debt limit bill

[mikeburetta]

Why is it that we on the progressive side of the ledger always capitulate to the right? When the Democrats are in the majority of all three branches of government somehow we cant get things done. When we control 3 branches we still cant get it done. The old question of when if not now seams to be what we have to ask our selves! Republicans filibuster in the senate and rather than call there bluff we back off.
This "Super Congress" of 12 members coming to any conclusions other than cutting slicing and dicing social programs and working to dismantle every last vestige of the "new deal" is a forgone conclusion. The republican tactic of holding firm and demanding there way and being rewarded for it just makes them demand more. How can Democrats vote for this? And then say "its a good deal not what we wanted but still a good deal". Until democrats are willing to go to the mat nothing is going to change ! Maybe its time for a few Democratic Senators to pull from the republican play book and say NO! Put a hold on, or deny a Unanimous consent requests. Sometimes blocking is as power-full in legislating as is actually passing bills.
This is not going to get better but worse if we do not stand up and refuse the republican refusenics with some of there own tactics! Governing is messy business and sometimes ya gotta get your hands dirty in doing the work. A little sweat and guts is whats needed!

[Tunkamerica]

1. 3 branches? when was the last time we controlled 3 branches?

[mikeburetta]

3. 3 branches

before the repubs took the house not very long ago

[Tunkamerica]

9. the judicial (courts) the executive (pres.) and the legislative (congress)

are the three branches of government. When was the last time the democrats controlled all three? If you mean the two houses of congress and the presidency then I guess I get your point. But those are not the 3 branches of government.

[Tunkamerica]

2. doubleclick dupe

[Tx4obama]

4. At the moment ....

the House is controlled by the republicans.

And as far as the Senate, since the day that Obama was sworn in as president we've only had a filibuster-proof majority (60 democrats) for ONLY 49 DAYS.
Senator Franken was sworn in July 2009 and Senator Kennedy died August 2009 - that makes ONLY 49 DAYS.

Without 60 democrats in the Senate and without control of the House - not much can be done due to the GOP's obstruction.

[mikeburetta]

5. my point

my point is that even when we controlled the house the senate and the presidency the repubs outmaneuvered us on tactics. They used the rules to advantage in the senate to block the house . Then when they won the house they used it to block the senate. We need to say no to them and not just say no then reluctantly say yes,

[Tx4obama]

6. But my point was we only controlled all three for ONLY 49 DAYS.

Just saying 'no' is not going to make them go along with what we want to do.

[mikeburetta]

7. how

granted saying no isn't going to make them say yes but till there is another election a lot of damage can be done so we need to be using every tactic available to us and not tyeing our hands behind our back. We gotta be out front and leading not just reacting.. using both tactics and vision ie the whole kitchen cupboard.. by the way I'm not knocking on the president I'm trying to be a booster to get us all up and motivated so the next election we do get all three branches!

[mikeburetta]

8. sometimes

Sometimes ya need a "Robert Byrd" that knows how to use the rules to outsmart the foxes in the other den