It really IS extraordinary ~ and NOT in a good, positive way ~ Sooz

'THEY ARE UNEMBARRASSED'.... If you have some time this morning, I'd recommend taking a few minutes to watch this fairly devastating segment from last night's Rachel Maddow's show. It emphasizes a point that I've been pushing quite a bit -- as Republican lawmakers reject ideas they support, reason has lost all meaning, and the GOP's descent into madness is nearly complete.

The segment highlights the ways in which Republicans loved their idea for a deficit commission, until President Obama endorsed it at which point the GOP rejected their own proposal. The same is true of cap-and-trade. And PAYGO. And the financial industry bailout. And trying accused terrorists in U.S. courts. The same Republicans who said the stimulus "failed" also say that the stimulus is absolutely fantastic -- so long as the money is going to their state/district.

"What Republicans are doing on policy is no longer interesting," Rachel explained. "It is so thoroughly, unrelentingly, consistently predictable, that anyone who thinks it's an open question as to what Republicans are going to do about the next legislation that's proposed just is not paying attention."

Rachel ended the segment explaining exactly why all of this matters: "Republicans, right now, do not care about policy -- by which I mean, they will not vote for things that even they admit are good policies. On policy terms they have been caught bragging on the stimulus as good policy. I have no doubt that some of them think that health reform is good policy. We know they think that things like a deficit commission or cap-and-trade or PAYGO are good policy, because they're on the record supporting them.

"But they're not going to vote for them because ... screw Policy. Screw what even they believe is good for the country. Screw what even they believe is good for their own districts. They are not voting 'yes,' for even things they agree with. For anything substantive. They are not going to vote 'yes' for anything substantive that this president supports. It's not going to happen.

"You're not going to earn Republican votes for a second stimulus, for example, by pointing out that it's good policy that creates jobs. We know they already know that. They concede that in their home districts. And they're still not voting for it.

"And they are unembarrassed about this fact. They are not embarrassed. Charging them with hypocrisy, appealing to their better, more practical, more 'what's best for the country' patriotic angels is like trying to teach your dog to drive. It wastes a lot of time, it won't work, and ultimately the dog comes out of the exercise less embarrassed for failing then you do for trying."

—Steve Benen 9:25 AM February 10, 2010

http://washingtonmonthly.com/

glad you posted this. i saw it about an hour ago.

Her point at the end was poignant - democrats are the majority - USE IT!

Indeed, but the Dems aren't embarrassed for not using their majority.

Time for Obama to go 'gangsta' on GOP

By Roland S. Martin, CNN Political Analyst
February 10, 2010 5:02 p.m. EST

(CNN) -- Civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer made famous the phrase, "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired."

For me, I'm sick and tired of Democrats having power and being unwilling to use it. I've always respected Republicans when they had power because they were willing to use it and maybe apologize later.

Today, President Obama walked into the White House briefing room and took some questions, and one of them revolved around recess appointments.

He has watched Republicans block many of his appointments, and now he says he made it clear to them that he will "consider" making some when the U.S. Senate goes into recess.

"One senator, as you all are aware, had put a hold on every single nominee that we had put forward due to a dispute over a couple of earmarks in his state," President Obama said.

"In our meeting, I asked the congressional leadership to put a stop to these holds in which nominees for critical jobs are denied a vote for months. Surely we can set aside partisanship and do what's traditionally been done to confirm these nominations.

If the Senate does not act -- and I made this very clear -- if the Senate does not act to confirm these nominees, I will consider making several recess appointments during the upcoming recess, because we can't afford to allow politics to stand in the way of a well-functioning government."

This is where the president needs to show his toughness and just do it. Forget the threats. The actions of Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Alabama, and other Republican obstructionists will continue if President Obama allows them to run roughshod over him. When you're the top dog, you do what you have to do to govern. Allowing Republican senators to continue to deny your appointments is nonsense.

If all of them choose to support a filibuster, then you take it to the American people and show the obstructionists for what they are. You get your grass-roots movement fired up to stand up and do something. The political right used its base to go after Democrats who blocked appointments to the federal bench and other positions. So why not be just as aggressive?

If there are members of your own party who stand in the way, such as Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Nebraska, then you also blast them and make them pay for acting so foolishly.

This president got rolled by the Senate over health care. His team made some boneheaded mistakes, and now they are paying for them. Continuing to play footsie with opponents will only get him into more trouble. He should set a deadline to have his folks confirmed. If not, appoint them all during the recess and go on about your business.

Obama's critics keep blasting him for Chicago-style politics. So, fine. Channel your inner Al Capone and go gangsta against your foes. Let 'em know that if they aren't with you, they are against you, and will pay the price.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Roland Martin.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/02/09/martin.obama.republicans/index.html  

The fact of the matter is the Republicans will keep obstructing as long as the Democrats allow them to...

Spot on.

And Obama needs to have the cojones to veto the health care reform law. It isn't what he campaigned on - not even close.

The perception here is that Obama got the mandate to go ahead and make real changes.
Bush Co had moved the line so far to the right any attempt to move back towards the middle was going to look like a surge to the left anyway.
He's been slow to counter his critics rhetoric, has sought bi-partisanship with a minority opposition who dumped this crap in his lap and is hell bent on non-co-operation, and he's lost control of significant members of his own caucus.

Nice guys may win elections but they make lousy leaders.
He looks weak and hope is not enough to get the job done, no matter how audacious.

Change is still required but it needs to start with him.


Edit:
When a slogan spouting airhead is making ground against you, you're doing it wrong son. Wake up, game on!

UHC was never part of Obama's campaign. That was Hillary Clinton.
As to  the Repubs being "unembarrassed" they'd need a conscience first. The same could be said about some of the Dems.