# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/61 "2010-12-03T01:44:03Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > 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. Which was more corrupt, Texas or Sicily? ---
**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, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/62 "2010-12-03T01:54:33Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > 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. Yes, I did. Your point? I’ve lived in Texas; you haven’t lived in the U.S. Regardless, I don’t mind the criticism, it was a comment that conservative Canadians have more to say about the U.S. than liberal Canadians do, at least on this board. > [@](#): > > In any case, I just don’t see your connection to the Democrats holing up out of state to delay’s moneylaundering. Sadly, I must consider this a case of being confused by my error in attribution. The article _was not_ linked to in the OP, but instead in **projammer** ’s post #51. This thread is apparently the unwitting receptacle of all the fuckups I’ve been storing up. ---
**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 3, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/63 "2010-12-03T02:33:51Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > 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. From [RandomRantCreator.com](http://RandomRantCreator.com) Wasn’t that issue over %THEM% thugs %DEVIANTACT% basic %IDEAOLOGY% (with %OBJECT1% and %OBJECT2%) by %ACTION%? 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 %THEM% anti-%US% evil. %THEM% and %US% are entirely interchangable depending on who’s ranting. %ACTION% is the latest headline, real or fictional, that will be old news tomorrow in favor of the new headline. There are more than enough examples of dickish behavior by politicians of all stripes to fill many complete sets of the Encyclopedia of Dickdom. What amazes me is that people still have the energy to be outraged by it or that they expect things to be different when they vote the old clique out and new clique in. History does not record anywhere at any time a political party that has any rational basis. But, like dandruff, most people do have a political party and spend time and money on it and seem to derive considerable pleasure from fiddling with it. -Lazarus Long (paraphrased)- So as I said earlier, carry on. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/64 "2010-12-03T03:03:00Z")
Wow, it’s a genuine worldwise capital-C Cynic. Shall we admire its superior understanding of politics as it hovers there above the fray while we struggle way down here in our deluded partisan mires? It quoted Heinlein! Or would it be impolite to point and laugh at the guy who can’t see any difference between… y’know… really _different_ things. ---
**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, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/65 "2010-12-03T03:32:00Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Yes, I did. Your point? I’ve lived in Texas; you haven’t lived in the U.S. Actually I have lived in Texas. For one week. Pennsylvania, Nevada, Louisiana, North Carolina, Florida, Washington and Oregon as well, never mind day trips in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigin, Ohio, Arizona. Virginia and West Virginia. ---
**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, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/66 "2010-12-03T03:52:19Z")
You could most likely completely absorb the culture of Odessa, Texas, in about a week. Waco would take a couple days more. For Austin, you need at least ten nights and three days. Of Houston, you only need the Venerable Molly: “Los Angeles with the climate of Calcutta”. Dallas is what happens when you give a peckerwood too much money. There. You can pretty much stay home now. There’s lots more, but ya’ll don’t need none. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/67 "2010-12-03T03:55:05Z")
So the Dem rank and file are both mad that the Pubs are obstructing their weak tea representatives _and_ jealous because they wanted the Dems to do the same thing over the last 9 years, except they wouldn’t because they agree with what the Pubs were doing anyway. But the rank and file still voted for them (What’s the matter with Kansas? indeed). And now the Dems are stealing the Pub talking points (traitors!) and fake clutching their pearls. Golden. ---
**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, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/68 "2010-12-03T04:29:26Z")
Somewhere within that tangled bramble of verbiage, a cogent thought is hiding. I have every confidence that is so. ---
**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 3, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/69 "2010-12-03T04:37:27Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Somewhere within that tangled bramble of verbiage, a cogent thought is hiding. I have every confidence that is so. And here I was, thinking my problem was that I had taken off my glasses. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/70 "2010-12-03T13:49:59Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > You could most likely completely absorb the culture of Odessa, Texas, in about a week. Waco would take a couple days more. For Austin, you need at least ten nights and three days. Of Houston, you only need the Venerable Molly: “Los Angeles with the climate of Calcutta”. Dallas is what happens when you give a peckerwood too much money. > > There. You can pretty much stay home now. There’s lots more, but ya’ll don’t need none. If you like live music, I’d give Austin a little more time. And there’s a BBQ place that serves a pork with cole slaw sandwich that rocks. ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/71 "2010-12-03T14:30:26Z")
Ah, so it’s come to this. We’ve got one party of self-admitted blatant obstructionists, one party of total pussbags that would gee-maybe-kinda-like-to-do-some-stuff if that’s okay with you guys that kowtows to the obstructionists for no discernible reason, and an electorate that — even among the reasonably educated, if arguments I’ve seen here are any indication — thinks that “well we certainly can’t vote for someone not in one of those two parties, because they have no chance of winning because nobody votes for them” is a valid line of reasonable thinking. Should get interesting from here. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/72 "2010-12-03T14:39:34Z")
> [@Roland\_Orzabal](#): > > Ah, so it’s come to this. We’ve got one party of self-admitted blatant obstructionists, one party of total pussbags that would gee-maybe-kinda-like-to-do-some-stuff if that’s okay with you guys that kowtows to the obstructionists for no discernible reason, and an electorate that — even among the reasonably educated, if arguments I’ve seen here are any indication — thinks that “well we certainly can’t vote for someone not in one of those two parties, because they have no chance of winning because nobody votes for them” is a valid line of reasonable thinking. > > Should get interesting from here. Hope you’ll stick around to analyze it all for us. ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/73 "2010-12-03T15:03:58Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > Hope you’ll stick around to analyze it all for us. It’s an observation, not doomsaying. Watching the political climate change is like History Class Live. Interesting shit. My point is that the current ineffectual state of the legislature means we’re due for either a major shift in the base of one of the two parties (and no, I don’t mean the Tea Party), or else a viable third option (and I still don’t mean the Tea Party) to manifest within the next decade and torpedo the ridiculous, but seemingly set-in-stone, notion that what we’re stuck with is all we’ll ever have. Personally, I’d love the latter, but…_shakes 8-ball_…“Outlook not so good”. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/74 "2010-12-03T15:59:30Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > 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. _raises hand_ I’ve lived in Texas for almost twenty years, do I count? Oh, good. What he said is exactly right. The Democrats fled to avoid the gerrymandering to end all gerrymandering. DeLay laundered the money to fund the redistricting process. I don’t know what you think you can achieve by saying “No he didn’t because you’re not a Texan.” It doesn’t change the validity of his argument. > [@](#): > > Prosecutors said DeLay conspired with two associates, John Colyandro and Jim Ellis, to use his Texas-based PAC to send $190,000 in corporate money to an arm of the Washington-based Republican National Committee, or RNC. The RNC then sent the same amount to seven Texas House candidates. Under Texas law, corporate money can’t go directly to political campaigns. > > Prosecutors claim the money helped Republicans take control of the Texas House. That enabled the GOP majority to push through a Delay-engineered congressional redistricting plan that sent more Texas Republicans to Congress in 2004 – and strengthened DeLay’s political power. Cite: [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/11/24/jury-convicts-delay-money-laundering-trial/](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/11/24/jury-convicts-delay-money-laundering-trial/) It’s a direct quote from an AP article so it can be found on a dozen or so sites, liberal and conservative. I picked the most conservative of the top five or so. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/75 "2010-12-04T14:41:42Z")
> [@Roland\_Orzabal](#): > > Ah, so it’s come to this. We’ve got one party of self-admitted blatant obstructionists, one party of total pussbags that would gee-maybe-kinda-like-to-do-some-stuff if that’s okay with you guys that kowtows to the obstructionists for no discernible reason, and an electorate that — even among the reasonably educated, if arguments I’ve seen here are any indication — thinks that “well we certainly can’t vote for someone not in one of those two parties, because they have no chance of winning because nobody votes for them” is a valid line of reasonable thinking. What we need is electoral reform. Something like instant run off. But neither of the two parties wants that. What I would **love** to see (and would even vote for) is a temporary alliance of all the third parties (Green, Libertarian, Constitution, etc) banded together on a single issue platform of reforming our electoral system. ---
**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 4, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/76 "2010-12-04T16:37:14Z")
> [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](#): > > The Democrats fled to avoid the gerrymandering to end all gerrymandering. DeLay laundered the money to fund the redistricting process. Delay laundered the money to finance TRMPAC for the purpose getting a Republican speaker in the house by way of funding Republican election campaigns. Just how is private financing required for the redistricting process ? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/77 "2010-12-04T17:23:16Z")
The Republicans are just delivering for the rich who they work for. They are doing the job they are paid to do. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/78 "2010-12-04T19:27:51Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > The Republicans are just delivering for the rich who they work for. [Senate Republicans vote to raise taxes on middle class](http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/4/925484/-Senate-Republicans-vote-to-raise-taxes-on-middle-class) I look forward to Obama vetoing the irresponsible extension of taxcuts for the wealthy when that comes down the pike. Of course, the president likely lacks the balls to _use_ his veto power on over-the-top Republican fantasyland bills. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/79 "2010-12-04T20:09:07Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > [Senate Republicans vote to raise taxes on middle class](http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/4/925484/-Senate-Republicans-vote-to-raise-taxes-on-middle-class) > > I look forward to Obama vetoing the irresponsible extension of taxcuts for the wealthy when that comes down the pike. Of course, the president likely lacks the balls to _use_ his veto power on over-the-top Republican fantasyland bills. It’s utterly baffling to me why the Democrats are losing this fight. They’ve got both houses of Congress, and the veto pen, and the more popular position. And they’ve known that the Bush Tax Cuts expire at the end of the year for ten years now. Is Harry Reid just looking for excuses to cave in on things? Why is he still Majority Leader? ---
**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 4, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550/80 "2010-12-04T21:55:35Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > I look forward to Obama vetoing the irresponsible extension of taxcuts for the wealthy when that comes down the pike. Of course, the president likely lacks the balls to _use_ his veto power on over-the-top Republican fantasyland bills. I hate these macho style assertions for policy advocation. Besides, does the president really have any choice if the Rebublicans remain adamant for holding out against legislation to keep tax cut for the wealthy ? Really, when it comes to proposed legislation. the US presidency and 59 cohesive Democrats are eunuched compared to 40 members of the US Senate unless he is willing to compromise on some other issue. The fact is that a continued tax cut for the rich is very well likely to be the Republican number one issue despite Afghanistan, despite long term unemployment and/or despite any other issue. I can’t help but wonder that a major deficit recovery occured under Clinton, only to be squandered by Bush’s tax cuts, and yeah even his pharmacy plan that as I understand was simply unfunded. Never mind that search for weapons of mass destruction. And true, I’m not American, but as the financial health of America affects us all, Canadians included, and given that America made a financial recovery under Clinton, ballanced budgets etc, I’d be just as happy to hear that the tax cuts for all expire completely. I’m for a strong America just as much as any American So yes, Obama, I hope you have the balls to hold out against the Republicans. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-reaches-new-heights/562550.md?page=5)