Republican Sen. George Allen of Virginia admits defeat in Senate race. The result gives Democrats a working majority in both houses of Congress.
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billythrilly7th
Banned
I think a 51-49 split is the best, because you can't get a true party-line vote every time, and there are senators on both parties who jump lines depending on the issue (or if a bill has their pork in it).
You're probably going to see a lot more compromise in a senate like this. The only real advantage to having the majority becomes the committee leadership positions, because now the dems can at least control what comes up for a vote, even if they can't always be assured of the outcome.
You're probably going to see a lot more compromise in a senate like this. The only real advantage to having the majority becomes the committee leadership positions, because now the dems can at least control what comes up for a vote, even if they can't always be assured of the outcome.
billythrilly7th
Banned
49-49-2
Sanders and Lieberman are the "Independents" who will "caucus" with the democrats.
"Caucus."
I wouldn't worry about the voting situation, Clary.
The democrats have promised to change the tone in Washington and not treat the Republicans the way they were treated.
I take them at their word.
Sanders and Lieberman are the "Independents" who will "caucus" with the democrats.
"Caucus."
I wouldn't worry about the voting situation, Clary.
The democrats have promised to change the tone in Washington and not treat the Republicans the way they were treated.
I take them at their word.
billythrilly7th
Banned
Haggis said:
He's officially an independent now. However, he's already said he'll be voting the same as he always has: a generally demmie party line.
I wouldn't be surprised to see him realign demmie. He just did what he had to do to keep his seat, given the stupid state-level democratic party throwing him under the bus for his support of the war.
billythrilly7th
Banned
How cool would be if Joe gave the dems the middle finger for the way he was treated and said..."You know what? I'm switching to the Republican party, f'ers!!"
Oh...that would be funny. Ohhhhhh...ohhhhhhhh......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzdffoimm[asd j-wet09j sdg[sdfgjdagmaoi ewt78a80er7=tae09ruta=e09ruaypdoijfhdfhjdkfha'dfkhd'fhkad
Oh...that would be funny. Ohhhhhh...ohhhhhhhh......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzdffoimm[asd j-wet09j sdg[sdfgjdagmaoi ewt78a80er7=tae09ruta=e09ruaypdoijfhdfhjdkfha'dfkhd'fhkad
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billythrilly7th said:
Lieberman won? Fantastic. I love seeing things like that. The party tries to screw him over and he ends up winning anyway. Fantastic. Good for him.
I'm a bit confused. I don't see the Dem. majority. I see 49 Dems 49 Rep and 2 Ind. How can the Dems claim the majority when the VP can vote on a tie. Wouldn't that vote givve Republicans the majority? Why are the Independents given to the Democrats?
They're using the same math they use when they declare a smaller increase in spending "lowered spending"
billythrilly7th
Banned
dclary said:
Actually it was a...Billy's happily drifts off to sleep montage.
I probably should have left out the "ohhhhhhs."
Oh well. Writing is rewriting.
Thank you.
Sparhawk said:
Both of the Independents are choosing to caucus with the Democrats. They're allowed to caucus with whichever party they want to (or neither one, if that's what they wanted to do).
billythrilly7th
Banned
Shadow_Ferret said:
Yep. Ned Lamont is another politican who ends up on the smoldering scrap heap of history's failed ideologies.
Shadow_Ferret said:
How did the Democratic Party try to screw him over? The party leaders all campaigned for him during the primary. Since when is losing a primary because of an effective grass roots campaign is getting screwed over?
Sparhawk said:
Neither one of them is really an "Independent", in the sense of being somehow between the two major parties philosophically. Both have announced they'll caucus with the Democrats. Lieberman is a Democrat, by formal party affiliation, who only ran as an Indie after he lost the Dem primary. Sanders, who takes over from Jeffords in Vermont, is a Socialist, and served under that formal label in Congress before running for Senate.
caw
He votes with the Dems like 80% of the time, with most of his votes in the GOP being related to Iraq.
Probably political suicide. The 2008 map looks a bit rockier for GOP incumbents, and so if Joe bolted, and then the GOP lost the majority, he'd really look stupid.
And as for the Lamont thing, Joe came across as peevish and annoyed that he'd actually have to have a primary rather than simply be annointed his nomination as usual. When politicians don't perform, they face challengers. And the Democratic voters in Connecticut, I think, were a little tired of hearing him adopt Dick Cheney's rhetoric. It wasn't just the support of the war in Iraq, it was his penchant for telling people who disagree that they're undermining the war on terror, for saying Rummy was doing a great job, and saying people who voted against him are appeasers, although he didn't use that word, exactly. Also, and Jean Marie, if she's around might know more, Joe has apparently pissed off a lot of people in Connecticut to begin with.
That's what it was. Other hawkish Dems on the war - Hillary and Sen. Cantwell in Washington - faced only token opposition.
But Lamont, after winning the primary, seemed to run out of steam, and Joe came back and ran a better general election race.
TheGaffer said:
Well.. A) they've already lost the majority, right? I mean, even if he switches party lines, he's still voting 80% demmie 20% repub.. I mean that's almost more demmie than McCaine
And B) Where are you reading that 2008 looks worse? I've heard that Demmies have 8 senate seats that are vulnerable in 2008, but I haven't heard how many republican seats are considered in trouble.
billythrilly7th
Banned
TheGaffer said:
Look at Gaffer all nervous.
Don't worry, Gaffer. Joe won't ruin all your hard work.
Funny watching you twitch a little thinking about Joe bolting though.
"He'd look really stupid!!"
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