John Nichols: Resolved: Resist Ryan and Trump

[riversedge]

John Nichols: Resolved: Resist Ryan and Trump


http://host.madison.com/ct/opinion/column/john_nichols/john-nichols-resolved-resist-ryan-and-trump/article_f5cc5daa-df9d-5cd7-9317-2f4207a9f178.html


JOHN NICHOLS | Cap Times associate editor 4 hrs ago

When Paul Ryan and top congressional Republicans gathered the evening of Jan. 20, 2009, to plot a strategy of absolute and unrelenting opposition to Barack Obama's presidency and the House and Senate Democrats who had received a mandate from the American people to work with the enormously popular president-elect, Kevin McCarthy told the group: "If you act like you're the minority, you're going to stay in the minority. We've gotta challenge them on every single bill and challenge them on every single campaign."

That determination to resist the Obama agenda offended Democrats and thrilled Republicans. But, at the most fundamental level, it was nothing more than Politics 101.

An opposition party exists to oppose the party in power.

Ryan and his fellow partisans understood this in 2009.

Yet, now, Ryan and the Republicans are whining about the failure of Democrats be a “loyal opposition” that willingly compromises and cooperates with President-elect Donald Trump, Ryan and the wrecking crew they have assembled to destroy essential programs — beginning with Medicaid.

Ryan claims Trump “earned a mandate” for a “go big, go bold” agenda, while Trump “counselor” Kellyanne Conway is not just claiming a mandate but griping that critics of the billionaire are “attempting to foment a permanent opposition that is corrosive to our constitutional democracy.”

“The left is trying to delegitimize his election,” grumbles Conway. “They’re trying to deny him what he just earned.”

Ryan and Conway should brush up on their math.........................................................................

[CrispyQ]

1. Over the years, I think the hypocrisy of the right is what wears me down the most.

Accompanied by the media's "both sides do it" bullshit, it's not surprising that we have prez-elect Trump.

[Nitram]

2. I love it that Rayan and Co are already complaining about the failure of Democrats be a loyal....

opposition” that willingly compromises and cooperates with President-elect Donald Trump. Trump isn't even president yet and here they are whining about some fake news of their own fabrication!

[libdem4life]

3. It may be just my partisanship, but isn't there likely to be a point where even the GOP can't fake

support for his bipolar Childish/Overlord behavior? Because he's not "smart", he represents an enabled, tantrum-prone, silver-spoon
-fed child, as I assume his own children will, as well.

Perhaps Bernie and Elizabeth, two powerful and capable political adults, can begin to coalesce a movement for 2018. Typically that seems to be a referendum on the first 2 years of a new POTUS. That is if he isn't impeached prior to that.

I say we take responsibility for this disastrous election cycle as the Democrats had some blind spots, as well. We can do better...much better...on to 2018.