McCain + Democratic Congress =

[Jacobtm]

So, in 2008, regardless of who becomes President, Democrats are almost guaranteed a gain of 4 seats in the Senate, as well as gain some seats in the House of Representatives. Looking forward to 2010, the Class III Democrats all seem to have a great chance of retaining their seats. The HOR is harder to predict for 2010, so I won't try it. But what I think is fairly easy to agree on is that from 2009-2011, the Democrats will control both houses of Congress, and from 2011-2013, the Democrats will at least control the Senate.

So taking this into account, what would the first term of a McCain presidency look like in terms of legislation passed? The Democrats will likely not have fillibuster-proof or veto-proof majorities in either house, and so will not be able to pass through everything they like, but McCain will have an impossible time pushing through any legislation that isn't favored by a good amount of Democrats.

So what're the types of legislative compromises that McCain and the Democrats could make?

[CARLHAYDEN]

Disaster!

Higher Taxes.

Amnesty with NO real border security and NO real enforcement of existing laws against employing illegal entrants but with a "guest worker" program.

Attacks on freedom of speech. 

Massive stagflation (McCain is an economic illiterate).

Lord God Have Mercy, and spare us that disaster!

[MasterJedi]

The same as from 2006 onward. Some small stuff might pass but nothing big will and the Dems won't try and push anything through either.

[War on Want]

Disaster!

Higher Taxes.

Amnesty with NO real border security and NO real enforcement of existing laws against employing illegal entrants but with a "guest worker" program.

Attacks on freedom of speech. 

Massive stagflation (McCain is an economic illiterate).

Lord God Have Mercy, and spare us that disaster!

Are you voting for Obama?

[CARLHAYDEN]

Disaster!

Higher Taxes.

Amnesty with NO real border security and NO real enforcement of existing laws against employing illegal entrants but with a "guest worker" program.

Attacks on freedom of speech. 

Massive stagflation (McCain is an economic illiterate).

Lord God Have Mercy, and spare us that disaster!

Are you voting for Obama?

No.

Bob Barr!

[NDN]

Disaster!

Higher Taxes.

Amnesty with NO real border security and NO real enforcement of existing laws against employing illegal entrants but with a "guest worker" program.

Attacks on freedom of speech. 

Massive stagflation (McCain is an economic illiterate).

Lord God Have Mercy, and spare us that disaster!

Agree on everything but MAYBE taxes, he could refuse to flip flop again there.

Oh btw you forgot to mention no real progress in Iraq.

[Ebowed]

I think the last year and a half of what Congress has been up to (absolutely nothing, except ignoring war crimes and extreme civil liberties violations) should be a pretty good indication of what you could expect from a McCain presidency and Democratic congress.

On the other hand, McCain's extreme wingnut Supreme Court nominees can expect to be confirmed easily, and only with token opposition.

[CPT MikeyMike]

Disaster!

Higher Taxes.

Amnesty with NO real border security and NO real enforcement of existing laws against employing illegal entrants but with a "guest worker" program.

Attacks on freedom of speech. 

Massive stagflation (McCain is an economic illiterate).

Lord God Have Mercy, and spare us that disaster!

Agree on everything but MAYBE taxes, he could refuse to flip flop again there.

Oh btw you forgot to mention no real progress in Iraq.

To sum it up - nothing.

I wonder if the Democrats would block his cabinet appointments.

[Person Man]

I think that there would probably be HUGE battles over SCOTUS apointees, with center-right justices in the mold of O'Connor and Kennedy replacing Ginsburg and Stevens. This would probably make it impossible for any progressive constitutional law to be made, but the far-right wouldn't get to overturn Roe, Laughlin, Lawrence or Brown.

[Ebowed]

but the far-right wouldn't get to overturn Roe, Laughlin, Lawrence or Brown.

lol

[Frodo]

Progress on combating global warming, as well as reforming the immigration system. 

Also, I do not see McCain as having the same level of difficulty as President Bush has in pushing through his nominees for the courts -even with a Democratic Congress.  Congressional Democrats do not have the same level of antipathy toward him that they currently have with President Bush.  Therefore, if McCain wants to nominate a Roberts or an Alito, I wouldn't put it past them to confirm those nominees. 

[NDN]

Progress on ... reforming the immigration system.

Lol.

[Frodo]

Progress on ... reforming the immigration system.

Lol.

His chances on that are better than with a Republican Congress. 

[NDN]

I wouldn't call what he's touting 'reform' anymore than I'd call getting date raped 'getting lucky.'

[Frodo]

What would you consider 'immigration reform', then? 

[NDN]

What would you consider 'immigration reform', then? 

We need to streamline the process for qualified immigrants and increase border security. We do not need revolving door guest worker programs, social security benefits for illegals, or a lot of the other crap John agrees with.

[CARLHAYDEN]

What would you consider 'immigration reform', then? 

We need to streamline the process for qualified immigrants and increase border security. We do not need revolving door guest worker programs, social security benefits for illegals, or a lot of the other crap John agrees with.

How about enforcing existing laws against employing illegal aliens (something Bush has a worse record on than Clinton)?

[NDN]

Well that goes without saying.

[Albus Dumbledore]

How about we make it so you have to be born to citizen parents(both of them. No more green card marriages. The spouse has to naturalize) or naturalize to get citizenship? None of this citizenship for illegal babies born on US soil.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Well that goes without saying.

First, I have had a very difficult time getting most advocates of amnesty to agree to really enforcing the existing laws against employing illegal aliens.

Second, we're more likely to have two feet of snow in Tucson on Independence Day than have McCain really enforce such laws!

[NDN]

How about we make it so you have to be born to citizen parents(both of them. No more green card marriages. The spouse has to naturalize) or naturalize to get citizenship? None of this citizenship for illegal babies born on US soil.

Sounds fair to me.

[Brandon H]

McCain (R) + Democratic Congress = Disaster < Disaster = Obama (D) + Democratic Congress

On the other hand, I don't think the Republicans will start making any gains in Congress unless there is a Democratic President.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I agree that McCain will not have as much trouble with the Courts as Bush; of course, I expect McCain to nominate more moderate judges.

[CARLHAYDEN]

I agree that McCain will not have as much trouble with the Courts as Bush; of course, I expect McCain to nominate more moderate judges.

You mean more Souters!

[ChrisFromNJ]

I agree that McCain will not have as much trouble with the Courts as Bush; of course, I expect McCain to nominate more moderate judges.

You mean more Souters!

I sure hope so.