# GOP Obstructionism reaches new heights **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 1, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550 "2010-12-01T16:44:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/41 "2010-12-02T10:13:22Z")
One of my favorite recent quotes about our current two party system: > [@](#): > > I now believe in Republican compromises: If you want to have Chinese food tonight and I want Italian, we compromise and get Italian. - Mark Evanier, Comic book and TV writer ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/42 "2010-12-02T11:54:40Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > This isn’t what they were elected to do. They were elected to do their fucking jobs. The thing is Miss Nancy finally figured out she has only a few more legislative days to do the job she could have been doing the last two years. The Republicans can’t do their jobs until they take the control that the shelackers gave them. At least you all have a place to whine and make yourselves feel better. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/43 "2010-12-02T13:49:19Z")
So the republicans are pissed because they can’t get everything their way so they’ll just stop working? Great. The less damage they do the better. If I tried the same shit at my job they’d show me the door. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/44 "2010-12-02T14:26:16Z")
…and Harry Reid is caving. I bet Lucy won’t pull the football away _this_ time. ---
**Author:** ![klsdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ec8ea/32.png) [@klsdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/klsdad)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/45 "2010-12-02T15:32:47Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > So the republicans are pissed because they can’t get everything their way so they’ll just stop working? Great. The less damage they do the better. If I tried the same shit at my job they’d show me the door. Stop working on stupid shit like the I Have a Dream Act and focus on things that Pelosi and Reid should have seen done earlier… like a budget and tax law. There will be plenty of work done come January and you’ll be whining about that. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/46 "2010-12-02T20:26:36Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > They were elected to do their fucking jobs. They were elected to do exactly what they are doing. > [@Normal Phase](#): > > People don’t give a shit about fiscal issues unless someone shouts it really loud a bunch of times and then shoves a microphone in their face. They care about jobs. ummm, our fiscal issues are directly linked to private sector job creation ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/47 "2010-12-02T21:16:21Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > …and Harry Reid is caving. I bet Lucy won’t pull the football away _this_ time. The GOP will view this as a sign of weakness, and respond by making even more unreasonable demands. Negotiation is futile if the other party is not acting in good faith. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/48 "2010-12-02T22:24:02Z")
From [Andrew Sullivan](http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/12/the-dickishness-of-the-gop.html): > [@](#): > > What we’ve observed these past two years is a political party that knows nothing but scorched earth tactics, cannot begin to see any merits in the other party’s arguments, refuses to compromise one inch on anything, and has sought from the very beginning to do nothing but destroy the Obama presidency. I see no other coherent message or strategy since 2008. Just opposition to everything, zero support for a president grappling with a recession their own party did much to precipitate, and facing a fiscal crisis the GOP alone made far worse with their spending in the Bush-Cheney years. There is not a scintilla of responsibility for their past; not a sliver of good will for a duly elected president. Worse, figures like Cantor and McCain actively seek to back foreign governments against the duly elected president of their own country, and seek to repeal the signature policy achievement of Obama’s first two years, universal healthcare. > > I know it is the opposition’s role to oppose. But the sheer scale and absolutism of the opposition, and its continuation in the lame duck session, even over such small but integral reforms such as the new START and DADT repeal, is remarkable. > > The two parties are evenly spread in this 50-50 country, but only one can brook no compromise in its accelerating rush to the far right. And that is what it seems we have to contemplate for the next two years - total paralysis in the face of urgent problems as part of a game of cynical partisan brinkmanship. They simply cannot bear that another party might actually have a role to play in government. > > This is not conservatism, properly understood, a disposition that respects the institutions and traditions of government, that can give as well as take, that seeks the national interest before partisan concerns, and that respects both the other branches of government and seeks to work with them. These people are not conservatives in this core civilized sense; they are partisan vandals. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/49 "2010-12-02T22:28:37Z")
It’s sad the Republicans doing the same thing they’ve been doing for the past 2 years gets a the news cycle like it’s actually news. They are doing the same thing they’ve been doing. Then, the Democratic party still can’t manage to point out how damaging this is to the function of government. They won’t let us vote on DADT or the Dream Act, really that’s the message people are getting. As much as I would like to see those passed they are only really relevant to a small portion of the country. What’s completely lost in the messaging is those are amendments to the Defense Appropriations Bill, which is what the Republicans are threatening to filibuster. Get out there with a message that most people will understand. The Republican party is threatening to defund the Pentagon if they don’t get tax cuts for the Rich. They have vowed to see our solders in the field not get paid because it is more important the top one percent of Americans get enough cash pay three of those salaries instead. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/50 "2010-12-02T22:38:04Z")
I’m afraid these Bush tempory tax cuts are not going to be extended unless the rich are included. It is my hope that Obama and the dems holds out for their initial position. At worst, the deficit will be cut back. That means the government has more money to focus on broad agenda goals. At best , it will highlight the Republican agenda which simply does not favour the majority of Americans. Conceivably we could have 2 maybe more years of gridlocked government. Let the pubs take the blame. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/51 "2010-12-02T23:01:02Z")
Of course everyone knows that democrats would never [flee the state to avoid voting](http://www.cnn.com/2003/fyi/news/05/14/texas.legislature/). Oh wait. Yes they would. Politicians are going to behave like spoiled children when they’re not getting their way. Complaining about it is like complaining that you’ll get wet walking in a rainstorm. Easy and predictable. But you seem to be enjoying yourselves so carry on. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/52 "2010-12-02T23:01:36Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > It’s sad the Republicans doing the same thing they’ve been doing for the past 2 years gets a the news cycle like it’s actually news. They are doing the same thing they’ve been doing. > > Then, the Democratic party still can’t manage to point out how damaging this is to the function of government. > > They won’t let us vote on DADT or the Dream Act, really that’s the message people are getting. As much as I would like to see those passed they are only really relevant to a small portion of the country. What’s completely lost in the messaging is those are amendments to the Defense Appropriations Bill, which is what the Republicans are threatening to filibuster. > > Get out there with a message that most people will understand. The Republican party is threatening to defund the Pentagon if they don’t get tax cuts for the Rich. They have vowed to see our solders in the field not get paid because it is more important the top one percent of Americans get enough cash pay three of those salaries instead. Aw yes… the old messaging problem. The people are getting the accurate message… the Dems want to tack on amendments for gays and illegals… and the Republicans will see to it that defense gets funded. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/53 "2010-12-02T23:04:42Z")
Fuck defense. It’s about as accurate a name for the black hole we shovel money into as conservative is for Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/54 "2010-12-02T23:14:09Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Aw yes… the old messaging problem. > > The people are getting the accurate message… the Dems want to tack on amendments for gays and illegals… and the Republicans will see to it that defense gets funded. The Dems representing the majority get to do those things, it’s kinda how a democracy works. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/55 "2010-12-03T00:00:09Z")
That was the old democracy. We now have moved on to Platinum Democracy Plus!. Old democracy was based on an outmoded formula of arithmetical majority, being more than half of any given number. Platinum Democracy Plus! means that at least 60 out of 100 must approve any given measure, or it doesn’t attain a Platinum majority. This situation is expected to continue until such time as responsible, sensible people of a decidedly conservative view are elected in great numbers, whereupon it will be discovered that “old fashioned, common sense” democracy is the best way, was the best way, and will continue to be the best way unless some disastrous event occurs, in which case it may become necessary to temporarily re-instate Platinum Democracy Plus! Conservatives are often charged with being inflexible. Clearly, this is not the case. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/56 "2010-12-03T00:48:00Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Of course everyone knows that democrats would never [flee the state to avoid voting](http://www.cnn.com/2003/fyi/news/05/14/texas.legislature/). > > Oh wait. Yes they would. > > Politicians are going to behave like spoiled children when they’re not getting their way. > > Complaining about it is like complaining that you’ll get wet walking in a rainstorm. Easy and predictable. > > But you seem to be enjoying yourselves so carry on. Wasn’t that issue over Republican thugs ass-raping basic democracy (with cacti and broken mop handles) by rigging seats in their favor? If you want to find a good example of petulance, I’m sure there are plenty out there. This one, though, is a direct result of Republican anti-American evil. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/57 "2010-12-03T00:57:11Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Of course everyone knows that democrats would never [flee the state to avoid voting](http://www.cnn.com/2003/fyi/news/05/14/texas.legislature/). It’s interesting to note that Tom DeLay (R-Texas) was recently convicted for his part in that charade. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/58 "2010-12-03T01:14:18Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > It’s interesting to note that Tom DeLay (R-Texas) was recently convicted for his part in that charade. **Frank** , forgive this Canadian for getting involved in a Texas affair, but you ain’t a Texan either, and I’m calling bullshit on your assertion that Delay’s conviction had something to do wih the Texas Democrat’s opposition to redistricting back in 2003. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/59 "2010-12-03T01:29:38Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > **Frank** , forgive this Canadian for getting involved in a Texas affair, but you ain’t a Texan either, and I’m calling bullshit on your assertion that Delay’s conviction had something to do wih the Texas Democrat’s opposition to redistricting back in 2003. DeLay was convicted for laundering money through his PAC into the Texas state election of 2002, for the purposes of controlling redistricting. From the link in the OP: > [@](#): > > Texan Democrats there say that they are protesting efforts by U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay to promote the redistricting plan. I have, in fact, lived in Texas, for one year in the early 70s. For further criticism of where I have no business talking about, I have lived in Maryland, New York, Florida, New York (again), Virginia, Kansas, Virginia (again) California, Sicily, Massachusetts, Maryland (again), Texas, Maryland (again). Then I turned fourteen and spent the better part of my teens hitch-hiking around the U.S., Canada, and a small part of Mexico. Since I (more or less) settled down, I have lived in Maryland, Massachusetts, Colorado, Ontario, and Missouri. I’ve assiduously followed local, state (provincial), and national news where ever I have lived, and I have read newspapers where ever I have travelled. In short, I did not fall off the turnip truck just yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/60 "2010-12-03T01:43:14Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > DeLay was convicted for laundering money through his PAC into the Texas state election of 2002, for the purposes of controlling redistricting. From the link in the OP: > I have, in fact, lived in Texas, for one year in the early 70s. For further criticism of where I have no business talking about, I have lived in Maryland, New York, Florida, New York (again), Virginia, Kansas, Virginia (again) California, Sicily, Massachusetts, Maryland (again), Texas, Maryland (again). Then I turned fourteen and spent the better part of my teens hitch-hiking around the U.S., Canada, and a small part of Mexico. Since I (more or less) settled down, I have lived in Maryland, Massachusetts, Colorado, Ontario, and Missouri. I’ve assiduously followed local, state (provincial), and national news where ever I have lived, and I have read newspapers where ever I have travelled. > > In short, I did not fall off the turnip truck just yesterday. Uh **Frank** you do realize that my reference to your residence in Texas is based on your past criticism of my participation of American affairs because I’m not American. In any case, I just don’t see your connection to the Democrats holing up out of state to delay’s moneylaundering. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550.md?page=4)