Next They’ll Be Threatening To Hold Their Breath
Watching Republicans is like watching a bratty kid’s temper tantrum.
Here’s another fun detail from last night’s Americans For Prosperity teletown hall, which featured Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN). Both politicians said that if a health care bill passes, it should be actively fought and resisted through a collective effort of conservative governors.
A caller asked DeMint what the states could do in order to stop unconstitutional action by the federal government on health care. DeMint replied, “I think the key to pushing back against the federal government is some governors and state legislators who champion individual freedom.”
DeMint said he would love to see states go to court to invoke the Tenth Amendment: “If we had some states come together and say the only way to save this country is to push back.” He also added: “I think you’ll see some states say no more, we’re not going down with the federal government.”
These people need a serious time-out.
So will these employees of the federal government stop taking their federal pay? All the anti-stimulus governors ended up taking the stimulus money. Do you really think uninsured people won’t take the public option? They are nuts.
I really do get tired of being the grown up in the room sometimes. When Republicans win, Democrats get busy trying to make a difference, even when it gets us no where. When Democrats win, Republicans take their ball and go home. Republicans are Eric Cartman.
Federal employees draw a federal paycheck, pretty simple.
Uninsured people are some who can afford it but don’t buy it, illegal workers, those who qualify but have not pursued the free care and of course the real problem-maybe 10 million who do not have insurance or a means to acquire it.
The states know the Medicaid tab is going up and up and will bankrupt all states. Obama does nothing about Medicaid reform, nothing.
For those who blame Republicans, read the news. The Dems have a huge majority and need not one GOP vote yet the weak Dems blame everyone else. Keep telling lies, maybe a few uninformed people will believe you.
Mike Protack
By the way, can somebody archive some of these “Dems have a huge majority and need not one GOP vote” posts? Because you know that the second reform IS passed with no GOP votes (save maybe Collins and Snowe), they will start crying about how they were “locked out” or “not allowed to participate”. Guess what — the GOP was locked. By voters last Fall.
Scott is right — and Mr. Shallow Bench has a long established habit of public rending of garments because no one will vote for him or his party.
The problem is that the GOP is essentially locked out by a majority party that defines “bipartisanship” as “doing it our way”.
The GOP opposes the public option — but the Democrats are not willing to give it up. The GOP wants a market-based solution — but the Democrats don’t trust the market and won’t give in on that point. All the Democrats are willing to offer are non-substantive changes around the margins — sort of like a guy telling his wife she can pick the color of the upholstery in the new car but giving her no say on anything else.
You folks keep saying that you won and so get to dictate the outcome — so dictate away!
Hmm, sounds like someone doesn’t like it that the GOP is getting a taste of it’s own medicine after the Gingrich/Armey/DeLay led years in the House. Seems the GOP during those woe-begotten years shut out the Dems during the mark-up of bills in both houses. Isn’t too much fun, is it. And now that the GOP is on the verge of losing it’s control of the Texas State House of Representatives, maybe we’ll see less reactionary legislation out of Austin.
1) But remember — you folks claim to be bipartisan.
2) Don’t expect the Dems to hold their gains down here in Texas. And as far as the state of Texas goes, please remember that the GOP has controlled the state House for precisely 7 years since the end of Reconstruction.
The Gingrich/Armey/DeLay years were marked by partisan bickering and the partisan impeachment of Mighty King Bill, but legislatively all 3 of those GOPers were known to work with the other side. I can’t think of any times, off the top of my head, other than the impeachment, when any of those guys said, “screw it, we don’t need no stinkin democrats to pass this legislation….”
Can you, MJ?
Thanks for the revisionist history, Maria. Hastert once said that a bill must be supported by the “majority of the majority.” This partisan atmosphere is a product of the Republicans.
Hastert wasn’t on the list in question, UI. And “this partisan atmosphere” is totally owned by the Democrats.
LOL Maria. Have you thought about comedy? The party of adulterers that brought us a political impeachment for adultery are pure and blameless, right?
The party of adulterers started down the Gingrich slash and burn my way or the highway path — we should remember when Newtie shut down the government because he didn’t get a preferred seat on AF1 and for whatever tantrum he was throwing that day. The partisan atmosphere started the day Newtie got his hands on a gavel and hasn’t let up since. People in your party get your panties in a bunch when the bipartisanship actually happens — Olympia Snowe can tell you about that as can Mike Castle who you people excoriate for voting on cap and trade. Bipartisanship is uniquely not tolerated in your party.
And as for Dems talking about bipartisanship — it is a shame you can’t see that the people losing the PR war in the bipartisan stakes are repubs.
Maria, my love, the Democrats are the owners of the “partisan atmosphere?” You’re shitting me, right?!?!?
Pelosi pushed through the stimulus package with no GOP support or input, and it looks like health care will be the same. And how many times have we heard the “we won” mantra from Congressional democrats and the White House?
Heck, look up the votes for some of the most infamous legislation from the Bush years like the Patriot Act, the Iraq War Resolution and NCLB, they all passed with hefty bipartisan support. The only exception I can think of was the 2003 stimulus in the Senate.
This was supposed to be the administration that UNITED the country, not just the politicians, but the people.
In other more relevant news, sales of existing homes rose in July for the fourth consecutive month, lending support to economists who argue a recovery is near if not already underway.
Sales of previously owned single-family homes were up 7.2% compared with June and 5% from July 2008.
Rebate checks for new home buyers are a big reason for the upsurge, according to the NAR.
The stock market soared 150 to close at over 9500 based on the news.
Boy memories are short. I remember the stimulus bill being watered down and watered down by Snowe, Collins and Specter. The Republicans have decided that they will beat Obama by saying no to everything and taking the blame. Are we supposed to not get anything done until Republicans say yes? They go out in public saying they won’t vote for any bill no matter what concessions are made?
In the end, it won’t matter after the bill is passed. You do know that Bush push through tax cuts in the reconciliation process? PATRIOT Act – well it was bipartisan-ish. The Republican idea of bipartisanship was vote for a Republican bill or else.
Patriot Act: 337-79 in the GOP House, 98-1 in a Senate lead by Democrats. No “ish” there.
Patriot Act: 337-79 in the GOP House, 98-1 in a Senate lead by Democrats.
Teabaggers had not yet received the script for chanting “READ THE BILL.”
And Peter Fleckenstein unfortunately was not yet up to speed and did not provide any helpful analysis of the Patriot Act.
Dark times, dark times.
Seriously, Maria, you’re using the days after 9/11 to prove the Republicans are bipartisan? Really? The bill was written by Republicans and had little to no input from the Democrats. Everyone felt they had to support the president then. Boy was that a mistake.
UI, off the top of my head, Senator Bob Graham from Florida was a Democrat and one of the Patriot Acts authors. And Tom Daschle took it upon himself to jam it through the Senate, last time I checked, he was the Senate Majority Leader and a Democrat when the Patriot Act breezed through the Senate 98-1.
Pelosi pushed through the stimulus package with no GOP support or input
This would be because the GOP got their caucus to not vote for the stimulus bill altho they are all out and about taking credit for the money and the projects now. There is no “pushing” if you have the majority votes to pass it without the other side participating.
But this same bill is instructive on the Senate side, right? It did pass with 3 repubs voting for it. Bipartisan. Except people in your party continue to have conniptions over that bipartisanship AND one of the three jumped ship from your party.
Cherry pick your bipartisanship anyway you like — the bottomline is that you aren’t interested in it. Just in having your way.
Maria’s allegations don’t prove what she thinks either. Democrats are willing to work with Republicans when they’re in power. Republicans aren’t willing to work with Democrats when they’re in power. Personally, I’m more of a fan of pragmatism than bipartisanship. I don’t think you can work with a group of people who are crazy. I’d rather the legislators work with good ideas, no matter where they come from. If Republicans offer good ideas – let’s use them. All the national Republicans are offering right now is status quo and health care, deregulation and tax cuts for the rich. These are the same things that brought us to the disaster that we’re just now getting out of.
Are you really going to call a bill that passed the senate with 3 GOP votes bipartisan and act like the Patriot Act, which passed a Democratic Senate 98-1, wasn’t?
UI: exactly.
The problem is the republicans still have not acknowledged their failures ideologically and in practice, They continue to attempt to advance the same tired, failed economic nonsense. Frankly, they got trounced in the election and have spent most of their time in denial, in preventing reform, lying anout health care and generally attempting to disrupt needed reforms and change. So be it. At a certain point, the dems have to move on without them. That is probably a better course anyway. But whining about how nothing is bi-partisan and it’s all the dems fault is just a pathetic line of reasoning. At some point you hope some real soul-searching and honesty comes out of the rank and file of the GOP. That would include support for real policy changes that better fit the needs of most Americans. Until then, it hard to see how the republican party can be relevant or effective.
You are assuming, of course, that 2008 is indicative of a long-term trend. Current polling data makes it appear that 2008 may be an anomaly.
Are you really going to call a bill that passed the senate with 3 GOP votes bipartisan and act like the Patriot Act, which passed a Democratic Senate 98-1, wasn’t?
No one here is making this claim.
RWR
Your memory isn’t very good. There was also 2006, another drubbing of the republicans. BTW: Current polling is absolutely meaningless. Talk to me one year from now.
From what I’ve seen , Obama’s numbers are at or above his election margin and the public still distrusts the GOP FAR more than Democrats. Yes, Obama’s numbers are a little lower than January and February, but that only proves that early 2009 was an anomaly. We’ll just keep that in mind for right after his next inauguration.
Obama’s numbers have gone down because of some collapse in his support from Democrats. Obviously the endless health care reform debate has started to take a toll. However, nothing succeeds like success, so I expect Obama’s numbers to go back up after health care reform passes and when the improving economy starts hitting Main Street. I think Obama will be fine for 2012 and I think Democrats will probably be o.k. for 2010 (it depends on when the employment recovery starts). 2009 might be tough for Democrats in Virginia and New Jersey governor’s races, though I think Corzine will pull it out.
Tackling health care was always going to result in lower poll numbers.
In 1981 unemployment was 10% and Reagan’s approval was 35%.
Correction…. in 1981 Reagan’s approval was tanking faster tnan Obama’s. Reagan did manage to keep above 50% for a while but he had to get shot to do it. After that it was a downhill slide to 1983, then Reagan’s approval tracked the economic recovery upward.
Just as Volcker had to fix the economy with punishing interest rates in the 1980s, now we have to fix the economy with stimulus spending. Two different problems each with their own cure. But while the cure is playing out, you might feel a little uncomfortable and wonder if it is working.
It is amazing though how quickly an economic recovery can turn approval ratings around.
Poor ‘ol Reagan…what was his Electoral number in ’84? 525-13, or something like that?
My point exactly.