WP Op-Ed: Let’s just say it: The Republicans are the problem.

[werepossum]

Wow, it's about time the media came out with an article about how the Republicans are radicalized and stonewalling progress! Such a fresh, bold accusation must be true!

Perhaps the next groundbreaking article about how the Republicans are radicalized and stonewalling progress can include a bibliography of all the other articles about how the Republicans are radicalized and stonewalling progress. In the mean time, let's all reflect on how one party can introduce a bill written behind closed doors which seizes federal control of roughly 8% of our national economy from the states, allow little debate votes on almost no proposed amendments, using blatant bribes and procedural shenanigans to pass it with strictly partisan support and bipartisan opposition, and then complain the other party is radical and unwilling to compromise.

Then just to top it off, we'll allow our economy to crumble around us with a lower percentage of the population employed every month while we argue over gay marriage and government-mandated "free" contraception as the national debt passes our GDP. 'Cause we all know that actually owing less than GDP is radical and obstructionist anyway.

 

[rudder]

Maybe the real problem is people who constantly write op-eds and post threads about the republicans and refuse to beleive that the democrats are just as much a part of the problem.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Maybe the real problem is people who constantly write op-eds and post threads about the republicans and refuse to beleive that the democrats are just as much a part of the problem.

Can not be.

Republicans are evil; Democrats are pure

Just ask Craig

 

[Lithium381]

Can not be.

Republicans are evil; Democrats are pure

Just ask Craig

I dunno, if you're trying to compliment the Dems, it must be a lie. . .

remember, 95% what is said about the left is a lie, so there is a really good chance that the left is in fact, based on your statement, NOT pure

 

[werepossum]

I dunno, if you're trying to compliment the Dems, it must be a lie. . .

remember, 95% what is said about the left is a lie, so there is a really good chance that the left is in fact, based on your statement, NOT pure

😀

 

[fskimospy]

Wow, it's about time the media came out with an article about how the Republicans are radicalized and stonewalling progress! Such a fresh, bold accusation must be true!

Perhaps the next groundbreaking article about how the Republicans are radicalized and stonewalling progress can include a bibliography of all the other articles about how the Republicans are radicalized and stonewalling progress. In the mean time, let's all reflect on how one party can introduce a bill written behind closed doors which seizes federal control of roughly 8% of our national economy from the states, allow little debate votes on almost no proposed amendments, using blatant bribes and procedural shenanigans to pass it with strictly partisan support and bipartisan opposition, and then complain the other party is radical and unwilling to compromise.

Then just to top it off, we'll allow our economy to crumble around us with a lower percentage of the population employed every month while we argue over gay marriage and government-mandated "free" contraception as the national debt passes our GDP. 'Cause we all know that actually owing less than GDP is radical and obstructionist anyway.

I'm always impressed when people can look at the unparalleled obstruction of congressional republicans in 09 and 10 and find a way to blame it on the Democrats.

 

[Icepick]

It's interesting that this is coming from a decorated veteran of the conservative American Enterprise Institute.

Come on guys. This isn't the Liberal media spewing out partisan bias. These are veterans of your own party warning you that something is very wrong and that not adjusting your course is causing harm to America.

 

[monovillage]

It's interesting that this is coming from a decorated veteran of the conservative American Enterprise Institute.

Come on guys. This isn't the Liberal media spewing out partisan bias. These are veterans of your own party warning you that something is very wrong and that not adjusting your course is causing harm to America.

Ornstein is a long-time friend of current U. S. Senator and former comedian Al Franken. Ornstein considers himself a centrist.

Unlike most left-wing think tanks the CEI actually hires people with a different point of view.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_J._Ornstein

 

[fskimospy]

Unlike most left-wing think tanks the CEI actually hires people with a different point of view.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_J._Ornstein

David Frum also worked for AEI, and wrote the second piece. AEI was not quite so enamored with his 'different point of view'. More and more conservatives are coming out and basically saying 'holy shit, when did my party go insane?'

 

[monovillage]

David Frum also worked for AEI, and wrote the second piece. AEI was not quite so enamored with his 'different point of view'. More and more conservatives are coming out and basically saying 'holy shit, when did my party go insane?'

Of course, all Republicans are insane. Where have I heard that meme before?

 

[trenchfoot]

Unlike most left-wing think tanks the CEI actually hires people with a different point of view.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_J._Ornstein

Sort'a like how "most" right wing think tanks never hire people with a different point of view?

However, as in any well run working group, there needs to be an opposing point of view, especially a knowledgable opposing point of view to bounce ideological dogma against to find weak areas in both sides and shore up the weak/failed favored view while simultaneously working to break down and disprove the opposition's view.

It's just a matter of what the intended purpose of the think tank in question is. Like if a certain think tank has benevolent intentions for the betterment of all mankind, vs a think tank bent on gaining control of a nation for the purpose of looting and then scooting from it ala corporate raiding, etc.

 

[Jaskalas]

I'm sorry, but nowhere near half the public wants gridlock, last time that happened, the GOP got it's ass kicked. Stop making shit up.

When was that?

Last time the GOP got its ass kicked the country was throwing out Bush and his supporters for leading us into Iraq.

 

[Jhhnn]

Repubs currently operate out of spite- if they can't get a majority, if they can't run the govt the way they want, they won't let anybody else run it, either. They want govt to fail.

 

[Kadarin]

Maybe the real problem is people who constantly write op-eds and post threads about the republicans and refuse to beleive that the democrats are just as much a part of the problem.

The whole point of the article is to illustrate that the Democrats are NOT in fact part of this particular problem.

 

[fskimospy]

Of course, all Republicans are insane. Where have I heard that meme before?

Nobody said all Republicans are insane. The party as a whole has gone off the rails though.

 

[Moonbeam]

Big deal, you get a liberal asshole from the Brookings institute like Mann and a personal friend of Al Franken like Norman to blame Republicans for everything that's wrong with the country. Next we'll get Moonbeam to tell us Republicans are all mentally defective and craig234 to tell us we're all monsters.

Big fucking deal, as if this is anything new.

I can and have told you you are monsters. This is what your brain defect causes you to be. What you are not is guilty of anything. You are a sleeping robot running an unconscious program. You might as well blame your toaster for popping up toast as blame yourselves for being defective.

 

[nehalem256]

Repubs currently operate out of spite- if they can't get a majority, if they can't run the govt the way they want, they won't let anybody else run it, either. They want govt to fail.

One of their primary stated goals is decreasing the size of government. Obstructionism fits nicely with that goal.

 

[monovillage]

I can and have told you you are monsters. This is what your brain defect causes you to be. What you are not is guilty of anything. You are a sleeping robot running an unconscious program. You might as well blame your toaster for popping up toast as blame yourselves for being defective.

Thanks Moonie! I'm glad you were there for me in my hour of need. It's good I can depend on you for consistency and sincerity.

I hope you'll be doing the Diablo3 thing tonight. I will be.

 

[glenn1]

Repubs currently operate out of spite- if they can't get a majority, if they can't run the govt the way they want, they won't let anybody else run it, either. They want govt to fail.

The country would do just fine regardless if the government did a bit more failing. The pivot point of the universe is not the U.S. Congress building, and life as we know if won't come to a crashing halt if Democrats took some time off from trying to save us all from ourselves.

 

[SMOGZINN]

The country would do just fine regardless if the government did a bit more failing. The pivot point of the universe is not the U.S. Congress building, and life as we know if won't come to a crashing halt if Democrats took some time off from trying to save us all from ourselves.

The problem is that the government does not fail in the way you imagine it.
When government fails it spends all it's time spending money it does not have, on projects no one actually wants, with no one to tell it to stop.

 

[glenn1]

The problem is that the government does not fail in the way you imagine it.
When government fails it spends all it's time spending money it does not have, on projects no one actually wants, with no one to tell it to stop.

So no different than what we have now?

 

[Jhhnn]

One of their primary stated goals is decreasing the size of government. Obstructionism fits nicely with that goal.

As if smaller govt/ bigger military/ more security isn't an oxymoron...

 

[glenn1]

As if smaller govt/ bigger military/ more security isn't an oxymoron...

Depends on how you define it. If you doubled the size of the military but cut everything else 99%, then "government" (as defined by expenditures) would be smaller. Obviously this is an exaggeration, but premise holds even though polls say the vast majority of voters would be OK with pretty big defense cuts:

http://galesburgplanet.com/posts/14176

 

[SMOGZINN]

So no different than what we have now?

Pretty much.

 

[Pens1566]

"Desperation is a stinky cologne, John."

It's amusing that as one party moves further to the left, they see the other party as growing more radical by comparison.

Huh? If you think that the Democratic party is moving to the left you're insane.