The Official 2012 Election Results

[BlueHen86]

Wisconsin called for Obama.

How? 6% is in and Mitt is leading?

That can't be right. Way too early to call. History should tell us not to rely on exit polls.

[GannonFan]

It's kinda a big deal.

Right, but Congress initiates, debates and votes on legislation. Policy is important but Congress is where you can get real change.

But that's not how most Presidents have handled Congress, and it's probably one of the reasons why Obama has struggled much through his first term - he gives way too much deference to Congress. The President is supposed to lead and to push his agenda, and that means working with and cajoling Congress to those ends. There used to be a time when the President would, through his party, initiate legislation that would represent his agenda. IMO, that's one of the reasons why things have gotten more polarized - Obama has purposely kept Congress at arms length and hasn't really tried to get his hands dirty in terms of working with them. Hopefully that changes in his second term, but I haven't seen any indication that will be the case.

[Skjellyfetti]

McCaskill wins in Missouri.

Not much good news for Republicans so far.

[Rob Iola]

McCaskill wins in Missouri.

Not much good news for Republicans so far.

Um, the House?

[Ibanez]

Right, but Congress initiates, debates and votes on legislation. Policy is important but Congress is where you can get real change.

But that's not how most Presidents have handled Congress, and it's probably one of the reasons why Obama has struggled much through his first term - he gives way too much deference to Congress. The President is supposed to lead and to push his agenda, and that means working with and cajoling Congress to those ends. There used to be a time when the President would, through his party, initiate legislation that would represent his agenda. IMO, that's one of the reasons why things have gotten more polarized - Obama has purposely kept Congress at arms length and hasn't really tried to get his hands dirty in terms of working with them. Hopefully that changes in his second term, but I haven't seen any indication that will be the case.

Obama won't change. 4 more unapproved budgets will be the norm.

[Skjellyfetti]

McCaskill wins in Missouri.

Not much good news for Republicans so far.

Um, the House?

Gained 1 seat. Again, not much good news. Y'all cling to that if you want to.

[Ibanez]

How? 6% is in and Mitt is leading?

That can't be right. Way too early to call. History should tell us not to rely on exit polls.

Exactly. It's back and forth. Way to close. We don't need another 2000 election with the news wrongly calling the states

[Screamin_Eagle174]

SE was here.

[Ibanez]

So...if the Mittens loses will we see a resurgence of the Tea Party and further fracturing of the GOP?

[mainejeff]

Republicans need to keep running on their G.A.G. (Gays.Abortion.Guns) platform........it's a winning combination!

[Rob Iola]

Um, the House?

Gained 1 seat. Again, not much good news. Y'all cling to that if you want to.

Cling to what? It's not about gaining, it's about controlling. Obama will need to work with Boehner in order to avoid sequestration; otherwise Republican (actually Tea Party) goals of debt reduction will be achieved in an extremely painful way.

[AZGrizFan]

Republicans need to keep running on their G.A.G. (Gays.Abortion.Guns) platform........it's a winning combination!

That's funny, mj. It was, in fact, the democrats who make gays and abortion political issues...it's how they get their base (women, gays, minorities) out to vote.

[BlueHen86]

Gained 1 seat. Again, not much good news. Y'all cling to that if you want to.

Cling to what? It's not about gaining, it's about controlling. Obama will need to work with Boehner in order to avoid sequestration; otherwise Republican (actually Tea Party) goals of debt reduction will be achieved in an extremely painful way.

That's not a good thing. I don't want any party to control everything, but I do want compromise. The Tea Party is too inflexible.

[Skjellyfetti]

Cling to what? It's not about gaining, it's about controlling. Obama will need to work with Boehner in order to avoid sequestration; otherwise Republican (actually Tea Party) goals of debt reduction will be achieved in an extremely painful way.

I don't think many people predicted or were expecting that to be any different.

[Ibanez]

Gained 1 seat. Again, not much good news. Y'all cling to that if you want to.

Cling to what? It's not about gaining, it's about controlling. Obama will need to work with Boehner in order to avoid sequestration; otherwise Republican (actually Tea Party) goals of debt reduction will be achieved in an extremely painful way.

The uncompromising Tea Party is part of the problem. Who elected these children? It looks like we have 4 more years of Obama. He really needs to put the rhetoric aside and do what he set out to do in 2008: reduce the deficit and began to fix the partisan atmosphere in Washington.


So, what will be the hallmark if Obamas second term?

[BlueHen86]

Republicans need to keep running on their G.A.G. (Gays.Abortion.Guns) platform........it's a winning combination!

That's funny, mj. It was, in fact, the democrats who make gays and abortion political issues...it's how they get their base (women, gays, minorities) out to vote.

It's possible that the GOP lost 2 senate seats because candidates made idiotic comments regarding rape and abortion.

Gay rights is a dem issue - but it helps them.

Guns is a GOP issue - and I think it helps them.

[AZGrizFan]

Looking like 315-216 now.

[BlueHen86]

Cling to what? It's not about gaining, it's about controlling. Obama will need to work with Boehner in order to avoid sequestration; otherwise Republican (actually Tea Party) goals of debt reduction will be achieved in an extremely painful way.

The uncompromising Tea Party is part of the problem. Who elected these children? It looks like we have 4 more years of Obama. He really needs to put the rhetoric aside and do what he set out to do in 2008: reduce the deficit and began to fix the partisan atmosphere in Washington.


So, what will be the hallmark if Obamas second term?

Agreed. This country is founded on compromise, it's why we have a house and a senate - compromise between big states and small states.

[AZGrizFan]

That's funny, mj. It was, in fact, the democrats who make gays and abortion political issues...it's how they get their base (women, gays, minorities) out to vote.

It's possible that the GOP lost 2 senate seats because candidates made idiotic comments regarding rape and abortion.

Gay rights is a dem issue - but it helps them.

Guns is a GOP issue - and I think it helps them.

And I can't stand it that people determine their candidate based on those issues.

[BlueHen86]

Looking like 315-216 now.

That's very close to what Nate Silver projected. I think he had Obama at 313.

[AZGrizFan]

The uncompromising Tea Party is part of the problem. Who elected these children? It looks like we have 4 more years of Obama. He really needs to put the rhetoric aside and do what he set out to do in 2008: reduce the deficit and began to fix the partisan atmosphere in Washington.


So, what will be the hallmark if Obamas second term?

Agreed. This country is founded on compromise, it's why we have a house and a senate - compromise between big states and small states.

You mean like all the compromise in the Obamacare bill that resulted in such broad bipartisan support?

THAT compromise? Or does compromise only apply to tea partiers?

[BlueHen86]

Obama's lead in Florida was just cut from 66,000 to 16,000. Florida is not over yet. Still 11% of votes to be counted.

[Ibanez]

The uncompromising Tea Party is part of the problem. Who elected these children? It looks like we have 4 more years of Obama. He really needs to put the rhetoric aside and do what he set out to do in 2008: reduce the deficit and began to fix the partisan atmosphere in Washington.


So, what will be the hallmark if Obamas second term?

Agreed. This country is founded on compromise, it's why we have a house and a senate - compromise between big states and small states.

Yes. The GOP has really screwed the pooch. At least this time, the candidates were stronger.

[AZGrizFan]

Absolute BEST case for Romney, IMHO is 272-266...still a loss.

[Ibanez]

Agreed. This country is founded on compromise, it's why we have a house and a senate - compromise between big states and small states.

You mean like all the compromise in the Obamacare bill that resulted in such broad bipartisan support?

THAT compromise? Or does compromise only apply to tea partiers?

The Tea Party booted out party members that worked across the aisle. Democrats have to compromise as well, mostly with Barack, but the Dems didn't have an extremist group develop and hijack the party