And you know what that means!  Election season!!!

I recall when I won all my election bets in the fall of 2008 that I had a prediction.  My most hopeful view:  Obama was an intelligent man who would gather the brightest and the finest around him.  He would have a period of grace during which time the world and the country would give him the benefit of a doubt. Time to see if he could institute some meaningful changes.  

My worst case scenario: If that went wrong, and Obama made poor decisions, the economy further faltered, the wars weren't ended... then in 2010, the Congress might change.  I always prefer the Executive and Legislative branches to be different parties, so that's fine by me.  Looks like that could be in the works now.

So, although we haven't had much action here on the political board since George Bush left office (isn't that interesting???), maybe it's time to "Rock the Vote" and get involved again!  Whaddaya say, Jordan?  And anyone else who wants to engage in some kinda fun!

As stipulated the last two presidential elections, I promise, no gloating should the highly likely come to pass.  ; )

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Actually, I've been itching to discuss for about 6 months. Need to go back and see what my predictions were on the board because I remember making some predictions at the time.

The question that I have been lingering with for quite some time is : Did anyone actually expect real change?

I know I didn't. Govt is too big and too slow to change, plus you have all the ulterior personal motives going on that make change almost impossible.

EDIT:

I went back and found my prediction from Election Night 2 years ago. Kind of interesting...

yes, McCain gave a wonderful speech last night. The boo-ers seem to be a small number of folks, but I wish they hadn't done it. I don't mind partisanship, but the last 8-12 years, the partisanship has been overboard to the point of being nauseating.  

Eight years ago, the left never accepted Bush's presidency because "he stole it." Four years ago, they still didn't accept the victory because too much had already happened by then.

The last thing this country needs is for the right to do what the left did eight years ago (minus the whole stealing the election stuff). The whole question of which Obama will be leading the US for the next four years is still in question - is it the far-left idealogue with a left voting record, or will it be the govern to the center politician Obama which has been the one who has campaigned over the past few months. The right need to sit tight and see which Obama will emerge.

the fact of the matter is that with the economy as it is now, Obama is going to have his hands tied and he's not going to be able to push too many far left pieces of agenda out. With the Dems not able to take 60 seats in the Senate it does keep Obama from pushing too far.

Now there is something that needs to be considered and it was something that Carl Cameron said last night that got me thinking asout this. Supposedly in the last few days, there was a quiet rumor amongst the inner McCain folks that he had come to the understanding that something was bigger at work, and with Obama being the first African-American who could win the presidency, that it might be better that he won for us as a country. Whether this really is the case doesn't matter but it did get me thinking about the next few years and what an Obama presidency will look like and what his legacy might be.

(President) Obama is not like any other president before him - he's African-American. His name doesn't even sound like a US president. Like any president, legacy is important to them, and with Obama being the FIRST black president, the legacy is even more important. He's already made history and he will always have that. But if he has a lackluster presidency full of quagmire and partisanship, his legacy will not be very good and will simply stop at being the first black president.

So President Obama has already two things that will keep him moderate - the economy (even in the dark smoke filled rooms of Democrats - they know raising taxes is a bad idea) and his own legacy as the first African-American president. I know most don't care about their legacy until later (and that might be the case here), but if Obama wants to be a great president and have a great legacy, he has a number of things he MUST do which may not always be popular with the left and right:

1. Fix the economy - we are a capaitalistic country - it will sooner or later fix itself but Obama will get the credit (which makes it harder for the GOP to run against him in 4 years if the economy corrects itself by then). Govt can do things to improve or hurt the economy, but it sounds like Obama is surrounding himself with good capitalist economists so that's good.
2. Bring an end to Iraq - already in the works, Obama just has to continue down the road that Bush has paved for him at this point. Obama will get most of the credit that really belongs to Bush (both the bad and good credit). With that said, if Obama missteps here, he could find himself in his own Iraqi quagmire which could hinder his presidency the entire time - thus I think he will stay on the same path as Bush. He needs to not pull out to soon, otherwise he will find himself stuck in Iraq for awhile.
3. Fix the partisanship - of the items here, this is probably the hardest, but if he can do it, he will go down as a great president.
4. Govt's budget - this is going to be very tough because it involves both 1 and 3 above. Everyone agrees that we spend too much and that we need a balance budget. The problem is that Obama's plans still increase spending so it's not great. Mix that in with Reid and Pelosi's own desires and Obama will probably need to put a stop on some of their own agendas. He needs to take control of the govt as a whole and be the leader rather than letting Congress take control - I think we are going to see some internal Democratic strife next year as the Executive and Legislative branches fight it out in backrooms.

I know health care is important for many people, but he needs to avoid that pitfall for now until at least year 3. As we saw in the early 90s, health care reform can derail the administration. He needs to avoid the fairness doctorine for now because that is immediately paristanship.

One of the questions asked over the past few months is what kind of change does Obama represent? Is he change that will produce more partisanship, or is it change that will produce less partisanship?

If he can achieve less partisanship and still get something done - he will have a great legacy, but he if allows the Democrats to push through far-reaching leftist agenda, then it will only increase partisanship, and we'll back to square one - no change.

Not that anyone asked for my two cents....

 and then in another thread:

I don't agree. I think Obama will remember the mistakes taht clinton made in 1992 and not just run with it. He campaigned on "change" and changing the attitude in Washington and working together.

If he takes on the Bush doctorine of come along or get out of the way, I predict that we will see the GOP take seats in 2 years. If Obama does what I think he will (take advantage of his presidential honeymoon, be a smart politician and govern from slightly left of center), then Dems will be able to stay in power and he'll be able to do a full 8 years.

Of course, all of this could change based on military issues, terrorism, and the economy. :-)

However, I was wrong on that latter. He took Bush's approach and just ran with his change policy. ObamaCare, IMO, is killing the Democrats in fly-over country, and in many battleground states turning them back to red.

Ultimately, though, it's the out of control spending and the economy.

Jordan .

That was fun to reread with the clarity of the present day facts of life, Jordan.  All the more reason I'd LOVE to see you take a stab at politics one of these days.  At least get started in local politics on some level!!!  Your sound reasoning and rational discussion has always been so educational for me. 

I don't have the stuff I wrote but I remember thinking along the lines you described Carl Cameron discussing.  That John McCain really didn't want to be the one to stop the Obama Train -- First Black Prez Express.  Not that he could have with all the Joe-mentum....  I mean "momentum."  And then there was the Kiss of Death Sarah Palin. 

But I also recall my own wishful thinking that Obama would be a healing force.  That he had the smarts to grasp the real politique of actually running the country as opposed to spouting off on the subject.  

Worst case scenario, I figured, was the Congress would shift in 2010 and the Executive branch in 2012.  I guess that is in the works right now.  

As for partisanship, I know it is fashionable to dislike that state of affairs but I happen to believe it is A. unavoidable and B. not a negative.  With our two-party system, the two sides are forced to be as persuasive as they can be in order to move the machine along.  That's a good thing.  No one has been caned on the floor of the Senate and no challenges to duels between presidential candidates in recent years.  Guess we've come some way in civility though it doesn't always seem that way to our Era-centric minds. 

My biggest problem is I am not fond of most candidates in most races across the country.  I'm having a hard time finding anyone to compare to John Adams or Ben Franklin.

Susan

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Drudge had an article yesterday that if Gallup's poll numbers are accurate, we could be looking at a historic election - not seen since 1894 when the GOP took over 100 seats in the House.

Personally, i wouldn't mind seeing a little more caning on the floor of the house.

Jordan .

Hey, it's almost November and am very busy. Why, o semi-retired one? I have received my sample ballot pamphlet (book). This voter sample ballot and basic info is about 55 pages, small print! It discusses the 12, I said 12, 'propositions' !! So, i have 40 pages to go and after that feat I should have free time again.

Hmmm...one proposition is to make marijuana legal !

Toledo Ohio GOP Gauleiter Rich Iott for Congress. 

original article

wiking.org

other media

Love the yank freak show. :-)

 So it goes...

Susan

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Thanks to all the reminders to VOTE on FaceBook, I suddenly became aware that this November day was election day!  Went out and did my thing.  Ran into neighbors and my offspring too!  Unfortunately I got home too late to receive Susan Sarandon's message urging me to vote yes on the Legalize Marijuana proposition.  : ( Had I known that was her stance, why, I might have taken her advice.  Yesterday Morgan Freeman called.  Can't remember what he requested I do.  Pretty sure I didn't do it though. 

There will likely be no big surprises from California tonight but a girl can hope.  For change.  Ya know.

Phew.  I'm just glad it's almost over until the presidential primaries start gearing up in a few weeks or so.

Susan

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

I can't wait for the invasion of France to start once the Republicans have taken back control of the House. Yehawww!!!!!

Though you might want to be careful with that new Anglo-French nuclear treaty being negotiated.

 As always, chock full of insight, thinkofone.

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

CNN (approved news source) says Republicans take the House!  The Senate will most likely remain with Democratic control.

Onward and upward.

Susan

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Jordan .

Everything with ObamaCare is up in the air.  It may be a new ballgame but the insurance companies are going forward with the assumption there is a new plan for real.  I received a letter two weeks ago from Anthem Blue Cross that left me feeling unsettled.  It says:

"On December 1, 2010, your health benefit plan will change to include the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (health care reform) legislation."

It then goes on to explain ever so clearly that I have "Grandfathered Status" so there are "special rules" for me.  Uh oh.  I hate having special rules.

"It is important to note that your grandfathered status allows you to keep your current plan/policy.  Consider all your options carefully before making any changes to your plan.  Even raising your deductible or choosing a plan with higher copayments may change your grandfathered status.  Once a plan adjustment has been made that changes the status of your grandfathered plan.  It cannot be reversed.  You will permanently lose your grandfathered status.

LOOKING AHEAD

Health care reform means ongoing change.  We expect guidance on the new law from many government agencies.  We'll continue to evaluate the impact of health care reform and lwill let you know when changes that affect your plan are approved.  

WE'RE HERE TO HELP

PS HELP US GO GREEN

Then the final small print on the bottom of the two page letter that explains:

As permitted by the Affordable Care Act, a grandfathered health plan can preserve certain basic health plan can preserve certain basic health coverage that was already in effect when that law was enacted.  Being a grandfathered health plan means that this plan may not include certain consumer protections of the Affordable Care Act that apply to other plans....yadayadayada....blahblahblah.

Well, I'm going to roll the dice and remain a Grandfather because either of these two entities -- Government and/or Insurance Company -- will have to deal with the upcoming legislative changes, legal challenges and real life scenarios within the medical profession as they come about.  

This election, in many ways, seems to be a referendum on the concept of the free lunch.  And across the country, many voters recognized there's no such thing.  Now to decide who's picking up the tab.  

Susan

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin