Republicans Win in Key States - WSJ.com »
Posted By RTHTGakaRoland 1 month, 3 weeks ago in NewsA Republican sweep in Virginia and New Jersey on Tuesday shifted the political terrain against President Barack Obama only a year after his historic election.
In New Jersey, Republican former U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie ousted incumbent Democrat Jon S. Corzine with a surprisingly strong showing. Virginia voters elected Republican former Attorney General Bob McDonnell as their commonwealth's next governor, handing the state back to the GOP after eight years of Democratic rule.
A year after voters swept into power a presidential candidate promising change, voters in Virginia and New Jersey delivered more change, this time to the Republican Party's advantage. Virginia's lieutenant governor and attorney general offices also went to Republican candidates.
Voters in all three states expressed concern about jobs and the economy, and some expressed unease over Democratic policies. Elizabeth Dechent, voting in the Richmond, Va., suburb of Henrico County, saw mounting discontent with Mr. Obama.
"I think there are a lot of questions about whether [the country] is going in the right direction," she said, declining to say for whom she voted. "Obama's slogan last year was change, but I think it's changed a little too much and needs to change back the other way a bit."
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RTHTGakaRoland
“…man is not free unless government is limited. There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law ...
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alanocu1 month, 3 weeks ago
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UnusualSuspect1 month, 3 weeks ago
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A Republican winning in Virginia isn't really big news...it was half expected. And if you take into consideration that no matter who is sitting in the WH since 1976, the governorship of Virginia has gone to the other party, it's even less of a surprise.
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And most exit polls show that the voters did not vote because they were angry, or upset, or even disappointed with Obama, or anything close to that. It was all local concerns.
To me, the big win was the Democrat in upstate NY, simply because the Republican party and the extreme conservatives can't seem to get their act together.
If conservatives continue down this route, of trying to push moderate Republicans out of the way, then they're just asking for trouble, and lost elections. People want moderation, not extremes.
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avoth1 month, 3 weeks ago
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I would remind my fellow Conservatives that winning is one thing, but conducting oneself in accordance with honesty, integrity, and with the courage of your convictions AFTER one wins is something else.
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Let us take these victories with a sense of honor and respect for our opponents. There is no need to "rub their faces" in it, unless they seek to rub ours in some of their victories, e.g., NY 23.
We must remember that our work has only just begun. We must keep the positive energy flowing. The mid-term elections will be here before we know it.
Keep strong, my friends, so that we may strengthen America.-
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hyperbola1 month, 3 weeks ago
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Well, the WSJ is true to form in "blowing up" the "victories" and trying not to mention the "defeats" before the final sentence.
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Probably the only place that a extreme right-wing nutcase like Hoffman could even run would be a district that has been GOP for decades. That Republicans there threw him out suggests the beginning of recovery of the GOP from the nutcases.
Apart from that, the results seem to be most consistent with voters rejecting "corrupt oligarchies" and their perversion of our democracy.
The WSJ with its state-propaganda may not like the idea, but Americans moved in the direction of doing away with the "privileges" of a corrupt, entrenched oligarchy.
We need to take that further and end the abuse of America and Americans by ending the "privileged monopoly" that we have acquiesced in for a small coterie of corrupt oligarchs in "predatory financial organizations". We also need to end immediately and forever the "revolving door" between that "Wall Street" coterie and government.
Surely real conservatives will agree that "privileged monopolies" have no place in a "free-market" America. After all, we should remember our founding fathers principles and their aversions to entrenched, corrupt oligarchies. They were right in insisting on public banks and we did spectacularly well with them for over a century until the last time the oligarchies got out of control and subborned our government with their corruption (a century ago).
Job Losses? Not in North Dakota. A Stimulus Plan That Really Works
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ellen-brown/job-loss...
On October 21, 2009, Dave Camp, the GOP Ranking Member on the House Ways and Means Committee, issued a disturbing report on the status of new job creation since President Obama's $787 billion stimulus plan went into effect in February. According to the report, the nation has actually lost nearly as many jobs as the plan was projected to create. Instead of adding 3.5 million new jobs, 2.7 million jobs have been lost. California, which was supposed to gain 396,000 jobs, has lost 336,400 jobs. Arizona, which was supposed to gain 70,000, has lost 77,300. Michigan, which was supposed to gain 109,000, has lost 137,300. A total of 49 states and the District of Columbia have all reported net job losses.
In this dark firmament, however, one bright star shines. The sole state to actually gain jobs is an unlikely candidate for the distinction: North Dakota. North Dakota is also one of only two states expected to meet their budgets in 2010. (The other is Montana.) North Dakota is a sparsely populated state of less than 700,000 people, largely located in cold and isolated farming communities. Yet, since 2000, the state's GNP has grown 56 percent, personal income has grown 43 percent and wages have grown 34 percent. The state not only has no funding problems, but this year it has a budget surplus of $1.3 billion, the largest it has ever had. -
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hyperbola1 month, 3 weeks ago
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Why is North Dakota doing so well, when other states are suffering the ravages of a deepening credit crisis? Its secret may be that it has its own credit machine. North Dakota is the only state in the Union to own its own bank. The Bank of North Dakota (BND) was established by the state legislature in 1919, specifically to free farmers and small businessmen from the clutches of out-of-state bankers and railroad men. The bank's stated mission is to deliver sound financial services that promote agriculture, commerce and industry in North Dakota.
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The Advantages of Owning Your Own Bank....
..... that is where a state-owned bank has enormous advantages: States own huge amounts of capital, and they can think farther ahead that their quarterly profit statements, allowing them to take long-term risks. Their asset bases are not marred by oversized salaries and bonuses; they have no shareholders expecting a sizable cut, and they have not marred their books with bad derivatives bets, unmarketable collateralized debt obligations and mark-to-market accounting problems...... -
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canadianrancher571 month, 3 weeks ago
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avoth- I gave you the pos because your comment sounds like the comment of a conservative of maybe the old school where honesty and integrity was important.
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I would hope that in it's efforts to regain more seats that they maybe go back to the idea that all people are important and also when it comes to business that more attention be paid to all business interests not just those of large corporations.
The odd thing about the comment I just made is it sort of applies to both parties. -
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hyperbola1 month, 3 weeks ago
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You are no strenghtener of America. You sound like a second-generation immigrant from eastern european racism and totalitarianism who is a Trojan Horse. In a few generations your family may learn what American democracy is really about. We Americans increasingly see what you are from the company you keep.
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The Passing of Irving Kristol
The man who delightedly accepted the title of neoconservatism’s “godfather” passed away on September 18 at age 89. Sad to report, the neoconservatism Irving Kristol fastened on conservative Republicans endures, and it is not good for America.
After years as an unabashed youthful Trostskyite in New York City, Kristol claimed that the excesses of the New Left in the 1960s and the crimes of communism drove him into the Republican Party. But in his 1995 book Neoconservatism: The Autobiography of an Idea, he stated, “I regard myself as lucky to have been a young Trotskyite and I have not a single bitter memory.”
Younger Americans know little of Leon Trotsky, the lesser-known partner of Vladimir Lenin who teamed with the more famous Russian thug to convert their nation into one of history’s bloodiest tyrannies. After Lenin’s death, Trotsky then partnered with the more ruthless Josef Stalin before being denounced and exiled as the result of a power struggle. Murdered in Mexico by one of Stalin’s agents, Trotsky then became a hero to international socialists who always favored the tyranny of big government and centralized power, but they wanted it chosen by people rather than forcing it down people’s throats with police state brutality.
Praised for his so-called contributions to the conservative movement and the Republican Party, Kristol was much more the personification of a Trojan Horse within America’s right wing.....
http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/pol... -
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Tasine1 month, 3 weeks ago
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I, too, am heartened by this development. I have felt like all of you have felt, and I am optomistic, but we do all need to remember that getting Republicans office is not a silver bullet. Republicans have failed us before and they can do it again. We need to be supportive, but alert and on top of things just as much now as in the past. We can't afford to get lax. I realize all of you know this - I am just babbling. ;-)
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avoth1 month, 3 weeks ago
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"I am just babbling"
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No, you're not. You're stating an essential truth. Politicians are what they are and, even the best of them, when pressured, may fail us. We should be supportive, but must absolutely stay on top of them to make sure they know we're watching.
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epiphannyy1 month, 3 weeks ago
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These republican wins were expected.
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Virginia always elects opposite to the White House - Democrat president/Republican governor and vise versa.
Corzine was a disaster and deserved to lose his governorship over NJ. Obama's effect on that race may have actually been to make him lose by a not-so-great margin as he may have otherwise.
Neither of these races really had anything to do with sending a message to Obama, as is desperately being painted by some. They were just the obvious outcomes of these races, Obama and his policy notwithstanding.
The REAL upset with in NY. That is the election that "sent a message" because an area that has never gone blue before elected a Democrat over the Palin-esque candidate. And that is the message...not a gain for Obama, but rather that this area would rather have a Democrat than a Palin-style Republican. It's actually a vote in favor of the REAL GOP over the NEOCON movement that is taking it over. It would be nice if the the party took notice, but I wouldn't bet on it. They seem to be too busy "celebrating" the predictable victories rather than learning from the UNPREDICTABLE loss. -
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reallypsst1 month, 3 weeks ago
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You people are so entwined in the bs circle jerk,the only thing that has changed is the thief,politicians are the most deceitful parasites on the planet,not one has gone up against the establishment,here is the list of toxic topics they wont touch- immigration,lobbyist reform,the feds,corruption in government,campaign contributions and indicting the people connected to the financial scandal,so go on and cheer for their accomplishment in getting over you fools !
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vor1 month, 3 weeks ago
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As usual history is meaningless to the lightweight thinkers. It has been twenty four years since the party in the White House won either the New Jersey or Virginia governor's race. And the last time the party in power won in Virginia was 36 years ago, in 1973. Corzine came surprisingly close to breaking this trend. Another result from last night is that perhaps this will force those straying too far left back to the center. Continuing to follow the Pelosi line could be a disaster for the Democrats moving forward. And in turn for America. A return to Republican leadership is the very last thing this country needs. Of course it is the economy that should determine what happens in '10. And of course these devils hope there is no further good news on that front. What is best for America is of course not always in their interests.
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So take you little victories as you will. McConnell won as a centrist. And Christie is no extremist either. Hoffman however lost New York 23 generally regarded as a conservative district. He wasn't listed as a Republican yet represents the Far Right of the spectrum. What meaning should be derived from that race?
Republicans clearly have some major decisions to make going forward. Do they represent the nutbag Tea Party crowd represented here by Alanocu and Commodore or do they return to being somewhat sensible and more policy oriented as Avoth represents? That decision will determine the future of the GOP or if there is one.-
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Hhussk1 month, 3 weeks ago
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So take you little victories as you will. McConnell won as a centrist. And Christie is no extremist either. Hoffman however lost New York 23 generally regarded as a conservative district. He wasn't listed as a Republican yet represents the Far Right of the spectrum. What meaning should be derived from that race?
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As usual, diminish your losses. I expect no less. Perhaps the reason Owens won NY-23 was because the Republican who dropped out of the race, still received 6% of the vote.
You did notice Hoffman only lost by 4%, right?
So, if there had been no 3rd party candidate, Owens would have lost.
You asked, so I'll answer: Here's the lesson of New York - 23
HAVE A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY!
Next time, let the people choose who they want to represent their party, and this problem will go away. -
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Hhussk1 month, 3 weeks ago
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As usual history is meaningless to the lightweight thinkers. It has been twenty four years since the party in the White House won either the New Jersey or Virginia governor's race. And the last time the party in power won in Virginia was 36 years ago,
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vor,
Would you tell me how many years it has been since a single party won Gov., Lt. Gov, and Attourney Gen. in VA? -
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avoth1 month, 3 weeks ago
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"or do they return to being somewhat sensible and more policy oriented as Avoth represents?"
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Since you seem to have some measure of respect for me, I'm wondering if you would do me a favor? With all due respect, I'd really like you not use me as an example.
Being held up as an example to emulate by someone who uses phrases like "lightweight thinkers", "nutbag Tea Party crowd", and belittling the victories of others, is not a position I'd like to be in. I understand that's the type of person you are and, in fact, I'm pleased you're that type of person. But I don't feel good that your using me as a positive example.
I hope you understand and respect my position.
Thank you.
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philbrick1 month, 3 weeks ago
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Dede Scozzafava says 'hate, lies' wore her down
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Scozzafava had a great view of the inner workings of the new republcan party.
"“The amount of hate and lies and the deceitfulness,” she said. “I don’t believe that should be the characteristics that define the Republican Party. I think people should be allowed to have discussions and reasonable disagreements. But this was a full frontal assault on me personally and politically, for weeks"
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/ded...
I bet her take on the extremist branch of the new republican party swung alot of the more moderate voters to the democratic side.
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Klarissa1 month, 3 weeks ago
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To quote another author:
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"So, slowly but surely, I am becoming convinced that it is not
Barack Obama who is running the show. The White House
has been captured by a group of people who are using Barack
Obama as their front man.
He is nothing but an articulate but empty suit. We have to start
looking behind the curtains to find out who is really controlling
the "great and powerful Obama"."-
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CRYMTYPHON1 month, 3 weeks ago
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To quote another another author:
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"The venom that chills and curdles the warm current of life in man is secreted only in creeping and cold-blooded creatures; and the inveterate malignity that never forgets or forgives is found only in base and ignoble natures, whose aims are selfish, whose means are indirect, cowardly, and treacherous."
- George Stillman Hillard
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