Republicans don't have the balls!
- Thread starter Jarod
- Start date
Minister of Truth
Practically Perfect
Gerud, I don't think you have the balls to bite down on a cyanide tablet!!
signalmankenneth
Verified User
For Republicans, It's Always Just About Politics, Not Our Common Good
It used to be said that all politics is local. Today's Republican Party is about proving that all politics is just politics. The pretense that there is some underlying principle guiding the current push for fiscal reform is just that, a pretense. Conservatives are using financial arguments to pursue a familiar social agenda, and right wingers like Michele Bachmann have made fiscal responsibility and abortion reform two sides of the same coin.
The struggle between rational economic theory and partisan talking points is a frustrating exercise in meaningless chatter that consumes far too much air time and leaves listeners with less of a grasp of the issues than they had when they tuned in. The country is now faced with the possibility that government will be shut down as the two sides argue about the size and scope of proposed cuts to services and programs. Right wingers continue to charge the Obama administration with socialistic goals while progressive opinion has concluded that their hero has gone over to the other side.
Self-styled Constitutionalists insist the country has deserted the goals envisioned by its founders. Possibly what has so often been said about our founding document is true, that it is elastic enough to allow for change yet incorporates the basic principles embraced by most Americans. What is so strange about most of the arguments in this regard is that religion has become acceptable as part of today's political dialogue in some circles despite the fact that it is strictly forbidden as a test for holding office in the Constitution.
The most peculiar standard-bearers on the side of righteousness stare into cameras and rant about their huge numbers of children and grandchildren as if their procreation were a testimony to the validity of their political credentials. Take a good look at these people some time and the staring will begin to make you exceedingly uncomfortable.
It seems clear that the founders hoped to create a document that took into consideration the various factors of a diverse society that has only grown more diverse over time. By having one house of Congress run by majorities from each state and providing the Senate with two representatives the electorate was assured it wouldn't be overwhelmed by the sheer force of numbers and balance would be achieved. What has happened, however, is that small states have been able to stymie legislation with filibusters, by putting secret holds on nominations acting in ways not conducive to the conduct of good governance.
Majorities do after all indicate a body of opinion that has to be accommodated;
But what is referred to as the majority opinion in, say the Supreme Court, can be a matter of one vote in numerous five to four decisions that determine the direction of a 'just society.' Especially when judges are elected or, worse, appointed by political leaders who want nothing more than jurors who will swing their way in the decision-making process, respect for the judiciary has ebbed in recent years. It is no secret elections that trend right or left can bend the court one way or the other, the reason we now have a Supreme Court that follows the dictates of the business community, having been appointed by a Republican leadership that favors corporate personhood rather than the rights of individual persons.
Words seem to have lost their depth of meaning bearing only the slightest most superficial slant on complex matters that require greater attention and less rhetoric. Sure why not shut the government down and teach those Democrats not to toy with our brave new world say Republican Tea Party activists as if such a course of action were of no greater moment than a vote on whether or not to paint the Senate chamber. Do these latter-day centurions really believe they will be able to mold the political landscape to their specifications now that they hold power? And have they been chosen to lead because of their superior intellect and singleness of purpose?
In another of the endless Tea Party events the other day Dick Morris giggled his way through comments meant to engage his audience. Although the numbers were smaller than usual and the enthusiasm somewhat muted the group still had its share of silly costumes and foolish reactions to numbingly dopey humor. Morris told the group the water in DC was bad and should be boiled and tea-bag-infused. Get serious Tea Partiers or at least get seriously funny..
Simple-minded gags and non-solution solutions put forward by the dimmest wits around are a drag on sensible discourse.
FINDING A VOICE by Ann Davidow
It used to be said that all politics is local. Today's Republican Party is about proving that all politics is just politics. The pretense that there is some underlying principle guiding the current push for fiscal reform is just that, a pretense. Conservatives are using financial arguments to pursue a familiar social agenda, and right wingers like Michele Bachmann have made fiscal responsibility and abortion reform two sides of the same coin.
The struggle between rational economic theory and partisan talking points is a frustrating exercise in meaningless chatter that consumes far too much air time and leaves listeners with less of a grasp of the issues than they had when they tuned in. The country is now faced with the possibility that government will be shut down as the two sides argue about the size and scope of proposed cuts to services and programs. Right wingers continue to charge the Obama administration with socialistic goals while progressive opinion has concluded that their hero has gone over to the other side.
Self-styled Constitutionalists insist the country has deserted the goals envisioned by its founders. Possibly what has so often been said about our founding document is true, that it is elastic enough to allow for change yet incorporates the basic principles embraced by most Americans. What is so strange about most of the arguments in this regard is that religion has become acceptable as part of today's political dialogue in some circles despite the fact that it is strictly forbidden as a test for holding office in the Constitution.
The most peculiar standard-bearers on the side of righteousness stare into cameras and rant about their huge numbers of children and grandchildren as if their procreation were a testimony to the validity of their political credentials. Take a good look at these people some time and the staring will begin to make you exceedingly uncomfortable.
It seems clear that the founders hoped to create a document that took into consideration the various factors of a diverse society that has only grown more diverse over time. By having one house of Congress run by majorities from each state and providing the Senate with two representatives the electorate was assured it wouldn't be overwhelmed by the sheer force of numbers and balance would be achieved. What has happened, however, is that small states have been able to stymie legislation with filibusters, by putting secret holds on nominations acting in ways not conducive to the conduct of good governance.
Majorities do after all indicate a body of opinion that has to be accommodated;
But what is referred to as the majority opinion in, say the Supreme Court, can be a matter of one vote in numerous five to four decisions that determine the direction of a 'just society.' Especially when judges are elected or, worse, appointed by political leaders who want nothing more than jurors who will swing their way in the decision-making process, respect for the judiciary has ebbed in recent years. It is no secret elections that trend right or left can bend the court one way or the other, the reason we now have a Supreme Court that follows the dictates of the business community, having been appointed by a Republican leadership that favors corporate personhood rather than the rights of individual persons.
Words seem to have lost their depth of meaning bearing only the slightest most superficial slant on complex matters that require greater attention and less rhetoric. Sure why not shut the government down and teach those Democrats not to toy with our brave new world say Republican Tea Party activists as if such a course of action were of no greater moment than a vote on whether or not to paint the Senate chamber. Do these latter-day centurions really believe they will be able to mold the political landscape to their specifications now that they hold power? And have they been chosen to lead because of their superior intellect and singleness of purpose?
In another of the endless Tea Party events the other day Dick Morris giggled his way through comments meant to engage his audience. Although the numbers were smaller than usual and the enthusiasm somewhat muted the group still had its share of silly costumes and foolish reactions to numbingly dopey humor. Morris told the group the water in DC was bad and should be boiled and tea-bag-infused. Get serious Tea Partiers or at least get seriously funny..
Simple-minded gags and non-solution solutions put forward by the dimmest wits around are a drag on sensible discourse.
FINDING A VOICE by Ann Davidow
Cancel 2018. 3
<-- sched 2, MJ sched 1
do you want them to have more than weekend shutdown? could you also list for me any serving congressmen who says they want a longer than weekend shutdown.
thanks
Cancel 2018. 3
<-- sched 2, MJ sched 1
House Republicans Push Stopgap Budget to Avert Shutdown
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/04/06/budget-deal-elusive-congressional-leaders-face-pressure/
can you tell me where you got the idea that the gop in congress want a government shutdown jarod?
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/04/06/budget-deal-elusive-congressional-leaders-face-pressure/
can you tell me where you got the idea that the gop in congress want a government shutdown jarod?
Rationalist
Hail Voltaire
Hey Jarod and Kenny boy,
Do you two actually believe a 1.5% budget cut is unreasonable? Really? That ($60 bil) is precisely what Republicans want to cut. It's pocket change.
Do you two actually believe a 1.5% budget cut is unreasonable? Really? That ($60 bil) is precisely what Republicans want to cut. It's pocket change.
Liberty
Libertarian Minded
It used to be said that all politics is local. Today's Republican Party is about proving that all politics is just politics. The pretense that there is some underlying principle guiding the current push for fiscal reform is just that, a pretense. Conservatives are using financial arguments to pursue a familiar social agenda, and right wingers like Michele Bachmann have made fiscal responsibility and abortion reform two sides of the same coin.
The struggle between rational economic theory and partisan talking points is a frustrating exercise in meaningless chatter that consumes far too much air time and leaves listeners with less of a grasp of the issues than they had when they tuned in. The country is now faced with the possibility that government will be shut down as the two sides argue about the size and scope of proposed cuts to services and programs. Right wingers continue to charge the Obama administration with socialistic goals while progressive opinion has concluded that their hero has gone over to the other side.
Self-styled Constitutionalists insist the country has deserted the goals envisioned by its founders. Possibly what has so often been said about our founding document is true, that it is elastic enough to allow for change yet incorporates the basic principles embraced by most Americans. What is so strange about most of the arguments in this regard is that religion has become acceptable as part of today's political dialogue in some circles despite the fact that it is strictly forbidden as a test for holding office in the Constitution.
The most peculiar standard-bearers on the side of righteousness stare into cameras and rant about their huge numbers of children and grandchildren as if their procreation were a testimony to the validity of their political credentials. Take a good look at these people some time and the staring will begin to make you exceedingly uncomfortable.
It seems clear that the founders hoped to create a document that took into consideration the various factors of a diverse society that has only grown more diverse over time. By having one house of Congress run by majorities from each state and providing the Senate with two representatives the electorate was assured it wouldn't be overwhelmed by the sheer force of numbers and balance would be achieved. What has happened, however, is that small states have been able to stymie legislation with filibusters, by putting secret holds on nominations acting in ways not conducive to the conduct of good governance.
Majorities do after all indicate a body of opinion that has to be accommodated;
But what is referred to as the majority opinion in, say the Supreme Court, can be a matter of one vote in numerous five to four decisions that determine the direction of a 'just society.' Especially when judges are elected or, worse, appointed by political leaders who want nothing more than jurors who will swing their way in the decision-making process, respect for the judiciary has ebbed in recent years. It is no secret elections that trend right or left can bend the court one way or the other, the reason we now have a Supreme Court that follows the dictates of the business community, having been appointed by a Republican leadership that favors corporate personhood rather than the rights of individual persons.
Words seem to have lost their depth of meaning bearing only the slightest most superficial slant on complex matters that require greater attention and less rhetoric. Sure why not shut the government down and teach those Democrats not to toy with our brave new world say Republican Tea Party activists as if such a course of action were of no greater moment than a vote on whether or not to paint the Senate chamber. Do these latter-day centurions really believe they will be able to mold the political landscape to their specifications now that they hold power? And have they been chosen to lead because of their superior intellect and singleness of purpose?
In another of the endless Tea Party events the other day Dick Morris giggled his way through comments meant to engage his audience. Although the numbers were smaller than usual and the enthusiasm somewhat muted the group still had its share of silly costumes and foolish reactions to numbingly dopey humor. Morris told the group the water in DC was bad and should be boiled and tea-bag-infused. Get serious Tea Partiers or at least get seriously funny..
Simple-minded gags and non-solution solutions put forward by the dimmest wits around are a drag on sensible discourse.
FINDING A VOICE by Ann Davidow
I just can't get myself to read this noval.
Even though I've tried
The pictures say a lot.
About You.
Dixie - In Memoriam
New member
Obama and the Dems blew their chance the other day at avoiding a shut down. There is a 72-hr rule for legislation, meaning it is impossible to pass anything now, and avert a shutdown. The last hour was when they all met the other day, and came away with Obama and the Dems refusing to budge. So we'll have a shutdown, and Dems will try to blame it on Republicans (they already are), and we'll wait and see what the public response is. My guess is, with the TEA Party kicking ass and taking names from coast to coast, the Democrats have really laid a turd in the old lunch pail with this one.... but we'll see.
Guess what Dems... it's not 1992 anymore, the dynamics are totally different, the public sentiments are totally different, and the economic conditions are totally different. Your gross failure to comprehend this will cost you in the end, but I am a big believer in keeping my mouth shut and letting you fools hang yourself. I think this time, people are going to blame Obama and the Dems, and you might be right... through the weekend should probably do it... by the time the first poll numbers start coming in, and Democrats realize this isn't helping them... then here will come good ole Harry, ready to negotiate with his hat in hand.... I hope Boehner tells him to go fuck himself.
PostmodernProphet
fully immersed in faith..
but, will he be willing to sacrifice cowboy poetry this time......too funny not to quote.....
http://twitter.com/mkhammer/statuses/45202174019514368
The Republicans violated the 72-hour rule to pass the NPR defunding bill and to pass that stupid thing they passed last week. All they have to do is slap "emergency" on the bill and the 72-hour doesn't matter.
I suspect that the problem right now is that Boehner isn't certain of what his members will accept and cannot bring anything to the floor until he is absolutely 100% certain that it will pass the House. If he brings something to the floor and it fails, he will be blamed.
Well see about that.
I belive that at this point its all theater, the two sides are not far apart. It seems to me the rank and file Republicans do not want a shut down because they know that being painted as extreem is not good for them, however, they have to appear more radical for the Tea Party so they have established a compromise which will be a weekend shut down.
Some time around Sunday night or Monday, the anouncement of a compromise will be anounced and the Government will go back to work, sure there might be two days off, but in the end it wont be a serious situation.
By November of next year it will be blip in history.
What is entertaining to me is that they will be unsuccessfull at tanking the economy and thus Obama will be the winner come November of 12'.
It almost seems to me like the R's have given up on winning the white house in 12, but will be content to make efforts at taking the Senate and biding there time till 16'.
Some time around Sunday night or Monday, the anouncement of a compromise will be anounced and the Government will go back to work, sure there might be two days off, but in the end it wont be a serious situation.
By November of next year it will be blip in history.
What is entertaining to me is that they will be unsuccessfull at tanking the economy and thus Obama will be the winner come November of 12'.
It almost seems to me like the R's have given up on winning the white house in 12, but will be content to make efforts at taking the Senate and biding there time till 16'.
I think there are plenty of Republicans in the House that are itching for a shutdown. If they weren't, this thing would have been resolved long ago and there wouldn't be any fight over policy riders at this point, it'd be all about the money. Hence, you have people like Mike Pence chanting "Shut it down" at Tea Party Rallies and the like. I doubt that Boehner wants a shut down but there is little he can do to control that if a substantial portion of his caucus won't go along with any agreement he can hash out.
The right wing Republicans and Tea Parties are under the impression that winning the House should give them the right to do whatever the hell they want right now instead of waiting to win future elections to accomplish their goals and cannot be convinced that it just doesn't work that way.
The right wing Republicans and Tea Parties are under the impression that winning the House should give them the right to do whatever the hell they want right now instead of waiting to win future elections to accomplish their goals and cannot be convinced that it just doesn't work that way.
G
Guns Guns Guns
Guest
"Confronting the prospect of failure in last-ditch budget talks, federal officials have prepared plans to furlough about 800,000 employees, freeze the processing of some income tax refunds and suspend pay for the military as part of the impending government shutdown.
Airlines, roads, hospitals, schools, food and tourism all have contact with a federal employee who may not be working next week.
The standard used to determine who remains working is whether an employee or agency is "necessary for safety of life or protection of property."
That means air traffic controllers would stay on the job and federal prisons would operate as usual. Food inspections and border surveillance would continue, as would inspections of nuclear power plants and radiation monitoring, prompted by the Japan nuclear crisis, according to a second administration official.
The federal school lunch program would continue.
Federal law enforcement agencies would be up and running, and many in the military would still be working. Those employees, however, wouldn't be paid for their work until a bill is passed.
"They will be paid once we have money again to pay them," the first senior administration official said.
If a shutdown lasts only a few days, most in the military would receive their full paycheck April 15, officials said. But if a shutdown lasts beyond the mid-April pay period, they would get about half of their check on April 15 and have to wait until the next pay period for the rest.
The burden on military families, at a time when troops are deployed on three fronts, was a pointed reminder of how a 2011 shutdown could be markedly different from its infamous predecessors in 1995 and 1996."
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-shutdown-20110407,0,2121425.story
Airlines, roads, hospitals, schools, food and tourism all have contact with a federal employee who may not be working next week.
The standard used to determine who remains working is whether an employee or agency is "necessary for safety of life or protection of property."
That means air traffic controllers would stay on the job and federal prisons would operate as usual. Food inspections and border surveillance would continue, as would inspections of nuclear power plants and radiation monitoring, prompted by the Japan nuclear crisis, according to a second administration official.
The federal school lunch program would continue.
Federal law enforcement agencies would be up and running, and many in the military would still be working. Those employees, however, wouldn't be paid for their work until a bill is passed.
"They will be paid once we have money again to pay them," the first senior administration official said.
If a shutdown lasts only a few days, most in the military would receive their full paycheck April 15, officials said. But if a shutdown lasts beyond the mid-April pay period, they would get about half of their check on April 15 and have to wait until the next pay period for the rest.
The burden on military families, at a time when troops are deployed on three fronts, was a pointed reminder of how a 2011 shutdown could be markedly different from its infamous predecessors in 1995 and 1996."
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-shutdown-20110407,0,2121425.story
Dixie - In Memoriam
New member
This is "how it works" pinhead, goals are accomplished on the basis of votes. If the Tea Party has the votes to stop something or to implement something, that is all that matters, and how our government is designed to work. The problem is, the Tea Party doesn't have enough votes in the Senate, so while the House can pass all kinds of Tea Party 'goals', the Senate can reject them... also how our government works.
Let's get something else straight, the Tea Party is not simply "doing whatever the hell they want", they are doing what the people elected them to do, and if they stop doing that, the people will send them home the first chance they get. I personally don't care if they actually get anything done, I love government gridlock! The more they remain in a stalemate, the better off the taxpayers are, in my honest opinion.
I say shut it down for a couple of months, let's see how many things we miss and how many things we can live without? If nothing else, we saved a few billion dollars in that time, which will be good for the economy. Look, some of you pinheads are likeable cats, so I am going to break this to ya gently because I like you, there are going to be massive budget cuts. Not just 1.5% as is currently being proposed by Republicans, but HUGE sweeping cuts, in all your favorite liberal socialist programs across the board. There is not a debate or compromise here, that's how it is going down, and you need to prepare yourself for the shock.
G
Guns Guns Guns
Guest
You're OK with the military not getting paid, then?
...if a shutdown lasts beyond the mid-April pay period, they would get about half of their check on April 15 and have to wait until the next pay period for the rest.
The burden on military families, at a time when troops are deployed on three fronts, was a pointed reminder of how a 2011 shutdown could be markedly different from its infamous predecessors in 1995 and 1996."
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-shutdown-20110407,0,2121425.story
Dixie - In Memoriam
New member
Oh yes... let's get down and writhe in the floor too! No need to avoid selling this shit... let's go all out on the over-dramatics! Let's wheel out grandma and grandpa and talk about how they won't get their checks... let's go find the lowly park ranger with 8 kids, and show his family sitting around an empty dinner table, no food because the government is shut down! While we're at it, let's show a nuclear plant or two, due for federal inspections, but.... with the government shut down, they are sitting there like ticking time bombs ready to explode because there is no government worker to inspect them! Oh, I can think up a million things we can do to illustrate just how awful and terrible this is!
You better pull out all the stops on this, because this is what I think is going to happen... I have zero confidence in Boehner not to cave, I think the Republicans eventually compromise with Dems and instead of the miniscule $61 billion they promised to cut, we end up with 30-40 bil... and that's not going to satisfy the Tea Party faction. The result will likely be, more Tea Party candidates unseating life-long Republicans, and Democrats continuing to be sent home, replaced by Republicans. Eventually we are going to get a crop of legislators who are ready to listen to the people and cut the damn budget in a meaningful way. This is going to happen sooner or later, it's just a matter of time.
Cancel 2018. 3
<-- sched 2, MJ sched 1
Obama threatens to veto GOP budget extension plan
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110407/ap_on_re_us/us_spending_showdown
funny how libs are blaming the gop and claiming they want the shutdown....well obama is threatening to veto an extension...are you libs going to wonder if he has the balls to go through with a shutdown?
doubt nigel or jarod will....they are too far left
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110407/ap_on_re_us/us_spending_showdown
funny how libs are blaming the gop and claiming they want the shutdown....well obama is threatening to veto an extension...are you libs going to wonder if he has the balls to go through with a shutdown?
doubt nigel or jarod will....they are too far left
G
Guns Guns Guns
Guest
You said you want the shutdown.
It's a fact that the military won't get paid if it goes past April 15th.
So, are you OK with that?
Yes or no?
Of course, this assumes that the House thing would pass the Senate, which it will not. And this is exactly what I mean when I say that Republicans, having won the House, think it means they get to do whatever they want. It doesn't work that way.