Governmental Dysfunction

[Jimmy Higgins]

It seems that the US House has a problem keeping it up. The current House Speaker is impotent and powerless to govern like an adult, because he has allowed himself to become a hostage to the radical... wait, they aren't radical. You'd actually have to have political positions to be radical. Hostage to the hyper-partisans in the US House. At the moment, a spending bill can't pass the US House because Gaetz likely (I mean presumably because this whole exercise would be pretty damn stupid if Gaetz didn't have the votes) has enough support to cause problems, or maybe he can tantrum things in a Mr. Smith Goes to Washington in a very perverted and authoritarian way. But as things stand, because the House Speaker refuses to actually work in any manner of a mildly bipartisan way, he can't get a spending bill through without negotiating with hostage takers. And currently, Gaetz is arguing on the number of loops for the hangman's noose.

This is insane, because we haven't even got to the part about the actual spending bill... which would likely be a continuing resolution because Congress has become so poisoned and worthless, it is barely able to keep the lights on these days. And all of this, just so McCarthy could be House Speaker. He gave the hyper partisans rope to hang him with... just so he could be Speaker.

 

[Gospel]

It's tough to decide what pairs better with popcorn: Jimmy's flair for the theatrical or the latest antics of the House. Once a complex and dynamic entity, rich with a tapestry of varying ideologies, the legislative body has been reduced to squabbles over who is the ringmaster and who holds the leash to the unruly monkeys.

 

[Politesse]

Is it worth it to surrender your right to speech so you can be Speaker?

 

[steve_bank]

If I may pose what may be an obvious question, has there been a time when our federal government has been functional?

A Frenchman De Tocqueville toured the USA in the 19th century and made some observations. One was that our democratic self rule by the people was inefficient and chaotic, but in the long run it is self correcting.

The Citizen in de Tocqueville's America - Teach Democracy

The Citizen in de Tocqueville's America "A great democratic revolution is taking place in our midst. " --Alexis de Tocqueville On May 9, 1831, two young Frenchmen sailed into the harbor of Newport, Rhode Island and began a remarkable journey throug, On May 9, 1831, two young Frenchmen sailed...

www.crf-usa.org

De Tocqueville leveled some of his sharpest criticism against American political leaders themselves. He became convinced that outstanding men avoided elected office in order to pursue their private ambitions and careers. Those who did seek public office, he believed, were often poorly educated and open to corruption.

In one of his notebooks, de Tocqueville ridiculed Congressman Davy Crockett as a man "...who had received no education, could read only with difficulty, had no property, no fixed dwelling, but spent his time hunting, selling his game for a living, and 1pending his whole life in the woods." But de Tocqueville saved his sharpest barbs for President Jackson whom he described in his book as a "man of violent character and middling capacities." In his view, Jackson possessed few qualities for political leadership.

 

[Cheerful Charlie]

The problem is, if McCarthy caves to the kooks, the Senate won't pass it. And if bad enough, Biden will veto it. So if the kooks bring the government to its knees, the GOP gets the blame. Lots of pissed off voters. If McCarthy caves to reality and passes a continuing revolution, the kooks will try to remove him. But I doubt they can put a far right kook as speaker. And no future speaker will accept the kook plan that allows him to be jerked around by the kooks.

It is going to be interesting to see how this all works out over the next few months.

 

[TV and credit cards]

If I may pose what may be an obvious question, has there been a time when our federal government has been functional?

A Frenchman De Tocqueville toured the USA in the 19th century and made some observations. One was that our democratic self rule by the people was inefficient and chaotic, but in the long run it is self correcting.

The Citizen in de Tocqueville's America - Teach Democracy

The Citizen in de Tocqueville's America "A great democratic revolution is taking place in our midst. " --Alexis de Tocqueville On May 9, 1831, two young Frenchmen sailed into the harbor of Newport, Rhode Island and began a remarkable journey throug, On May 9, 1831, two young Frenchmen sailed...

www.crf-usa.org

De Tocqueville leveled some of his sharpest criticism against American political leaders themselves. He became convinced that outstanding men avoided elected office in order to pursue their private ambitions and careers. Those who did seek public office, he believed, were often poorly educated and open to corruption.

In one of his notebooks, de Tocqueville ridiculed Congressman Davy Crockett as a man "...who had received no education, could read only with difficulty, had no property, no fixed dwelling, but spent his time hunting, selling his game for a living, and 1pending his whole life in the woods." But de Tocqueville saved his sharpest barbs for President Jackson whom he described in his book as a "man of violent character and middling capacities." In his view, Jackson possessed few qualities for political leadership.

It can work together and do some things right from time to time.

Standing up the Department of Homeland Security was a pretty big deal.

From 1985 through 2008, I witnessed significant improvements in the US Navy. Most would not be readily apparent from outside the organization. Safety, training, personal conduct (since the Tailhook scandal), promotions and retention all experienced significant changes.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

The problem is, if McCarthy caves to the kooks, the Senate won't pass it. And if bad enough, Biden will veto it. So if the kooks bring the government to its knees, the GOP gets the blame. Lots of pissed off voters. If McCarthy caves to reality and passes a continuing revolution, the kooks will try to remove him. But I doubt they can put a far right kook as speaker. And no future speaker will accept the kook plan that allows him to be jerked around by the kooks.

Gaetz doesn't need to become speaker to freeze the House. McCarthy provided him a quasi-filibuster by allowing one person to ask for the Speaker to be booted. All because McCarthy couldn't cede a little power to the Democrats and manage a House majority vote without the hyper partisans.

It is going to be interesting to see how this all works out over the next few months.

That is one word for it. As Gaetz has no principles, he can go in any direction on this.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

If I may pose what may be an obvious question, has there been a time when our federal government has been functional?

I'd say one issue at the moment is the perpetuating existence of continued spending resolutions that are almost certain to occur these days. That and the friction within a single party. I know this is hardly new, the Democrats were unique in that back in the day with the northern and southern Democrats, and Garfield was assassinated by a kook in the other wing of the same party.

The need for 60 votes to pass anything in the Senate that isn't budget related is something, I believe, that is quite new.

 

[steve_bank]

It is our culture.

We promote diversity as if it were a sacred mantra. Individual cultural identity over a national common identity. Extreme political diversity over a more compromising politics.

Jefferson I think wanted to ban political parties.

Extreme interpretations of freedom of speech, press, and religion.

The rise of victimhood, everybody is a victim of something. Everybody is angry about something.

Congress is a reflection of the country.

There was a time when things did get done. Electrification of the country and the national road system.

The transition today to EVs is a cluster fuck. Arbitrary deadlines without any idea of a controlled step by step program. No national energy strategy.

Just look at the republican candidates. Some are just plain stupid.

Progressives as with Biden think unrestricted spending is justice.


What it all comes down to is our system based in COTUS is failing at national level. What keeps us going as I see it is that the economy is largely autonomous and states have a high degree of independence. The federal government does not have a lot to do with daily opertions.

Which is how the constution set it up.

 

[Elixir]

You'd actually have to have political positions to be radical.

They have a political position, even if their constituents don’t know it.
It’s to destroy the Country.

Congress has become so poisoned and worthless, it is barely able to keep the lights on these days.

“Oh goodie, it’s working”
-Donald Trump

 

[ZiprHead]

Progressives as with Biden think unrestricted spending is justice.

Huh??? Did you not experience the Trump administration, or all recent Republican administrations? They spend like drunken sailors and then when not in power complain about spending.

 Jude Wanniski and the Two Santa Claus Theory.

 

[Elixir]

Progressives as with Biden think unrestricted spending is justice.

Been hitting the “both sides” Kool Ade again, Steve?
Didn’t you notice the reduced deficit under Biden, compared to Trump? OK if he gives his donors a trillion or two, like Trump did?
Haven’t you noticed the drop in unemployment, or the rise in personal income? Haven’t notice inflation going down to a fraction of its peak level ( now the lowest of any G7 Country), the strong economy, or the infrastructure investments?
Where the FUCK did you get the misguided notion that Biden has “unrestricted spending” while Trumpnazis are holding the purse strings?
I am gobsmacked.

 

[Gospel]

MITT ROMNEY: At the end of another term, I'd be in my mid-80s. Frankly, it's time for a new generation of leaders.

Who does Mitt think considers themselves the new generation of leaders for the GOP? That guy was always out of touch with words.

 

[steve_bank]

Progressives as with Biden think unrestricted spending is justice.

Huh??? Did you not experience the Trump administration, or all recent Republican administrations? They spend like drunken sailors and then when not in power complain about spending.

 Jude Wanniski and the Two Santa Claus Theory.

Trump is not a republican conservative, he co opted the republican party. Traditional conservativs have been leaving congress. Latest is Romney.

As polical pundits gave been saying for years, the republican party as it was no longer exists.

Trump is in a category of his own, he is not a republican conservative.

 

[ZiprHead]

Progressives as with Biden think unrestricted spending is justice.

Huh??? Did you not experience the Trump administration, or all recent Republican administrations? They spend like drunken sailors and then when not in power complain about spending.

 Jude Wanniski and the Two Santa Claus Theory.

Trump is not a republican conservative, he co opted the republican party. Traditional conservativs have been leaving congress. Latest is Romney.

As polical pundits gave been saying for years, the republican party as it was no longer exists.

Trump is in a category of his own, he is not a republican conservative.

Republicans spent like drunken sailors long before Trump was elected.

 

[Elixir]

Republicans spent like drunken sailors long before Trump was elected.

True, dat. Trump took it to an extreme, but the cycle is preserved:

1) Public realizes Republicans are ripping them off, Democrats get elected, build a surplus (or reduce the deficit) while Republican howl
2) Republicans get elected on "the economy", blow the surplus and more, on grifting for their rich donors
3) Republican donors spend their windfall trying to convince their faithful that it was Democrats who blew the budget.
4) Public gets a glimmer, elects Democrats again, while Republicans howl about the deficits they themselves created last cycle
5) go to #2

Lather, Rinse, Repeat

 

[Elixir]

Trump is not a republican conservative, he co opted the republican party

A distinction without a difference. Trump is no longer a conservative or anything else - he's a pure 100%^ Trumpian.
And his party is the Trump party, formerly known as the Republican Party.
There is not a single Republican conservative with half the balls to stand up and call out his fascist bullshit - they're just as solidly behind Trumpism as they ever were behind "Republican conservatism".
So what you say above matters not in the least, other than to give excuse to the less vocal Nazi supporters in the Trump Party.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Progressives as with Biden think unrestricted spending is justice.

Huh??? Did you not experience the Trump administration, or all recent Republican administrations? They spend like drunken sailors and then when not in power complain about spending.

 Jude Wanniski and the Two Santa Claus Theory.

Trump is not a republican conservative, he co opted the republican party. Traditional conservativs have been leaving congress. Latest is Romney.

As polical pundits gave been saying for years, the republican party as it was no longer exists.

Trump is in a category of his own, he is not a republican conservative.

The Republicans controlled both houses of Congress in the first two years of Trump's Admin and the deficits were approaching a trillion a year.

 

[Elixir]

The Republicans controlled both houses of Congress in the first two years of Trump's Admin

“Oh, that wasn’t Republicans, that was Trumpers, and they’re in a category by themselves”.
Just like Trump isn’t a Republican. This is how Steve lets all Republicans off the hook for the obscene REPUBLICAN clown circus in the House.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Democrats ain't no angels. It is just the GOP have been getting worse and worse. Putting people like Cannon and Kacsmaryk on the bench. The best the GOP have are barely moderate. Well, were... they were voted out by the GOP base.

The GOP have been spending America into oblivion since Reagan... and they are so brainwashed, they still think it is just the Democrats that support spending. The Democrats dare suggest paying for the spending, at least did. I tire of the Moore-Coulter false equivalence.