http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015...-led-congress/
Now who is obstructing?
What I mean is very simple. Last two years the House republican majority worked very hard to oppose, slow, not confirm, etc., etc., a lot of things solely because the Senate and WH dems were pushing for something.
Now I expect the dem president will oppose, slow, not enforce, etc., etc., a lot of things solely because the Senate and House reps are pushing for something
In my mind neither party is trying to seek middle ground in most cases. They are both trying to seek political advantage, and their concern for the good of the country is a far distant second concern.
Look at the first week of the new congress. Numerous pieces of legislation put forth at various levels that are nothing more than spite. Just as I expect to see a number of vetos that are equally bad intentioned.
When I first started spending significant time in DC political swamp I was naieve about how badly "winning votes" is really all any politician on the top rung actually cares about (OK, maybe not all of them, but 80+% of them).
Example with no names or parties--because I've seen it both ways far too often:
The President is from Part A. He is working to pass a measure. I get asked to brief a subcommittee about some aspect of the measure. All the members of Party A ask me softball questions if I have analysis that supports the measure. The subcommitte reps of Party B accuse me of being Papa Joe incarnate, even though all I present is simple data. My org almost never makes a "recommendation" either way. I had a Party B type even say I was biasing the analysis because I was using 9.8 m/sec/sec as the estimate of gravity instead of 9.81. In the fidelity of the question, it made ZERO difference. Biting my lip I refrained from either ridiculing or laughing at the congressman. Neither would have worked out well.
A couple years later, with a new president now from Party B I was brought back. Many of the actual people were the same. The new president also supported the measure (it was quite straight forward and should have had near unanimous bi-lateral support). But this time, all the subcommittee members from Party B completely supported the analysis, and the soft tossers of Pary A had become zealots with knives sharpened. It was almost as if the two parties trades sheets of questions (an in a couple cases the exact same questions WERE now asked by the other side).
None of it was about the actual bill. In both cases it was about making the president look good or bad, passing it or obstructing it.
So quit trying to pretend "your" side are driven by high ideals of public service. A few are, but you have unprincipled, uncompromising assholes in the majority of both parties. If you think otherwise you are a bumpkin. Originally Posted by Old-T
In my mind neither party is trying to seek middle ground in most cases. They are both trying to seek political advantage, and their concern for the good of the country is a far distant second concern.Not certain as to which House Bill you refer, but it has been my understanding that the House Bills were passed in the past recent years that were never allowed "on the floor" for a Senate vote. Consequently, our Emperor In Chief was not called upon to Veto them ... (that was his cover from HIS MAN in the Senate). Now that the Senate is controlled by the Republicans (in so far as getting votes on bills) then Bills ("good" or "bad") will get an up or down vote.
Look at the first week of the new congress. Numerous pieces of legislation put forth at various levels that are nothing more than spite. Just as I expect to see a number of vetos that are equally bad intentioned. Originally Posted by Old-T