Senate GOP letter calls for blocking most bills

[Tx4obama]

Source: AP (via HuffPo)

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans intend to block action on virtually all Democratic-backed legislation unrelated to tax cuts and government spending in the current postelection session of Congress, officials said Tuesday, adding that the leadership has quietly collected signatures on a letter pledging to carry out the strategy.

If carried out, it would doom Democratic-backed attempts to end the Pentagon's practice of discharging openly gay members of the military service and give legal status to young illegal immigrants who join the military or attend college.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has made both measures a priority as Democrats attempt to enact legislation long sought by groups that supported them in the recent midterm elections.

A nuclear arms treaty with Russia that President Barack Obama wants ratified would not be affected, since any debate would take place under different rules than those that apply to legislation. Even so, its passage is not assured as Republicans are seeking concessions from the White House.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20101130/us-senate-republicans/

---

The republicans will never work with the democrats for the good of Our Country.
Republicans are 'enemies of the USA', in my opinion.

[grilled onions]

1. The Maypo Gang

They remind me more every day of that commercial in the sixties where the spoiled child screamed "I want my MAYPO". It made little difference whatever was offered to him. He wanted what he wanted and ONLY what he wanted, For these clowns it seems tax cuts( for the rich),war,conflicts,regime change and a smattering of right wing causes the religious right demands(and will only vote for those who allow their beliefs to be thrust upon others). No where in their world do they care for the down trodden, out of luck,blue collar,sick,elderly,aged population.

[RKP5637]

2. I would love to see the whole strategy backfire on them and doom them. If the D's could

get clever about how they worked this and messaged it they could do a flip on the republicans and make them look like the pack of un_American asses they are. Instead, the democrats will probably apologize and compromise and compromise.

[cstanleytech]

5. Well maybe they could link the DADT repeal to the

defense budget? Turn the republicans own past tactic against them I say.

[Tx4obama]

7. The DADT repeal IS in the Defense Appropriations bill n/t

[RKP5637]

12. Now that would be a mind twister! n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

17. Democrats require leadership and they should ditch the republicans!

[davidinalameda]

3. if Obama would drop the DADT appeal

he wouldn't have to worry about the republicans blocking repeal of it

[Angry Dragon]

4. All they are is traitors

They keep on telling us we are at war.
If that is the case then they need to stand behind the president
in these times of war. Otherwise they are giving aid and comfort to the enemy.
Are they that un-American?? Only caring about themselves and their party??

Treason is on their lips and in their souls................

[GOPNotForMe]

6. My hatred for them is visceral at this point.

I keep trying (and failing) to stay out of politics lately because all it does is make me mad as hell mixed with a strong feeling of futility.

[savalez]

11. I hear ya.

[RKP5637]

13. I know that feeling too well! The R's logic is so screwy for any kind of a

workable fair nation. Their bottom line is greed and money, and the hell with the nation and people. Frankly, they are a pack of sociopaths IMO. Americans that vote R that aren't in on the cut are so damn gullible.

[mvd]

56. I know what you mean completely

I'm trying to forget politics, especially if there is a sizable compromise on tax cuts for the wealthy. Focusing on what 2-year-olds the Repukes are can be is extremely frustrating.

[NeoConsSuck]

58. Tell me about it

I'm seeing our country being turned into a two class system like Mexico. The haves and the have-nots. And if the Dept. of Homeland Insecurity could read my mind, I'd be in prison.

[sakabatou]

8. They don't want to work with Obama

They want to kill his presidency.

[Tx4obama]

18. Yep, and it is amazing that McConnell said so in public. n/t

[Historic NY]

9. GOP do nothing for 2 more years win presidency....wake up Democrats.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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

[TomCADem]

16. Yup, without fail, someone will give Republicans a Free Pass and Blame The Democrats!

Brainwashed by the corporate media to give Republicans a free pass. Afterall, its okay, because they are just being Republicans, right?

[glinda]

14. Dems need to get a clue.

[truthisfreedom]

15. We need some serious opposition research going on. We need dirt. Serious dirt.

On all of those mofos. Enemies of the State.

[sweetapogee]

19. what we need

Is to fix the economy.

[Joanne98]

20. GOP threatens to stall Senate action

Source: Politico


Senate Republicans are vowing to block all legislative business until Democrats hold votes to pass a funding bill to keep the government's lights on and extend the Bush-era tax cuts.

In a letter signed by all 42 Republicans, the conference warns it will filibuster any attempt to bring forward any bill besides those two measures. That could further complicate Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's desire to complete a laundry list of other bills in the final weeks of the 111th Congress.





Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/45796.html

---

WELL? What do we do now?

[somone]

21. Who would have thunk it?

Shocking development!

[xchrom]

22. sigh. nt

[MBS]

23. Infuriating.

But not surprising, alas.:grr:

[Joanne98]

24. TPM: Republicans Threaten To Block All Dem Initiatives

Just hours after Democrats and Republicans agreed to bargain on tax cuts, and fewer hours still after Defense Secretary Robert Gates implored Congress to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell this year, word leaked that Republicans aren't really interested in any of it -- a major repudiation of Gates' authority.

According to a letter delivered to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid this morning, Republicans will block all debate on all legislation until the tax cut impasse is bridged and the federal government has been fully funded -- even if it means days tick by and the Senate misses its opportunity to pass DADT, an extension of unemployment insurance and other Dem items.

"e write to inform you that we will not agree to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to any legislative item until the Senate has acted to fund the government and we have prevented the tax increase that is currently awaiting all American taxpayers," the letter reads. "With little time left in this Congressional session, legislative scheduling should be focused on these critical priorities. While there are other items that might ultimately be worthy of the Senate's attention, we cannot agree to prioritize any matters above the critical issues of funding the government and preventing a job-killing tax hike."

It was penned by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and signed by all 42 Republicans.

According to the AP, which first broke the news of the letter, and portrayed it as a GOP effort to block all Dem initiatives unilaterally, the START treaty would be exempted. But everything else -- particularly DADT, unemployment insurance and the DREAM Act would be ensnared.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/dadt-no-more-republicans-plan-to-block-all-dem-initiatives.php?ref=fpa

[aquart]

25. And this would be different from every other day these past two years, HOW?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

26. Not to pick nits but...

...this forum is for LATE breaking news.

:sarcasm:

[NightWatcher]

27. 2.4 million lose unemployment, but we bend over for 15,000 millionaires and billionaires?

and Obama will cave, I'd bet money on it

[somone]

31. Obama is resolute on caving

Warnings and exhortations are useless. The guy doesn't care.

[leftynyc]

28. A prime time press conference

by the President. Or maybe just an address and keep the press out of it. Time to call them what they are - obstructionists who only care about their rich buddies. Cutting off unemployment just before the holidays, willing to see the middle class suffer at the expense of multi-millionairs. Time to use the bully pulpit for something other than letting the pukes shit all over him.

[denverbill]

29. Yes, and then once they pass the tax cuts, Republicans will still block all the other stuff.

Tell them to fuck off.

[Joanne98]

30. I agree.

[EC]

32. While we have the majority..

they get the Blue Dogs to act like they are part of the Democratic Party...

[karynnj]

33. Call their bluff

Ratify the START treaty that they apparently may not block.

Then put up the DEMOCRATIC version of the tax cut and have Obama and others lead a PR effort. They need to make sure that everyone speaks of this as a tax cut for everyone who pays taxes - which it is. Point out that the republicans CAN try to add the additional tax cut for the wealthiest. They should be pushed to at least let the debate start. I really wonder if this happens and their amendment loses, whether there are a few Republicans unwilling to then vote against cloture for the final vote. (Maybe with the cover of extending them a year for at least some part of the wealthy.)

If they want this as what is addressed - so do we, but there is NO reason to do it their way. They are as unwilling to end up with them all expiring than we are.

[Fearless]

34. MAKE THEM DO IT! THEN CALL THEM ON THEIR BULLSHIT!

How hard is this people??

[wtmusic]

35. It requires spine. It requires leadership.

It probably won't happen.

[Elmore Furth]

57. I would prefer a straight out fight

But then I'm a hothead.

[Fearless]

60. Oh there will be plenty of that in my preferred scenario as well.

[goforit]

36. Stalling Americas future??? Oh dear...Oh my....

[Historic NY]

37. Really now. The government of "No". Harry should have daily votes.

[Skink]

38. How about we rewrite the filibuster rules.

[Tx4obama]

55. It is in the works now. See OP on link below

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4622280

[Moostache]

39. Obama is losing the 2012 election RIGHT NOW and does not realize it!

Someone needs to walk into the Oval Office, slap him square across the face and scream "WAKE THE FUCK UP!!!!!"

Seriously, he is risking a generation of young voters from 18-30 who believed in his message and in transformational change of government, who are now watching a capitulation for the ages and are being turned off from politics for a good decade or more. The huge growth in the Latino community and voter base is being pissed away and the LGBT community is being pissed on (yet again) as DADT and DOMA remain on the books and the feet dragging is creating ditches that rival the Panama Canal already.

This tax cut issue is the last straw. I am disgusted beyond belief that the President is allowing this to happen and is BEING (not appearing but actually BEING) so weak.

Calling Joe Biden.....Joe, I love what you have done as a lieutenant for Mr. Obama, but its time to snap him out of this stupor. Get his attention. Go rouge and talk to every camera you can find, embarrass him, call him out, disagree in public, make him respond...better still, in one last act of valor for your country, make him fire you to actually find a set of balls that the Republicans have stolen and hidden away.

If not Biden, then SOMEONE in the Democratic Party needs to grab the attention of the President or this is going to turn into a repeat of the 1980's, only this time on steroids and with complete lunatics in charge of everything for a 12-16 year period of time.

[dpbrown]

41. +1

Get a spine, Democrats. How can you possibly have been outmaneuvered already?

[Joanne98]

42. +1000

[elleng]

40. GO TO THE MATTRESSES!

SHOUT, all Dem leaders, POTUS, Pelosi, Reid, MAKE HEADLINES: We are being subjected to this inability to do the people's business!!!

[Kolesar]

49. Go to the mat!

I think it's a boxing metaphor.
Anyway, you're right!

[elleng]

53. Thanks, Kolesar.

The Godfather!

http://www.jgeoff.com/godfather/gf1/transcript/gf1transcript.html

[Kolesar]

64. good catch eom

[denem]

43. GOP to block all bills until tax cuts are addressed

Source: MSNCX

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced this morning that Republicans will block any legislation from coming to the Senate floor until two key economic issues are addressed: funding the government (the “continuing resolution” which must pass to prevent a government shutdown) and the extension of the Bush-era tax cuts.

McConnell said that members of his caucus are united in the pledge to use procedural votes to prevent any other non-economic issues -- including the new START treaty, the DREAM Act, or the defense authorization bill that contains a potential repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy – from coming to the floor for debate.

"Republicans have pleaded with Democrats to put aside their wish-list - to focus on the things Americans want us to focus on," McConnell said on the Senate floor. "They've ignored us. The voters repudiated their agenda at the polls. They've ignored them."

In a letter signed by all 42 members of the GOP caucus, Republicans write that, "with little time left in this Congressional session, legislative scheduling should be focused on these critical priorities.”

Read more: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/12/01/5559969-gop-to-block-all-bills-until-tax-cuts-are-addressed

---

(Sigh) You could see this coming a mile off. Even if the Democrats had been raising all hell about the Unemployments Benefit Expiration, what chance did they have if DU, as much as the MSM, were writhing on the floor in grope sex with the TS bloody A.

Notice how the TSA storm has evaporated right about now?

Right about now, the dumb junk tuggers. Played. Shame.

[sinkingfeeling]

44. Well, they can't be any clearer. The GOP is only here to serve the rich and powerful.

[Wednesdays]

51. Oh, but the tax cuts are gonna create JOBS!

Just like they did in the years 2000-2008!
:bounce:

[LongTomH]

45. Damn them to Hell!!!!!!!

I thought I didn't believe in Hell anymore; now I want a Hell to consign these monsters to!:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[ejpoeta]

46. i didn't know america wants us to give tax cuts to rich people.

i mean, i thought the polling indicated people didn't want rich folks to get the tax cuts. i wish people would friggin wake up and see what these jerks are doing. they obviously only care about their moneyed interests and not the rest of us.

[shraby]

47. To them, "the American people" consists solely of the rich.

And even some of those people are saying they don't need the tax cut.

[Richard D]

48. And they'll block . . .

. . . all bills of Democratic origin after the tax cuts are addressed.

[Kolesar]

50. Ok, delete the mortgage tax credit for 2nd homes and mortgages > $500,000 ... eom

[totodeinhere]

52. These people are just evil. How could the voters have handed control of the House back to them?

At this point, I am very pessimistic about everything. And Obama doesn't seem to have the balls to stand up to them. The only Dem leader who stands up is Pelosi, and as House Minority Leader she will have very little power starting in January.

[mac56]

54. In other breaking news, the sun came up in the east this morning.

So what else is new?

:shrug:

[alarimer]

59. Republicans: "we are going to hold our breath and kick our feet until you do what we want"

Fuck you, Republicans. You are a complete waste of oxygen.

[ProudDad]

61. And this is different from what they've been doing for 4 years

how??? :shrug:

[ProudDad]

62. Senator Jeff Merkley knows the cure for this

and gave it on Maddow show tonight...

Just as I've been saying for YEARS on this board, if the Democrats in the Senate voted to change the rules - WHICH WOULD ONLY TAKE 51 VOTES! - the filibuster would return to the pre-1957 version where the filibusterer would have to hold the floor or it's over!

The 60 vote bullshit is just that, bullshit!!!

And the Democrats WON'T give it up for the good of the country...'cause they want the easy version to remain so they can use it after they lose the Senate in 2012...


Well, well, well...maybe maybe maybe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4622280

[Tx4obama]

63. So, ....

it is best for the dems to change the rules in January,
because if the dems were to lose the senate in 2012 the republicans could change the rules and get rid of the 60 rule anyway.
So we might as well change the rules 'now' ourselves and take advantage of it for the next two years :)

[ProudDad]

67. Yep...

Dems be dumb...

[sarcasmo]

65. It's going to be a long two years for President Obama.

[Posteritatis]

66. Hey, cool, in addition to their usual petulant tantrums they're Not Supporting The Troops!

The petard fields are ripe.