A blast from the not so distant past re: Obstruction

[yourguide]

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/08/republican-obstructionism-a-re.php

Republican Obstructionism: A Refresher
By MsJoanne - August 1, 2008, 1:21PM

In a different thread talking about Obama's numerous achievements as a US Senator,
much was said about the success rate of the multiple bills he sponsored
or co-sponsored. It was apparent that several of the people posting there
weren't aware of the obstruction tactics employed by the Republicans,
earning them the title of the Most Obstructionist Congress in American History.

Stopping any legislation for anything that might benefit this country, or the people of this country, is a badge of honor to Republicans. No way, you say?

"The strategy of being obstructionist can work or fail...and so far it's working for us. Democrats are taking the blame for not getting anything done."

(R)Trent Lott, Roll Call, April 18, 2007

Sounds like a badge of honor to me. And one this Republican is pretty proud of, to boot!

Let's take a walk down memory lane, shall we?

Oliver Willis wrote the following (be sure to watch the video): http://www.oliverwillis.com/2007/06/27/republican-obstruction-in-the-senate/

* Senate Republicans have obstructed almost every bill in the Senate - even ones with wide bipartisan support.

* So far, in the first half of the first session of the 110th Congress, there have been THIRTEEN cloture votes on motions to proceed - each one wasting days of Senate time. (110th Congress, Roll Call Votes #44, 51, 53, 74, 129, 132, 133, 162, 173, 207, 208, 227, and 228)
* In comparison, in the first sessions of the 108th and 109th Congresses combined, there were a total of FOUR cloture votes on motions to proceed.

EIGHT times Republican obstruction tactics slowed critical legislation

* Fulfilling the 9/11 Commission Recommendations (Passed 97-0, Roll Call Vote #53)
* Improving security at our courts ( Passed 93-3, Roll Call Vote #133)
* Water Resources Development Act (Passed 89-7, Roll Call Vote #162)
* A joint resolution to revise U.S. policy in Iraq (Passed 89-9, Roll Call Vote, #74)
* Comprehensive Immigration Reform (Passed 69-23, Roll Call Vote #173)
* Comprehensive Immigration Reform (Passed 64-35, Roll Call Vote #228)
* CLEAN Energy Act ( Passed 91-0, Roll Call Vote #208)
* Funding for the Intelligence Community (Passed 94-3, Roll Call Vote #129)

FOUR times Republicans blocked legislation from being debated

* Senate Republicans blocked raising the minimum wage. (54-43, Roll Call Vote #23)
* Senate Republicans blocked ethics reforms (Rejected 51-46, Roll Call Vote #16)
* Senate Republicans blocked comprehensive immigration reform (Rejected 45-50, Roll Call Vote #206)
* Senate Republicans blocked funding for renewable energy (Rejected 57-36, Roll Call Vote #223)

FOUR times Republicans stopped bills from reaching a vote

* Senate Republicans blocked funding for the intelligence community. ( Rejected 41-40, Roll Call Vote #130)
* Senate Republicans blocked raising the minimum wage. (54-43, Roll Call Vote #23)
* Senate Republicans blocked ethics reforms (Rejected 51-46, Roll Call Vote #16)
* Senate Republicans blocked funding for renewable energy (Rejected 57-36, Roll Call Vote #223)

TWICE Republicans blocked bills from going to conference

* Senate Republicans blocked appointing conferees on the 9/11 Commission Recommendations (6/26/07)
* Senate Republicans blocked appointing conferees on ethics reform ( 6/26/07)

ThinkProgress added this one:

– Conservatives blocked a vote on funding for the intelligence community (Rejected 41-40, Roll Call Vote #130)

And from Politico:

Indeed, this Senate may break the record number of filibusters for a two-year session in just 12 months. Democrats have filed 58 cloture petitions in the Senate this year, which is a procedural move that forces an end to a filibuster.

Republicans are currently blocking an energy bill and an expansion of children’s health care and won’t sign off on funding bills for most of the federal government.

Democrats, of course, argue that Republican obstruction this year is different than Democratic obstruction of previous years.

Democrats mostly blocked conservative judges, while the GOP is filibustering everything, they say.

To illustrate their case, Reid on Wednesday asked for consent to bring up an uncontroversial bill dealing with research for Lou Gehrig’s disease, and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) objected and tried to add Iraq funding to the bill, to which Reid objected.

“Throwing around the word ‘obstruction’ doesn’t get us there alone,” said Rodell Mollineau, a spokesman for Reid.

“It’s talking about our efforts to address real issues that affect voters on a daily basis and Bush Republicans doing everything in their power to block our efforts. Housing, gas prices, health care, the war in Iraq, these are issues that resonate outside of the Beltway.”

And be sure heck out McClatchy's chart, showing obstruction from the 88th term through the 110th terms here.

Think about this when it comes time to cast your vote. For your local elected officials might be the ones responsible for stopping this country from moving forward.

I am at the stage where I feel every vote for a Republican seeking office is a vote against moving our country forward and hopefully out of the many disasters this administration and their Republican protectors have put us in: Iraq, the economy, the severe devaluation of the dollar, free-for-all deregulation, not dealing with the tragedy of returning American veteran's and the care they need, I could go on, but most of you already are too well aware.

Oh, and let's not also forget that more Republican's are in dirty, hot water now than ever in history. The less-than-honorable Ted Stevens (R-AK) became the first American Senator to be indicted. Many are under investigation (ten times more than the number of Democrats currently under investigation). Don't get me wrong, EVERY dirty elected official should go, no matter what their party affiliation, but the sheer number of Republicans who are dirty is stunning.

[snowbear]

1. Reading that thread serves as a reminder of how much the Republic Party SUCKS!!!

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They truly HATE America.


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