WSJ editorial: Boehner and McConnell handing Obama relection

[Bubbler]

McConnell's only goal -- his and the Republicans ONLY goal -- is to boot Obama for office. Their ONLY goal. **** what's good for America, **** what's good for the American people, **** anything that stands in the way of these assholes and power.

He's not doing a very good job of it.

Obama is in a great position. Just sit back and watch the idiots **** things up.

Too bad all of us pay the price in the end.

 

[Versatile]

Isn't this the real article from WSJ?

http://online.wSportsJournalists.com/article/SB10001424052970204791104577110573867064702.html?mod=ITP_opinion_2

Yes, and I'd encourage TigerVols to change the link so we don't have to give clicks to that soulless thief Arianna Huffington and can instead give clicks to that soulless thief Rupert Murdoch. :)

I thought the editorial itself was another example of the Journal saying, without actually saying, that the problem for the Republicans is that they suck at the inside-baseball aspects of politics even though they have all the right ideas. That's a fine stance to take (and I'm sure many Republicans agree), but I thought they meandered around the point too much.

As far as the actual substance of the discussion . . . When don't politicians cut off their nose to spite the other party?

 

[Ben_Hecht]

You can call it hypocrisy. I'm fine with that.

But, both sides are hypocrites.

And, as for the fine print, it's about the actual votes. If you vote for a tax increase, then you've broken the "Pledge".

If a temporary tax cut expires without a vote, you did not violate the "Pledge".

And, the Republicans were willing to extend the tax cuts. But, in exchange they wanted the "Keystone Pipeline" to be approved.

That put it in Obama's court. What's it worth?

The current GOP House is willing to bargain. They just drive a hard bargain. I'm a fan. It's how I would (and have) negotiated.

But they've shown on multiple occasions that they won't bargain in good faith. That's different than a tough negotiation.

Cantor sure as hell won't. He's an ambitious little ****, carrying all that water for his corporate masters.

 

[Gehrig]

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/

Rush Limbaugh talked about this today on his show.

 

[JakeandElwood]

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/

Rush Limbaugh talked about this today on his show.

Cool story bro.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/

Rush Limbaugh talked about this today on his show.

How many racist bombs did he drop?

 

[Michael_ Gee]

McConnell negotiated with Reed with the implicit or explicit approval of Boehner that the House would approve the deal he got. It's not like Mitch is not a good negotiator. Then Boehner, or his caucus, reneged. THAT'S why so many Republican Senators are pissed. They've essentially been dissed, no, neutered as a group, because obviously, the Democrats will not bother to negotiate with them again.
PS: Obama should unilaterally order the Treasury not to collect the higher tax and defy Congress to impeach him. Of course he won't. But I'd love to see Congress impeach a President on the grounds he gave taxpayers a rate cut. That'd really play well.

 

[Starman]

McConnell's only goal -- his and the Republicans ONLY goal -- is to boot Obama for office. Their ONLY goal. **** what's good for America, **** what's good for the American people, **** anything that stands in the way of these assholes and power.

DING DING DING


Their one and only goal is to make the White House White Again.

Has been since Nov. 5, 2008.

Usually it's just annoying in an abstract sort of way, but now YOU and ME are going to take a $1,000-a-year ass ****ing because of it.

Enjoy, Teabag Nation.

 

[Bob Cook]

A good story hear about how Republicans snatched defeat from the jaws of victory:

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/12/how-did-the-payroll-tax-slam-dunk-turn-into-such-a-disaster/250339/?google_editors_picks=true

A landslide margin of 89-10 approved a two-month extension of the payroll tax cut, along with renewed unemployment benefits and the so-called doc fix. On the eve of winter vacation, Republicans appeared to have scored a clear tactical victory on at least three counts.

1) President Obama initially said he wanted a full-year extension of all three measures. On Saturday, he was ready to sign an eight-week "insurance policy."

2) Democrats initially proposed a surtax for millionaires. On Saturday, the caucus was lining up behind a plan that would cut spending, only.

3) The White House warned the GOP it would never marry the controversial Keystone XL pipeline to the payroll tax debate. But Saturday's vote would have pressured the president to make a decision on the pipeline in early 2012.

Then yesterday, three days after the Senate's vote, something not-so-extraordinary happened in the people's chamber. House Republicans rejected the nine-to-one compromise, tore up all the concessions Senate Republicans had won from Democrats, and threatened to leave Washington for an early vacation. The response among some conservatives has been barely concealed shock. Even the Wall Street Journal has thrown up its hands in dismay. "The GOP leaders have somehow managed the remarkable feat of being blamed for opposing a one-year extension of a tax holiday that they are surely going to pass," the editorial board wrote this morning. "This is no easy double play."

What do House Republicans want? They have proposed a full-year extension with their own list of offsetting measures to make the payroll tax package deficit neutral. These include: extending the federal pay freeze, trimming federal pensions, and means-testing Medicare. Democrats don't want another $200 billion in domestic spending cuts in exchange for a payroll tax break that's practically inevitable. Republicans won't pass this bill unless they get their way. As a result, Americans are left in the familiar position of wondering why their government doesn't work.

 

[Starman]

Do a "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" on 'em.

The Senate and House Democrats should make a huge show of staying in session 24/7, yes on Christmas Day, until the teabaggers come back and pass a bill. Call roll every hour on the hour to put on record who's there and who isn't.

Make loud thunderous speeches calling out BY NAME the members sitting home drinking eggnog while the rest of congress stands ready to pass a bill.

America has put up with the teabaggers' juvenile **** long enough. Time to put the gun barrel right between their eyes.

Democrats should offer resolutions in both the House and Senate:

"All members of this legislative body must immediately disclose if they have made any pledge, promise, affirmation or commitment to serve any objective other than their Constitutional Oath of Office, and if so, immediately and explicitly disavow such pledge, or immediately resign from this body."

Put that to a roll call too. Any time anybody votes against it (or to table it or to rule it out of order), have somebody shout out from the gallery, "How does Grover Norquist's **** taste?"

AND KEEP DOING IT.

 

[Starman]

Of course the super-duper hilarious thing about the whole thing is that the teabaggers are, of course, violating Chairman Grover's blood-oath orders by effectively forcing the imposition of a tax increase.

But it turns out there is something more important to Teabag Nation than keeping taxes low: Making the White House White Again.

Gee who woudla guessed it.

 

[BrianGriffin]

Of course the super-duper hilarious thing about the whole thing is that the teabaggers are, of course, violating Chairman Grover's blood-oath orders by effectively forcing the imposition of a tax increase.

But it turns out there is something more important to Teabag Nation than keeping taxes low: Making the White House White Again.

Gee who woudla guessed it.

But Grover said it's OK if we do it:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/norquist-says-payroll-tax-cut-expiration-isn-t-a-tax-hike-20111201

That was about December 1. At that point, you saw a lot of middle-of-the-roaders jumping ship.

 

[Boom_70]

Obama's chances of getting reelected are better because of the fact that The Republicans do not have any good candidates, not because of the payroll tax debacle.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Obama's chances of getting reelected are better because of the fact that The Republican do not have any good candidates, not because of the payroll tax debacle.

Ding, ding ding...

 

[Azrael]

"Boehner’s office cuts off C-SPAN cameras as GOP takes verbal beating"

Huh.

www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/12/21/boehners-office-cuts-off-c-span-cameras-as-gop-takes-beating/

 

[LongTimeListener]

How many times have we seen the GOP insist on voting, insist that politicians be held accountable? Judicial appointments, the fleeing senators in Wisconsin, etc. Kinda funny to see the House walk out of the chamber in this case, then.

 

[BrianGriffin]

Obama's chances of getting reelected are better because of the fact that The Republicans do not have any good candidates, not because of the payroll tax debacle.

Let's see where the economy is in six months. The midsummer economy will tell the story. Right now, it looks promising for Obama, but he may actually be in more danger by what happens in Europe than anything any GOP candidate does.

Our economy looks set to rebound if Europe doesn't screw it up.

 

[Bubbler]

"Boehner’s office cuts off C-SPAN cameras as GOP takes verbal beating"

Huh.

www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/12/21/boehners-office-cuts-off-c-span-cameras-as-gop-takes-beating/

An epic load of **** that folks from both political persuasions should be pissed off about. Extraordinarily stupid move by GOP/Boehner.

 

[Bob Cook]

"Boehner’s office cuts off C-SPAN cameras as GOP takes verbal beating"

Huh.

www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/12/21/boehners-office-cuts-off-c-span-cameras-as-gop-takes-beating/

https://twitter.com/#!/cspan/status/149514550285312001

C-SPAN has no control over the U.S. House TV cameras - the Speaker of the House does.

It's pretty well-known that Congresscritters for years have pissed into the wind at a C-SPAN camera as a stunt, which is what Hoyer was doing. So let him ****. Instead, Boehner cuts it off like the petulant ******* he was being. Doesn't he get that makes it worse? So instead of Hoyer grandstanding to nobody on the House floor, the story is about Boehner and the Republicans being obstinate jerks.

 

[Starman]

Obama's chances of getting reelected are better because of the fact that The Republicans do not have any good candidates, not because of the payroll tax debacle.

Let's see where the economy is in six months

Exactly why the teabaggers are trying to **** IT UP RIGHT NOW.

They figure they drop a big turd in the punch bowl now, people will be good and mad at Obama by the end of the summer.

The people who lose their jobs, lose their homes, starve and die in the interim, well tough **** for you. That's the price somebody has to pay to get the M.N. out of the White House -- might as well be you.