Posted on 09/27/2015 4:23:57 PM PDT by LS
It's well understood that neither Mitch McConnell nor John Boehner really wanted to stop Obama from doing anything. There are several theories for this. Rush Limbaugh and many conservatives think that the GOPe's polling data has told them that a shutdown---or any perceived opposition to Obama---would harm them in elections.
Another theory is that, well, they really don't disagree with the guy, and really only prefer to "manage" the decline better than him.
Both could be true.
What is NOT true is that there were never any other means of stopping Zero and his cronies except for either a government shutdown or impeachment. (And I like both of those, by the way). The problem is, if the will existed, there were a number of ways to deal with Democrats so that the GOP could actually win. And that's because what they might offer would be so tempting the Dems would have no choice but to go along in the short run for big gains in the long run.
This is just a somewhat wild example. Before you insist the Dems would never do it, consider the incredible gains they might get. Such power is hard to refuse.
Let's take a single issue, such as de-funding Planned Parenthood. How important is that to the GOP? Is it as important as they all "say?" If it is, what lengths (again, short of impachment or a shutdown, COULD the GOP go to in order to defund PP?
Let's assume that both the House and the Senate could pass a defund bill, but that Zero would veto it. Put aside for a moment a Dem senate filibuster, which I think could be handled the way a veto override could. Here is a POSSIBLE exchange: The GOP offers, in exchange for the votes to actually override (not promised, not have a vote that fails, but an actual override) of a Zero veto, to have every single GOP senator running for re-election this term agree to stand down and not run, equal to the total needed to pass. For example, if the GOP needs 15 votes to override, the Dems would have to find 15. You likely need 12-16 depending on how many GOP vote against a defund override.
Admittedly, this unfairly penalizes those running this cycle, and 35 or so GOP Senators would not suffer from this deal. However, to ensure their support of those who do sign the pledge, the remaining senators, whether up or not, agree that by lot 5 will give up a committee chairmanship for the remainder of the term.
Would the Dems take such a deal if offered? I think easily---the chance to go against a non-incumbent in 22 races would be irresistible.
The GOP would get its defund. The Dems would have a wide open field against up to a dozen GOP incumbents. But would the Republicans actually get more than winning a single vote? Would the sincerity and commitment of the GOP to a CAUSE (and it could be the Iran deal, whatever) be enough to overnight restore credibility to the party? To build trust like no speech or campaign promises could ever do? The answer is yes.
Move on to the next deal, say, Iran. This time the remaining senators up in the next session might take the pledge, or those up two years hence. The point is not that this is painless, but rather that it would show incredible resolve and commitment. Would that not be itself rewarded in the next elections?
Finally, this is just a single suggestion: a wise but dedicated Majority Leader or Speaker could come up with any number of combinations or options of these or other deals, all of which would require him to cajole, bargain with, or otherwise force members to go along for the good of the issue---not the party. For one who stepped down, the RNC RNSC would step in to prevent that person from facing a primary challenge as much as possible. Some would go for the deal, some wouldn't. But very quickly voters would see who was serious about a conservative agenda and who wasn't, and those who claimed to oppose (say) PP yet wouldn't put their seats up would be in huge trouble. And the RNC/RNSC could reinforce that by NOT supporting any senator who refused to take the pledge. In the long run, I think that to actually begin rolling back the liberal agenda is going to take far more than a majority---even a 2/3 majority. It's going to take a radical Senate and House leadership that is determined to use every means at his disposal against friend or foe alike.
Most of the GOP love government power and all its perks as much as the left does.
They were perfectly happy pretending to oppose statism, but unfortunately for them they were successful in attaining a position to do something about it.
Clearly, they do not wish to do anything about it.
True dat. You and I and everyone else around here knew this seven years ago.
Most probably blackmail kept them from doing anything.......how much dirt do you think the Obama spy machine discovered on congressional members.
The Democrats never met a rule they wouldn’t bend to help their side! Republicans would NEVER bend a rule to help their constiuents! DEMOCRATS HAVE BALLS.......Republicans have manners. You don’t win a WAR with MANNERS!!
The leaders of the GOP caucus cater to the primary concern of their members: re-election. For a critically large number of those members, that means avoiding controversy and avoiding issues that offend moderate voters. Thus the GOP caucus in both House and Senate cannot press forward on many conservative issues.
Also fecklessness, duplicitous and treachery. I believe the corporate GOP quietly got what they want(crony capitalism) by giving the Democrats what they want (more power). They raised political capitol by appealing to us and used it on their own stuff. This is why I am now completely opposed to giving business and the country clubbers any tax cuts or help with their business issues. Our political capitol needs to be spent on taking back the country.
One data point. From 2007-2009, the last two years of George Bush’s presidency the Democrat House and Senate led by Pelosi and Reid completely stopped every initiative of the Bush White House and made George W. Bush impotent with respect to policy.
Was it leadership, tactics, courage, desire, or intelligence? Regardless, Democrats used Congress effectively to advance their agenda when they did not have the White House. Republicans can’t seem to do the same.
Lesson - There is no reason to vote for the GOP. The result will be the same whether you vote R or D.
You know it and I know it. This suggestion is intended as a way to counter claims that “we really can’t do anything-—our hands are tied.”
Well, an even more important message is that the opposition party can in fact get what it wants if it plays hardball.
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