Amazing how much infuence the Republicans have with just one house of Congress.

[Marr]

Remember how impotent Democratic politicians claimed to be after they won back the House and Senate in 2006? We still had a Republican White House, they said, so we couldn't really get anything done. They didn't even block much of anything. The GOP manages to not only block Democratic legislation with one house of Congress, they actually dominate the national agenda.

Yes, the media loves the right-wing narrative, but that doesn't explain it. The fact is that the Republicans have a very willing "opposition" when it comes to economic policy.

Since 2006, following politics has been like watching a football game where one team really wants to let the other team score. You can actually see them slow down and let the other team run by-- or in Obama's case, grab the ball and score a touchdown for them himself.

[boston bean]

1. they are in cahoots for the almighty re-election $$. No other explanation fits. nt

[loyalsister]

3. They do have a responsibility to get re-elected

The OP doesn't mention the difference in respect shown the president. * was respected by Democrats in congress, while Republicans seem to freely disrespect Obama. He is overseeing schoolchildren who are stamping their feet saying "you're not the boss of me."

If Democrats don't get re-elected, there is no chance of increasing the number of Democrats and improving that dynamic.

[Andy823]

6. +1,000,000,000 nt

[Swede]

2. The new teabag House members are something new.

They don't want government to work,they don't care about the debt ceiling,etc.

[loyalsister]

4. True

They are holding republicans hostage. This may be the undoing of the republican party for awhile.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. What have they accomplished since Jan.? Nothing. Nothing has been passed except the DOD budget.

[banned from Kos]

7. The 2007-08 Pelosi House passed very little successful legislation

IIRC, they overrode Bush vetoes on a farm bill and SCHIP.

Then there was the Bush/Paulson led disaster called TARP (not worth getting into).

[Johonny]

8. I think Republicans have demonstrated that Congress is set up to do nothing

really well, if all you want to do is nothing. The debt ceiling has demonstrated how piss poor they are at using congress to actually do something. Something easy that's been do over and over, yet they can't do it.

[bemildred]

9. +1. nt

[unblock]

10. you act as if congress and the white house are the seats of power.

remember how much power the had when they didn't even have the house?

fact of the matter is, if you control the media and the money, you control washington.

yeah, i know, democrats and obama in particular can raise plenty of money, too; but only, it seems, if they make very republican-like promises to their donors.