Whatever Happened To 'Country First'?

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_03/022992.php

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO 'COUNTRY FIRST'?.... The morning after a historic Democratic victory on health care reform, several media outlets asked the question tens of people nationwide wanted the answer to: what does John McCain think about the legislation he doesn't understand and had nothing to do with?

For his part, the Arizona Republican said he and his GOP colleagues will no longer want to work constructively with Senate Democrats.

Democrats shouldn't expect much cooperation from Republicans the rest of this year, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) warned Monday. <...>

"There will be no cooperation for the rest of the year," McCain said during an interview Monday on an Arizona radio affiliate. "They have poisoned the well in what they've done and how they've done it."

This is just sad. To hear McCain tell it, Democrats hurt Republicans' feelings, so Republicans don't want to do any more work.

I'm not quite sure how this would be any different from how McCain has been conducting himself all along. Despite repeated attempts at outreach from Democrats, the confused Arizona senator has refused to cooperate on any issue. Now we're going to see McCain fold his arms, pout, and refuse to play nice? Sounds like more of the same.

But it's this notion that Dems "poisoned the well" that's especially foolish. Democrats ran on a platform of reforming the health care system, got elected, and then went about fulfilling their campaign promises. They tried to work with the GOP, which deliberately chose to ignore the outreach. Left with no alternative, Dems proceeded on their own, and achieved a breakthrough success.

For that, McCain believes Dems should be punished ... with more obstructionism.

McCain's sense of duty and responsibility -- I seem to recall a "country first" slogan being used not long ago -- has become a punch-line. If he's decided not to do any work for the rest of the year, why doesn't McCain just forgo his paycheck and stop showing up for work?

—Steve Benen 12:30 PM

[fugop]

1. Oh, he'll keep "working"

God knows he's got three Sunday morning shows a week lineup up, right? That might as well become his full-time job. Has anyone been on the Sunday talk circuit more than him? Maybe ... Lieberman?

Shut up, John. And thanks but no thanks for giving us SArah Freakin' Palin for the next god-knows-how-many-years.

[Lasher]

2. Somewhere along the line Republicans convinced themselves they are the country.

You can clearly see that in their rhetoric.

[SunsetDreams]

3. Absolutely, just stay home and forfeit your check John!

[City of Mills]

4. How are we going to pass any legislation

Without the Republican swing votes we've all come to rely on? :cry:

[Ozymanithrax]

5. And they've been cooperating how for the last year and a half?

McCain is an idiot.

[4lbs]

6. To Repukes, "Country First" means "Republicans First".

.

[beac]

Actually, it's "RICH Republicans First-- and our idiot middle-class party members

last, though luckily they are too angry and ignorant to realize this."


Kinda long for a bumper sticker, though.

[4lbs]

12. Quite true. If you don't make six figures annually, then you don't meet the minimum necessary

requirement to be a member.

[beac]

10. Actually, it's "RICH Republicans First-- and our idiot middle-class party members

last, though luckily they are too angry and ignorant to realize this."


Kinda long for a bumper sticker, though.

[Jennicut]

7. Er....Dems ran on a platform of reforming health care and then pass a bill...reforming health care.

Like, how stupid can Rethugs get?

Bunch of babies.

[quiet.american]

8. Bingo. nt

[lunatica]

9. McCain also thinks Sarah Palin is highly qualified

nuff said.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Republicans have not worked constructively with Democrats since Obama took office

There is no threat implicit in Senator McCain's remarks, just a confirmation that the strategy of obstruction will continue.

It is tiresome to hear the Republicans whine. President Obama has been more than fair to them, keeping the door open and begging them to come in. What the Republicans do in response is slam the door closed the from the outside and remain outside whining about being shut out.

I believe yesterday was a turning point in the off year elections. If the Republicans had any hopes of gaining control of the House, they lost it. They may still make modest gains, but even that is put in danger by their continuing obstructionism.

In my view, it would do well to give the Republicans another drubbing at the polls this November. Even that is something about which to have mixed feelings. On the one hand, America, as a democracy, needs an opposition party. On the other hand, we don't need this one.

[keith the dem]

13. Why did no one mention that "Country First" sounds so similar

to "America First" which was a Nazi front group trying to stop the US from aiding Britian?

The words of Woody Guthrie:

"Mister Charlie Lindbergh, he flew to old Berlin,
Got 'im a big Iron Cross, and he flew right back again
To Washington, Washington.

Missus Charlie Lindbergh, she come dressed in red,
Said: "I'd like to sleep in that pretty White House bed
In Washington, Washington."


Hitler wrote to Lindy, said "Do your very worst,"

Lindy started an outfit that he called America First
In Washington, Washington.




All around the country, Lindbergh he did fly,
Gasoline was paid for by Hoover, Clark, and Nye
In Washington, Washington.

Lindy said to Hoover: "We'll do the same as France:
Make a deal with Hitler, and then we'll get our chance
In Washington, Washington

Then they had a meetin', and all the Firsters come,
Come on a-walkin', they come on a-runnin',
In Washington, Washington

Yonder comes Father Coughlin, wearin' the silver chain,
Cash on his stomach and Hitler on the brain.
In Washington, Washington

Mister John L. Lewis would sit and straddle a fence,
His daughter signed with Lindbergh, and we ain't seen her since
In Washington, Washington

Hitler said to Lindy: "Stall 'em all you can,
Gonna bomb Pearl Harbor with the help of old Japan."
In Washington, Washington

Then on a December mornin', the bombs come from Japan,
Wake Island and Pearl Harbor, kill fifteen hundred men.
Washington, Washington

Now Lindy tried to join the army, but they wouldn't let 'im in,
'Fraid he'd sell to Hitler a few more million men.
In Washington, Washington

So I'm a gonna tell you people: If Hitler's gonna be beat,
The common workin' people has got to take the seat
In Washington, Washington.

And I'm gonna tell you workers, 'fore you cash in your checks:
They say "America First," but they mean "America Next!"
In Washington, Washington."

[Phx_Dem]

14. That was just a slogan. They didn't really mean it.

They're great at make up slogans, but nothing else.