GOP promises more obstructionism

[Ugmo]

I swear these guys are intent on going the way of the Whig Party. And yes, this is from the Huffington Post:

Betting the farm on opposing Obama has been the GOP blueprint for the past year. And it will be going forward. Appearing on a local radio station in his home state of Arizona, Sen. John McCain defined the party ethos quite clearly.

"There will be no cooperation for the rest of the year," he said. "They have poisoned the well in what they've done and how they've done it."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/2 ... 09038.html

Are you shitting me? These motherfuckers are currently holding up over 250 bills in the Senate, and it's the Democrats who have poisoned the well? The only people who believe that shit are the teabagger imbeciles.

To be fair, that probably also reflects the fact that John McCain is facing a tough primary challenge from a Teabagger and he's trying to shore up the batshit crazy vote. But he isn't the only one who has decided that obstructionism worked so well for them on health care that they need even more of it.

The inmates are officially running the asylum!

[Ugmo]

“Members of Congress are just people,” he said. “We just feel like they are rapidly taking this country in a wrong direction, with no interest in what anyone else thinks and with a taunting arrogance unlike anything I have ever seen.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/03 ... Page2.html

Where was this clown during the Bush years when the Republicans were "ramming through" massive, budget-busting tax cuts for the rich using reconciliation? How come all of these assholes have selective amnesia all of a sudden?

[JakeYonkel]

Dude, if the events of Sunday didn't finally prove to you that any inability to get stuff done is SOLELY on the Democrats - I don't know what will.

They faced unanimous opposition and needed a sketchy deal to get enough of their own party members on board just to pass that shit, and barely did it, might I add,

[JakeYonkel]

I believe that the government works FOR the people, not does whatever the hell they want to do. Yes, I'm sure you can cite examples where the Republicans have done things in the face of opposition.

However when you've got a bill that's unanimously opposed by the other party AND facing strong opposition from half of your OWN party... chances are you're going to piss off a lot of people and it's NOT a good idea to force it through.

And really, this isn't what's "best" for America so there's no need for them to act like they're doing us all a favor. This ain't universal health care. It's free health care for poor people.

And I'll repeat the mantra... Bush catered to the upper class, Obama caters to the lower class, and the middle class is consistently fucked.

My family is an average middle class one and the ONLY benefit we see from this is that I could get my own insurance policy due to the new no pre-existing condition clause. That's it. And really, as a generally healthy 26 year old, that really shouldn't even be an issue for me anyway.

[Ugmo]

Dude, if the events of Sunday didn't finally prove to you that any inability to get stuff done is SOLELY on the Democrats - I don't know what will.

They faced unanimous opposition and needed a sketchy deal to get enough of their own party members on board just to pass that shit, and barely did it, might I add,

You're really, really glossing over the "unanimous opposition" part. They faced unanimous opposition because the Republicans decided early last year that they were going to make health care reform Obama's "Waterloo":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0xrW2KE ... r_embedded

That's Jim Demint, (R) South Carolina. Do those sound like the words of a guy interested in bipartisanship? At no point did they have any intention of compromising on anything. They were betting that they could block his ability to govern so as to regain seats in November 2010.

Do you need any more proof of that than the fact that there are currently 250 bills - passed by the House - that are sitting in the Senate and cannot get a vote because the Republicans are obstructing them? And that almost every time the Democrats managed to break the filibuster before little Scottie Brown's election, the bills then passed by votes of 85-10, 90-5, etc.? This is not about anything other than electoral strategy for the Republicans.

And it will be their Waterloo. The Whigpublicans of 2010.

[Ugmo]

Here's the thing Jake: Obamacare is based on a plan designed by the conservative Heritage Foundation and actually proposed by the Republicans back in 1993 when they were trying to kill Bill Clinton's health reform plan. Many of those guys are still in Congress, and yet on Sunday not a single Republican in either house voted for the bill. Is it more likely that they voted against the bill because they oppose its contents, or because they were trying to defeat Obama in order to win back seats in November?

Out of nearly 220 Republicans in Congress, not a single one of them voted in favor of a bill whose bluprint was designed by Republicans. Doesn't that seem odd to you at all?

[JakeYonkel]

Is it more likely that they voted against the bill because they oppose its contents, or because they were trying to defeat Obama in order to win back seats in November?

I think it was a win/win for the Republicans - either defeat the bill OR if it passes enough people will be pissed off that the Republicans are bound to regain a substantial number of seats in November.

Out of nearly 220 Republicans in Congress, not a single one of them voted in favor of a bill whose bluprint was designed by Republicans. Doesn't that seem odd to you at all?

Was the national deficit as large then as it is now?

[Ugmo]

I think it was a win/win for the Republicans - either defeat the bill OR if it passes enough people will be pissed off that the Republicans are bound to regain a substantial number of seats in November.

I am willing to bet on this! Who's with me? I say that by November people are so sick of the GOP's shit and will a) recognize that the Dems have actually been getting stuff done despite the Republicans' best efforts to stop progres and b) will actually be feeling the benefits of the health care legislation, and the Dems therefore will not lose seats in any greater numbers than normal for a midterm election. And if they do, I will keep John Boner's orange oompa loompa face in my avatar for all of 2011!

Was the national deficit as large then as it is now?

Will you guys at any point stop ignoring the CBO projection that this health care plan will reduce the deficit?

Furthermore, when has deficit-spending ever bothered the Republicans?

[thejuggernaut]

Interesting.

[JakeYonkel]

I think it was a win/win for the Republicans - either defeat the bill OR if it passes enough people will be pissed off that the Republicans are bound to regain a substantial number of seats in November.

I am willing to bet on this! Who's with me? I say that by November people are so sick of the GOP's shit and will a) recognize that the Dems have actually been getting stuff done despite the Republicans' best efforts to stop progres and b) will actually be feeling the benefits of the health care legislation, and the Dems therefore will not lose seats in any greater numbers than normal for a midterm election. And if they do, I will keep John Boner's orange oompa loompa face in my avatar for all of 2011!

Define "normal" and I'll probably take you up on that deal.

This ain't a P13 bet where I'm gonna back out, but I'm also not promising to leave Sludge either!

Was the national deficit as large then as it is now?

Will you guys at any point stop ignoring the CBO projection that this health care plan will reduce the deficit?

Furthermore, when has deficit-spending ever bothered the Republicans?

For me personally I don't care, but they can certainly use that as an excuse if the facts back it up. Just throwing it out there. The situations are absolutely different.

As for the CBO projection, unless I'm wrong that projection only covers what, 8 or 10 years, right? What about beyond that?

[Ugmo]

Define "normal" and I'll probably take you up on that deal.

This ain't a P13 bet where I'm gonna back out, but I'm also not promising to leave Sludge either!

This is the first link I found on google:

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/di ... id=6729000

A traditional generalization about mid-term elections is that the President's party usually loses some seats in Congress. The mass media and practicing politicians often compare the results of a given mid-term election with the “average loss” of the President's party. Depending on the time period of elections covered, the average (mean) loss ranges from 29 to 40 House seats and from three to four Senate seats.

Sounds reasonable to me. I will say the Democrats won't lose more than 40 seats of their House majority. 4 Senate seats sounds like a bit of a gamble though, but I will man up. How about this, I will sport John Boehner's hideous orange mug in my avatar if 1) the Dems lose more than 40 seats in the House AND more than 4 seats in the Senate, or 2) the Democrats lose control of at least one house of Congress (although I guess 2 assumes that 1 would happen anyway).

I think your end of the deal should involve a picture of Nancy Pelosi and a pledge of your undying love for her!

As for the CBO projection, unless I'm wrong that projection only covers what, 8 or 10 years, right? What about beyond that?

The CBO analysis projects even greater savings in the 10 subsequent years. 100 billion overall in the first 10 years and 1 trillion in the decade thereafter.

[Crazy Levi]

Dude, if the events of Sunday didn't finally prove to you that any inability to get stuff done is SOLELY on the Democrats - I don't know what will.

They faced unanimous opposition and needed a sketchy deal to get enough of their own party members on board just to pass that shit, and barely did it, might I add,

Are you nuts?

They've faced "unanimous opposition" on everything.

The sole purpose of the Republicans since Obama came into office is to make sure nothing gets done, which why it is laughable that now McCain says "that's it! NOW we won't cooperate!"

The Dems had to get something done, and they did.

Historic!

Get used to hearing that.

[Ugmo]

Check this out:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/34836.html

The Democrats have front-loaded a lot of the more popular benefits from this bill to take effect at exactly the right point of the midterm election cycle. So while the Republicans are campaining on repealing health care reform, people will be starting to receive specific benefits.

[HeavyMetalZombie666]

The Bush tax cuts had majority support from the American people,unlike this health care bill. The Obama administration is letting the cuts sunset at the end of the year causing a major tax increase. Add to that the $500,000,000,000 tax/fees increase that was just passed within the bill itself and this isn't going to be pretty. Done during a bad economy no less.

And as for the use of reconciliation to pass major social legislation like health care reform, even Robert Byrd said that it shouldn't be done. And he's the guy that wrote the rule. It doesn't get anymore straight forward than this. But the left doesn't care. They will shortly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTkgZrb1Q8k

Agreed there!

[Crazy Levi]

Interesting.

Did someone hurt your feelings by pointing out what a gasbag you are?

There's a happy medium you know.

[Ugmo]

Interesting.

Did someone hurt your feelings by pointing out what a gasbag you are?

There's a happy medium you know.

No, that's just him being cryptic. Nothing new.

[thejuggernaut]

Interesting.

Did someone hurt your feelings by pointing out what a gasbag you are?

There's a happy medium you know.

Must have been.

[thejuggernaut]

Interesting.

Did someone hurt your feelings by pointing out what a gasbag you are?

There's a happy medium you know.

No, that's just him being cryptic. Nothing new.

Awww, poor baby. I promise to mark the next thread with an emoticon so you don't have another fit.

[Ugmo]

Notice how I've said tax cuts about 50 times today? It feels great every single time!

[thejuggernaut]

Notice how I've said tax cuts about 50 times today? It feels great every single time!

Of course it does.

[KneelandBobDylan]

What is amazing is that a Senator is openly saying “Fuck the nation’s business, we’re a bunch of kids,” and no one in the media will point out how worthless and childish the Republicans are.















Even worse, no one is even surprised.

[Crazy Levi]

What is amazing is that a Senator is openly saying “Fuck the nation’s business, we’re a bunch of kids,” and no one in the media will point out how worthless and childish the Republicans are.

Even worse, no one is even surprised.

McCain is such a creep.

It's still scary that this crazy old man and his psychotic retard of a running mate could have possibly run this country.

[JakeYonkel]

I hear that.

Let's hope JD Hayworth unseats him.

[Crazy Levi]

I hear that.

Let's hope JD Hayworth unseats him.

Does he have a legit shot or is he a teabagger on a lark?

[JakeYonkel]

He's not a ballbagger, no.

But he's a stronger conservative than McCain, who seems to have lost his mind.

[Crazy Levi]

Does he have a legit shot?

Latest poll McCain up by just 7. A few months ago McCain had a 20-30 point lead.

It's time to retire this disgusting, senile old creep.

The good people of Arizona deserve someone who is actually going to do their job. McCain has just proclaimed he's taking the rest of the year off.

[Nemesis]

I think it was a win/win for the Republicans - either defeat the bill OR if it passes enough people will be pissed off that the Republicans are bound to regain a substantial number of seats in November.

I am willing to bet on this! Who's with me? I say that by November people are so sick of the GOP's shit and will a) recognize that the Dems have actually been getting stuff done despite the Republicans' best efforts to stop progres and b) will actually be feeling the benefits of the health care legislation, and the Dems therefore will not lose seats in any greater numbers than normal for a midterm election. And if they do, I will keep John Boner's orange oompa loompa face in my avatar for all of 2011!

Was the national deficit as large then as it is now?

Will you guys at any point stop ignoring the CBO projection that this health care plan will reduce the deficit?

Furthermore, when has deficit-spending ever bothered the Republicans?

I say by November people are really going to be sick of the dimocrats shit and the Republicans will win back the house and the Senate. With control of the Senate the Republicans will have control over the purse strings and will not appropriate ANY money to this so-called health care reform bill. In 2012 the Republicans will win back the White House from Odumbo and will work on a way to repeal the healthcare reform bill.

I'm not either but it's a vicious cycle-when people get mad at the ruling party they put the other back in. They both largely suck at running the government.

Now if they had put that public option in the bill the polls might be more favorable since that is what Odumbo ran on. If you go to the Democratic Underground they don't really care for the bill but since it pisses the Republicans off they think it's okay it passed.

But like I said, I'm neither-I've never considered myself to be a "sheep" that blindly follows a party line.

[Nemesis]

He's not a ballbagger, no.

But he's a stronger conservative than McCain, who seems to have lost his mind.

McCain is not a conservative and never was. He's what they call a RINO.

[MasterOfMeatPuppets]

He's not a ballbagger, no.

But he's a stronger conservative than McCain, who seems to have lost his mind.

McCain is not a conservative and never was. He's what they call a RINO.

No, he is what they call a sellout. You can't break him but you can buy him. The North Vietnamese couldn't break him with 7 years of torture but Charles Keating broke him with a couple of swanky trips. That breaks my heart to say so.

[Ugmo]

LOL at "ballbagger"! Are people saying that or did Jake just come up with it? I think I'm going to adopt that one from now on.

I say by November people are really going to be sick of the dimocrats shit and the Republicans will win back the house and the Senate.

You willing to bet on this and proudly display Nancy Pelosi's botoxed visage in your avatar or sig if you're wrong? Hell, I'm saying they won't even lose more seats than normal (40 in the House, 4 in the Senate), so that's a pretty fair bet I think. You in?