2014 Election Megathread

[garbon]

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!

I didn't want anything he had on offer.

[CountDeMoney]

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

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

It's the United States Senate, not America's Got Talent.

[Admiral Yi]

Enjoy a few years of no government yanks!

The Eisenhower years!

[Eddie Teach]

It's the United States Senate, not America's Got Talent.

Tell that to these guys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nuoduwf3es

[derspiess]

I predict there will be less gridlock than people are saying. 

[CountDeMoney]

I predict there will be less gridlock than people are saying.

If it gets the TPP through relatively fast, it will almost be worth the subsequent investigations and impeachment proceedings.

[Admiral Yi]

I predict there will be less gridlock than people are saying.

Depends what you mean by gridlock.  If no one proposes any legislation is it still gridlock?

About the only thing I can see being passed is trade treaties, as Joan mentioned.

[garbon]

Anyway, I would love to have the Republicans look foolish next year so that it can prepare the way for the rightful coronation. Something that should have taken place say in '08.

[dps]

I predict there will be less gridlock than people are saying. 

Well, some people are saying there will be even more gridlock than there has been the past few years, but that's not really possible, so I guess that's a good prediction.

[Savonarola]

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?

Sure, but it won't be; at least not in the foreseeable future.

[Admiral Yi]

Is criminalization of weed currently in the Florida constitution?

[dps]

Is criminalization of weed currently in the Florida constitution?

By no means am I an expert on Florida constitutional law, but my guess is probably not--this was an attempt to by-pass the legislature and put a provision in the state constitution taking the power to criminalize weed away from the legislature.

[Admiral Yi]

Asoka

[alfred russel]

There should be a 60% threshold on all referenda. Maybe higher, or maybe we should just get rid of them.

We just got a constitutional amendment prohibiting the legislature from raising income taxes.

I don't know if there have been constitutional amendments, but there have been previous property tax cuts on the ballot, and those always seem to pass.

Anyone who knows anything about Atlanta, knows traffic gridlock, and no reasonable public transportation. The transportation network is past the breaking point. There was recently a special election for a metro atlanta 1% sales tax to fund a transportation upgrade. Every major leader, Republican and Democrat, supported it. Major employers and the chamber of commerce begged people to support it. The result? Crushing defeat.

It is a terrible way to govern. Voters are going to chip away at the tax base until our government services are (even more) crippled.

[alfred russel]

I read that in Washington, they had 2 proposals on the ballot:
1) prohibiting required background checks for gun purchases,
2) requiring background checks for gun purchases

It turned out that 1) failed and 2) passed. But, apparently polling indicated that there was a chance that both would pass. Possibly some people were confused by the wording, possibly the polls were wrong, or possibly voters are just stupid.