Political Discussion - "on-topic & unmoderated"Rated PG13, unmoderated but threads must stay on topic - that means you can flame each other all you want as long as it's legal
PGT: Election Day 2012 - Part: IV - Obama re-elected
The overall vote was lower. Your attempts at downplaying the victory are verging on pathetic. If the congressional districts weren't Gerrymandered the Dem's would have the house as well.
this may or may not be true. Democrats did win the overall House popular vote by nearly 1% nationally, but Democrats are also at somewhat of a disadvantage naturally because, even if gerrymandering didn't exist, you'd still have seats based in places like Harlem, Philly, Detroit and Chicago that are always going to go for the Democrat by over 90%. The tendency of cities to be packed heavily with Democratic voters works to the Democrats' disadvantage when it comes to the House of Representatives.
Wouldnt the overall numbers not matter when you guys are debating % of votes.
Not trying to be a drive by guy by any means...just have a weird % pet peeve haha.
His main argument has been that Obama got "less votes" than in his first election and therefore he doesn't really have the full support of the people.
Bush won second term by 3 million. The vote totals were almost identical for both W's and O's second term elections. Of course Bush claimed he had a mandate because he was re-elected. Obama "barely" won, so he has no mandate. See the problem here.
Also, There were 3 million fewer votes this election cycle. The 08 election was an exceptional election cycle and comparing the 2 is comparing apples and oranges IMO.
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History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme.
this may or may not be true. Democrats did win the overall House popular vote by nearly 1% nationally, but Democrats are also at somewhat of a disadvantage naturally because, even if gerrymandering didn't exist, you'd still have seats based in places like Harlem, Philly, Detroit and Chicago that are always going to go for the Democrat by over 90%. The tendency of cities to be packed heavily with Democratic voters works to the Democrats' disadvantage when it comes to the House of Representatives.
Maybe that was poorly worded and "maybe" without GMering the Rep's would still hold a small majority, but the large gains the Rep's made in governorships the year the lines were redrawn have given the Rep's a stranglehold that WILL NOT be overcome until 2020 at the earliest.
You'll have to explain the cities issue since the amount of congressional districts are based on population. Not really understanding what you're getting at.
You'll have to explain the cities issue since the amount of congressional districts are based on population. Not really understanding what you're getting at.
Well, there are a million people in a city like Philly. That means they'll have 2-3 people in Congress. The two seats which are solid city seats were won by Democrats by margins of 85-15 and 90-9. Now, take my district, the 5th, which is a lot of rural area in the north-central part of the state - includes "cities" like Dubois, Clearfield and State College. That's a solidly Republican district, but the Republican won 63-37. The point is that cities are very, very Democratic, so even without gerrymandering, Philly's seats are going to be Democratic by very heavy margins, whereas rural areas of PA are certainly Republican, but not by such overwhelming margins.
It's true that there are ridiculous examples of gerrymandering which have cost the Democrats seats, like PA-6 and PA-18, but the fact that Democrats cluster very strongly in urban areas is bound to cost the Democrats seats, because they'll have more 90/10 or 80/20 wins whereas Republicans will have more 60/40 margins.
Well, there are a million people in a city like Philly. That means they'll have 2-3 people in Congress. The two seats which are solid city seats were won by Democrats by margins of 85-15 and 90-9. Now, take my district, the 5th, which is a lot of rural area in the north-central part of the state - includes "cities" like Dubois, Clearfield and State College. That's a solidly Republican district, but the Republican won 63-37. The point is that cities are very, very Democratic, so even without gerrymandering, Philly's seats are going to be Democratic by very heavy margins, whereas rural areas of PA are certainly Republican, but not by such overwhelming margins.
It's true that there are ridiculous examples of gerrymandering which have cost the Democrats seats, like PA-6 and PA-18, but the fact that Democrats cluster very strongly in urban areas is bound to cost the Democrats seats, because they'll have more 90/10 or 80/20 wins whereas Republicans will have more 60/40 margins.
I don't see how that isn't counter balanced by some southern states for example. I recall specifically watching a program where they showed 3 seats the Rep's gained by redistricting in a part of Texas. Now it works both ways, but the analysis I've seen has swayed it in the Republicans favor by a large margin after the 2010 redrawing.
Regardless of who's screwing who, it's a ****ed up system.
He still thinks he might have won, even though he's down by 2,000 votes, and his margin of loss is outside the automatic recount. Give up, buddy - maybe put your energy into fighting Muslim bogeymen instead of trying to win an election you already lost.
Not to mention the margin by which Bush "won" his first term. He considered that enough of a mandate to do all kinds of horrible things to the country.
I bet he'll be back in two years. As will Joe Walsh maybe. No Obama at the top of the ticket (and no Romney dragging their ticket down) means a lot of these guys will be able to win more easily.
He really represents the absolute core of America's hate culture.
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Originally Posted by Ugmo
I bet he'll be back in two years. As will Joe Walsh maybe. No Obama at the top of the ticket (and no Romney dragging their ticket down) means a lot of these guys will be able to win more easily.
I think you are correct.
These guys don't' fade away, gracefully or otherwise. Some viral infections lurk in the system forever.
