What the fuck has Obama done so far?

[mckitterick]

On this eve of a purported Republican takeover of the House of Representatives, I went looking for something to cheer me up - not that I think it'll make any difference, mind you, what with the Repubs having stalled and wanked the House around enough so that the Dems couldn't get anything done. Ahem.

Anyway, it's nice to know that, yes, actually some stuff got done. Check out What the fuck has Obama done so far?

Feeling better now. Though bitterly ironic. Verging on disappointed with the American voters. I mean, seriously folks, you're voting for the party that did nothing but prevent stuff from getting done? *sigh* I guess it's better than when they supported Le Shrub and his Campaign of Awful. 'Course, if we really get a House full o' Repubs, we can expect a whole lotta nuthin' good for the next couple of years.

Speaking of which, here's CNN's Election Center page, where you can watch the carnage mount. As of this moment, they calling 116 Dems and 171 Repubs for the House, 48 Dems and 44 Repubs for the Senate.

Chris

Comments

I have blood pressure issues

[dragonet2.livejournal.com]

so I'm avoiding news TV as much as I can.

I did a mitzvah when I voted (see my LJ) but my kindness is being punished with crap. At least a little girlie is a happy kid tonight, after thinking her lovie was gone forever.

Re: I have blood pressure issues

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

That little victory made my night.

[geekmom.livejournal.com]

Ok, let me sum up what I've gathered. Americans want to vote for Republicans in order to punish the Democrats for not doing the things the Republicans aren't going to do and are promising to actively not do.

[queenmomcat.livejournal.com]

Brilliant summary. (no really!)

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

EXACTLY.

What I hope is that the Repubs take this as another mandate, as they like to do, and screw themselves hard before next election. As soon as the Teapartiers recognize that they just installed Republicans - the people who brought us multiple wars and unheard-of debt - they will vote the bums right out office on the next go.

Where are our viable third parties?

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm feeling you there, I went, knowing we weren't likely to win (any of them) but I WENT.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

You have to try, otherwise you lose the right to bitch about it. I claim the right to bitch ;-)

[(Anonymous)]

"Verging on disappointed" -- ??!

I guess you don't jump too quickly too judgment, eh? Must be that Midwestern temperament. I've been nothing short of appalled for decades, a couple of decent presidents notwithstanding.

Best,
- E

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Ha! I should have said that I feel disappointed at every election, on most votes. I don't remember a time when I felt Congress represented me, and I doubt the new band of politicos will do anything worthwhile, either - possibly a lot of ugly stuff. And as far as "decent presidents," I have no idea to whom you refer. Decency is not a common trait among politicians.

[frugurl27.livejournal.com]

While losing the House sucks, I am actually more bothered by our new governor. Definitely an incentive to leave the state when the opportunity arises!

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Lawrence has always been, in Gunn's words, "an oasis of liberal thought in a desert of conservatism." But that's true of everywhere, really. I wouldn't want to live in many of the Blue States, either. When I lived in progressive Seattle, it was still mired in a conservative state.

You live locally, wherever you are.

[frugurl27.livejournal.com]

While that's definitely true, Brownback as governor will have a direct impact on the way our entire state is run - just as the House will affect national policy. I'm more concerned about statewide policy implications than for my daily Lawrencian life. Things like ill-advised tax reforms and discrimination laws affect all Kansans.

[bogwitch64.livejournal.com]

I read that yesterday on FB. I meant to pass it along and forgot. Curses! I'll go do it now.

I seriously don't understand what's going on with the voters in this country. Even after the Rally to Restore Sanity, no one's voting!!! In my state, in a county of 69K registered voters, only 20K voted!! Does no one see what's going on? How the Republicans stall EVERY GOOD FUCKING THING just so they can say come 2012, "See what a Dem President did" ???? It's insane.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

I think I understand it: No national politician is ever going to do the things he or she promised; they just can't, because the opposing team will sandbag their efforts. More to the point, though, every one of them need to plan for next election, so all they really do is work to satisfy their actual base (donors) rather than the people they represent. Doesn't matter which team it is.

I think Dems didn't turn out to vote because, frankly, there's not a lot to be proud of: Few of them strove to do the things they said they'd do. Next election, hoo boy will they come out in force, I predict, because they'll get to enjoy a couple of years of Repub ruination.

Bleh.

[chernobylred.livejournal.com]

People are stupid. And they suck. And I hate them.

[shrijani.livejournal.com]

Second that. Big time.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

How did I know this would be your response?

I still think there's hope for humanity, despite what every single election would suggest.

[chernobylred.livejournal.com]

How did I know this would be your response?

You're either psychic, or you know me pretty well.

My hope for humanity lies in the individuals I know who try to make the tiny part of their world a better place. The people who give their time as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the people who work with rescue dogs, the people who help with food pantries/distribution sites. My hope does not, cannot, lie with politicians.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Mike's a Big Brother now!

[scottakennedy.livejournal.com]

That's a great link. Thanks. Needed a little shot of that today.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

I figured folks might need it. I sure did.

[paulwoodlin.livejournal.com]

When you consider GOP stonewalling, it's amazing he got as much done as he did. I didn't have the patience to go through the entire list you linked us to.

But when push comes to shove, as long as the American people will not allow major cuts to military spending, Social Security, and Medicare, and as long as the American people want tax cuts, we will have a big government with an unbalanced budget. I'm still a Democrat for the sake of social issues and where I want that money spent, but the long term drag on the economy is unavoidable.

But all is not lost. The British Empire also went broke from borrowing money (from us) to maintain a worldwide military structure, and all they lost was superpower status. Last I heard, it was still an okay place to live.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Ha! Good point. Not a platform I'd use when runing for office, though: "Sure, we're going bankrupt, but the Briting Empire did okay after their crash."

;-)

[paulwoodlin.livejournal.com]

I think you've hit the nail on the head as to why I never went into politics.