Please consider having Ms.vanden Heuvel on as as a regularly scheduled contributor. She always adds more light than heat.

Martin Chuzzlewit from Manhattan = haters gonna hate

Deal with it.

steve mark made a comment as if the GOP weren't selling hate!?!?
look in the mirror. look for reality

The right needs to realize that they lost because they had a horrible candidate with horrible ideas. It's that simple.

Seth Pickenstiff
prez and VP can 't be from the same state per constitution.
so that's not happening unless u can get one of them to move

Martin z: what a sad, little man

Impeachable offense? Really? If gw bush is not in jail and didnt get impeached.....*heavy sigh* I refuse to do this for the next 4 years...he is now invisible to me!

Per Wiki, third party votes totaled 121,127,668. But, the 7M difference needs to be compared to the number of votes cast for each state's totals for senator (if pertinent) and other legacy party votes in order to say 7M fewer voted for Obama.

Obama (Democratic)

303 electoral votes

25+DC

61,170,405

50.50%

Romney (Republican)

206 electoral votes

24

58,163,977

48.02%

Johnson (Libertarian)

1,167,739

0.96%

Stein (Green)

414,545

0.34%

Goode (Constitution)

100,191

0.08%

Barr (Peace and Freedom)

45,515

0.04%

Anderson (Justice)

20,168

0.02%

Others

39,822

0.03%

Total

538

51

121,127,668

100.00%

Sheldon from Brooklyn said “every corporate lobbyist don't want stuff? They have been getting "stuff" from the govt, the last 30 years.”
This is called projection, I think. when republicats speak just think about how what they say applies to themselves.
Rove talking about hate for example

In response to Steve Mark- all those complicated ruses that you enumerated were hardly necessary for the President to win re election.

Once I saw the enthusiastic support that he received from the Obamaphone babe and her ilk, I knew he had it in the bag and sewed up tight.No ?

Miss vandenHeuvel did, of course, neglect to include this among other items in her commentary.

Ah Steve - [the] "war on the wealthy, the GM rhetoric, the character impugning and fear mongering by the Obama campaign?" - Jeeps to China?

Haha - so it's ok for Gingrinch, Santorum, and Perry to attack Mitt's Bain "wealth" in the primary but Obama should preach peace & love, like some "non-angry" black man on some nbc sitcom? While Mitt and Rove's Super PACS clobber him? You don't know Chicago fella.

There may be other reasons why Obama received fewer votes in that many states with large numbers of Dem voters were hit hard by Sandy. Perhaps many people just found it too daunting too vote, even when they tried (as with the NJ attempt to open their military internet voting to regular voters at the last minute).

But, again, many real Dems could not vote for Obama as president as he is not a real Dem.

Suppressing the news of the Iranaian attack on the drone in international waters before his "election" is just the latest IMPEACHABLE offense by the Empty Suit Who Won't Keep Us Safe.

She twice evaded answering the question.

Drone warfare is a blot on the country, you got that right KvH.

Reduced Obama votes? Part of it *may* be disaffection [which in itself is a sign that "I'm done with Bush" fervor was bigger than "I'm done with Obama" sentiment]but at least some of it is caging of 'likely to vote Democrat' voters. Only a third of what Greg Palast expected but still far too many.

Can we have a segment where this is researched and discussed?

The two legacy parties want us to believe there are only two parties, and Brian seems to have bought into that. Duopoly, babeee!

However, some of us see the R's and D's as two sides of the same Big Money party and are looking and voting elsewhere.

Jill Stein got my vote for president -- and I've been a very strong Democrat since I came of age and realized the R's of my parents' party did not represent my values.

No longer do many D's represent my values. Obama is, to my understanding, a right of center Republican with some more liberal social views. But, he does seem to love that austerity.

I believe in the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party. Jill Stein voiced those principles and programs. She got my vote.

Clinton/Cuomo 2016! Let's get it started!

Of all the post election commentary I've heard, No one has yet pointed out the Republicans have lost 5 of the past 6 presidential elections ny popular vote.

They are in huge troube due to their lack of ideas.

Only in 2004 did they squeek a majority. And that was only due to the false patrotism they exploited, teh 2 wars, using terrorism fears as a political weapon.

Think they'll ever learn or aknowledge this truth? Doubt it.

The guest's failure to mention that the war on the wealthy, the GM rhetoric, the character impugning and fear mongering by the Obama campaign had huge impace on the election. Obama ran a brilliant attack-mode campaign. He won Ohio on the auto bailout and Florida on the Medicare issue. Right there, it was game over.

"Martin" should follow his idol Bibi and make nice with that "black" president, now that his horse has lost the race.

Wanna bet that Bibi isn't gonna talk down the president in public the next four years?

"Jobs first" but not easy with the stock markets down steeply. How's that for post-election bounce? Try creating jobs now. Much less if this President tosses us off the fiscal cliff.
She can believe what she wants; she's just plain wrong-- #self-delusion

The words you used are not in any of his comments, moderators must be sleep this AM!!

RE: reduced turnout for Obama, note that looking at popular vote there were several "3rd party" candidates who scored well regionally - in Alaska and New Mexico, for instance, more than 4% of the vote went to other than the 2 principle candidates.

BTW, didn't O'Reilly's 50% seem to match Romney's 47%? Seemed like they were implying the same dependent-democrat nonsense.

Brian,

I believe that this is absolutely a deep cultural divide that exists between different groups in this country. I was amazed by some of the commentary I was seeing on social media sites after this election from people I knew when I lived in the South. They said things like "We've lost our great country. White, Christian, Conservative, employed people are now the minority" — practically what Bill O'Reilly said.

And it's true, they are becoming the minority.

Brian, if the president had won in the Electoral College with fewer popular votes the Republicans would have had a constitutional amendment out faster than you can whistle Dixie, and we would have been able to get rid of this dangerous anachronism.

Excuse me, 7 million fewer votes for the president doesn't mean fewer voted (as I believe Brian just stated). At least some of those 7 million missing votes (like my own) went to third parties.

50% of people want "free stuff" ? - so Billionaires paying subsidized tax rates, the Koch brothers, banks, industrialists, defense contractors, and every corporate lobbyist don't want stuff? They have been getting "stuff" from the govt, the last 30 years.

What If Brian? He said "traditional america" - it is this thought process that separates, infuriates and maintains the divide in America.

Becky, read what I wrote, you are missreading it my friend. I am explaining to Martin why he hates this president. Who I support.

"(as HIS wife admitted at a microphone in 2008)"
Reference, please...

Martin, Holder was clearly of any issue in Fast and Furious by the congressional hearings. Why are you still on a finished matter?

Brian Lehrer -

Katrina's opinion on LaVergne v. Bryson - the 'lost' Amendment that would make laws that control the size of the House unconstitutional?

Thanks.

Martin Chuzzlewit
Martin Chuzzlewit
books.google.com
The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit is a novel by Charles Dickens, considered the last of his picaresque novels. It was originally serialized in 1843 and 1844. Wikipedia

@ Chuzz -

You are outright wrong (and risible) about "radical anarchists" in the Democratic Party, considering the party is mainstream, left-of-center and largely devoid of true lefists, as virtually all the rest of the world and recorded history understands them. It is only in present day America that someone would believe that the corporatist Democratic Party has been hijacked by "radical anarchists."

2010 was a bad time to lose elections - that was a census year, and the repbulicans took every opportunity to rig the districts. Even Michele Bachman can't get tossed from office. They gerrymandered a republican future in congress. The census year was a bad year to lose.

@hjs11211

"The president might have better luck getting judges through the senate after filibuster reform. What are the chances that the senate will become a democratic (small D) institution again"

I am torn. I firmly believe that the GOP's use of the filibuster has been undemocratic and it is a violation of their oaths of office to continually put party over progress for the nation. The practice should be ended.

I am torn because if the rules change the Democrats lose an campaign issue - "Vote Out the Obstructionist GOP'ers who would RUIN what they cannot RUN!"

The Media would need to help move that along.

@john from the office, What did you just say (write)?!! Why don't you join him and his ignorant wife in Israel or maybe you would be more comfortable in Mexico?

I would love to see the President make more Executive privilege decisions.

Martin, simple solution. Move to Israel, problem solved.

You are blind to your hate, because a spook or I should say Schatza, is in the white house and you home is an echo chamber of hate. You probably think you are opened minded and not a racist, but the fact a negro is in the whitehouse is why you are where you are in your hate.

Planes leave every dat my friend.

@MC -

Birds of a feather...Glad you are happy. Find it hard to believe that you self-identify as a Democrat but it is a big tent.

Enjoy your weekend.

The president might have better luck getting judges through the senate after filibuster reform. What are the chances that the senate will become a democratic (small D) institution again

@RUCB_Alum

FYI .... Yes, I’m married....

My wife is brilliant, no nonsense, and more opinionated and neo-conservative than I am.

She thinks that Obama is evil, overrated, “invented” by the educated liberal aristocracy, has never liked this country (as HIS wife admitted at a microphone in 2008), has demeaned and trivialized the office of President (which is why we call him Barry at home), will leave us all poorer and weaker after 8 years (as we are after 4) and that he will eventually stab Israel in the back.

She also thinks that my posting here to posturing airheads is a big waste of my precious time.

And we are both Democrats....from back before the party was hijacked by radical anarchists.

That’s all the personal stuff anyone here needs to know.

Please ask Ms. vanden Heuvel whether she thinks that Eric Holder should resign now (and then "lawyer-up") or stay in office and wait for the House of Representatives to start the impeachment process in the second term.

The GOP line (so far) seems to be a recognition that their party is dying. They really do appear - to these eyes - to be going through the first of the five stages of grief. Denial. ("We didn't lose...Sandy beat us.")

Watch closely for signs of Anger, Bargaining, Depression and (finally) Acceptance. I would love for them to begin to act reasonably again.

@MC -

Premature again, Martin, the man hasn't even been inaugurated yet. Your nightmare hasn't even begun. Savor it. You'll last longer.

God, I hope you are not married.

Ed, I just read your comment again, wow!, you belong in dark age europe. And you forgot to mention that GOD gave us AIDS to kill off all the Gays. Please remember your history of hate. You profess love, but are full of hate.

Martin, please go back under your rock.

Ed, why do you support the government being in your private life, be you gay, a woman or if you choose to have an abortion?

And Ed are you prepared to pay additional taxes, for all the additional people that would result if there were no abortions. Abortions of fetuses that are not wanted and would be born to the poor, uneducated and young masses?? Resulting in the need for more government programs for those additional people.

I hate to say but the items the administration wants to establish in the second term are all the items of the culture of death: abortion, euthanasia (forthcoming), embryonic stem cell research, restriction of religious liberty, and same sex marriage.

Apartheid South Africa couldn't last because was gravely unjust. Slavery in the U.S. couldn't last because it was unjust. The Soviet Union with the Gulags couldn't last because it was unjust.

And we have elected a government that plans to establish the culture of death in our country. And it can not last.

The hurricane in the east, which wiped out Fire Island and downtown New York, which supports many of these things, was a preliminary warning.

Brian Lehrer did a whole series on peace, but these policies will lead to war and conflict.

OK......THE HONEYMOON IS OVER....... the second term is on ......

Now it's back to the business of holding the EMPTY SUIT accountable because Brian and the MSM (in their virtual religious fervor to "protect" this black president) SIMPLY WON'T.

Of course, in Barry's defense, he does inherit the problems not addressed by the stagnant administration of the past 4 years.