By Shane Larson, Washington, DC -- December 9, 2010:
Today, we were added to a growing list of groups that have seen their fight for progress and hope destroyed by the Republican Senators obsession with tax cuts for millionaires.
In a week, the Republican have filibustered the motion to proceed to debate on critical bills. That is, they have blocked the Senate from even debating the issues on a number of important bills all in a childish effort to ensure that their base - millionaires and corporate interests - get a tax cut.
This week, besides seeing them block progress on repeal of DADT, through abuse of the filibuster process, we have seen them:
- deny debate on a bill that would provide health care and compensation for the rescue workers on 9-11
- deny basic and fundamental collective bargaining and workplace rights for public safety officers (firefighters, police officers emts, prison guards, etc)
- deny debate or consideration of the DREAM Act - which would provide a pathway for citizenship for children of illegal immigrants who came here through no fault of their own and have attended college or served in the armed forces.
- denied a one time cost of living payment of $250 for social security recipients whose COLA will not go up next year, but whose basic costs will.
- and previously denied debate or consideration of the Fair Pay Act, which would address pay disparity in the workforce for women.
None of this was because of the President. None of this was because of Senate Democratic Leadership. All of this was because of the abuse of Senate rules by a radical and obstinate Republican Party. And all of them were held up for one reason - because all 42 of the Republican Senators believe that it is much more important for this country to pass tax cuts for millionaires. The same Senate rules that prevent passage of Unemployment assistance for those struggling now for 99 + weeks to find work. The same Senate rules that allow this radical Republican minority to prevent tax cuts for the middle class to continue unless millionaires get one too.
This past week should make it clear that these Senate Republicans have the power and ability to hold up anything until they get their tax cuts. And they have no shame, no morals, nor no hesitation to stop everything until they get what they want.
Blame can be thrown around. But the reality is that the current antiquated, outdated and never intended to be used this way Senate rules are what is preventing our democracy from functioning and serving those that it should. Its given power to a group of dedicated and shameless partisans and special interests who will stop at nothing until they get everything they want and halt all progress.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
terrorists are coming from the conservative and liberal side. a lot of people refer to obama as a liberal in the american sense of word usage, but he is also a terrorist, murdering god knows how many pakistanis, afgans, and iraqis. it seems that he is also interested in terorising iran next. the cia continues to torture, and murder people throughout the world, under obama.
OMG! You call what we are doing with Iran "terrorizing"? ...Amazing the way you Leftists think! Iran can hold the world hostage with the nuke program, threaten all of us with destruction, and you say WE are terrorizing!
Anonymous, you must be 13 years old, because you think like a child!
you think like a 2 year old.
WOW. You got me! Actually, you even defend yourself like a child!
You tell me how we are supposed to deal with deal with terrorism, insane dictators (who, by the way don't care about their own people who are starving and dying---you think they give a shit about us?)
It isn't "murder" it is war. Good old Iran! They finance terror---but WE are the bad guys... Interesting...Have you ever considered therapy? because your reasoning is all twisted.
do the republicans care about all usa citizens?
nope, just for themselves. thousands of usa citizens die prematurely due to lack of health care.
who cares .....
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/12/21/john-mccain-and-lindsey-graham-the-mean-girls-of-the-us-senate/
"When McCain and Graham didn't get their way, Graham groused he was too overwhelmed to deal with the treaty, and McCain tried to kill the agreement by offering an amendment that would force the United States and Russia to renegotiate the pact. The Senate rejected his amendment on Saturday. Which probably irritated the hell out of him. On Monday, Brent Scowcroft, who was national security adviser for President George H.W. Bush and who supports START ratification, accused McCain of assailing the treaty because of his anger over the repeal of DADT: "To play politics with what is in the fundamental national interest is pretty scary stuff." I look forward to McCain yelling at Scowcroft to get off his lawn."But McCain and Graham have not merely been grumpy old men. They have been behaving like mean girls -- hatching plots, acting spoiled, wallowing in self-absorption and melodrama, and having cows when they don't win. It's a sorry spectacle, especially because both men in the past have tried to be reasonable adults within the Senate. Now they're embarrassing themselves, as they flail about in a puddle of pique. The best news for them is that within days, school will be out."
THE MAVERICK! OLD FEEBLE FOOLS!!
Post a Comment