Posted on 10/28/2014 7:57:09 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
In the worst-case scenario, the next two years of the Obama administration could look as bad as, or worse than, the past two: a (most likely) Republican-controlled House and Senate at odds with the Democratic White House and a new low number of bills enacted into law. The West Wing is already brainstorming potential areas of agreement with new GOP allies on the Hill, and new House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy has promised an early emphasis on productivity.
But after four years of gridlock and confirmation fights, most Americans don’t appear to be getting their hopes up—congressional approval, as of earlier this month, was at a meager 14 percent. Which raises the question: Can Washington realistically get anything done before the next president is inaugurated? We asked a range of thinkers—from Congress and beyond, from both sides of the aisle and smack-dab in the middle of it—to tell us which bipartisan ideas really could make it into law before the Obama era ends.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Hopefully nothing.
Many rounds of golf.
Many 5 star world vacation tours.
Planning for the Baraq Hussein Obama Presidential Library and Choom Gang Museum.
If the Senate is controlled by Republicans there is an even better chance that complimentary bills will be filibusterd by the Democrats and never see the light of day, much less the Oval Office.
At that point is no longer a do-nothing Congress but a bonafide do-nothing-lame-duck president.
No, still do nothing.
At the end of the day Obama will be handed laws that he will not sign and the proof of where all the stonewalling is coming from will be made completely apparent.
Amen Brother. My sentiments exactly. Three loud HUZZAH’s for Gridlock.
And blocking the GOP initiatives will annoy their base how?
At the end of the day Obama will be handed laws that he will not sign and the proof of where all the stonewalling is coming from will be made completely apparent.
I think you're being wildly optimistic on that one.
My understanding is 350 total. Over 250 with support from members of both parties. Around 75 unanimous.
And blocking the GOP initiatives will annoy their base how?
The Contract with America was these types of bills. Most ended up passing, several unanimously - including one the Dems filibustered for 3 days before voting unanimously for.
For example? I can think of only one or two that might fall into that category - Keystone and the Medical Equipment Tax. Anything else that the Dems filibuster will just thrill the base no end.
The Contract with America was these types of bills. Most ended up passing, several unanimously - including one the Dems filibustered for 3 days before voting unanimously for.
The current Republican leadership couldn't come up with a game plan if their lives depended on it.
That is a whole lot of pressure, enough to make one as jittery as hell. At least 1/3 of the demoncraps are in a state of panic due to their re-election chances while shackled to a lame duck president who is absolute death to their campaigns.
If we can pass the voter fraud hurdle then we just may have a reason to smile big time.
Landrieu is toast; a Democrat running in a Blue state. Look at the 2016 races and there is not a single Democrat up for re-election in what can be considered a conservative state. And the Republicans can’t tie them to Obama; it’s a presidential election year. At the same time there are at least 5 Republicans running in states that will likely go Democrat so their chances of reelection aren’t that great. So you’re not going to see any groundswell of opposition to Obama. The Democrats won’t need to.
But even so, they are still nervous as hell.
I can't say I'm seeing any signs of it. If anyone should be nervous as hell it's Ayotte and Toomey and Kirk and Portman and Johnson.
Either outcome is superior to the current situation.
Filibusters make noise. Democrat senators have to go on record. If a filibuster fails, then Obama has to go on record. If he vetoes a popular bill, it just helps drag the Democrat Party down.
And then there's the fact that the filibuster is not in the Constitution. It is just a creature of Senate rules, and the Senate can change its rules, as Dingy Harry has shown.
The Democraps need more than their base to win.
So do the Republicans. Both sides play to their base.
“Washington”, meaning the Democrats, got 0bamacare “done”, and we’re still reeling. Perhaps it’s a good idea for Washington to shut its festering collective gob and listen to the people for a change, would that be too much to ask?
Filibusters haven't hurt the GOP with their base, I doubt they'll hurt the Democrats with their's.
If a filibuster fails, then Obama has to go on record.
It takes 60 votes for cloture. The odds of getting the 8 or 9 Democrats to vote to end the filibuster would depend on the issue but is highly unlikely.
Other than comparatively minor issues like Keystone pipeline or the Medical Equipment Tax I cannot think of a thing on that list of 11 that the two sides would work together on that could generate a filibuster-proof majority. Or anything not on the list of 11. Can you?
And then there's the fact that the filibuster is not in the Constitution. It is just a creature of Senate rules, and the Senate can change its rules, as Dingy Harry has shown.
Having screamed bloody murder when Reid forced through the change on appointments I can't see McConnell and the Republicans dropping the filibuster altogether or weakening it further.
Actually, no.
Go look at the PJ Media article on “Catalist”. The Dems won in 2012 by ignoring the political center and going full bore to maximize their base turnout.
It worked. The article even has a nifty graph showing that the Dems not only did it, but it turned out to be a much cheaper and efficient option than stretching for centrist votes.
Which is showing up this year in how the Dems are using paid advertising to suppress centrist voters by driving up negatives and dissatisfaction across the board, even if there’s blowback against their own candidates. They can replace every centrist vote lost to them with a base vote, Republicans can’t do the same.
The point isn't to make law. That will have to wait for 2017, assuming we win.
The point is to make noise. A GOP Senate can do that, even if bills are filibustered or passed only to be vetoed.
Harry Reid has simply been sitting on bills, so not only does Obama not have to veto anything, but Harry's Democrat colleagues, some of whom represent red or purple states, are spared from casting embarrassing votes.
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