GOP leaders doubt stimulus bill will pass Senate

[and-justice-for-all]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Sunday the massive stimulus bill backed by President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats could go down to defeat if it's not stripped of unnecessary spending and focused more on housing issues and tax cuts.

The Senate version of the bill, which topped out at nearly $900 billion, is headed to the floor for debate. The House bill totaled about $819 billion and earned no Republican votes, even though it easily passed the Democratic-controlled House. At some point lawmakers will need to compromise on the competing versions.

McConnell and other Republicans suggested that the bill needed an overhaul because it doesn't pump enough into the private sector through tax cuts and allows Democrats to go on a spending spree unlikely to jolt the economy. The Republican leader also complained that Democrats had not been as bipartisan in writing the bill as Obama had said he wanted.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090201/ap_on_go_co/congress_stimulus

[pinto]

1. Good try McConnell. I saw today that (R) governors are mounting

a campaign on Capital Hill for passage. Plus I assume Democrats in the senate will get Snow, Collins and Gregg on board from the Republican side.

[hedgehog]

2. I want to see them try to filibuster this. Remember all those people

who spent all day out in the cold standing on the National Mall to watch the Inauguration? You saw them when they were happy. Believe me, you don't want to see them when they're mad!

[krispos42]

3. Time to play chicken. Or do a real fiibuster

Make the idiots throw on there throw on Depends and read from Mein Kampf until the yield.

[mopinko]

17. yup. make 'em read the phone book.

make them actually filibuster. this election, and the inauguration, were civics lessons for the kiddies. now let's teach 'em about the filibuster. you know they wont watch mr smith, cuz it's in b&w.

i hope our pres is calling the shots on this one. if you don't have a spine, a presidential boot in the ass might suffice.

[krispos42]

20. "Senator Reid, this is the President"

"Bring them to heel. Or grind them underneath your heel. I'm not going through 4 years of minority-run government because your spine is a limp noodle. Am I *crystal* clear, Senator?"



:evilgrin:

[mopinko]

28. i think a little more like-

harry, you want to be my friend, right? do me a little favor, will ya?

[Cronopio]

4. Obama really needs to smell the coffee and strip out those tax cuts.

To piss of the Republican base, if absolutely nothing else. The Republicans need a little attitude adjustment in the bipartisan department.

[glinda]

18. He needs to ditch the additional cuts for the rich and businesses and

go with green technology, mass transit, cuts and aid for the people making under 75 thousand and lowering house payments. His compromises are doomed to failure I think. We are in this mess because of those Republicans and a bunch of greedy jerks.

[Cronopio]

33. If he starts compromising now, he'll be compromising for the next four years.

He doesn't have to. He should make a show of rolling the Republicans, he'll get a lot more support.

[glinda]

38. bad ideas from bad people = bad results

[Veruca Salt]

68. YES!

That's exactly what I want to see! :thumbsup:

[goclark]

25. Maybe that's why he put them in there ~ take out a few

and let the Republicans think they won something.

[Cronopio]

34. Possibly. I hope you're right. nt

[SharonAnn]

Well, if the Republicans are going to hate us, might as well give them a reason.

[Cronopio]

35. Exactly. The Dems need to be more comfortable with being hated by the right people.

The way Reid operates sometimes, I think he actually believes that he needs to be liked by the Repubs to get things done.

[SharonAnn]

29. Well, if the Republicans are going to hate us, might as well give them a reason.

[Lorien]

69. Absolutely. Strip them out because THEY DON'T WORK and have not

worked in eight years. Play hardball; if repugs won't be bipartisan, then give them NOTHING. Not even a bone to chew on.

[radfringe]

5. Senate rushicans indicate they will filibuster

McConnell and other rushicans have said they will filibuster

Here's what I think Reid should do

1. let the ruschicans filibuster, don't recess for the evening - yes another pajama party. Senate stays in session 24/7.
   
   
2. Get a count-down clock, something large and programable - put it outside of the Senate. Top line counts the hours/minutes of rushican filibustering
   
   Second line counts the number of jobs lost due to rushican obstruction (using the december layoff figures as a base - approximately 16 jobs were lost every hour.)
   
   
3. Every hour on the hour have a Dem senator go stand by the clock and make a statement to the reporters on hour things are progressing or not progressing. Important to have the senator standing by the clock so any still photos or video has the clock as part of the image. Senator should also comment on total jobs lost due to rushican filibustering/obstruction
   

[abq e streeter]

6. Reid should do what he and the Dem leadership always do

issue a mildly worded statement and then apologize for it. ( Please let me finally be wrong about this---maybe it really is a new era, but old habits of expecting spinelessness from Reid et al die hard).

[radfringe]

7. sadly, I fear you are right.

the only reason the congressional dems seem to stand up is to apologize

[earcandle]

16. Good Idea!

[tclambert]

19. I like that idea.

Let McConnell posture all he wants. He will just end up embarrassing himself further. And he deserves it.

[JayMusgrove]

32. Great Idea! I think it will work.......

Show the Rushlicans they cannot possibly figure out how last century they are, how poorly equipped they are to lead America, and how they are really nothing more than thugs and criminals to the American interests.

Get them shamed by American voters, let them retire, but don't give them any pensions or health care, let them try to get a job and earn a living.

[TygrBright]

8. I want some of what they're smoking.

On second thought, no I don't. Smells like "desperation" wafting though the caucus chamber.

dismissively,
Bright

[roseBudd]

9. DUers I need some recommends on an Econ's prof's oped on the stimulus

This IS in Mitch McConnell's neck of the woods, Northern Kentucky is in the Cincinnati, Ohio media market

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090201/EDIT03/902010353

The recommend button appears at top after the right navigation content loads.

[mbperrin]

49. Done!

nt

[jaybeat]

10. Gee. Maybe the Dems should consider the *nuclear* option... (nt)

[pasto76]

11. my thoughts exactly

so desperately wish we had 60 seats.

[AlinPA]

14. Nelson (NE) is on the republican's side on the stimulus.

[choie]

12. Somebody needs to inform McConnell....

YOU LOST THE GODDAMN ELECTION!!!

[geek tragedy]

41. No, remind Obama and the Democrats that they won.

They need to stop sucking up to their enemies.

[Old Codger]

13. Wow

You hit these ignorant fucks upside the head with the fact that they lost, they are no longer the party in power, they lost the presidency, they lost the house and they lost the senate,THEY LOST THEIR ASSES! They have to be the dumbest most arrogant imbeciles I have ever had the displeasure of seeing anywhere...Tell em to go home and leave the work to the adults.

[quidam56]

15. Mitch, Hannity and Rush are the Republican deciders now Bush is gone.

What planet are these people from ? http://www.wisecountyissues.com In My America, I want our nation to succeed, not fail.

[depakid]

21. If the Democrats pander to the right and screw up the stimulus any worse than they already have

They're not going to be in power for very long....

One thing the American peiople hate more than corruption is weakness and cowardly behavior.

[Old Codger]

22. Absolutely N/T

[LynnTheDem]

23. And guess who will get the blame if it doesn't, REPUBLIC PARTY?

The Republic Party; doing whatever it takes to make themselves irrelevant for good.

[WinstonSmith4740]

24. Didn't we just see the exact same thing?

Didn't the Repubs pull the same bullshit in the House? "Hold out" for changes and then not vote for the bill. Fuck 'em. Let the bastards filibuster. I love the clock idea...I really think it would work. However, we need someone besides Obama and Biden to have a spine, and I'm not sure a whole one exists yet on the Dem side of the Senate aisle.

[BlueIdaho]

26. Bullshit Bullshit Bullshit

Make them filibuster - old school style. I want to see nightly news of republicans standing in the well of the senate and hoarsely reading the phone book while newscasters announce tens of thousands of Americans being laid off from their jobs and banks failing. I want the republicans to prove they share Rush's contempt for America and the two party system. I want these fuckers to prove to absolutely everyone just how much they hate this country.

[Better Believe It]

27. It will pass. All we need is 51 votes.

What can the Republicans do to stop it?

Filibuster?

Let them.

All filibusters end.

[karynnj]

37. No they don't - the current Senate rules are that

a Senator can call for a cloture vote before the issue can be voted. It then takes 60 votes to get to the actual vote on the issue.

[Hawkeye-X]

39. All they have to do is invoke the nuclear option - due to an national emergency and the Republicans.

amendment are formally rejected, and furthermore, no more Republicans can offer amendments. Then revoke the nuclear option when there's evidence that the bills have worked to the degree it's supposed to work.

And also, remove corporate personhood - it's time to strip them out.

The Republicans can sit in a corner and watch the REAL adults work.

Hawkeye-X

[karynnj]

42. That is wrong for the same reason it was wrong in 2005

In 2005, there was concern on the part of the Democrats that the Republicans would go to the nuclear option - getting rid of the only tool the minority has to be heard. The Democrats up to that point had not abused the privilege anywhere near as much as the record breaking Republicans have. The problem is that control changes - and just as the Republicans were speaking permanent majority in 2005, we should not forget it could change.

You goeven further and suggest the Republicans not even be able to offer amendments. This is beyond anything the Republicans ever did. Not to mention, many amendments are bipartisan. 9corporate personhood has nothing to do with this and I think the Congress has many other things they have given priority to.

Stop and reread what you wrote and pretend that it is 2005 and this was written with the parties switched on Free Republic - how obnoxious, unAmerican and arrogant would you think it was? As to saying it is an emergency - isn't that what the Bush administration did? I thought that it resulted in the government terrorizing its own people by generating intense fear -- for partisan purposes.

[Romulox]

44. If it's "wrong", then democracy is also wrong. nt

[karynnj]

45. Gee, the democracy I learned about had respect for the minority

This implies that everything we said 4 years ago about the fact that the majority should not demand everything 100% there way was not heartfelt or intellectually honest. In 2005, Senator Kerry spoke of the reluctance of some Democratic Senators to filibuster and he ended by explaining that this was the only way for the minority to have a voice. (The original Senate rules allowed the minority a greater voice - where even a small number who passionately cared could effectively stop action. We already have moved a huge distance on this.)

Here are Kerry's comments in 2005 - from the Seante record January 30, 2005:

I understand that, for many, voting for cloture on a judicial nomination is a very difficult decision, particularly on this Supreme Court nominee. I also understand that, for some of you, a nomination must be an ``extraordinary circumstance'' in order to justify that vote. I believe this nomination is an extraordinary circumstance. What could possibly be more important than this?

This is a lifetime appointment to a Court where nine individuals determine what our Constitution protects and what our laws mean. Once Judge Alito is confirmed, we can never take back this vote. Not after he prevents many Americans from having their discrimination cases heard by a jury. Not after he allows more government intrusions into our private lives. Not after he grants the President the power to ignore Federal law under the guise of protecting our national security. Not after he shifts the ideological balance of the Court far to the right.

<snip>
Many on my side oppose this nomination. They say they understand the threat he poses, but they argue that cloture is different. I don't believe it is. It is the only way that those of us in the minority have a voice in this debate. It is the only way we can fully complete our constitutional duty of advice and consent. It is the only way we can stop a confirmation that we feel certain will cause irreversible damage to our country.

[Romulox]

46. That's fine, but rule by a minority is not, by definition, "democracy"

You're not talking about "respect for the minority", you're talking about control by the minority. That's the inverse of democracy. :hi:

[karynnj]

64. No - I'm not speaking of control by minority

I think the public will punish the Republicans if they filibuster everything. Given the numbers, if we can design a package that is ok by all the Democrats, we will get a few Republicans. They need nearly every Republican to filibuster - and several are in states that were won by Obama. I do think that onece there is a bill, Obama might have to personally get behind it and speak to the nation. He could make it hard to be against it.

[Romulox]

67. A "filibuster" is when the minority prevent a bill from being voted on...

That is, by definition, a control of the process by a minority...

[Better Believe It]

47. We need 51 votes to pass any legislation, not 60 as some would like you to believe

It takes 60 votes to end a debate and to proceed to an actual vote on the issue. You need 51 votes to pass the legislation AFTER Senators vote to end debate .... cloture.

So, let them filbuster!

All Republican filibusters end in one of two ways.

Either Democratic Senators withdraw the legislation (surrender to a filibuster) or they can let the Republican filibuster continue for an hour, a day or even a week until they obtain the necessary votes to invoke cloture.

Just don't let a real or threatened Republican filbuster serve as a convenient excuse to not bring legislation to the Senate floor or to withdraw legislation from further consideration.

[MasonJar]

30. McConnell sucks eggs...or at least always looks like he does. No

more tax cuts for business, Mitch. More for infastructure and greening the economy! If any tax cuts, then this round middle America gets them.

[JayMusgrove]

31. Shows why GOP leaders are in a parallel universe.......

They seem to have no relationship with reality of the world.......let's bring their quotes back a year or two from now.........

When they are running for re-election.....they should make for good TV comedy.........and lose their seats, their pensions, their health care insurance.

IMO...........these slime NEVER should be given another taxpayer dollar.

[Baltoman991]

36. Yeah

"Republican leaders say"................we know everytime they open their mouths, lies pour out, this is nothing new.

I remember hearing all last year that those facing foreclosures did it to themselves by spending above their means and now the fucking assholes are crying theres not enough in the bill for homeowners. One can always count on the Republicans to show their hypocrisy.

But sadly, after listening to Durbin and Kerry on the talk shows this morning, I see a massive cave in from our side.

[karynnj]

43. I didn't hear Durbin, but I heard Kerry - and I didn't hear a cave in

He very capably told KBH that they tried tax cuts in the Bush years and they didn't work. Nothing he said yesterday was different than things he said last week - or even months ago. Go read the transcript - he does say that home mortgage will be handled in a subsequent bill.

This is a huge complicated economic mess -just like FDR had something like 16 major bill pass in his first 100 days - some dealing with jobs creation, some with fixing and regulating financial institutions, one dealing with mortgages and several creating a safety net -- this first bill is for economic stimulation and jobs. Kerry even agreed that it would not work unless both the mortgage and the bank problems are also dealt with. (As I said, I didn't see Durbin, but I doubt he was far from this.)

[geek tragedy]

40. The Republicans will roll over the Democrats yet again.

The Republicans know how to play the game in Washington. One has to admire their willingness to out-tough the other party.

Obama wants to hold their hand, they want to punch him in the nose.

So, we the stimulus bill will be written by Republicans.

[Better Believe It]

48. Starting to look like that. Thank Pelosi and Reid

"So, we the stimulus bill will be written by Republicans."

It was written by Pelosi which is almost as bad!

[villager]

50. GOP leaders doubt stimulus bill will pass Senate

Source: AP

GOP leaders doubt stimulus bill will pass Senate

By DOUGLASS K. DANIEL, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Sunday the massive stimulus bill backed by President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats could go down to defeat if it's not stripped of unnecessary spending and focused more on housing issues and tax cut.

The Senate version of the bill, which topped out at nearly $900 billion, is headed to the floor for debate. The House bill totaled about $819 billion and earned no Republican votes, even though it easily passed the Democratic-controlled House. At some point lawmakers will need to compromise on the competing versions.

McConnell and other Republicans suggested that the bill needed an overhaul because it doesn't pump enough into the private sector through tax cuts and allows Democrats to go on a spending spree unlikely to jolt the economy. The Republican leader also complained that Democrats had not been as bipartisan in writing the bill as Obama had said he wanted.

"I think it may be time ... for the president to kind of get a hold of these Democrats in the Senate and the House, who have rather significant majorities, and shake them a little bit and say, 'Look, let's do this the right way,'" McConnell said. "I can't believe that the president isn't embarrassed about the products that have been produced so far."

<snip>

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090202/ap_on_go_co/congress_stimulus

---

AP continues to carry water for desperate GOP talking points...

[stevedeshazer]

51. They just don't get that they lost yet, do they?

Bring 'em on.

[bstender]

58. this sounds a bit to repiglikkin

i'm with Obama when he says, all good ideas are welcome. the resuscitation of the economy is the goal and without a doubt, the bill is fat with non-economy-resuscitating pork. there's a f-n lot of money being spent, and if it was truly aimed at the economy in a targeted and demonstrable way, it would have been an easy and big win for Obama. instead it is an embarrassment.

i blame Pelosi and Reid for getting all giddy and thinking that they get to be the Pigs now... the lesson being, don't try and out pig the real pigs. Stick to what you know, (i'm not sure what they know actually, how to be mud?)

[villager]

60. dead men walkin'. Or do I mean "talkin'?"

;-)

[aquart]

52. I'm sick of bi-partisan.

[GreenPartyVoter]

53. "Do this the right way"? Like it was done over the last 8 years? Great, somebody

get out the steam roller and hand the keys to Reid, see how McConnell likes that.

[niceypoo]

54. But, but....it isnt full of tax cuts for the rich...

...and deregulation...

[elleng]

59. They've already 'de'd' the regulation,

can't go that way any more!!!

[OHdem10]

55. They lost--but their goal is to be the Loyal Opposition. This is how

came to power in Clinton years.

The GOP plays to win even when they are down.\

Sad to say our party would never assume the role of loyal opposition.
This makes me wonder how much of a fight they will really put up now.
Good at caving.

[corruptmewithpower]

56. McConnell is a nobody.

I do however, hope our senators will take plenty of time to get the stimulus bill right.

It is, however you slice it, the largest economic experiment in the history of the world.

[Hulk]

57. I buy Kerry's words.....

...If they won't support it...F*CK them! They don't need to be a part of it. If they stone wall it..then the country knows who to blame for it.

I'm tired of this trying to work with these scum balls. Screw them!! ALL of them. They are worthless, and they only play to the tune of "cut taxes for the rich" bull shit. We've had enough of that.

Democrats need to get off their asses and get the word out. They need to use the media to blitz these bastards at their own game.

The repugs are nothing but obstructionists. They want to f*ck this country up good. They've done pretty well so far...but it's time to count them OUT! Good riddance. Remember you scum bags....2010 IS COMING!!

[Doctor_J]

61. Excellent! This time in 2011, we'll have 65 Dems in the Senate

Keep doing what you do best, Repukes.

[The Stranger]

62. Ram it down their throat -- and make them like it.

Can't we pick off a few corrupt GOP Senators? Or are they that much better than our pathetic Reid at keeping the troops in line?

Wait . . . don't answer.

[KansDem]

63. My new bumper-sticker idea...

If it doesn't mean tax cuts for the wealthy, or
increased spending for Bush's "Wargasm,"
then Republicans aren't interested...

[sofa king]

65. I've got a nickel that says it will.

President Obama embarrassed House Republicans last week, and already the Democratic Party has targeted 28 of them for personal attention.

The President probably understands the workings of the Senate even better than he does the House, and is no doubt familiar from personal experience with the Senate's tactics of delay and how to overcome them.

I couldn't be happier that a weakened and totally discredited Republican Party is cashing in the last of its chips on this particular battle. They're gonna lose, they're gonna look like jerks losing it, and they're going to suffer for it, too.

[paparush]

66. Medical Marijuana Obviously Popular Among Senate Repukes.