John Boehner can't stop talking about the "will of the public" these days. Now that the Republicans have won the House, he keeps saying over and over that the Democrats must go along with Republican plans from now on because they have to listen to the... will of the public.
Well, here's what I don't remember -- the Republicans giving a damn about the will of the public after the 2008 elections. The American people spoke as loudly and clearly as I have ever seen in any election in my lifetime. They gave the House and the Senate by overwhelming margins to the Democrats. They also gave the Democrats the White House, and along with it, complete control of Washington. And did the Republicans listen to the will of the public, then? No, they blocked that will at every turn.
So, you'll excuse me now if I'm not buying the sudden increased interest the GOP has in listening to the American people and the results of an election. They never for one second respected the results of the 2008 election. They didn't give a damn what the American people wanted.
And that's their right as the opposition party, but they don't get to pretend now that they respect the results of an election and take it as a mandate to go in a certain political direction. And the Democrats would be damned fools if they fell for that trick.
By the way, the GOP has a funny definition of what the American people want. Here is the popularity, according to recent polls, of the different pieces of legislation they just opposed:
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William Hartung: New START, Next Steps
 |
 |
|
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Electoral Votes (270 to win) |
332 | 206 |
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 65,899,660 | 60,932,152 |
| Percent | 51.1% | 47.2% |
| Democrats* | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Senate | 53 | 47 |
| Seats gained or lost | +2 | -2 |
| New Total | 55 | 45 |
| Democrats | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats won | 201 | 234 |
You'r right about that, Cenk. Republicans don'r care about the will of the public.
Nor, as you know, do Democrats.
By clear majorities, the public wants Medicare for All, the wars to end, Wall Street law breakers in jail, a fair deal for Main Street, and civil rights restored. They can get none of these from either Republicans or Democrats.
We're stuck with a two-party system, where both parties respond to donors, not voters. Both parties are.thus owned by "them that has".
Obama said to some Wall Sreet bankers threatening to cut their support to him: "I'm all that stands between you and the pitchforks." It's not that he views this as his chief role. It's just why they should continue to pay him rather than a Republican for favoring their interests over the public interest, since he staves off pitchforks and a Republican could not.
What's to be done? Take to the streets, as in Cairo? Chris Hedges now advocates civil disobedience as the only way the public can get what it wants. Is he right?
One thing leads to another...such an august assembly shouldn't want it any other way.
Consider yourself schooled. Try not to obsess too much about whodunnit.
You are right about one thing. The Dems are so weak they took the one major issue that the public was behind them on (no tax cuts for the rich) and they folded like a cheap tent and gave in on it. So much for all that bs talk about the deficit commission. Both parties are phonies on that very real issue.
Give the public a hamburger, buy an irresponsible media and put them in front of a TV. Where has critical thinking gone? Where is the demand for accountabliltiy? Does the will of the people say OK to the sons and daughters who have died? Wall Streets pilfering of America? The forclosures and bankrupt States?
The will of the public is resigned to apathy and sadly needs to suffer so that they can remember or learn that the public is entilted to an elected government that serves the "people" and not themselves. America are you really still buying? Election reform is really the first issue to be addressed. Time to clean house or get what we deserve. The "will of ignorance and apathy" is our lot. Republicans can call it what they want the road leads on and cliff is near!
You can have the last word,
Some of us are just more intelligent...
and more compassionate...
and more reasonable...
and more rational...
and more inclusive...
and more diverse...
Pitiful.
What a concept .... a journalist!
Thanks CU for your work on this!
I fired both of them.
Also, I think the Democrats had a great shot for passing more and touger legislation than what they did with their super majority in both the house and senate. But, they only addressed the easy issues, like DADT, the Start Treaty, etc.,. They still haven't fully regulated the banks or done anything about the mortgage mess, there is no WPA to help Americans out of this economic crisis, no revamping of the 70,000 page tax codes, and allowed national health insurance fiasco to linger until 2014, which will give Republicans time to trash it when they take over Washington in 2012, nor have they disengaged from the Bush era wars in Iraq and Afghanistan which is eating up alot of tax dollars chasing camel jockeys around in the desert with expensive aircraft and tanks, and contracted mercenary armies, when people are going hungry here.