Schumer: GOP is ‘Holding A Gun To Our Heads’ In FAA Fight

[cal04]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/08/dems-accuse-gop-of-another-round-of-hostage-taking-in-faa-fight.php?ref=fpa

Still smarting from concessions they were forced to make in the debt deal, Democrats are railing against a new round of Republicans "hostage-taking" -- the deadlock over temporary financing for the Federal Aviation Administration, which has forced 4,000 agency employees out of work and airport safety inspectors to continue working without pay.

Democrats are blaming Republicans for the partial FAA shutdown, accusing them of reneging on their promise to put Americans back to work because the stand-off has prevented tens of thousands of construction workers to continue building airport projets.

"The FAA is in limbo. Airports are the economic engine of the small communities around the country, and that economic engine is now stuck in neutral," Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told reporters Wednesday. "Under the cover of the debt ceiling crisis, they are holding these aviation workers hostage until they get everything they want...they have taken brinksmanship again one step too far."

(snip)
"It's as if someone is holding a gun to your head and saying give me your money....," he said. "You can hurt innocent people by not getting your own way."




Republicans, not 'Washington' or 'Congress,' are responsible for FAA shutdown

(snip)
Reid was joined by Jay Rockefeller, Barbara Boxer, Chuck Schumer and Steny Hoyer in making this point. This shutdown and this fight are not about rural air subsidies. The question is whether every time Republicans take a hostage, Democrats should capitulate. As Schumer said, responding to a reporter who really, really wanted the story to be about Democrats,

The issue is not essential air service, it’s not even the labor issue, it’s the issue of hostage-taking. It’s as if someone puts a gun to your head and says 'give me your money' and you say 'why don’t you give them the money' without even mentioning that there's a gun.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/08/03/1002741/-Republicans,-not-Washington-or-Congress,-are-responsible-for-FAA%C2%A0shutdown

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. More terror, don't worry the chief negotiator will send in pizza and meet all demands.

[CakeGrrl]

20. The "chief negotiator" shouldn't have had to babysit Congress last time. Remember that.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. Jeezuz Kryst, call their bluff already!

Do you have any idea how the voters would react to the GOP if they go through with this, kicking 70,000 construction workers out on the street, forcing businesses and vacationers to cancel plans? The GOP would be cutting their own throats.

But the problem is, we need the Democrats to FORCE THE ISSUE.

[alsame]

3. Here we go again. And so soon. nt

[Tennessee Gal]

4. Is there a way to get around Congress on this? nt

[woodsprite]

So you'll take a step with them, just like with the debt bill.

All the Dems and the Pres better get used to that feeling since that is going to be the new MO of the Repigs from now on.

I think all the Dems in DC need some testosterone supplementation.

[Supersedeas]

5. The Shock Doctrine in full effect

[fascisthunter]

6. yeah... you are helpless

and hopeless... congrats, another "centrist" pretending to not have the power to do what's right. Cowardice...

[Lorien]

10. Exactly. This game has gotten old. nt

[Renew Deal]

12. What do you propose Schumer do to get the FAA funded?

Be specific.

[fascisthunter]

19. I have no patience for you centrists and your Sophistry

the game is old, and now it is obvious that you and others are trying to push this party all the way to the right. Maybe others will bother arguing with you which is useless, I won't. Time for the tent to get much smaller.

Now I understand what Renew Deal really means..

[Renew Deal]

21. So personal attacks is all you got?

There's no substance behind your bluster.

[laruemtt]

7. i like my pols to have a pair.

practice being a pushover in your private life if you must, but not when the livelihoods of tens of thousands is at stake.

[onehandle]

8. The Right has learned well from their fundamentalist global terrorist brethren. nt

[Shandris]

16. One group of fundamentalist religious zealots takes the playbook from...

...another group of fundamentalist religious zealots.

And our representatives seem completely taken off-guard by this, even though it's becoming old hat.

[yurbud]

9. Dickwad: you had a chance to take the bullets out of their gun by changing filibuster rules

what exactly did you get in exchange for not doing that?

They agreed not to kill your dog?

This shtick is getting old. Just admit you agree with them and get it over with.

[chill_wind]

14. +1

Probably one of my very least favorite Dem pols, all in all.

Schumer: "Fighting Wall Street with one hand, unions with the other."
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/06/schumer_cheers_blanche_for_fig.html

"Simply no equal to Hank!" Bwawk!!

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/senate-confirms-paulson-as-treasury-secretary

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/the-paulson-payoff-at-the_b_24379.html

[boston bean]

11. This is getting real old.

[Bonhomme Richard]

13. Hey Chuck. Get your own fucking gun. n/t

[Altoid_Cyclist]

15. Second verse (& 3rd & 4th..etc) same as the first.

The carnival formerly known as "OUR freaking government", is becoming so very tiring, stressful, nauseating, anger inducing and just plain depressing that I don't know if I am really going to care much longer.

Almost all of them, D's, r's & I's alike just don't seem to comprehend how screwed up this country is and how detached they are from the average American and what these juvenile pissing contests are doing to their constituents.

I didn't want to leave out any of the good ones as being the exceptions, so pretend that I named all of the good ones. Hmmm...that really isn't a terribly long list is it? How sad for the country.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Ganja Ninja]

18. Stop making excuses Schumer.

Stand up to them and turn the tables on them. Let them shut down the FAA and then don't let them fix it until you get concessions from them. It's what they should have done with the budget.

[sabrina 1]

22. The Democratic Party needs deep therapy. Abused for so long

they have no idea how to deal with bullies. It's either that, or we are being lied to and they are all one party.

People who are constantly abused and deal with it by giving into the abuser every time, continue to be abused.

What bothers me, is not their being abused, that is their problem, but they are stopping US from effectively dealing with these bullies.

And Schumer is upset, as if he didn't expect it?? :eyes: