This week we had President Obama hosting a seven hour talkathon on his stalled healthcare initiative. His purpose was to show his reasonableness and willingness to listen to Republicans. Republicans took the position that the Democrats couldn’t pass their bill despite having large majorities in both houses of Congress, so why not start over and be truly bipartisan? Doing so might actually produce some bipartisan legislation.
But this was not about bipartisanship it was about a performance. If the Republicans didn’t subscribe to the Democrats definition of bipartisanship (see previous post), then the Democrats would jam it through using a highly controversial technique. Although 60% of Americans oppose the healthcare plan, President Obama will ignore the will of the people because, “a majority vote makes sense.” (See video: Obama Defends Reconciliation: A majority vote makes sense). He is referring to the Republicans using the filibuster in the Senate to block the legislation.
That was Then, This is Now
But it wasn’t too long ago when Republicans objected to Democrats stonewalling President Bush’s judicial nominees. Republicans threatened to change the rules so that judicial nominees could not be filibustered. Now tradition holds that a President generally gets approval on his judicial nominees unless they are unqualified, even if you disagree with their judicial philosophy. For example, Ruth Bader Ginsburg clearly votes with the liberal bloc of the Supreme Court with regularity. The Senate confirmed her 96-3. Stephen Breyer, another solid liberal won confirmation 87-9. President Obama, the great uniter, while a member of the Senate voted against both John Roberts and Samuel Alito. So much for bipartisanship. So when the Republicans talked about changing the rules for confirming judges, not nationalizing 1/6 of the U.S. economy, Democrats had a very different view. (See video: “Nuclear Option” is Arrogant Power Grab Against the Founders Intent). Could there be a greater hypocricy? Biden: “”I pray God when the Democrats take back control we don’t make the kind of naked power grab you are doing.” Joe Biden, call your priest.
Americans are Disgusted
Americans are rightly fed up with Washington incumbents who are only interested in increasing the scope of their power and getting themselves re-elected. Their pompous arrogance borders on nauseating. They should all be voted out.
