On the budget, why does Congress get a pass?

[ProSense]

Almost every article or commentary, MSM or independent blog, included the disclaimer that the budget will never pass. This seems to have become the expected norm.

Why?

There are always demands for the President to go bold, but whenever he does, it's called unrealistic.

Congress should be held accountable to pass the Buffett rule, end tax cuts for the rich, close loopholes for corporations, end subsidies for the oil companies, cut defense spending, invest in America's infrastructure and provide other stimulus for job creation.

That's not unrealistic, that's the least Congress should do.

I asked before: Can OWS apply pressure to Congress?

The President delivered a solid budget. Now it's time for Congress to act. Unless pressure is brought to bear on members of Congress, nothing changes. The President is already on board.

Just a thought, but it seems the conventional wisdom is that Congress isn't going to act and resignation.

[Lionessa]

1. Slow down a sec. I wonder if it isn't so much a reflection on him as on them.

Unfortunately as you've pointed out dozens of times to me, this Congress in particular has done nothing except say no to the President. Perhaps the MSM, who you should know I don't respect, but perhaps this time they are simply acknowledging the likely truth. Question is, can the President and the Democrats manage to get this or something really similar through.

For that you are absolutely right. OWS clearly got Obama's attention. Now OWS and everyone in the 99% needs to start pressuring Congress and all media possible with demand that this be the budget, because I think this one we can really get behind, the last few not so much.

I read over the past couple of days that the UAW is thinking about getting organized situations going, NOW is the time they need to do this, they need to get and help get these protests back off the ground and running strong.

[ProSense]

4. True

Slow down a sec. I wonder if it isn't so much a reflection on him as on them.

Unfortunately as you've pointed out dozens of times to me, this Congress in particular has done nothing except say no to the President. Perhaps the MSM, who you should know I don't respect, but perhaps this time they are simply acknowledging the likely truth. Question is, can the President and the Democrats manage to get this or something really similar through.

...Congress has become increasingly belligerent and dysfunctional. Republicans don't seem to care about anything. I mean, look at McConnell's reaction to the contraception rule.

Still, something needs to happen to shake them out of this posture of obstruction. It's likely that they gave in on the payroll tax cuts because obstructing it was a loser. They need to be made to feel that way about the proposals in the budget. There is broad support for many of them, including the Buffett rule.

[Lionessa]

8. Good golly, someone should capture our conversation here.

We may never again feel civil toward each other. At any rate:

I accept what you type and raise you.

There is broad support from many of them, ESPECIALLY the Buffett rule.

[cherokeeprogressive]

2. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Harry Reid say Friday that the Senate isn't even going to take

up the issue of a budget in 2012?

The Senate majority leader -- the Democrat most responsible for moving Obama's agenda through Congress -- said Friday that there's no need to bring the budget to a vote this year.

"It's done. We don't need to do it," Reid said, citing spending outlines agreed to in August's debt ceiling agreement.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/13/politics/budget-politics-analysis/index.html

[ProSense]

6. It's

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Harry Reid say Friday that the Senate isn't even going to take up the issue of a budget in 2012? "

...the 2013 budget, which wouldn't come up for a vote until later this year. Still, Reid is a member of Congress, which is the point of the OP. Regardless of party, Congress shouldn't get a pass.

The commentary linked to is a perfect example of the do-nothing narrative.

[Enrique]

3. their approval rating is 9%

they're not getting a pass.

[ProSense]

7. That's

"their approval rating is 9% they're not getting a pass. "

...great, but what does it mean in terms of them being pressured to act?

Yeah, I hope the Republicans are voted out at election time, but between now and then, there is plenty of time to apply pressure.

Without that pressure, there is no guarantee that the next Congress will act to pass these proposals.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. Because.