# Politics & Elections **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=268 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 269 --- ## [No (or less) use of the filibuster means better Democracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-or-less-use-of-the-filibuster-means-better-democracy/674637)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2013, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-or-less-use-of-the-filibuster-means-better-democracy/674637 "2013-12-07T04:06:43Z")
If I understand things correctly, the “nuclear option” recently invoked only applies to some appointees, and not legislation. But I think it’s likely this will quickly expand to general use, and the filibuster will go b… --- ## [Valid visualisation of partisanship in US Congress?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valid-visualisation-of-partisanship-in-us-congress/675525)
**Author:** [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valid-visualisation-of-partisanship-in-us-congress/675525 "2013-12-06T00:44:42Z")
It’s real preddy - as visualisations often are - and a lot would agree with the conclusion, but does it stand up to scrutiny: Is that a valid representation of the the past 24 years? --- ## [Is "conservative" beginning to become the new "liberal"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-conservative-beginning-to-become-the-new-liberal/672251)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2013, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-conservative-beginning-to-become-the-new-liberal/672251 "2013-11-28T02:48:49Z")
A few years back the conservative movement had succeeded in making the word “liberal” something that no one in the middle (which really is the vast majority of voters) would want to identify with, protraying “liberal” as… --- ## [What do Senate regional offices do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-senate-regional-offices-do/674852)
**Author:** [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2013, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-senate-regional-offices-do/674852 "2013-11-27T08:44:50Z")
What in particular are they involved in within the state that’s not handled by the White House office? I’m sure they work with “lesser” issues within the states, but I actually have no idea what they do. Any dopers out t… --- ## [Personality seems to be a big choice in elections lately ... November 2016 picks anyone?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personality-seems-to-be-a-big-choice-in-elections-lately-november-2016-picks-anyone/673929)
**Author:** [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personality-seems-to-be-a-big-choice-in-elections-lately-november-2016-picks-anyone/673929 "2013-11-26T21:31:14Z")
I think Hillary Clinton ex-Secretary of State and Vice President Joe Biden will duke it out so much in Iowa and on the road that the Republicans will have a good chance of winning the November 2016 elections, but not wit… --- ## [Have scandal monger lies begun to pay off?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-scandal-monger-lies-begun-to-pay-off/661262)
**Author:** [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Replies:** 120\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2013, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-scandal-monger-lies-begun-to-pay-off/661262 "2013-11-20T13:00:39Z")
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/06/17/cnn-poll-obama-approval-falls-amid-controversies/ --- ## [Campaign Signs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/campaign-signs/634208)
**Author:** [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 18, 2013, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/campaign-signs/634208 "2013-11-18T04:42:06Z")
Every election, we get this infestment of candidate sign popping up in the verges and medians and everywhere that they can think to put them. It seems like a sort of violation of the principle of the concept. In their p… --- ## [What if George W. Bush had chosen a different running mate in 2000?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-george-w-bush-had-chosen-a-different-running-mate-in-2000/671331)
**Author:** [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2013, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-george-w-bush-had-chosen-a-different-running-mate-in-2000/671331 "2013-11-15T09:39:53Z")
Whether you liked Dick Cheney or not, he was an incredibly influential figure in Bush’s presidency. He expanded the powers of the Vice President, and is a major reason the U.S. ended up responding to 9/11 the way it did. … --- ## [Say the states that wanted to secede did. Then what?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-the-states-that-wanted-to-secede-did-then-what/671272)
**Author:** [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2013, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-the-states-that-wanted-to-secede-did-then-what/671272 "2013-11-14T05:43:44Z")
From this (and similar articles I have been reading lately): What would happen if the deeply gerrymandered red states actually seceded from the US and formed their own Red States of America or Republican Republic of Rep… --- ## [Scott Walker drawing huge throngs in support of Cooch in Virginia (not)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-drawing-huge-throngs-in-support-of-cooch-in-virginia-not/672996)
**Author:** [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Replies:** 122\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2013, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-drawing-huge-throngs-in-support-of-cooch-in-virginia-not/672996 "2013-11-14T03:48:22Z")
About a 100 in Woodbridge and another 150 in Spotsylvania. GOP “Rock star” Scott Walker brought his anti-union message to the Old Dominion. --- ## [Australian Federal Election: 7th September \[edited title\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-federal-election-7th-september-edited-title/648772)
**Author:** [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Replies:** 158\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2013, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-federal-election-7th-september-edited-title/648772 "2013-11-14T02:07:01Z")
This is going to be a long year. I’m sick of the election already. --- ## [2013: The Off-Year Elections that Redefined Both Political Parties](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-the-off-year-elections-that-redefined-both-political-parties/673533)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2013, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2013-the-off-year-elections-that-redefined-both-political-parties/673533 "2013-11-13T22:23:59Z")
While listening to the coverage of the 2013 Elections, something struck me. Among a litany of local races, judges, municipal leaders, school board council members and the like, a few races stood out and captured nationa… --- ## [The latest GOP hope to remain viable nationally: Rig how Electoral Votes are allocated](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-latest-gop-hope-to-remain-viable-nationally-rig-how-electoral-votes-are-allocated/662659)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 84\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2013, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-latest-gop-hope-to-remain-viable-nationally-rig-how-electoral-votes-are-allocated/662659 "2013-11-13T18:43:36Z")
Currently, only Nebraska and Maine use a district-based plan for allocating electoral votes. Both of these states are fairly inconsequential to Presidential elections due to their size and/or partisanship. However, as … --- ## [Thank goodness: The Texas Voter ID law did not suppress the vote!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-goodness-the-texas-voter-id-law-did-not-suppress-the-vote/673735)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2013, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-goodness-the-texas-voter-id-law-did-not-suppress-the-vote/673735 "2013-11-13T07:31:31Z")
According to Bryan Preston at CNN, the Texas Voter ID law did nothing to suppress the vote last week. As a Texan, I am relieved. :rolleyes: So, in an election in which only the truly informed and motivated vote, Mr. P… --- ## [You should vote even if your partner's vote cancels yours](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-should-vote-even-if-your-partners-vote-cancels-yours/673321)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2013, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-should-vote-even-if-your-partners-vote-cancels-yours/673321 "2013-11-12T23:20:03Z")
It seems quite common that people don’t vote because their partner’s vote would cancel theirs. I think this is mistaken as it reduces overall voter turnout. People would be less able to talk about voter apathy. --- ## [Revisiting the "Dean Scream"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revisiting-the-dean-scream/671728)
**Author:** [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [November 9, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revisiting-the-dean-scream/671728 "2013-11-09T21:51:41Z")
So we were having a dinner-table conversation with the kids and the topic of politicians who flamed out came up. I recounted the story of Howard Dean’s famous “scream”… as I recalled it. A little later, I pulled it up o… --- ## [Rand Paul apparently really likes Wikipedia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-apparently-really-likes-wikipedia/672621)
**Author:** [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Replies:** 122\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rand-paul-apparently-really-likes-wikipedia/672621 "2013-11-08T00:49:56Z")
Rand Paul gave a speech on Monday in support of Ken Cuccinelli (the Republican nominee in the Virginia governor’s race); in Paul’s speech, he apparently freely lifted entire passages from Wikipedia’s description of the p… --- ## [Bloomberg goes 0-2 in Colorado](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bloomberg-goes-0-2-in-colorado/673221)
**Author:** [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2013, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bloomberg-goes-0-2-in-colorado/673221 "2013-11-06T06:09:52Z")
Most of you probably remember about Colorado’s recall elections a few months back, in which two Democrats got recalled over gun rights. Michael Bloomberg gave $350,000 of his own money to fight the recalls. Now he’s gi… --- ## [When did the teaparty become a subset of the Republicans?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-teaparty-become-a-subset-of-the-republicans/670921)
**Author:** [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-teaparty-become-a-subset-of-the-republicans/670921 "2013-11-05T14:54:04Z")
My memory could be off, but I recall during the first years of the teaparty’s astroturffing pundits and posters were vociferously claiming that the teaparty was some sort of third party, a political coalition made up of … --- ## ["What difference does it make?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-does-it-make/672185)
**Author:** [@IceQube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IceQube)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [November 1, 2013, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-does-it-make/672185 "2013-11-01T20:42:09Z")
That’s Hillary’s sentiment on the Benghazi-gate. How is a majority of the electors supposed to vote for Hillary in good conscience? I’d sooner die than vote for that … --- ## [Texas Constitutional Amendment Prop 6](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-constitutional-amendment-prop-6/671024)
**Author:** [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-constitutional-amendment-prop-6/671024 "2013-10-29T20:10:00Z")
The third in the series, Prop 6, labeled SJR 1. I have to confess that this one I cannot make heads or tails of. The legalese is tripping me up, and I’m just not sure what it means. This is also the most controversial… --- ## [Michael Lind: The Tea Party -- "Newest Right" -- is not a populist movement](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-lind-the-tea-party-newest-right-is-not-a-populist-movement/670709)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2013, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-lind-the-tea-party-newest-right-is-not-a-populist-movement/670709 "2013-10-29T12:14:51Z")
In this analysis, the Tea Party movement – what Lind renames the “Newest Right” – is not merely an “extremist” version of conservatives; nor is it a bunch of ignorant yokels; nor, despite its populist pretensions, is it … --- ## [Another Obama conspiracy theory debunked!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-obama-conspiracy-theory-debunked/670915)
**Author:** [@EhhMon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EhhMon)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2013, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-obama-conspiracy-theory-debunked/670915 "2013-10-28T09:26:12Z")
Seems like every time a conspiracy theory about Obama is debunked another pops up in its place. This morning, this one was being share amongst my Teabilliy/Republican friends: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=47778… --- ## [Fewer lawn signs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewer-lawn-signs/637096)
**Author:** [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2013, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fewer-lawn-signs/637096 "2013-10-25T10:32:18Z")
As I was driving to work today it occured to me that I have not seen nearly as many Presidental campaign signs in yards then I remember from 2004 and 2008. In both of those my neighborhood was littered with signs from bo… --- ## [Best place to donate to flip the House?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-place-to-donate-to-flip-the-house/671901)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-place-to-donate-to-flip-the-house/671901 "2013-10-24T19:03:48Z")
If I wanted to donate some small amount to help fund flipping the House what would be the best vehicle to use? The DNC? Picking individual races as the come close that someone like Sam Wang identifies as best battlegroun… --- ## [Sweet, republicans would lose the house if the elections were held today](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-republicans-would-lose-the-house-if-the-elections-were-held-today/670532)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweet-republicans-would-lose-the-house-if-the-elections-were-held-today/670532 "2013-10-23T20:15:52Z")
Of course they aren’t, and voters have short memories. So I don’t really expect them to lose the house in 2014. But a PPP study found the GOP losing in 21 house races against a democrat. Plus the study was funded by M… --- ## [NJ special election for US Senate (Booker vs. Lonegan)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-special-election-for-us-senate-booker-vs-lonegan/671398)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2013, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nj-special-election-for-us-senate-booker-vs-lonegan/671398 "2013-10-22T13:13:50Z")
The polls have been open for several hours now, and the whole thing has been fairly controversial, from the date of the election to Corey Booker’s text messages to a stripper to Steve Lonegan’s Tea Party ideas and backgr… --- ## [McConnell: traitors in the senate; do stories like this matter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-traitors-in-the-senate-do-stories-like-this-matter/670703)
**Author:** [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2013, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-traitors-in-the-senate-do-stories-like-this-matter/670703 "2013-10-22T01:07:40Z")
I hadn’t been to Free Republic in a while, and decided to stroll over there to see what they were upset about now. There is a story out of Glenn Beck’s show which I can’t say is true or false: McConnell is up for reel… --- ## [Why is Christie winning 30% of the black vote?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-christie-winning-30-of-the-black-vote/670958)
**Author:** [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Replies:** 177\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-christie-winning-30-of-the-black-vote/670958 "2013-10-21T19:14:46Z")
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/09/26/african-americans\_embrace\_chris\_christie\_120093.html#ixzz2g6ajD3iM I’ve said before that it would be impossible for Republicans to ever successfully court the black v… --- ## [Very cool U.S. election maps website](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-cool-u-s-election-maps-website/671843)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-cool-u-s-election-maps-website/671843 "2013-10-21T18:09:02Z")
Check it out - quite absorbing!: Elections 1840 - 2008 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=267) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=269)