others.

[alfred russel]

They did for part of 2009.  And don't get all aspie on us and differentiate the two independents that caucused with the Dems.

He's right.  They needed Snowe and Specter or the third lib Republican to pass Obamastimulus.

Or at least one of those three.

No, I think Specter had already jumped parties.  Snowe and 2 others.

Yeah, but that is because he didn't get some democratic members.

[The Minsky Moment]

Bottom line he had enough votes for stimulus, which was a good thing and helped rescue the economy, and he had enough votes for Obamacare (aka Romneycare, aka Heritagecare), which has lots of warts, but overall is a good thing.

Obama's faults are not in his legislative agenda which has been pretty sound.  It has been in his management of the exec branch.  Which is why it is too bad that those faults have been punished by removing useful legislative votes.

[CountDeMoney]

They did for part of 2009.

Yeah, it was called "recess". 

And don't get all aspie on us and differentiate the two independents that caucused with the Dems.

What this shows is is that there were only two time periods during the 111th Congress when the Democrats had a 60 seat majority:

    From July 7. 2009 (when Al Franken was officially seated as the Senator from Minnesota after the last of Norm Coleman's challenges came to an end) to August 25, 2009 (when Ted Kennedy died, although Kennedy's illness had kept him from voting for several weeks before that date at least); and
    From September 25, 2009 (when Paul Kirk was appointed to replace Kennedy) to February 4, 2010 (when Scott Brown took office after defeating Martha Coakley);
    For one day in September 2009, Republicans lacked 40 votes due to the resignation of Mel Martinez, who was replaced the next day by George LeMieux

So, to the extent there was a filibuster proof majority in the Senate it lasted during two brief periods which lasted for a total of just over five months when counted altogether (and Congress was in its traditional summer recess for most of the July-August 2009 time frame).

Yes, a stunningly sustained period of legislative action, rivaling only LBJ.

[Admiral Yi]

Bottom line he had enough votes for stimulus, which was a good thing and helped rescue the economy, and he had enough votes for Obamacare (aka Romneycare, aka Heritagecare), which has lots of warts, but overall is a good thing.

I thought he didn't have enough votes for Obamacare, so they had to sneak it in on a concurring resolution, or whatever they call it.

[jimmy olsen]

Medical Marijuana failed in Florida.

They got 57%, why did they need 60%?

State constitutional amendments in Florida require a 60% super majority.

It seems ridiculous that one has to amend the state constitution to legalize weed. Can't that be done with normal legislation?

[jimmy olsen]

When did Captain Chappaquidick kick the bucket?

I think CdM isn't counting Byrd, because he wasn't in good health.

Neither was the Senate, because you can't vote from a hospital bed.

They don't allow folks to vote electronically these days?

You shouldn't actually have to be present if you're ill.

[Josquius]

So sad that people are blaming obama for his failures and voting in such a way that it will be even harder for him to do anything.
Enjoy a few years of no government yanks!