I see why you’re staying on the offensive so much, attacking whoever you can, whenever you can. It’s because you’re better at that than defending and promoting the Obama administration. Is it because you stink at it, or because so far Obama has done some really, really dumb things so far? How about a spirited defense of Eric Holder and Timothy Geithner?

Props for the dig at Biden, by the way. Every time that clown opens his mouth, I think back to the days of Dan Quayle and have the most delicious sense of schadenfreude.

Even Obama has to be regretting his choice. Did you see the video of the White House staff swearing-in? Jon Stewart was so right — now we know what Obama’s “shut the fuck up” face looks like.

But back to the topic at hand… I can’t believe you’re doubling down on this. First, you say that a senator should not try to influence pending legislation, and then you defend it by citing quotes regarding presidential power in foreign policy. That’s not just shifting the goalposts, that’s leaving the football stadium and slipping all over the ice on the hockey rink.

J.

In short, Presidents exercised a broad range of foreign policy powers for which they neither sought nor received Congressional sanction through statute.

…and this has to do with a bill on the domestic economy precisely how?

In fact, the Constitution specifically spells out certain details mandating Congress’ involvement in such things — such as how all tax bills have to originate in the House.

Thanks for the quote, Oliver. Pity it does more damage to your argument than to ours.

Oh, and I’m not quite sure where you get the idea that the Speaker is co-equal with the Chief Justice and the President. The Speaker governs only half of a branch. The Senate’s leadership is divided up between the Majority Leader, the Vice President, and (in a potential way only) the President Pro Tempore. The reason that the Speaker might even be considered on the same level is because it’s clear-cut in the unitary leadership, while the Senate’s is divided.

J.

“In short, Presidents exercised a broad range of foreign policy powers for which they neither sought nor received Congressional sanction through statute. This history speaks volumes about the Constitution’s allocation of powers between the branches. It leaves little, if any, doubt that the President was expected to have the primary role of conducting the foreign policy of the United States. Congressional actions to limit the President in this area therefore should be reviewed with a considerable degree of skepticism. If they interfere with core presidential foreign policy functions, they should be struck down. Moreover, the lesson of our constitutional history is that doubtful cases should be decided in favor of the President.”

Now,in practical application the President does tend to have more power than the other branches. But the actual law is pretty clear that the President, Speaker, and Chief Justice are equal.

Dave in SoCal says: “If anyone actually said that, Oliver, you might have a point.”

You’re kidding, right? Clearly Oliver was paraphrasing, but the heart of the statement is solid.

Will Rogers once said;

There are three kinds of men. The ones that learn from reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.

No he can’t. He can propose changes. He can put forth amendments. He can’t just redline what he doesn’t like.

If anyone actually said that, Oliver, you might have a point.

Why *?

* Not when he’s a Democrat, silly.

I think it’s adorable how Republicans are now calling for improved Congressional oversight.

What’s next, calls for a rollback in Presidential authority vis a vis signing statements and “unitary executive” theories? Call for the Vice President to be more transparent in his actions and his hirings?

Oh lordie, allow me to clutcheth my pearls!

I keep hearing about this, Mr. Tea, but no one has ever explained how Mssr. Dodd and Frank kept a GOP-controlled Congress from passing stricter regulations.

Can you help with that?

Or Oliver understands that Obama is the head of the government, and he has political capital. And he understands that McCain, as the loser of the presidential election and in the vast minority in the Senate, and indeed congress as a whole, does not.

This debate reminds me of Lemon Lyman incident on The West Wing. There’s a difference between the rules of government, and the realities. The reality is the president has more power over the laws than any one senator does.

If that weren’t the case, the political parties would not spend hundreds of millions of dollars to win the White House when winning Senate seats would be so much cheaper.

Don’t you agree?

Actually, according to the precidence set by Bush, he actually can.

Damn, it would have been nice if that had been the attitude when Dodd, Frank, and the rest were protecting their scumbag buddies at Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the like from the Republican bills to impose MORE oversight and regulation on them…

Ok, how about a compromise? Dems will take the blame for Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, and the Pubs will take blame for the Unregulated Credit Market. Deal?

I had an old uncle who called on me every cousin’s birthday to show me how he can move his ears. But I was polite, and pretended I was amazed. Give McCain something. Even a hug could go a long way.

You keep repeating those words, but I don’t think you know what they mean.

I think you are merely repeating talking points, because you are incapable of doing anything more.

Damn, it would have been nice if that had been the attitude when Dodd, Frank, and the rest were protecting their scumbag buddies at Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the like from the Republican bills to impose MORE oversight and regulation on them…

J.

Yup, that’s why I voted for Obama. Because I wanted to get Obama out of the Senate so he couldn’t have any influence on legislation anymore.

This is an act from you guys, right? Please, tell me its an act. Nobody is this stupid. I know at a minimum you can turn on the computer and operate the keyboard, so you can’t be as stupid as your rhetoric repeatedly sounds.

Can you?

Really, Jay Tea. You of all people should not be tossing around the phrase “epic fail”.

Especially given your read on the “gist” of Oliver’s piece.

I think it’s quite an accurate read of the kind of response McCain can expect from the American public if he decides he’s going to threaten a filibuster to get re-writes into the bill.

Quite frankly, I’m surprised McCain is so willing to court humiliating defeat so soon after November.

I guess some people just need to learn the same lesson over and over and over before it sinks in. I’m sure you know the feeling, Jay Tea.