Democrats are pushing bills doomed to fail - GoFuckYourself.com

Barefootsies · 09-22-2010, 06:47 AM

Tax dollars hard at work...

Quote:

Washington

In the last days before the break for the Nov. 2 elections, why are Senate Democrats focusing their efforts on votes they are all but certain to lose?

On Tuesday, they fell three votes short of the 60 needed to avoid a filibuster on a defense spending bill, primarily because they attached two controversial amendments ? one that would end "don't ask, don't tell" and a second that would offer a path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants.

In the aftermath of that defeat, Senate Democrats are shifting back to the Disclose Act ? a campaign finance reform bill that didn't attract a single Republican vote when it last came before the Senate on July 27.

It is not a theme necessarily aimed at legislative success.

"The only plausible answer is that this is symbolic politics aimed at sending messages to voters rather than legislating,? says Julian Zelizer, a congressional historian at Princeton University in New Jersey.

?In certain respects the legislation is secondary," he adds. "The problem is that the bill and the next one can backfire..., here with charges that Democrats are playing politics with defense. Also it does little for the main concern of voters ? the economy.?

The three pieces of legislation all serve important political purposes:

? In the case of the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military, "Democrats want to energize their base ? about 70 percent of the gay and lesbian vote is Democratic,? says Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

? The DREAM Act, which would allow illegal immigrants who came to the US as children and are in college or the military the right to apply for citizenship, has been a priority for immigrant-rights activity, and Hispanics are a large Democratic constituency.

? ?On the Disclose Act, Democrats have been going after Republicans on ethical issues in many parts of the country," says Mr. Sabato. "Democrats can portray this as a straight-up vote on clean politics, so it becomes an issue ? something they can use to augment their attacks on Republicans for ethical breaches."

As a practical matter, the defense bill ? as well as the proposed repeal of don't ask, don't tell and the DREAM Act ? will likely be delayed until after the election. For both, it is a question of timing.

On don't ask, don't tell, Republicans are determined to wait until the Pentagon releases a survey of what its servicemen and women think about the policy before considering a repeal. The DREAM Act, meanwhile, appears to be a political nonstarter for Republicans ? at least until after the Nov. 2 elections.

Senate Republicans on Tuesday proposed taking up the must-pass defense authorization bill again, but they demanded that immigration provisions not be among the first 20 amendments, because they are not related to defense issues. Democrats balked, noting that the DREAM Act is part of the Pentagon's strategic plan to maintaining a mission-ready, all-volunteer force.

Moreover, the act has had bipartisan support in the past, Rep. Richard Durbin (D) of Illinois said after the vote. ?It is a matter of simple American justice, and I would hope that 11 Republicans who joined us last time will stop cowering in the shadows and come forward and join us in a bipartisan effort and not stop us procedurally from even debating and deliberating this critical issue,? he said.

The implication was that Republicans are loath to hand Democrats such a legislative victory ? for one of their core constituencies ? so close to the election.

But in a briefing with reporters after the vote, Sens. John McCain (R) of Arizona and Lindsey Graham (R) of South Carolina said Congress must demonstrate to the public that it is fixing border security before it eases immigration laws.

?What am I going to tell people in South Carolina when I legalize 2 million people because it sounds emotionally good when I have not secured the border?? said Senator Graham.

Full Article

Sly · 09-22-2010, 06:51 AM

I don't think they have any clue what to do right now. Fight with each other, fight with Republicans, or flight with the people... when they should be fighting FOR the people.

The Demon · 09-22-2010, 06:53 AM

It's the Republicans' fault!

cherrylula · 09-22-2010, 06:55 AM

I'm so sick of politicians. Nothing but their own interests are ever at play.

with Fletch still working the oil spill, he's seen just how government things play out, it's pretty sick. No tin foil hat just reality.

marketsmart · 09-22-2010, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Demon

It's the Republicans' fault!

no, its the political systems fault...

congress is totally out of control..

every night i pray to teenager jesus and ask him to send 50 terrorists with ak-47's to washington to help fix the problem..

maybe i need to be praying to allah instead...

.

Barefootsies · 09-22-2010, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherrylula

I'm so sick of politicians. Nothing but their own interests are ever at play.

This sums it up nicely.

Bring on 12clicks.

The Demon · 09-22-2010, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marketsmart

no, its the political systems fault...

congress is totally out of control..

every night i pray to teenager jesus and ask him to send 50 terrorists with ak-47's to washington to help fix the problem..

maybe i need to be praying to allah instead...

.

I was being facetious.

Tom_PM · 09-22-2010, 08:09 AM

Minority rules. Clearly. Just block and fillibuster everything. They wouldnt even let 9/11 first responders to get health care. They dont give a fuck, it's all a hostage.

Sly · 09-22-2010, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PR_Tom

Minority rules. Clearly. Just block and fillibuster everything. They wouldnt even let 9/11 first responders to get health care. They dont give a fuck, it's all a hostage.

That was another political move. If you absolutely know a bill that you "care about" will get killed if you add XYZ amendment, why would you add it?

Scott McD · 09-22-2010, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherrylula

with Fletch still working the oil spill

What's he doing??

BestXXXPorn · 09-22-2010, 08:23 AM

Nothing new to see here... welcome to the game.

Brujah · 09-22-2010, 08:25 AM

why does it have a thumbs up icon?

minicivan · 09-22-2010, 08:26 AM

Obviously Bush causes this.

Tom_PM · 09-22-2010, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sly

That was another political move. If you absolutely know a bill that you "care about" will get killed if you add XYZ amendment, why would you add it?

I am not sure which of the ones you mean, DADT or the DREAM dealie, but there were republicans who had stated they were for those measures, until they voted not to even proceed to debate them.

Just like they claimed they wouldnt proceed because Reid wasn't allowing republican amendments, so he changed it to allow them, and 100% of repulbicans voted NO as usual anyway.

It's hard to credit that ANY changes would have changed the party of No's vote of .. No.

marketsmart · 09-22-2010, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Demon

I was being facetious.

what does eating poop have to do with my comment?

.

09-22-2010, 06:51 AM	#2
Sly Let's do some business! Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 31,296	I don't think they have any clue what to do right now. Fight with each other, fight with Republicans, or flight with the people... when they should be fighting FOR the people. __________________ Vacares - Web Hosting, Domains, O365, Security & More - Paxum and BTC Accepted Windows VPS now available - just $50/mo Wanted: CCBill pay sites for sale

09-22-2010, 06:53 AM	#3
The Demon Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 7,336	It's the Republicans' fault! __________________ Greed is Good

09-22-2010, 08:09 AM	#8
Tom_PM Porn Meister Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 16,443	Minority rules. Clearly. Just block and fillibuster everything. They wouldnt even let 9/11 first responders to get health care. They dont give a fuck, it's all a hostage. __________________ 43-922-863 Shut up and play your guitar.

09-22-2010, 08:23 AM	#11
BestXXXPorn Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 2,277	Nothing new to see here... welcome to the game. __________________ ICQ: 258-202-811 \| Email: eric{at}bestxxxporn.com

09-22-2010, 08:25 AM	#12
Brujah Beer Money Baron Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: brujah / gmail Posts: 22,157	why does it have a thumbs up icon? __________________ Free Premium Domain Lists and Tools at Clickmojo.com For Sale: Obscenity.com

09-22-2010, 06:55 AM	#4
cherrylula lol Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 15,969	I'm so sick of politicians. Nothing but their own interests are ever at play. with Fletch still working the oil spill, he's seen just how government things play out, it's pretty sick. No tin foil hat just reality.

09-22-2010, 08:26 AM	#13
minicivan Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 943	Obviously Bush causes this.