The Republicans, and in particular George Bush’s, latest slime ball tactic to try and make Democrats look bad, is labeling them a ‘do-nothing’ Congress. Of course a quick look at events over the past few months reveals what always seems to be the case. Republicans are busy screwing the American people in the name of narrow minded, big business neo-con interests.
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com…ves/13977.html
Let’s take a peek.
This group of stubborn Republicans accomplished a feat no ordinary group of stubborn Republicans could have pulled off. No sir, it takes a special brand of knucklehead to do what these people have done. What is that you ask? What was the Republicans claim to fame in the first half of the current Congress? They managed to break the all time filibuster record and we still have half the legislative year to go!!!
Eric Lotke, Campaign for America’s Future research director, calls the obstruction a “deliberate strategy,” and observes that the congressional Republicans block legislation, then blame the Democrats for getting nothing done. “It’s like mugging the postman and then complaining that the mail isn’t delivered on time.”
Yes sir, only a group of idiots with an apparently genetically coded disregard for the actual health of our democracy could acheive this honor. Only a group with a single-minded focus on the cynical political strategies of their corporate paymasters, only a group with a complete and utter disregard for the American people and their wishes, could’ve pulled off such a remarkable feat.
What pesky pieces of legislation did these stewards of American progress shoot down you ask?
Let’s see…
A new course in Iraq: BLOCKED
A pullout plan for Iraq: BLOCKED
A common sense energy future: BLOCKED
More affordable health care for kids: BLOCKED
Help for people affected by the mortgage meltdown: BLOCKED
Ethics reform: BLOCKED
Longer breaks for troops between deployments: BLOCKED
Open Government Act (Freedom of Information): BLOCKED
Employee Free Choice Act: BLOCKED
…and on…and on…and on…
And let us not forget the filibuster threats during the Republican majority…No, we mustn’t do that!! Not for a minute!! Who can forget the Draconian threat to game the system by changing the rules that requires a 60 vote super-majority with a vote requiring only a 50 vote majority. Anyone remember when the Republicans were in power, the threat of a filibuster caused all the pundits in the Beltway to wrench their collective hands, and cry foul?
Today you might notice that the moment the Democrats took power, our famously free press in the Beltway turned on a dime, refusing to even use the word ‘filibuster’ - treating the idea that the Senate needs a 60 vote super-majority simply as business as usual, even though, as the chart shows, the Republicans are filibustering almost everything except what’s being served for lunch (and they might even do that if lunch was provided by McDonald’s because Clinton used to eat there).
But you see, that’s the difference between Republicans and Democrats that I constantly harp on. To Democrats, government and governing is a responsibility, something to be undertaken with care and caution, with an appreciation of the citizens being affected. The majority must be listened to and the best interests of the public served.
To Republicans, legislating is just a meaningless game to be exploited for partisan purposes, and to drive a selfish agenda of greed, corruption and want of money. Be damned what the people want. They are the meaningless, the serfs, the sheep. Ambition for power and prestige among the elite is where it’s at!
So, congratulations to President Bush, and the Republican minority. You are in our hearts during this holiday season, and as a Democrat, I hope our nasty habit of helping the middle class wasn’t too much trouble. We thought you were collectively absent of legislating talent, but evidently you are not completely without skills.
As it stands, Bush wants the country to believe that the Democrats aren’t doing anything, but actually forcing the Republicans to repeatedly use their onbstructionist tactics. In reality, Democrats can’t get any bills passed since Republicans inevitably invoke cloture on any piece of Democrat-introduced legislation.
I say, if you can’t get anything done you might as well make it perfectly clear to everyone who’s to blame…the Republicans. Starting in 2008, the Democrats should be doing exactly that.
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