Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

jmowreader

(53,194 posts)
Tue Oct 23, 2012, 05:05 PM Oct 2012

The policy we can't afford another four years of

Romney likes to say we can't afford another four years of President Obama's policies.

What we CAN'T--no matter who is in the White House--afford any longer is the policy of congressional obstruction.

The House of Representatives wrote, and passed, and forwarded to the Senate, thirty-three bills repealing the Affordable Care Act. This Congress has been in session for 22 months, which means they've issued more than one Obamacare-repeal bill a month. Consider that for a second: Obamacare is this president's signature achievement, and the Senate has a Democratic majority. There is no way in hell one of these bills would be either approved by the Senate or signed, but they keep sending them up. Between repealing Obamacare, naming federal buildings--the only thing besides Obamacare they seem to have the passion to try--and investigating the Obama administration, the House has had scant time for any other work.

In the Senate, it's worse: bills that under Clinton would have sailed through, since Clinton had a Senate that didn't filibuster everything, are dying with majority support. There are bills that were taken up in the pre-teabag Senate, received 58 votes, and failed. The Constitution doesn't demand a supermajority to pass an ordinary bill, but our Republican minority, who claims to love the Constitution more than anything except maybe Jesus and campaign contributions, requires it.

It will be as bad for Romney. All the wonderful things he talks about like slashing taxes and the extra $2 trillion in defense spending have to get past this dysfunctional congress.

If Congress can't figure out it works for the people who elected them, not just Grover Norquist, this country is screwed.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»The policy we can't affor...