# 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:** 10
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/181 "2009-08-18T02:22:41Z")
[Howard Dean says the public option is alive and well.](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/8/17/768013/-Howard-Dean-schools-Morning-Joe-on-public-option-strategy-%28UPDATED-wvideosaction-item%29) Warning: Daily Kos diary. Take it for what it is. Is this how it will actually play out? At this point, who can say? But I remain hopeful. ---
**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 18, 2009, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/182 "2009-08-18T02:39:05Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > The Democrats are in power. All that matters is what Democrats want. The “issue” broght up by the OP, I thought, was regarding whether Democrats had the spunk of their convictions. Their electorate has spoken. It is incumbent upon them to act. Ah, so this is why it’s so great to be president–you get your own personal cocksucker. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_Stream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Carol\_Stream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_Stream)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/183 "2009-08-18T02:48:42Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Ah, so this is why it’s so great to be president–you get your own personal cocksucker. But there’s no Obama worship on this board, no way, no how! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/184 "2009-08-18T03:05:26Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > That’s because they don’t know what the terms of the proposed legislation are…And in short, that’s why Obama, the media and Congressmen who are supporters of the bill aren’t doing more to explain the terms of it. You don’t know either, yet you are strongly against it. If thats OK for you, how come its not OK for us? ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/185 "2009-08-18T03:11:20Z")
Why _wouldn’t_ I be against it if no one knows what’s in it? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/186 "2009-08-18T03:19:27Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Why _wouldn’t_ I be against it if no one knows what’s in it? Does anyone? What’s _really in there_ in terms of long-term financial government support? ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_Stream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Carol\_Stream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_Stream)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/187 "2009-08-18T03:20:31Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > You don’t know either, yet you are strongly against it. If thats OK for you, how come its not OK for us? C’mon, you don’t really believe that. Congress should just pass laws, without knowing what’s in them? On whose say so? Barry’s? Rahm Emmanuel’s? Nancy Pelosi’s? I need my heart pills. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/188 "2009-08-18T03:36:04Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Why _wouldn’t_ I be against it if no one knows what’s in it? There might be a pony in there, just for _you_! ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/189 "2009-08-18T04:00:08Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > The Democrats are in power. All that matters is what Democrats want. The “issue” broght up by the OP, I thought, was regarding whether Democrats had the spunk of their convictions. Their electorate has spoken. It is incumbent upon them to act. Seems like they are more worried about retaining their seats come the next election. So the system, as broken as it is, still works. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/190 "2009-08-18T06:31:31Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Seems like they are more worried about retaining their seats come the next election. So the system, as broken as it is, still works. All that matters is what the public will think _come election time_. November 2010 is a long ways away, and public whims can be quite capricious, as the sharp drop from 76% to 42% in two months shows. If it passes, I don’t think the public will sustain enough outrage to throw any Dems from their seats unless the “Death Panel” dystopian fantasy occurs (which it won’t). In fact, the outrage will die down considerably when people realize the sky hasn’t fallen. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/191 "2009-08-18T09:16:06Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > I need my heart pills. You have a heart? I feel a letter to my Congresspeople (including bluest-of the-blue-dogs Ben Nelson) coming on. The best thing to do to counter all the noise is to attempt to get my own voice heard. It probably won’t do any good, but it’s better than doing nothing. "Dear Ben, Please grow a set…" ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/192 "2009-08-18T10:34:19Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > The Democrats are in power. All that matters is what Democrats want. The “issue” broght up by the OP, I thought, was regarding whether Democrats had the spunk of their convictions. Their electorate has spoken. It is incumbent upon them to act. But all Democrats do not want the same thing. I should have thought that was rather obvious by now. ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kearsen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/193 "2009-08-18T13:57:31Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Gimmee a break, OK, **Kearsen**? If I delilver twice as many scholarly papers supporting my side of the argument, does that mean you haul down your flag and join my team? Permit me to politely doubt that. > > Cite wars are nearly as stupid as flame wars. Pretty much everybody knows that this is an issue that you can find all the opinions you want. And Heritage not to my liking? Well, no, is it to yours? Is it not pretty much a “think tank” funded by wealthy benefactors to offer scholarly support to opinions already held? Hired guns, academic wise? > > Better, give me your own opinion. Tell me why this thing which works fairly well all over the world simply cannot work in America? Are the laws of medicine and/or economics not applicable here? Are they lying everywhere else? Eluci, I tried giving you my opinion and you asked for cites. Now you ask my opinion sans cites? I gave you one opinion already. The illegal immigrants abusing our societal welfare healthcare already in place… i.e; the emergency room ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/194 "2009-08-18T13:58:10Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Why _wouldn’t_ I be against it if no one knows what’s in it? Can I announce right now my opposition to the 2012 Republican platform, and hence to candidates running on it. Because I sure don’t know what’s in IT! ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/195 "2009-08-18T14:00:46Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Ah, so this is why it’s so great to be president–you get your own personal cocksucker. I thought the Republicans were upset about that perk to the office? Seems like I remember an incident back in '98 about it. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/196 "2009-08-18T14:09:12Z")
These days the Republicans get that perk at the gubernatorial level. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/197 "2009-08-18T14:41:32Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > The Democrats are in power. All that matters is what Democrats want. Gee, and after all that mouthing about how Obama was President of the whole US, not just the blue parts. > [@aldiboronti](#): > > But all Democrats do not want the same thing. I should have thought that was rather obvious by now. Well, they all do want the same thing. They want what the American people want - the best health care in the world, available to everyone, and at a reasonable price. The only problem is, they can’t have it. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/198 "2009-08-18T14:41:33Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Why _wouldn’t_ I be against it if no one knows what’s in it? A. It is not true that “no one” knows what’s in it. Only those who can’t be arsed to find out do not know. B. Not knowing what’s in it is an equally strong argument for \*supporting \*it. C. \*Defending \*ignorance is not what this board is about. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/199 "2009-08-18T14:42:35Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > These days the Republicans get that perk at the gubernatorial level. But they have to go to Argentina to get it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/200 "2009-08-18T14:48:32Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Why _wouldn’t_ I be against it if no one knows what’s in it? [It’s not a fucking secret, you know.](http://docs.house.gov/edlabor/AAHCA-BillText-071409.pdf) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648.md?page=11)