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News & ArtsMonday, February 1, 2010
Politics The Next Time One of Your Republican Relatives Complains That Barack Obama Isn't Seeking Bipartisan Solutions...
Posted by Dan Savage on Mon, Feb 1, 2010 at 12:46 PM
...send 'em here.
1
Sure, because our Republican relatives/friends will be sure to be convinced instantly by James Fallows' anecdotal evidence. I can hear them now: "The Atlantic? Why don't I just find out what bin Laden thinks from his latest videotape?", et cetera
3
Silly rabbit, when they say "bi-partisan solutions" they mean acquiescing to every Republican demand without question.
4
There can be no bipartisanship because it means ceding more power than the Dems think is reasonable. In a 59/41 senate, the Dems would have to give Reps at least 50% ownership of a bill to get it to pass. This is abhorrent to a party that thought they won it all just a little while back.
I agree with the gist of the article, that you can't throw the minority party a little bone now and then and then expect them to join the majority, but there's plenty of impediments to either side, people.
I agree with the gist of the article, that you can't throw the minority party a little bone now and then and then expect them to join the majority, but there's plenty of impediments to either side, people.
5
the main impediments are the lack of rational people or rational ideas in the minority party.
if americans reward these clowns by giving them back the house (and the odds are astronomical that that would occur), then we deserve the misery we'll get.
fascism here we come!
if americans reward these clowns by giving them back the house (and the odds are astronomical that that would occur), then we deserve the misery we'll get.
fascism here we come!
7
Or better, talk about what Jason Linkins wrote about today, prompted by Chuck Todd tweeting "Defining bipartisanship. WH believes it's about legis w/ something for BOTH parties; GOP argues for passage of JUST what THEY agree with."
A lot of bipartisan legislation with both conservative and liberal solutions is in fact being passed by Congress. It's just that even with their own ideas incorporated, Republicans won't vote for anything. It's an unwillingness to compromise.
A lot of bipartisan legislation with both conservative and liberal solutions is in fact being passed by Congress. It's just that even with their own ideas incorporated, Republicans won't vote for anything. It's an unwillingness to compromise.
8
What the President needs to do is surround himself with a more competent team that can advise him on what his priorities need to be and keep from waisting his political capital and energy on some issues that do more harm than help for his overall administrative plans. Once he has done that he can clearly then get to task by effectively rolling the ball over the GOP.
9
Dan, nice to see you linking to James Fallows. One of the great American journalists. Plus, his blog on The Atlantic's site is one of those I just keep coming back to.
This discussion about bipartisanship nicely transitions to his terrific cover story in the current Atlantic, How America Can Rise Again.
One other data point I would add. It's thanks to low-information voters that the GOP's obstructionism is so effective. All most folks see is that Washington isn't getting anything done, so they blame the party in power. Y'know, one of the surest paths to success in the real world is to exploit a knowledge gap. The GOP is doing just that.
When you're trying to negotiate with a party that has no interest in striking a deal, all that meeting in the middle does is shift the definition of the middle. This is how a health care plan that's no more radical that Romneycare in Mass. has now been redefined as "some Bolshevik plot," to use Obama's own words, plus the worst kind of pork-barrel, big-spending politics. The fact that millions of Americans believe such crap is a tribute to the GOP's political savvy and Obama's lack thereof.
This discussion about bipartisanship nicely transitions to his terrific cover story in the current Atlantic, How America Can Rise Again.
One other data point I would add. It's thanks to low-information voters that the GOP's obstructionism is so effective. All most folks see is that Washington isn't getting anything done, so they blame the party in power. Y'know, one of the surest paths to success in the real world is to exploit a knowledge gap. The GOP is doing just that.
When you're trying to negotiate with a party that has no interest in striking a deal, all that meeting in the middle does is shift the definition of the middle. This is how a health care plan that's no more radical that Romneycare in Mass. has now been redefined as "some Bolshevik plot," to use Obama's own words, plus the worst kind of pork-barrel, big-spending politics. The fact that millions of Americans believe such crap is a tribute to the GOP's political savvy and Obama's lack thereof.
10
@6: It is infinitely reassuring to me that you lack the mental faculties to correctly spell "O'Reilly".
Finally, people are realizing that bipartisanism is really only possible on issues where there is common ground: scarce pickings in America today.
@9: I'm not sure if you have read Freakonomics by Leavitt and Dubner, but there's a really good chapter in it about knowledge gaps and how certain unsavory characters use them.
Finally, people are realizing that bipartisanism is really only possible on issues where there is common ground: scarce pickings in America today.
@9: I'm not sure if you have read Freakonomics by Leavitt and Dubner, but there's a really good chapter in it about knowledge gaps and how certain unsavory characters use them.
12
Cressona @9 nails it. I really like James Fallows as well; he's an incisive commentator on a wide variety of subjects. He's also been back on NPR much more frequently of late.
13
@8
I get the sense that you are implying Obama shouldn't focus on any sort of pro-gay legislation. That's a shame. Someday, I'd appreciate a president who stuck up for people like myself.
I get the sense that you are implying Obama shouldn't focus on any sort of pro-gay legislation. That's a shame. Someday, I'd appreciate a president who stuck up for people like myself.
14
Unfortunately, it's no just the Republicans in government who are voting as a bloc. The "tea party" crowd and their adherents are a monolith of ignorance getting over blown press for their consistently irrational consistency.
Obama and the Democrats got carried away, thinking that being swept into majorities across the board meant they could tackle huge social projects in the midst of a near-depression.
First you demonstrate you can govern by getting us out of the mess the Republicans got us into. Then you pursue your agendas having won the respect and gratitude of the millions who you save from the bread lines.
Obama and the Democrats got carried away, thinking that being swept into majorities across the board meant they could tackle huge social projects in the midst of a near-depression.
First you demonstrate you can govern by getting us out of the mess the Republicans got us into. Then you pursue your agendas having won the respect and gratitude of the millions who you save from the bread lines.
15
CB, you are one ignorant fuck. Millions of people just voted for Obama. Why do you Democrat apologists ignore that reality? Millions of people of people just voted for Obama and explicitly REJECTED the Republican agenda. Obama doesn't have to re-win their support. He's had it from day one. HE FUCKING BLEW IT BY ACTING LIKE A RIGHT WINGER. That's the problem with Democrats. THEY ARE NOT LEFTIES, THEY ARE NOT PROGRESSIVES, THEY ARE NOT LIBERALS. They are slightly to the left of the Republicans (slightly) and yet the overwhelming majority of their supporters are in fact lefties, progressives, and liberals. We have a political system in which the majority of the public is forced to vote for a party that does not share their political views. And, of course, we have idiot fuckwads like you who spew ignorance about how the political system functions and muddies the air with your bullshit. SHUT THE FUCK UP!
16
Welcome to the world of the DeLayan GOP. I hate to say I told you so, but...no, I've been saying it a while now. The Republican reps all have cattle prods up their asses with the Whip at the controls.
But the article makes a good point: these people are being forced to toe the party line even when against the wishes of their constituency. Parliamentary action is about willingness to compromise. You don't compromise, you don't get a voice.
Maybe when the Repubs can't do shit either, we will start seeing new parties arise.
Either way, the I predict the DeLayan game will not last too long.
But the article makes a good point: these people are being forced to toe the party line even when against the wishes of their constituency. Parliamentary action is about willingness to compromise. You don't compromise, you don't get a voice.
Maybe when the Repubs can't do shit either, we will start seeing new parties arise.
Either way, the I predict the DeLayan game will not last too long.
17
Obama's address to the GOP changed my mind about him. I thought he really didn't give a shit but I think he's trying. I hope he remembers gay people. I know he has a LOT to do but I just hope he remembers gay people. Political tides turn and gay Americans have waited TOO LONG for equal rights.
But yeah, I think he does give a shit. I was moved by his strength in the face of intransigent opposition.
But yeah, I think he does give a shit. I was moved by his strength in the face of intransigent opposition.
18
I send my resumes abroad. Welcome Brain Drain.
When I get more responses back from Italy and Switzerland than my own country after years and years of slaving away in the lab.
Hell i stand a better shot of getting employed in China ... and getting health care coverage too! AND realistic work weeks!
Seriously. The Republicans have openly declared themselves obstructionists, and just throw fits ad nausum because they more or less don't like their vegetables.
News flash THAILAND has nationalized health care! Anecdotally speaking, every god damn country on the planet that is making realistic strides in economic recovery has nationalized health care.
I mean, even if we compromise the "quality" of our national health care for the economic viability of country, I mean ... isn't that the conservative thing? Or am I taking crazy pills?
I'll come back to the U.S. when you collectively take their head out of their ass give me a mother fucking honest pay check.
When I get more responses back from Italy and Switzerland than my own country after years and years of slaving away in the lab.
Hell i stand a better shot of getting employed in China ... and getting health care coverage too! AND realistic work weeks!
Seriously. The Republicans have openly declared themselves obstructionists, and just throw fits ad nausum because they more or less don't like their vegetables.
News flash THAILAND has nationalized health care! Anecdotally speaking, every god damn country on the planet that is making realistic strides in economic recovery has nationalized health care.
I mean, even if we compromise the "quality" of our national health care for the economic viability of country, I mean ... isn't that the conservative thing? Or am I taking crazy pills?
I'll come back to the U.S. when you collectively take their head out of their ass give me a mother fucking honest pay check.
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