Add this to the list of symptoms of post-partisanship depression. Do you remember Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), who was originally nominated by Obama as Secretary of Commerce because he was viewed as a moderate? Well, 'moderate' Gregg (did I mention that he almost joined the Obama Administration were it not for opposition from we Dirty Fucking Hippies?) has this to say about recent legislation:
American government changed last night. "We are now functioning under a parliamentary form of government," says Sen. Judd Gregg (R., N.H.) in a conversation with NRO. "An ideological supermajority in Congress, along with a government run by community organizers, has taken over."
"They've taken over the student-loan program, they've taken over the automobile system, and now they're taking over the health-care system. There is no limit to their belief that people should be controlled by smart bureaucrats in Washington," says Gregg. "They're putting our country on a path that will reduce the quality of life for the next generation, undermine our nation's wonderful exceptionalism, and Europeanize our economy to curb its growth."
First, I would be thrilled if Gregg were right about the takeover of an ideological supermajority (and, for argument's sake, if an ideology is adhered to by a supermajority, then shouldn't this supermajority, in a democratic system, barring violations of the Bill of Rights, be able to enact the policies they desire?).
Second, the auto bailout? That started under Bush.
Third, the student loan changes will save about $9 billion every year.
Gregg is a solid, card-carrying member of the Uruk-Hai wing of the Republican Party (which is its dominant wing). He is delusional (see his comment about Bush's auto bailout). Unlike former Republican congressman and current Transportation Secretary LaHood, who actually holds Democratic views on transportation, Gregg opposes the signature items of this administration*.
And the fucking rocket scientists in the Obama Adminstration wanted him in the Cabinet (and technically, in the presidential line of succession). Stupid Unpragmatic Dirty Fucking Hippies.
*For all I know, LaHood might too, but he has the sense to keep his mouth shut.
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Gregg is just pissed because his type of fascist, fundagelical bullshit was replace by a representative, democratic government.
Even liberals like you should be unhappy at the way Senator Nelson's vote was purchased, by exempting his state of Nebraska from having to pay for its own Medicaid expansion.
That's not "post-partisanship" or "changing the tone in Washington." It's plain, old-fashioned, bribery with pork, of the sort that Lyndon Johnson used to do in the 1960s.
Unless you're gleeful that the ends justify the means. In which case, all that brave talk about openness and post-partisanship and changing the tone was a lie. Just like that other lie about putting the deliberations in C-SPAN, rather than having them in camera as Obama did with the pharma companies.
And lies have a way of catching up with you. By next November, I'd say.
And a de facto filibuster on everything that is proposed by the majority is?
Funny how all the reich-wingers are such staunch advocates of the rights of the minority party these days. Back when they had 51% you never heard them being concerned about the rights of ANY minority.
As for the government takeover, we'll remember it was caused by the nearly complete deregulation of the banking system, which led to its breakdown, which led to the banks themselves crying to the government to keep them afloat with taxpayer money.
By the way, those same banking executives, who, under Bush, destroyed the banking system, are now the ones who, under Obama, designed the "government takeover" in such a way as to guarantee that the problems that caused the banking crisis (and which, by the way, conveniently enriched themselves in the process) will NOT be fixed by the government.
$768 Billion vaporized, the public has no new jobs, the banks are not lending, 25% of mortgages are underwater (45% in Florida), and the bankers are happily reporting that they are on track to resume paying out big executive bonuses again this year.
What stinks about the Obama system of governing is the two-facedness: we're told to "hope" for "change", but key policy areas remain exactly the same as under the Bush administration.
Obama is turning out to be a mirror image of Bush, and the people who bankrolled his campaign knew this from the beginning.
That's my problem with Obama: anyone who takes off the multicultural-tinted rose glasses they hand out to us, can see that the real issue is he is too much like Bush.
Bush was, let's face it, a lousy stooge. He was kind of stupid, couldn't talk properly, and was funny looking. Obama is eloquent, intelligent, and good-lookimg. Unfortunately, he's still turning out to be a stooge. That's why his approval ratings are dropping.
Mike, I'm going to need some clarity on the Uruk-Hai comparison. Are you saying he belongs to a stronger, smarter wing of the Republicans that can stand up to sunlight vs. the Mordor/Moria wing who are overall smaller, weaker and wimpier?
It's also funny how they managed to get so much rammed down our throats without the "filibuster proof" majority, huh?