# 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:** 3
**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 16, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/41 "2009-08-16T23:25:42Z")
> [@sleeping](#): > > Untrue, but of course only the deathers count, since anyone else is not a real American. What’s untrue? The majority of Americans don’t want the legislation to pass. Cites have already been provided. Try reading them. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/42 "2009-08-16T23:29:00Z")
Goddammit. This is what bipartisanship gets you – a chance for Fox News to poison the well and turn reasoned debate into a freak show. Fuck it, Barack. Ram the bill you want through Congress with 50% + 1 vote. Which would you rather hear from Fox & Rush and their ilk for the next 3 years: a temper tantrum? Or them smirking about how they saved the nation from your “socialist tyranny” and knowing that you caved? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/43 "2009-08-16T23:34:36Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Free to spend my hard-earned money on my family instead of yours. I don’t remember my family ever asking your family for a goddamned red dime. I do remember paying through the nose for your holy war, though. ---
**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, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/44 "2009-08-16T23:35:23Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > 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. Of allbthe idiotic shit you’ve said on this board, this one takes the fucking turd cake. You think I specifically intend to mass murder poor people. This shows the level of thinking you are capable of operating on, and frankly I’m surprised you keep remembering to breathe. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/45 "2009-08-16T23:36:54Z")
> [@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 beat me to it, and you worded it better than I would have. So I’ll just say I agree. ---
**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, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/46 "2009-08-16T23:39:08Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > What’s untrue? The majority of Americans don’t want the legislation to pass. Cites have already been provided. Try reading them. First, it’s not at all clear that this is the case: the majority still support Obama on HC: > **[Amid Debate, Obama Approval Rating on Healthcare Steady](https://news.gallup.com/poll/122255/Amid-Debate-Obama-Approval-Rating-Healthcare-Steady.aspx)** > > More Americans disapprove (49%) than approve (43%) of Barack Obama’s handling of healthcare policy, hardly changed from views expressed in mid-July. Americans are evenly divided on his handling of the economy and give him more positive than negative... Second, even if it was, all it would prove is that lying works, as **'luci** has pithily pointed out. Third, who is the “we” that “ours” refers to? You seem to have constructed a bizarre idea of America, where anyone who disagrees with conservatives are not only the minority, they don’t even count as Americans. Not that this new for the right, or anything. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/47 "2009-08-16T23:39:10Z")
Christ you people are fucking morons. ---
**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 16, 2009, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/48 "2009-08-16T23:43:54Z")
> [@sleeping](#): > > First, it’s not at all clear that this is the case: > > the majority still support Obama on HC: > [http://www.gallup.com/poll/122255/Amid-Debate-Obama-Approval-Rating-Healthcare-Steady.aspx](http://www.gallup.com/poll/122255/Amid-Debate-Obama-Approval-Rating-Healthcare-Steady.aspx) I want some of what you’re smoking. Your own link says that only 43% of Americans approve of his handling of health care policy. How is that a majority, let alone an overwhelming one, as in your original claim? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/49 "2009-08-16T23:45:59Z")
I am secretly pleased with this turn of events. After all, the rest of the world needs _something_ to feel sorry for (and therefore smugly superior to) Americans about, and now that Paula Abdul isn’t going to be on national television anymore, the lamentable state of your health care is pretty much it. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/50 "2009-08-16T23:51:17Z")
It’s just a sign of the effectiveness of the right wing misinformation machine. What you think is the smell of freedom is really the smell of greasy corporate asshole. But never mind that! Gloat about your victory while you have another yummy lick! ---
**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, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/51 "2009-08-16T23:52:17Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > I want some of what you’re smoking. Your own link says that only 43% of Americans approve of his handling of health care policy. How is that a majority, let alone an overwhelming one, as in your original claim? I’ll amend my claim then: An overwhelming majority of americans _would_ support it if they weren’t having smoke blown up their ass. In the UK, even the conservative party backs the National Healthcare Service “[100%](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8199615.stm)”. If socialized medicine is so horrible, why is there virtually no opposition to it amongst those who have actually experienced it? How do you explain that? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/52 "2009-08-16T23:52:51Z")
Serious question. I’ve read that most of the actual cost saving reforms were removed from the bill by lobbying interests - Pelosi and friends giving pork and concessions left and right. Now if the public option is removed, what exactly is there to the reform? What will be in the bill? It seems that all that’s left in a special interests giveaway. ---
**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, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/53 "2009-08-16T23:56:08Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > I want some of what you’re smoking. Your own link says that only 43% of Americans approve of his handling of health care policy. How is that a majority, let alone an overwhelming one, as in your original claim? Okay, I admit to being wrong on this point. The cite indicates that support has not fallen as dramatically as the Rasmussen poll suggests, although it is \<50%. But I still stand by everything else. ---
**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, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/54 "2009-08-16T23:59:22Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Serious question. > > I’ve read that most of the actual cost saving reforms were removed from the bill by lobbying interests - Pelosi and friends giving pork and concessions left and right. > > Now if the public option is removed, what exactly is there to the reform? What will be in the bill? It seems that all that’s left in a special interests giveaway. Pretty much. No public option, although had been gutted even earlier by an agreement not to allow the government to bargain for prices with drug companies. End of life consultations are out. It’s been watered down to nothing. ---
**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 17, 2009, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/55 "2009-08-17T00:07:37Z")
> [@sleeping](#): > > Okay, I admit to being wrong on this point. The cite indicates that support has not fallen as dramatically as the Rasmussen poll suggests, although it is \<50%. Thank you for at least being honest. But I don’t get your knock on the Rasmussen poll. They said only 42% approve, Gallup has it at 43%. I’m sure that’s within the margin of error for any poll. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/56 "2009-08-17T00:13:28Z")
Incidentally, I wish there were more people who could express the anti-government-but-not-a-dick viewpoint on the SDMB. I’m generally of the persuasion that government does more harm than good, and I want its power severely reduced - but I do it with the intent that society will be better off that way in total. Some of the posters on here, though, seem to do it out of malice. I get the impression that they touch themselves to the idea of people being killed by some treatable disease because they just weren’t as smart and as good as them to have good health insurance plans from companies that didn’t screw them over. Edit: I mean, for fucks sake, if you make **Der Trihs** look right, you should go through some serious introspection. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/57 "2009-08-17T00:18:09Z")
Rasmussen? You might as well cite World Net Daily. Or Fox News. ---
**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 17, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/58 "2009-08-17T00:19:49Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Rasmussen? You might as well cite World Net Daily. Or Fox News. Or Gallup, which has virtually the same results. Dickweed. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/59 "2009-08-17T00:33:28Z")
But if people disagree with me, they must be _misled_! By _liars_! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648/60 "2009-08-17T00:40:44Z")
Not necessarily. Of course, if you they do it really openly, right before your eyes, its a pretty good guess. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glad-to-see-the-republicans-are-still-running-congress/506648.md?page=4)