Premature evaluation of this congress

[wonder cow]

Is it funny or pathetic that this democratically controlled congress is only a couple of weeks old and we already have several threads on what a bad job they are doing?

[ECW]

It's just the neocons blowing off steam at getting their asses handed to them last November. They were always better at throwing bombs from the back bench than they were in actually governing. Wait until the oversight committees get going in a month or so. This will seem like a walk in the park by comparison.

[Viper2]

Well, I haven't really commented on the new Congress, as much as bring up the voting records of the Democratic members of the old one, who are now a part of the new one.

It's amazing how the DemLibSocs here have avoided that one :rolleyes:

[Stoner]

Seeing at how badly congress is screwing up in such a short amount of time it's no wonder we rarely elect democrats to the WH in recent history.

[lily]

Is it funny or pathetic that this democratically controlled congress is only a couple of weeks old and we already have several threads on what a bad job they are doing?



I'll go for funny and drop this little article I just read here, instead of starting a whole different thread. Seems once they don't have the fear put into them, they actually feel free to vote their conscience. I'm also glad that the Republicans decided that getting in the Democrat's way was going to make them stick out like a sore thumb and the Democrats threat of leaving out the Republicans wasn't used.

Link (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/13/AR2007011301189.html?referrer=email)

House GOP Shows Its Fractiousness In the Minority

By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, January 14, 2007; Page A01

House Republican leaders, who confidently predicted they would drive a wedge
through the new Democratic majority, have found their own party splintering,
with Republican lawmakers siding with Democrats in droves on the House's
opening legislative blitz.

Freed from the pressures of being the majority and from the heavy hand of
former leaders including retired representative Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), many
back-bench Republicans are showing themselves to be more moderate than their
conservative leadership and increasingly mindful of shifting voter
sentiment. The closest vote last week -- Friday's push to require the
federal government to negotiate lower drug prices for Medicare -- pulled 24
Republicans. The Democrats' homeland security bill attracted 68 Republicans,
the minimum wage increase 82.


"You're freer to vote your conscience," said Rep. Jo Anne Emerson (R-Mo.),
who received an 88 percent voting record from the American Conservative
Union in 2005 but has so far sided with Democrats on new budget rules,
Medicare prescription-drug negotiations, raising the minimum wage and
funding stem cell research. "Or, really, I feel free to represent my
constituents exactly as they want me to be."
"Times have changed. I don't want to be someone who they say is too stubborn
to change too," said Rep. Rodney Alexander (R-La.), whose 92 percent
conservative rating did not stop him from voting with Democrats on the
homeland security and minimum-wage bills.

After their stinging defeat in November, Republican leaders in the House had
gamely promised to draft procedural motions and parliamentary gambits that
they said would split the new majority. With so many new Democrats hailing
from moderate-to-conservative districts, even some Democrats saw the pledge
as plausible.

In theory, Republicans have made good on their promises. Republicans argued
vociferously against Democratic measures over the past two weeks, saying new
deficit-control rules would guarantee tax increases, stringent homeland
security measures would cripple commerce, and a minimum-wage increase would
hurt the economy.

To counter the prescription-drug bill, GOP leaders drafted a parliamentary
move that they said would ensure senior citizens' access to local
pharmacists and the full panoply of prescription drugs. They tried to beat
back the stem cell bill with a popular alternative, a ban on federal funds
for human cloning. And they countered the minimum-wage bill with a motion to
send it back to be redrafted to include tax breaks and health-insurance
benefits for small businesses. On the minimum-wage bill, Republican
leadership aides even offered a list of 25 Democrats they could pull over to
their side.

The results? Eighty-two Republicans joined a unanimous Democratic front to
vote to increase the minimum wage, while 54 Republicans voted against their
leadership's counteroffer. Eighteen Republicans defied their leadership by
opposing the parliamentary move against stem cells.

The homeland security bill -- designed to implement most of the remaining
recommendations of the commission that examined the Sept. 11, 2001,
attacks -- even garnered the vote of Rep. Peter T. King (R-N.Y.), who as
chairman of the Homeland Security Committee last year, thwarted one of its
central provisions, the screening of all shipping containers heading to U.S.
ports.

Some Republicans, such as Reps. Todd R. Platts (Pa.) and Jim Ramstad
(Minn.), sided with the Democrats on every major vote. But it was not just
closet mavericks.

Last year, Rep. Deborah Pryce (Ohio) was a powerful member of the Republican
leadership, responsible for uniting her fractious colleagues behind a single
message. After narrowly escaping defeat in November, the swing-district
Republican bolted from her party's leadership last year. Last week, she
virtually bolted from the party.
With just one exception, Pryce sided with the new Democratic majority on
every major bill and rule change that came to a vote in the past two weeks,
even voting against her party on a procedural vote, a move considered
heretical in the years of GOP control.

The Democrats "deserve the same credit that we got in 1995," when
Republicans took control, said Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.). "They've picked up
on the really big issues of the day, the ones they won the election on, and
the ones that really resonate in Republican districts."

Democratic leaders say even they have been surprised by their margins of
victory, but they were always counting on GOP votes. Republicans from swing
districts who have been beat up for years over their party-line voting have
been liberated by their minority status, said Rep. John B. Larson (Conn.),
vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.

"They've really been the ones that have been oppressed," he said.

GOP leaders were quick to dismiss the significance of the Democratic winning
streak, however. For one thing, the Democrats' opening legislative blitz is
being conducted under parliamentary rules that run roughshod over the
Republicans, foreclosing any chance to actually amend the bills. But
Democratic leaders have promised to give the GOP more latitude once the
so-called 100-hours agenda runs its course next week.

For another, the Democrats will soon exhaust their carefully constructed
opening list of bills that were designed to appeal across party lines.

"Republican discipline was critically important when we were passing
legislation and moving an agenda," House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)
said. "The Democrats will soon move from these issues that poll at 80, 90
percent to issues that really matter."

[Labrocca]

I think it's only 1 or 2 of the Conservate/Republicans that have made threads. Many are just sitting on the sidelines watching...including me.

[Buck Laser]

Regardless of one's place on the political spectrum, the new congress has shown a remarkable burst of energy and discipline so far. It will take a longer look than anyone has had so far to figure out if it's a good congress or not. And some of that is naturally going to depend on one's own political perspective.

I'd say that the posters who are proclaiming the "failure" of the congress at this point are just playing with themselves--fantasizing. They may have nothing better to do.

[Alonzo]

Premature evaluation of this congress

I'd say that the posters who are proclaiming the "failure" of the congress at this point are just playing with themselves

I'm starting to think this is intentional.

[lily]

WHEW! I thought it was just me!

[CheesyMuslim]

Sorry bout that,

1. But the jury is still out.
2. We have already seen some sly moves that got caught by the NewMedia.
3. And we will continue to see some things tried by Nancy Pelosi, that will get a pass from the Liberal Medias.
4. Nancy hasn't reached critical yet.
5. And when the Red Dress makes her move then we are going to see some crap hit the fan.
6. She is a helluva lot more than you think she is.
7. And what she is, I can not say in detail, at this time.
8. But I will, some day.

Regards,
SirJamesofTexas

[Flea_Bit_Monkey]

Is it funny or pathetic that this democratically controlled congress is only a couple of weeks old and we already have several threads on what a bad job they are doing?


Is it funny or pathetic that democrats are upset that republicans are acting they have for the last 7 years? :D

[ECW]

1. But the jury is still out.
2. We have already seen some sly moves that got caught by the NewMedia.
3. And we will continue to see some things tried by Nancy Pelosi, that will get a pass from the Liberal Medias.
4. Nancy hasn't reached critical yet.
5. And when the Red Dress makes her move then we are going to see some crap hit the fan.
6. She is a helluva lot more than you think she is.
7. And what she is, I can not say in detail, at this time.
8. But I will, some day.


Will that be the same day you bring us proof that Democrats stole the last election?

[wonder cow]

I'm starting to think this is intentional.

:D:D

[Nemo]

“It is allowed, that Senates and great Councils are often troubled with redundant, ebullient, and other peccant Humours; with many Diseases of the Head, and more of the Heart; with strong Convulsions, with grievous Contractions of the Nerves and Sinews in both Hands, but especially the Right: With Spleen, Flatus, Vertigos, and Deliriums; with Scrofulous Tumours, full of fetid purulent Matter; with sour frothy Ructations: with Canine appetites, and crudeness of Digestion, besides many others, needless to mention.”
- Jonathan Swift, Gulliver’s Travels, Part III, chap. vi. (1726)

[Mayberry]

Pelosi has already deep sixed half of her "promises". The Hundred Hour Shutout (We're going to work WITH Republicans!!??) is the prime example. Is it just me, or do politicians on both sides of the fence seem to act like spoiled 12 year olds? All we ever seem to get from them is bickering, back stabbing, cheating, stealing, and lies. We need to throw ALL the bums out and start from scratch. Methinks there's too much inbreeding in their circles. This evaluation is not premature, it is indicative of what was already expected from them, and is being predictably dished out. Soon the "investigations" that ECW wants so badly will begin, Bush's tax cuts will be rescinded (there goes my vacation next year), entitlements will be increased (UP go my taxes, inflation, and cost of living) The military budget will be slashed (DOWN goes our national security, the stock market, our standard of living...) and God (who all traces of will be removed) only knows what else. Hopefully this will all make everyone sick enough to VOTE THE BUMS OUT in '08. It's doubtful, but such a nice dream. Meanwhile, I'm shopping for a new country where I can run my own business without interference, raise my kids how I see fit..........

[Viper2]

1. But the jury is still out.
2. We have already seen some sly moves that got caught by the NewMedia.
3. And we will continue to see some things tried by Nancy Pelosi, that will get a pass from the Liberal Medias.
4. Nancy hasn't reached critical yet.
5. And when the Red Dress makes her move then we are going to see some crap hit the fan.
6. She is a helluva lot more than you think she is.
7. And what she is, I can not say in detail, at this time.
8. But I will, some day.


Will that be the same day you bring us proof that Democrats stole the last election?


They didn't steal the election in the true sense of the word - they did however, turn local elections into a national one and harp on the situation in Iraq with the help of the Liberal, Left-Wing media.

The other problem is too many voters are just too damn lazy to check out the candidates voting records to see if these people actually stand for what they (the voter) feels is important, and tend to jump on the bandwagon as it were.

Case in point - many of the Democrats who are today moaning about Iraq actually voted to give the President the authority to deploy the Armed Forces - and yet over the past year or so have been attacking the President over what they authorized him to do. Subsequently, turned the other way and for purely political reasons began attacking the President.

This sounds like the 12+ years of UNSC sanctions against Iraq that France, Germany, Russia, Belgium, China et'al voted in favor of and violated them by selling Iraq weapons, weapons systems and technology that were forbidden by the very same sanctions they voted for.

This is exactly why most of our Founding Fathers were against "political parties".

[Viper2]

“It is allowed, that Senates and great Councils are often troubled with redundant, ebullient, and other peccant Humours; with many Diseases of the Head, and more of the Heart; with strong Convulsions, with grievous Contractions of the Nerves and Sinews in both Hands, but especially the Right: With Spleen, Flatus, Vertigos, and Deliriums; with Scrofulous Tumours, full of fetid purulent Matter; with sour frothy Ructations: with Canine appetites, and crudeness of Digestion, besides many others, needless to mention.”
- Jonathan Swift, Gulliver’s Travels, Part III, chap. vi. (1726)


To further extend this - the party of the first part in agreement with the parties of the third and fourth parts initiated legal action against the party of the second part simply because he parted his hair on the left side instead of the right :D:D:D

[Stoner]

What I find hysterical is how the libs have bitched, whined, complained, moaned, cried and bashed Bush every hour on the hour since he's been in office. And now they're questioning others for being critical of congress. ROFLMAO!!!!!

[Viper2]

Mayberry:

No, it is not you. The Democraptic Party enjoys the stupidity of the American voter.

PT Barnum once stated "There's a sucker born every minute". IMHO, America has been producing bumper crops over the past few years.

The American voter is getting exactly what they voted for, but not for the reasons they did.

Until the voter population decides to say "We are Americans" before declaring any political affiliation, and band together in the interest of America the country, and start holding the politicians regardless of party accountable and responsible for acting in America's best interest, and kicking out of office all those who don't - we will continue to have the same free-for-all, and the country will continue to slide down the drain.

”I am concerned for the security of our great Nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within.”
5-Star General of the Army Douglas MacArthur

"When there is a lack of honor in government, the morals of the whole people are poisoned. There is no such thing as a no-man's land between honesty and dishonesty. Our strength lies in spiritual concepts. It lies in public sensitiveness to evil. Our greatest danger is not from invasion by foreign armies. Our dangers are that we may commit suicide from within by complaisance with evil, or by public tolerance of scandalous behavior."
--President Herbert Hoover

"A government ought to contain in itself every power requisite to
the full accomplishment of the objects commmitted to its care,
and to the complete execution of the trusts for which it is
responsible, free from every other control but a regard to the
public good and to the sense of the people."
-- Alexander Hamilton (Federalist No. 31, January 1st 1788)

[Nemo]

Quote: 'This is exactly why most of our Founding Fathers were against "political parties".'
. . .

It was Washington who advised against political parties. See George Washington, “Farewell Address” (1796). The rest had no hesitation to choosing sides.

[Nemo]

Here's another quote for you:

"Our government has kept us in a perpetual state of fear -- kept us in a continuous stampede of patriotic fervor -- with the cry of grave national emergency ... Always there has been some terrible evil to gobble us up if we did not blindly rally behind it by furnishing the exorbitant sums demanded. Yet, in retrospect, these disasters seem never to have happened, seem never to have been quite real."
- General Douglas MacArthur (1957)

[Viper2]

Here's another quote for you:

"Our government has kept us in a perpetual state of fear -- kept us in a continuous stampede of patriotic fervor -- with the cry of grave national emergency ... Always there has been some terrible evil to gobble us up if we did not blindly rally behind it by furnishing the exorbitant sums demanded. Yet, in retrospect, these disasters seem never to have happened, seem never to have been quite real."
- General Douglas MacArthur (1957)


Thank you very much :)

"The unfailing formula for production of morale is patriotism, self-respect, discipline, and self-confidence within a military unit, joined with fair treatment and merited appreciation from without. It cannot be produced by pampering or coddling an army, and is not necessarily destroyed by hardship, danger, or even calamity . . . It will quickly wither and die if soldiers come to believe themselves the victims of indifference or injustice on the part of their government, or of ignorance, personal ambition, or ineptitude on the part of their leaders."
General Douglas MacArthur

"[In war], there is no alternative than to apply every available means to bring it to a swift end. War's very object is victory, not prolonged indecision. In war there is no substitute for victory."
—General Douglas MacArthur

[Nemo]

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence, clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, most of them imaginary.
-- H.L. Mencken, 1920

[wonder cow]

Alexander Hamilton

bang.

M. Burr did us all a great service. His image should be on our money.

[Viper2]

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence, clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, most of them imaginary.
-- H.L. Mencken, 1920


"That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons that history has to teach."
Aldous Huxley

[Viper2]

Alexander Hamilton

bang.

M. Burr did us all a great service. His image should be on our money.


Start a grassroots movement :P

"Men often oppose a thing merely because they have had no agency in planning it, or because it may have been planned by those whom they dislike."
Alexander Hamilton

[lily]

Until the voter population decides to say "We are Americans" before
declaring any political affiliation, and band together in the interest of
America the country, and start holding the politicians regardless of party
accountable and responsible for acting in America's best interest, and
kicking out of office all those who don't - we will continue to have the
same free-for-all, and the country will continue to slide down the drain.


I believe that is what Americans just did.

They didn't steal the election in the true sense of the word - they did however, turn local elections into a national one and harp on the situation in Iraq with the help of the Liberal, Left-Wing media.

Is that the same left wing media that wrote what it did, including intentional leaks to get us into this war, or another one? As for turning local elections into a national one over Iraq. Are you trying to make it sound like right now, Iraq isn't the one thing that is foremost in American's minds? America saw what was happening with the rubber stamp and said no more!

[Viper2]

lily:
I believe that is what Americans just did.

You couldn't be more wrong - did you personally check out the voting records of the candidates that you voted for ?????

Consider the thread I started that the DemLibSocs on this site seem to avoid like the plague.

[lily]

You couldn't be more wrong - did you personally check out the voting records of the candidates that you voted for ?????


Yes I did. Thank you for asking.
Consider the thread I started that the DemLibSocs on this site seem to avoid like the plague.

I tried to help you on this, but..........

[ECW]

You couldn't be more wrong - did you personally check out the voting records of the candidates that you voted for ?????

Yes I did. Thank you for asking.
Consider the thread I started that the DemLibSocs on this site seem to avoid like the plague.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAA!

This user is on your ignore list. You can edit your list here.

I have this site's namecallers on Ignore. Permanently.

[Viper2]

You couldn't be more wrong - did you personally check out the voting records of the candidates that you voted for ?????

Yes I did. Thank you for asking.
Consider the thread I started that the DemLibSocs on this site seem to avoid like the plague.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAA!

This user is on your ignore list. You can edit your list here.

I have this site's namecallers on Ignore. Permanently.


Oh, so is that how you actually avoid getting into a debate ???

Also, as lily can attest to from past history - I have been very sedate in my approach on this site.