They are great at winning elections, but once they get into office they can only focus on… elections. Republicans run every branch of government but they cannot govern
The Republican-controlled Congress seems to be struggling lately to carry out its most basic mission: passing legislation. A proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage failed miserably. Long-debated immigration legislation has reached an impasse. The House passed line-item veto and estate tax measures that face significant hurdles in the Senate, while the Senate devoted a week to impassioned debates over Iraq that only resulted in two failed Democratic resolutions.
“The notion that lowering taxes on American families, reducing government waste and reining in activist judges aren’t legitimate issues that merit debate is absurd,” said Tracey Schmitt, spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee. Critics fault “activist judges,” including some on the Supreme Court, for ruling that flag burning is a constitutionally protected form of speech.”
This is so damn tiring. While giving average American families what amounts to a pizza once a week, their local taxes are being raised to offset the cutbacks and the unfunded mandates from the federal government. To conservatives, a judge will finally not be activist when he rules Christianity is the national religion and we will base all our laws on Biblical laws. And, yes, burning a piece of cloth is protected under the First Amendment. The government waste part is the biggest joke. Where’s the uproar from the Republican Congress over the 9 billion gone missing in Iraq and the fraud committed by Haliburton at taxpayers expense?
No, they can’t govern; they just make things worse.
It’s really pretty simple– they can get elected by playing to hate: “state’s rights,” gay marriage, (supposedly illegal)immigration.
The problem is that thanks to history and precedent, it’s not easy the govern these United States with hate.
Bottom line is- they’re playing to the haters; and they’re being found out.
You see rounds, no matter how many times you say it…the republicans DON’T have all the power….that is the point. And no matter how many bones the republicans throw the democrats, the democrats refuse to do the right thing for America, and will continue to cut off it’s own nose to spite her face.
here is another theory….
The democrats refuse to act in a bipartisan way to come to agreements on legislation. The simple reason? Anything that gets through makes the republicans look good.
This is just another example of the democrats “America Last” policy. Any republican headway on any issue good for america, is bad for the democrats; ergo, the democrats will drag their feet on everything, even if it is the right thing to do.
Pedro, if something doesn’t get through, don’t blame the democrats. Who has all the power? Both parties probably put party over nation. The Republicans are just nastier at it.
yea paul, you’re right. I mean what if any of the half-dozen Kerry sponsored “get our of Iraq” pieces of legislation passed? Geez….and when does he want us to be gone by TODAY?
Pedro,
Republicans throwing bones to Democrats? Name one bill that Republicans have considered from Dems and name one bill where Republicans brought at least a centrist/center-right idea. Lawmaking in the middle of night and redmeat like Schiavo and Flag Burning are NOT serious legislation. I think Republicans chance to redeem themselves and have a united effort with Dems was the Energy Bill, but as you can see Republicans(and some Dems) filled it with pork and excess. I actually pray for some gridlock because things are not even discussed and no person is to be persuaded. Hand it to the Republicans though, they will not consider a new game plan because blind unity gets seat just not sensible legislation. Republicans control everything except the courts, which by the way should be controled by NOBODY! If any judge claims a political party(Dem or Rep) or openly espouses an ideology that affects their JUDGEMENT than they should be thrown from the bench. Republicans would actually be somewhat succesfull if they didn’t control everything. They have hate governing but at least when their was opposition they were forced to think and bring up responsible legislation. I would think that you would be pissed about Republicans bringing legislation that is mere opinion. I don’t want my money spent on people expressing thier opinion. I have no faith in total party control because it only spawns corruption(Abramoff) and electioneering.
“Anything that gets through makes the republicans look good.”
Anything? I hear people love the new prescription drug plan. Or were you talking about the Shiavo Bill, a wonderful moment of bipartisanship that really moved this country forward. That one really made the Republicans look good.
Or were you talking about the failed Constitutional Amendment to ban gay marriage? There’s a piece of legislation that would have done “the right thing for America.” Yup, crucial bit of policy there. And how about that overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws? I hear every Republican was behind the President’s plan, if only if it weren’t for those traitorous Democrats.
Idiot.
The Republicans have majorities in both houses and the white house, yet they can’t get anything done.
And thank GOD the Senate Republican majority is going to be debating flag burning in the next few weeks:
I’m just certain that if the Republicans can get this VITAL piece of legislation passed it will be “good for america.” Damn those Dems for trying to block it:
“I mean what if any of the half-dozen Kerry sponsored get our of Iraq pieces of legislation passed?”
Um, what? I thought your point was that Dems were blocking VITAL Republican legislation. Vital legislation like renewing the Voting Rights Act. I bet the Republicans are still smarting from the Democratic stonewalling there. Geez, if only the Dems would get out of the way the American people would see that the Republican majority only wants to do what’s right for America. Yup.
Oh and pedro, where would we be if Kerry’s proposals passed? The fuck out of Iraq. That’s where.
So, just recently:
Democrats block bill to prevent felons from becoming citizens
Democrats block a cloture motion for the Association Health Plan Bill
Democrats blocked the bill limited awards in class action suits
Democrats blocked HR 5254, legislation meant to make it easier to build refineries for gasoline production
Democrats blocked a bill limiting malpractice awards
Here is the list of good bills that WERE passed in spite of attempts by democrats to block them:
H.R. 6, Energy Policy Act of 2005 July 28, 2005 (Passed House 275 156) 124 Democrats Voted No.
H.R. 4503, Energy Policy Act of 2004 June 15, 2004 (Passed House 244 178) 152 Democrats Voted No.
H.R. 6, Energy Conservation, Research, and Development Act of 2003 November 18, 2003(Passed House 246 180) 154 Democrats Voted No.
H.R. 6, Energy Conservation, Research, and Development Act of 2003 April 11, 2003 (Passed House 247 175) 157 Democrats Voted No.
H.R. 4, Securing America s Future Energy Act of 2001 August 2, 2001 (Passed House 240 189) 172 Democrats Voted No.
Democrats defeat the Online Freedom of Speech act.
I could go on…..
“Democrats block bill to prevent felons from becoming citizens”
Oh you’re fucking kidding me. First of all it was not a bill it was an amendment to the larger immigration bill. The amendment was proposed by Republican Sens. Jon Kyl of Arizona and John Cornyn of Texas both whom OPPOSED the larger immigration bill to which the amendment would have been attached. So Republicans who ALREADY OPPOSED the immigration bill play games with a redundant amendment to shift the blame for the bill’s failure to the Dems. Sweet. That isn’t leading, pedro, it’s playing the most cynical kind of politics.
“Democrats block a cloture motion for the Association Health Plan Bill”
Hilarious. And why did the Dems oppose the bill? Because it “stripped away a state’s ability to determine which health-care screenings and treatments insurers must cover.” It was also opposed by state attorneys general and such radical organizations as the American Cancer Society:
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/business/14558455.htm
So the Dems come out in favor of states rights and consumer protections and the Republicans are whining? You know, pedro, blocking bad legislation is what good leaders do.
“Democrats blocked the bill limited awards in class action suits”
First of all, Congress passed the Class Action Fairness Act in 2005 in a move to cut down on the number of class action suits that ever made it to trial. So the Dems decided that the Republicans had given enough to big business at the expense of average Americans? Again, blocking bad legislation is what good leaders do.
“Democrats blocked HR 5254, legislation meant to make it easier to build refineries for gasoline production”
Um, HR 5254 The Refinery Permit Process Schedule Act just passed the House. Try to keep up Pedro. http://www.energy.gov/news/3715.htm
Republicans, however, blocked a Dem alternative that would have allowed for an Oil Refinery Reserve: “The plan was to build government-run refineries that would be brought to full capacity during emergencies to stabilize commercial markets.”
“Democrats blocked a bill limiting malpractice awards”
Oh yes, the Dems blocked a bullshit bill that was pushed based on a bullshit argument:
I could go on …
hehehehe….glad I gave you something to do on a sunday afternoon Paul.
As usual, your opinions are ….worthless.
In short
It is ok by the democrats that felons become citizens
Rather than allowing more people access to healthcare, the democrats want to protect fringe “health care providers” by demanding that things like therapeutic massage and chiropractic be manditory coverage items in health insurance plans
Democrats throw another bone to their sith lord, the Trial Attorneys. cause we all know who REALLY wins in class action suits.
Finally you quote an absolutely asinine study that suggests that insurance companies raised rates because of bad investments? Without going into gory detail, please explain to me why only general surgeons, ob gyns and family practice doctors have to pay for the expense of the insurance companies bad investments? The answer? It was a stupid study that didn’t evaluate the entire picture, but only looked at the cost of the “pay out”.
In short, as I demonstrated, the democrats don’t care who it hurts, they cannot allow republicans to appear to be getting anything done.
“In short, as I demonstrated, the democrats don t care who it hurts, they cannot allow republicans to appear to be getting anything done.”
Typical. The Republicans ignore any and all research that puts the bullshit to their rhetoric. It’s just more conevnient to “govern” by “the gut.” At the same time they employ cheap political stunts wasting everyone’s time with do nothing, gotcha legislation so idiots like pedro can say things like: “OOOH The Democrats want felons to be citizens.” Al the while ignoring the fact that felons and other people of “low moral character” are already disqualified from becoming citizens:
“As usual, your opinions are & worthless.”
It’s nice having Pedro around, if only to remind us of what we’re up against. If racism and anti-semitism were still socially acceptable, he’d be a racist anti-semite. As it is, he just takes his anger towards a cowardly, traitorous minority conspiring to destroy America and Christianity, and calls them “liberals.” Then any kind of hateful, eliminationist, fascist conspiracy theory is suddenly just “political disagreement” and it’s just fine for him to literally hate his fellow Americans. Go see a counselor, Pedro.
Yes, and the democrats are so unified and would be able to get a variety of issues passed if only they had control.
From what I can tell, the only thing that would pass a democrat-controlled congress would be articles of impeachment modeled after Moonbat-in-Chief Ramsey Clark. Well, that and tax increases. Two issues that will win the hearts & minds of the common folk right there… as long as your view of the common folk is inside-the-beltway guys like OW and the “netroots.”
Regards,
St Wendeler
Another Rovian Conspiracy
Gee St., I seem to remember that it was a Republican controlled Congress that last passed nothing but articles of impeachment and the public just loved every minute of it. Tell me again what Clinton’s approval ratiings were during the Lewinsky thing?
frameone – so, the key metric for impeachment is approval rating?
zadura – actually, the republican “monolith” is a misnomer – see immigration policy (which I disagree with most GOPers on), etc. But, when it comes to expressing basic values and agreeing on over-arching principles, the GOP is typically pretty unified.
and don’t worry… Bush and Rove will make sure that Congress will stay in the GOP’s hands for 2006… and will abolish it shortly after they suspend the constitution and declar Bush emperor under emergency powers.
It’s all been predetermined, don’t you see? Just accept it.
Regards,
St Wendeler
Another Rovian Conspiracy
stwendeler, curious that party unity -rather than independence and conscience -is the paradigm for good governance in the Republican model. We could probably achieve that to an even greater extent if we could simply eliminate Congress and the Courts altogether.
“frameone – so, the key metric for impeachment is approval rating?”
Apparently, or did you not write: “Two issues that will win the hearts & minds of the common folk right there& ”
The key metric for impeachment should be whether the President committed high crimes and misdemeanors. Let’s put Clinton down for misdemeanors and Bush down for the other thing …
Well, when TomY can’t make an actual argument, he reverts to ad hominem attack….whatever..
BTW, I AM a semitic, which would make it quite an act to become anti-semitic eh?
Actual argument? Pedor, you support Republicans who draft redundant, unnecessary legislation so that they can play political gotcha in their campaign ads. Democrats want to allow felons to become citizens? Talk about ad hominem, these dipshits went out of their way to create a non-issue that plays to the racist fears of idiots such as yourself (for evidence that the ploy worked see above) rather deal directly with a bill they didn’t like. Unbelievable.