I see where Harry Reid pissed off the Republicans by comparing their arguments to the slavery and Jim Crow apologists; of course they howled in anger- but what the liberals usually do, and have always done, is swiftly apologize for the lack of decorum, and grovel before the gods of Bipartisanship.

Except that Reid has not apologized for saying that. In fact, he backed his point up further.

If we’re going to complain that the Democrats always fold and apologize, shouldn’t we notice and praise when one doesn’t? It’s a pretty basic principle of animal training to praise the animal for doing the desired behavior so, fer chrissakes, why can’t Democrats manage to do it with our politicians?

Can you imagine, if you get a couple of really good and passionate hollywood types, to evoke the absolutely unpleasantness that the Republicans have been this year? I say that the Democrats could end up GAINING votes, in the House at least, and maybe the Senate.

If you put together some hard-hitting ads, that simply highlight just how these guys act like disgusting clowns, based on what they are REALLY acting like, you can shift 10% of the vote!!

Uh, the public has seen how Republicans behave and they’ve elected them time and time again. It’s not like this stuff doesn’t make the news. The media eats up this sort of political story.

America has a soft spot for crazy rude assholes, preferably borderline-retarded ones.

The sad fact is that if Republicans had behaved like decent human beings over the last year, they’d be in worse shape, because their base would be demoralized and Obama would look a lot more effective.

Their strategy is working wonderfully. It might not tank all of Obama’s agenda, but it’ll probably ensure they’ll make big enough gains in 2010 that they can obstruct him for the remainder of his term.

There are some SERIOUS negative ads that can come out of this sh*t.

Can you imagine, if you get a couple of really good and passionate hollywood types, to evoke the absolutely unpleasantness that the Republicans have been this year? I say that the Democrats could end up GAINING votes, in the House at least, and maybe the Senate.

If you put together some hard-hitting ads, that simply highlight just how these guys act like disgusting clowns, based on what they are REALLY acting like, you can shift 10% of the vote!!

Yeah, a lot of our problems are institutional. The media, the filibuster, campaign finance, etc. Perhaps if we reformed those issues we’d be a somewhat decent, governable country again. But just barely.

The root problem is the American people.

Republicans can get 45% of the vote after presiding over a 8 years of economic stagnation followed by the biggest downturn since the Great Depression.

The teabaggers have a good shot at taking the House in 2010.

Something is seriously wrong here. I just hope it doesn’t take a bloody WW2-type event for the craziness to finally sputter out, like it took in Europe.

I really don’t know how this country is supposed to operate when one of the two political parties is composed almost entirely of crazy assholes. The entire party has gone wingnut.

John –
This is like the eleventy-third time you’ve said this (or similar). You could probably say the same thing, four or five times a day, until the day you die, and still have plenty more outrageous Rethug crap you could write about waiting in the queue.

So, I have a couple of alternative (friendly) suggestions for you:
A) Do something about it. Not just write about it, but find a way to get the Rethugs to pay a large price for their continual bullshit tactics. I don’t know what that way would be – if I did, I’d find someone (Grayson? Durbin? Schumer? Bueller?) to start implementing it – but perhaps you can come up with something.
B) Get drunk and stay drunk (not at work or before driving, of course). This will only work if you’re a happy drunk, or at least a pleasant one.

I expect there are other alternatives as well. But whatever you do, can you please give us a rest from the “I can’t believe that the Rethugs just did X 1!” We get it, already.

That’s the trick. They have bankrupted us for the next several generations.

And moved the money offshore,

Revolution, anyone?

Or should we wait until they all are offshore?

S

I really don’t know how this country is supposed to operate when one of the two political parties is composed almost entirely of crazy assholes. The entire party has gone wingnut.

I mean, I remember Republicans used to have a fair percentage of people I could debate ideas with, but nowadays? It’s like the crazy of the Clinton years cubed.

The point you are missing is that the solid rule is the vote is 15 minutes, and more only at the discretion of the speaker.

And the point you are always so blissfully missing is that Democrats will never be the assholes that Republicans are. Which means that a Democratic speaker will be far less of a petulant asshole than a Republican speaker.

All the projection in the world won’t change that fact, though sometimes I really wish it were so.

Like John Cole said, what really is killing the Republican party is that deep down, they are just complete assholes. All big organizations have assholes, but none exalt bullying and assholishness like the Repigs.

Senate rejects abortion amendment

Senators vote to halt consideration of proposal by Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) that would have barred individuals who receive federal health insurance subsidies from purchasing private policies that cover elective abortions. It also would have banned abortion coverage under a publicly sponsored health insurance plan.

The point you are missing is that the solid rule is the vote is 15 minutes, and more only at the discretion of the speaker. Do try to keep up. So the vote isn’t cut short, it’s run it’s allotted time.