How does the minority get a bill passed without help from the majority?

[monktonman]

Read another post yesterday saying how people should stop bashing the Dems
for their piss-poor congressional performance.
The OP used the usual argument that says the Dems have a very slim majority
and therefore cant push bills through without Republic help.
OK fine. I can see how they dont have the votes to impeach, end the war, stop funding, whatever.

So how do these same republics (the minority) get legislation passed
without some help from the Dems (the majority)? Move on.org., Spy legislation, war funding, etc.
I am certainly no expert on such matters and dont pretend to know much
about the mechanics of the legislative branch.

Please enlighten me.

[slackmaster]

1. Secret deals made with winks and handshakes, negotiated in smoke-filled rooms

As it has always been done.

[monktonman]

3. No, I mean for real.

Some here insist that others dont understand how our system of government works.
I read one of those type post's last night and started to think maybe he was right.
Maybe I dont understand how it works and my sixth grade history teacher was an idiot.

[liberaldemocrat7]

5. The conservative Democrats ( Libertarians ) join with the GOP

to foil progressives but you have to have the initiative begun by the politically scared speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi.

[slackmaster]

11. Politicians haven't changed much since Roman times

They are, in general, ego-driven people who thrive on power, and will do just about anything to retain it once they achieve a high office. If that involves occasionally making a deal with the opposition party at the expense of the will of the people who elected them, few of them are above doing so.

[William769]

2. Actually it's quite simple.

The same people that bitch here about party loyalty and that dems can have differing views, is the same reason Repukes can get legislation passed. That party loyalty thing is a double edge sword.

[monktonman]

4. I've grown tired of being talked down to.

Yeah, I dropped out of school, ok I'm a dummy, fine.
I think I'm smart enough to know the republics couldnt get the
funding they need to continue the war without the help from
these same Dems that some in this forum would defend
no matter what they do.

Some around here think that they can belittle others when they
critisize the really crappy performance our reps have shown
just by saying "they only have a slim majority."
I call bullshit.
Pukes couldnt do anything without the help of at least some democrats.
why are we defending these guys?

[William769]

6. Who am I defending?

You asked a question, I gave a answer. If you don't like that answer, thats your problem.

[monktonman]

8. No not you. A bit jumpy???

I was referring to those who
shove a boot up anyones butt who dare criticize
our congress.
See what I mean? we've all got so used to being
insulted and talked to like children by a few
very prolific posters around here that if someone makes even
the slightest ambiguous comment we get all defensive and stuff.
I understand.
Thats why I ask the very simple question in the OP.
I'm on your side man.

[skipos]

7. A big problem with our 1 seat senate majority

The senate is more conservative than the general public because you have so many low population red states. In a close presidential election, there are about 20 blue states and 30 red ones (if I remember correctly, Gore was award the electoral votes for 20 states, Kerry 19). IMO, that's why you have more conservative leaning Dems (Ben Nelson) than progressive leaning Republicans (Chafee... who is gone now). My solution... try to replace every Republican with the most porgressive Dem that district, county or state can elect. If the Republican party ceased to exist and we were left with conservative Dems and progressive Dems, I'd be all for it.

[monktonman]

9. So its not a misunderstanding on my part them?

Some Democrats have to vote along with republics to get bills passed, correct?

People around here act like our guys are all angels and somehow the pukes
are passing legislation thats not very cool all by themselves and therefore
you have no right to criticize.
according to some, if you do, your not a democrat.

[skipos]

10. Yes, Dems have to vote with Repubs to get things passed

and you will notice that the ones who do it tend to be from red states. It isn't a justification, just an explanation. The fact that Lieberman took 1/3 of the Dem vote against progressive Lamont (in a blue state) should indicate that Feingolds and Boxers aren't going to get elected in every state.