The "super committe" thing . . . . . do you see it as a ceding of presidential power to the Congress

[Stinky The Clown]

If not power, maybe influence?

Or is it just our country being leaderless?

[stevedeshazer]

1. I see it as Congress abdicating its responsibility to govern.

Now, they can party full time with lobbyists and dial for dollars unimpeded.

[fasttense]

16. It seems to me that Congress has continually given up it's power an authority.

First it was about declaring war. They have allowed this President and others to start wars without a congressional declaration.

Then Congress seems to have given up it's power over Impeachment. They use it only for political reasons and since Nixon, never use it on Presidents who violate the law.

Congress has given up its power over the Supreme Court. We have a bunch of bribe taking, influence peddling, out of control judges who routinely violate the Constitution by creating law and selecting our President for us. The judges are suppose to serve only on the condition of good behavior. But the conflict of interest and bribes are a routine part of the Supreme Courts behavior. And Congress does NOTHING.

The Congress seems to be wimpy and ineffectual. When Rove thumbed his nose at them and never showed up for an investigation, the Congress did NOTHING. It's a pattern.

I think congress is so wrapped up in politics they can no longer function as the deliberative legislative body they once were. They are so busy taking money from their campaign contributers and lobbyists they don't have time to perform the functions as outlined in the Constitution.

This Super Congress is just another example of how they have given up their authority and power. I think we should stop paying them until they start doing their job.

[Major Hogwash]

22. That's it right there! The other Congressmen can just phone it in from now on.

And the states that will have NO Representatives or Senators on that committee are out in the cold.
They get to eat their shit sandwich outside!

[SugarShack]

2. No, Congress has power he does not have. It's ceding of people power. it's illegal.

For this super commission will make decisions for all...while they may not be our elected reps.

Will MY rep be on the super committe to represent ME? Get it? This is OUR power eroding.

Look at this!

The final takeover of our republic has been on track for decades and
if you don't wake up now, it might be too late. Sound the alarm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?
feature=player_embedded&v=sWlEbbZb29A#at=514

[The Magistrate]

6. Probably Just A Well the Link Does Not Work, Sir

Your statement is idiotic: this is not illegal, by any stretch of the imagination.

[CarmanK]

3. NO, Congress makes LAWS, Not the President!

[DJ13]

4. Its an abdication of authority by a bunch of spineless assholes

We elect Congress to debate the merits of legislation before voting for them.

The super catfood committee only allows 12 to decide on the merits (probably behind closed doors no less) before the rest have no choice but to vote up or down without debate, without amending it.

[green prol]

23. This way they can deflect the blame that they know is out there.

The RAW DEAL is an assault on democracy and a further assault on We The People. As you pointed out, the deal will even further restrict the ability of the majority to influence legislation. It may be technically "legal", like so many recent assaults on our basic freedoms, but it is morally wrong.

[leveymg]

5. It's more the other way around - a ceding of Congressional power to a Politburo.

Nyet - a Central Committee with mandatory power to dictate a Social Security and Medicare cuts Bill that if not passed will result in cuts to Medicare is like something out of a bad dystopian novel about the future written in 1985.

This is so off the scale bizarre that I still can't believe this is real.

[gateley]

7. Interesting - I hadn't looked at it that way. Hmmmm. nt

[phasma ex machina]

9. .

[Horse with no Name]

8. Let's see...I am still pissed off

it is going to make it easier for lobbyists to pay off Congress

It is going to marginalize ANY progressive opinion

If anyone thinks the 6 republicans are there to negotiate or compromise...they need to lay down the crackpipe. The ONLY compromising will be done by the Dems and we will continue to lose more and more--in fact, McConnell said today that he expected to get taxes lower than they could have ever dreamed of.

We've been screwed, blued and tattooed in this deal...and you know what? It is not MY fault. When this party of quisling cowards loses...this will be the fault of those who enabled this shit.

[SusanaMontana41]

17. By disregarding congressional majorities/minorities, it also cancels our votes. n/t

[scheming daemons]

10. It has nothing to do with the President at all.... it is a CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE

If anything, it is congress abdicating their power to a select 12 of themselves.

Has nothing at all to do with the role of the executive.

[JDPriestly]

11. It's the means through which individual members of Congress

avoid taking a stand on cuts to Social Security. And why don't they want to take a stand on cuts to Social Security? Because every one of them knows that they will lose the next eleciton if they agree to cut Social Security, if they agree to steal the money from the Social Security fund and not repay it.

I say, vote out every member of Congress and every politician who voted for this means to avoid taking a stand on Social Security.

In fact, voting for the Super Committee is a vote to cut Social Security. I know the usual suspects will say "How do you know they will cut Social Security?"

And I will answer, "I know they will cut Social Security. I know this is just a sneaky way to cut Social Security. I know this vote was just a vote to steal from the Social Security Trust Fund -- because 1) that is what their Wall Street donors want them to do and they don't dare leave Social Security alone; and 2) because if this were not about cutting Social Security, if it were about raising taxes or something else, they would just do it now.

As for the balanced budget amendment. There is no way that can pass. Too many states are hurting and need help from the federal government. Besides the budget cannot be balanced without raising taxes on the super-rich. If they do the numbers, they will realize that.

[alsame]

18. Agree, it's extreme cowardice. This cabal will insulate others

in Congress from the wrath of the public and electoral backlash.

[Golden Raisin]

12. It's sort of like the Congress

gets their own little Supreme Court. Us poor suckers have to now pray it won't be stacked full of Scalias & Thomases.

[PufPuf23]

13. You make insightful and provocative posts, Stinky., always.

I cannot make logical sense of DC -WH nor Congress- much less make sense that our representitives are acting for the benefit of the majority of People or the welfare of the USA.

I wish I was stupid for my peace of mind.

[C_U_L8R]

14. It's giving the rightwing a 50% vote

that they don't deserve

[quaker bill]

15. No, it is not the President's power that is in play

It is actually a way to suppress minority blocks, mostly in the House. My guess is that the Tea Party gets 2 to 3 votes max of the 12, token representation in proportion to the seats they actually hold. What comes out of this committee is assured an up or down vote without ammendment.

It is a process set up for the center to suppress the extremes on both sides. I don't think the establishment republicans want the tea party to take more hostages before the next election, they have seen the polling results. In exchange for the real loss of influence, before the next election, the Tea Party gets 2 more vanity votes against raising the debt ceiling and one more for a balanced budget ammendment, none of which do anything.

[lunatica]

19. I see it as the modern version of the Coliseum games

Keep the people enthralled with the Super Committee who will always be intractable and therefore satisfy our lust for major drama while the rest of the politicians do bidness behind closed doors. It's an old trick the Romans perfected.

Both sides have already declared what won't be on the table. The Republicans say it's raising taxes on the rich, and the Democrats say it's gutting the social programs. Now either side can use the Super Committee to get DUers and the general public to argue themselves to a bloody pulp while politicians can 'represent' us in peace, without being scrutinized over every little thing.

:sarcasm:

[mmonk]

20. I see it as cover for cowards. After they slit people's throats

and return to their districts, they can always point to the committee and feign concern to their constituents.

[Recursion]

21. It's a well-established method for writing legislation rank and file members don't like...

...but know they have to pass anyways. It's just like the military base closure setup.

[bhikkhu]

24. +1

[dmosh42]

25. I see it as a way to cut SS and medicare and social programs...

without taking blame. Let's face it. Our scumbag leaders will name people who won't bargain anything, and in six months we have a stalemate. Then the trigger is set, and all branches of government get a cut, including the old, poor and sick. But the billionaires will be smiling as usual, knowing Obama and the Repukes did their job!