A Slow-Motion Shutdown

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_03/023025.php

A SLOW-MOTION SHUTDOWN.... Arizona Sen. John McCain (R) told the media on Monday about his outrage over the Democratic majority voting to approve legislation they support. He announced that, going forward, he would <tell Dems to stay off his lawn> refuse to cooperate in the Senate's legislative process. To punish Democrats for fulfilling their campaign promise to the nation, McCain said, "There will be no cooperation for the rest of the year."

We saw the manifestation of this pettiness yesterday, when Republicans used an obscure rule to block any Senate hearings from continuing after 2 p.m. Amanda Terkel reports on the developments that are almost too juvenile to believe.

Today, during a Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing on transparency, Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) announced that he had to stop the proceedings because of Republican blocks. <...>

ThinkProgress spoke to a Homeland Committee staffer who said that the committee's work would be significantly disrupted if Republicans refuse to give unanimous consent throughout the week. The AP also reported today that Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) had a hearing on the bark beetle canceled today "after Republicans angry over the passage of health insurance reform legislation blocked it by using an obscure Senate rule requiring a unanimous consent to hold hearings scheduled after 2 p.m."

Democratic staffers on the Hill told ThinkProgress that they anticipate Republicans will not only continue blocking hearings for the rest of the week, but also delay or block all sorts of minor, routine measures.

The country has not seen a congressional minority this pathetic in a very long time. Republicans are effectively shutting down the Senate because a supermajority of the chamber approved legislation the GOP didn't like.

Kevin added, "To call this behavior childish would be an insult to children everywhere. Are we really expected to take a party like this seriously?"

For its part, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) office noted in a statement, "The bottom line is that as millions of Americans are learning about the immediate benefits of health reform, Republicans are throwing a temper tantrum and grinding important Senate business to a halt."

—Steve Benen

[bluethruandthru]

1. I don't know why I am surprised by this level of childish behavior.

Just when I think the repubs can't get any worse...they prove me wrong!

[DCBob]

2. "There will be no cooperation for the rest of the year."

Someone should ask McWarmonger if that includes funding for the war in Iraq?

[AndyA]

3. This will not be looked upon kindly by the American people

People are SICK of the crap going on in Washington, and it's pretty apparent who's responsible for most of it. These are serious times, which call for serious leadership, not game playing and putting party before all else.

I think this will hurt the GOP come November. People do not want a do-nothing government. They want one that gets things done and fixes problems. It's obvious which party is serious about trying to do something, and which one isn't.

[tallahasseedem]

4. We need to effectively...

communicate that the Republicans are inviting another terror attack by blocking these processes. It needs to be done FAST.

[monmouth]

5. Then they should not collect a paycheck for the rest of the year..n/t

[jaxx]

6. No cooperation for the rest of the year?

Like there has been any so far.

A bunch of crybabies in a snit....

[Turborama]

7. When was the last time the country has seen a congressional minority this pathetic?

Never?

They made it clear that this is how they would behave immediately after the election and followed through with it.

What's the latest on their poll numbers?

[Maeve]

8. And this will be a change...how?

[Cha]

18. No change..mccain just needed to show his

pouty ass.

[Jennicut]

9. OMG! Dems are actually...using their majority. How utterly horrible.

Bunch of spoiled immature babies masquerading as grown men and women. One party are adults, the other makes my 4 and 5 year olds look grown up.

[hedgehog]

10. Time to update the Senate rules amd get to work. If the Democratic Party

delivers on its platform (which may involve dumping a lot of Blue Dogs), we will not have to worry about being in the minority ever again.

[Jennicut]

11. I hope passing the HCR bill shows some Dems that they don't have to be abused anymore.

Time to stand up and fight for some good legislation.

[hedgehog]

12. A lot of the rules seem to be about scheduling hearings and such.

Time to set up standard meeting schedules the way it's done in business and put both chambers on a 40 hour work week. Taking two or three days off a week to go home and sound out the populace (read - hit people up for checks) is ridiculous when we have telephones, e-mail and video conferencing!

[dmr]

13. Can't the Parlimentarian or the Senate President over-ride this abuse?

This is ridiculous.

This pouting behavior is embarrassing.

[Orsino]

14. Hey, at least he's warning us they're gonna stop cooperating...

...so at least we'll know.

[madmom]

15. So if they can't hold hearings after 2:00pm start them at 12:01am till 2:00pm

[glitch]

17. That's what I was thinking - I bet there is no rule about how early they can start.

And then just go on without them.

[90-percent]

16. MEME

Well, I guess it could be called that? One of the biggest beliefs held in America right now is that "government can't do anything right" I think that belief is held by possibly 80% OF ALL AMERICANS.

If only some military purchasing agent thirty five years ago didn't buy $500 toilet seats we wouldn't have to counter this belief now!

I think there's plenty of examples of government being effective and efficient - post office, interstate highways, dams, bridges, schools, snow removal, and on and on. Medicare is exemplary in it's efficiency, so I think government agencies can be really effective.

Dems - government works and elect us and we'll make it work for you.

Repubs- government doesn't work and vote for us and we'll show you how crappy it really can be

What really sucks about our government is all our elected reps are beholden to big money. That's where the real government waste comes in.

-90% jimmy

[ncteechur]

19. First of all, McCain is NOT the minority leader. He is full of shit. He can't commit

or decommit the GOP senators for shit. Secondly, even if he was the minority leader, nobody would give a fuck what he had to say.

Go away John McCain. You and that doofus from Wasilla you rode in on lost.