GOP +1 block financial reform bill for third time

By GottaLaff

Here's all you really need to know:


The Party of No, plus Nelson.

Third Senate Test Vote on Financial Overhaul Bill Fails 56-42

Between meeting in back rooms with the Big Bankers, and showing America who their real BFF are by refusing to allow financial reform, all the Rushpublics are doing is exposing themselves to be the obstructionists they are... all while reminding everyone who pays them to be that way.

Keep those votes coming, Dems.

UPDATE: Claire McCaskill makes a good point. She just said on MSNBC that the GOP pretends they don't want to block the bill, while they block the bill.

Disheartened: Special Comment by my 72-year-old friend

By GottaLaff

My impassioned 72-year-old Twitter pal, who goes by the name 42bkdodgr, would like to share his feelings about the increasingly worrisome (read: scary) and very frustrating events of late. I am more than happy to oblige.

But first, a personal note from 42bkdodgr:

Many of you may wonder why I chose to use the “ 72 year old friend” as the introduction to my Special Comments. I selected the moniker so readers could see that from my age and life experiences I give a different perspective to the issues of today.

Now for his Special Comment:

Disheartened

I sit hear before my computer a very sad, frustrated, discouraged and disheartened person as I write this Special Comment.

I feel this way and it makes me shudder, when I think about the craziness that has been going on in our nation in the last couple of months, such as:

* Texas Board of Education rewriting history books.
* Virginia making April Confederate History Month.
* Passage of Arizona Immigration Law.
* The open carry guns rally in a National park.
* Nebraska setting limits on abortion.
* GOP Congressional candidate proposes installing microchips on illegal immigrants.
* Candidate for Governor in Nevada suggesting that the barter system be used to pay doctors for medical services.

Then we have the Party of NO blocking bills from coming to the Senate floor for debate by using the Cloture Rule on almost everything that is presented by the Democrats. Republicans did it with Healthcare Reform, extension of Unemployment Insurance, and now they are doing it with Financial Reform.

When fighting the Health Care Bill, Republicans said the bill shouldn’t be passed because over 60% of Americans were against the bill. Now they are against the Financial Reform Bill, even though over 60% of Americans want the passage of the bill.

During the healthcare debate, Republicans complained about the lack of transparency, because of the closed door deals made to get the necessary Democratic Committee votes.

Now, the Republicans want all Committee discussions on Financial Reform to be done behind close door and not seen on CSPAN. I guess they are afraid the public will see how weak their arguments are against the passage of the bill.

Time and time again Republicans prove they don’t care about the common man. With health care their masters were the health insurance companies, and now for financial reform they serve at the foot of the banking and brokerage industry.

Republicans are truly “HYPOCRITES”.

I think we will continue to see more odd laws, policies and outrageous statements being adopted by other states and made by politicians; and the Republicans will not stop being the Party of No and Obstructionism.

It is quite possible that the manner in which Congress is currently operating will continue for many years to come, no matter which party controls Congress or the White House.

All this makes me disheartened because, when I take into consideration all of the above plus the hatred in this country, I feel the wheels are coming off in America.

Many thanks again for another thorough, relevant piece, 42bkdodgr. You often say what many of us are thinking and feeling, and we thank you for your unique perspective.

Senate Republicans Vote to Block Debate of Financial Oversight Legislation

By GottaLaff

The Democrats may have been blocked-- again-- by the Party of No, but they made it loud and clear on the Tee Vee Machine that even a loss is a win. Why? Because now America will see who sides with Wall Street, and who sides with them.

Via an email alert from the New York Times:

Senate Republicans, united in opposition to the Democrats' legislation to tighten regulation of the financial system, voted on Monday to block the start of floor debate.

The vote was 57 to 41, as Democrats fell short of the 60 votes needed to cut off a filibuster of the motion to proceed to the bill. One Democrat, Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska, sided with Republicans apparently out of concern over a provision related to tightening the rules on derivatives trading.

Debate is blocked. Nelson voted no. Welcome back to the GOP, Ben.

Bernie Sanders just confirmed what I said above, saying, "We were vindicated," and this proves the Republicans are, indeed, the obstructionists we know them to be.

Senate Republicans may offer their own measure to overhaul Wall St.

By GottaLaff

According to Republicans, size matters:
Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, holds a copy of the health care bill on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, during a Republican health care news conference. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

I can picture them now, counting the number of pages, because that's all that really counts:

Republican aides said they may quickly offer an alternate measure that has been in drafting for months.

“We have been drafting an alternate approach from the very beginning,” an aide said.

Asked whether Republicans would offer an alternate bill, an aide said it is possible. “I think so, yes,” the aide said.

I wonder how many meetings with Big Bankers it took to come up with something lucrative enough to agree on.

If it's anything like their poor excuse for a GOP health care bill, it should look a little something like this:

Republicans Block Votes On 97 Federal Nominees In A Single Day

By GottaLaff

This video superbly paints a picture of what the Democrats are up against. Presenting full-on obstruction:

The Huffington Post has assembled a video compilation of Kyl blocking Whitehouse and McCaskill’s requests.

Keith Olbermann tweeted earlier that he'll be M.I.A. for a couple of days because he's having a routine colonoscopy. Guess who else needs one.

If you said "the GOP" you were right, since there is an entire party that has a real blockage problem:

[T]here is a backlog of 101 executive branch nominees that have yet to be voted on, ranging from the Transportation Safety Authority chief to members of the Marine Mammal Commission. Senators commonly issue “anonymous holds” to prevent a nomination from coming up for a vote.

Yesterday I posted about Claire McCaskill's response. She's trying to out the various anonymi, and then calling for unanimous consent to move the other nominees along.

Whitehouse then waited patiently for a Republican Senator to arrive on the floor. Minority Whip Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) finally appeared and began objecting to the two senators’ unanimous consent requests, ultimately blocking votes on 97 nominees.

You know the routine: The GOP will accuse "Obama's Big Government" of being incapable of getting anything done, knowing they were instrumental in obstructing what many of us fondly remember as democracy.

However, Americans are finally waking up to who these people are. Hopefully, it will be the Party of No that pays the price in November. This is unacceptable.

Administration Offficial: Obama not limited to centrist SCOTUS nominee

By GottaLaff

Did the Party of No just morph into the Party of Oops? That sound you hear could very well be a very loud Rushpublic backfire.

Since the GOP will put up a fight no matter who President Obama chooses as a Supreme Court nominee, what difference will it make whether the candidate is centrist, liberal, or shamelessly progressive?

[I]n some ways "that realization is liberating for the president" to choose whomever he pleases, an administration official told TPMDC.

In comments that are at odds with the conventional wisdom about what Obama needs to do to make sure the Senate confirms his nominee to replace John Paul Stevens, a White House official involved in the confirmation process tells TPMDC that the President isn't taking a cautious approach to selecting a nominee. Despite having one less Democrat in the Senate than when Sonia Sotomayor was confirmed last year, the administration isn't limiting itself to reviewing only centrist candidates for the court vacancy, the official said.

"It doesn't matter who he chooses, there is going to be a big 'ol fight over it. So he doesn't have to get sidetracked by those sorts of concerns," the official told me.

Prez O doesn't seem too pressured. Then again, he rarely, if ever, does.

Many in the blogosphere, on the Tee Vee Machine, the Radio Machine, the Twitter Machine, and every other sphere and machine, have been saying the same thing for some time.

Now let's hope the president chooses a nominee that will be able to be as persuasive and reasonable as Justice Stevens, and just a smidge or nine to the left of him for good measure.

Corporate judicial activism must be stopped in its tracks, or democracy as we know it will wither away.

H/t: Glenn Greenwald

Republicans soften opposition to financial reform

By GottaLaff

Just when I thought the Party of No was trying to make financial reform hit a brick Wall St., I see they're maybe, possibly, kinda, sorta relenting a teeny weeny tad:

(Reuters) - Republican lawmakers on Tuesday took a more conciliatory tone toward Democratic proposals to crack down on Wall Street as the U.S. Senate delayed debate on a financial reform package until next week.

The change in rhetoric could signal the two sides are moving closer to a deal after months of wrangling over how to overhaul regulations in the wake of the financial crisis.

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd said lawmakers have reached agreement on 80 to 90 percent of the reform bill.

"We are all optimistic that this can be fixed," said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.

Good ol' reliable, reassuring Mitch McConnell, he's always been my go-to guy for hopey changey stuff.

Color me skeptical, but it's hard to believe the G No P softening on anything. Stalling, maybe. Kvetching, definitely. Obstructing, absolutely. Softening? Mmmmnotreally.

However, they may have finally realized how quickly and drastically America will turn on them should they continue to pal around with the very corpobots who transformed us into the United States of the Homeless.

Senator Claire McCaskill presses GOP to reveal holds

By GottaLaff

Thank you, Senator McCaskill, for trying to out the Party of Noers who have held up democracy by placing ultra super duper double secret holds on nearly 80 of President Obama's nominees:

McCaskill asked for unanimous consent to vote on the 18 nominees. In response, Republicans allowed Democrats to confirm Stuart Nash, a nominee to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, but objected to the other nominees.

Gee, that was awfully big of them. One whole confirmation of one whole judge? Who could ask for more than that?

McCaskill:

“Section 512 of the law we passed in January of 2007 says that once the unanimous consent motion is made on a nominee, the member who is holding that nominee has to file a letter explaining their hold and that has to be published in the Congressional record”

Well that would be embarrassing. At the very least, revealing. At the very, very least, annoying to those who would rather hide under cloakroom cloaks for fear of being exposed for the block-heads they are. Pun intentional.

McCaskill will ask for unanimous consent to move 60 other nominees along.

Imagine that. She wants government to work for the people. What a traitor.

Predictability, Inc.: Sen. Collins pledges to block Democratic Wall Street bill

By GottaLaff

Why should today be any different? The Party of No is, if nothing else, consistent. And they're also nothing else. Nothing at all. Zero:

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced after meeting with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner Monday that she will vote to filibuster a Democratic Wall Street reform bill.

Attagirl, you show those Dems. Whenever they start calling you "moderate" or "reasonable", you get out there and show 'em who's boss.

"I don't think we can address these concerns in three days but I see no reason why we could not negotiate a bill in the next three or four weeks."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) worked to keep his party unified against the bill, which Democrats are pushing to pass.

All 41 Senate Republicans signed a letter to Reid urging him to reopen bipartisan negotiations on the legislation.

And by bipartisan, they mean do it their way. Period.

The Grating Obstructionist Party.

NononononoPalinJindalNonononono

By GottaLaff

Newton Leroy Gingrich decided that the GOP should be the "party of yes." What a novel idea! Why, it's positively Spoonful of Sugary! One might surmise that Republican voters would lap that right up, it's so sunshiny and positive!

One might even go so far as to imagine party leaders would embrace such a pleasant about-face from all that nastiness and No-itude.

Think about it. Those poor Rushpublics! It must be an awful burden, all that dragging around, looking all frowny, staining their vocal chords screaming "You lie!", "Baby killer!", "Reload!", and "Hell no!" at the top of their lungs.

"Yes" is such a happy word. "Yes" brings to mind all good things. "Yes" is as feel-goody as it gets. Who could refuse an opportunity to associate with such a life-affirming word? A word filled with promise and opportunity? A word that would be good for America!?

Ba-Ba-Ba-Bobby Jindal:

“Let’s be clear: A bad idea is a bad idea, and shame on us for being afraid to say so,” Jindal said. He added that, when it comes to bad ideas, “We shouldn’t just be the 'party of no,' we should be the 'party of "hell no." ' ”

NaySay McThumbsDown:

“There is no shame in being the 'party of no' if the other side proposes something that violates our Constitution and conscience,” she said.

Dawn Johnsen withdraws from consideration for Justice post

By GottaLaff

I am livid. There are no words for the frustration I feel right now:

President Obama's nominee to head the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel has withdrawn her bid for confirmation after she languished for more than a year without a Senate vote.

Several Republicans objected to Dawn E. Johnsen over her criticism of the Bush administration's terrorist interrogation policies.

My previous posts about the relentless efforts to block "the woman who could nail Bush" can be found here.

And that is why she was blocked, because she could shine light on the atrocities that defined BushCo. And now she has finally withdrawn.

They won. The United States lost. Hugely.

Merry Blockmas. Again.

Newt: Republicans "becoming the Party of Yes"

By GottaLaff

I'm watching a clip of Shrilly McMakeAFortune right now, draped in strand after tasteless strand of pearls, proudly bellowing her pride over the Rushpublics being labeled the Party of H-E-Double Hockey Sticks.

I'm not sure why Shrilly sometimes feels it necessary to spell that word out after she shouted "hell" at the top of her screechy lungs only days before at a McCain rally.

Apparently, Newtie disagrees with her enthusiastic support of using Not Child Friendly words to describe his party:

According to a statement, Newt Gingrich will give a speech tonight before the Southern Republican Leadership Conference titled, "Becoming the Party of Yes."

Said Gingrich: "To win in 2010 and 2012, it's not enough to say no to the radical agenda of Obama, Pelosi, and Reid. Tonight's speech will explain why real leadership requires Republicans to offer a compelling vision of safety, prosperity, and freedom that stands in vivid contrast to Obama's secular, socialist, machine now running Washington."

What, this doesn't work for the GOP any more?




Happily, calling us socialists is still at the top of the List-O'-Talking Points. What a relief! I'd miss that the way Newton Leroy misses being 1995 Person of the Year.

So remember and never forget: The Party of Hell No, that fine bunch of obstructionists, will hereby be known as the Party of ...


Okay, no they won't, but Newton Leroy thinks he can make it happen.

Home sales UP: Americans took advantage of a tax credit for home buyers

By GottaLaff

First we had the Amazing Bikini Graph, and now this new report. What will the Rushpublics have left to lie about?

The wobbly housing market is showing a rare sign of strength: pending home sales were up significantly in February, a report released Monday said, suggesting that Americans took advantage of a tax credit for home buyers.

Sales rose 8.2 percent in February, the National Association of Realtors said. Analysts had expected sales to stay flat.

Economists said Monday’s data suggested buyers were re-entering the market as the April 30 deadline approached for a government tax credit of up to $8,000. The tax credit drove up sales rapidly in the fall, when it was originally set to expire, but it has been slow to propel the market this spring.

Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the association, said Monday’s report “may signal the early stages of a second surge of home sales.”

Too bad George Bush still isn't in charge. Things would obviously be so much better.

Dear Rushpublic Party of No, Please do continue those obstructionist tactics in light of this news. It's working so well for you.

Love, Laffy

VIDEO- Jon Kyl: GOP Willing To Filibuster Obama’s Yet-To-Be-Named SCOTUS Nominee

By GottaLaff

As I posted yesterday, Justice Stevens is saying that he will make a decision soon about retiring.

Today on Fox News Sunday, Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) already held open the possibility that the person President Obama nominates may face a filibuster

Well that didn't take long. Kyl went from cooperation to hypocrisy in only 4 posts:

As Wallace noted, in 2005 — when Republicans were in the majority — Kyl had a very different opinion of the filibuster.

Oh, and it's all the Dems' fault for filibustering Miguel Estrada. You may remember how they threw his name around a whole lot during now-Judge Sotomayor's confirmation hearings.

I wonder how he feels about being used so much.

So. This should be another fun process, don'tcha think?

Robert Gibbs: No more recess appointments

By GottaLaff

Why not? Dawn Johnsen hasn't been held up long enough?

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Friday that President Barack Obama will not make any more recess appointments while Congress is out of town for Easter break. [...]

The announcement means that the president will avoid making more appointments such as the ones that angered Republicans last weekend.

Gosharootie, the last thing anyone in the White House would ever want to do is anger the Rushpublics. They've been so compliant and sweet-natured up until now. Wouldn't want to rile 'em up and start something.

Now that Prez O is treating them with so much respect by not acting too aggressively and not making the government work more efficiently, betchabygollywow that the GOP will fall right into line and stop all that silly blocking.

Those fun loving rightie scamps and their antics.

VIDEO: Republican Obstructionism at its Worst

By GottaLaff

It's 2 pm. Time to quit!

Wait. Did I say "quit"? Why yes, I did. I guess Quitty McHalfGov finally rubbed off on them:



H/t: Andy

attorneys General from 13 states file lawsuit over health care legislation

By GottaLaff

UPDATE:(CORRECTION: AP NewsAlert, which said 13 GOP attorneys general. Louisiana's is a Democrat.) Blog title changed to reflect correction.


Way to be on the wrong side of an issue. Watch the very effective, on target Rachel Maddow video about that very thing here.

Go ahead, guys, open up grandma's doughnut hole again:

Attorney General Bill McCollum filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the Federal Government, alleging the Health Care Reform Law signed by the President Barack Obama is unconstitutional, his office said.

Several other State Attorneys General piled on.

Trying to repeal the very things America needs, great idea! Let's remind the 30 million people who will be newly covered of that as often as possible.

H/t: Gr8RDH

VIDEO- Rachel Maddow: Hell No v. Yes We Can

By GottaLaff

As usual, Rachel delivers:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Oppose v. propose.

McCain: DEMOCRATS "have poisoned the well." No more GOP cooperation.

By GottaLaff

J Sid in Wonderland has gone completely through the looking glass. Up is down. Black is white (well, except for President Obama... who's apparently too black for his crowd). Old is young.

No, wait. Old is McCain:

"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."

Oh em gee, that is so funny, because, see, we were just saying that about the Rushpublics! Isn't that a coinkydink? Because, see, they gave the Dems no cooperation for the entire year!

Jinx! They owe us a Coke!

And, OMG #2: We thought they poisoned the well, too! Isn't that just crayzee? 'Cause, okay, the thing is, they did! What with all those nasty racist signs and Hitler references and name-calling and slurs and Tea Tantrums and stuff!

And here they are, via J Sidney McCain, accusing the Democrats of toxicity when-- now get this-- it was them all along!

God they're a crack-up.

Who woulda thunk it that we have so much in common with the Party of No?

Oh that's right. We don't. They're just projecting again.

Hyp. O. Crites.

VIDEO- The Boehner: I'm doing everything I can to stop health care bill

By GottaLaff

"I'm doing everything I can to obstruct. Think of me as the blinking neon orange sign that flashes 'No! No! No!' and would continue to encourage killing off 45,000 Americans a year":



"Plain and simple."

Well, he's half right. He's simple.

Those like The Boehner who obsess more about the number of pages in the bill than the number of people who will die if it doesn't pass, continue to lie about American opposition to it.

When voters are polled about what is actually in the bill, they overwhelmingly approve. When they are polled after being bombarded by smears and lies, they raise their eyebrows a little.

They should be raising their eyebrows at the party who is misleading them, not the effort to improve their health and save their lives.