Florida State Seminoles

[Toemeesleather]

They won't feel any real political backlash for their actions

Pretty sure Obammer is planning on running against congress next year,(check out how many dems have already declared they will not seek re-election)... no way he can run on his record.

[Bklyn]

You're good at platitudes. They have their use, I guess.

[Bklyn]

That's an interesting question. How many pols have declared they will not run in their next election? What is the allocation amongst parties?

I only know of Barney Frank (who is not running because of annoyance with redistricting). Granted, I only know that because it is current news. Maybe others have declared "retirement" but I don't know who they are.

[Toemeesleather]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/69262.html

[Toemeesleather]

And they say the prospect of a drawn-out stay in the minority gives members little incentive to wage expensive and hard-fought campaigns.

[Bklyn]

Thanks

The numbers are stark: Of the nine House members who are retiring and not seeking another office, all are Democrats. Another eight Democratic members are running for different offices entirely — deciding, apparently, that their political prospects are better served in venues other than the House minority. All seven retiring House Republicans are seeking other elected offices.

It’s a familiar trend: When parties lose the majority, the path back to power appears too steep for many members to stick it out. After Democrats lost the majority in 1994, 29 Democrats did not seek reelection — eight more than the number of Republicans who retired. After Republicans lost the majority in 2006, 27 Republicans did not seek reelection — 21 more than the number of retiring Democrats.

So, if I'm reading this right, there are 17 Dems retiring from Congress and 7 GOPers retiring. 8 of the 17 Dems are seeking election in a different office and all 7 of the GOPers are, as well.

However, this trend seems to have happened in 1994 (for Dems) and 2006 (for GOP), but the sitting President in both of those years won their subsequent reelection.

I think this situation definitely bears weight on the Party, but not necessarily on the POTUS race. That doesn't mean that it's good news for Obama (or bad news for [insert lukewarm GOP candidate here]), but I don't think there is a cause and effect relationship between the fortunes of minority Congressional pols and the Presidential contest.

[eCat]

Cain told his staff on his morning call today that he is reassessing his campaing and if his supporters start leaving him he will drop out.

Which is pretty much a self fulfilling mode once word gets around.

As for the payroll tax, I have to believe that if Republicans hold up extending the payroll tax, even because they are fighting a tax on the wealthy to pay for it, and Americans get socked with what they will perceive as a tax increase that EVERYONE will feel, I think there will definitely be some repercussions to it. I think that is the tune of about $1K a year for most middle class voters.

Republicans better get shit right and stop screwing around on an ideology they only have a handful of supporters caring about.

[sardis]

And to think that the Paulsen/Geithner/Bernanke evil trinity were given total reins of our economy the last 4 years...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-2 ... q-comments

[Bklyn]

So, I guess we can expect Matt Taibbi to crank out another article going after the "vampire squid" sometime soon.

If the OWS masses could grab ahold and articulate their problems with this type of behavior, then they would have something. Instead, the beat drums and say something needs to be done about fat cats.

[Bklyn]

[W]hen we militarized our society in response to the global terrorist threat, we created a new psychological atmosphere in which the use of force and military technology became a favored method for dealing with dissent of any kind.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/bl ... p-20111122

[eCat]

this country needs more libertarians

everyone should have an inherit distrust of government - to the point they constantly attempt to curb its power

[10ac]

efz. Both parties are taking us to the same place. It's just that one is the express bus.

[Owlman]

I am much more afraid of the rabble majority who tend to become clickish, selfish and short-term at the expense of the little guy and long-term planning as soon as they feel a little threatened.

[Owlman]

And to think that the Paulsen/Geithner/Bernanke evil trinity were given total reins of our economy the last 4 years...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-2 ... q-comments

Bernanke appointment February 2006
Paulson approval July 2006
Geithner approval January 2009

[AugustWest]

this country needs more libertarians

everyone should have an inherit distrust of government - to the point they constantly attempt to curb its power

thank you.

[Bklyn]

How the CIA used a fake movie to rescue Americans during Iran Hostage Crisis

http://m.wired.com/wired/archive/15.05/feat_cia.html

[Jungle Rat]

I think its finally time we all sit down together and discuss the real reason we are here. The Goatpen Movement. Its taken over 11 years but I believe now is the time.

[AugustWest]

discuss the real reason we are here.

to get Cat to show her boobs? damn right Cat you owe us. post 'em.

[Saint]

this country needs more libertarians

everyone should have an inherit distrust of government and corporations - to the point they constantly attempt to curb their power

fyp

[sardis]

And to think that the Paulsen/Geithner/Bernanke evil trinity were given total reins of our economy the last 4 years...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-2 ... q-comments

Bernanke appointment February 2006
Paulson approval July 2006
Geithner approval January 2009

Ok, 5 years. Geithner was head of the New York Fed before 2009 and worked more closely with Paulsen than Bernanke during his tenure.