# What will be the general issues in the 2014 U.S. elections? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 13, 2014, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198 "2014-02-13T00:13:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198/21 "2014-02-16T21:22:55Z")
I suspect the controversial issue of _Who Loves The Flag More_ will be discussed often. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198/22 "2014-02-16T22:46:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Besides, although the odds are long, if Republicans get a big enough win, maybe they can round up enough votes to override a Presidential veto. In the House, I suppose it’s just barely conceivable… But in the Senate? Are there even enough seats up to make that possible? ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198/23 "2014-02-17T00:53:13Z")
I also don’t see the NSA thing coming to the front because it crosses political lines in such a way that its hard for either side to get fully behind. It would seem to be a good issue for the GOP to run against Obama but since they are generally pro-nationalism and anti-civil rights they can’t really put their heart into it. Meanwhile the opposite situation in true for the Dems. I predict the GOP will still rail against the ACA even thought they can’t really do anything about it. Since the roll out has been bumpy its the one piece of bad news that goes in their favor so they have to run with it. I suspect that both sides are going to blame the other side for the dysfunction in Congress, claiming that their side is being practical and reasonable while the other side has been extreme and uncompromising. This will go over well with the core of both parities but I think the Dems. message will play better with any real moderates that remain. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198/24 "2014-02-17T04:39:39Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > In the House, I suppose it’s just barely conceivable… But in the Senate? Are there even enough seats up to make that possible? They need Democratic votes. And I’m not talking about total repeal, just repeal of parts of it, like the individual mandate, the risk corridors, the minimum coverage requirements that are forcing elderly people to purchase maternity services. Liberal dopers love to say that the public hates ACA but loves what’s in it. Well, let’s get rid of what they hate and see how well the law stands up. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198/25 "2014-02-17T05:01:41Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > They need Democratic votes. And I’m not talking about total repeal, just repeal of parts of it, like the individual mandate, the risk corridors, the minimum coverage requirements that are forcing elderly people to purchase maternity services. > > Liberal dopers love to say that the public hates ACA but loves what’s in it. Well, let’s get rid of what they hate and see how well the law stands up. You can’t seriously think any of **that** is going to be an issue in the 2014 midterms. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198/26 "2014-02-17T05:28:48Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > They need Democratic votes. And I’m not talking about total repeal, just repeal of parts of it, like the individual mandate, the risk corridors, the minimum coverage requirements that are forcing elderly people to purchase maternity services. > > Liberal dopers love to say that the public hates ACA but loves what’s in it. Well, let’s get rid of what they hate and see how well the law stands up. You keep bringing up the temporary ACA risk corridors without responding to my question in the other thread about how they can be bad while the permanent risk corridors for Medicare Part D are good. As far as mandates and minimum coverage, without them, the law fails to accomplish its purpose and we would be back where we were. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198/27 "2014-02-17T05:31:26Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > In the House, I suppose it’s just barely conceivable… But in the Senate? Are there even enough seats up to make that possible? 21 Dem seats are up for reelection. If the Republicans run the table and keep the 15 they have running and take all 21 Dem seats they would be at 66 votes. That leaves them 1 vote short, so it would require a D to play along. Possible I suppose, but highly unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198/28 "2014-02-17T05:48:48Z")
FWIW, I think the Republicans have a good shot at picking up 8 seats in the Senate: Alaska Arkansas Iowa Louisiana Montana North Carolina South Dakota West Virginia I would be happy if the number ends up being 5 or less but at this point I don’t see how that happens. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198/29 "2014-02-17T06:20:09Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > 21 Dem seats are up for reelection. If the Republicans run the table and keep the 15 they have running and take all 21 Dem seats they would be at 66 votes. That leaves them 1 vote short, so it would require a D to play along. Possible I suppose, but highly unlikely. You’d be amazed at how much a truly disastrous election can focus minds. If Republicans win eight seats it’ll have Democrats in all but the most safe blue states scrambling. Remember that the Medicare catastrophic coverage act got repealed overwhelmingly in the face of voter anger. If 2014 looks a lot like 2010, that’ll tell Democrats it wasn’t a fluke and they’d be wise to get the ACA monkey off their backs. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198/30 "2014-02-17T16:59:40Z")
How’d that work out for ya last time, Hoss? ---
**Author:** ![2ManyTacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/3da27b/32.png) [@2ManyTacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2ManyTacos)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198/31 "2014-02-17T18:32:01Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > You’d be amazed at how much a truly disastrous election can focus minds. If Republicans win eight seats it’ll have Democrats in all but the most safe blue states scrambling. > > Remember that the Medicare catastrophic coverage act got repealed overwhelmingly in the face of voter anger. If 2014 looks a lot like 2010, that’ll tell Democrats it wasn’t a fluke and they’d be wise to get the ACA monkey off their backs. :dubious: Dude, the Democrats are not going to override _their own President_ in order to get rid of their greatest achievement as a party since the Johnson administration. That will never, ever happen in any conceivable universe. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198/32 "2014-02-17T18:52:42Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > You’d be amazed at how much a truly disastrous election can focus minds. If Republicans win eight seats it’ll have Democrats in all but the most safe blue states scrambling. > > Remember that the Medicare catastrophic coverage act got repealed overwhelmingly in the face of voter anger. If 2014 looks a lot like 2010, that’ll tell Democrats it wasn’t a fluke and they’d be wise to get the ACA monkey off their backs. Haven’t you learned by now that the ACA is something you’ll get no traction running **against?** ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198/33 "2014-02-17T19:50:00Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Haven’t you learned by now that the ACA is something you’ll get no traction running **against?** But this time it’s really real! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198/34 "2014-02-17T21:44:59Z")
BTW, [it appears Tea Partiers and liberals agree on at least one issue: NSA surveillance.](http://www.salon.com/2014/02/17/by_the_numbers_where_tea_partyers_liberals_agree/) Which will not necessarily make it an election issue. Not unless someone actually runs on it. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198/35 "2014-02-18T01:00:42Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > BTW, [it appears Tea Partiers and liberals agree on at least one issue: NSA surveillance.](http://www.salon.com/2014/02/17/by_the_numbers_where_tea_partyers_liberals_agree/) > > Which will not necessarily make it an election issue. Not unless someone actually runs on it. Does that mean extremists are paranoid? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198/36 "2014-02-18T01:36:16Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Does that mean extremists are paranoid? No, but it does mean that They are out to get the extremists. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198/37 "2014-02-18T17:10:58Z")
[Here’s](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/18/us/politics/financier-plans-big-ad-campaign-on-environment.html?hpw&rref=us&_r=1) at least one billionaire ready to spend big on the climate-change-action side, and try to make it an election issue. > [@](#): > > A billionaire retired investor is forging plans to spend as much as $100 million during the 2014 election, seeking to pressure federal and state officials to enact climate change measures through a hard-edge campaign of attack ads against governors and lawmakers. > > The donor, Tom Steyer, a Democrat who founded one of the world’s most successful hedge funds, burst onto the national political scene during last year’s elections, when he spent $11 million to help elect Terry McAuliffe governor of Virginia and millions more intervening in a Democratic congressional primary in Massachusetts. Now he is rallying other deep-pocketed donors, seeking to build a war chest that would make his political organization, NextGen Climate Action, among the largest outside groups in the country, similar in scale to the conservative political network overseen by Charles and David Koch. Wonder if that will work? ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198/38 "2014-02-18T19:30:31Z")
Depending on how the Supreme Court decides in the case of the Obama recess appointments I imagine we will hear more and more about the supposed abuses of power by this administration. The always charming Darrell Issa is [already turning up the volume](http://news.yahoo.com/issa-rails-against-obama-39-39-imperial-presidency-072739075--election.html) on this issue and seems intent on dragging Hillary into the story as well. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198/39 "2014-02-18T21:06:43Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Depending on how the Supreme Court decides in the case of the Obama recess appointments I imagine we will hear more and more about the supposed abuses of power by this administration. > > The always charming Darrell Issa is [already turning up the volume](http://news.yahoo.com/issa-rails-against-obama-39-39-imperial-presidency-072739075--election.html) on this issue and seems intent on dragging Hillary into the story as well. Somehow I don’t think Obama’s recess appointments are going to appear all that scary to the voters. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198/40 "2014-02-18T22:43:57Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Somehow I don’t think Obama’s recess appointments are going to appear all that scary to the voters. Not the point. If the Court rules in a way limiting the use of recess appointments it will be used by the Fox spin machine and R’s like Issa to scare their base. Did you read the story I linked to? Issa goes on about Obama’s “imperial presidency” and what a threat he is to the nation. I expect this line of blather to pick up steam as the fall elections approach. A Supreme Court ruling against the Obama administration in this case will be pointed at as just another case of how undemocratic and power hungry he is. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-general-issues-in-the-2014-u-s-elections/681198.md?page=3)