# Will Republican obstructionism succeed or backfire? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 23, 2011, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-republican-obstructionism-succeed-or-backfire/603914 "2011-11-23T20:17:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-republican-obstructionism-succeed-or-backfire/603914/21 "2011-12-02T00:11:35Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > . . . those voters do have enough brains to know who has nothing but contempt for them. . . . I don’t know… If you actually pay attention, it’s pretty obvious that Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Fox News, etc. have utter contempt for their listeners and viewers. It’s disguised, but it’s unmistakeable. NPR, on the other hand, almost never displays any form of contempt for its listeners: it can’t afford to! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-republican-obstructionism-succeed-or-backfire/603914/22 "2011-12-02T00:21:59Z")
It will succeed for Republicans and fail for the rest of America. In short, it will accomplish their aims just as if they controlled a majority. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-republican-obstructionism-succeed-or-backfire/603914/23 "2011-12-02T01:08:37Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I love this attitude coming from the left. Please spread it around your friends/family/colleagues. Far and wide. It will insure further decline of the left. > > You see, in spite of what you think, those voters do have enough brains to know who has nothing but contempt for them. And that’s you. So you won’t be getting their vote. But what’s all this about the “left”? Who is the 'left" in this case? Does NPR hurl contempt at people? Isn’t contempt-hurling the province of FOX and Rush and the Tea Party? Doesn’t the “left” have compassion for ordinary working people who can’t afford health care, etc.? The question before us is, will Republican contemptuousness spark a backlash among voters? Or will they vote according to the principle that it’s better to be a bully’s friend than a bully’s target? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-republican-obstructionism-succeed-or-backfire/603914/24 "2011-12-02T01:38:53Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > You’re _sort_ of right. Rush and FOX News won’t share their airwaves with the Left’s point of view just like NPR doesn’t go out of its way to report the Tea Party’s side of the story. Do you even listen to NPR? They very nearly always report both sides. I’ve heard opposing views often, especially last year with Tea Partiers. They are given equal time, tho not the last word, and are never shouted down like what happens if a lib appears on Fox. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-republican-obstructionism-succeed-or-backfire/603914/25 "2011-12-02T04:09:10Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > But what’s all this about the “left”? Who is the 'left" in this case? Does NPR hurl contempt at people? Isn’t contempt-hurling the province of FOX and Rush and the Tea Party? Doesn’t the “left” have compassion for ordinary working people who can’t afford health care, etc.? > > The question before us is, will Republican contemptuousness spark a backlash among voters? Or will they vote according to the principle that it’s better to be a bully’s friend than a bully’s target? Did you read the post to which I was responding? ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-republican-obstructionism-succeed-or-backfire/603914/26 "2011-12-03T06:13:23Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](#): > > Do you even listen to NPR? They very nearly always report both sides. I’ve heard opposing views often, especially last year with Tea Partiers. They are given equal time, tho not the last word, and are never shouted down like what happens if a lib appears on Fox. Every morning on the way to work. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-republican-obstructionism-succeed-or-backfire/603914/27 "2011-12-03T10:11:18Z")
If that’s the case, then how could you seriously make that analogy with a straight face? ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-republican-obstructionism-succeed-or-backfire/603914/28 "2011-12-03T11:41:27Z")
I know I’m contributing to what amounts to a hijack of the thread, but it always amazes me when anyone ever compares NPR to Rush or FOX News. No, they are not, in any way, shape, or form equivalent. NPR goes out of its way to present its news and commentary in an even-handed and non-biased manner. If anything, lately, they bend over backward to present the rights perspective, and they do so without judgment and definitely without derision. It’s almost as though they’re scared of something. They’re even careful about letting panelist comments too critical of the Republicans in current events from going too far on the air on their comedy shows like Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me. They may let a mocking tone slip though from one of the comedians when a conservative or republican in the news does something particularly book-like, but they nip it in the bud, but quick and move on. As I’ve opined before, I think the problem that those who lean right have with NPR is that although it provides the right/conservative perspective in it’s news, it also provides the liberal/left perspective at all, which you would never, ever hear on FOX et al without ridicule, is proof to them that NPR is the left’s FOX. After all, in their world, there can be no news non-critical of the left. I will also contend that any republican/conservative who practically has a heart attack at the mere mention of NPR has never listened to it a day in his or her life. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-republican-obstructionism-succeed-or-backfire/603914/29 "2011-12-03T11:49:24Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > I know I’m contributing to what amounts to a hijack of the thread, but it always amazes me when anyone ever compares NPR to Rush or FOX News. No, they are not, in any way, shape, or form equivalent. NPR goes out of its way to present its news and commentary in an even-handed and non-biased manner. If anything, lately, they bend over backward to present the rights perspective, and they do so without judgment and definitely without derision. It’s almost as though they’re scared of something. They’re even careful about letting panelist comments too critical of the Republicans in current events from going too far on the air on their comedy shows like Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me. They may let a mocking tone slip though from one of the comedians when a conservative or republican in the news does something particularly book-like, but they nip it in the bud, but quick and move on. > > As I’ve opined before, I think the problem that those who lean right have with NPR is that although it provides the right/conservative perspective in its news, it also provides the liberal/left perspective at all, which you would never, ever hear on FOX et al without ridicule, is proof to them that NPR is the left’s FOX. After all, in their world, there can be no news non-critical of the left. > > I will also contend that any republican/conservative who practically has a heart attack at the mere mention of NPR has never listened to it a day in his or her life. Missed the edit window. Typo fixed in red in my previous post above, for clarity. ---
**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:** [December 3, 2011, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-republican-obstructionism-succeed-or-backfire/603914/30 "2011-12-03T12:20:58Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > I never said NPR was as biased as FOX, nor do I think they are. All I said was that NPR generally reports news that is of interest to the Left aand FOX, the Right. Am I incorrect in that statement? Yes, very. Very. VERY. Incorrect. > [@Terr](#): > > I love this attitude coming from the left. Please spread it around your friends/family/colleagues. Far and wide. It will insure further decline of the left. > > You see, in spite of what you think, those voters do have enough brains to know who has nothing but contempt for them. And that’s you. So you won’t be getting their vote. … Do me a favor, will ya? Compare the average NPR, MSNBC, or whatever broadcast to, say, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly, or Anne Coulter. ---
**Author:** ![diggerwam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-republican-obstructionism-succeed-or-backfire/603914/31 "2011-12-03T12:36:01Z")
Right now the republican politicians are getting what they want. It will be up to the people if they want to rehire these folks for the next term. So they are succeeding and will continue until the vast majority of voters get tired. I still have hope (probably foolishly) for compromise after this next election. I just can’t imagine continuing doing nothing about jobs, taxes and debt/deficit and getting rehired. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-republican-obstructionism-succeed-or-backfire/603914/32 "2011-12-05T18:46:48Z")
Are you all saying that the Right listens to NPR as readily as they listen to FOX? Surely you jest. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-republican-obstructionism-succeed-or-backfire/603914/33 "2011-12-05T19:09:53Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Are you all saying that the Right listens to NPR as readily as they listen to FOX? Surely you jest. Reality has a well-known liberal bias. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-republican-obstructionism-succeed-or-backfire/603914/34 "2011-12-05T19:10:52Z")
> [@diggerwam](#): > > Right now the republican politicians are getting what they want. It will be up to the people if they want to rehire these folks for the next term. So they are succeeding and will continue until the vast majority of voters get tired. I still have hope (probably foolishly) for compromise after this next election. I just can’t imagine continuing doing nothing about jobs, taxes and debt/deficit and getting rehired. The only way there will ever be compromise from the Republicans is if an ultra right-wing conservative, such as Bachmann, is nominated and loses badly to Obama. If Romney is the nominee and loses, which is what I suspect will happen, the Republicans will come back with the “we weren’t conservative enough” crap once again. You think the obstructionism is bad now? You aint seen nothin’. Wait until Romney loses. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-republican-obstructionism-succeed-or-backfire/603914.md?page=1)