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Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Politics See How That Works?

Posted by Dan Savage on Wed, Feb 4, 2009 at 11:23 AM

Obama had to promise Sen. Gregg (R-NH) that the Democratic governor of New Hampshire would appoint a Republican to replace Gregg otherwise Gregg wouldn't join the Obama administration as Commerce Secretary. But Gregg didn't have to promise Obama that he would vote for his stimulus package? And Gregg has announced his plan to effectively vote against Obama's stimulus package?

Obama's post-partisan politics seems to work like this: Republicans—the assholes who lost the last two national elections—make demands and Democrats—the assholes who won the last two national elections—cave in to those demands. Um, how is this post-partisan shit any different from the plain ol' partisan shit?

Comments (18) RSS

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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

you Seattle Liberals slay me!

Posted by Karl Rove on February 4, 2009 at 11:36 AM

yeah, and it's fuckin' weak.

This reaching out to everyone bullshit, really needs to stop.

What is it with goddamned Democrats who want everyone to love them? Republicans don't play that shit; they go out of their way to insure that the Left hates them. It makes them happy.

The Dems need to embrace some Republican hardness and quit being a bunch of hippie dippy school girls.

Posted by michael strangeways on February 4, 2009 at 11:39 AM

This is because, deep down, most Democrats believe the Republican myth that America is fundamentally a conservative country. It doesn't matter how many elections they win or how powerful they become: Democratic leaders believe they're one misstep away from alienating the Heartland. The irony is that (a) the Heartland is already alienated; (b) thanks to population shift to urban areas, appeasing the Heartland is no longer necessary; and (c) by constantly caving to the right, the Democrats just anger their base. When will they grow a spine?

Posted by Matt on February 4, 2009 at 11:45 AM

No, Michael, the reaching out to everyone needs to continue. But the reach-around in return needs to be rewarded, and when it doesn't happen, he needs to call it out. That's all.

Posted by Andy Niable on February 4, 2009 at 11:53 AM

I am watching Robert Gibbs' daily briefing, on the topic of the stimulus bill. Robert Gibbs is ridiculously boring and sort of not all that articulate. Has anyone else noticed this?

Posted by Julie in Eugene on February 4, 2009 at 12:06 PM

It IS different, because when the Republicans ran the whole show, instead of asking Democrats what they wanted (and giving them something), they just called them gay French Muslim traitors and legislated without them. (That's how we got Bush's tax cuts, the Patriot Act, and the Iraq war.)

What it is NOT is Democrats ignoring Republicans completely.

I might prefer ignoring Republicans entirely, but it is less bipartisan.

Posted by fawxer on February 4, 2009 at 12:13 PM

5
I agree.
He is not a very inspiring face for the administration.

Posted by Harmon on February 4, 2009 at 12:15 PM

Democrats are useless pussies.

It's a fucking joke, we're governed by Republicans even when we elect democrats.

Fuck you, Obama, you're a piece of shit.

Posted by andrew on February 4, 2009 at 12:15 PM

@7, 8

If I take a step back, and momentarily suspend my contempt for Republicans, I can respect what Obama is trying to do. In theory, a multi-partisan government is a good idea.

I just think it is going to be really difficult, maybe not even possible.

But didn't we vote for Obama because of "hope" and "change?" I'm gonna give him more than a couple weeks to see what he can do.

Posted by fawxer on February 4, 2009 at 12:24 PM

ok, he calls it out, but then he needs to stop trying to placate their every wish. If Obama thinks he's going to win the love and respect of the Right, he's sadly mistaken. And kowtowing to them, only makes them hate him more for being weak.

This turning the other cheek shit doesn't work...it only results in getting your face kicked in.

It's time the Dems realized that they have control of the White House and Capitol Hill which doesn't happen very often, and they have that control for at least 2 years, and it's highly unlikely the Republicans can take back the House or Senate in 2010, so RUN WITH THE MOTHERFUCKING BALL!

Posted by michael strangeways on February 4, 2009 at 12:25 PM

@9
Yeah and change is supposed to mean change away from republicans, not change to democrats legistlating for republicans.

Posted by andrew on February 4, 2009 at 1:02 PM

Dan,
Hate to say it but all is political especially in politics. It isn't surprising Republicans are demanding concessions. It's the nature of the beast.

Posted by lark on February 4, 2009 at 1:22 PM

Obama needs to use the iron fist inside his velvet glove.

And make a few examples of them.

Posted by Will in Seattle on February 4, 2009 at 1:46 PM

I agree with Will. He's going to have to make them vote. If they want to filibuster his stimulus he has a big election hammer to hit them with in 2010. He also needs to realise they want to destroy his Presidency. Did you hear David Vitter (R-La.) talk about how his constituents are terrified, TERRIFIED, of Obama.

Posted by Vince on February 4, 2009 at 3:14 PM

All TRUE.
But we've been wrong about Obama before. ("You gotta hit back McCain HARDER!") And the change thing (including turning the other cheek thing) does take time... sometimes the guy who can take a bit of a face-slapping ends up the winner in the end. Give him a few more months- he's new to the job, and his organization isn't greased up to full capacity yet - Clinton took a while to get anything done at all, and the mess O has to clean up is far worse....

Posted by Scooter Alexander on February 4, 2009 at 5:05 PM

More dead end thinking, Dan.

This is the same mentality that claimed Obama would have to abandon the high road to have any hope of defeating McCain. It's short sighted and wrong (just like you).

The path to the high road of non-partisanship will be long and often painful, with many small failures and tough times along the way. But the only way ANYONE will ever get there is to ignore weak-willed, whiney douchebags like yourself, who don't have spine enough to hold fast to the fight and walk the walk all the way.

If you want to get rid of the assholeyness in D.C. you just can't do it by turning into an asshole every time the going gets tough for your side of the isle.

Posted by Timrrr on February 4, 2009 at 5:28 PM

@3: Appeasing the Heartland is no longer necessary? They GROW a lot of your food. This is important, especially if you're a vegetarian.

Posted by whatevermind on February 5, 2009 at 2:14 AM

@17: So the bible thumping farmers and ranchers in Kansas are going to withhold their bounty and attempt to starve out the godless liberals on the coasts? Is that your theory on why they have to be appeased? I hope I merely misunderstood your point.

Posted by Brian on February 5, 2009 at 8:16 AM