# 2014 US General Election Results **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 4, 2014, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684 "2014-11-04T23:38:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684/301 "2014-11-05T15:28:10Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I can’t help but think that running away from Obama was a terrible idea. Yeah, he’s somewhat unpopular, but all the candidates jabbering about how much they aren’t like him just played into Republican hands. Obama-haters generally aren’t voting for Democrats anyway. I think the general strategy, because Democrats did the same thing in 2010 and 2012 and were more successful, was that you make your GOP opponent unelectable, and you make yourself less unelectable by muddying the waters about your ideology. “See, he’s a far right extremist and I’m a moderate!” When Republicans were helpful enough to self-destruct, it worked like a charm. When they were skilled politicians, it didn’t work as well. An issue that Jonah Goldberg brought up a couple of weeks ago as well was that Reid was denying these Democrats the opportunity to prove they weren’t beholden to Obama. He was trying to protect them by avoiding tough votes, but if those tough votes had been taken, threatened Democrats could have voted against the leadership more often and touted those votes on the campaign trail. Instead, Reid only allowed votes where Democrats were mostly in agreement, thus all Democrats voted 95% or more with the leadership. That’s a cautionary tale for Republicans too. The Hastert Rule is a problem. McConnell seems to have absorbed the lessons of Reid’s tenure, but the House Republicans still don’t seem to get how damaging it can be to your more moderate members to deny them the ability to join the Democrats on key votes. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684/302 "2014-11-05T15:28:19Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > Going to be fun to watch all the uncomfortable votes and vetoes that the GOP can now put Hopey McChangey in. I don’t know how “uncomfortable” they’ll be. He’s not running for re-election and no one is going to be surprised that he’s not going to sign bills repealing the ACA or forcing him to decide on the Keystone Pipeline or a strict border security bill with no other immigration provisions. If it had been a more narrow margin, like 51 votes, I wouldn’t have expected Reid to run a great many filibusters since needing every GOP vote would be enough to put the Blue/Purple GOP Class of 2010 on the spot. Since 54 votes gives a little cushion for strategic defections, I assume Reid will force those senators to side with the GOP in its attempt to reach 60. So I expect less stuff to reach Obama’s desk for a veto than otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684/303 "2014-11-05T15:31:38Z")
It’s not about making Obama uncomfortable, it’s about making Hillary Clinton have to defend or repudiate Obama’s vetoes. Plus Obama wants a positive legacy, like all Presidents. The fact that he won’t be having another election means he has no hope of ever working with anyone but the Republicans. If the Republicans send popular bills that make things a little better on certain issues to his desk, signing them is his best chance of concluding his Presidency on a positive note. The last two years of the Clinton administration were pretty productive, no reason Obama’s last two years can’t be as well. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684/304 "2014-11-05T15:33:07Z")
OK.\*\* Mr. Smashy\*\*, what’s first? Roll back gay marriage? Throw a bunch of moochers off their health insurance? Deport eleven million Latinos? Virulently oppose the minimum wage movement? How about shutting down Planned Parenthood? Fuck the environment, China’s economy is (cough, cough, _HACK!_, cough…) booming! Maybe free the financial sector from all that needless regulation, so they can come up with new and creative approaches! What’s first on\* your \*list? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684/305 "2014-11-05T15:34:45Z")
Clinton never had to deal with four years of “NO!” I very much doubt this Republican legislature - whose makeup is unlikely to be significantly different - is going to send him anything reasonable to sign. They’ll double down. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684/306 "2014-11-05T15:37:39Z")
Sigh. Florida re-elected §Rick Scott, a man whose company bilked billions from the Medicare program. There is no justice in the world. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684/307 "2014-11-05T15:37:51Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > It’s not about making Obama uncomfortable, it’s about making Hillary Clinton have to defend or repudiate Obama’s vetoes. So it’s not about doing anything \*for \*the country or anybody else, just opposing the Dems even with the majority. Gotcha. [McConnell agrees.](http://www.politico.com/story/2014/08/2014-election-mitch-mcconnells-barack-obama-confrontation-110154.html) > [@](#): > > If the Republicans send popular bills that make things a little better on certain issues to his desk For instance? > [@](#): > > The last two years of the Clinton administration were pretty productive, no reason Obama’s last two years can’t be as well. There \*was \*that little misunderstanding about impeachment, and your guys are rumbling about trying it again. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![JesterX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@JesterX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JesterX)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684/308 "2014-11-05T15:44:54Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Cue the Republican calls of “See? We don’t need a federal minimum wage standard; the states can do this on their own!” in three, two, one,… > > Besides, even at state (as opposed to local) level, minimum wage can be a problem; how do you set a minimum wage in California that both (a) doesn’t cause problems for employers in the rural parts of the state, and (b) is viable in the San Francisco area (where gasoline is still something like $3.75 a gallon)? Or cue the local minimum wage supporters calls of “Congress is useless so it’s up to us to get the minimum wage raised on the local level and show congress this is what we want.” Actually San Francisco passed a minimum wage increase by something like over 70%. And it raised the minimum to gradually go up to $15. As for businesses, it’s just another cost of doing business. Is it harder for them? Sure. But no less than when their landlords raise the rent on their rental space or when their supplier raises their costs. Somehow, that’s totally fine to conservatives but wage increases to their workers is apocalyptic. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684/309 "2014-11-05T15:46:59Z")
So, two years of Senate Benghazi hearings, right? Any chance we get an Attorney General before 2017? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684/310 "2014-11-05T15:51:13Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Clinton never had to deal with four years of “NO!” I very much doubt this Republican legislature - whose makeup is unlikely to be significantly different - is going to send him anything reasonable to sign. They’ll double down. Clinton had a relationship with Newt Gingrich, plus he was a lot more of a skilled politician than Obama. Clinton took GOP opposition, opposition that also led to a shutdown and made them pay for it and pay dearly. There has been no penalty for opposing Obama. He just hasn’t been able to get the public on his side. So what has to happen is that he has to establish a relationship with some rather strange bedfellows. But I don’t know, the way McConnell was talking I have to wonder if he and McConnell might hit it off in a way that he and Boehner did not. McConnell right now is a rock star to even the Tea Partiers. Ted Cruz was asked if he wanted to run for Senate Majority leader and he said no way, it’s McConnell’s. McConnell wouldn’t mind a legacy himself. Maybe he and Obama will establish a good relationship and he’ll be able to spend political capital getting the Tea Partiers to back him. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684/311 "2014-11-05T15:53:08Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > So, two years of Senate Benghazi hearings, right? Right up through the primaries. > [@](#): > > Any chance we get an Attorney General before 2017? Holder isn’t leaving until his replacement is in place. That’ll teach 'em. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684/312 "2014-11-05T15:54:02Z")
> [@](#): > > Clinton had a relationship with Newt Gingrich…he’ll be able to spend political capital getting the Tea Partiers to back him. That would be a very sensible, very reasonable course of action for the Tea Party batshit baboons. And therein lies the problem. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684/313 "2014-11-05T16:10:51Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > McConnell wouldn’t mind a legacy himself. He’s already got one, you know. > [@](#): > > Maybe he and Obama will establish a good relationship and he’ll be able to spend political capital getting the Tea Partiers to back him. And monkeys might … ---
**Author:** ![Poto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@Poto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poto)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684/314 "2014-11-05T16:16:28Z")
Liberal jourmalists have gone out to search for intellectuals in the lost states. One person was found in Kentucky and one in North Carolina. Five were found in Virginia, but all five commute to work in DC. They work in some sort of humanities fields except one was a physics professor. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684/315 "2014-11-05T16:18:04Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Indeed. Has the Senate ever been 77-23? It was 76% Republican (45 of 53 seats) in [1865.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/39th_United_States_Congress) ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684/316 "2014-11-05T16:18:13Z")
> [@The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](#): > > No one responded to the last four formulaic posts you made. Why did you make another one? I chuckled at each one, and didn’t want to try to steal any thunder by commenting. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684/317 "2014-11-05T16:25:04Z")
Dems have to give the Latinos a reason, next two years, to continue to support them. Even if the R’s reject everything that Obama tries to do by executive order, they have to see that the Dems are their home ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684/318 "2014-11-05T16:27:14Z")
I think they see that just fine. They are just better at using political power than African-Americans. Stay home or vote for Republicans a little more and Democratic politicians get really concerned about your needs. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684/319 "2014-11-05T16:30:27Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I don’t know what your definition of “in power” is, but mine is not close to “being the guy who gets to decide what legislation fails due to a filibuster today”. From a national perspective, this election made no difference at all; now it will just be Republican stuff not getting passed. > > At the state level, these results are deeply disturbing. I am hopeful that more votes might actually reach the Senste floor. Reid was adept, disturbingly so, at preventing Senate votes. Will be disgusted if Repubłicans do the same. Debate, vote and get things on Obama’s desk and make him pass or veto. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684/320 "2014-11-05T16:31:47Z")
McConnell made very firm promises in that respect, so you can hold him to them. He said Democrats will be able to offer amendments. That should make them less inclined to filibuster. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2014-us-general-election-results/703684.md?page=17)