Congressional Dems Should Play Hardball With Right Wingers

[davefromqueens]

I'm hopeful Barack Obama understands that if during his first year in the White House he reverses global warming, finds the cure for cancer, brings permanent peace to the Middle East, and increases the standard of living of every American by 5000%, right wing republicans in Congress are still going to try to undermine his presidency, obstruct his policies, and claim he's doing a lousy job.

In short, NO MATTER WHAT DEMOCRATS DO, REPUBLICANS WILL OBSTRUCT.

Therefore it is incumbent upon Democrats to simply pass the legislation and use their huge majorities to get things done and only reach out to Republicans who want to genuinely be reached out to. Don't play their games.

Additionally, if there are Republicans who are going to play games and obstruct, then you play hardball with them. You cut off every pork project of theirs and give them nothing.

[DontTreadOnMe]

1. Is someone going to forward this to Pelosi and Reid?

enough said.

[Kolesar]

5. Dave's last thread was locked

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4765202

[natrat]

2. yea but you forget who owns the politicians, most all of them apparently

[davefromqueens]

3. We own them

Harry Reid has a campaign in 2010. His reelection prospects are directly tied to him getting Obama's legislation through the Senate. Self interest meets people's interest and if that is what it takes for Harry to do his job, he'll do it for that reason alone.

[Better Believe It]

4. If Reid "loses" re-election in 2010 (should he run) he'll make more money!

By going to work directly for the "private sector".

That's what they do when they lose elections .... their "service" on behalf of Wall Street and corporations while in Congress is merely a stepping stone to greater riches in the "private sector".

So the idea that someone like Reid "fears" losing an election and their "self-interest" dictates they serve the public interest is pure utter nonsense. If Reid is mainly concerned about his future economic prospects you can be sure he will continue to function as a loyal servant of big business and Wall Street.

The idea that Congressional members like Reid "fear" losing an election has nothing in common with political reality.

If you lose, you lose. That just means it's time to cash in big time.

Is that the kind of political fantasy students are taught in high school and college?

[Kolesar]

6. "political fantasy" by Better Believe It

:har: :har:

[Better Believe It]

13. You don't understand very much about real politics

Do you really think most politicians are not functioning as representatives of corporate/financial interests?

If so, you are really naive my friend.

Perhaps you need to do some basic research on what members of Congress do "for a living" after they leave office.

Do you really believe they all become "public spirited" community organizers and don't go to work for Wall Street and corporate America where they can enrich themselves?

[leftofthedial]

7. all but a handful of members of congress

are all on the same team--their team.

they are our enemies, not one another's.

[dflprincess]

8. If they're going to play hardball

Reid will have to pull out the nuclear option until he does the 41 Republican senators will continue to control the Senate.

I won't hold my breath.

[davefromqueens]

9. Definitely but only if

they obstruct.

It will take all 41 to obstruct. I don't think Olympia Snowe or Susan Collins or even Arlen Specter are going to play along with the other 38.

[librechik]

10. How can an all-girl team play hardball?

none of the people in power have the spine of a banana. Hardball is not in their vocabulary--except as something that gets done to them and then they cry. But do nothing to stop it.

[dflprincess]

11. Did you ever see "A League of Their Own"?

Girls can play hardball. I resent "girl" being used as an insult.

I once got into it with the assistant coach on my nephew's little league team because he would call them "girls" or "ladies" when he didn't like how they were playing. Then the day came when they played a team with a girl on it (the kids were about 10 then). This girl could field, pitch and hit - truly a thing of beauty she outdid every boy on both teams. At the end of the game I walked up to the coach and said "I bet you wished they played like girls now."

[librechik]

12. I sincerely apologize for my snark, dflprincess, That was oafish.

I meant no offense to girls (such as myself, or princesses) by the wisecrack--just severely irreverent and in the vernacular.

Damme. I have no couth.


:hug:

[mmonk]

14. As soon as they quit playing hardball with the left, maybe they will get

around to it.