Too often -- the way it's played and the way it's reported -- Americans might think everything that happens in Washington is a game.
But look, this is anything but a game. The business before the Senate is literally life and death on many issues, and the parliamentary tricks to delay and obstruct the basic workings of our government have real-world consequences.
What am I talking about? Start with the latest example: one Senator's effort to delay the votes on some critically-needed legislation for Americans out of work and hurting in our economy.
A lot of people today are clicking on this news story about Senator Bunning.
Political theater? Much more than that. Here's what's at stake: 2000 federal highway workers were furloughed this morning, losing the pay that their families depend on and halting work on critical national infrastructure. Nearly 1.2 million could lose their unemployment benefits without an extension of that program, pulling away a critical financial lifeline.
This has to end.
In the last Congress, the Republican minority more than doubled the previous record for filibusters, and they are on a pace to challenge or surpass that "accomplishment" this Congress as well. And filibusters are only the most obvious part of it. (Talking Points Memo put together a great chart on filibusters which you can see here.)
On issue after issue, votes large and small, the strategy from the GOP at the highest levels has been the same: exploiting every Senate rule, playing every trick to try to slow things down. They put holds on bills that later pass by 90 votes, filibuster things they later vote for, block things they previously proposed. They used the filibuster to shoot down a debt commission that they themselves called on President Obama to implement! They block completely uncontroversial nominees and cause days of delays on the most critical of legislation. They even stalled on money for our troops last year, just to try to delay debate on health care reform.
It doesn't have to be this way. There are good Senators on both sides of the aisle. Last week, five Republican Senators (including Scott Brown of Massachusetts, and I don't care about party label, I call it the way I see it -- Scott cast the right vote for Massachusetts there) joined with Democrats to break a GOP filibuster to pass a jobs bill helping small businesses hire in this tough economy. Senator Lindsay Graham and I are working hard together to develop a bill on energy and global climate change.
But as long as the GOP leadership continues with the scorched-earth campaign, it will be tough to get done the things we know we need to do.
We need this to end. Debate big differences. Disagree. Use the filibuster when big matters of principle hang in the balance -- and sometimes they do. But at the end of the day, Washington has to function -- people are counting on it. When it comes to unemployment insurance for workers who have been laid-off through no fault of their own, stop playing games immediately, allow a vote, and then get to work trying to solve some problems, not playing tricks with the Senate rules. The framers invested the minority with rights to protect the Senate - not to destroy it.
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I really dislike this phrase. Who accepted the job, John? The lack of personal responsibility and excuse making in this country is at an all-time high. Our lives all unfold as a result of choices we make as individuals. Its become WAY too convenient to say "not my fault". I understand there are people hurting that need help, but no one is getting any better by using this con game.
Need an example: Al Gore. The mere mention of his name gets blood boiling from perhaps both sides of the political spectrum but mostly from conservatives and climate deniers. Thomas Friedman (there's another of those names) makes a valid point when he says that because Gore is who he is, value judgments are made regardless of sound science. Therefore, global warming devolves into a political debate rather than the hard science that it is.
To the topic at hand, Senator Kerry, regardless of YOUR opinion, doesn't necessarily speak with a forked tongue. Sure, all politicos, regardless of party affiliation, could be said to be driven by special interest contributions but let's stick to the point. Whether actual or contrived, partisan politics has reached a point of heightened contention as perceived by the public. Depending on what news source you subscribe to (my advice: read from multiple sources), legislative stalemates are the order of the day with crucial issues like healthcare reform, green jobs, global warming legislation on the line. These items are NOT a game, as the Senator correctly asserts whether this is an Election year or not shouldn't matter.
Now, add some meat to those frail bones of an argument and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. You're in the Senate, you have quite a bit of seniority and influence, so get busy with a fix.
Its a major reason why so many are on unemployment and will never leave it.
Tariff the importers up the wazoo. It will give our government the funds it needs to support social services and put the kabosh on free traders.
Its what every country concerned with its own sovereignty does...everyone except us. Instead we are becoming what our country's forefathers fought to prevent...a colony overrun by imports with no industry of it's own.
I live in Massachusetts and have followed politics closely for many years.
Please take a stand against the crushing government debt that is presently being piled upon us and which you know is not sustainable. We are crying out to you sir, please stand AGAINST the borrowing. Really get up and fight for a cause America wants, RESPONSIBLE FISCAL CONSTRAINT.
22% of democrats in your own state who voted, voted against the progressive liberal candidate who they saw as more of the same old thing.
Please please stand up and if you must, be the loan voice crying out that this insane borrowing and spending must stop! America knows that Medicare and Medicare MUST be reformed to save us economically and we are ready to support the politicians who will do it.
Now is the time to stand up for fiscal responsibility. Stop supporting the irresponsibility of runaway Congressional spending and demand responsibility. It's time for a new type of patriot, one who can say "NO" and demand that things are paid for or we don't do them.
That sir, could be the cause of your life and the one great thing that you would be remembered for, if you had the will to do it.
Both political parties are basically under the control of big moneyed interests. It's impossible to do anything purely in the public's interest.
How is that democracy or anything close to what we're supposed to be?
And what can we do to change it? Bills, bills, games, and more games. That is all they are to our elected representatives. But to us-they are our lives, our children's lives, our present and our future. Stark reality comes from personal experience, seeing reality first hand, trying to help those facing the reality personally or empathy. The Democrats tend to have empathy, the Republicans are sorely lacking in anything. It is like a child drowning in a pool of water. On one side are the Republicans with a party line drawn in front of them. On the other are the democrats with a party line drawn in front of them. No one crosses the lines to save the drowning child. Is this what democracy is?.
Please ask Republicans who rant and rave about tort reform who pray tell pays for those whom have been harmed by med mal and will need care for the rest of their lives? Before my son left the hospital/rehab his bill was well over $350K and is growing exponentially for the past 9 years. .Multiply that by the 98K American estimate put forth by the NIH and the costs are staggering. Insurance companies are off the hook while TAXPAYERS ARE ON...
Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid will go away if the 'Thugs have their way. Why else do you think Medicare Advantage was passed? What better way to bankrupt social programs than to pass unfunded programs. The scale-eyed Americans continue to play with American lives in believing those whom are so intent on taking away life boats from the sinking Titanic.
I have encountered absolutely no one who does not believe in the need for health care reform, Republicans highly included, Independents specifically.. What is wanted is true reform, like open insurance competition, tort reform to mean the end of frivolous lawsuits with penalties and enforcement to curtail Medicare fraud (billions). Instead we have furtive deals made with medical professionals, the pharm industry and vote getting bribes. It appears Republicans do believe in reform, no doubt for political gain, 'cause they are listening to the public. Conversely, democrats merely are struggling for party favor, to he// with the public.
Independent.
The Civil Rights Movement and Bill(S) took several years...steps if you will. The healthcare reform will also take steps.
The danger presented slowly, starting years ago during the destructive Johnson/Nixon/Ford/Carter administrations, and festered ever since. The Bush Administration brought out the evils within the Congress, of which it ducks, bobs and weaves to avoid blame. Our military youth continue to die in foreign battles for furtive causes, our country is poor and disgracefully in debt, and Congress wages war on itself. For example, Senator Bunning chose the wrong topic, but he called for enacting the "Pay as You Go" approach to new spending which was approved weeks ago and signed by the President. First "pay as you go" that went, ignored as if meaningless -- and was to Congress.
Congress is the most powerful body of government and can wisely direct the path of this great nation. Instead it is corrupt to the heights, led by men more interested in self-aggrandizement than leadership. It diverts attention from real issues, like the time you called for "hearings on the Somali pirate danger." Uh huh, what ever.
No senator, republicans and democrats representing this country are a disgrace and needing replaced. The evidence is clear that a movement has arisen to do just that. And we ain't playing games, either.
If you see a man in need of bread, you could easily give the man bread from your plate. Neither Jesus nor the conservative would hear the man's plea for food and then force the person sitting next to them to give the hungry man some bread. Individual charity is fine, but forced charity is not.
Those who have earned their bread, have government leave them alone.
Here is some religious book speak. Christ has no hands now but yours......USE THEM !!
Do you really hear yourself? Read over what you have just stated.
"Jesus would hear the mans plea for food and then force the person sitting next to them to give the hungry man some bread." This is a terribly cold statement.
"Neither Jesus nor the conservative would hear the man's plea for food and then force the person sitting next to them to give the hungry man some bread."
My point is that it is immoral to want to help others by taking from one citizen and giving it to another, even if the second was in need.
One should give freely with a charitble heart, but not look to have government force others to give to solve a problem you think needs fixing. Giving of yourself is charitable, using government to get others to give is wrong.
The healthcare bill uses the force of law to make others pay for someone else's healthcare (bread). My point is that the Liberal idea of using government to solve social problems is immoral.
From what you wrote, you agree.
But, that being said, this is a forest and trees issue, with the temporary extension of those benefits to the unemployed for 30 days being the “treesâ€. The obvious “forest†issue, given the current overall US climate of decreasing job opportunities, continued outsourcing to afar, and all this political talk of those jobs “never†coming back is- what’s going to happen on day 31 when the current 30 day extension of those temporary benefits run out again?
If this cycle of 30 day extensions continues for millions, as one would expect, what’s also going to happen on day 61, 211, 361… and on and on into future years? In the bigger picture what are politicians (on both sides of the aisle) going to propose as tangible long term SOLUTIONS to the overall and continuing US (“main streetâ€) unemployment issue? Surely it isn’t more tax cuts to the already wealthy, continuation of turning America into a “service only economy, with the (historical) resultant outsourcing of even more good US jobs? Right?
With all due respect it's the leadership of YOUR party that is playing games. The following are facts they are not debatable.
1. Sen. Reid and everyone else knew before last Thursday that Sen. Bunning was not going to give up prior to the Sunday deadline.
2. Sen. Reid (or YOU) could have stopped it.
3. Sen. Reid (nor YOU) did stop it.
So you tell me WHO is playing games. Reid could have filed for cloture, 30hrs of debate would be allowed and then it could be voted on (had overwhelming support from both sides).
Instead Sen. Reid and other Dems decided it would be better POLITICALLY to let the deadline expire, allow thousands of workers to be furloughed (and countless other ramifications) and blame the Republicans.
So with all due respect, HOW DARE YOU come here and tell us it's not a game. Did you tell Harry Reid to knock off he games? If not then you are playing them also.
SHAME ON YOU
Judge much?
It makes me furious that congress squabbles over such relatively trifling amounts for unemployment extensions ... yet will sign off carte blanche on the endless, pointless wars.
If we re-directed the defense money to our own shores, our own infrastructure, our own economy, we would find ourselves in a very different, much better, place.
Hang in there. I feel pretty confident that unemployment will be extended at least through the end of the year.