# GOP still trending to win Senate **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 13, 2014, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426 "2014-08-13T10:52:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/201 "2014-08-23T04:34:35Z")
ISIS. There is nothing in the Constitution that says a foreign enemy has to be a nation-state. ISIS has an army, you can make war against an army. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/202 "2014-08-23T15:03:16Z")
So, they’ll vote for a declaration of war against ISIS _after_ the midterms, but not before? And these are the guys who have America’s best interests as their priority. Uh huh. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/203 "2014-08-23T18:49:00Z")
Would a GOP majority in the Senate lead to another government shutdown? Democrats are saying yes, Mitch McConnell is saying no, however, he has promised a tempestuous and confrontational final two years of the Obama presidency should he become Senate majority leader. [Louisville Courier Journal](http://www.courier-journal.com/story/politics-blog/2014/08/20/if-hes-senate-leader-kentuckys-mitch-mcconnell-promises-fight-with-president/14334107/) [Think Progress](http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2014/08/20/3473646/mitch-mcconnell-threatens-another-government-shutdown/) is more accusatory than the middle of the road Louisville paper. **After Promising The End Of Government Shutdowns, Mitch McConnell Threatens Another Government Shutdown** > [@](#): > > Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) pledged to strong arm President Obama into adopting a host of Republican policy priorities, from repealing the Affordable Care Act to undoing environmental regulations, should Republicans take back the senate in November. In the process, the Kentucky senator appeared to undermine his pledge to avoid future government shutdowns. > > In an interview with Politico published on Wednesday, McConnell laid out a plan of attaching policy riders to must-pass spending measures and forcing Obama into a standoff: sign off on the bill or close down the federal government. > > “We’re going to pass spending bills, and they’re going to have a lot of restrictions on the activities of the bureaucracy,” McConnell told the publication. Obama, McConnell added, “needs to be challenged, and the best way to do that is through the funding process. He would have to make a decision on a given bill, whether there’s more in it that he likes than dislikes.” ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/204 "2014-08-23T22:33:58Z")
Sounds like the Prez could use a lie-item veto. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/205 "2014-08-24T00:33:21Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > ISIS. There is nothing in the Constitution that says a foreign enemy has to be a nation-state. ISIS has an army, you can make war against an army. Just like the Barbary Pirates. The tradition is an old one. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/206 "2014-08-24T04:25:30Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > So, they’ll vote for a declaration of war against ISIS _after_ the midterms, but not before? > > And these are the guys who have America’s best interests as their priority. Uh huh. They’ll vote for a declaration if the President asks for one. And I’d imagine Democrats would as well. My point was that instead of being confrontational with the President, both Democrats and Republicans should focus on winning the war that is on the verge of escalating. It is starting to look like that will be the main issue of Obama’s last two years. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/207 "2014-08-24T04:31:48Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > They’ll vote for a declaration if the President asks for one. And I’d imagine Democrats would as well. My point was that instead of being confrontational with the President, both Democrats and Republicans should focus on winning the war that is on the verge of escalating. It is starting to look like that will be the main issue of Obama’s last two years. Yes, let’s get involved in another land war in Asia. ALWAYS a good idea! ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/208 "2014-08-24T05:34:29Z")
You act as if we can choose. We can’t. You’ll notice they took a picture of the White House and posted it? You prefer your President alive, no? ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/209 "2014-08-24T07:28:46Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > You act as if we can choose. We can’t. You’ll notice they took a picture of the White House and posted it? You prefer your President alive, no? Someone taking a photo in a public place is a meaningful threat? Literally thousands of people take pictures from the spot that photo was taken. I think our president is pretty safe. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/210 "2014-08-24T12:24:11Z")
I once visited Fort Knox. I hope I’m not considered a threat to the U.S.'s gold reserve. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/211 "2014-08-24T18:37:35Z")
In any case, the argument here isn’t about the wisdom of going to war in Iraq and Syria. That decision has already been made. The issue is whether you’ll support your President. The Republicans will. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/212 "2014-08-24T19:18:41Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > You act as if we can choose. We can’t. You’ll notice they took a picture of the White House and posted it? You prefer your President alive, no? Sure we can choose. We can decide ISIS is just the latest in a long line of overhyped assholes in the Middle East that we don’t give a shit about unless they do something really stupid, like invade Israel or Saudi Arabia or one of those other oil rich despots whose oil we love so much. Easy-peasy! ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/213 "2014-08-24T19:24:19Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > In any case, the argument here isn’t about the wisdom of going to war in Iraq and Syria. That decision has already been made. The issue is whether you’ll support your President. The Republicans will. I didn’t support President Bush when he invaded Iraq. Really. BAD idea then BAD idea now. In fact, I think President Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld should be sent to the Hague to be tried as war criminals. I TOTALLY support that, and consider myself a loyal and patriotic American for doing so. Because I don’t support the individuals who run the government of the US, I support the principals that this country stands for … and invading countries that pose no military threat to us on faked up pretexts violates the hell out of American principles of fairness and justice. If Obama decides he wants to jump into Iraq, I’m not backing him. Gotta have a better reason than he has now. Let Saudi Arabia and Israel do some fighting … they seem to be the ones most endangered. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/214 "2014-08-24T20:35:11Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > The issue is whether you’ll support your President. If he’s doing the right thing, of course we will. But our loyalty is to our country and our world, not to any individual. We’re patriots, not idolators. > [@](#): > > The Republicans will. One word: Benghazi. One more: Impeachment. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/215 "2014-08-24T21:46:43Z")
Republicans don’t like battles where we lose. As long as Obama is a winner, he’ll have their full backing. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/216 "2014-08-24T21:48:16Z")
And please, let’s dispense with this “I won’t back the President”. You won’t oppose him in any way that actually matters. If anti-war Rand Paul runs against hawk Hillary Clinton, with Rand promising to get us out of Iraq and Syria and Clinton pledging to get us in deeper, you’ll vote for Hillary while barely holding your nose. Every single one of you. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/217 "2014-08-24T21:49:36Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > As long as Obama is a winner, he’ll have their full backing. Is \*that \*what McCain says on all the talk shows? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/218 "2014-08-24T23:21:13Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > And please, let’s dispense with this “I won’t back the President”. You won’t oppose him in any way that actually matters. If anti-war Rand Paul runs against hawk Hillary Clinton, with Rand promising to get us out of Iraq and Syria and Clinton pledging to get us in deeper, you’ll vote for Hillary while barely holding your nose. Every single one of you. Yes, because war isn’t the only issue. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/219 "2014-08-24T23:28:16Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Yes, let’s get involved in another land war in Asia. ALWAYS a good idea! And let’s worry about paying a few hundred million to feed our own hungry people, but let’s fund another trillion for this “adventure”. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426/220 "2014-08-24T23:32:37Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Republicans don’t like battles where we lose. As long as Obama is a winner, he’ll have their full backing. I rather doubt it. Over the last five years it’s pretty much been scorched earth on the part of the GOP. I think they’d rather see America lose a war than the president get credit for a victorious one. Look at the behind the back foreign dealings by Nixon (balking the Viet Nam peace talks) in 1968 and the behind the back dealing by Reagan with Iran to cause the hostage negotiations to fail in 1980. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-still-trending-to-win-senate/695426.md?page=12)