It looks like Pelosi will be ousted from not only House Speaker but Minority Leader if the predictions hold true. From what I've been seeing it looks that quite likely the Republicans will take the House.

Firstly I even though I just used it I reject the term "Taken" "Retaken". This isn't Linus' blanket and the Republican's aren't Snoopy. They were put there to do a job by a dissatisfied public.

Secondly, I want to see what they can/will do with this opportunity they've been given.

Thirdly, What I do not want to see is "Retaliation Legislation" from the Republicans. In other words I do not want to see them blocking Democratic/Obama legislation for no other reason than they proposed them. That sort of poop is childish and does nothing for anybody. Vote against it because it's not good for the country, not because it has a "D" on it.

Make the most of this.

[This message has been edited by Kyle L. Varnell (11/2/2010)]

Basically the result is going to be gridlock, many executive orders, and regulatory agencies pushing all manner of new rules. Much to do about nothing.

Hopefully you won't see much in the way of celebration. Republicans 'won' big for sure, but it was mostly a forfeit.

People weren't getting out to check the brand name on their brake pads before they slammed on the brakes. They pulled the only lever that was available. I'm sure there were plenty of mixed feelings involved.

So I hope Republicans in the House will stay focused.... Expect plenty of threats of, if not actual, government shutdowns.

I don't see any way around it.

Focused on what?, how huge a tax break they can give to the billionares. Ah, the poor millionares might have to keep paying taxes so that it's not so obivious to us middle class, lower class, and the low lower class. It amazes me that Republicans can screw things up so bad in eight years and the expect a Democrate to fix it in less than two. Well here we go again. What joy!!

I hope they realize we don't need NEW laws, or NEW taxes. We can do without some of the laws on the books as well as some of the taxes. If it isn't needed to keep the country running (infrastructure, for example) and safe (military, police, fire, etc) we don't need it. Americans are smart, resourceful people. And we're a generous people. We have all kinds of people willing to help those in need while they work toward their own financial independence. And that's what makes The United States of America the greatest country on earth.[/soapbox]

I didn't vote for people to give a political party control of the government. I voted for a political party I EXPECT to return control of government to the people. Time will tell.

Well, I have to agree with Richard and Rick.

I have started my investigations into landed immigrant status, and seeking employment in Alberta. I am not serious about this yet, but it is better to start sooner than later.

What would make me move to Canada? Two words: "President Palin"

It amazes me that Republicans can screw things up so bad in eight years and the expect a Democrate to fix it in less than two.

Actually Democrats have controlled Congress for 4 years, during which time, everything was Bush's fault regardless, even after he left office.

So I guess Obama's still on the hook for awhile.

[This message has been edited by Rick Kuchynka (11/2/2010)]

I am now bleeding from my eyes and ears.

Shame on you Mr. Emilsson.

If, however, you need an American co-worker in Alberta, give me a call.

If you voted for 'a party'' to restore power to us, the general public, you will be sorely disappointed. With the obstuctionist behavior of the minority party (think R) in the first 2 years of the Obama administration dont expect anything to change when they have more seats.

The republicans did object to what was put before them by the democrats. Obstructionist? Hardly. They didn't have enough seats in either house to obstruct anything.

While I HOPE the Congress-Elect is more representative of, and responsive to, their constituents, I'll believe it when I see it...

But I believe this election has put ALL of Washington on notice.

Of course by 'obstructionist' they mean 'Should've picked the lock after Pelosi locked them out'

Two more years of posturing and grandstanding and no effort made to govern. Then another election full of posturing and grandstanding and maybe some change. Then another two years and posturing and grandstanding. Rinse. Repeat.

Until politicians start worrying about running the country rather than running for re-election, nothing will happen for fear of offending some constituent somewhere. I suspect all the Tea Baggers will get to Washington and discover that the problems are complex, the answers are difficult, and that, yes, the minority is allowed to express an opinion. The deficit will grow, the economy will continue to stagger, and no one will have the nerve to do a damn thing.

Until politicians start worrying about running the country rather than running for re-election, nothing will happen for fear of offending some constituent somewhere.

But if they did that they wouldn't be politicians, now would they.

My favorite political ploy is the old 'Let's kick the career politicians out'. Apparently so the new guy can become a career politician.

My favorite political ploy is "we need term limits to prevent people from becoming career politicians." For some reason, I thought that was what elections were for...

David, much thanks for the link to Mouseland. Excellent!

My hope is that over the next two years both parties will work together to fix this economy, end these wars and protect the environment.

My expectation is two years of impeachment hearings resulting in nothing.

The Republican agenda for the next two years is clear and has been declared publicly by several of their major leaders.

They want to see Obama defeated in 2012. This means they will spend 2 years making sure nothing gets done purely so they can try and regain the office of the Presidency.

If they could manage to repeal the Health Care reforms that occurred they would do that but with a Democratic Senate and Obama in office that isn't going to happen.

America has voted for change in 2 consecutive elections. We're still not going to get it.

Holy Gods I agree with Rick.

"Hopefully you won't see much in the way of celebration. Republicans 'won' big for sure, but it was mostly a forfeit.

People weren't getting out to check the brand name on their brake pads before they slammed on the brakes. They pulled the only lever that was available. I'm sure there were plenty of mixed feelings involved."

By the way- I hope the Dems are obstructionist after all they were kept out of meetings by armed guard under the Bush administration.

I voted for Mickey Mouse in one race. The choice between being shot by a howitzer and a bazooka is no choice.

Since the republicons gave O'Bama less than 2 years to fix a sinking ship, I propose that the newly elected repubs in the house have exactly the same time frame to fix this mess we are all in. When it doesn't happen, they will beg for more time. And then we need to show them the door. Their battle cry has been for change, and evidently change has a 2 year time limit imposed on it. Here ya go. You have exactly 2 years to make it happen. Your time frame, not mine. No excuses will be allowed, or even listened too. I can promise that these cons will blame their lack of progress on the fact that they have to deal with an obstructionist senate and president. Now they will know how the obstructionist shoe fits. Good luck with your self imposed time limited mission. You are gonna need it.

[This message has been edited by Judy24 (11/4/2010)]

I wish the grandstanding about 'repealing Obamacare' would stop, also. That isn't going to happen, much as I'd like it to. Anyone that believes that doesn't understand the process. There could be new bills passed that remove some of the more onerous pieces of it, and fill the gaps that are blatantly missing (such as allowing insurance companies to offer their products across state lines, ensuring competition and lower prices).

The message to DC is a majority of voters do not like the rampant spending of the past two administrations and want something done about the economy and job creation, and they just don't see it happening.

And I still don't understand 'the party of No' comments. Democrats had a Supermajority and the Presidency for a long time, and all they did was pass what I see as all their pet projects that they couldn't get through for years. A significant part of the 'stimulus package' was funding for a lot of those pet projects...not really focusing on rebuilding the economy.

And I still can't understand what they were trying to accomplish by locking the doors and keeping the health care deliberations private not only from opposing party members but from the public, especially when Obama stated over and over during his campaign that it would be 'public' and 'broadcast on CSPAN' If they had allowed the public to see what was happening, and got the opposing party involved, it wouldn't have become such an issue, and more Democrats might have survived the election. My feeling is they had closed sessions because they could, being a supermajority, and really didn't care what anyone thought.

And Stone, you said

by the way- I hope the Dems are obstructionist after all they were kept out of meetings by armed guard under the Bush administration.

Could you give some examples of that? I'm not challenging you, I just don't remember it.

Unfortunately Tracy, the opposing party would not compromise on anything proposed by Democrats. The whole of the last 2 years was republicons doing everything they could to destroy the O'Bama administration. Every proposal advanced by Democrats was soundly booed by these cons. The vast majority because these cons could not let the current administration win anything. Anything proposed by the cons was obviously met with some resistance by the Democrats. The Democrasts had all the power, and they were going to advance their agenda, rightly so. Now the cons expect the Democrats to compromise? We have a little bit of power, and you better respect that? Good luck. These republicons made their proverbial bed, and now they get to lay in it.

I'm sorry Mathew...(interesting spelling of your name...I assume it's pronounced like the spelling I am used to of Matthew)it was not all as one sided as that.

When Obama entered office, he essentially said 'I won, get over it' and any kind of working across the aisle became more and more difficult for both sides...and both sides are guilty.

I want to believe the message has gotten to both the House and Senate that Americans expect them to work together and find solutions to the major problems facing us today, primarily the economy and high unemployment.

It will remain to be seen...if the Dems are eating sour grapes and we see bickering and failure to act over the next two years...there will most likely be another bloodbath.

Yeah, Tracy, I don't think Sen. Mitch McConnell got that message.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/...t=1&f=1001

You might want to let him know.

Since the republicons gave O'Bama less than 2 years to fix a sinking ship, I propose that the newly elected repubs in the house have exactly the same time frame to fix this mess we are all in.

I love your guys' political formula...

House + Senate + President = Who to Blame

2006-2008
Pelosi(D) + Reid(D) + Bush(R) = Bush(R)

2008-2010
Pelosi(D) + Reid(D) + Obama(D) = Republican locked in the basement(R)

2010-2012
Boehner(R) + Reid(D) + Obama(D) = Boehner(R)

I'm sensing a pattern here.

I wish the grandstanding about 'repealing Obamacare' would stop, also. That isn't going to happen, much as I'd like it to.

Here's the wonderful thing about Obamacare. I think it'll collapse under its own weight.

Obamacare is woefully underfunded (by design) because they lowballed everything to make it look cheap enough to pass. This implementation could be one of the most (if not THE most) complex bureaucratic undertakings the federal government has ever attempted.

And almost none of that administrative overhead is even budgeted yet. Federal agencies are soon going to have to come, hat in hand, asking for supplementals that will likely reach into the hundreds of billions.

Lucky for us, all funding starts in the House (our Constitution is the greatest) so every time a new (popular) bureaucracy like the IRS or CMS comes begging for more money, it'll be an opportunity to highlight what a sham the whole exercise was in the first place.

And that's not even taking into account the fact that our federal agencies don't have a prayer of meeting the timeframe they were given, even if all their funding was already in place. The IRS has already said they have no idea how they're going to deal with all these new 1099 forms Obamacare will bring them.

Republicans will likely rescue them from that disaster by repealing that part fairly quickly. You'd be insane to vote against or veto that one. The horror stories would be so widespread, the bad press would write itself..

Anyway, I have a feeling by the time this is all said and done, even Democrats will be secretly praying that the Supreme Court strikes this whole turd sandwich down.

(such as allowing insurance companies to offer their products across state lines, ensuring competition and lower prices.

Ya, I suppose Montana Power will give us cheap power if we will only deregulate.

The best thing they could have done was outlawed insurance companies.

The political blame rule is very simple. All bad things are the fault of the other party's bad policies. All good things are the result of your party's good policies

If the economy continues to improve slowly as it has been doing, it will be your party's fault that it is improving, and the other party's fault that the improvement is so slow. Doesn't matter which party you support, this will still be true.

Stone said:

The best thing they could have done was outlawed insurance companies.

Amen!

Bill, you are absolutely correct.

Anybody that has read my post over the years knows that I hate both parties equally.

Not true,I hate one a little more than the other.

The best thing they could have done was outlawed insurance companies

...and replace them with?

*cough*single payer*cough*

I figured that was what was meant ... it just wasn't clear.

I'm afraid this is a pretty large gap to leap for most people on both sides of the issue.

http://io9.com/5680091/10...an-history