If Obama is re-elected.

[Joe Biden 2020]

and the Republicans take control of the Senate and retain control of the House, does he instantly become a lame-duck still 2 years from the 2014 mid-terms?

[Reaganfan]

I strongly suspect so.

[Politico]

Picture 2011 (and 2012) for four more years. That's pretty much it. Hard to believe anybody is excited about re-electing a guy who is already a lame-duck.

[Minnesota Mike]

Picture 2011 (and 2012) for four more years. That's pretty much it. Hard to believe anybody is excited about re-electing a guy who is already a lame-duck.

Better than giving the Republicans complete control.

[memphis]

None of those scenarios are set in stone. The Dems could very easily hold the Senate and maybe even retake the House. We'll have to see what happens between now and November. Of course, the GOP will continue to filibuster everything. Hopefully, the Dems will change the rules at the beginning of the new session.

[greenforest32]

None of those scenarios are set in stone. The Dems could very easily hold the Senate and maybe even retake the House. We'll have to see what happens between now and November. Of course, the GOP will continue to filibuster everything. Hopefully, the Dems will change the rules at the beginning of the new session.

If they didn't do it in January 2011 what makes you think they'd do it in January 2013 (assuming they hold the Senate)? Republicans come in, overreach, and obstruct left and right and when Democrats win, what do they do?

"Let me just clean this table and push in this chair "

Democrats are complicit.

[CatoMinor]

Hopefully, the Dems will change the rules at the beginning of the new session.

They've had since January of 2007 to do it...

[The_Texas_Libertarian]

Whether the Democrats have the majority or the Republicans have it is irrelevant.  50%+1 does not matter in the Senate.  What matters is 60%.  If the President wins re-election the conservatives will work to prevent anything from passing.  Although maybe Obama could trick it up and "oppose" laws he supports.  Then the conservatives would say "ohhh yes lets pass it"

Might as well use Obama-derangement syndrome to help the country.  Of course the conservatives wouldn't fall for more than a few rounds of it.

[Mehmentum]

No, not unless his reelection is not very credible (similar to what happened in 2000).

["'Oeps!' De blunders van Rick Perry Indicted"]

Obama doesn't really have an agenda for his second term, so it doesn't matter much.

[Lief 🗽]

Gridlock is much preferable to allowing the fascists to be in charge of every branch of government and Romney/Santorum starting a new war in Iran.