# When does the congressional obstructionism stop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 23, 2011, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826 "2011-11-23T01:18:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![diggerwam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826/1 "2011-11-23T01:18:08Z")
Pretty straight forward question, if Obama wins a second term and the houses of congress continue to be of opposite parties, will we get another 2 or maybe 4 years of this inability to address the issues? If you had a countdown clock, what time would it be now? Is the congress really willing to wait until Obama is out of office before anything substantial is passed? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826/2 "2011-11-23T01:19:45Z")
The Republicans are not going to stop something that is working wonderfully for them. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826/3 "2011-11-23T01:28:50Z")
Actually it’s working pretty awfully for them, but almost as awfully for the Dems, because it is coloring voters’ perceptions of Congress into a very negative light (Congressional approval in recent polls is somewhere in the teens now), and people seem willing to put a pox on both their houses/parties. It has been said that the party which is most-anti-government would thus have the most to gain, but frankly it only works if the voters don’t really pay attention to the details WRT the gridlock in question and don’t assign proportionate blame (i.e. voters are uninformed and easily manipulated by certain media outlets). In a more enlightened society IOW such a cynical strategy would backfire badly. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826/4 "2011-11-23T01:34:12Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Actually it’s working pretty awfully for them, but almost as awfully for the Dems, because it is coloring voters’ perceptions of Congress into a very negative light (Congressional approval in recent polls is somewhere in the teens now), and people seem willing to put a pox on both their houses/parties. Judging by the fact that [86% of incumbents won their seat](http://www.followthemoney.org/blog/2010/11/democratic-incumbent-losses-top-republicans/) in the House in 2010, I would say the “pox on both their houses/parties” thing is overstated. (In case you are curious, the Democrat incumbent re-election rate was 80%. The Republican incumbent re-election rate was 95%) ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826/5 "2011-11-23T02:21:52Z")
The Republicans proposed a plan that would have worked. It was ignored. Obama was nowhere to be found the last couple of weeks. There is no leadership in the current administration. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826/6 "2011-11-23T02:56:07Z")
The obstructionism will stop the same way any political strategy stops - when the voters decide they don’t approve and speak in an election. So, perhaps, Nov 2012. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826/7 "2011-11-23T03:03:34Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > The Republicans proposed a plan that would have worked. Only if the goal was to lower taxes on the richest Americans, and raise them on the middle class. ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826/8 "2011-11-23T04:37:00Z")
If the Myans are right 21 December 2012. I think it went on 2009-2010 when the Democrats controlled the presidency, house, and senate. I also think Bush had some trouble the years the Republican controlled the house and senate. Why didn’t Hillary Care pass? Reagan… ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826/9 "2011-11-23T04:38:20Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Obama was nowhere to be found the last couple of weeks. There is no leadership in the current administration. I’m on the same fax list that said to emphasize this. I’d update my credentials, but it’s fun to see things arrive and then see them in action a day or two later. Good job! ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826/10 "2011-11-23T16:01:27Z")
Judging by recent events, it evidently stops when industrial lobbyists shower both sides with enough Benjamins to get pizza ruled a veggie. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826/11 "2011-11-23T16:08:22Z")
When’s the next congressional recess? Then. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826/12 "2011-11-23T17:11:39Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Only if the goal was to lower taxes on the richest Americans, and raise them on the middle class. C’mon, be honest. It should say “…lower the tax rate while ending a lot of deductions that rich people take, resulting in higher taxes on the rich overall and lowering taxes on the bottom 2/3 of Americans.” I’m sure your omission was just an oversight. > [@Kobal2](#): > > Judging by recent events, it evidently stops when industrial lobbyists shower both sides with enough Benjamins to get pizza ruled a veggie. The declaration was that a 1/8 cup of tomato paste counts as a serving of vegetables for the purposes of federal dietary guidelines of school lunches. In other words, maintaining the status quo and allowing schools to continue to serve pizza. Do you have a cite for the “industrial lobbyists shower[ing] both sides with” money? Or are you one of those that just _assume_ that’s what happened when a law has been passed (or in this case, renewed)? ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826/13 "2011-11-23T17:20:38Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > C’mon, be honest. It should say “…lower the tax rate while ending a lot of deductions that rich people take, resulting in higher taxes on the rich overall and lowering taxes on the bottom 2/3 of Americans.” I’m sure your omission was just an oversight. Really? Can you show me an analysis of the Toomey plan that laid out the tax impact for various segments of the population? Because what I saw was Toomey claiming this would be the effect but that details weren’t worked out, and Democrats claiming the opposite. I don’t recall ever seeing a firm proposal or an independent evaluation. That said, I applaud Toomey for at least putting _some_ revenue on the table, even if it was paired with tax cuts. It’s a start, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826/14 "2011-11-23T17:21:30Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > I’m sure your omission was just an oversight. Nope. Just my obsession with the truth. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826/15 "2011-11-23T17:28:01Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Do you have a cite for the “industrial lobbyists shower[ing] both sides with” money? Or are you one of those that just _assume_ that’s what happened when a law has been passed (or in this case, renewed)? [QUOTE=New York Times] Food companies have spent more than $5.6 million so far lobbying against the proposed rules. [/QUOTE] [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/us/school-lunch-proposals-set-off-a-dispute.html?\_r=1&pagewanted=all](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/us/school-lunch-proposals-set-off-a-dispute.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all) Another cite: [Pizza still a vegetable for U.S. schools | CBC News](http://www.cbc.ca/news/offbeat/story/2011/11/18/pizza-school.html) > [@](#): > > “It’s an important victory,” Corey Henry, spokesman for the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), told Reuters. > > The trade association lobbied Congress on behalf of frozen pizza sellers, such as ConAgra Foods Inc and Schwan Food Co and french fry maker McCain Foods Ltd. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826/16 "2011-11-23T17:29:18Z")
Most likely, it stops when enough Baby Boomers decide they want to retire but realize that their 401(k) and pension plans won’t let them - and chances are, they will take it out on the Republicans. Maybe not in 2012, but I think almost certainly by 2020. (I just hope the backlash doesn’t turn into something like “90% wealth tax - not on income, but on your current wealth - over the amount that puts you in the wealthiest 5%, as payback-ER, UH, as ‘reparations’ for past tax benefits, and yes, that includes everything you own outside of the country, and if you try to run, I suggest you look up ‘Bush Doctrine’.”) ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826/17 "2011-11-23T17:41:49Z")
My cynical side says “Never”. We seem to be in a cycle of “I’ll do to you when I’m in power that you did to me when you were in power.” The throw everyone out won’t work because we’d just switch the ratios. Plus, most people don’t like Congress but they like their congressman. With the current congressional seniority system, I think all of you guys should elect freshman reps while I keep my senior guy. I think things have to get so bad that the current two parties aren’t viable which probably means a significant collapse of the country economically. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826/18 "2011-11-23T17:46:46Z")
> [@diggerwam](#): > > \*\*When does the congressional obstructionism stop? \*\* When a sufficient number of voters no longer demand or value it. At present, many **do** and many Congresscritters got elected on never-back-down promises. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826/19 "2011-11-23T17:49:47Z")
When we have a 66% majority for one party in both houses of congress and the white house. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2011, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826/20 "2011-11-23T17:55:52Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > When we have a 66% majority for one party in both houses of congress and the white house. If you have the 2/3 majority (not “66%” - pardon me for being pedantic, but I once saw a local school property tax get voted down with about 66.3% approval when it needed 2/3) in both houses of Congress, you don’t really need the White House, since pretty much any veto would be overridden. If you have the White House, all you need is a majority in the House and 3/5 in the Senate. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-the-congressional-obstructionism-stop/603826.md?page=2)