Elections have consequences

[airdvr 210]

Remember that one? Hang on to your berries...we've got 2 years to get some things done and you're probably not gonna like it.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[wmw999 2,593]

Because the absolute best way to steer something really big is to jerk the wheel or rudder hard every now and then, instead of picking a direction that everyone can live with and steering there.

With so many defining "what I'm against" as "whatever he's for" its not going to change anytime soon.

The passage of Obamacare, fractured as it was, should be seen as a sign that health care is a concern in the country. Costs have gotten worse in part because health care itself has gotten more expensive. Trump isn't going to change that, and we really shouldn't go back to the "kick it down the road" approach we had before. It was getting more expensive then, too, it's just that the costs were being passed on indirectly instead of directly.

Oh, and by the way? I'm generally liberal. I had a fucking job. I retired, and am living off the savings from that job, and the savings of my liberal husband, who also had a fucking job. The broad brush of "liberals should get a fucking job" does nothing to help set a course.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[rushmc 23]

Obama did not pick a direction everyone can live with.

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[rushmc 23]

The Republicans get to set the direction now. This mandate comes from the voters.

Democrats did not show up. Your side lost. As the OP says, elections have consequences.

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[wmw999 2,593]

What I'm suggesting is that now picking a radically different direction isn't the best way to steer the ship.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[airdvr 210]

Porkulous...ACA. These radically different directions were shoved down the throat of Republicans and a lot of the american people. Obama was elected on Hope and Change, not porkulous or the ACA. He could have reached across the aisle early on instead of the famous quote. In DC they have long memories.

I would love to see a smooth transition and not too much radicalism but we only have 2 years to undo some stuff we don't like and never agreed to. In reality DC doesn't work the way the Donald is used to functioning (thankfully). He can't just bark out an order and have his minions dispatched. With the exception of the XO the checks and balances will keep him down to a low roar. And he has the same problem BHO had. Just because we have the majority doesn't mean the majority will agree on where to have lunch, much less any meaningful legislation.

I understand and empathize with how you feel. I've felt like you do for 8 years. Only time will tell. And...sorry if you felt insulted for being liberal. Were you out last night burning the flag and protesting too?

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[wmw999 2,593]

I don't feel the least bit insulted for being liberal. But I think it's stupid to paint a group with a broad and inaccurate brush, and expect everyone to just say "hail to the new master" when it happens.

And you were also unhappy during all that time that the Republican Party made it clear that whatever Obama did was going to be blocked. Clearly without study. That's also bullshit.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[normiss 900]

It should prove interesting to see the R's introduce similar bills to what Obama did and was obstructed by their party...they will walk those bills right through now.
The promised infrastructure bill is my first thought.
Seems like it was attempted before albeit by the wrong guy.

[brenthutch 444]

In DC, hypocrisy is a fine art, practiced by both sides. Just wait till Trump starts packing the courts by taking advantage of the "Reid rule", preventing the filibuster on judicial appointments by the minority.

[headoverheels 334]

If Trump really wants to shake things up, he will nominate Garland .

[ryoder 1,590]

headoverheels

If Trump really wants to shake things up, he will nominate Garland .

Oh, I'd love to see the heads exploding!

ETA Starting with McConnell

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[PhreeZone 20]

I have expressed how poorly I thought that statement was years ago and I agree that Obama wasted a lot of chances to reach across the aisle and work on certain proposals.

My question is around supreme count nominations - If there is a second opening in the last 2 years of his term should the opening be left open until the next election since that seems to be the precedent that was recently set.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[JerryBaumchen 1,469]

Hi rush,

Quote

Obama did not pick a direction everyone can live with.

I think that is true of any politician.

Would you pick this 'direction:' Muslim Women Wearing Hijabs Assaulted Just Hours After Trump Win

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/muslim-women-wearing-hijabs-assaulted-just-hours-after-trump-win-n681936

IMO Trump's actions in the campaign is what is bringing this type of crap out into the forefront.

Jerry Baumchen

[BartsDaddy 7]

Iago

***Hi rush,

Quote

Obama did not pick a direction everyone can live with.

I think that is true of any politician.

Would you pick this 'direction:' Muslim Women Wearing Hijabs Assaulted Just Hours After Trump Win

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/muslim-women-wearing-hijabs-assaulted-just-hours-after-trump-win-n681936

IMO Trump's actions in the campaign is what is bringing this type of crap out into the forefront.

Jerry Baumchen

Ok, so of the three incidents mentioned one was a false report, one was a run of the mill street mugging, and the third was unknown. Most likely just some jackass trying to pull the scarf off her head.

Hardly wat I would call a new wave of Islamophobia.

But it's all Trumps fault. If he had lost none of those would have happened.

Handguns are only used to fight your way to a good rifle

[mistercwood 287]

rushmc

The Republicans get to set the direction now. This mandate comes from the voters.

Democrats did not show up. Your side lost. As the OP says, elections have consequences.

While I accept the results of the election are fair and correct based on the system your country uses, your statements here are still objectively false.

1. Democrats obviously did show up, since their candidate got about half a million more votes than the other guy.

2. How on earth does the winner of any US election ever be considered to have a mandate, when barely a third of the population actually votes and less than half of those voted for the winner??

I know compulsory voting would probably never fly in the US, but at least you'd get an actually accurate picture of the will of the people. And if there were the same penalties as here for not voting ($20 fine), the lack of turnout this year would've at least had the silver lining of generating roughly $4 Billion in revenue.

You are playing chicken with a planet - you can't dodge and planets don't blink. Act accordingly.

[jakee 1,599]

rushmc

The Republicans get to set the direction now. This mandate comes from the voters.

Funny how in the one day since you said this you've both conceded that the mandate doesn't come from the voters, and asserted that the mandate shouldn't come from the voters!

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[rushmc 23]

jakee

***The Republicans get to set the direction now. This mandate comes from the voters.

Funny how in the one day since you said this you've both conceded that the mandate doesn't come from the voters, and asserted that the mandate shouldn't come from the voters!

From the billvon school of twist

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[gowlerk 2,277]

I have little sympathy for the view that Trump does not have a mandate. In a democracy you get the government you deserve. Trump won with less votes than Romney got in 2012 against Obama. There is more than one reason for that, but the biggest one is that so many people who voted Democrat last time did not bother to vote.

The right wing of the country got off their asses and went to the polls. Many on the left got too lazy and did not bother. Either because Clinton did not excite them like Obama, or because they thought they did not have to bother because it was in the bag.

The Republicans now hold all the levers of power and they won them fairly. That is a mandate in my eyes. I'm sure glad I'm not an American today.

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[rushmc 23]

Actually, the election analysis I just read a while back so that Trump would have beaten Obama in 2008

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[gowlerk 2,277]

rushmc

Actually, the election analysis I just read a while back so that Trump would have beaten Obama in 2008

That has nothing to do with what I wrote. And is highly subjective and most probably incorrect. But like all the other "what ifs" can never be known.

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.