Durbin: Democrats would be 'on trial for treason' if they adopted GOP's tactics

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/78603-durbin-democrats-would-be-on-trial-for-treason-if-they-adopted-gops-tactics


Durbin: Democrats would be 'on trial for treason' if they adopted GOP's tactics
By Tony Romm - 01/28/10 02:45 PM ET


Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) on Thursday admitted the "general feeling on the Democratic side" was that Republicans have so far been able to cast controversial protest votes and stall important legislation "with impunity."

He consequently seemed to suggest Republicans' behavior in Congress over the past year as hypocritical, as Democrats could never vote against important legislation and emerge unscathed.

"Some of the votes {Republicans} cast -- we would be on trial for treason if we had voted against defense appropriations in the midst of a war," he told reporters on his way to the Senate chamber. Durbin was referring to GOP members who tried to block the defense bill out of concern that a hate crimes bill was attached to it.

"They did it with impunity," Durbin lamented.

Top Senate Democrats have long acknowledged that passing legislation within the chamber's 60-vote culture is complicated -- a process that is sure to become more difficult, they add, now that the party is without its supermajority.

However, the party's leaders seem especially fearful that voters may blame them for delays caused by Republicans' legislative tactics. Should that frustration translate into votes ahead of this year's midterm elections, some Democrats worry their numbers in Congress may be at risk.

But Durbin on Thursday the idea that Democrats ought to let legislation fail in order to prove that Republicans are to blame for stalled reforms.

"If we don't have 59 votes, and that is a requirement {to pass legislation}, we're not letting them fail," Durbin said, suggesting it was not Democrats who were responsible for any delays.

[KonaKane]

1. Sorry, not news, Dick.

I have seen ample examples of the stark double standard involving Repukes and Democrats in my 50 year life. This is just not news.

[d_b]

2. He's right

because too many Democrats are chickenshit.

[livetohike]

3. I hope all Dems up for re-election will use that in their campaigns

this year. The Republicans are not working for the citizens, and they don't care too - they are sitting back, collecting their salaries and just saying no. Worthless.

[MrScorpio]

4. Congressional Republicans are spoiled brats in expensive suits

...On second thought, that's pretty much ALL Republicans.

[tularetom]

5. So, quit acting like a wuss and put a few of them sumbitches on trial for treason

He's admitting there is a problem and that he knows the solution but is unwilling to stick his neck out to implement it.

To quote Howard Dean - bush would've gotten health care passed by now. It may have sucked but it would have passed. And the liberal media would be praising him for his "accomplishment".

[Juche]

6. The GOP is sociopathic

That is the problem. They are very prone to lying, hypocrisy, self absorption (even when blindingly hypocritical. Notice the teabaggers in their 70s who are on social security & medicare who protest welfare and socialized medicine), ignorance, double standards, unrealistic, prone to criminality, etc.

And I am 100% serious. I'm not saying 'I disagree with the GOP, therefore they are sociopaths'. No. I disagree with libertarians too, but libertarians are not sociopaths. I disagree with conservative democrats, but they are not sociopathic.

However the current crop of GOP operatives ARE sociopathic either as individuals or collectively. The sooner the public and politicians figure this out, the easier it will be to deal with it.

I'd say 80% of the problems we face as democrats is assuming the GOP plays by the same rules we do. They do not. You are pitting sociopaths against people with rudimentary interpersonal skills and being surprised that the playing field isn't level.

We sit her shocked at how blatantly hypocritical the GOP is. But its a waste to get upset that they don't follow the same moral rules we do. Realize they are sociopaths and treat them as such.

[gratuitous]

7. Mr. Durbin: You had 60 votes and didn't do much

I'm not terribly interested in your difficulties now that you have only an 18 seat majority. Get after the program, or retire and let someone in the Senate who's interested in getting something done.

[denverbill]

8. MAKE THE ASSHOLES FILIBUSTER YOU IDIOT! A REAL FILIBUSTER!

UP OR DOWN VOTE!!! UP OR DOWN VOTE!!! ALL WE ASK IS FOR AN UP OR DOWN VOTE ON THE FRIGGIN BILLS.

KEEP THE SOB's THERE IN WASHINGTON UNTIL HELL FREEZES OVER OR THEY ALLOW A VOTE! STOP LETTING THEM GET AWAY WITH THIS QUICK CLOTURE VOTE/THE END CRAP. IF THEY WANT TO KEEP DEBATE OPEN MAKE THEM STAND ON THE SENATE FLOOR FOR THE NEXT 9 MONTHS.

[Nite Owl]

9. They know that they can

get away with that any anything because the dems won't do anything more than whine.