2014 US Election Open Thread

[estesbob]

The Catholic vote, the swing vote in American politics for a half century, was also critical. Republicans won the Roman Catholic vote (23 percent of the electorate) by a twelve-point margin, 56 to 44 percent. Even more dramatically, faithful Catholics who attend Mass once a week or more often and comprise one out of every ten voters, cast 70 percent of their votes for Republican candidates and only 30 percent for Democratic candidates. No doubt the Obama administration’s attempt to force Catholic hospitals, colleges, and charities to pay for abortion-inducing medication played a role in this outcome, as did the Justice Department’s bizarre lawsuit against the Little Sisters of the Poor, an order of nuns that sought an exception to the Obamacare mandate. The fact that every single Democratic senator voted to gut the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act by stripping it of protections for Christian-owned businesses in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Hobby Lobby case also contributed to the backlash from voters of faith, including faithful Catholics

nationalreview.com/corner/392135/contra-media-narrative-voters-faith-still-matter-ralph-reed

 

[Crossbones]

Observations on last night:

1. The war on women is dead

Color me worried on this one. I have said that I don’t believe that the Republicans pre-2010 or so were much of a threat on so-called abortion rights. Maybe the general electorate now believes that and those that care about so-called abortion rights are less motivated to vote.

In Illinois, we just elected a ‘pro-choice’ Republican governor and the pro-life Republican candidate for Senate just lost badly.

I hope I’m wrong, but we can’t afford to see Republicans backsliding on this issue.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I listened to some of Obama’s speech. He didn’t look happy.
He says he will work with republicans. Really?
I am waiting for him to stick it to us after the election as payback.

 

[ProVobis]

I dont want to sound grim but that only will happen if we get a truly prolufe next president and Ruth bader Ginsburg (or Breyer but Ginsburg is the oldest one so lets bet on gingsburg dying first) dies and the president nominates an actual pro life justice and with a majority ssenate being pro life gets confirmed. Not sure about the odds of that one…

A constitutional amendment needs 2/3 vote by each chamber of Congress (if they’re going that route). Plus 3/4 of the states to ratify it. A President needs not sign and the Supreme Court has no say at all.

But as I noted earlier, all it actually really takes is for 2/3 of the states to formulate the amendment and 3/4 of the states to ratify it. Seems easier to do than having Congress involved, I would think.

 

[ProVobis]

Color me worried on this one. I have said that I don’t believe that the Republicans pre-2010 or so were much of a threat on so-called abortion rights. Maybe the general electorate now believes that and those that care about so-called abortion rights are less motivated to vote.

In Illinois, we just elected a ‘pro-choice’ Republican governor and the pro-life Republican candidate for Senate just lost badly.

I hope I’m wrong, but we can’t afford to see Republicans backsliding on this issue.

The biggest challenge for any Illinois governor is staying out of jail.

 

[FollowChrist34]

The Catholic vote, the swing vote in American politics for a half century, was also critical. Republicans won the Roman Catholic vote (23 percent of the electorate) by a twelve-point margin, 56 to 44 percent. Even more dramatically, faithful Catholics who attend Mass once a week or more often and comprise one out of every ten voters, cast 70 percent of their votes for Republican candidates and only 30 percent for Democratic candidates. No doubt the Obama administration’s attempt to force Catholic hospitals, colleges, and charities to pay for abortion-inducing medication played a role in this outcome, as did the Justice Department’s bizarre lawsuit against the Little Sisters of the Poor, an order of nuns that sought an exception to the Obamacare mandate. The fact that every single Democratic senator voted to gut the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act by stripping it of protections for Christian-owned businesses in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Hobby Lobby case also contributed to the backlash from voters of faith, including faithful Catholics

nationalreview.com/corner/392135/contra-media-narrative-voters-faith-still-matter-ralph-reed

 

[Crossbones]

The biggest challenge for any Illinois governor is staying out of jail.

This is true. Pat Quinn is probably fitting out his prison issue outfit as we write.

 

[ProVobis]

*The Catholic vote, the swing vote in American politics for a half century, was also critical. Republicans won the Roman Catholic vote (23 percent of the electorate) by a twelve-point margin, 56 to 44 percent. Even more dramatically, faithful Catholics who attend Mass once a week or more often and comprise one out of every ten voters, cast 70 percent of their votes for Republican candidates and only 30 percent for Democratic candidates. *

I think it was more like 98% for Republicans of those who attend the Latin Mass. But they don’t break it up that way.

In the cities is probably where they get the higher Democratic numbers. Plus a lot of them don’t vote in the off-year elections.

 

[RACJ]

It could be just as difficult as you say. However, Hillary supported Obamacare and the employer mandate has not yet kicked in. It might not be as unpopular as the individual part of it, but it might be. I don’t think she will be able to separate herself from that if it’s a total bomb.

Dems nowadays only have “I’ll give you presents that someone else will pay for” to work with for most voters. If Obamacare is increasingly seen as the ultimate poison present, it might not look very good for the Dems in 2016.

Sounds as if you are saying that Democrats are thieves, and that their voters base their choices on who will give them more of other people’s money. Sounds like a great system, if you are on the receiving end.

 

[Brendan]

I think it was more like 98% for Republicans of those who attend the Latin Mass. But they don’t break it up that way.

In the cities is probably where they get the higher Democratic numbers. Plus a lot of them don’t vote in the off-year elections.

It was back in the 2010 election, but I saw a stat that broke out Catholic voting by those who rarely attend Mass, those who attend Mass once a week, and those who attend Mass several times a week.

The stat for those who attend Mass more than once a week was 83% Republican.

For those who rarely attend Mass, it was something like 60% Democratic

 

[estesbob]

Sounds as if you are saying that Democrats are thieves, and that their voters base their choices on who will give them more of other people’s money. Sounds like a great system, if you are on the receiving end.

As Margaret Thatcher said “the problem with socialism is sooner or later you run out of other peoples money to spend”

 

[stinkcat_14]

As Margaret Thatcher said “the problem with socialism is sooner or later you run out of other peoples money to spend”

Unfortunately you cannot really distinguish republicans and democrats by spending patterns. They both love to spend other people’s money. We really don’t have a viable small government alternative in this country.

 

[GEddie]

Unfortunately you cannot really distinguish republicans and democrats by spending patterns. They both love to spend other people’s money. We really don’t have a viable small government alternative in this country.

That stagecoach sailed the day of the Louisiana Purchase; to have a small government, you need a small nation.

IMNAAHO.

ICXC NIKA.

 

[meltzerboy]

Mitch McConnell is an Obama appeasing Republican. Having him in a majority leadership position will be a disaster for the nation.

Chris Matthews, despite what you and others may think of him, said something interesting on MSNBC in reaction to the comments today by Sen. Mitch McConnell followed by those of Pres. Obama. Matthews said that McConnell is from the old school of politics in which compromises and deals are the lifeblood of the politician. By compromise, Matthews meant conceding something you don’t really want to give away, but you do because you will get something in return you do want. However, Obama is more focused on common ground, which is not the same as compromise, since you do not concede anything, but instead search for something you have in common with your opponent. I was struck that Matthews thought McConnell, not Obama, has the better political plan to negotiate with the opposing party, while Obama, in search only of common ground, does not really want to negotiate at all. Matthews pointed out that Tip O’Neill and Pres. Reagan were masters of compromise, neither of them seeking common ground.

 

[Vanny]

Planned Parenthood, Lena Dunham, NARAL, and all the other so-called women’s-rights advocates are left stunned today that their message of abortion-on-demand and without apology and free birth control didn’t work. Of course it didn’t work: It was insulting and out-of-touch with what moms, businesswomen, and college students care about. What about the economy, jobs, health care? Our country is failing women in those areas and all Planned Parenthood wants to do is promote an actress who relates voting to a sexual experience. Grow up. It was a big mistake to trot out stories about how abortion should be less stigmatized and how a procedure that ends the life of another, defenseless human being is a social and moral good. The tide is turning and Americans, especially women, are listening to that gut reaction they have when faced with a heavy-handed message of abortion-on-demand. No amount of pretty pink running shoes or T-shirts designed by Hollywood actresses are going to cover up the fact that abortion harms women and takes the life of an innocent preborn child.
**
nationalreview.com/corner/392075/women-made-their-voices-heard-kristan-hawkins

I think a lot of women(I am one) have been getting real tired of the “War on Women” drumbeat of the far left, when there are so many other issues that have been needing and not getting attention from this administration, with national security being right up there, as well as jobs, the economy, ect.

 

[DeniseNY]

I think a lot of women(I am one) have been getting real tired of the “War on Women” drumbeat of the far left, when there are so many other issues that have been needing and not getting attention from this administration, with national security being right up there, as well as jobs, the economy, ect.

For me it’s not even so much because there are other issues (which of course there are), it’s more that “war on women” mantra was just stupid. I mean, how did people fall for this garbage?

 

[Avdima]

Yesterday’s election was a message to Washington that America wants conservatives to represent them! Also, they want legalized pot, increased minimum wage, the right to have an abortion, insurance-provided contraception, and required paid time off at work!

Wait, what?

 

[SuperLuigi]

Total agreement.

We need a new third party like a USA version of UKIP.

Me thinks we will eventually get it and it will seriously displace the two national parties.

All a third party will do in the USA is help the party opposite. I like UKIP’s stance on the EU, but they are not that influential.

I’m amazed at how almost NO ONE is talking about how libertarian candidates pulled votes away from the GOP that could have made this even more of a wave. The exception being the Maine gubernatorial race.

 

[SuperLuigi]

Yesterday’s election was a message to Washington that America wants conservatives to represent them! Also, they want legalized pot, increased minimum wage, the right to have an abortion, insurance-provided contraception, and required paid time off at work!

Wait, what?

The message is the policies of the Obama Administration and the obstructionism of Harry Reid are tiresome and not helping.

 

[Robert_Bay]

Yesterday’s election was a message to Washington that America wants conservatives to represent them! Also, they want legalized pot, increased minimum wage, the right to have an abortion, insurance-provided contraception, and required paid time off at work!

Wait, what?

I don’t think it is a message that they want conservatives in office as much as they want a change.

Republicans should watch out in 2016 since there will be a lot more incumbent R seats up for grabs.

The Catholic Church in the USA has had a long history of supporting labor in the US