http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/09/03/1326729/-The-Republicans-Freeloading-off-the-political-system-for-twenty-years?detail=email
In the last twenty years, there have been three occasions when the Republicans have won national elections, but received less votes than the Democrats.
The direction of the nation would be vastly different, and the progressive legacy so much more profound, if, in each instance, power had simply been granted to the side that won the most votes.
In the 1996 Congressional elections, the House Democrats received 60,000 more votes than the Republicans, but the Republicans remained in the majority, and in control of the legislative agenda.
The Congressional term produced the Balanced budget act and tax relief act of 1997, but beyond that, it was a period of extreme volatility and confrontational politics, personified by Speaker Gingrich, whose management style was so disorganized and unpredictable that within three years, his own lieutenants tried to depose him in a chaotic coup. By the time he was forced out in 1998, many former members say they were terrified to open up the newspaper in the morning, fearful he had said or done that could cause them political heartburn.
In 2000, George W. Bush was eventually inaugurated as President, despite receiving half a million votes less than Al Gore.
If Al Gore had won – because he got the most votes – tax levels would most likely have remained at the moderately progressive levels under Bill Clinton. 9/11 would likely still have happened, although greater heed may have been given to the infamous August memo.
Gore certainly would not have invaded Iraq. (he described the invasion as one of the worst strategic blunders in American history). A trillion dollars and thousands of lives would have been spared, and greater focus, and resources, would have been given to Afghanistan.
Gore would likely have used executive action in response to climate change, and been more liberal on stem cell research, perhaps even fast tracking gene modification to mitigate against conditions such as Alzheimer’s. There would likely have been no gutting of FEMA and no appointment of an ineffective official to head it, increasing the liklihood of a better response to Katrina.
In the 2012 Congressional elections, The Republicans again retained control of the House, despite receiving less ballots less than the Democrats. This time, they trailed by an astonishing 1.4 million votes. There is no precedent for this – no House ‘majority’ in the history of the Republic has ever governed with less of a public mandate.
If the Democrats had won – because they got the most votes – the Tea Party would be an impotent, fringe group on the periphery of the public discourse. There would have been no 2013 debt ceiling crisis, roiling markets and shaking consumer confidence. There would have been no government shutdown lasting sixteen days, costing the economy a staggering 23 billion dollars and shaving half a point off G.D.P growth. There would not be yet another investigation into Benghazi, after seven prior investigations that concluded no evidence of wrong-doing. There would be no frivolous lawsuit against the president, nor chatter of Impeachment.
I don't want my opinion to confuse but actually my opinion is in direct agreement with all above, we have been robbed of our right to vote for longer than those stated and are now in the edge of it happening again if we don't realize how important this coming Nov. 4th election is to the rest of a lot of our lives and the future of our family. they bank on us not showing up let's close that account.
midterm elections are what has helped put us where we are when we get a good Pres. his hands are tied because we didn't show up to vote allowing them to place their cohorts in positions to deny us everything and create the savings for the rich. all you can complain about can be tracked back to some republican voting against your interest, protect your family and self Pres. will be gone 2017 will the next one use executive decisions to help you? start now to correct the wrongs last minute Nov. 5th too late to say s.............. I should have voted. recognize.
