Not US News, Say it's not so!

[Gaspar]

http://politics.usnews.com/opinion/mzuckerman/articles/2010/07/02/mort-zuckerman-obama-is-barely-treading-water.html

The American people wanted change, and who could blame them? But now there is no change they can believe in. Sixty-two percent believe we are headed in the wrong direction —a record during this administration. All the polls indicate that anti-Washington, anti-incumbent sentiment is greater than it has been in many years. For the first time, Obama's disapproval rating has topped his approval rating. In a recent CBS News poll, there is a meager 15 percent approval rating for Congress. In all polls, voters who call themselves independents have swung against the administration and against incumbents.

[Gaspar]

I guess the state run media is turning.

[guido911]

http://politics.usnews.com/opinion/mzuckerman/articles/2010/07/02/mort-zuckerman-obama-is-barely-treading-water.html

The American people wanted change, and who could blame them? But now there is no change they can believe in. Sixty-two percent believe we are headed in the wrong direction —a record during this administration. All the polls indicate that anti-Washington, anti-incumbent sentiment is greater than it has been in many years. For the first time, Obama's disapproval rating has topped his approval rating. In a recent CBS News poll, there is a meager 15 percent approval rating for Congress. In all polls, voters who call themselves independents have swung against the administration and against incumbents.

Would you stop it with this. You are continuing to turn this forum into "all anti-Obama....all the time" and will make a noted crybaby turn on the waterworks.

[nathanm]

I wonder if Congress' low approval rating has anything to do with their inability to get any bills passed thanks somewhat to the Democrat's more open caucus and mostly due to the blatant obstructionism of Senate Republicans who will hardly let any bill go to a vote without a filibuster or threatened filibuster.

[guido911]

I wonder if Congress' low approval rating has anything to do with their inability to get any bills passed thanks somewhat to the Democrat's more open caucus and mostly due to the blatant obstructionism of Senate Republicans who will hardly let any bill go to a vote without a filibuster or threatened filibuster.

Any bills passed? Are you for real? Congress got stimulus, 2009 Omnibus, and Obamacare through. I guess those three wildly popular bills have nothing to do with low approval.

[we vs us]

Mort Zuckerman's always tilted, ahm, a little right.  He was always gonna bolt at some point.  It's not like the Administration's lost Newsweek or anything.  Man, that'd be a REAL tragedy.

In general, while the polls are recording major dissatisfaction, the dissatisfaction itself is split down the middle.  Some think the president has done too much, some too little.  It's as much a rorschach of the national mood -- which is cracked right in half -- rather than the supposed radicalism of the Administration. 

[Gaspar]

I wonder if Congress' low approval rating has anything to do with their inability to get any bills passed thanks somewhat to the Democrat's more open caucus and mostly due to the blatant obstructionism of Senate Republicans who will hardly let any bill go to a vote without a filibuster or threatened filibuster.

There have been no filibusters.  Some have threatened, but the threat has been empty because on most of the current bills, Dems can't get enough consensus or agreement to bring them to the floor.

The Republicans used to cry "obstructionism" too when they had the majority.  It's an easy excuse to use when your own party can't come to agreement.  It's hollow.

[Gaspar]

Mort Zuckerman's always tilted, ahm, a little right.  He was always gonna bolt at some point.  It's not like the Administration's lost Newsweek or anything.  Man, that'd be a REAL tragedy.

In general, while the polls are recording major dissatisfaction, the dissatisfaction itself is split down the middle.  Some think the president has done too much, some too little.  It's as much a rorschach of the national mood -- which is cracked right in half -- rather than the supposed radicalism of the Administration. 

That's funny because in the news today
Mort Zuckerman just admitted to writing one of Obama's speeches! LOL!
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/07/12/mort_zuckerman_admits_he_wrote_one_of_obamas_speeches.html

I'd say old Mort is solidly left leaning. 

[guido911]

wevsus: tail now firmly tucked, sheepishly turning away...

[nathanm]

There have been no filibusters.  Some have threatened, but the threat has been empty because on most of the current bills, Dems can't get enough consensus or agreement to bring them to the floor.

No filibusters? I guess if you mean in the traditional sense of a guy on the floor reading the phonebook, you're right. Unfortunately, that's a very dated and out of touch view of the filibuster. For whatever reason, that's just not how they do it in the Senate anymore.

Financial reform..filibustered.
Unemployment extension..filibustered

And that's just two major ones this year. Let's not go into all the minor bills they're obstructing.

Let's put it this way, in the 109th Congress, Republicans had to file for cloture against the Democrats about 65 times. In the 110th Congress, Democrats had to file for cloture on 140 bills. (actual cloture votes were somewhat less, successful invocations were lower still)

It's blatant obstructionism, and it's obviously a good strategy if folks like yourself either don't care or refuse to believe it's happening.

I'm not saying the Democrats were saints, but if you recall, whenever they threatened a filibuster it was a full on Big Deal. Remember the debate over the "nuclear option"? Somehow the Republicans are avoiding that kind of scrutiny despite forcing more cloture votes than at any time in at least the last 50 years. Apparently, in this case, it really is OK if you're a Republican. And you wonder why I laugh when you say the media is biased towards the Democrats.

[Conan71]

No filibusters? I guess if you mean in the traditional sense of a guy on the floor reading the phonebook, you're right. Unfortunately, that's a very dated and out of touch view of the filibuster. For whatever reason, that's just not how they do it in the Senate anymore.

Financial reform..filibustered.
Unemployment extension..filibustered

And that's just two major ones this year. Let's not go into all the minor bills they're obstructing.

Let's put it this way, in the 109th Congress, Republicans had to file for cloture against the Democrats about 65 times. In the 110th Congress, Democrats had to file for cloture on 140 bills. (actual cloture votes were somewhat less, successful invocations were lower still)

It's blatant obstructionism, and it's obviously a good strategy if folks like yourself either don't care or refuse to believe it's happening.

I'm not saying the Democrats were saints, but if you recall, whenever they threatened a filibuster it was a full on Big Deal. Remember the debate over the "nuclear option"? Somehow the Republicans are avoiding that kind of scrutiny despite forcing more cloture votes than at any time in at least the last 50 years. Apparently, in this case, it really is OK if you're a Republican. And you wonder why I laugh when you say the media is biased towards the Democrats.

Parsing again, I see.  Which definition of "is" are you using today? 

Ever dawn on you the Dims are proposing seriously radical and stupid legislation and that's why they are using cloture at an amazing pace?  It's not about a GOP blockade, it's about not wanting to give anyone too much time to consider 2000 page bills full of total crap.  Cloture is essentially an express lane for bills, it also limits the amount of time the public they represent gets to scruitinize a bill, Nate.

[nathanm]

Parsing again, I see.  Which definition of "is" are you using today? 

Ever dawn on you the Dims are proposing seriously radical and stupid legislation and that's why they are using cloture at an amazing pace?  It's not about a GOP blockade, it's about not wanting to give anyone too much time to consider 2000 page bills full of total crap.  Cloture is essentially an express lane for bills, it also limits the amount of time the public they represent gets to scruitinize a bill, Nate.

Wow, you're really buying into the propaganda on this one. Cloture is mostly used to end debate to break a filibuster, not to prevent bills from being read.

Also keep in mind that a "2000 page" bill would be more like two hundred pages to the rest of us that don't write triple spaced in a huge monospace font. It's yet another canard pushed by the Republicans (who had plenty of their own 2,000 page bills, thanks!)

And if you truly believe that the Democrats have been attempting to pass radical lefist bills, you must be living in a different country than I am. Health care being the best example, since what ended up passing was essentially the Republican plan which somehow became evil when the Democrats were in control of Congress.

[Gaspar]

Wow, you're really buying into the propaganda on this one. Cloture is mostly used to end debate to break a filibuster, not to prevent bills from being read.

Also keep in mind that a "2000 page" bill would be more like two hundred pages to the rest of us that don't write triple spaced in a huge monospace font. It's yet another canard pushed by the Republicans (who had plenty of their own 2,000 page bills, thanks!)

And if you truly believe that the Democrats have been attempting to pass radical lefist bills, you must be living in a different country than I am. Health care being the best example, since what ended up passing was essentially the Republican plan which somehow became evil when the Democrats were in control of Congress.

What?. . . Oh never mind. 

Nathan, I'm just glad I don't live in your world.  The window we get to peek through doesn't have a very good view. 

We do like to watch you spin.  A bit voyeuristic I guess. 

[Red Arrow]

What?. . . Oh never mind. 

Nathan, I'm just glad I don't live in your world.  The window we get to peek through doesn't have a very good view. 

We do like to watch you spin.  A bit voyeuristic I guess. 

Gasper, 

You just aren't a believer.

[nathanm]

What?. . . Oh never mind. 

Nathan, I'm just glad I don't live in your world.  The window we get to peek through doesn't have a very good view. 

We do like to watch you spin.  A bit voyeuristic I guess. 

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2010/February/23/GOP-1993-health-reform-bill.aspx
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/27/AR2009082703919.html

God forbid you engage with reality once in a while.