Ryan, McConnell confirm they have no real agenda in ’16 besides blocking Obama [View all]

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The only goal of Republicans in Congress the last 7 years has been to stymie Obama, 2016 will be no different
by SEAN ILLING

Since President Obama took office, Congressional Republicans have made it their business to obstruct everything he does. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said it best in 2012: “Our top political priority over the next two years should be to deny President Obama a second term.”

And that’s how they’ve governed in the Obama era. Like political arsonists, they’ve pursued no real positive agenda, choosing instead to undermine the president and stage symbolic protest votes to appease a disillusioned base. This is a big reason why something like 13 percent of the country approves of the job Congress is doing.

For a brief moment, when Paul Ryan was elected Speaker of the House, there was hope that things might change, if only a little. Although Ryan is hardly a moderate, he is nonetheless a serious legislator. His victory, one hoped, was a sign that House Republicans finally saw the light, finally realized that obstructionism wasn’t a viable governing philosophy.

Well, that’s not happening.

There were already rumbles in conservative circles after Ryan agreed to pass $1.1 trillion spending bill earlier this month. To the hardliners on the right, any deal that removed the threat of a government shutdown constituted a gutless compromise, a conservative heresy.

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http://www.salon.com/2016/01/04/all_they_want_to_do_is_screw_over_the_president_ryan_mcconnell_confirm_they_have_no_real_agenda_in_16_besides_blocking_obama/