The New Republic

This makes no sense, you seem to be implying that Republicans at the state level will pass draconian cuts in services and that the people will like them, this at the same time that Republicans do it at the Federal level. This will be an operational nightmare for Republicans. they won't be able to blame their closing down playgrounds on Obama. As to their gerrymandering, they can only do that in states that have net gains and losses. Due to the breadth of their victory they are going to find it to be very difficult to keep their gains in the north. They can't gerrymander Philly out of existence, nor can they raid Maryland, so because of the more rural aspects of their Reps. They are going to be pushing hard against each other. In a places where they are gaining, like Texas, eventually the Hispanics will get their act together. Beyond this, Americans are a very impatient people. They will tire of Republicans even quicker since Republicans have NO answers on how to restore the Middle Class, neither side will raise their taxes, but Republicans will take away their services.

- blackton

November 13, 2010 at 5:17pm

Can't gerrymander Philly out of existence? Just you watch. Led by a cadre of pols, 99% of whom care about nothing but their pensions, and their personal prerogatives. Philadelphia has ceded power over its institutions to Republican controlled state entities for nearly two decades. This was true even under Ed Rendell, who never saw a deal that he could not make with a Republican. (The idea that he is some kind of great Democratic leader is a joke. He has left Democrats weakened and bleeding as he exits state right.) Former mayor John Street is trying to find his Robert E. Lee to lead the civil war he wants to begin among Philly Dems— he just unsuccessfully implored a Republican who ran against him twice to run against the current mayor next year, Maybe Rep. Bob Brady still has some fight left in him, but the rest of them? Don't hold your breath.

- Stuart Wilder

November 13, 2010 at 5:30pm

http://www.edweek.org/rc/articles/2009/01/21/sow0121.h27.html may explode the myth the Republican governors "want to spend nothing. There will certainly be a fiscal attack on the public schools" Indiana spends the same per pupil as Maryland. California the same as Texas. Even though the data is from 2005-6, Wyoming is famous for how much they spend on education as a state priority. California dropped to the bottom because of their infamous cap on real estate taxes. The actual battle is going to be Medicaid because the states have to comply with so many Federal regulations. THAT is going to be a most interesting debate. As to gerrymandering Philadelphia? Texas gerrymandered Austin into five CDs in 2003 to dilute the Democrats, and the Supreme Court upheld that redistricting because the Constitution really does leave redistricting up to the states. Whether you 'crack' or 'pack', gerrymandering is totally legal and the Supremes are not going to bother with it again.

- K2K

November 14, 2010 at 12:44am

"...conservatives know how to organize. Liberals know how to whine...." Gee whiz and I thought that His O-ness' principle qualification for the position of POTUS was his stint as a community organizer..... hg

- ginzy

November 14, 2010 at 9:11am

As to gerrymandering Philadelphia? Texas gerrymandered Austin into five CDs in 2003 to dilute the Democrats yeah but Austin is in the middle of the state, Philly is bordered by Maryland, Jersey, and Delaware, they can't gerrymander there. That only leads north and west, which are Republican districts again.

- blackton

November 14, 2010 at 5:18pm