The bottom line is this: $100 billion in aid to the unemployed helps Democrats in the fall

[scheming daemons]

...and that's why there was absolutely nothing in the world that would've convinced even a single Republican to cross over and vote for it.


We can talk about bully pulpits and arm-twisting and riders and filibusters. But the bottom line is this:


Once Massachusetts voters stupidly, against their own self-interest, voted for a Republican to fill Teddy's seat.... there was no way that any legislation was going to pass the Senate that helps Democrats more than Republicans.

HCR passed only because it had already gone through the Senate when we had 60 and we could use reconciliation.


The day Scott Brown got elected, nothing purely progressive was going to pass again. Not enough American voters in the right states/districts to force any GOPers hand.


We can cry about the filibuster all we want.... but it only works when a party is in lockstep with its leadership. The GOP is many bad things...but one of the things they get right is getting their caucus to all hang together.

Mindlessly, they do so... but they do so.

[obxhead]

1. That being the case, it is important for Obama to step up

and tell the American people that he will sign no bill that sacrifices the needs people over the desires of the corporations. Stand up, announce it now. Then when every bill comes up, clearly and concisely lay out why he is refusing any bill written by the pubs, then rejected by them anyway.

It's time for him to find his stride, and for lack of a better word, his balls.

[Jennicut]

3. The Repubs have offered no bills, none that would pass anyway.

What they are doing is effectively using the filibuster to stop legislation that a majority in the Senate clearly want. Rethugs always hang together, noting new. And filibuster reform is needed, no one treats a filibuster like it used to be treated. Of course, changing the Senate rules is a whole other issue.

[obxhead]

4. No, they have not. Yet every Dem bill has nearly been written by

them anyway before they vote against it.

It's time for that shit to stop. If it locks the Government up solid where nothing is done so be it. If we are just throwing money at the corporations while getting nothing, or next to it anyway, wtf is the point in even taking it.

Lock it up and point out why clearly, concisely, and loudly. Enough of these Repub policies passed by Dems!

[depakid]

2. That's all it's ever been about for them...

and I agree that it's been effective via party discipline.

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. The wrong-wing would gladly rather pay off warlords & thugs in Iraq & that

other shitpot than spend it here.