Looks like you guys are stuck with Pelosi

[chuam]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/07/election.house/index.html

Even Fox is calling it.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,227961,00.html

[chuam]

Senate race is too close to call. At worst it looks like it will be 50/50. The democrats have a chance to control the senate too.

I guess America has spoken.

[Bill McIntyre]

My wife can't tear herself away from the TV and the computer, and she keeps whooping and screaming.

Call me sexist, but as a lumpy old fat guy, I really look forward to have a trim, well dressed, good looking woman as speaker instead of a lumpy old fat guy like me.

It won't be easy, but I hope Nancy can pull it off.

[Bill McIntyre]

My wife keeps coming in and making me split another beer with her. I almost hope there isn't too much more good news for the anti-christians.

[chuam]

This is getting better and better. I had written it off as a 50/50 with the repub's controlling the senate but as it looks now we may get control of the senate too!!!!!!!!

Suck it repubs..............:D

[chuam]

This thread is mysteriously devoid of any repubs.........

[bikewrench]

Ten years from now we may look back on this electon as the death of the republican party. It can't be 'gimmee gimmee me me' all the time. The country has spoken, thank (insert personal deity here).

[jackpine savage]

The GOP isn't dead, its just been slapped down a notch or two by the American people. Hopefully this election will show that the American people don't want parties run by the extremists. The Democrats won by electing a lot of blue dog Dems, unfortnately most of the GOP losses were the moderates in the party leaving the extremists still in power. What really is interesting is the Democrats now have the majority of governerships, looks like the nation isn't as conservative as some thought, but rather more moderate.

[Kahuna]

Jackpine you don't Pelosi is an extremist?

[jackpine savage]

we will see. She is a pretty smart woman, lets see if she puts her personal political views aside and governs from the middle which is where most of the Dems who beat Republicans camoe from. I will give her the benefit of the doubtm she already put aside any talk of impeachment by some saying its not going to happen

[SEATUX]

Its a step in the right direction, but is it in time?
America went from a ballanced budget w/money in reseve,
To a drunken sailer kind of Pres,who has spent us into the poorhouse.
And set the stage for the possible financial collapse of America.

[fishkilla]

This thread is mysteriously devoid of any repubs.........


we're too busy trying to hold down jobs. :D

[snooker]

This is getting better and better. I had written it off as a 50/50 with the repub's controlling the senate but as it looks now we may get control of the senate too!!!!!!!!

Suck it repubs..............:D

Geez, real classy chuam, chode or whatever it is. Please someone shoot Pelosi. Do you realize she's third in line for the presidency? What a joke.

I'm with fishkilla.

[bgbill]

Ten years from now we may look back on this electon as the death of the republican party. It can't be 'gimmee gimmee me me' all the time. The country has spoken, thank (insert personal deity here).

It will not be the death of the Republican Party, when the Democrats lost control in 2004, it wasn't the death of the Democratic party.

Your statement 'gimmee gimmee me me' is a Democratic principal, not a Republican principal.

The next 2 years will be interesting, as this may not be the big win you think it is, especially if the Democrats don't get the Whitehouse.

[loose_cannon]

I'm glad some of the extreme right-wingers were ousted. Even as a Republican, I couldn't bring myself to vote for the crazy Harris broad. Nevertheless, does anyone actually believe this shift will amount to any meaningful change?

I think it will be business as usual in DC.

[bgbill]

does anyone actually believe this shift will amount to any meaningful change?

I think it will be business as usual in DC.

It will be business as usual, just different people doing it.

[gumshoe]

Historically, the times where the party in the White House and congress were different, things have gone the best - some say that those who govern have less of a chance to get anything done...

I know this much - if the tax cuts are allowed to expire, I'll be selling the boat and going out to find a second job to pay for the tax increases.

Curious times ahead, for sure.

[peterv]

"It will be business as usual, just different people doing it." fer sure.

"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" - the Who

Will it be quagmire in Iraq ?
We "balkanize" Iraq into 3 impotent countries.
(Historical precedent . "peace-plan with honor- TM")

Will it be Quagmire in DC ?
We need a GOOD 3rd party in USA.
Dems & GOP put special interests before the common good of the nation.

The newly elected should tread carefully down the midddle. (I wish ...)

[Bill McIntyre]

I know this much - if the tax cuts are allowed to expire, I'll be selling the boat and going out to find a second job to pay for the tax increases.



You must be doing very well if you are one of those at the very top that got a significant cut in taxes. I sure as hell didn't get much down here in the upper middle class.

[junior]

I think I got $500?? It paid the gas for two or three trips maybe.

[Wayward Son]

I expect a lot of gridlock.

[Marcus]

I expect a lot of gridlock.

Gridlock can be good. It gives people time to think and make the right decisions before doing something foolhardy that will cost the USA for generations to come.

[jackpine savage]

In the house I see momderate to liberal Republicans losing their seats to moderate to conservative Democrats. That is a good thing for the Democrat Party and a bad thing for the GOP as it shows they have pulled even more rightward

[SEATUX]

Quote:
Originally Posted by loose_cannon
does anyone actually believe this shift will amount to any meaningful change?

I think it will be business as usual in DC.



It will be business as usual, just different people doing it.
__________________
Bret Walley

WOW!
What a change ,all of a sudden, it doesnt matter who's in office,It'll be same ol same ol business as usual....

[Jumper]

I agree business as usual. In fact I think that last years of the Clinton era went so well because we had a Republican congress and Democratic President. Lots of gridlock but it allowed the country to just do its thing.

I did read one thing that pissed me off. See attached story via weblink.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15618695/

Comments like that will piss the republicans off and they will show up to vote in 2008. Basically having the world tell you are stupid has a tendancy to make people react, which will IMO cause the republicans to hold onto the Whitehouse.

We shall see, I dont really expect anything to happen from this. I think the democrats did a very smart thing and had people run that were more moderate and thats really what we all need.

[chuam]

Wow, all you repubs are saying business as usual now.

What happened to the screaming about how we are surrendering to the terrorists, there will be a gay on every corner, we'll start aborting every baby possible for research and we'll tax everyone into the poor house.

I have a feeling a lot of you guys are shell shocked.

AMERICA HAS SPOKEN IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE!!!!!!!!

[aaron proffitt]

Good luck on the change thing ,chuam ....America has spoken,and now those in charge once again can rest easy knowing they have a temp. repreieve from having to answer to us. Business as usual.

[Capt.Gene]

This is rich.
National news this evening Pukenosei is already talking about taxing oil profits to subsidize alternative energy like ethanol, hydrogen and solar.
Lets take away the insentive to bring more oil to market and throw money at special interests promoting unworkable solutions to problems that exist here today in real time.

[chuam]

This is rich.
National news this evening Pukenosei is already talking about taxing oil profits to subsidize alternative energy like ethanol, hydrogen and solar.
Lets take away the insentive to bring more oil to market and throw money at special interests promoting unworkable solutions to problems that exist here today in real time.

Why not? We need to ween ourselves off our dependence of oil. You have any other solutions on how to do it? The oil companies are making record profits while sticking it to us. They are not building new refineries to increase production. Doing so would cut into their profits both now and in the future.

[chuam]

Good luck on the change thing ,chuam ....America has spoken,and now those in charge once again can rest easy knowing they have a temp. repreieve from having to answer to us. Business as usual.

It won't be business as usual. Bush won't have a rubber stamp congress and senate.

[chuam]

Geez, real classy chuam, chode or whatever it is. Please someone shoot Pelosi. Do you realize she's third in line for the presidency? What a joke.

I'm with fishkilla.


Don't be mad we won........:D

[aaron proffitt]

Your way to intelligent to be this naieve,chuam.....course,always the possibilty that I misread you,chuam.

BTW, as a federal employed labor leader....I certainly don't consider last night a loss.Especially the centrist views of those who were pick-up wins.

[mbhalihunter]

ya but everything is not going to change, things will have to be compromised. If the dems had a 2/3 majority in both house and senate then that is something else because then they could overcome Bush's veto power. Remember that thing called checks and balances that took a short vacation the last few years.

[junior]

I think it was a loss for those who would consider themselves Republicans. It was a loss for Bush as the vote indicated that people were not happy with the status quo of a Republican Senate, House and White House.

I noticed something interesting in the majority of the exit polls I reviewed. It seems that registered Democrats have less trouble voting for Republicans than the other way around. I can't help but wonder if this is because the Republicans have that much better of a message or because Democrats are less dogmatic than their Republican counterparts.

[chuam]

Your way to intelligent to be this naieve,chuam.....course,always the possibilty that I misread you,chuam.

BTW, as a federal employed labor leader....I certainly don't consider last night a loss.Especially the centrist views of those who were pick-up wins.

I tend to be able to snow people with my intellignce.....

Don't take a lot of what I say seriously. Some of the stuff I posted was more of a troll than anything.

I think having the democrats win is a loss to Bush. I think it is showing that people are not ok with the way he has handled things. It is about time that the democrats fielded candidates that the moderates on both sides could get behind. Unfortunately it ousted a lot of the moderate republicans. I would have preffered it got rid of the really right wing repubs but those guys seem pretty entrenched. What we need are moderates from both partied taking over. I'm hoping that this will signal a shift from the polarization of the parties to their extremes and bring both parties back to the middle where 90% of the country is.

[chuam]

ya but everything is not going to change, things will have to be compromised. If the dems had a 2/3 majority in both house and senate then that is something else because then they could overcome Bush's veto power. Remember that thing called checks and balances that took a short vacation the last few years.

Paul, that is one of the most profound and intelligent statements I have ever heard you say. I completely agree with you.

(BTW, Paul is my younger brother so saying this means a lot since he's been part of the family for 27 years)

[mbhalihunter]

thats because when i'm around you i have to be drunk to tolerate you.

[chuam]

thats because when i'm around you i have to be drunk to tolerate you.

touche

[fishkilla]

all i've seen lately on both sides is a bunch of little piggies that are at the largest slop troph in the world (DC) and every little piggy is trying to get as much down their gullet before the one next to them gets their "share."

i will not stand up for anyone on either side just because of party affiliate. there is a severe lack of leadership due to a huge increase in apathy in our community.

make it 2 term limits and your out. get in get out get on with YOUR life and leave my tax dollars alone!

this thread is gay, this is spearboard, go find more people to sign the red snapper petititon before all we have left to do is sit online and chat about how the democratic party is going to save the world.

[jackpine savage]

First thing they said they were going to do was raise minimum wage, allow college tuition to be tax deductible, implement security procedures recommended in 9-11 report, increase veterans benefits and renegotiate the prescription drug plan to lower the cost seniors pay for prescriptions.

[fishkilla]

First thing they said they were going to do was raise minimum wage, allow college tuition to be tax deductible, implement security procedures recommended in 9-11 report, increase veterans benefits and renegotiate the prescription drug plan to lower the cost seniors pay for prescriptions.



ohhhh you mean raise taxes. great! do i get my money back from when i went to college or is it just all the new snot nosed kids who get a free ride. if it's free it doesn't have any worth. what happened to having to earn things in this country!!!

[phins fan]

oh crap, raise the minimum wages.....now im gonna have to pay all my mexican workers (that will recieve amnesty) more.....i will just have to charge the consumer ......

[aaron proffitt]

...eh, who gives a shit if a Happy Meal goes to $15. Might be good for us as a nation,the price of fast food goes up 'cause the minimum wage went up; we as a nation eat less. Silver lining,people.Silver lining.

[Bill McIntyre]

oh crap, raise the minimum wages.....now im gonna have to pay all my mexican workers (that will recieve amnesty) more.....i will just have to charge the consumer ......

Suits me just fine if you pay them a living wage and then pass it along to me.

I'm happy to help my fellow man who is busting his ass trying to support his family while doing our hard work.

Its called the Christian thing to do. You should consider trying that Christian stuff. Its all in the New Testament.

[aaron proffitt]

Interesting thing about that statement,Bill, is if you study the IRS trends on who gives the most to charity ...it's generally the states that routinely vote red and are low-income "red neck" areas.Literally,putting their money where their mouths are. Same can't be said for the areas(Ca. is a good example) that routinly vote liberal.

[jackpine savage]

How is giving the middle class a tax deduction for college tuition a tax increase? Or are you just against people bettering themselves through education. An educated workforce is in every Americans interest. Also how is raising the minimum wage going to affect illegal immigrants. They don't get paid the minimum wage in the first place because they are illegal.

[Bill McIntyre]

Interesting thing about that statement,Bill, is if you study the IRS trends on who gives the most to charity ...it's generally the states that routinely vote red and are low-income "red neck" areas.Literally,putting their money where their mouths are. Same can't be said for the areas(Ca. is a good example) that routinly vote liberal.

If I'm following you, it seems that you would prefer to pay a substandard wage and then make it up though charity, at least for the people who meet your standards of worthiness?

I guess that may make some people feel more Christian.

BTW, the CA minimum wage is $6.75 compared to the Federal minimum of $5.15. I guess that's why they don't need as much charity.

[aaron proffitt]

If I'm following you, it seems that you would prefer to pay a substandard wage and then make it up though charity, at least for the people who meet your standards of worthiness?

I guess that may make some people feel more Christian.

BTW, the CA minimum wage is $6.75 compared to the Federal minimum of $5.15. I guess that's why they don't need as much charity.



Not following me at all.
A.Why the hell is a person trying to raise a family on minimum wage ?Their's responsibilty for ya.

B.I know what the cost of living is in Ca.. And a $1.15 an hour ain't gonna do shit to help 'em out.I'd love to see the pay parity between what $5.15 buys here and what $6.75 buys there.I'd venture to say that once it's all figured in they're making about .50 an hour. Just a guess.
So in actuality,they need more charity .

[phins fan]

Its called the Christian thing to do. You should consider trying that Christian stuff. Its all in the New Testament.


preach on brother, dont forget to spread the good word to the "san fransissy ideologist" that's now the speaker of the house

[jackpine savage]

Boy Pelosi has really gotten you all worked up, but don't worry something tells me you can even survive her.

[bgbill]

Boy Pelosi has really gotten you all worked up, but don't worry something tells me you can even survive her.

We will survive her, the good thing about Pelosi is, it will make certain no Democrat and especially a woman will be in the Whitehouse. :thumps:

[jackpine savage]

Unless she does a great job and then you can have her and Hillary

[bgbill]

Unless she does a great job and then you can have her and Hillary

Pelosi can't do a good job, she is so full of hate towards the Republican party, she will make stupid decisions, just to get to the Republicans.

[Bill McIntyre]

preach on brother, dont forget to spread the good word to the "san fransissy ideologist" that's now the speaker of the house

So I guess that means you want to change the subject about Christians paying a living wage and Christian customers being willing to let you pass it on to them?

If that has anything to do with Nancy Pelosi, please explain.

Of course if you are a "I've got mine" sort of Christian that says as long as you are saved, your treatment of others here on earth doesn't matter, then I can see how it might not matter to you whether your employees got a living wage.

[jackpine savage]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/09/vilsack.president.ap/index.html

Hopefully there will be more Dems like him running to counter the Hillary effect.

Bret-Don't underestimate Pelosi, she may be an uber-liberal but she is a very smart politician, it will be interesting to see how things pan out. She wants to be the House leader foir along time so I don't think she will let her own opinion of Bush screw that up for her.

[bgbill]

So I guess that means you want to change the subject about Christians paying a living wage and Christian customers being willing to let you pass it on to them?

If that has anything to do with Nancy Pelosi, please explain.

Bill,

When the minimum wage is raised it does not help the people it is intended to help.

Anyone who is making just the minimum wage, deserves what they are getting paid, as anyone who is worth employing, and has 1/2 a brain will make more than the minimum wage.

[jackpine savage]

All I know is it brings up other wage rates as well. Real wages for the middle class have fallen since the 70's when inflation is taken into account.

[ITSABOUTTIME]

Suites me just fine if you pay them a living wage and then pass it along to me.

I'm happy to help my fellow man who is busting his ass trying to support his family while doing our hard work.

Its called the Christian thing to do. You should consider trying that Christian stuff. Its all in the New Testament.
Bill I have 50+ employees and not one gets paid minimum wage, not even the high school kid that comes in after school. They all get insurance and a retirement plan after a year as well and my christian faith does affect the way I treat my employees. Also in this day and age there is no reason anybody has to work for minimum wage unless there is extenuating circumstances such as being mentally handicapped. Then raising it may make it harder to put people with limiting factors to work. I had an adult handicaped person we used to find things for to do and it had absolutely nothing to do with us needing cheep labor

[bikewrench]

Bill I have 50+ employees and not one gets paid minimum wage, not even the high school kid that comes in after school. They all get insurance and a retirement plan after a year as well and my christian faith does affect the way I treat my employees. Also in this day and age there is no reason anybody has to work for minimum wage unless there is extenuating circumstances such as being mentally handicapped. Then raising it may make it harder to put people with limiting factors to work. I had an adult handicaped person we used to find things for to do and it had absolutely nothing to do with us needing cheep labor

I admire you and respect the effort it takes to run a small business like yours. My wife is a manager at a similar sized, small business. No one there works for minimum wage either. So my question is, other that paying a handicapped person another buck or so an hour, how will an increase in minimum wage hurt businesses who are already paying above that?

[ITSABOUTTIME]

I don't think it will, but if they raise it for waitresses such as the upscale chains where the waitstaff make pretty good money a buck an hour means nothing to the individual but is one more larege expense on the already stressed company. So it just needs all the bugs worked out wich generally doesn't happen. 1 exclude raising the rate for tipped employees. 2make exceptions for kids and handicapped individuals so as not to reduce jobs available to them.And it probably doesn't change anything but the price of hamburgers.

[Bill McIntyre]

Bill I have 50+ employees and not one gets paid minimum wage, not even the high school kid that comes in after school. They all get insurance and a retirement plan after a year as well and my christian faith does affect the way I treat my employees.

I'm glad to hear it. My comment was directed at phins fan, who said he would have to raise wages and pass it along to customers. I presume that means he pays minimum wage.

[ITSABOUTTIME]

I'm glad to hear it. My comment was directed at phins fan, who said he would have to raise wages and pass it along to customers. I presume that means he pays minimum wage.
just responding as a Christian Bill glad you were just putting him down and not us. ;)

[chuam]

Raising the minimum wage is a good idea. Even Walmart is for it as it would give more money for their core customers to spend. The more you pay people the more they will spend which is the basis of trickle down economics (you repubs should know a reagan idea). With the amount of people in this country working for minimum wage an increase would be a good thing. BTW, I also saw that McDonalds and several other companies that have lots of employees at minimum wage support this.

[aaron proffitt]

[QUOTE=chuam The more you pay people the more they will spend which is the basis of trickle down economics (you repubs should know a reagan idea). QUOTE]


And yet I bet you figured the Bush tax cuts were a bad idea.More money in one's POCKET,the more they spend.Business' grow and prosper,creating more jobs...and
wait for it
wait for it
TAX REVENUES INCREASE !!!

[jackpine savage]

Actually I would like to see a study showing where most of the tax cuts ended up, I say that because the cuts benefitted the wealthiest the most and with the ease of moving money to different markets worldwide I am guessing they put the money were the get the best returns. That is not necessarily the US market. Even if they were to have invested it in American companies, most are international so even there the investment doesn't necessarily benefit the average American worker.

[aaron proffitt]

What????
Your serious ,Jack ?

[jackpine savage]

Yes, with the way money moves around on an international scale why would someone with the means invest in American markets if you could get a better return elsewhere. The US markets aren't necessarily the best investments out there and money knows no national loyalties Of course I am talking the top 1% of the population, the ones who received the meat of these tax cuts.

[Bill McIntyre]

I wouldn't try to argue how much of the tax cuts was invested overseas, but I would question how much of it was invested in businesses and job creation. Buying stock from someone else is not investment in a business- its just change of ownership.

[aaron proffitt]

Yes, with the way money moves around on an international scale why would someone with the means invest in American markets if you could get a better return elsewhere..


I'm invested in the international markets,for a diverse portfolio only.They ain't doing that much better.

BTW,going to a marital celebration for my lil brother this weekend who was smart enough to elope. Well done ,Drew !! We love ya ,kid !!

[chuam]

[QUOTE=chuam The more you pay people the more they will spend which is the basis of trickle down economics (you repubs should know a reagan idea). QUOTE]


And yet I bet you figured the Bush tax cuts were a bad idea.More money in one's POCKET,the more they spend.Business' grow and prosper,creating more jobs...and
wait for it
wait for it
TAX REVENUES INCREASE !!!

But the rich got the biggest cuts while those of us in the middle class got the smallest cuts.

Tax revenue increases mean nothing if you don't have a balanced budget. At least when Clinton left office there was a budget surplus. When Bush leaves office we will be more than neck deep in debt.

[stickitfishy]

I don't think it will, but if they raise it for waitresses such as the upscale chains where the waitstaff make pretty good money a buck an hour means nothing to the individual but is one more larege expense on the already stressed company. So it just needs all the bugs worked out wich generally doesn't happen. 1 exclude raising the rate for tipped employees. 2make exceptions for kids and handicapped individuals so as not to reduce jobs available to them.And it probably doesn't change anything but the price of hamburgers.

Have you ever worked for tips? How much do you think these people make along with their $3.13 hr.

[fishkilla]

demicrats don't put food on my table and neither do republicans. why are you arguing for either side. they don't do anything useful for us! the only way you could have any senator or congressman sit down and listen to what you have to say is by putting a million or two in their re-election campaign fund.

break out the check book and start callin them in. here piggy piggy piggy!

this thread is like a train wreck i can't stop looking at it. again this is crap and it's a waste of spearboard bandwidth.

[mnguy]

this thread is like a train wreck i can't stop looking at it. again this is crap and it's a waste of spearboard bandwidth.

If its such crap, stop sticking your nose in it :rolleyes:

[ITSABOUTTIME]

Have you ever worked for tips? How much do you think these people make along with their $3.13 hr.
your average good waitress makes about 20.00 an hour get in a nice resteraunt in a metro area and a waiter can make more than that

[Bill McIntyre]

Interesting thing about that statement,Bill, is if you study the IRS trends on who gives the most to charity ...it's generally the states that routinely vote red and are low-income "red neck" areas.Literally,putting their money where their mouths are. Same can't be said for the areas(Ca. is a good example) that routinly vote liberal.

To refresh everyone, that comment by Aaron was in response to my saying that if somone paid his employees a higher minimum wage and raised prices accordingly, it would be fine with me. Paying the higher prices would be a Christian thing to do.

I know this is an old dead thread, but I was reminded of it yesterday. My wife is on the social justice committee of her Catholic Parish, and she came home from a meeting in which people were lamenting how much the rich of South Orange County despised the poor. Someone delivered this line-

"If you give food to the poor, you're a Christian. If you want him to be paid a living wage so that he can buy food himself, you're a Communist."

I just had to get that off my chest.:)

[bgbill]

Have you ever worked for tips? How much do you think these people make along with their $3.13 hr.

I have never worked for tips, but I do Tip when I get good service, as an example, we have a monthly club meeting at Skippers Smokehouse, the girl takes care of us pretty well, and the meeting is maybe a couple of hours long, if she didn't get $50-$75 in Tips from just TS, I would be surprised, the last meeting my tab was $27 and I gave her a Tip of $13, not quite 50% but she was nice and gave very good service.

They are on a weds. night and she is also taking care of other customers as well.

If you don't like the idea of working for Tips, don't do it.

[stickitfishy]

your average good waitress makes about 20.00 an hour get in a nice resteraunt in a metro area and a waiter can make more than that

Maybe on Friday and Saturday nights for 6 hours or so each night, what about the rest of the week? My wife has waited tables before in the past and it isn't right to have a waitress come in an hour before the doors open and bust their asses prepping the place for $3.13 hr., have no breaks for 7 hours and then do an hour worth of work for $3.13 before you get to go home.

[stickitfishy]

I have never worked for tips, but I do Tip when I get good service, as an example, we have a monthly club meeting at Skippers Smokehouse, the girl takes care of us pretty well, and the meeting is maybe a couple of hours long, if she didn't get $50-$75 in Tips from just TS, I would be surprised, the last meeting my tab was $27 and I gave her a Tip of $13, not quite 50% but she was nice and gave very good service.

They are on a weds. night and she is also taking care of other customers as well.

If you don't like the idea of working for Tips, don't do it.

Drunks always tip well! :D