Election Spawns New Hope for Tech
History will record the Democratic landslide of 2006 as a stinging rebuke of President Bush’s war policy and the end of one-party rule in Washington. How it will record the election’s impact on technology issues is less certain.
On the face of it, the Democrats regaining control of the House of Representatives — and appearing likely to hold a one-seat majority in the Senate — would seem to be a positive in areas such as stem-cell research and the safeguarding of personal privacy, where technology plays a crucial role. But since nothing is a given in American politics, the best we can do is take an educated guess at what Tuesday’s results might portend for the industry.
Wired News assesses the results from races deemed important because of their probable impact in several major areas, including stem-cell research, climate change, privacy and security, intellectual property and the gaming industry.
“the safeguarding of personal privacy”
Haha! I can’t believe people believe this shit. The Dems backed the DMCA with just as much vigor and recording-and-movie-industry-greased-money as the Repubs. And they also renewed the Patriot Act right along with the Repubs, too. Hmm, and they let the Detainee Bill pass, too. Interesting, its almost like the two parties are pretty much the same, you know?
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again.
Stop telling me I am breaking the law when watching a DVD in Linux!!! Stop telling me I am a criminal for ripping my cds!!!
We seriously need to implement term limits in the House and Senate. These old baffoons that have had their cushy jobs for 30 years are completely out of touch with society and most of all technology. We need new blood.
Did that tech-savvy guy in Iowa win? I sure hope so, he had a wiki and everything!
Not to mention the Internet Nuetrality.
Net neutrality means that they will hire a 3rd party janitorial service to clean out dem tubes when they get clogged…
“stem-cell research ” don’t you mean embonic stem cells, the killing of one human to harvest their parts.
The agenda for the Democrats will be to convince that nation that they are now moderates and deserving of a Presidential win in 2008. Don’t look for any major liberal moves the next 2 years. The far left will be sequestered for the time being. You can bet that big business will be represented. I would also like to thank the spammer that caused us to have to got through the script catcher step. I have to get my glasses to see the display.
#4,
I have a question for you. You are in a fertility clinic, a fire breaks out. On your way out you can only save one. A baby is sitting next to a cryoflask filled with 50,000 embryos. Which one do you take, the baby or the cryoflask?
I’m confused… how will the Democrats ruling (with an iron fist mind you) be any different than the Republicans rule?
Rabbid party ideology then… Rabbid party ideology now.
…. I weep.
In the words of the great philosoper and scholar Rodney King… “Can’t we all jus get along?” đ
#5,
Hahahahah, poor pathetic funny guy, you still don’t understand the shift that has happened. Last Tuesday, Ohio became a solidly blue state on those electors maps. Montana also looks like it is going Blue, as do several other western states. Schwarzenegger won rel-election by becoming a RINO. Nevada and Arizona became purple states. In other words, the Republicans winning the presidency in 08 is at best an uphill battle, possibly an electoral impossibility. With the remnants (except for Bush) of the Republican party lurching to the right in an attempt to correct, I think it will be the latter.
In the house, well there is the built in incumbency advantage. People tend to like their own congressman. I have no reason to think (looking at history) that the house will change hands again after just two years. If you have some reason to think that, please share.
The senate on the other hand, oh wow. 2008 is going to be a great year for the Democratic party. the Republicans need to defend 21 seats, and the Democrats only need to defend 12 seats. Numerous (10 or possibly more) Republican senators are vulnerable, while it looks like only one Democratic seat is vulnerable.
As far as specific issue items were concerned, Gay marriage ban was a wash for the Republican party. In Wisconsin it appears to have backfired, and lost in Arizona. Never mind the stunning defeat of the abortion ban in South Dakota, which was an upset by the way. Same thing with Stem cell research, but I think I have to thank Rush Limbaugh for that one.
As for specific special interest groups. The Republican party seems to have permanently alienated Latinos and Homosexuals, the same way they permanently alienated the African American community. The southern strategy has come to a conclusion. The only portion of the country the Republican party now represents IS the south.
The Democratic party needs to aggressively and hard move on a progressive agenda. All indication are they will do that. The minimum wage increase will deal a fatal blow to the republican advantage in rural America, and doubly so if Bush vetoes it. There will be payoffs to our new constituants, in the form of lower interest student loans. Finally, we have already made significant progress, by mearly forcing a course correction in Iraq. The early polling indicates people strongly approve. But that is just getting started.
No, if anyone needs to prove that they are moderate it is the Republican party, but for at least the next 4 years, they need to prove that they are moderate, JUST TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. The current Rush Limbaugh version of the Republican party, will not even be granted a say. Right now it is the Democratic party’s charge to lead America back from the Abyss. You are more than welcome to come along with us.
Also, you seem to be in denial still, it is only the first stage of grief. I suggest, the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem.
4. donât you mean embonic stem cells, the killing of one human to harvest their parts.
Yep! Those are the ones! Those “humans” with ~150 cells in their “bodies”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_cell
Embryonic stem cells (ES cells) are stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst. A blastocyst is an early stage embryo – approximately 4 to 5 days old in humans and consisting of 50-150 cells.
âstem-cell research â donât you mean embonic stem cells, the killing of one human to harvest their parts.
No, you tit, because stem-cell research doesn’t involve that, and it doesn’t even have to involve embryonic stem cells.
Please, I have no problem with someone criticizing a form of science but at least do it from an educated viewpoint – otherwise you just look like an ignorant fool and bug me.
Jason,
You must be young. Yes, I know that is the Republican dogma. We don’t rule with an iron fist. We insist on things like a living wage, and a fair day in court.
Just consider the possibility, that so much of what they have told you the last 12 years has been lies, that perhaps that bit of propaganda is lies as well. The Democratic party has a long history of saving capitalism from its self, and attempting to make sure everyone competes on an even playingfield. The only two issues where I feel we crossed the line were smoking bans (which just about everyone agrees is a good thing now days), and gun bans. (which happened after a republican blew up a federal building and shot a president). Our intentions were pure however. Smoking, and I think everyone agrees on this, is addictive and will take 10-20 years off your life. We want you to have a long prosperous life. Also, in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s an awful lot of lone repbulican gun nuts shot and killed an awful lot of good democratic activists. In the 90’s the republicans resorted to terrorism, first with a mass suicide church burning, then by blowing up a federal building. From the sounds coming from the Republican base, you will see these terror campaigns restart in ernest again. The good fortune is that we now have the anti-terrorism legislation in place to eliminate these elements of the Republican party. The Irony is, it looks more and more, that the ultimate terrorist action of our time will be their undoing, thus all those 911 conspiracy theories.
So hold on there, we are in endgame now. If everyone holds the line, it will be over soon.
#4, Conservative black and white thinking as usual.
The election seem to be statement on the war, immigration and outsourcing. Everyone seems to have felt the effect of each one of these issues and has identified it with the Republicans. What no one really seems to have noticed that each of these issues has more to do with the Globalist movement than a specific current political party. Both the Democrats and Republicans are primarily Globalist in their broad agendas. Both support NAFTA, GATT and further trade treaties.
What will change? Mostly the focus of the type of Globalist government that takes shape. Also the immigration bill will finally be passed and the border fence won’t be funded, or any additional border guards. This will result in our standard of living continuing to go down to a Globalist standard, where we make the same wages as those in China. If you want a world without borders and without any standards other than how much influence or money you have, this election will be a good start.
One other interpretation could be that the Republicans might want to have a Democratic Congress for what coming. Then in 2008, if the Democrats go crazy with their leftist agenda, the Republicans will be put back in power. Democrats won’t like this, but it’s a possibility.
Stem Cell research,
If your view is that until a baby is born and can survive apart from its mother, then why would you be against the use of stems derived from babies at any stage? If you are against abortion, the killing of unborn babies, then why would you be for stem cell research when the stem cells are derived from a fertilized human egg?
There will not be an agreement between the two views, ever. One view see a clear line, when a human egg is fertilized by a human sperm then a human is created. That’s it. They may not agree on contraceptives or other things, but they will agree on that line. That person is also probably someone that believes in God, Law and Order.
The individual that see the fetus as just so much flesh and material has a great many variations of grey. Is it a human? Is a human unborn a human? Is a human that can’t support himself or is dependent upon others really a human? If someone has genes which might lend themselves to violence or religion should they be allowed to have children and pass on those beliefs or tendencies? This individual see no absolute right or wrong, just the laws that can be bent, broken or changed. Why is murder wrong? Is it because they might themselves be killed, who really says its wrong. If murder is wrong, why is it ok to kill one type of lumpy human material and not another. Just because one is supposed to be dependent upon its mother for life. Who could really gather their own crops, raise their own food, make their own tools in today’s society. Does the lumpy human material definition mean anyone involved in a government safety net program, ie welfare, can be done away with or perhaps sterilized because they obviously can’t support themselves?
I don’t really see how someone logically make a difference between one possibility and another. If you carry the logic of the abortion proponents through then anyone that isn’t capable of supporting themselves or even if they are deemed to be a detriment to society can be done away with.
This isn’t really the Democrat versus Republican thread that was begun at first but since everyone else is talking about stem cell research, why not or is it the same thing?
14 …then why would you be against the use of stems derived from babies at any stage?
Who says I am?
The main reason I support killing embryos, and don’t [currently] support killing babys is: “babies at any stage” don’t have Embryonic Stem [ES] cells…
Why kill babies if there is nothing useful to be gained from it?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_cell
ES cells are pluripotent, …In other words, they can develop into each of the more than 200 cell types of the adult body when given sufficient and necessary stimulation for a specific cell type.
14 One view see a clear line, when a human egg is fertilized by a human sperm then a human is created. Thatâs it. …That person is also probably someone that believes in God, Law and Order.
I am one who does not see “a clear line”. Does that mean I don’t believe in Law and Order? đ
GregA – Jason here –
I am young – and I do appreciate your comments… I may not have communicated my point effectively… I was trying to say we have seen “rule” by the republicans (to no postiive end) and now I am afraid we will see “rule” by the Dems… each group only tolerant of their own party’s views.
We need REAL moderation in government… not… people (of both sides) who are extreme – pretending to be moderates.
I am truely dissapointed that our president would not aknowlege Iraq was not going well – untill the Repbulican party was defeated… then BAM – Rummy “resigns”… (translated – fired)
If he is doing a bad job now… he was doing a bad job then.
I want our country to be a place where I can work hard… build enough wealth to help take care of my daughter’s medical bills (she has Cystic Fibrosis) – and retire and not have to eat ketchup sandwiches.
It is disheartening to see people who seem so extreme controlling our government. It is CRAZY that you have to be indepently wealthy to run for congress… Good grief – think of the money spent on political ads – mailers and signs this year!
Anyways – thanks for your comments… I hope all those nutjob republican (and democrats) can come together and help move the country forward… each giving a little in consideration of other points of view.
It just makes me sigh and feel sad at what our government is de-evolving into.
Oh well…
Ha! if any of you believe that this country is more liberal than it was two years ago just because of an unpopular war and the general feeling of being upset with the current group of Republican clowns in the Congress, you will just end up being disappointed.
Republicans get elected to reduce the size and overbearing effect of government, not increase it. They had six years under Bush to significantly reform the social security and medicare systems and all they managed to do was tack on an additional liability to medicare. They had six years to completely reform our system of taxation, and all they did was lower some rates but still left intact the very system which is the single largest reason for lobbyist influence and corruption in the government. They increased the federal government’s control over state public education systems. They wasted billions of dollars on pork projects instead of weeding it out. Add to this a war which most people are generally displeased with, and you have the reasons why the Republicans are no longer in power.
Greg A……you can keep repeating your mantra for the next 2 years, but it won’t help you any.
As of this morning, 14 of the Democrats new House seats were won in traditionally non-New England Republican districts. The odds are that all or most of them will return to the fold when a real Republican candidate is allowed on the ballot. Just to name 3….Foley’s old district, De Lays old district and Hayworths old district. It’s actually an historical fact of the House when this happens. I won’t go so far as to say the House will go back Republican, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
The Senate could go either way in 2008. Your right that the Rep’s have 21 seats up and the Dem’s have 12. 8 of the Rep’s seats are solid safe. 5 of the Dem’s. 4 possible Rep. seats could be in danger and 1 Dems……but here’s the kicker….there are 9 Rep’s who could possibly retire….and 5 of those will most likely stay Rep’, in 4 of them, no one knows who would be the parties nominee’s, but they aren’t in rabid blue states, so it could go either way….there are 6 possible Dem’s retirement…..4 of those probably would stay Democrat…but 2 could go either way. The Senate is an unknown at this point.
As to Ohio…..the Dems took most or all of the top state goverment positions and 1 Senate seat. 1 seat was lost by the Rep’s in Ney’s old district, but they appear to have held on to all their other Congressional seats in that state. Which means they still control 11 of the 18 House seats in Ohio. And still control the state House and Senate.
Don’t ever believe Montana is gone to blue. Burns was a bad candidate. The state is still overwhelmingly Red, especially for Presidential politics.
If you want to study something thats interesting though…..see what you can find about Blue state Senate seats verses Red state Senate seats. I have been looking at some different stuff that claims the Dem’s have almost no where left to go in the Senate, because they now control almost all the Senate seats in the Blue states, but the Republicans have a bunch of what are now solid Red states where they still can capture the second Senate seats, thus expanding their future lead in the Senate. It’s kind of interesting.
#18, âŚyou can keep repeating your mantra for the next 2 years, but it wonât help you any.
joshua, just a week ago you were saying how the Republicans were surging in the polls and would retain both houses. Well, I truly enjoyed my coffee Wednesday morning even as even you didn’t. The single issue voters are frustrated with the Republicans lies. To me, it looks like the Republican Party will need at least four years to replace all the incompetents and reinvigorate their core base.
While today you suggest Burns was a poor Senator, I think we may expect big things from Testor. I don’t think Talent, Santorum, or Burns were that poop hot either and may have been divisive enough to help cost the Republicans the election.
The one thing I haven’t heard anything of is how bad a leader Howard Dean is. In less then two years he steered the Democrats to majorities in Congress. Thank you Howard Dean from rescuing us from the Republican tyranny.
#1 We seriously need to implement term limits in the House and Senate. These old baffoons that have had their cushy jobs for 30 years are completely out of touch with society and most of all technology. We need new blood.
Then get people to quit electing incumbants. Who are these idiots who complain that everyone is out of touch, everyone is corrupt, everyone needs to go… except for their guy? Out of all the elected officials in DC, voters still think that the guy from their district is the one guy who is annointed from the heavans?
We have term limits. They are called elections.
#20.
Yes, and it also very undemocratic to tell people they can’t choose who they want to represent them because of an arbitrary term limit. A term limit for the President was debated by the by the founders while they were still leaning towards having him appointed by the Congress, and it was ultimately decided against for the same reason. Term limits are a bad idea in practice too, as they make the term-limited incumbent artificially impotent towards the end of his term.