[Effopsytupt]

It's hard for a European to understand the results of yesterday's US election. Obama is popular here. Opinions on what went down?

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For your viewing pleasure: this is how the BBC sees the US' shift to the right. Way over the top? Spot on?:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...Party_America/

(If the above video is restricted to Europe, you can see the documentary on YouTube in 4 parts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb3Dg...eature=related

[Mifsnavassy]

He's not nearly as popular here as he used to be.

[uaodnabnjz]

They won't let us watch that vid, and who has time to watch a 4-part doc?

RE: What Yesterday Meant ...

During the election campaigns there was little to no discussion whatsoever about the two military adventures that the USA is involved in, yet everyone was screaming about Government Spending being Too Damn High. Go figure. Many potential voters seemed only to care about new jobs being created (the economy here is a wreck and is affecting folks in a way I've never seen in my lifetime). I guess those voters have advanced degrees in economics / sociology and believe that the USA is still the tops in production and education and training and things like that -- and if we just got back to some vague American Basics then all will be well.

The majority of voters, by their actions yesterday, seem to indicate that they want (1) lower taxes locked in forever (2) less government involvement in programs that (I) catch those who have and will fall through the cracks and (II) watch over the water-food-production-energy sectors. Apparently a big chunk of Americans believe that the private sector, free-marketing their way to corporate profits, will (among other things) independently (a) build a network of national high speed rail lines, (b) structure a health insurance system that keeps everyone covered so that costs aren't shifted to the public, (c) keep the public protected, (d) get our youth properly educated, (e) add any other items from the long list of what to cut.

On a positive note, two of the craziest candidates for US Senator were defeated (Sharron Angle, Christine O'Donnell) and the GOP didn't take control of the Senate. Now the GOP owns the House and will actually have to come up with some bills, plans & proposals to show where they stand (if they don't spend all their energy on Impeachment and Subpoenas).

The next two years will be either maddeningly wild or horribly dis-spiriting. What's been elected doesn't seem to indicate that much good will take place over the next 24 months. And today campaigns will start for the 2012 Presidential election (with Sarah Palin apparently a no-starter, given the number of her personally-annointed candidates who were not elected yesterday).

[drislerfottor]

Lofter: I could not sit and watch it but I listened to it. Ineresting.

[WomanBreast40356]

Look how the Tea Partiers, high on last night's [limited] victories, plan to kill off the old guard of the GOP in 2012.

Not PURE enough? Then throw the old guys on the bonfire + bring in the new blood ...

Potential Tea Party Targets for 2012

REDSTATE

Posted by Erick Erickson
November 3rd

As you are settling down from yesterday’s victories, you will want to also pay attention to this list. While many will be focusing on a potential Presidential pick for the GOP, we should not all get distracted by that.

We have a significant opportunity to improve the Senate GOP through some primaries. Here is a list of potential targets for primaries — these are all of the Senate Republicans up for re-election in 2012:

John Barasso (WY)
Scott Brown (MA)
Bob Corker (TN)
John Ensign (NV)
Orrin Hatch (UT)
Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX)
Jon Kyl (AZ)
Richard Lugar (IN)
Olympia Snowe (ME)
Roger Wicker (MS)

Note that this is just the list of Senate Republicans running. Not all will be targets, but it will be from these men and women that the tea party movement starts looking for targets.

Now, before you all get giddy about Olympia Snowe, I would respectfully suggest that Corker, Hatch, Hutchison, Lugar, and Wicker make better targets as we have a much greater certainty of both beating them in primaries and also winning the general election.

Wicker and Corker in particular make exciting prospects for the tea party movement.

[ANCETPYNCTEXT]

Great observation on the Midterms, Loft; you really hit the nail on the head. As for the 4-part doc, very interesting indeed! I really don't know what to take from this election, especially since many voters believe that the GOP will disappoint them by 2012. This whole "Big Government" thing is nothing by a big sham. Even if a Tea Party-lead GOP, implement even half of their proposals (such as doing away with the DoED) how can America remain competitive, with repesct to other First World nations? Isn't taxes are suppose to pay for services such as teachers, police, firefighters, infrastructure, etc? I just fail to see what is wrong with an increase in taxes, for services that are much needed.

[k1ePRlda]

[gMUVgw71]

When they stop the massive waste of the tax money their getting, demonstrate that it's being used to maximum efficiency, and that there is a need for improved/increased services above what's being currently provided, then maybe they'd have a case for raising taxes. As it is now, no deal.

Great observation on the Midterms, Loft; you really hit the nail on the head. As for the 4-part doc, very interesting indeed! I really don't know what to take from this election, especially since many voters believe that the GOP will disappoint them by 2012. This whole "Big Government" thing is nothing by a big sham. Even if a Tea Party-lead GOP, implement even half of their proposals (such as doing away with the DoED) how can America remain competitive, with repesct to other First World nations? Isn't taxes are suppose to pay for services such as teachers, police, firefighters, infrastructure, etc? I just fail to see what is wrong with an increase in taxes, for services that are much needed.