# Politics & Elections **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=269 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 270 --- ## [What if the Democrats cut a deal with Boehner on the Speakership?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-democrats-cut-a-deal-with-boehner-on-the-speakership/670023)
**Author:** [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Replies:** 96\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2013, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-democrats-cut-a-deal-with-boehner-on-the-speakership/670023 "2013-10-21T04:48:19Z")
Apparently John Boehner is in a bit of a box because part of his caucus won’t allow him to reach deals, or move legislation, without attaching elements that advance their own agenda. It seems to be the case that Boehner… --- ## [Given this deal how do things play out from here?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-this-deal-how-do-things-play-out-from-here/671453)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2013, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-this-deal-how-do-things-play-out-from-here/671453 "2013-10-21T04:25:29Z")
Funding at current levels until 1/15 and debt ceiling raise until 2/7. Nothing much given in return but now that the gun has been put down and the hostages released (assuming the House passes it) serious budget (and othe… --- ## [The Hastert Rule](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hastert-rule/671506)
**Author:** [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2013, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hastert-rule/671506 "2013-10-20T11:38:46Z")
The Hastert Rule is the informal rule that the Speaker of the House won’t schedule a vote on any legislation that doesn’t have the support of a majority of Representatives from his party. While I can see how this benefi… --- ## [raising debt limits](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raising-debt-limits/671472)
**Author:** [@stosh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stosh)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raising-debt-limits/671472 "2013-10-19T17:33:04Z")
I don’t understand why this is a good thing. We are trillions of dollars in debt already. Dosen’t this just prove that ALLpoliticians suck ? --- ## [WWII Memorial shutdown controversy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-memorial-shutdown-controversy/670354)
**Author:** [@Donald\_Rump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donald_Rump)\ **Replies:** 256\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-memorial-shutdown-controversy/670354 "2013-10-18T20:58:46Z")
Can anyone explain what’s up with the WWII Memorial shutdown controversy? The narrative in some media outlets is that the Obama administration unilaterally closed the memorial to inflict maximum pain from the shutdown. I… --- ## [Why are we hearing nothing about the shutdown from 2016 Democratic POTUS wannabes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-we-hearing-nothing-about-the-shutdown-from-2016-democratic-potus-wannabes/671247)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2013, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-we-hearing-nothing-about-the-shutdown-from-2016-democratic-potus-wannabes/671247 "2013-10-18T00:48:46Z")
I can’t recall anyone in line to be a Democratic 2016 POTUS candidate making a substantive comment on the shutdown. It would seem to be an ideal time to make a comment about the GOP / Tea Party behavior and position your… --- ## [Article: Conservatives can still baby boom their way into a majority](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-conservatives-can-still-baby-boom-their-way-into-a-majority/671465)
**Author:** [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2013, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-conservatives-can-still-baby-boom-their-way-into-a-majority/671465 "2013-10-17T16:55:36Z")
From an article in the Washington Examiner allegedly quoting a study: I say “allegedly” because I haven’t read the study, though I read one of the links provided and it didn’t say much about conservatives quiverfulling… --- ## [How do you expect the shutdown to end?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-expect-the-shutdown-to-end/670088)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 185\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2013, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-expect-the-shutdown-to-end/670088 "2013-10-17T07:58:37Z")
Right now, I’m having a hard time seeing how this deal gets resolved. Which side will blink? Not seeing how Obama can agree to any restrictions on ACA. I see more possibility for the House Repubs to waver - simply bec… --- ## [Where the Hell Is the Tea Party?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-hell-is-the-tea-party/671262)
**Author:** [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-hell-is-the-tea-party/671262 "2013-10-17T01:20:26Z")
Isn’t this the time? Shouldn’t we expect them to be rallying in huge throngs? Shouldn’t we see Fox slavishly drooling over massive crowds of dull-normal protesters? And what do we get? http://thinkprogress.org/politi… --- ## [Texas Constitutional Amendment Prop 4](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-constitutional-amendment-prop-4/671023)
**Author:** [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-constitutional-amendment-prop-4/671023 "2013-10-16T04:07:28Z")
Texas Constitutional Amendment Proposition 4 is listed as HJR 24. HJR 24 proposes a constitutional amendment that would allow the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of part of the market va… --- ## [Eric Erickson: Pubs' failure to block the ACA will lead to a "real third party movement"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-erickson-pubs-failure-to-block-the-aca-will-lead-to-a-real-third-party-movement/670890)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eric-erickson-pubs-failure-to-block-the-aca-will-lead-to-a-real-third-party-movement/670890 "2013-10-16T02:44:50Z")
Story here. Oh, and he also says: So anything he says here should be taken with a mine of salt. But as for the TP faction (clearly what he means) going third-party, I’m sure he’s not the only one saying it. Is there… --- ## [Texas Constitutional Amendment Prop 3](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-constitutional-amendment-prop-3/671021)
**Author:** [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-constitutional-amendment-prop-3/671021 "2013-10-15T20:41:35Z")
Texas has a few Texas Constitutional Amendments up for vote this year. I’m reading my way through them to try to understand what they mean. Some of them are described well enough here (pdf) that I can make sense, but a… --- ## [Shutdown and National Parks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shutdown-and-national-parks/670229)
**Author:** [@barnhardt999](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barnhardt999)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2013, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shutdown-and-national-parks/670229 "2013-10-15T03:42:40Z")
Why is the Federal Government posting armed guards at National Park to deny entrance? Is preventing public enjoyment of the parks during a shutdown really an essential government function? --- ## [What is public opinion on who is to blame for the shutdown?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722)
**Author:** [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Replies:** 140\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2013, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-public-opinion-on-who-is-to-blame-for-the-shutdown/670722 "2013-10-15T01:36:40Z")
Newt Gingrich has a commentary out today in which he speaks to recent polling about the shut down. Like Gingrich, I simply assumed that with the left friendly media’s help the vast majority of people would blame the Re… --- ## [Will the GOP split into two parties within the next two Presidential cycles?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-gop-split-into-two-parties-within-the-next-two-presidential-cycles/670244)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-gop-split-into-two-parties-within-the-next-two-presidential-cycles/670244 "2013-10-15T01:03:30Z")
I have one very conservative friend, who is politically libertarian and personally fundamentalist, who expects and hopes such will happen. (His version is one that he believes would attrack a fair number of independents … --- ## [What are the odds that the U.S. will default?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-odds-that-the-u-s-will-default/669903)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 230\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-odds-that-the-u-s-will-default/669903 "2013-10-14T22:10:47Z")
(If this is more GD, feel free to move; I couldn’t figure it out.) Obama seems pretty firm that he isn’t negotiating this time, although Paul Ryan says he’s sure he will. The Tea Party congressfolk show no sign of want… --- ## [German federal election 2013](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-federal-election-2013/669481)
**Author:** [@keving](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keving)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-federal-election-2013/669481 "2013-10-14T17:04:13Z")
Surely this merits a thread? Given that euro observers have saying that everything’s on hold until after the German elections. Quite interesting election, actually. It looks like the incumbent CDU/CSU (centre-right) wil… --- ## [How is all this Republican overreach going to play out in November 2014?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-all-this-republican-overreach-going-to-play-out-in-november-2014/662884)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 266\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-all-this-republican-overreach-going-to-play-out-in-november-2014/662884 "2013-10-14T15:14:53Z")
It seems the Republicans are dealing with being shut out of the WH by (1) at the federal level, playing the party-of-no role and (2) meanwhile, in any states they control, barreling forward-and-rightward at full-retard s… --- ## [US Shutdown Crisis: Day 12](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-shutdown-crisis-day-12/671079)
**Author:** [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2013, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-shutdown-crisis-day-12/671079 "2013-10-13T13:46:40Z")
On the Twelfth Day of Shutdown, my True Love gave to me - Twelve Interns fighting Eleven Pubbies grumbling Ten Texans rumbling Nine Ladies lunching Eight Moderates milling Seven Spokesmen mumbling Six Teabags dang… --- ## [Can 20 GOP moderate Reps switch Party to avert Tea Party looming catastrophe](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228)
**Author:** [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2013, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-20-gop-moderate-reps-switch-party-to-avert-tea-party-looming-catastrophe/670228 "2013-10-13T10:39:06Z")
My Congressman has publically joined 20 other Republicans in the House of Reps in stating he would vote for a clean resolution with no extortion adders to destroy Obamacare to get the government funded. I’m wondering if… --- ## [US Shutdown Crisis: Day 11](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-shutdown-crisis-day-11/670997)
**Author:** [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2013, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-shutdown-crisis-day-11/670997 "2013-10-12T03:48:54Z")
I’ve lost track of which threads say what. Here’s today’s offering, following yesterday’s GOP attempt to float a six week debt ceiling hike to uncouple that from the shutdown problem. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/hous… --- ## [Interpret and evaluate this claim about the shutdown please?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interpret-and-evaluate-this-claim-about-the-shutdown-please/670657)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2013, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interpret-and-evaluate-this-claim-about-the-shutdown-please/670657 "2013-10-11T03:33:24Z")
I’m reading a discussion in which the above comment was made by someone who was making otherwise fairly lucid and reasonable points. But I can’t quite figure out what they’re saying in the bit quoted above. If they’re m… --- ## [Former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is sentenced to...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-detroit-mayor-kwame-kilpatrick-is-sentenced-to/670888)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-detroit-mayor-kwame-kilpatrick-is-sentenced-to/670888 "2013-10-10T20:00:49Z")
…and the judge says… (Link to Detroit Free Press live blog from inside the courtroom as he receives his sentence for extortion, tax evasion, etc). --- ## [How is "shutting down the government" a winning strategy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-shutting-down-the-government-a-winning-strategy/669152)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 316\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2013, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-shutting-down-the-government-a-winning-strategy/669152 "2013-10-09T23:29:26Z")
In the looming budget fight and the always fun debt ceiling fight, certain Congress members are claiming they will refuse to pass any continuing resolutions or raises to the debt ceiling in order to eliminate Obamacare. … --- ## [This is Boehner's shutdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-boehners-shutdown/670261)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 202\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-boehners-shutdown/670261 "2013-10-09T19:49:00Z")
The Democrats should go even farther than calling it a “Republican shutdown”- they should call it “John Boehner’s Shutdown”. A majority of the House would support a clean budget continuing resolution, and we know the Se… --- ## [How can anyone defend closing of private property on Federal land?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-defend-closing-of-private-property-on-federal-land/670534)
**Author:** [@JustBecause14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustBecause14)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-anyone-defend-closing-of-private-property-on-federal-land/670534 "2013-10-08T19:35:21Z")
Re: the shutdown. In particular, I am wondering what point it serves to close hotels/restaurants (Blue Ridge Inn) & force people from their private homes (Lake Meade). Isn’t this just the Feds being a bunch of bullies ju… --- ## [Run For the Hills! (Government Shutdown in Effect)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068)
**Author:** [@Werekoala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Werekoala)\ **Replies:** 630\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2013, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068 "2013-10-08T05:08:23Z")
I fully expect to wake up to Good Morning America in a few hours to news of several major cities on fire, tens of thousands of Elderly and Children dying in the streets, Al-Quaeda taking over the Capitol (along with thei… --- ## [So what's the Senate up to?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-senate-up-to/670606)
**Author:** [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-the-senate-up-to/670606 "2013-10-07T21:50:36Z")
OK, so everyone who’s paying any attention knows that the House has forced a shutdown of the government, and that nothing is going to happen until Boener mans up and lets them pass a clean CR. But that clean CR would st… --- ## ["We Did Stop" SNL takes on the shut down](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-did-stop-snl-takes-on-the-shut-down/670547)
**Author:** [@CLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CLee)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-did-stop-snl-takes-on-the-shut-down/670547 "2013-10-07T19:03:24Z")
I’d put this in Cafe Society, but I was afraid some Boehner and Bachmann fans might miss this: http://www.hulu.com/#!watch/542149#i2,p0,d2 Is there a laugh/cringe hybrid? Because I held it for 3 minutes. ETA: this is a… --- ## [My representatives are better than yours](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-representatives-are-better-than-yours/670497)
**Author:** [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2013, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-representatives-are-better-than-yours/670497 "2013-10-07T11:51:25Z")
I’m pretty much completely ignorant of local politics. I remember learning in high school that Arizona, my state of residence, has 8 representatives. Well, I just now learned that back in 2010 we went from 8 to 9. In you… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=268) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/politics-elections/22.md?page=270)