Election Results: The Presidential Race
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-11-07/election-results-presidential-race
In his victory speech last night, President Barack Obama spoke of reaching out to Republicans to address issues that can only be solved together. He won a second term after a tough race against GOP challenger Mitt Romney and record-breaking campaign spending on both sides. Many say he prevailed over Romney, at least in part, as a result of changing U.S. demographics: a rising number of Latino voters and the declining impact of white voters. Obama faces a Congress that remains divided and a still-struggling economy. Please join us to to talk about the challenges ahead for both Democrats and Republicans.
Guests
James Thurber
professor and director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University, and author of "Obama in Office: The First Two Years."
Andrew Kohut
director of the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press.
Michelle Bernard
founder and president of the Bernard Center for Women, Politics and Public Policy.
Comments
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It seems like the Republicans will have to move to supporting the welfare state in order to be embraced by the surging demographics in this country. This is not a long-term solution but seems like it would work in the short run.
Americans voted for a divided government. It doesn't seem like that means a bigger government. It certainly doesn't mean compromising on their principles, especially if the president stays stuck on the far left. Michelle?
How many bills did the House pass in the last session that died in the Senate? Who's obstructionist?
What happened in state elections; for example, governors and how does that jive with the various interpretations of the national election results?
I have been following Tammy Duckworth's campaign. Please comment on her election.
Mike Sergeant wrote:
"With that said, isn't it time for the Republicans to play nicely in the sandbox? Yes, yes the Democrats are almost as bad but the Republicans obstructionist stance has to go. Fight for what you believe but in the end compromise and move forward. "
Mike, I appreciate the sentiment, but when the "other side's" vision of compromise is, "you are entitled to my opinion", we do not get very far. That has been the stand of this President from day 1. Compromise doesn't look like that. Just look at the Senate the last two years. How many House bills are laying dead at the feet of the Majority leader that can't even get a hearing?
Duckworth benefitted from redistricting, period.
Puerto Rico voted to move toward statehood... what are the next steps there? Will the GOP congress try to block it?
I am very encouraged by the election results. The results affirm women, affirm same-sex couples, affirm equality. Thank you people of Maine and Maryland, Minn too (and hopefully WA).
Now let us hope that the democrats will actually lead.
LjPaulik wrote: "What do you think about the comments that Donald Trump made last night?"
Two words...SORE LOSER. And the thing is he's wasn't even the one running. To my chagrin, Willard was very gracious in his loss.
hainc wrote: "It seems like the Republicans will have to move to supporting the welfare state in order to be embraced by the surging demographics in this country. This is not a long-term solution but seems like it would work in the short run"
I doubt it, why vote for republicans to do what the democrats are experts at. The opposition just needs to wait for the unavoidable crash. If anything over the past 4 years we have learned the political winds can turn on a dime.
Do you think President Obama will grow some cajones this term and go after the Wall Street fraudsters? Will we witness any accountability?
Was this a mandate?
What is the basis of your statement that the candidate who lost is most capable of maintaining our standard of living? The deficit increases more on Republican watch and the stock market does better when a Democrat is President.
Mitch McConnell will now try to make sure O will be a two term president.
The solution to healthcare expenses starts with only paying physicians minimum wage. How do you like it now?
There is nothing wrong with the money being spent on elections. It's great for the economy. You'd have to ask the candidates if it's worth it.
IndieLady7 wrote: "To my chagrin, Willard was very gracious in his loss"
What a strange statement.
Ken65 wrote:
"Mitch McConnell will now try to make sure O will be a two term president."
Gotta admit, that was pretty funny.
partisan politics wrote: "IndieLady7 wrote: "To my chagrin, Willard was very gracious in his loss"
What a strange statement."
How so?
Jim Gamble wrote:
"...those same conservative voices I've seen you repeat over and over- are also wrong about climate change, taxes, the deficit, birth control, vaginal probes, SS, MC and everything else? Has it dawned on you yet that if YOU were wrong about this last election, maybe you're not so good at figuring out the right answer- ..."
It's that kind of logic that inspires us to keep fighting the good fight, Jim. Thanks for posting it!
IndieLady7 wrote: How so?
You were hoping he was going to make a fool of himself?
cha·grin/SHəˈgrin/Noun: Distress or embarrassment at having failed or been humiliated.
Verb: Feel distressed or humiliated.
Synonyms: noun. disappointment - grief - sorrow - annoyance - regret
verb. grieve - aggrieve
I'm so confused about reproductive rights. Women can take birth control. Men cant. Women can abort a child, while the man can be forced to pay for a child he may not want.
What am I missing here? Why arent we giving men more reproductive rights? Why can't we spend money to level the birth control playing field and invent a mens pill. Why cant men opt out of financially supporting a child. Women have all the choices, men have none!
Why do women not see this?
IndieLady7 wrote:
"To my chagrin, Willard was very gracious in his loss."
That's because he's a gentleman.
If any pollster or pundit had asked me four years ago what I was, I'd have said I'm an independent, leaning toward the Democrats; I'd happily voted for Republicans over the years (am 68), but as events and attitudes toward this president unfolded, I have realized that I am definitely a Democrat, believing that good government is an asset to its citizens. I'm wondering how many others who considered themselves independents moved in one direction or the other, leaving many who call themselves such, either incredibly "hopeful" or apolitical. I also think that many, many of us need an education in what government is, particularly one that we proudly say is of, by, and for the people.
partisan politics wrote: "IndieLady7 wrote: How so?
You were hoping he was going to make a fool of himself?
cha·grin/SHəˈgrin/Noun: Distress or embarrassment at having failed or been humiliated.
Verb: Feel distressed or humiliated.
Synonyms: noun. disappointment - grief - sorrow - annoyance - regret
verb. grieve - aggrieve"
Too late. He already made a fool of himself throughout the campaign. The point of my post is that he was very gracious in his concession, unlike one surrogate who more or less had a meltdown on Twitter (i.e. Donald Trump).
Women will never vote for the GOP as long as reproductive rights could be taken away - the lesson for the GOP is to stay out of people's private lives & focus on the economy
Dear God, four more years. Although those who voted for Obama will get what they deserve the other half of the country will have to suffer the consequences as well. Fortunately the republican controlled congress will help slow the continual onslaught by democrats of higher taxes and wealth transfer which stifles innovation and competition.
Pogo to Fox News and the Tea Party:
"We has met the enemy, and they is us."
NPR's Cokie Roberts had the best commentary I have heard on just how Obama won, well worth listening to:
"November 7, 2012 President Obama won re-election, not by going after independent voters, but by going after emerging groups in the U.S. population. By race, age and gender, voters made clear there are two — or more — Americas, and the Obama team captured more of them, and delivered more of them to the polls."
http://www.npr.org/2012/11/07/164582496/obama-capitalizes-on-emerging-vo...
So much for the candidate who ran in 2008 saying "There is only one America."
Raw transactional politics. Kindergarten stuff but it worked. The Republican Party needs to become far more inclusive. I felt we lost when Romney chose Ryan over Condoleezza Rice or Marco Rubio.
The nation will survive. De oppresso liber.
IndieLady7, OK, you did not know the meaning of the word "chagrin"
The more things change, the more they remain the same. LOL
partisan politics wrote: "IndieLady7, OK, you did not know the meaning of the word "chagrin""
I guess not...based on what you posted.
What's your point? I was just surprised of how gracious Romney was during his concession--despite his arrogance, how he said he only had a victory speech written, and the time it took for him to concede since it was announced that Obama won (i.e. over two hours).
Yes - many in the old South are still fighting the Civil War; the irony is that the Republican Party was born in opposition to the South's stand on slavery and states' rights, and here it is in the 21st Century, catering to the South's cry against labor unions, civil rights, and the federal government. Yeesh. Romney, McConnell, Boehner did not lead, they catered - maybe this will help them to recognize that, for the sake of this grand country, they must start leading, explaining, and yes, productively compromising.
Is there ANY evidence that spending on 'ga-zillions' of yard/road signs results in
votes??????? Who pays attention????? They are an eyesore--and, the money
ought to go to more productive campaign spending--or, better yet, to toward our
economic & social problems.