well it's not even really that they 'know how to cut deals' it's that they have fewer totally insane people to deal w/
If Pelosi keeps discipline and Boehner can't, which party is going to look more responsible, more rational and more concerned with ordinary voters' problems?
wasn't congress fairly responsible, rational, conerned with ordinary voters' problems before the 2010 elections?
― iatee, Thursday, 15 March 2012 16:18 (twelve years ago) link
fwiw the House hasn't passed jackshit in three years,
more accurately, the House hasn't passed jackshit in two years, since the GOP took over. Pelosi's legislative record as Speaker was actually pretty good (her problem was things dying in the Senate)
xp
― the sir edmund hillary of sitting through pauly shore films (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 15 March 2012 16:20 (twelve years ago) link
lol well played. altho tbf I think their approval ratings were higher prior to the 2010 elections.
― the sir edmund hillary of sitting through pauly shore films (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 15 March 2012 16:23 (twelve years ago) link
my main point is that I don't think anyone could do substantially better than boehner's doing right now cause his problems are more due to the structural problems that come with an increasingly radicalized party than personal shortcomings
related to how I don't think there could be a strong gop pres candidate today or will be anytime soon
― iatee, Thursday, 15 March 2012 16:28 (twelve years ago) link
My point is that as de facto spoiler in chief, Boehner is doing just fine doing nothing. All he has to do is crow about all the stuff that hasn't been passed and he not only gains cred but judo flips the blame onto the Dems. You know, for not getting things done under his watch. And of course, since the Dem majority (ha) senate can't exactly pass laws without the House, Boehner's obstructionism by absentia makes him out to be the plug on the deficit genie lamp. Or something. His lack of achievement - besides introducing or encouraging batshit bills that won't go anywhere, even if they make it to the senate to die - is an achievement in and of itself in a climate where doing nothing is considered an attribute by millions.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 15 March 2012 16:34 (twelve years ago) link
well it's considered a bad thing by even more millions, which means it's not a very good long-term strategy for controlling congress
― iatee, Thursday, 15 March 2012 16:37 (twelve years ago) link
I dunno if Boehner's "doing just fine" - he has people visibly gunning for his job (Cantor), a sizable portion of his caucus doesn't like or listen to him, the congressional GOP's approval ratings are in the toilet, and the "throw the bums out" sentiment that swept them into power in 2010 is even more pronounced this time around.
― the sir edmund hillary of sitting through pauly shore films (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 15 March 2012 16:37 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, but he's doing fine for a fuck-up. And really, long-term strategy does not seem to be a concern on the right these days.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 15 March 2012 16:38 (twelve years ago) link
Like, I think public sentiment is throw all the bums out, literally vote out the entire Congress, which of course is not going to happen. So people will vote for the usual fuckers. Again. ANd a few new fuckers will slip in, promising cheap gas, an end to Iran's meddling in Mexico, no birth control for people who have sex with animals, and the repealing the sun.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 15 March 2012 16:40 (twelve years ago) link
I don't think boehner's 'doing just fine' I think anyone in his position is fucked, cantor would be too
― iatee, Thursday, 15 March 2012 16:42 (twelve years ago) link
But there he is. Again, we're not talking long-term strategy here, because these dudes don't look past tomorrow.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 15 March 2012 16:43 (twelve years ago) link
Boehner has a good chance at retaining the position of Speaker of the House
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 15 March 2012 16:46 (twelve years ago) link
I don't think the Dems will retake the House but it's possible Boehner's speakership will be challenged from within if the GOP ranks shift enough
― the sir edmund hillary of sitting through pauly shore films (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 15 March 2012 16:53 (twelve years ago) link
No way to know what the caucus will look and ACT like should the GOP lose in November.
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 15 March 2012 16:54 (twelve years ago) link
Back to the detaining Yemeni reporter story, another Mother Jones columnist differs with K*vin Drum, who thinks in print about the views, and then sticks with his original take
http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/03/obama-and-shaye-will-white-house-explain-its-actions
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 15 March 2012 16:55 (twelve years ago) link
if boehner hangs on in his post AND obama loses in november, boehner suddenly becomes pretty powerful. if both of those happen and the GOP flips the senate, even more so. nobody looks good running a minority.
― goole, Thursday, 15 March 2012 17:04 (twelve years ago) link
if both of those happen and the GOP flips the senate, even more so
huge longshot imho
― the sir edmund hillary of sitting through pauly shore films (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 15 March 2012 17:07 (twelve years ago) link
I don't think it's going far out on a limb to suggest that if Boehner keeps his post, repubs keep the house, repubs win the senate and also win the white house, that he's "doing just fine." The rest of us, on the other hand, will be doomed.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 15 March 2012 17:07 (twelve years ago) link
suggest that if Boehner keeps his post = possiblerepubs keep the house = likelyrepubs win the senate = not so likelyand also win the white house, = SO NOT GONNA HAPPEN
― the sir edmund hillary of sitting through pauly shore films (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 15 March 2012 17:13 (twelve years ago) link
shitty GOP prez candidate will depress GOP voter turnout, which will dim their chances of retaking the Senate. House is probably secure tho.
― the sir edmund hillary of sitting through pauly shore films (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 15 March 2012 17:14 (twelve years ago) link
Which means the next four years will be just like the past four, no?
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 15 March 2012 17:19 (twelve years ago) link
oh if Obama wins and the GOP retains the House it's safe to assume even less will get done. only accomplishments will be pulling out of Afghanistan and other foreign-policy-related stuff
― the sir edmund hillary of sitting through pauly shore films (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 15 March 2012 17:21 (twelve years ago) link
Which is sweet! I can't wait to post more indignant Bam-aims-drones-at-citizens stuff!
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 15 March 2012 17:47 (twelve years ago) link
texas responds to the DOJ's objection to its voter id law by amending its complaint: the Voting Rights Act is (partly) unconstitutional! it “exceeds the enumerated powers of Congress and conflicts with Article IV of the Constitution and the Tenth Amendment.”
http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31583
― goole, Thursday, 15 March 2012 18:58 (twelve years ago) link
lol gtfo
― the sir edmund hillary of sitting through pauly shore films (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 15 March 2012 18:59 (twelve years ago) link
good luck, texmerica
― TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 15 March 2012 20:04 (twelve years ago) link
Oh yay, Rush is on Twitter
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 15 March 2012 20:05 (twelve years ago) link
“I’m not going to be hanging on Twitter 15 hours a day and tweeting, ‘Just had breakfast, have a wonderful day! Bye! Here’s a picture of me eating some cornflakes!’ None of that stuff,” he said
lol like Rush eats cornflakes without frosting
― thuggish ruggish Brahms (DJP), Thursday, 15 March 2012 20:08 (twelve years ago) link
“Just things I want people to see and there’s a really good one today that I want people to see, and I’m going to tweet it out.”
Definitely do not need to see Rush tweeting one out
― TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 15 March 2012 20:10 (twelve years ago) link
What's frosting? Is that some new painkiller all the kids are doing?
― L'ennui, cette maladie de tous les (Michael White), Thursday, 15 March 2012 20:13 (twelve years ago) link
― thuggish ruggish Brahms (DJP), Thursday, March 15, 2012 4:08 PM (4 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
unsurprisingly, he sounds like what olds thought twitter was in 2008
― been to lots of college and twitter (k3vin k.), Friday, 16 March 2012 00:57 (twelve years ago) link
I dunno where else in the country this is bubbling up, but our legislature here is all freaked out about Agenda 21. (Which they just discovered, even though it's been around since 1992.) My favorite part is this:
the measure matches up nearly word-for-word with a model posted on the website of the John Birch Society
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Friday, 16 March 2012 02:13 (twelve years ago) link
As far as I'm aware, "I am willing to stand up against the tyranny of Agenda 21" means "I am psychotically insane OR I am willing to stand in solidarity with my psychotically insane brethren if it will get me a few votes".
So, it's a very _now_ look for Republicans.
― Andrew Farrell, Friday, 16 March 2012 10:23 (twelve years ago) link
Only 3rd on the agenda!
― Andrew Farrell, Friday, 16 March 2012 10:32 (twelve years ago) link
wait that can't be real
― thuggish ruggish Brahms (DJP), Friday, 16 March 2012 14:02 (twelve years ago) link
We worry about the "imposition" of sharia law yet:
WHEREAS, God has never rescinded his grant of said lands; and WHEREAS, along with the grant of said lands to the Jewish people, God provided for the non-Jewish residents of the land in commanding that governance must be in one law for all without drawing distinction between Jewish and non-Jewish citizens, as contained in Leviticus 24:22, and
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 16 March 2012 14:07 (twelve years ago) link
Oh c'mon, stop acting all surprised. Obviously Evangelical Christians are opposed Sharia Law bc they think divine testament law is the only law.
― Mordy, Friday, 16 March 2012 14:10 (twelve years ago) link
and that peace can be afforded the region only through a united Israel governed under one law for all people.
I'm sure the Palestinians will be delighted to hear it.
― drawn to them like a moth toward a spanakopita (Laurel), Friday, 16 March 2012 14:20 (twelve years ago) link
"reverenced"?
― goole, Friday, 16 March 2012 14:38 (twelve years ago) link
silly, Palestinians aren't people! xp
― butvi wouls (Phil D.), Friday, 16 March 2012 14:39 (twelve years ago) link
Other Republicans are pointing fingers at Sandra Fluke's "socialist Jewish boyfriend" (who does not love America or Israel enough among other things apparently)
http://thegraph.com/2012/03/sandra-flukes-boyfriend/
― curmudgeon, Friday, 16 March 2012 15:04 (twelve years ago) link
wow, this 'beta male' shit. kudos to the anti-woman internet underground, you have made it increasingly mainstream.
― goole, Friday, 16 March 2012 15:22 (twelve years ago) link
look at this clown's twitter feed
https://twitter.com/#!/brooksbayne
looks like some other conservatives have tried to ostracize him as an anti-semite. lol this shit.
― goole, Friday, 16 March 2012 15:28 (twelve years ago) link
https://twitter.com/#!/jstrevino/statuses/180664026236338176
― goole, Friday, 16 March 2012 15:31 (twelve years ago) link
Oh lord, that's the real Adam Baldwin. Bad show, Jayne.
― Andrew Farrell, Friday, 16 March 2012 15:36 (twelve years ago) link
yeah he's a total nut
― thuggish ruggish Brahms (DJP), Friday, 16 March 2012 15:46 (twelve years ago) link
wtf. tikkun olem was not invented by liberals. it was invented by the fucking besht. fuck conservatives forever.
― Mordy, Friday, 16 March 2012 17:01 (twelve years ago) link
Whether or not Boehner keeps his speakership is really not a big deal one way or another, but here's how I see it. Even if the Republicans were to take a whipping in November, while still retaining a much-diminished majority in the House, Boehner probably wouldn't fall to Cantor as a result, because the most likely R-reps to lose their seats in such an election would be the freshman tea-partiers, undercutting Cantor's core of support.
imo, the most likely way for Boehner to lose out to Cantor would be a very mixed election where 95% of the tea party R-reps came back, but about an equal number of "moderate" R-reps lost their seats, but Obama wins and the Senate stays Democratic. Then Cantor might-could assemble an insurrection and grab the speaker's chair. Not likely, tho.
― Aimless, Friday, 16 March 2012 19:14 (twelve years ago) link
he most likely R-reps to lose their seats in such an election would be the freshman tea-partiers
what are you basing this on
― the sir edmund hillary of sitting through pauly shore films (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 16 March 2012 19:19 (twelve years ago) link
tea party's appeal undiminished in the GOP if the prez primary is anything to go by