Well, the Dems are going to get spanked tomorrow (and deservedly so, though I no doubt disagree with most of you on the specifics of why), the only question is how badly, and will some of the, um, more interesting Tea Party candidates like Sharon Angle and Joe Miller actually become Senators.

But this is a pretty interesting flashback and gives some historical perspective. Hard to remember, but "the beltway" thought Reagan was going to be a failed one-termer at this point in his presidency. Clinton too. And Bush I was so unbeatable, I remember "liberal media" pundits suggesting the Dems not run a candidate. (David Broder maybe? Can't remember.)

Anyway, kinda funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyEfI3OZ66s

"There may well be a landslide, and they have a perfect right to kick us out. That is democracy. That is what we have been fighting for. Hand me my towel."

Winston Churchill

I've actually long been a proponent of having 4 year terms for the House and Senate, elected in the same year. Of course in my ideal world, we'd be a parliamentary system, but the first idea would introduce some of the elements of the responsible party government model.

The difference between Reagan and Obama IMO is that Reagan had put into place some significant changes that had not yet borne fruit but would, whereas Obama has put into place some significant changes that are going to have increasingly negative results as time passes. I think that just about everything Obama has done has been wrong, and that it has been the wrongest possible wrong. I think he is doing immeasurable harm on so many fronts, dwarfing even the harm that Shrub did, and that's saying something. My highest hope at this point is that we can simply survive as a livable country. And to be fair, it's not like Obama inherited a rose garden. We've been on the wrong track for 50 years, and the effects are showing. It's just that the approach Obama is pushing is the way to make things worse, and exponentially so, not better.

That's obviously my opinion, not fact. I don't see much point to debating the issue, because most people's minds seem to be made up so firmly that changing them seems extremely unlikely. We'll just have to wait and see how it turns out. But color me extremely pessimistic.

Every time you call him Shrub, two things happen for me: (1) I miss Molly Ivins, and (2) I wish that the civility of showing respect for the office tempered rhetoric a little more in this world.

(11-02-2010 08:12 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  I think that just about everything Obama has done has been wrong, and that it has been the wrongest possible wrong.

Yes, I know you think that. : )

Just pointing out that the conventional wisdom often jumps to definitive conclusions that turn out to be completely wrong. If the economy is significantly better, Obama will be reelected. If it's not, he won't, unless the Rs nominate Palin. Or possibly Huckabee.

(11-02-2010 08:26 AM)kinderowl Wrote:  Every time you call him Shrub, two things happen for me: (1) I miss Molly Ivins, and (2) I wish that the civility of showing respect for the office tempered rhetoric a little more in this world.

I generally agree, but I'm sorry, Shrub just fits so perfectly that I have a hard time not doing it.

(11-02-2010 09:01 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(11-02-2010 08:26 AM)kinderowl Wrote:  Every time you call him Shrub, two things happen for me: (1) I miss Molly Ivins, and (2) I wish that the civility of showing respect for the office tempered rhetoric a little more in this world.

I generally agree, but I'm sorry, Shrub just fits so perfectly that I have a hard time not doing it.

When I saw him throw out the first pitch to Nolan Ryan the other night I almost lost it.

Why appear on National TV and remind people that you exist so close to Election Day?

(11-02-2010 08:52 AM)JustAnotherAustinOwl Wrote:  

(11-02-2010 08:12 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  I think that just about everything Obama has done has been wrong, and that it has been the wrongest possible wrong.

Yes, I know you think that. : )
Just pointing out that the conventional wisdom often jumps to definitive conclusions that turn out to be completely wrong. If the economy is significantly better, Obama will be reelected. If it's not, he won't, unless the Rs nominate Palin. Or possibly Huckabee.

I agree that if the economy is significantly better, Obama will be re-elected. But I don't think the economy will be significantly better. I actually think it is more likely to be significantly worse. I don't see any significant recovery before 2020. I just don't see how. So far, we aren't even addressing the real problems.

(11-02-2010 09:16 AM)WMD Owl Wrote:  

(11-02-2010 09:01 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(11-02-2010 08:26 AM)kinderowl Wrote:  Every time you call him Shrub, two things happen for me: (1) I miss Molly Ivins, and (2) I wish that the civility of showing respect for the office tempered rhetoric a little more in this world.

I generally agree, but I'm sorry, Shrub just fits so perfectly that I have a hard time not doing it.

When I saw him throw out the first pitch to Nolan Ryan the other night I almost lost it.

Why appear on National TV and remind people that you exist so close to Election Day?

Because let's be honest here - people don't really watch the World Series in volumes that they used to. I honestly had no clue until this morning he threw out the first pitch. It's not like he was throwing out the first spiral in an NFL or college football game.

I say this partially in jest, and partially seriously. I commend baseball for having earlier start times for these games (NLT 8pm on east coast), but it's just tough to set aside what seems like 4 hours (last night excepted) to watch baseball with family responsibilities, etc. and no natural tie to the teams involved. I checked in every so often last night, and finally could sit down at 10pm to watch the end, but that's the reality for many of us.

Here's a thought - would the demand to watch baseball be higher if it was one game, winner take all? I know it doesn't make sense, given how the rest of the season flows (with multiple starting pitchers, etc.), but if you're trying to maximize viewing power of a show, it seems like that might be the best way to capture the more casual viewer - watch it now, because there won't be another game.

(11-02-2010 09:19 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  I agree that if the economy is significantly better, Obama will be re-elected. But I don't think the economy will be significantly better. I actually think it is more likely to be significantly worse. I don't see any significant recovery before 2020. I just don't see how. So far, we aren't even addressing the real problems.

We're actually partly in agreement here, I think it is quite possible it won't be any better, and perhaps worse.

(11-02-2010 08:03 AM)JSA Wrote:  "There may well be a landslide, and they have a perfect right to kick us out. That is democracy. That is what we have been fighting for. Hand me my towel."

Winston Churchill

And from the same source:
"I shall leave it history, but remember that I shall be one of the historians."

They don't make men like that any more. It's too bad.