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Congress Has a Job — But Has Largely Stopped Doing It

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Leon On December 21, 2023




San Diego, California
#1New Post! Nov 05, 2018 @ 21:31:21
Congress Has A Job - But Has Largely Stopped Doing It

A rather depressing article that details our “do nothing” Congress and how it’s much worse than most realize.

Seeds creating it were planted in 1993-4 and it grew rapidly after 2008 when Obama was elected. Increased polarization has led to a back and forth between the two parties of increased stifling measures and counter-measures.

From the article:

“For more than 200 years, Congress operated largely as the country’s founders envisioned — forging compromises on the biggest issues of the day while asserting its authority to declare war, spend taxpayer money and keep the presidency in check.

“Today, on the eve of a closely fought election that will determine who runs Capitol Hill, that model is effectively dead.

“It has been replaced by a weakened legislative branch in which debate is strictly curtailed, party leaders dictate the agenda, most elected representatives rarely get a say, and government shutdowns are a regular threat because of chronic failures to agree on budgets, according to a new analysis of congressional data and documents by The Washington Post and ProPublica.”
chaski On March 28, 2024
Stalker





Tree at Floydgirrl's Window,
#2New Post! Nov 05, 2018 @ 21:52:47
I mostly blame Newt Gingrich for starting this trend.

He actually lays claim to it.

Jackass.
Leon On December 21, 2023




San Diego, California
#3New Post! Nov 05, 2018 @ 22:04:24
@chaski Said

I mostly blame Newt Gingrich for starting this trend.

He actually lays claim to it.

Jackass.


The article doesn’t mention him, but mentions the Clinton midterms, which he was behind.

Still, it wasn’t nearly as bad as the Obama-era politics in terms of castigating Congress. Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan seem to get most of the blame in the article.
chaski On March 28, 2024
Stalker





Tree at Floydgirrl's Window,
#4New Post! Nov 05, 2018 @ 22:11:07
@Leon Said

The article doesn’t mention him, but mentions the Clinton midterms, which he was behind.

Still, it wasn’t nearly as bad as the Obama-era politics in terms of castigating Congress. Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan seem to get most of the blame in the article.


Newt started with a very specific memo... the memo essentially changed the tactics (and dialogue) of the Republican part from Democrats are good but misguided American politicians to Democrats are evil socialists trying to destroy our democracy.

Yes Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan... but don't forget John Boehner. Boehner is the one that publicly stated that the Republican party's single most important goal and purpose is to go against anything that Obama wanted to do. Boehner, on numerous occasions, publicly stated that he (and the Republicans) would not compromise with Obama on anything. The strategy was all or nothing. The result being the most unproductive congress in U.S. history.

Of course the funny thing is that conservatives and Republicans have forgotten all that and like to pretend like it is the Democrats that refuse to negotiate and compromise.
Leon On December 21, 2023




San Diego, California
#5New Post! Nov 05, 2018 @ 22:20:13
@chaski Said

Newt started with a very specific memo... the memo essentially changed the tactics (and dialogue) of the Republican part from Democrats are good but misguided American politicians to Democrats are evil socialists trying to destroy our democracy.

Yes Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan... but don't forget John Boehner. Boehner is the one that publicly stated that the Republican party's single most important goal and purpose is to go against anything that Obama wanted to do. Boehner, on numerous occasions, publicly stated that he (and the Republicans) would not compromise with Obama on anything. The strategy was all or nothing. The result being the most unproductive congress in U.S. history.

Of course the funny thing is that conservatives and Republicans have forgotten all that and like to pretend like it is the Democrats that refuse to negotiate and compromise.


The article seems to imply Boehner’s hands were tied by the Tea Party as opposed to blaming him. But either way, yes, much of the blame is on opposition to Obama.

The Democrats receive some blame too

It’s like the Israeli - Muslim conflict that has been going on for millennia. Action on one side triggers action on the other side, which triggers action on the other side, which triggers action on the other side.....

Who/what started it, as well as reconciliation efforts, have long been relegated in the constant back and forth.
chaski On March 28, 2024
Stalker





Tree at Floydgirrl's Window,
#6New Post! Nov 05, 2018 @ 22:22:43
@Leon Said

The article seems to imply Boehner’s hands were tied by the Tea Party as opposed to blaming him.


Yes.

Of course Boehner could always have taken the high road and no become a coward afraid of the Tea Party... where are they these days... not such a big thing since Trump took hold of the Republican party.
chaski On March 28, 2024
Stalker





Tree at Floydgirrl's Window,
#7New Post! Nov 05, 2018 @ 22:24:47
@Leon Said

Who/what started it, as well as reconciliation efforts, have long been relegated in the constant back and forth.


Yes.

The Republicans that might have been the ones to work on reconciliation seem to be bailing out.

I think there are Democrats who might be willing to reconcile also... but maybe not with Trump.
Leon On December 21, 2023




San Diego, California
#8New Post! Nov 05, 2018 @ 22:27:15
@chaski Said

Yes.

Of course Boehner could always have taken the high road and no become a coward afraid of the Tea Party... where are they these days... not such a big thing since Trump took hold of the Republican party.


He has taken a bit of a high road afterwards, which is probably why the article paints him in a victimized light in retrospect. Unlike Gingrich.
Leon On December 21, 2023




San Diego, California
#9New Post! Nov 05, 2018 @ 22:30:06
And the Tea Party is now the Freedom Caucus.
Leon On December 21, 2023




San Diego, California
#10New Post! Nov 05, 2018 @ 22:36:18
@chaski Said

Yes.

The Republicans that might have been the ones to work on reconciliation seem to be bailing out.

I think there are Democrats who might be willing to reconcile also... but maybe not with Trump.


Kasich was big on it - it was his campaign really. But nobody wanted to listen to him instead of Trump.

Not sure who on the Democratic side is touting it right now.

Or either side really. It’s all about worshipping or hating Trump.

In other words, a repeat of Obama.

While Avenetti certainly is one NOT to take all that seriously, I would have to admit, as sad as it may be, we probably do indeed need a white male to run against Trump to get him out.
chaski On March 28, 2024
Stalker





Tree at Floydgirrl's Window,
#11New Post! Nov 05, 2018 @ 22:47:35
@Leon Said

And the Tea Party is now the Freedom Caucus.



Well that was probably obvious, I probably should have known that. Thank you.
Leon On December 21, 2023




San Diego, California
#12New Post! Nov 05, 2018 @ 22:55:23
@chaski Said

Well that was probably obvious, I probably should have known that. Thank you.




Probably because they changed face and voted in a debt ballooning version of tax reform once such reform was finally on the table.

It really was just about Obama.
mrmhead On March 27, 2024




NE, Ohio
#13New Post! Nov 06, 2018 @ 02:21:25
@chaski Said

Newt started with a very specific memo... the memo essentially changed the tactics (and dialogue) of the Republican part from Democrats are good but misguided American politicians to Democrats are evil socialists trying to destroy our democracy.

Yes Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan... but don't forget John Boehner. Boehner is the one that publicly stated that the Republican party's single most important goal and purpose is to go against anything that Obama wanted to do. Boehner, on numerous occasions, publicly stated that he (and the Republicans) would not compromise with Obama on anything. The strategy was all or nothing. The result being the most unproductive congress in U.S. history.

Of course the funny thing is that conservatives and Republicans have forgotten all that and like to pretend like it is the Democrats that refuse to negotiate and compromise.


Was it Boehner that said that? I can certainly see him agreeing, but I seem to remember seeing an older guy say it - Maybe like Mitch?

I saw videos of it - Just like those wheelbarrows of cash for that hostage swap!

.. Or maybe Boehner was just parroting someone else?
mrmhead On March 27, 2024




NE, Ohio
#14New Post! Nov 06, 2018 @ 02:24:14
@Leon Said

Kasich was big on it - it was his campaign really. But nobody wanted to listen to him instead of Trump.

Not sure who on the Democratic side is touting it right now.

Or either side really. It’s all about worshipping or hating Trump.

In other words, a repeat of Obama.

While Avenetti certainly is one NOT to take all that seriously, I would have to admit, as sad as it may be, we probably do indeed need a white male to run against Trump to get him out.


If Kasich had gotten the nomination, I certainly would have listened and considered him - and not just because I'm from Ohio.
Leon On December 21, 2023




San Diego, California
#15New Post! Nov 06, 2018 @ 02:34:58
@mrmhead Said

If Kasich had gotten the nomination, I certainly would have listened and considered him - and not just because I'm from Ohio.


I liked him. I hope he runs again. And, more importantly, people listen this time.

He reminds me of the old school Republican. Fiscally conservative, but solution seeking.
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