It's now apparent why things aren't getting done in Congress

[AndyA]

Speaker of the House John Boehner (R) said at a press conference yesterday, that the House had already passed two bills to deal with the sequester, and that it was time for the Senate to get off its ass and do something.

The bills he was referring to were both passed last year, during the 112th Congress. The current Congress is the 113th, and anything that was in limbo when the 112th Congress ended is now dead. Which means, there are ZERO bills passed by the House for the Senate to consider.

Is John Boehner really that stupid, or does he just think the American people are that stupid? He should be called out on this, and he should offer an immediate apology to the Senate for his inappropriate and factually incorrect remarks. Then, he should keep the House in session Thursday afternoon, Friday, and over the week end if necessary to get something done.

It's incredible that the House takes ten days off, comes back for 3.5 days, then leaves again when so much is at stake. It's all a political game to them. Is it any wonder that nothing is getting done? Add to that the GOP's hatred for President Obama and the American people, and obstruction is the nicest way to label what they're doing to the country.

[OhioChick]

1. The sad thing is, many Americans "are" that stupid. n/t

[MynameisBlarney]

10. The ones that vote GOP

sure as hell are.

[freshwest]

13. And apparently some that don't will blame Obama, the Senate and Democrats, too...

For not pulling magic money out of a hat since they only get their news from media sources that are owned by conservative billionaires that edit, distort and even outright lie about our side of this.

[awoke_in_2003]

15. And the media...

will do nothing to inform them. It goes against their bosses interests.

[LiberalLovinLug]

24. bingo...

Especially "the most watched noos network"

Instead of getting even mild criticism or analysis, we get his lies backed up and supported. So any viewer on the fence even would say....well, if even the news outlets agree with him, he must be correct (even though I don't understand why).

[Spitfire of ATJ]

25. "The sad thing is, many Americans "are" that stupid."

And the highest percentage of them work in the media.

[John2]

32. I'm believing more

and more Americans are not as stupid as we think after listening to a potential Southern Politician and two other politicians that are mayors in the South. The problem are the people that represent them in Congress. I just heard a Republican mayor in Texas say he wouldn't accept any spending cuts because he has none to make. That is the Republican that needs to be in Congress. He knows firsthand what the problems are. His advice was to compromise. He also said the voting rights acts worked perfect for him and he is in favor of early voting. He also said raise taxes if you have to, don't just do nothing.

[atreides1]

2. To be honest...both!

Boehner is that stupid and so are many Americans!

[SharonAnn]

3. Spending and tax bills must come from the House. It's his job!

[AndyA]

4. Nancy Pelosi schooled Boehner on that yesterday.

I'm certain she'd be happy to help him out if he's confused.

Pelosi: "OK, John, this is how it works...and this is how I was able to get so much done when I was Speaker. You do have to be in session to do these things, you can't do them on the golf course..."

[AllyCat]

22. But only President Obama takes vacation

Right?

[L0oniX]

5. Who says you have to be smart to be in the House? n/t

[Spitfire of ATJ]

26. She does...

[L0oniX]

31. LMFAO n/t

[Gorp]

6. He thinks (and is probably right) that most Americans are stupid.

What he said is technically true, but in the context of a half-truth. Yes, the 112th did pass those two bills, and yes, the 113th has not passed anything. He's passing the buck to the Senate because the Democrats are in the majority. He also knows damn well that he won't get anything through the House. It's all spin.

[Kablooie]

7. Many house Republicans would lose their seat if they tried to fix any of the nation's problems.

The damage to people's lives is not an issue to them.

They are gerrymandered into hard core Republican districts so that the only way they could lose their seat is to deal directly with Democrats and try to work out a compromise.

Their constituants are hard set on defying anything Obama and the Democrats want to do no matter what the consequences.

It's a moral issue to them. If people suffer, so be it. They feel they are being moral and right to demand nothing less than total capitulation from the opposition.

The motivation for these representatives is exactly the opposite of what our government was designed to be.
They are motivated to prevent solutions to problems on threat of being primary'd out of their seats.

Unfortunately there are enough of these perverted districts to control the House.

The only card Boehner has is to lie and obfuscate in the hope the public is stupid enough to buy it.

[meow2u3]

8. This problem can be solved very easily

POTUS can order a special session of Congress and force them to pass bills that would avert or repeal the sequester. Only after they pass a bill acceptable to the President can they go on their many vacations.

[oldhippie]

16. I wonder why he doesn't do this ....

[AndyA]

21. Boehner refused President Obama's request for a Special Session in 2011

This unprecedented move was the first time in history that Congress refused a President's request to address Congress.

I suppose President Obama could make the request again, but I'm not sure if he's able to make a demand that cannot be refused. Seems he should be able to, in case of an emergency where Congress is required immediately, irregardless of whether they wish to comply or not.

Anyone know if the President can issue an order for Congress to return that Congress cannot deny?

[meow2u3]

23. Article II, Section 3 gives the President such power to order a special session of Congress

on extraordinary occasions. Preventing the losses of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of jobs, is an extraordinary occasion.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/articleii#section3

Section 3.

He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in case of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper; he shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers; he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the United States.

[AndyA]

30. Thanks! Seems like President Obama should convene the House of Representatives

and tell them he will adjourn them when they come up with a solution that will prevent the loss of jobs and move the economy forward. They can just remain in session until they work it out, burn the midnight oil like so many others have to do. It's not like they aren't rested, they hardly ever work.

[lark]

9. In any sane world, this wouldn't be tolerated.

They are acting as traitors to the country, but since their bosses (the 1%) are in charge of everything including the media, it's either ignored, or twisted as being principaled when it is totally the opposite.

[bec]

11. The American people

are not stupid, but the people in his district sure as heck are. That is all he cares about.

[sunwyn]

12. Yep...I live in his district and you will often hear people say "I vote how John Boehner tells me

to."

[Dryvinwhileblind]

14. They've been uncloaked, games are all they have left, as they spiral and all...need more popcorn.

[geckosfeet]

17. Yep. Shaping up to be one of the worst congresses ever!

[Historic NY]

18. John if we brought in the portable bar would it help?

Youy getting paid to work not play.

[Ian_rd]

19. Congress is little more than a sports arena now.

Republicans go there not to enact laws they think are good for the nation, but just to engage in political sport.

But to answer your question, Boehner is not that stupid. But knows exactly what happens when a high profile Republican talks. The statements made are repeated approximately 1.8 trillion times daily on Fox News and also the rest of the media until it becomes gospel in the minds of the American Right. He has no fear of being called out on his lies. And there is no reason for him to be afraid.

Because as Congress has degenerated into a political sports arena, the political press has degenerated into the political sporting press, covering the plays and the wins and losses, never caring about the substance of what's going on.

[Skidmore]

20. And he apparently doesn't know that bills on financing the government must originate in the HOUSE!

That needs to be thrown at every GOP congressperson who crawls out of the woodwork to breathe air.

[Rider3]

27. Yes

Unfortunately, Americans are that stupid.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

28. It's because of songs about boobs, right?

[Pakid]

29. The people he was talking to are that stupid

after all they keep on putting his kind back in office.

[mgardener]

33. I want to know

why they will get a paycheck for doing nothing, while Americans that go to work every day will suffer?

[AndyA]

34. I've always thought Congressional pay should be tied to economic conditions,

unemployment, median family income, etc., as those reflect how well Congress is doing its job.

Or, instead of allowing Congress to vote themselves a raise, let their constituents at home vote on their pay, which based on approval polls the last few years, most in Congress would have taken pay cuts based on their poor performance, lack of willingness to cooperate, and failure to reduce unemployment and get the economy moving.