Congressional Constipation by E.J. Dionne, Jr.

[babylonsister]

Congressional Constipation by E.J. Dionne, Jr.
Good bills are getting held up by a determined Republican minority. The Democrats need to do more about it than whine.
Post Date Thursday, December 13, 2007



WASHINGTON -- Congressional Democrats need a Plan B. Republicans chortle as they block Democratic initiatives -- and accuse the majority of being unable to govern. Rank-and-filers are furious their leaders can't end the Iraq War. President Bush sits back and vetoes at will.

Worse, Democrats are starting to blame each other, with those in the House wondering why their Senate colleagues don't force Republicans to engage in grueling, old-fashioned filibusters. Instead, the GOP kills bills by coming up with just 41 votes. Senators defend themselves by saying that their House colleagues don't understand how the august "upper" chamber works these days.

If Bush's strategy is to drag Congress down to his low level of public esteem, he is succeeding brilliantly. A Washington Post/ABC News poll released earlier this week found that only 33 percent of Americans approved of Bush's handling of his job -- and just 32 percent felt positively about Congress' performance. The only comfort for Democrats: The public dislikes Republicans in Congress (32 percent approval) even more than it dislikes congressional Democrats (40 percent approval).

The Democrats' core problem is that they have been unable to place blame for gridlock where it largely belongs, on the Republican minority and the president.

In an ideal world, Democrats would pass a lot of legislation that Bush would either have to sign or veto. The president would have to take responsibility for his choices. The House has passed many bills, but the Republican minority has enormous power in the Senate to keep the legislation from ever getting to the president's desk. This creates the impression that action is being stalled through some vague and nefarious congressional "process."

more...

http://tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=620b250b-7e23-406e-a82e-a555d29c028b

[OHdem10]

1. Not defending the GOP, but they develop a strategy and

"whip" all members into line. There are Republicans in both those
houses who do not agree with policies but winning and getting
coverage that makes the Democrats look "weak and failing".

Their strategy has been, Bush promises to veto every piece of
legislation that is not to his specification. The Gop stand
strong in House and Senate not giving Dems one small opportunity.
Bush gets out his Megaphone (almost daily press conference_)
and calls the Democrats--the Do Nothing Congress. All the while
telling the world how the Dems have not done much sicne they
were elected.

GOP are risk takers. This could be considered risky. They believe
it is worth the risk. They can run on their version--Make a big
mea culpa, then tell their consituents how they have held the line
on spending keeping those Democrats from raising taxes and ruining
the country with their wasteful spending.

Their most important asset. The ability to keep all the members
in line.

Whether it is fair or not, the Media sees this as a plus for Republicans.
"They are disciplined, set a goal , a strategy whip members into
line and win. The Media evaluates Political Saviness; not whether
the issue is good and the results would be good for the country.
This is why we get angry at the Media during campaign--they are
measuring politics, politcal saviness. how the campaign funcions
and we are concerned with substance.

Not at all defending Republicans, just sharing what I have observed.
I do happen to believe issues are important and what happens to
the country is more important.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Excellent observation. We're better on the issues, but Repubs are better at politics.

That's the sorry truth.