US Politics Mega-thread - Page 9729

On January 20 2018 01:00 Introvert wrote:
I see where the Democrat talking points are going. Dems refusing to fund anything in their defense of non-citizens after calling 2013 Republicans arsonists, anarchists, and legislative terrorists. But we're all going to hang our hat on the last second CHIP 6 year funding carrot.

As we consider yet another possible government shutdown, it’s important that we review the ground rules for how to approach the central issue that arises each time we face this calamity—namely, who is to blame for it.

If Republicans control both the White House and Congress, then the shutdown is their fault. That’s because Republicans were unwilling to negotiate with a Democratic minority that offered sensible, mature, and apolitical ideas for improving the spending bill.

The GOP must be reminded that in our system, holding a bare majority is not enough. The 60-vote supermajority threshold required to pass legislation in the Senate forces both sides to find common ground. The GOP should have worked harder to win votes from moderate Democratic senators to clear this procedural hurdle, which protects the vital interests of the congressional minority.

If Democrats control both the White House and Congress, then a shutdown must be the result of a small number of Republican senators filibustering the spending bill in reckless disregard for the urgency of funding the government. These senators are subverting the will of the duly elected majority, playing politics with our national security, and harming millions of hard-working civil servants and their families. The situation is a textbook illustration of how the anachronistic Senate rules allow a small cadre in the minority to wield immense power, and why we should abolish the filibuster.

If Republicans control the White House and Senate, but Democrats control the House of Representatives, then the shutdown was caused by an out-of-touch Republican president and tone-deaf Senate Republican majority that has callously rejected the national popular will, as it is expressed through the legislative priorities of the “People’s House,” just as the Founders intended.

If Democrats control the White House and Senate, but the Republicans control the House of Representatives, then fault for the shutdown must be laid at the feet of a House Republican caucus that has been hijacked by the extreme fringe of a once-sensible party. The situation presents a sad but enduring testament to the destructive power of Republican gerrymandering efforts that have artificially sustained the party’s House majority.

If Republicans control the White House and the House of Representatives, but Democrats control the Senate, then the shutdown reflects a GOP unwilling to come to terms with the need to share power with the opposition party in the world’s most deliberative body, the incomparable U.S. Senate. [...]

If Democrats control the White House but the Republicans control all of Congress, then the cause of the shutdown, obviously, is the party in control of Congress. Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress holds the federal purse-strings and is charged with appropriating money to fund the government. Failure to do so rests with the Republican-controlled Congress.

On January 20 2018 01:57 Mohdoo wrote:
So why not just pass a CHIP bill? What is stopping a bill that only involves CHIP from being put forward?

On January 20 2018 01:59 farvacola wrote:

Nothing, which is why Republican attempts to "carrotize" it ring so hollow and stupid.

On January 20 2018 01:17 Introvert wrote:


The expected response. Devoid of anyt critical thought. No, I don't think "children's health insurance" is a "carrot." The extra SIX YEARS is a carrot. As I said before they've been haggling about how to pay for it for months.

Also the GOP could prob get to 50, but as long as Dems are a hard no the wavering Republicans can stay a "no." This is a classic dilemma. I think last night McConnell asked Schumer to allow a majority vote. If Dems thought GOP couldn't get to 50 he would have allowed and have a super strong position.



Tax law is much more popular now but popularity is bad reason to do things by itself anyways.

On January 20 2018 01:52 brian wrote:

save us your preachy bullshit, nobody made you say the words. i’m not a mind reader, apologies if you were as hollow as your representatives and only said it to troll. i had expected more.

On January 20 2018 02:26 Introvert wrote:


Read your first response again about what I said "speaking volumes." What response did you expect when you make such an accusation?

The current CR is "clean." What is "stopping the Democrats from passing the clean CR?"
"Nothing, except they are fighting over something unrelated to government funding."

See? That works both ways! In fact the federal employees who won't get paid as long as this lasts are in danger more than CHIP! Every state is still dolling out cash. Maybe one stste will run out before the end of Feb, I think.

I'd love if we passed individual appro bills but that would also undercut the Democrats portion, so that won't happen. If memory serves 2013 the GOP passed smaller funding bills for things like parks that Obama shut down.

Both sides know that A) chip is not in imminent danger and B) that giving in on one things could cause a cascade that undermines their position.

On January 20 2018 02:27 Plansix wrote:


I don’t understand why you continue to act like we all don’t follow politics or have zero idea how congress works.

On January 20 2018 01:52 brian wrote:

save us your preachy bullshit, nobody made you say the words. i’m not a mind reader, apologies if you were as hollow as your representatives and only said it to troll. i had expected more.