God, these people fucking suck.

[WilliamPitt]

DeMint to Force Readings of Bills

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) will force readings of both the New START Treaty and the 2011 omnibus spending bill on the Senate floor, a move that could eat up over 70 hours of the remaining lame-duck Congress, The Hill reports.

"DeMint's maneuver will no doubt cause a headache for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) as he figures out how to fit all of the remaining legislative items into the waning days of the lame duck. Lawmakers had been set to leave Washington on Friday, but that deadline appears flimsy at this point. Reid had sought to avoid working the week of the Christmas holiday, as lawmakers had done last year, and has now threatened work after the holidays if necessary."

White House statement: "This is a new low in putting political stunts ahead of our national security, and it is exactly the kind of Washington game-playing that the American people are sick of."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/12/15/demint_to_force_readings_of_bills.html

:grr:

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[BonnieJW]

101. DeMint Caved

He's not going to do it. Saw it on Salon.

[JackintheGreen]

108. Right? He caved last night

after getting dressed down by Reid for being part of the Christmas is sacred malarkey?

[lpbk2713]

2. More obstructionism from the obstructionists.

Lame ass airheads.

[SpiralHawk]

37. More FAIL from the chickenhawk Republicon FAIL artistes

no wonder Americans do not trust republicons.

[Supersedeas]

100. 'tis the season for the spirit of compromise -- where is the media now!!!

The media that demanded that the loud left bow down to the spirit of compromise...how will the Right Wing complicit media play this one?

[AlinPA]

3. This is all we will see from now on. They have more power (teabagger power).

[wtmusic]

4. Just...to be a prick.

I'd love to see them force emergency legislation through to eliminate the reading requirement from Congress, the tell POS DeMint to STFU.

[jillan]

5. This is a prime example of what is wrong with the Democratic party. The message should be

the repubs are playing politics with our national security. If enough of the Dems went on camera, sent out press releases - it just might make it to the msm on other channels besides Msnbc.

It's time for these assholes to be "Dixie-Chicked".

This is bullshit.

[sharp_stick]

9. Whitehouse Statement

White House statement: "This is a new low in putting political stunts ahead of our national security, and it is exactly the kind of Washington game-playing that the American people are sick of."

Now they need to say it whenever there's a camera around.

[calimary]

27. And they need to DEMAND that cameras be around for this.

Where are the "hastily called news conferences" now? Are we ever going to go on offense? Or are we just gonna be the ones reacting all the time?

:banghead:

[AlbertCat]

54. If enough of the Dems went on camera,

The MSM would not air it.

They do go on camera. C-span is on all the time. There are many amazing speeches that the News could show and report on instead of human interest stories that are really commercials for something or other. Dems are voicing their opinions and ideas all the time. But they don't get covered like every tweet Sarah Palin puts up, or every time Boehner cries. Then everyone goes "Why can't Dems get their message out there?" Because it isn't reported, that's why. Obama has to go on an international tour to get a news segment of him actually speaking.

Rachel Maddow did a whole segment about how the media only vaguely talks about and round what Dems and Liberals say (she was doing this about Senator Sanders' "filibuster") but will put up a whole speech by a Repug and then have a panel discuss it.

[Wednesdays]

85. +1

Exactly. And then they'll have another panel discussing, "Why are the Democrats so out of touch with the American people?"
:eyes::puke:

[spanone]

6. goodbye start...goodbye dadt

[bullwinkle428]

8. Don't forget DREAM act!

[femrap]

7. If they have to

stay until Dec. 24, so be it.

Do you know how many people would like to be working the week of Xmas?

And do you realize how many people who do have jobs will get no extra days off from work since Xmas falls on a Saturday????

And these people are making $8/hour w/ no insurance.

So if our representatives have to work for the people of the US, then make them WORK.

[snappyturtle]

20. +1 nt

[calimary]

30. Absolutely. Harry Reid should just say - "Okay, demint - better go get your sleeping bag

and a toothbrush, 'cause it's gonna be a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG time til you see your own bathroom and bedroom at home. And a Merry Christmas to YOU, TOO, pal. You'll work ON Christmas if you're gonna pull this shit."

[AlbertCat]

55. Do you know how many people would like to be working the week of Xmas?

Harry Reid says this.... check out his speech ... it's posted over there... on the left...

[Sherman A1]

70. Not just the week of Christmas, but

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the Day after.

I think they should have Christmas Day off and perhaps knock off at 3pm or so on the the 24th, but they can be back on Sunday about 6am to get back to work. I know I have to be in at 4am on that Sunday.

[femrap]

103. He should have used this

opportunity to also shove the right-wing religious words down their throats and discuss this season as 'when we are to share and help those less fortunate than ourselves.'

But it seems that those who make less than $20,000/year will have a tax increase.

I want Congress to work 2 full weeks. They can have the 25th and 26th off. That's plenty, given the state of our nation. Oh, and Obama can stay in DC as well.

[Luciferous]

95. +1

[Skinner]

10. What a joy to see a thread title "God these people fucking suck" and then click the link...

...and find out it's about a Republican.

Thank you.

[WilliamPitt]

11. Refreshing change of pace.

:)

[nofurylike]

77. from "snake," to find ... nt

[Still a Democrat]

17. Frankly it's out of hand

Hard to see how we support the Democratic party in even the broadest terms at times.

[JoePhilly]

25. +1000

[Tsiyu]

29. rofl

Sorry, that just cracked me up...so true


:rofl:

[polmaven]

34. You LITERALLY

made me laugh out loud! Sitting all by myself in my living room laughing away! It is a joy for a change! Than YOU, Skinner for the laugh. For various reasons, i needed it today! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Can of Whoop-ass]

94. Some people

need to get out more often!

[polmaven]

96. Was that really necessary?

Way to put a damper on a good laugh. Thank you.

[KoKo]

58. SKINNER! We here ALL think REPUGS SUCK! Where have YU BEEN?

Peace to you...! It ain't easy being Admin of this site! Must seem like living in Dante's World some times. :hug:

[delightfulstar]

74. Thank you Skinner!

You just started my morning off right, with a good, hearty LOL. As it should be - many thanks, and peace, my friend! :pals:

(And for the record, DeMint and his Rethug cronies most certainly do suck!!!)

[Chipper Chat]

97. Give 'em hell, mods!

[Scurrilous]

104. Heh.

:thumbsup:

[stevenleser]

105. >Bingo

Well said.

[MannyGoldstein]

12. These are people we can deal with.

This is a great opportunity to show that we listen 2 our republican partners, we are no longer the hyperpartisans we were.

If we can do this, and then do whatever they say, the Republicans might be nice to us.

[kath]

15. Right-o, Manny!

So good to see that you've finally got your mind right. :evilgrin:

[avaistheone1]

66. All I can say is

[Better Believe It]

13. Keep the Senate in session until DADT is repealed and $250 Social Security payment is passed.

Don't break for the holidays and don't withdraw the DADT repeal and SS payment bills.

Simple.

Will Democrats fold once again and stay in session until the above actions are passed?

[pnorman]

14. Obama is holding at pretty close to 50%, while Congress is at an all-time LOW!

Any questions?

[gratuitous]

16. God, don't say it's "a new low"!

People like DeMint take that as a personal challenge.

[progressoid]

45. No kidding.

They can get a lot lower. Their bar goes below zero.

[Bandit]

18. They are only doing what they proved works..

They win big in elections and they make Obama do their wishes....Why would ANYONE think they would suddenly change their tactics?

[PDJane]

19. Bring back the speed reader.

[GoCubsGo]

36. Screw the speed reader.

If DeMint wants it read, he should fucking read it himself.

[badtoworse]

21. DeMint is trying to run out the clock

He knows he will have more leverage in the next congress and that Reid is running out of time. I would expect a politician or political party to fight hard for his/its agenda, so I'm not surprised or upset at this. If you're not expecting your opponents to do their best to beat you, then you deserve the beating you will almost certainly get.

It's unfortunate that our guys don't play as well as DeMint and his team do. If they did, we wouldn't be stuck doing a 2 minute drill to salvage something.

[louis-t]

22. The new Dem mantra should be:

"Make 'em stay." On Christmas, on New Year's. Make 'em stay.

[AngryAmish]

23. That is going to take over 48 business hours!

[WilliamPitt]

24. It's 24, genius.

If you're going to snark, be accurate.

:hi:

[Octafish]

26. I wish WE had thought about these maneuvers to prevent the disastrous wars we got lied into.

Who knows? Perhaps a lot of good people would still be alive today.

[Ezlivin]

38. Yes, it's almost as if the Democrats have no idea how to do a damned thing

They always complain about this maneuver or that maneuver, but then they never try them themselves.

We had majorities in both houses of Congress and a Democratic president yet we could nothing to prevent the Republicans from throwing a wrench into the works.

Yet when we were in the minority we never tried these tactics. Why? Were we afraid that our reputation would be ruined or something? Damn....

[kath]

106. +1000. "then they NEVER TRY THEM themselves"

yep - I've pondered this very topic over and over and over. Repubs manage to control things even when they're in the MINORITY, while Dems can't get their way even when in the majority - they get steamrollered either way. WTF?

[DevonRex]

28. Yes they do!

They make me sick. Thanks Will for posting something anti-Republican. :hi:

[LostInAnomie]

31. Break the speed readers out again.

They've done it before.

[TheKentuckian]

35. How precise is this language? Can't we bring in a troop of speed readers each blazing through

different sections and wrap this up in moments?

[rpannier]

72. Auctioneers

[Javaman]

32. The future is now. nt

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[moondust]

39. No Christmas for you!

Keep them in session, blame DeMented.

[HuckleB]

52. +1,000,000,000,000 ... 000!!!

[glinda]

40. Dream on. Do you really think the American public actually hears about this stuff???

[hootinholler]

41. He even got his pony for Christmas n/t

[newtothegame]

42. All politicians can learn to pass laws that are clear and concise.

Instead of purposely convoluted 1000 page diatribes intentionally designed so as to confuse. All we do is open ourselves up to the assholes on the other side pulling a stunt like this.

[Cid_B]

86. This is true...

One of the morning shows broke it down along the lines of 500 million per page and then thumps down this monster stack six reams high...

It's psychologically effective....

[hfojvt]

43. I wish somebody on my side had made them do that with the tax abomination

[tabatha]

44. Well, don't let them out.

Add 70 hours to when they can go home.

[Hissyspit]

46. Fix the filibuster rules!

Do it!

Support Udall's rule change on Jan. 5!

[mzteris]

47. get that guy who talks amazingly FAST! n/t

[kentuck]

48. Bigtime.

They make me want to :puke:

[Capitalocracy]

49. Go for it... but make HIM read it.

At least make them work for their obstructionism and handouts.

[usregimechange]

50. Time for more recess appointments and cloture votes on liberal nominees

[HuckleB]

51. Reid should keep them in DC through the holiday.

They want to play games, then they get to work.

[siboii]

53. wow

i cant belive it


















_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
yeah righ

[kentuck]

61. Welcome!

All the way from Indonesia?

[Chipper Chat]

99. Stupidty yu can belive in

[tomm2thumbs]

56. I don't believe there is ANY rule that it can't be read simulataneously by multiple readers

if they want to f*cking play games, let's play games

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

57. I know... Why don't we blame Obama!!!

:sarcasm::sarcasm:

[JDPriestly]

59. Compromise -- Republican-style.

Honestly. Is there no honor left?

[Jester Messiah]

92. Honor... in politics?

No, not for a long while now.

[madrchsod]

60. the start treaty was one of ronald reagan`s greatest achievements of his presidency

these new republicans have no shame

[COLGATE4]

62. Unbridled unmitigated bastards.

[guyton]

63. short bills

One of my beefs for years is about the lengths of the bills that Congress passes -- they're simply too long.
Congress needs to learn to delegate (and hold responsible) so that the legislation can be to the point without
being ridiculously long.

I'd love a requirement that only legislators that had actually read a bill could vote on it.

And it'd have a minor side-effect of making the this type of threat a non-issue.

[Bette Noir]

64. What about the complaints I heard today, about how it's sacreligious

To make people work even CLOSE to Christmas? It's the Republicans complaining, but the Republicans stalling. If DeMint and his like would shut up and work, they'd finish their work, and be able to have a nice vacation.

[Dem2theMax]

65. He's flip-flopped. Surprise.

UPDATE, 3:17 p.m.: DeMint spokesman Wesley Denton just confirmed that the Senator will no longer insist on a reading of the treaty on the Senate floor, but claimed DeMint won this standoff, because the debate has been postponed:

"Senator DeMint opposes ramming the controversial START Treaty in the lame duck session. After Senator DeMint asked for the entire treaty to be read aloud to slow down the process, Senator Reid relented and agreed to delay the debate until tomorrow."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/12/jim_demints_justification.html

Other sites have the same info up as well.

[earcandle]

67. So does that mean that if the House changes the Tax bill and Senate has to approve,

there is no new legislation and the tax cuts expire?  

hmmmm....  

[pa28]

68. I've been thinking about this myself.

I understand the Republicans play hardball. They want to sabotage legislation from Congress and policy objectives from the White House. They are F*(cking bastards for it but I realize they have a rigid set of ideas they see the world in black and white so it's not surprising.

I just don't understand why they would take a totally non-political item like START which has a favorable consensus and then make a huge scene out of blocking. There is no election coming up and no reason for grandstanding . . . no reason at all. WTF.

When conventional explanations fail I guess you have to explore the unconventional ones. Maybe they really are reptilian saboteurs from another planet. Somebody could do a great service by explaining how these people think and why they act as they do but I sure can't.

:shrug:

[louslobbs]

69. If the Republicans keep this up, just think? Remember the last elections.

These POS Republicans got rewarded with more seats in the senate and the majority in the house. This continued obstruction through 2012 should definitely give them the Presidency.

The recipe is simple 1 heaping helping of obstruction by the Republicans, 10s of millions of dollars secretly raised for the Republicans by the US/China Chamber of Commerce starring Tom Donahue, sprinkle in a little Supreme court rulings for the Republicans and corporations, stir in slowly GOP FOX Network and Rush Limbaugh talking points, a cup of diced Teabaggers and their lies and rhetoric, a large clove of Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin. Simmer for 693 days and add some faux outrage about, just about anything.....bring to a boil and add a spoonful of Hannity, two scoops of Michelle Bachmann, one gallon of tears from John Boner, half a smirk from Erik Cantor a cup of shredded John McCain, half a bushel of bipartisanship, squeeze in a little gay hatred, a cup of no negroes allowed, a pinch and a half of Republican arrogance and hypocrisy, gently stir in a pint of deregulation for banks and other corporations, add a packet of tax cut bonuses for the millionaires and billionaires,add some sliced faux Republican patriotism, stir in a bowl of taking back our country and just a sliver of illegal aliens and headless bodies in the desert. Add in Governor Brewers home grown death panels, some frozen sarah palins Alaska. Add a clove of government shut down a large cut in Social Security and Medicare and filibusters to taste. Let simmer again, take off heat, refrigerate and serve ice cold over the suffering poor, middle class, gays, blacks, mexicans and anyone else the Republicans can think of who don't agree with their ideology or walk in lockstep with their views. This recipe is guaranteed to continue the destruction of America. Bon Appetit

[rpannier]

71. If Reid or Durbin or Schumer had any imagination they'd

hire an auctioneer to read it.
They bill would be finished being read in about thirty minutes.

[Kevin1a]

73. God Damnit, I need some Health Insurance

They still haven't passed the bill to extend Tricare coverage to dependants up to 26 to match what they did for private sector employees. I need this because I am not offered coverage through my employer, and I cannot get private insurance. I just shelled out close to a grand for the 3 month extension, but when that's over, I'm fucked. So much for ensuring everyone has access to quality affordable healthcare. I do wish they would fight on the tax cuts though. I say keep those senators locked in the chamber like a jury until they get something accomplished.

[melm00se]

75. pot meet kettle

the omnibus spending bill is a purely political move to create a budget without actually creating a budget.

It guarantees that there will be, at least, another $1T deficit as the next Congress will have to do a budget which will cover the "regular" things.

The Omnibus spending bill also allows the Democrats to attempt to blame any deficit on the REpublican Congress.

[KingOfLostSouls]

76. he should be shot for treason

during a time of war he has chosen to interfere with the timely and responsible running of the state against the enemy.

jim demint is a traitor who should be shot for treason.

[tomp]

78. to the white house:

i know a few other games people are sick of.

[Hubert Flottz]

79. Warm and fuzzy BUYpartisanship.

"Reach out" and pull back a bloody stump.

You can't make deals with gangsters and thugs.

[old mark]

80. When I was working, I spent many Christmases at work...I think the Congress

should, too, if they do shit like this. They are in session till January 4th, and personally, I don't care if they are there 20 hours a day till then, but I DO expect them to start earning their pay and stop acting like spoiled 4 year olds...or republicans.

Get tough on them, Harry!

mark

[Enthusiast]

81. Yes they do. nt

[mstinamotorcity]

82. We are sick

of a lot of the bs in Washignton D.C.

[Ganja Ninja]

83. Why not just schedule that for Christmas day? n/t

[myrna minx]

84. "m grateful that Senator Reid is standing up to these thugs. n/t

[cactusfractal]

87. Fine. Just get the guy who did the MicroMachines ads to read it.

Or have it read and played back compressed, as they do with the terms and conditions of car dealer ads.

[TCJ70]

88. Then I guess there's no Christmas break for Capitol Hill...

They'll be too busy reading legislation.

[surrealAmerican]

89. It's time to roll in the cots!

The senators will just have to stay around the clock. I wonder if DeMint will be happy with that.

[proReality]

90. Did the WH really think anything would change? n/t

[oldlib]

91. I agree

that the Republicans totally suck. I watched an interview of two of these right wing nuts yesterday. They were Cornyn and I believe Thune and the both projected confidence in their position to hold up the tax bill, primarily because it had to many earmarks. It was pointed out that Cornyn had 52 earmarks in the bill and Thune had 35. They brushed this aside and still maintained their composure. Their objective is to destroy the Democratic Party and they will use any and every tactic to accomplish their goal.

[Alcibiades]

93. Good thing the tax cut bill already passed the Senate

Give them their "holy grail," and they will compromise. Except that's not how it worked out: now that they have tax cuts for the rich, they don't have to move on anything. The tax cut deal, which does stink, should have been left for last.

[Deep13]

98. Reminder to Sen. DickMint

During the presidential debates of 2000, GW Bush cited nuclear proliferation as the single greatest security threat in the world.

[Roci]

102. No, they don't

Because it would be too much fun ;)

[HowHasItComeToThis]

107. REPUBLICANS ARE THE ENEMY WITHIN

ROVE SHOULD BE IN PRISON

[Scurrilous]

109. K & R

:thumbsup:

[obxhead]

110. Harry.... It's too fucking simple.

Just say the tax bill will not be voted on until EVERYTHING else is done.

Then just jump on a plane and go the fuck home because you know you guys won't get it done.