Next six months may redefine Washington
Maybe I’m wrong — it has certainly been known to happen — but I’m thinking that these next six months could prove to be the most interesting and consequential six months of political theater seen in Washington in a long time. In fact, in terms of melodrama and conflict, it may rival or even exceed the 1995 standoff between President Bill Clinton and the Gingrich Republicans.
The recently concluded 112th Congress resolved nothing. As rough as it seemed at times, it proved to be two years of posturing between partners who weren’t quite confident enough to push things to conclusion. Members of both parties lacked both the courage to cut a big deal and the guts to have a knock-down, drag-out fight about it.
But the 113th Congress may be different. Explosive issues that have been put off time and time again — including immigration reform and entitlement spending — can’t be postponed much longer. Partisan and personal resentments that have long simmered seem ready to come to full boil. Confrontation is in the air — between Republicans and Democrats, between the House and Senate, between Congress and the president, between red state and blue state and even within the two political parties.
For example, I’d give House Speaker John Boehner a 50/50 chance of still holding that position come July, and that may be optimistic. His departure could come in any number of ways, from an internal caucus rebellion to a voluntary resignation in frustration. That’s because the man has been handed an impossible job, trapped between his constitutional obligation as speaker to make government work, at least at some basic level, and a Republican caucus that believes it has much to gain politically and in policy by ensuring that government falters.
As events play out, you may begin to see fractures emerge within the Democratic Party as well. For years, the antics and extremism of their Republican colleagues have united Democrats and allowed them to paper over divisions within their own ranks. They haven’t had to make any hard decisions as a party, and that may change in the months ahead, particularly if President Obama reaches some kind of deal with Republicans on the budget. Because as any student of political history knows, unity has always been a rare and temporary phenomenon with Democrats.
This all sounds a bit dangerous, and it is. Conventional wisdom holds that bitter confrontation is something best avoided in politics, and that compromise and bipartisanship are better models for good governance. Most of the time, that conventional wisdom is probably correct. But I’m not sure that’s the case under current circumstances.
At its most basic, politics is a process by which theories are tested and realities are sifted from illusions. It is disciplined by failure. Politics is also a crudely Darwinian process. At some point, you win or you lose. Decisions get made and problems get solved — one way or the other — when you have clear lines of authority and power. Once those things have been established, you have the ground rules that make bipartisanship and compromise possible.
Such lines do not exist within the rambunctious House Republican caucus. They do not exist in the relationship between House Republicans and the rest of the constitutional structure in Washington, and that explains a lot about the system’s dysfunction. But given the important battles that loom, and the apparently growing hunger for confrontation in some quarters, they may become a lot more clear.
– Jay Bookman
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569 comments Add your comment
Steve
January 7th, 2013
9:23 am
I guess my hardcore Republican conservative grandparents were socialists as they raved about how Medicare kept my grandmother from losing everything when she had to send my grandfather into the nursing home with Alzheimers for years, and Medicare covered the bulk of that astronomical cost.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 7th, 2013
9:23 am
Welcome to the Occupation
January 7th, 2013
9:10 am
Absolutely. What does he gain? How does he cut spending in a meaningful way without disrespect for his base who depend on such? So is he gonna increase SS age? Is he really going to cut defense? What about the offset cost he now has to cover for PelosiCare?
No way he nor his constituents cut anything exceeding the 6% of revenue increases he got already..Won’t happen since it will adversely affect 2014 politics. The really don’t give a flip about us…just relection and control…a house full of DEMS will be a further obstacle to cuts of any kind…and we all know taxing ourselves (excepting transaction tax) can’t cover much more..
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
9:24 am
“unlike you violent statists,progressives, and collectivists”
ohsweetjeebus … violent statists??? where on EARTH did you get that???
Welcome to the Occupation
January 7th, 2013
9:24 am
straightroad: “Jay, the issue a lot of us have with “entitlements”, myself included, is that many people receive these benefits who have not earned them”
As I said above, you are spouting a lie that shows how completely and totally you have been gulled by the ruling elites into giving them your future to gamble with.
The only group that receives “benefits” it did not “earn” are the bank and financier interests who at this very moment are receiving cash infusions into their sclerotic veins in an attempt to keep their lavish profits going even with the specter of a systemic collapse looming just out in the distance ahead.
What is so painful to you about admitting that the real moochers and freeloaders are the elite bankers and their lobbying armies, not the common workers and people who receive modest benefits to help them avoid ending their life in poverty?
Is that just too dispiriting to face?
Williebkind
January 7th, 2013
9:24 am
USinUK – not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
You know communism did not go well in the Third Reich. just saying….
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 7th, 2013
9:25 am
Steve
January 7th, 2013
9:23 am
I agree but Medicare only covers a couple weeks or so of skilled nursing care..medicaid picks up tab for more that 65% of residents…
Williebkind
January 7th, 2013
9:26 am
“ohsweetjeebus … violent statists??? where on EARTH did you get that???”
Are they referring to every demonstration the progressive liberals have? You know where property gets destroyed and people get hurt.
Thomas Heyward Jr
January 7th, 2013
9:27 am
USinUK – not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
9:24 am
“unlike you violent statists,progressives, and collectivists”
ohsweetjeebus … violent statists??? where on EARTH did you get that???
——————————————————————————————————————
.
It’s self evident.
Are you denying that the State is violent?
The other half of your brain.
January 7th, 2013
9:27 am
Steve
January 7th, 2013
9:18 am
straitroad – how much does “fraud” really cost us? It’s real, yes, but in comparison to bailing out banks, 3 trillion dollar un-necessary failed wars, and corporate welfare, I don’t see it as the first thing to tackle.
Steve, Steve Croft, from 60 Minutes did an excellent piece on Medicare fraud along with an FBI agent. They had one guy that scammed Medicare out of 20 Million.
The FBI agent claimed that there were about 2,000 illegal shops like that guys around the country.
I believe fraud is much larger in our country than anyone gives it credit for .
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
9:27 am
Steve – 9:23 – and I’m sure they hated SS, as well.
The other half of your brain.
January 7th, 2013
9:29 am
Thomas Heyward Jr
January 7th, 2013
9:27 am
USinUK – not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
9:24 am
“unlike you violent statists,progressives, and collectivists”
ohsweetjeebus … violent statists??? where on EARTH did you get that???
——————————————————————————————————————
.
It’s self evident.
Are you denying that the State is violent?
She gets it from Granny & her piffle!
Brosephus™
January 7th, 2013
9:29 am
Stevie Ray
You don’t see the power because you’re mesmerized by the money. Look at the people who have become famous just using social media. You take that platform with a Tea Party type organization, and you can easily throw a wrench into the House. It doesn’t take millions of dollars either. The powers that be want you to believe you need that kind of money to avoid challengers.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
9:29 am
“It’s self evident. Are you denying that the State is violent?”
like moving the goalposts, do you?
Which do you care to discuss? The State? “Statists”, Progressives or … what was your other cute perjorative? oh, yes … collectivists.
pick one. and stick with it.
ATL Tiger
January 7th, 2013
9:29 am
Steve,
“@ATL TIger – we are hardly a welfare state unless you include how much we pay into the industrial military complex that Ike warned us about, or corporate welfare – then yes, we do have a problem.”
Are you serious? Entitlement spending (mandatory spending) represents 62% of all federal spending ($2 trillion), while all defense spending (discretionary spending) makes up 18% ($1.3 trillion, which is way too much). So if nearly 2/3rds of all federal spending goes towards entitlements and we’re not a welfare state (according to you), what % would make us a welfare state?
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 7th, 2013
9:30 am
Welcome to the Occupation
January 7th, 2013
9:24 am
A few are provided without contribution…but the big ones certainly are entitled…Medicare, SS and Medicaid are paid in some respect by those who ultimately benefit.
Regarding Wall Street and the like, a transaction tax may raise as much as 300-400 billion assuming a tax (some call it speculation tax) of half a percent or so.
Won’t happen…Dodd FRank made sure we continue to reinsure too big to fail institutions…heck, BO despite his rhetoric, gets piles of dough from those same institutions..
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
9:30 am
pejorative.
pesky consonants.
Steve
January 7th, 2013
9:31 am
Stevie Rays – it covered my Grandfather for many years.
St Simons - aboriginal BOOTAKOOK 2014
January 7th, 2013
9:32 am
another con arguing that the US is not a democracy is like arguing
that a Pontiac is not General Motors.
Republicans should start their own movie industry outside Hollywood.
Nowadays you have to suspend disbelief for 2 hours every time they
say something.
Corbin Sharpe. Baby Boomer...and Ban the Gun Thug!
January 7th, 2013
9:32 am
Hmmmm…wind must be blowing in from the right again…a strong smell of elephant offal in the air this morning…
Morality?
January 7th, 2013
9:33 am
UK – ONLY you can play out the NAZI card – which is ironically, not far from where the Dem and Socialist fanatics are headed with their idiocy. Obama is one of us? Not hardly. He’s got 4 mansions in four different states with gardeners and house keepers. Obama is a dreaded member of the EVIL 1%!
The other half of your brain.
January 7th, 2013
9:33 am
Brosephus™
January 7th, 2013
9:29 am
Stevie Ray
You don’t see the power because you’re mesmerized by the money. Look at the people who have become famous just using social media. You take that platform with a Tea Party type organization, and you can easily throw a wrench into the House. It doesn’t take millions of dollars either. The powers that be want you to believe you need that kind of money to avoid challengers.
Bro, Sorry, but I totally disagree. All the money came out against the TeaParty and if anyone else tries it they will defile them also. There just aren’t many if any poor people in politics.
TiredOfIt
January 7th, 2013
9:33 am
A true Tea Party American on Social Security would return their checks for the good of the country.
Williebkind
January 7th, 2013
9:33 am
“she had to send my grandfather into the nursing home with Alzheimers for years,”
We took care of our parents. Where were you?
DannyX
January 7th, 2013
9:34 am
“Now those many who have college degrees got their college paid for by the taxpayer!”
Poor Ronald Reagan is really getting a workout today, he’s been spinning in his grave all morning. Ronald Reagan sure knew the value of investing taxpayer dollars in higher education. After promising he wouldn’t raise taxes he did just that in California. He raised taxes so he wouldn’t have to cut the university/college budgets. In California community college under Reagan WAS free.
Steve
January 7th, 2013
9:34 am
ATL TIger – would love a link to that as it doen’st match what you can easily google from the government.
Welcome to the Occupation
January 7th, 2013
9:34 am
Just observe our dutiful masses here eager to eat up a narrative about “entitlements” and how the less fortunate are getting away with something at their expense. They’re like baby birds with their little beaks open for the next feeding. Just give them a label — let’s call it “conservative” — which they can place on their shabby coat. It will give them a place in the world. Something to identify with and direct their simmering rage towards.
You can loot their savings, destroy their jobs and way of life, but just give them a movement that pretends to address their petty grievances, cloak it in traditional morality and principles of upstanding self-reliance, and their good to go.
You can put almost ANYTHING over on them. Try it. It works every time.
hsn
January 7th, 2013
9:34 am
The moment the House GOP caucus put their ‘principles’ ahead of the nation’s by refusing to allow the debt ceiling to be raised (something the Dems allowed MULTIPLE TIMES under Republican presidents), and caused the nation’s credit rating to be downgraded was the last straw .
This current crop of GOP House Republic.klans are turds and even worst, dumb as hell !
Thomas Heyward Jr
January 7th, 2013
9:34 am
And rightwingextreme ———–
.
You’re dealing with Progressives……… the masters of “redefinition”.
.
Progs even succeeded into turning Liberalism (the ideaology of Liberty) into a dirty word.
.
Next thing you know………….the Federal government will force us to pay insurance companies MORE money for better healthcare……..and the progs will probably defend it………………no wait……………
barking frog
January 7th, 2013
9:35 am
Well I don’t know about you folks but the title to my property
is defended from folks with guns or clubs by the state and my
money is in the clutches of banksters and the government is
honoring the contract they made with me for social security
retirement and medical care and I drive on highways built
by the government dollar which may prove collectivism ain’t all
that bad, or not.
Christian Conservative
January 7th, 2013
9:35 am
Jay:
particularly if President Obama reaches some kind of deal with Republicans on the budget.
The above statement alone almost made me throw up my breakfast. Obama has no clue how to deal. Or lead for that matter. He had to beg Biden to work with Republicans last time. He’s better off just hanging at the golf course while grownups work on the problem.
The thing is dems want to continue spending like drunken sailors while Republicans want to curb it so our children and grandchildren will have a future….
ATL Tiger
January 7th, 2013
9:35 am
“another con arguing that the US is not a democracy is like arguing
that a Pontiac is not General Motors.”
Pontiac is NOT General Motors, true statement. GM dropped them in 2010.
So you’re actually agreeing with the ‘cons’ that the US in not a democracy? Sweet
Brosephus™
January 7th, 2013
9:37 am
The other half…
The Tea Party wasn’t a true grassroots organization either. Money fights money, and that’s why the TP got attacked back. A true grassroots organization would not become a subset of either party.
Williebkind
January 7th, 2013
9:38 am
“So you’re actually agreeing with the ‘cons’ that the US in not a democracy? Sweet”
If “is” is “is”, then you have a reading comprehension deficit.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 7th, 2013
9:38 am
Brosephus™
January 7th, 2013
9:29 am
Did you look at graph? Do you realize that 94% of elections are won by who spent the most dough? So twitter is going to oust a 20 year incumbent? I hope you are correct but bigger money can compete in that medium as well.
Yes I am blinded by the money…candidates in presidential auction spent a billion each…Sadly, I’m not a blinded by the money remotely like those in DC. The congressional auction costs $4 billion..check out the trend…
Check out which party outspent the other in correlation with total and outcome of years in question..
http://www.opensecrets.org/bigpicture/
That being said, I desperately hope you are correct..
saywhat?
January 7th, 2013
9:39 am
Brosephus- “With the popularity of social media outlets, that can be all the political machine necessary to win an election. I think it is within the plausible to wage an effective campaign to defeat an incumbent. The challenger has to be able to capture the anger that people have with Congress. A true grassroots group could do that. It has already been proven by the Tea Party.”
———————————————————-
The first part of what you say may be true, but the Tea Party is not an example of that. The Tea Party is purely Big Money astroturfing, helped along not by social media, but by full fledged support of a major media conglomerate (Fox News).
GT
January 7th, 2013
9:39 am
The Democrats need to bust up this hold the right has on red states. They could run a child molester and win in this state of straight line voting. These guys representing us in Congress think they are bullet proof, they don’t represent the locals they represent special interest in Washington. We need to spend more money down here instead of less; even the last election was a lot closer than I thought it would be. They say they will primary us that work both ways. Democrats need to get in the Republican’s kitchen vote in their primaries our side of the equation will take care of itself. I can live with a moderate Republican or Democrat just not the extremes from either side.
Steve
January 7th, 2013
9:39 am
@ATL Tiger
Here are the facts:
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=1258
In the context of political discussions, “welfare” traditionally (as in pretty much always) refers specifically to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, the federal program that was created in 1996 to replace the Aid to Families With Dependent Children program — also known as “welfare” — that had existed since the New Deal. This is what people refer to when they say “welfare caseloads” and “welfare rolls,” and when conservatives accuse Obama of gutting “welfare reform” they are referring to TANF. The federal government spends $16.5 billion a year on TANF and, combined, the states spend another $10 billion.
Most of the federal budget is “defense” and war spending and Medicare, which should be common knowledge but that fact is regularly obscured by right-wingers who claim to be deficit hawks but refuse to cut defense spending and are scared of proposing real reductions to our programs for old people. This is how you get poll results where people think most of what the federal government spends money on is “foreign aid” and public broadcasting. So this is obviously just an attempt to rebrand “everything else” as “welfare.”
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
9:39 am
“ONLY you can play out the NAZI card – ”
aw, diddums. don’t like being called out for your post?? “Patriotism is the last refuge of the soundrel” – Samuel Johnson.
which is ironically, not far from where the Dem and Socialist fanatics are headed with their idiocy.
“Obama is one of us? Not hardly. He’s got 4 mansions in four different states with gardeners and house keepers.”
you’re confusing him with Romney, dearest. Obama only owns one property in Chicago.
“Obama is a dreaded member of the EVIL 1%!”
Evil? your words. not ours.
Welcome to the Occupation
January 7th, 2013
9:39 am
Stevie Ray: “Won’t happen…Dodd FRank made sure we continue to reinsure too big to fail institutions…heck, BO despite his rhetoric, gets piles of dough from those same institutions..”
Of course. That’s my point. Despite what our rube friends here are told to believe, and then proceed to dutifully believe, Barack Obama is the banking and financier ruling elite hitting the jackpot. Liberals are happy as clams (for the most part, anyway) and their gravy train rolls on undisturbed.
Williebkind
January 7th, 2013
9:40 am
“A true grassroots organization would not become a subset of either party.”
Are you referring to liberals to democrats or democrats to liberals. Or is that ambiguous?
Morality?
January 7th, 2013
9:42 am
For every % you want to cut the military would you be willing to cut EVERY gub’ment giveaway program by the same %? By the way Social Security is not a giveaway program – the money came out of our paychecks in ADVANCE. Sadly Congress, over a period of years, Dems & Repubs, raided the Social Security to fund the giveaway programs and, of course, to give Congress annual pay raises. Freeze all gub’ment spending increases NOW.
Joe Hussein Mama
January 7th, 2013
9:43 am
willliebkind — “We took care of our parents. Where were you?”
That’s all well and good if both husband and wife don’t have to work, but most couples *these days* do have to run on two — or even three jobs. Add in an elderly grandparent who needs attention and care, and it can rapidly be overwhelming.
My wife and I are caring for my elderly and disabled mother, but if Mom wasn’t able to do a few things for herself, we’d be in a serious bind. If she should happen to develop Alzheimers (she’s in her mid-70s and no signs yet, fortunately), we wouldn’t have any choice but to institutionalize her.
Williebkind
January 7th, 2013
9:44 am
Steve
January 7th, 2013
9:39 am
The federal government first job is to protect its citizens. The healthcare is a private adventure and that is why we have the best in the world. But cut the defense spending and you will increase the healthcare costs and the welfare roles.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 7th, 2013
9:47 am
Steve
January 7th, 2013
9:31 am
Medicare covers the first 100 days but with significant restrictions. I think there is also a copay (medigap covers) after 30 days. After 100 days, resident is one his own.
The restrictions involve diagnosis and are generally folks who need stabilization after some hospital procedure…Once the need changes to more traditional care, they revert to Medicaid but only if financially somewhat destitute.
The Medicare wings were designed to put folks otherwise in hospital at thousands a night into more reasonable costs at less than $500 or so..
Regardless, I’m glad your family got the care needed…
Morality?
January 7th, 2013
9:48 am
B F – High ways built by gub’ment dollars…….. and where did the gub’ment get those dollars from? Progressive is just another word for Sociailist.
TBS
January 7th, 2013
9:49 am
Bro
Would have to disagree somewhat in regards to the Tea Party.
While certainly somewhat of a “grass roots” beginning, Dick Armey and his folks were behind the scenes with money and messaging.
Of course there are numerous Tea Party factions but I’d venture to say the majority of the larger and influential ones have been financed by Dick Armey and other larger organizations like his as well as provided with well crafted messaging.
While I certainly think there are some well meaning and concerned people in these Tea Party orgs, I see it as much as a way to get Republican Party to move right on certain issues as it a total “grass roots” movement willing to totalally remove themselves from the Republican Party.
Almost a way to stage “coups” within the Party without blowing up the Party.
This may not be what the avg Joe wants from the Tea Party but what most of the money backing it wants.
Just my 10 cents on the overall Tea Party “grass roots” movement
Just Saying..
January 7th, 2013
9:49 am
Wilbur@8:30am:
Maybe we could have a national referendum on your point of view…
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
9:50 am
“For every % you want to cut the military would you be willing to cut EVERY gub’ment giveaway program by the same %?”
why? when there is more corruption, more waste in the DoD than anywhere else???
Joe Hussein Mama
January 7th, 2013
9:51 am
S. Ray @ 9:47 — Well-distilled, sir. Medicare’s not the cover-all solution some folks may think. The only way Medicare will cover institutionalized folks is if said folks are essentially broke.
And yes, they can and do check into patients’ finances.
zeke
January 7th, 2013
9:51 am
Sorry Jay, but, again you are wrong! It is the extreme left that is the problem. We were not formed as a socialist redistribution society, but, the democrats do not seem to care about the Constitution or the limits it places on the central government! And, contrary to the constant rants about reaching a compromise, CONGRESS IS NOT ELECTED AND SENT TO DC TO COMPROMISE, BUT, TO FIGHT FOR THE IDEALS OF THE VOTERS, BUT, IT HAS TO BE WITHIN THE LIMITS ALLOWED BY THE CONSTITUTION! Obama has no respect for the Constitution and in fact violates it repeatedly and should be impeached immediately! But that won;t happen because H Reid and the democrat senate will never hold that trial! In fact, Reid and the Senate democrats should be impeached and removed from office for violating the Constitution and not submitting a budget in over 3 years!!
DannyX
January 7th, 2013
9:51 am
“The Tea Party is purely Big Money astroturfing, helped along not by social media, but by full fledged support of a major media conglomerate (Fox News).”
Excellent point saywhat? The Tea Party is one of the biggest cons of the past 30 years. One only has to look at Georgia for proof. Yesterday the AJC ran a story about the sorry state of ethics our Republican leaders in this state are responsible for. http://www.ajc.com/news/news/ethics/nTnwX/
You might think here in red state Georgia, the capitol of Red State America, the Tea Party might have the influence to change this culture of corruption. Not even close. The Tea Party is fake. The cons are easily conned.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 7th, 2013
9:52 am
Welcome to the Occupation
January 7th, 2013
9:39 am
Yup…for more adventureous reading, google BO and the telecoms, BO and the prosecution of fat cats on wall street, and the list of those in both parties who arrived with average net worth who leave worth millions…
Train kept a rollin all night long…with a heave and a ho…
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
9:52 am
“and where did the gub’ment get those dollars from? Progressive is just another word for Sociailist.”
omfg.
building highways and infrastructure is the ROLE of government!!!
Morality?
January 7th, 2013
9:53 am
And who was it that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity? That means the gub’ment is INSANE.
Doggone/GA
January 7th, 2013
9:53 am
” is a federal constitutional republic consisting of fifty states and a federal district”
You left out a word: democratic. We are a DEMOCRATIC republic – as opposed to, for instance, a Communist republic.
TBS
January 7th, 2013
9:54 am
Bro
Was typing my post and didn’t see your last one regarding the TP.
barking frog
January 7th, 2013
9:55 am
Morality?
B F – High ways built by gub’ment dollars…….. and where did the gub’ment get those dollars from? Progressive is just another word for Sociailist.
………………………………………………………………………
You really need to do some research on socialism like just
google for the definition
stands for decibels
January 7th, 2013
9:55 am
Are they referring to every demonstration the progressive liberals have? You know where property gets destroyed and people get hurt.
Dead drunk Breitbart screaming at imaginary rapists laughs at you.
Cherokee
January 7th, 2013
9:56 am
I’am tired of the BS too, Jay, but as rightwingextreme proves once again, St Ronald couldn’t get elected dogcatcher in today’s Republican Tea Party.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
January 7th, 2013
9:56 am
The ODS is strong in this thread.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
9:57 am
barking – maybe “morality” needs to “study it out” and do his homework
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceHa5E46fQg
Pizzaman
January 7th, 2013
9:57 am
Before I get back on subject:
Williebkind @ 9:44: we DO NOT have the best health care in the world. I believe we rank somewhere in the low 30’s.
rightwingextreme @ 9:22 and before: We are a Democratic Republic! We elect our representatives through a democratic voting process. They then go to DC and act and vote on whoever pays them the most. That the republic – not Republican – part.
On subject: There is not one of the 535 Congresspeople and Senators that REALLY want to cut the budget, especially when it affects the Federal money they bring home. Federal spending in local districts is the way to re-election. So why on earth would they want it cut!
Donovan
January 7th, 2013
9:59 am
Godd morning, looters. Bookman throws chum into your morning swimming hole with the taste of Republican blame and all you do is eat your own.
The Tea Party is not to blame for ringing the common sense bell. The Bush era is not to blame for the minuscule spending in comparison to 4 years of trillion dollar debts. The Republican House is not to blame for trying to put on the brakes to a run away spending romp by DEMOCRATS.
The problem is the “shovel-ready” jobs ruse, the rejection of a balanced budget, ObamaCare entitlement costs, government expansion costs, anti-business regulatory costs, soaking the “rich” with discrimination taxes, and rejection of reining in any form of spending by the Democrat Party.
It’s a fundamental excuse in human nature. When things go wrong, blame it on someone else. You Democrats have had 4 years to put forth your liberal agenda. Predictably, it hasn’t worked. Predictably, you have done your spending part and now you have done your taxing part. In a pickle, are we?
First it was blame the Bush era tax cuts for not bringing in enough revenue. Now it’s leave those Bush era tax cuts to the “middle class” and only soak the rich in a punitive exercise that won’t accomplish anything. The hypocrisy is almost criminal.
Steve
January 7th, 2013
10:00 am
@willie – ha, we do NOT have the best healthcare in the world. We have higher infant mortality rates than dozens of countries, and only the wealthy can afford this “best” healthcare you speak of. We are ranked something like 30th in healthcare globally.
weetamoe
January 7th, 2013
10:00 am
Chicago politics writ large: manufacture a crisis, make speeches and grant waivers to cause dissension among different factions, win, win, reap the benefits—then reap the whirlwind.
Bang or whimper, who decides?
curious
January 7th, 2013
10:00 am
How many lobyists are working to maintain the status quo?
No matter which program or group you want to streamline, there are special interest group resisting change.
Get rid of lobbyists and this country’s problems might be solved.
Brosephus™
January 7th, 2013
10:00 am
Stevie @ 9:28
I know all about the money, but I also know that correlation is not causation. If you don’t think it’s possible, how do you explain things like “Gangham Style” and such? Technology is making it much easier for the common person to compete with big money nowadays. It simply has not been put to the test in a David vs Goliath setting. Look at how Obama used social media in both of his campaigns.
———————
saywhat/TBS
That’s why I said a “true” grassroots organization. The Tea Party was not a true grassroots organization by any stretch of the imagination, but they did light the pathway that one such organization could take.
When you have a political body that has a 10% approval rating, I’m sure there has to be a way to tap into that disgust and turn it into a positive. It doesn’t have to be a major undertaking either. A group could simply target two House districts per state where you have multiple districts and one district in the less populated states. Running successful in such small numbers would target nearly 100 House seats without trying to topple the entire House. I think it could be done, and the primary trigger would be to tap into the animosity that people have with the current Congress. I think this Congress will set a new record for lowest approval ratings, so it would be possible to do such a thing in 2014.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
10:01 am
Keep up – 9:56 – criminey – ODS or simply wacked-out delusions …
Morality?
January 7th, 2013
10:02 am
U.K. – tactics of the left ? You avoided and evaded my question. Where did the big gub’ment get the dollars from that built the highways? The private sector – of course. aka tax dollars. Why are you afraid of giving credit to the tax payers for the building of the highways? Gub’ment is DEAD without dollars from the private sector. – that’s a fact.
ITS ALL BUSH'S FAULT
January 7th, 2013
10:02 am
OBAMA is going to kick some more CON booty in the next 6 months. Get the popcorn ready …
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
10:02 am
“You Democrats have had 4 years to put forth your liberal agenda. Predictably, it hasn’t worked”
which is why the Democratic president was reelected.
which is why the Dems gained seats in the House
which is why the Dems retained the Senate
and which is why the economy is getting stronger.
oy to the vey.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
10:04 am
“tactics of the left ? You avoided and evaded my question. Where did the big gub’ment get the dollars from that built the highways? The private sector – of course. aka tax dollars. Why are you afraid of giving credit to the tax payers for the building of the highways? Gub’ment is DEAD without dollars from the private sector. – that’s a fact.”
Duh. of course tax dollars built highways and bridges and ports and such. THAT’S ITS JOB.
barking frog
January 7th, 2013
10:04 am
USinUK
Possibly, or maybe Morality?’s morality is questionable.
td
January 7th, 2013
10:05 am
Jay
January 7th, 2013
8:33 am
“Mick, it’s called an entitlement because you’re entitled to it, because you’ve earned it.”
You earn Food stamps, Medicaid and SSI? Are these not also entitlements? Wow, I can not believe you actually wrote that statement.
Steve
January 7th, 2013
10:05 am
The private sector is dead without the government. What’s your point?
Morality?
January 7th, 2013
10:05 am
I get my definition of SOCIALIST from Webster’s – you get yours from SOCIALISTS?
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
10:06 am
btw – morality, tax dollars going to roads, bridges and ports isn’t socialism.
St Simons - aboriginal BOOTAKOOK 2014
January 7th, 2013
10:06 am
duuuude, just because GM dropped Pontiac doesn’t mean all de
Pontiacs on the road are not GM, they ARE.
Thx for proving my point about the burdgeoning con movie industry, tho
Keep Up the Good Fight!
January 7th, 2013
10:06 am
USinUK, well ODS does seem to have a significant impact on a number of other delusions and the loss of any rational thought.
It many cases it leads to severe machoism with thoughts that a Red Dawn believer can take on an entire armed forces.
Paul
January 7th, 2013
10:07 am
I’m betting we’ll still see the same dysfunction from Republicans. Texas just sent a freshman senator to Washington – a classic TeaPartier who’s on a religious crusade. There is still a significant portion of the country that revels in thinking of themselves as the righteous underdog who know better than anyone else what’s right and good and is willing to do nearly anything to get what they want.
Of course, a healthy dose of ignorance keeps them on course.
I used to not be much of a fan of Rep Pelosi. I’ve changed my mind, especially compared to the current Speaker. She will hold to her principles but she’s pragmatic. She enforced discipline. She was willing to compromise to keep the country moving. For those reasons, I see Democrats as coming out better after a year than Republicans. Sure, they’ll have their angst and their battles and their zealots crying the end of the country is upon us, but at the end of the day they will pretty do what they have to do to survive.
TP Republicans seem to think ritual suicide is a grand and glorious outcome.
St Simons - aboriginal BOOTAKOOK 2014
January 7th, 2013
10:08 am
Screeching about cutting entitlements because a few bad apples abuse
them, well….
that’s like saying we should cut out guns because a few bad apples
abuse them….
See how that works, cons?
Morality?
January 7th, 2013
10:09 am
Steve – like most things you got it back wards. Never said private sector is dead without gub’ment – or were you trying for a little sick humor?
Old Goober
January 7th, 2013
10:11 am
I guess my hardcore Republican conservative grandparents were socialists as they raved about how Medicare kept my grandmother from losing everything when she had to send my grandfather into the nursing home with Alzheimers for years, and Medicare covered the bulk of that astronomical cost.
Must have been a different Medicare from the one I have. My Medicare covers the first 20 days of nursing home care at 100%. It covers the next 70 days at 80%. After that, it covers zip—repeat, zip.
Now Medicaid covers nursing home care for a longer period, but there are strict income and asset limits. Generally, Medicaid nursing home patients must sell their homes and other substantial assets before they are eligible for nursing home coverage. The state will confiscate any assets that aren’t sold to pay for Medicaid nursing home care.
In short, this country’s healthcare policies for the elderly and infirm are shameful. If you find yourself in need of long-term nursing home care, be prepared to sacrifice everything you own. You can work and save all your life and still find yourself impoverished by a cruel national and state system.
You had better check what really happened to your grandmother before you extoll the virtues of Medicare.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
10:11 am
“I get my definition of SOCIALIST from Webster’s – you get yours from SOCIALISTS?”
Hooray!!! I’ll play. Okay, you got it from Webster’s? then tell me which definition you’re applying?
“1 : any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
2
a : a system of society or group living in which there is no private property
b : a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state ”
we’re all standing by … because this should be good.
Williebkind
January 7th, 2013
10:12 am
“— maybe a few punches, but I’d take Harry Reid and Pelosi over any of those “rich pretty boys”; any day.”
This is how sick the left has become.
Williebkind
January 7th, 2013
10:14 am
USinUK – not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 7th, 2013
10:11 am
All of it.
Morality?
January 7th, 2013
10:14 am
If you are waiting for the gub’ment to show up and save you from a home invasion or car jacking – well just refer to the old westerns where the cavalry arrives after the massacre for your results. I don’t depend on the gub’ment to save my life.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 7th, 2013
10:15 am
Dead drunk Breitbart screaming at imaginary rapists laughs at you.
Heh, heh, heh.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Godd[sic] morning, looters.
Aaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnddddd, I stopped reading.
Erwin's cat
January 7th, 2013
10:16 am
“— maybe a few punches, but I’d take Harry Reid and Pelosi over any of those “rich pretty boys”; any day.”
three cheers for the ugly rich
Christian Conservative
January 7th, 2013
10:16 am
USinUK – not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
which is why the Democratic president was reelected. simple. More takers voted than makers…
which is why the Dems gained seats in the House: because of gerrymandering. hardly any gained in red states….
which is why the Dems retained the Senate it was a longshot for Repubs anyway.. look at 2014…
and which is why the economy is getting stronger. What! Perhaps in the land of Oz…
Granny Godzilla
January 7th, 2013
10:17 am
Good Morning Looters?
Good Morning Idiot.
Paul
January 7th, 2013
10:17 am
old goober
“In short, this country’s healthcare policies for the elderly and infirm are shameful. If you find yourself in need of long-term nursing home care, be prepared to sacrifice everything you own. You can work and save all your life and still find yourself impoverished by a cruel national and state system.”
I think the poster meant ‘Medicaid.”
Just as a question, what’s wrong with spending all you’ve saved to take care of yourself our your spouse? Isn’t that a conservative battlecry – self reliance? If a person’s at the point where they require institutional care, why do they need to retain two cars, land, a stock portfolio or any other significant assets before asking other Americans to pay for their care?
Williebkind
January 7th, 2013
10:18 am
“btw – morality, tax dollars going to roads, bridges and ports isn’t socialism.”
Typical liberal argument take one project to promote the health and welfare of the general public and they compare to welfare. Liberals sure are funny!
indigo
January 7th, 2013
10:18 am
Brosephus – “the people are still responsible for the votes they cast”
And, we can only vote for the people on the ballot. If both parties run less than satisfactory candidates, it’s not our fault.
Your idea of write in candidates is not feasible since, almost always, there are NO candidates asking for write in votes.
Kamchak - You cons said Elmer Fudd could defeat Obama, so why didn't you nominate him?
January 7th, 2013
10:18 am
which is why the Democratic president was reelected. simple. More takers voted than makers…
Obama was reelected because Romney was the best that y’all could come up with.
Geez….
Morality?
January 7th, 2013
10:19 am
U.K. – All three describe Obama’s administration…… thank you for agreeing with me!
Williebkind
January 7th, 2013
10:20 am
“Good Morning Looters?
Good Morning Idiot.”
Oh my! GG is in good form this morning. She must have read about Al Gore and his latest adventure.
Brosephus™: "Team Gump will prevail over Team Rudy"
January 7th, 2013
10:20 am
Mornin’ Paul, you ol’ Texas leftist!!
Granny Godzilla
January 7th, 2013
10:20 am
IN other news….
The Mayor Of Munchkinland, in the County of Oz annouces today
that the UE rate is at 7.8%, the stock market is over 13M and
yes the economy is improving.
Paul
January 7th, 2013
10:21 am
Christian Conservative
“and which is why the economy is getting stronger. What! Perhaps in the land of Oz…”
Okay… I’ll bite….
How is the economy today – jobs growth vs decline, growth or decline in personal wealth, home values, foreclosure rate, auto manufacturing and sales, etc – the same or worse than it was in January 2009?
I’m really, really, really interested to read your stats.