Republicans Win Back Congress: What does this mean moving forward?

SFC William Swartz Jr — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 10:00:48 -0500

After the Republican victory in this mid-term election, taking control of the Senate and increasing their majority in the House, what do you personally expect to see happen when they take control in January?

I think we will finally begin to see legislation start to move forward, I think we may get some form of immigration reform brought to the president and the public and I think we will see where "WE" as a nation are headed. I also think that we may be in for some nasty "fights" between the Legislative and Executive branches over policy both foreign and domestic.

Interested to see what my fellow RPers think/feel about the shape of things to come.

Response by MAJ Dallas D. made Nov 5 at 2014 10:04 AM

MAJ Dallas D. — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 10:04:42 -0500

I truly hope you are right. I am sick of the fighting between the parties and I feel the President is the main culprit.

I will say I did not vote for him but when he took office I said well we finally have a person who can truly say we have moved past racism and voted who we as a nation felt was our best choice. He had such a great chance to unite this country and instead he has made race relations worse.

Sad such a waste

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2014 10:16 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 10:16:45 -0500

SFC William Swartz Jr, I agree with you. I'm hoping the Congress gets some things done. And I hope both they and the President are willing to compromise to move our country forward.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2014 11:27 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 11:27:23 -0500

It will be interesting to see what all develops. Im hoping for the best!

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Nov 5 at 2014 11:27 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 11:27:48 -0500

I think we will have even more grid lock, which really is not a bad thing. We have a larger problem when they actually start growing government. What we need is good pruning. We need a giant swing back to local control of school, medical care, welfare….I think you are getting an idea where my heart is? The farther the money is moved from the people, the greater the waste and abuse. Democrats and Republicans, at the Federal level, both want to move that control to the Federal government. That is bad for all Americans; it is just that most are not knowledgeable enough to know this.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2014 12:45 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 12:45:35 -0500

I don't expect much. I just hope that the gridlock in congress will end and perhaps some legislation might actually make it to the POTUS.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Nov 5 at 2014 12:58 PM

SGT Richard H. — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 12:58:58 -0500

I just see more "blame game" coming our way.

Response by SPC David S. made Nov 5 at 2014 12:59 PM

SPC David S. — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 12:59:19 -0500

The problem with politics is that currently we are focused on winning the battles and not the war. America is being ripped to shreds while political infighters pat themselves on the back at ever photo op or sound bit opportunity they can all in the name of it being good for America.

In 1978 the average American was 22 times wealthier than the average Chinese—a longstanding pattern in the relationship of the two civilizations.

However this ratio has fallen to below 5 to 1 and is soon to be less than 2 to 1, not merely because the Chinese are making enormous strides in their governmental and economic systems but because of a pronounced deterioration in America’s civilization.

This decay is largely impart to poor vision of our leaders and the lack of flexibility in our institutions and laws. We have made the job of managing America cumbersome. Just look at the 3.5 million words in the Dodd-Frank Act on taxation. Additional the legal system has bound the hands of many policy makers. All these laws, rules, and policies are truly tarnishing the lusty of our great nation.

Win the war!

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2014 1:47 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 13:47:00 -0500

First and foremost the Rinos need to except the Tea Party. It is not dead and will continue to be a factor.

Second they need to realize this is a mandate against the policies of POTUS. And we need to get America back on track. Move some of the bills up that Harry was blocking. And prevent POTUS from circumventing the constitution.

I have to believe that finally maybe we can accomplish something. And maybe even stop the butchering of the our military.

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made Nov 5 at 2014 2:07 PM

LCpl Steve Wininger — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 14:07:49 -0500

My fear is business as usual. Time will tell, however, history during this administration is that they are not willing to work with Republicans. I look to see them making life as rough as possible for the republicans

Response by PO3 JoseLuis Breton made Nov 5 at 2014 2:47 PM

PO3 JoseLuis Breton — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 14:47:52 -0500

I hope they (congress) neutralizes what Obama wants to do in the next two years. I am Latino, and Did not Vote for this Moron either time. I was in During Carter, and this guy makes Carter look like Einstein. This country has lost alot of respect around the world, this economy should be booming but with a socialist minded leader we are where we are, hopefully That will Change. I believe a deal was made with the Mexican Government to release The Marine, you will see amnesty for all very soon. God Bless All!

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Nov 5 at 2014 3:55 PM

SGT Kristin Wiley — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 15:55:40 -0500

Well I'm concerned over numerous issues, I mostly want to know which state I'm going to be living in when I get out as more continue to legalize marijuana. I do not want or need any more adverse risks to my health due to public exposure.

Response by SFC A.M. Drake made Nov 5 at 2014 5:25 PM

SFC A.M. Drake — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 17:25:42 -0500

SFC Swartz,

Actually your article was a duplicate of mines notice I posted mines 12 hours ago. You 7 hours ago. So if you would be so kind as to remove your red banner from my wall as saying duplicate.

With the Senate being controlled by the Republicans, how do you feel about that as leaders?
SFC A. M. Drake, New York City, NY

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2014 8:00 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 20:00:39 -0500

I am not sure about the potential gridlock being an inevitability. Republicans will most likely resort to the same tactic of hiding legislation from Conservatives after hours. There will be a day of reckoning as President Obama'a arrogance will face tests that ultimately de-fund that bad legislation. Most of the name is pissed by that and it will shake the rafters and Americans intend to fight back.

Response by SPC Anthony Rock made Nov 6 at 2014 10:53 AM

SPC Anthony Rock — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 10:53:55 -0500

I am terrified that the Republicans will do what the Democrats did in 2008 when they got the majority all over: Swagger around and flood Capitol Hill with hubris.

There's a ton of real problems in this country and I have the sinking feeling that we're going to be focusing on dumb crap again, like re-launching a 50 member committee to re-investigate Benghazi or hold up the entire legislative process because Ted Cruz wants to outlaw Dr Seuss books (so he doesn't get up and make an ass of himself by missing the entire point of the book).

Our problems in D.C. are by no means partisan. It is widespread, deep-rooted, and the result of an uneducated electorate who prefers entertainment as opposed to governing. Veterans and service members will continue to get the shaft because no Representative or Senator has ever lost their job due to their attitude on the military. Maybe they'll cut taxes, but that's hardly a guarantee it will help anybody, especially if they cut in a way that allows their lobbyists and prime donators to keep money while keeping middle and lower-class families sucking buttermilk.

I have no hope of change or reform or even common sense entering D.C. anytime soon, especially with only 1 of my 2 favorite lawmakers in power (John Huntsman got the shaft during the primaries for not being crazy enough, Elizabeth Warren continues to tell the Democratic party to shove it).

I'm HOPING they prove me wrong, because I feel this country is by no means on its way out. It just needs an adjustment, a tweak here and there.

Hopefully our 24 hour news stations can stop trying to out-fear their audiences long enough and help out with being a solution instead of an instigator.

Response by MSgt Chris Adams made Nov 6 at 2014 11:43 AM

MSgt Chris Adams — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 11:43:18 -0500

The hope is that things will move forward. But the president does have his pen and power to veto. But unlike previous years, the president does not have a full body of congress insulating him from making a decision.

I think the Senate will finally vote on something that will require to president to take a position of yes or no. I forget the last tally of bills un-voted on by the Senate under Democrat power, but any number is too many. I don't like paying people (either party) for doing nothing.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2014 12:39 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 12:39:08 -0500

Maybe if we had term limits in Congress we would.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2014 2:45 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 14:45:47 -0500

It means Obama is finally going to be kept in check and also the likelihood of CCW Permit Nationwide Reciprocity being approved is higher.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Nov 8 at 2014 4:15 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 16:15:36 -0500

Honestly, I would like the GOP, to give the military a higher pay raise for what they do for America. 1% pay raise is ok, but inflation is ever more increasing.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2014 9:16 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 09:16:34 -0500

SFC Swartz--"winning back" now merely means another game of Capture the Flag by the majority of the moment. It means little more than "procedural power to block" actions of one party over another, so we come full circle in the Stealth Congress of recent years. Rather, it should mean the ability for true statesmen/women to get things done; not the theater of political rhetoric about why we cannot get things done because we lack statesmen.

Response by SrA Patrick Foss made Nov 14 at 2014 11:38 AM

SrA Patrick Foss — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 11:38:27 -0500

I do not understand why any veteran or military member would vote for a party that cuts veteran benefits.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Dec 10 at 2014 9:14 AM

1SG Michael Blount — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 09:14:13 -0500

SFC William Swartz Jr - SFC, don't read too much into that development, as the Republican majority is not veto-proof. It'll be interesting to see if Senator McConnell reverts back to the old 60-vote requirement to get something out of the Senate. Speaker Boehner has it a little easier, but all in all - my expectations for this Congress are pretty low.