Woo hoo hoo!
 

Someone named "Sekula-Gibbs" running as a write-in has an uphill battle indeed.

A new day
 

2. I think. Either the republicans will "get it" and realize they need to support candidates like Lincoln Chafee and even less liberal, but not way right candidates (like Santorum). Or recognize that the party will be a persistent minority, absent periodic sex scandals by Democratic leaders.

A new day
 

Did Sebby mean "good thing" as in it will help Rs keep the white house in 08, or good thing as in gridlock is good?

Start Shorting Rea Estate
 

I am happy that the GOP lost the House. Less happy that it looks like they will lose the Senate too.

Also wondering what effect the sunset of the tax cuts, coupled with the ARMs that are coming up in the next few years (which, I understand, is a larger number than in the past few years) will have on the real estate market. Thoughts?

A new day
 

The irony is that many of the Republicans who lost were moderates in the Northeast and Midwest, finally dragged down by their association with the conservatives. The Republicans left in Congress will be even more conservative. Which is going to make it that much harder for them to elect the next generation of Lincoln Chafees and Nancy Johnsons.

For the first time in many decades, the party controlling the South will not control Congress.

Tell me, what do you think of Bush's passport restrictions going into effect on the Canadian border? Free trade issue?

The Canadians are up in arms over it, as it is expected to have a big impact on trading with (and traveling to) our biggest trading partner.

HANK WON, I WAS WRONG.
 

Hank my man,

I will hereby announce publicly that you won our bet for 1 month board support, so I'm contacting RT to get her a check. I'm a man who pays his debts.

If you recall, I predicted a Democratic House and a 2-3 seat net gain for the Democrats in the Senate.

The Democrats have picked up at least four seats in the Senate(not counting VA (yet), but counting Steele out in MD -- no way the absentee votes put him over). So, I was wrong. Mea Culpa. Chinaski 57,432 - Libs 12.

S_A_M

P.S. You said you wanted us to start fielding more attractive candidates . . .

P.P.S. This was almost the perfect anti-GOP storm, but still the Dem. Party has shown it can move to the center. Many of the new Dems elected are comparatively moderate (even a number of social conservatives). Us DLC types are taking the day off to raise a toast!

P.P.P.S. The fact that Michael Steele won 46% of the vote in MD in this election climate shows what a great candidate he is. Very charismatic. Seems like a nice, reasonable guy -- though too conservative for me on many issues. Hold onto this one.

Start Shorting Rea Estate
 

The sunsets are in 2010, right? That's a good ways off. Besides, even if Pelosi declared today that the sunsets will absolutely, positively happen, and not be extended into infinity, the markets know better, and that they have two more election cycles to work with before any sunset would occur.

They were also miffed that we put machine guns on Coast Guard boats on the Great Lakes.

Start Shorting Rea Estate
 

1. Tax cut sunsets will have a general effect on economy, not just on real estate. But I would guess it will be subdued. It will mean that some people will accelerate gains to pay at lower rates. And some people may accelerate death in 2010. If everyone's smart, they won't bother with any changes now, because Bush would veto anything repealing them before 2010, and obviously he can't get them extended now . . . So the action will be in 2009, and who knows how the elections will turn out then. I could see the Senate swinging back to R, and of course the presidency could become D, or HRC.

2. On ARMs and real estate. It's already a problem, but I doubt it will send the foreclosure rate up greatly. Anyone whose ARM is coming up soon probably already has plenty of appreciation. And for the rest, the mortgage cos. will likely refi anyway, albeit at a higher rate. The real consequence will be on consumer spending, because mortgages will start soaking up a lot of free cash.

A new day
 

Part of the reason those folks lost is because they weren't serving any function any more - the Rs gave them the cold shoulder on appropriations issues, because the Red States were unremittingly muscling into the trough and snorting down as much as they could, and in their home states it was hard to argue that people should keep them around so as to have a voice in the party that controlled Washington. This is particularly true of Rhode Island.

"We've already apologized for Celine Dion."
 

Let 'em bitch. We kicked their asses in the War of 1812, and we can do it again if we need to.

Yes, but that is much less a trade issue than the passport one. For people near the border (read: almost all Canadians), this is one of the biggest issues around.

The cost of Molson will be affected.

"We've already apologized for Celine Dion."
 

Um, no we didn't.

How do you define "trade"?