Election Results: A Speaks Perspective

[speaks]

I am dissapointed that the Republicans Swept the house in such large numbers. I feel that anyone making less than $500,000 a year or so that votes Republican is voting against their own interests. There are some that vote on 'moral' issues. My mom will basically vote for whomever promises to outlaw abortions, despite the fact that Roe v. Wade is

Comments

[sparkindarkness]

I think "moral" issues are the biggest smoke screen ever - on par with appealing to prejudices (xenophobia, homophobia, racism) and appealing to religion

[chapel_of_words]

Interestingly enough, the answer to any failure in life is almost never to continue to do more of the same of what you were doing. The key to getting out of debt isn't to take more on (either at personal or national levels); you can't eat your way out of being overweight (after losing 80lbs I've learned this the hard way); you won't get less speeding tickets by speeding more etc. etc

[tonyvila]

I'm voting straight Ham Sandwich ticket in 2012!

[ladyapple27]

Not chicken salad?

[mastertwisted]

Gotta agree with you 100% on this one.

[kingfrog]

Speaks, I am confused by one thing in your post. Is the mess the fault of the Congress or the President?

Congress was held by Democrats during the time you say the mess was made. Wasn't it Barney Frank (D) who told the sitting Republican President that he would not "fix what was not broken" when he repeatedly refused to allow the executive tighter oversight of Fannie / Freddie? Is it coincidence that Democratic ex-legislators made up the leadership of those two organizations?

Is the mess the President's or the Congress'? If it's the President's, then then your argument has little bearing. If it's the Congress', then the election results make a LOT of sense. If, like most of us, you realize that it's a combination, then perhaps the current situation will eliminate the worst excesses of each side and result in rational action being taken.

[speaks]

I'm amazed, simply SHOCKED that Barney Frank has so much power over not only the president but the REPUBLICAN CONGRESS. This one silly lisping man can bring then entire republican enclave to its knees!

Of course it is a mixed combination of both. But for the first 6 years of the bush Administration They were the same party. Congress has been in the hands of the republicans since 1994.

[kingfrog]

Does he actually lisp? I've heard only limited statements by him in his own voice, and hadn't noticed.

I was speaking specifically of Congressional expansions of the CRA in the late 1990s...and, unlike some, I don't actually care who writes bad legislation, it remains bad legislation. Bad regulation is bad regulation, without regard to party.

But Barney Frank? Yes, he has a lot of power, whether he's in a majority or not.

[chapel_of_words]

Be interested in your thoughts Speaks on this CNN exit poll described here: http://www.theatlanticwire.com/opinions/view/opinion/Why-Are-More-Gay-People-Voting-Republican-5673/

Over one third of self-identified gay voters pulled the lever for Republicans on Tuesday, a 4 percentage point increase from the same demographic in 2008.

Would you put these self-identified gays into the category of those only hurting themselves (like you claim anyon making <$500k is who votes GOP) or are they just more folks you wouldn't get into a room with because they represent the kind of homophobia the GOP attracts?

Tim C.

[speaks]

My thoughts are: They are voting against their self interest and hurting themselves by voting GOP.

I have 2 friends who are both Gay and Conservative. I have told them both "I don't understand why you work to elect people who would brand you a criminal for your lifestyle.

[kingfrog]

It's mostly because being gay doesn't imply that I don't believe the welfare state, at its current trajectory, is going to destroy the country. :)

I figure I can work on the idiots on my own time. They exist in both parties; they're just WAY more visible and influential on the right.

[speaks]

That way you can keep more money in your pocket while you rot in jail for sodomy.