Republicans Stymie Democrats on Top Measures

[FreeStateDemocrat]

Source: NY Times

By CARL HULSE and JENNIFER STEINHAUER
Published: November 19, 2010

WASHINGTON — Empowered by their election gains, Congressional Republicans are giving little ground to President Obama and weakened Democrats in the final weeks of the 111th Congress, imperiling Democratic efforts to pass major tax and spending legislation, unemployment aid and a nuclear nonproliferation treaty among other issues.

One week into a lame-duck session, Democrats have been unable to gain traction on their top priorities, leaving them casting about for ways to avoid a year-end pileup of expired tax breaks, exhausted jobless benefits and federal agencies running out of money.

Republicans, who will take over the House in January and cut deeply into the Democratic majority in the Senate, appear content to do the minimum possible and push the big fights into the next year, when they will have more power and leverage. The Republicans say Democrats have only themselves to blame because they put off too many matters until after the election.

“While there’s business that needs to be done, I would hope that the leaders that are still in charge would heed the advice of the American people that occurred on Election Day in terms of being prudent in their actions here before the end of the year,” said Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the incoming speaker.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/20/us/politics/20cong.html?_r=1&hp

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Why are pukes always able to set the agenda? Are they a lot smarter, sneakier or are too many Dems on the take from corporate America that it undermines any unity in our party to be able to present the unified caucus like the pukes who almost always vote in lockstep? Whatever the reason, they get always seem to call the shots when it gets down to it regardless who has the majority. Why do they get hard-core conservatives on the Supreme Court while we settle for moderates being seated, if that, when we have the majority? Why do the Dems always cave to the pukes? When was the last time our Party drew the line and stood united like they should have done with Roberts and Alitio. When anyone with half a brain knew that to seat them would be a travesty to everything our party stands for or rather stood for? Turn out the lights the once great Democratic Party is dead and its time to bury it and for the liberals, fuck the word progressives (another win for the pukes), to move on.

[Autumn]

1. The Republicans didn't do it alone. They had

help from some of their good friends on the "other" side.

[somone]

2. Democrats control the House, the Senate, and the White House

But our hands are TIED.

[AlinPA]

11. The republicans control the senate with the filibuster. nt

[bc3000]

3. At this point, it's not about whether or not they pass these things

It's about whether or not they effectively call out republicans for obstruction.

This should be a win-win for democrats. But as we've seen, they will probably find a way to turn a win-win into a loss.

[pattmarty]

4. I am really, really beginning to wonder (AND I am not a conspiricy.........

..........theroist, either) if this is "planned" to work this way now. We basically now have a fascist state, but with the exception we still have relatively "free" elections. The courts, congress, and the way the "two party" system actually works. The way our two parties are now, we still have the illusion of conflict and differences between the two but the differences are quite a lot closer than a lot of people realize.

[Trajan]

5. They have been stymying Democrats since 2008 ...

Even with almost insurmountable advantages in Congress and control of the executive branch, the GOP has played obstructionist hardball since Obama took office ...

Instead of trying to placate the extremist GOP elements in government, and accepting wishy washy, watered down legislation that promotes a 'moderate' policy (which gets killed anyways because the GOP WILL use the threat of filibuster to shutdown the weak-assed leadership) .... They should STAND UP for good legislation, LOUDLY proclaiming their support, and present it in congress for a vote ... win or lose ...

I would prefer they stand up for SOMETHING, and lose ... than try to be 'bipartisan' and lose anyways ....

[mvd]

7. I agree. Because the independents as a whole vote like..

they have no memories, strong principles are needed. I always say that bipartisanship is a worthy goal, but gridlock is better than going backwards with policies proven to not work. Also got to have better messaging, because many people just can't see through the RW crap like they should.

[Zenlitened]

9. Yep:

"They should STAND UP for good legislation, LOUDLY proclaiming their support, and present it in congress for a vote ... win or lose ... "

:thumbsup:

[Tippy]

6. Almost everything the repubs do is scripted....

those in congress hardly ever use their own words that is why they seem to have a consess on everything, they all same the same thing, then the media repeats it over and over...What was the voters message on Nov.2 they were clear about working to solve problems....it is just not gonna happen.....

[mazzarro]

8. Good Questions To Pose To All Democrats - Rank and File!

We truly need to answer these questions without trying to avoid them. Why do our legislators feel , speak and act so powerlessly all the time? Even when they try to show courage, one can see that they tend not to believe in the things they say that are for. I am coming to the conclusion that they - most of the democratic legislators - are all co-opted into the same corporate control and democrats are just the one set up to placate the peasants so that they don't riot - hence the curious ways of losing any and all debates and arguments with the rethuglicans.

[Zenlitened]

10. Imagine that. A lame-duck Congress is actually... pretty lame.

If only the Democratic leadership could have anticipated this. And, maybe, acted to rack up a series of solid legislative victories when they had the chance.

To set the agenda, seize the narrative. Do the job we put 'em there to do.

Imagine how different things might have been.

If only.

[Democat]

12. Democrats put off important things until after the election.

This is what happens when you are cowards.

[DallasNE]

13. The Media Sets The Agenda

By selecting what, who and how they cover events.