what is pissing ME off is the everyone but the Republicans,

[CTLawGuy]

who are blocking EVERYTHING, is getting blamed for the health care woes. They are ones who are refusing to govern in good faith and who are blocking and frustrating the legislative process for political gain. They are the ones who are forcing Obama and the Dem leadership to kowtow to conservatives like Lieberman and Nelson or risk utter failure. And they will be the ones sitting pretty in 2010 if people don't get some perspective on what is going on.

It really bothers me that the Rs might get away with this shit.

[napi21]

1. The problem is that Dems don't want a "lockstep" Party.

That's what the Pubs are and we "B" about it all the time! This time, I have to agree with Biden. If you have a real Big Tent Party, it's you have a lot of differing opinions. I also don't want the Dems to be as mean & nasty as the Pubs are. I don't wnat them to cave on everything, and to have a Grayson once in a while is refreshing, but not all of them.

[CTLawGuy]

2. why does no one get it

the Rs are intentionally doing this to cause failure ("Obama's Waterloo") so that they can roar back into power. The only remedy is to punish them for not governing in good faith. But that isn't going to happen because people don't get what an impossible situation Obama is in.

People think the Rs have always obstructed in lockstep like this, and other presidents have passed controversial legislation, so why can't Obama do it? But the Rs have NOT always done this. Not in the 30s, not in the 60s. Can you imagine if LBJ had to make civil rights palatable to Southern "democrats"?

[depakid]

11. Then you will lose

and will deserve the failures and less than effective half measures and corrupt pandering to the right that you get, as you head inexorably down the path toward third world status.

[Armstead]

3. The Republicans are smarter than we are.....We ALWAYS have excuses

No matter what the situation, we always have an excuse for never succeeding.

That's what I'm sick of.

If the GOP had a majority AND the WH like Dems do now, they'd be gleefully raping and pillaging and doing whatever they want....The Dems would be sulking in the corner whining and refusing to even put up token opposition. And some Dems would be right in there supporting the GOP raping and pillaging.

[kentuck]

4. They know how stupid their supporters are...

and they act accordingly.

[OHdem10]

5. As long as we have Democrats who SAY--"This is a Center-Right

Country" they are of their own volition saying the GOP
are correct and their way is the only way.

Unfortunately, this makes it possible and this
has been going on for over 30years. Be dismissive
of Liberals except when their money and votes are needed.

Just the other day, Evan Bayh, darling of the Media
and supposedly a democrat-- uttered "This a Center-Right
Country." At least he is honest to himself.

If this is a center right country, we should stop complaining
and support with gusto the Republican Leaning HIR Reform Plan.

Only a Center-Right Congress would develop a plan that
favors the Insurance Industry by forcing citizens to buy
Insurance. Only a Center Right Congress would limit
the number of people who can join a plan. I could go on.

My point is Words have IMPACT. This is a Center Right Country
affects every action taken by the government. I would
love to have every Democrat answer honestly--Do you believe
this is a center right country??? Keep in Mind, Tom Delay
ran the Congress far-right to center right.

NEVER FORGET: Center Right is MILES and Miles from the Center.

They are not say a little right of Center. They are saying
Center Right. Center Right is the GOP location on the scale.
We therefore cannot expect very much.

[avaistheone1]

8. I think this is a mistake in how Obama and the Dems governed from the beginning of his term.

BTW Personally I don't think this is a center right country. When most people are polled their views are more in line with traditional democratic/liberal/left positions.

[Clio the Leo]

6. Yep, we are being played for fools. NT

[freddie mertz]

7. The Dems you refer to are dancing to the Republican tune.

By weakening and delaying and making the legislation worse OR causing to fail.

Either way, the Pukes win.

They have a rather clever strategy in that sense.

[CTLawGuy]

9. there have always been such dems

dems voted against major legislation such as Social Security, medicare and the civil rights act. But back then we didn't need every single dem in order to pass anything.

[freddie mertz]

16. And the Pukes know this, which is why they are winning.

[depakid]

10. Sorry, ace -it's the Democrats who are failing to enforce party discipline

and effectively pass responsible public policy.

Blaming Republicans doesn't fly when you have this large a majority.

Hell, Republicans got unpopular- sometimes profoundly unpopular policies passed with much less!

Dems can't even get 'er done when the policies have 70% + support across the country- and upwards of 60% in their own districts.

Now, what's wrong with that picture?

[CTLawGuy]

14. almost no radical legislation ...

has ever passed with 100% Democrats in favor.

LBJ, the guy who "rammed" legislation through congress, lost 120 Democrats on the Civil Rights Act! 120! If Obama had that success rate, HCR would be dead before it got out of the gate. LBJ could get away with because the Republicans allowed independent thought back then and enough Rs voted for it to make up for the lost Dems.


LBJ lost 70 Dems on Medicare as well. What's Obama's margin for error? 40, all House members. He can't lose one dem in the senate.

He has to do almost twice as well among Dems as LBJ did for Medicare in order to pass HCR.

And who is responsible for that situation? the party who refuses to allow any independent thought.

[Jennicut]

17. Precisely why Obama has a harder road to go then LBJ did in getting major

legislation passed. There is no room to breathe, he needs all the Dems.

[depakid]

18. Frankly- this isn't "radical" legislation- but ought to have been a responsible solution

to an unsustainable situation that's dragging the nation down into 3rd world status. Same holds true for various other necessary reforms.

Botton line is that the party (and the institution of the Senate) has become profoundly dysfunctional in terms of responding to feedback- i.e. solving problems that degrade society for the short term benefit of a very few.

[salguine]

12. Nonsense. The only way the minority could block the majority this thoroughly

is that the majority is perfectly satisfied with being blocked.

[CTLawGuy]

15. its very easy to block legislation

Obama has to get EVERY SINGLE Democrat in the Senate to pass ANYTHING. How is failing to do so indicative of being "satisfied" to be blocked?

[R. P. McMurphy]

13. k & r n/t