# Glad to see the Republicans are still running Congress **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 16, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648 "2009-08-16T19:38:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/1 "2009-08-16T19:38:49Z")
[White House appears ready to drop ‘public option’](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090816/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_health_care_overhaul) I woke up to read this article - what the fuck? > [@AP](#): > > Bowing to Republican pressure, President Barack Obama’s administration signaled on Sunday it is ready to abandon the idea of giving Americans the option of government-run insurance as part of a new health care system. > > Facing mounting opposition to the overhaul, administration officials left open the chance for a compromise with Republicans that would include health insurance cooperatives instead of a government-run plan. Such a concession probably would enrage Obama’s liberal supporters but could deliver a much-needed victory on a top domestic priority opposed by GOP lawmakers. Bowing to Republican pressure? Compromise with Republicans? Newsflash to the Democrats: you are a fucking majority. You have a comfortable majority of Congresspeople in both houses and you have the president. You can pass any god damn thing you want with or without Republican support. Why the hell are you still sucking their cocks? Do you remember when you were a minority just a few years ago and they steamrolled all over your ass without giving a shit what you think? _That’s what you’re supposed to do to them now_. Like a crappy parent, your brat-ass child is whining and moaning and generally making a big scene, and what do you do? You give them a fucking candy bar. Way to reward their shitty behavior. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/2 "2009-08-16T20:06:02Z")
But it isn’t simply Republican pressure, Obama could safely ignore that. He doesn’t have the all the Democrats on side, there lies the problem. The Town Hall debates have served the Republicans well. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/3 "2009-08-16T20:14:35Z")
I’m not a Republican, but > [@](#): > > White House appears ready to drop ‘public option’ Thank God for that. A small but significant victory for liberty. I suspect the socialists will go home now and think up a new totalitarian plan. So the fight’s not over. It never is… when you’re dealing with socialists. ---
**Author:** ![sleeping](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@sleeping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeping)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/4 "2009-08-16T20:31:48Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > A small but significant victory for liberty. I suspect the socialists will go home now and think up a new totalitarian plan. So the fight’s not over. > > It never is… when you’re dealing with socialists. You forgot to cue the scary music. How long do we have until the “socialists” come out with their next evil plan to prevent corporate greed from hurting poor people? We must prepare at once. To the Rushmobile! ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/5 "2009-08-16T20:33:00Z")
It is horrible that the lobbyists keep winning. The people will not be served until campaign contributions are stopped. Even Palin got a victory. When she pulled death panel out of her ass, the dems dropped the funding for doctors getting paid for end of life consultations. They are not controlling the message. The repubs are pouring money into the noise machines . The dems feel they politically need to get the health bill through, even if it is watered down so badly it fixes nothing. Letting it stay private will be a disaster. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/6 "2009-08-16T20:35:44Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I’m not a Republican, but > > Thank God for that. > > A small but significant victory for liberty. I suspect the socialists will go home now and think up a new totalitarian plan. So the fight’s not over. It never is… when you’re dealing with socialists. I’m sorry that you live your life based on your personal cowardice. It must be tiring to snivel in the corner afraid all the time. It’ll be alright. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/7 "2009-08-16T20:39:54Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > But it isn’t simply Republican pressure, Obama could safely ignore that. He doesn’t have the all the Democrats on side, there lies the problem. And that’s why the GOP–as rudderless, incompetent, and fear-mongering as they are–still get their way. Because they’re unified. > [@](#): > > The Town Hall debates have served the Republicans well. You forgot to put debates into quotes. Despite having some good points, I haven’t seen a single actual debate of the issues that has served the Republicans well. And they know it. But that has nevert been their primary strategy. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/8 "2009-08-16T20:45:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by AP There’s a problem right there. AP has not been acting as a simple news distributor on health care reform. They’ve been pushing Republican lies. I don’t have a lot of faith in Obama here, but I’ll still need to see the story repeated from more than one source before giving it much credence. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/9 "2009-08-16T20:52:04Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > I’m sorry that you live your life based on your personal cowardice. It must be tiring to snivel in the corner afraid all the time. > > It’ll be alright. ☹ No free health insurance for you, NOT YOURS! ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/10 "2009-08-16T20:56:27Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > A small but significant victory for liberty. No, it’s a defeat for liberty. It’s not liberty for a corporation to be able to condemn you to death for profit. > [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I suspect the socialists will go home now and think up a new totalitarian plan. So the fight’s not over. It never is… when you’re dealing with socialists. Socilaism isn’t totalitarianism. And the bad guys here, the enemies of freedom and justice, are you and your fellow parasitic monsters. The people like yourself who want to take and take but never give and who treat everyone but themselves as enemies to be destroyed or victims to be preyed upon. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/11 "2009-08-16T20:58:34Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > No free health insurance for you, NOT YOURS! Song ain’t over yet Nancy. There’s still time to dance. Crafter is a coward. You’re just a moron. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/12 "2009-08-16T21:09:10Z")
I sent the following email to President Obama this morning: > [@](#): > > As a person who voted for you, and even contributed what little money I could scrounge together for your campaign ($20), I am extremely disappointed that you are considering dropping the public option. > > When I heard on the news that you may be dropping the public option, my heart sank. The polls show that an overwhelming majority of Americans want a public option. It feels now like the corporations run America and not We The People. I thought you were different. But maybe you’re just an ordinary politician instead. > > All you have to do is round up 50 votes in the Senate plus Vice President Biden’s tie breaker. That’s it. Reconciliation can bypass a filibuster. I have very few good things to say about your predecessor, but one thing he was good at was strong arming legislation he wanted passed through Congress. He held firm to his principles (even though they were wrong), and didn’t cave at the slightest hint of resistance from the other side like you seem to be doing. > > I fear that I’ll have to throw my vote away on the Green Party in 2012 if real change hasn’t happened by then. I can’t in good conscience continue to endorse politics as usual wrapped in the guise of change. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/13 "2009-08-16T21:15:27Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > No, it’s a defeat for liberty. It’s not liberty for a corporation to be able to condemn you to death for profit. > > Socilaism isn’t totalitarianism. And the bad guys here, the enemies of freedom and justice, are you and your fellow parasitic monsters. The people like yourself who want to take and take but never give and who treat everyone but themselves as enemies to be destroyed or victims to be preyed upon. I exchange services for money. How is that “taking”? Also, you are the one who preys upon poor people. Your goal is to keep them firmly hooked to the government teat to insure that your group stays in power. I, on the other hand, want the government to treat everyone equally like a fully functional human. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/14 "2009-08-16T21:16:51Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Song ain’t over yet Nancy. There’s still time to dance. I wish I had some hope, but we are talking about the Democrats. They always cave in, always give up, always let the Republicans have their way. I never really expected anything to be passed for that reason. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/15 "2009-08-16T21:16:59Z")
Blalron, you are a fucking idiot. I mean, “the corporations”? Come on, man, grow a fucking brain cell. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/16 "2009-08-16T21:22:18Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > I exchange services for money. How is that “taking”? Because you gain an awful lot from society just by being here. Including the enviorment that makes those services possibile. > [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Also, you are the one who preys upon poor people. Your goal is to keep them firmly hooked to the government teat to insure that your group stays in power. I, on the other hand, want the government to treat everyone equally like a fully functional human. No, you want them to be exploited, to suffer and to die. They are dependant on the government because that is the only option, as demonstrated by history. You are on the side of the rich; so you want to keep the government from siding with the common people because thet’s the only effective source of power they have. And you want the government’s sole function to be to destroy and oppress, especially those poor people who would be enslaved or killed by the policies you want and who would try to fight back. You want to strip all power from them but the power of violence, and then use them rising up as an excuse to mass murder them. You are typical Randian vermin. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/17 "2009-08-16T21:22:19Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Blalron, you are a fucking idiot. I mean, “the corporations”? Come on, man, grow a fucking brain cell. [76%](http://senateagenda.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/nbcwall-street-journal-76-of-americans-want-public-option-choice/) of Americans want a public option. Whose interests are being represented if not corporate interests? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/18 "2009-08-16T21:29:34Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > I, on the other hand, want the government to treat everyone equally like a fully functional human. Even if it means that people go bankrupt and/or die from lack of health insurance. You’re such an upright guy. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/19 "2009-08-16T21:33:20Z")
“The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/20 "2009-08-16T21:33:36Z")
It ain’t gonna happen all at once. For about twenty years, the Dems were reshaping themselves as Republican Lite, business-friendly, triangulated in the Clintonista way. The Dems aren’t the left wing, how many Wellstones can you count? Health reform is a threat to Big Money, and Big Money protects itself with the ferocity of a rabid velociraptor. Who do you think is paying for the lies flowing out of your TV like electronic sewage? But here’s the thing: the anti-reform guys have to sweep the table, they have to win everything, they are forced into a take-no-prisoners stance that does not afford them any opportunity for compromise, they must win all. If there is any…any!..meaningful reform, people will benefit. And they will be grateful to the Dems. And so will their friends and relations. And they will remember who fought tooth and nail to stop them. And the people who benefit will fall into the Everybody demographic: white, black, northern, southern, gay, straight, curly-haired and bald. That was the mistake, if there was one. Some Dems were expecting to have a reasonable discussion on wonk-turf, numbers, studies, reason, that sort of thing. They failed to take into account the sheer ferocity of money. There will be health care reform simply because there has to be, either now, or later when it breaks down even more obviously. So either we win now, and the Dems get the credit, or it gets much worse, and the Pubbies get the blame. From a _realpolitik_ point of view, six of one against half-a-dozen. Only difference, is people are suffering right now, and we can help them. If they aren’t our people, these Americans, who’s people are they? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648.md?page=2)