Think Progress

Let’s Be Blunt: Congressional Leadership Is In Disarray

On Wednesday, Majority Leader Roy Blunt (R-MO) was “convinced” that the budget would get to the House floor today and pass:

Eventually we’re going to take something to the floor that is a test of the members more than we intended to test the members, because that’s just going to happen. I’m convinced that we’re going to be fine when we take this to the floor on Thursday.

Things change quickly:

House Republican leaders scuttled a vote Thursday on a $51 billion budget-cut package in the face of a revolt by lawmakers over scaling back Medicaid, food stamp and student loan programs. The development was a major setback for the GOP on Capitol Hill and for President Bush, who has made cuts to benefit programs a central pillar in his budget plan.



46 Responses to “Let’s Be Blunt: Congressional Leadership Is In Disarray”

  1. War4Sale says:

    They’re on the mat, it’s time to pin them.


  2. Andrew G. says:

    Lyondon Johnson became the youngest majority leader by gaining a reputation as a great vote counter.

    He often knew his opponents vote count better than they did.

    It’s first base in congressional leadership. You don’t go by the number of votes you THINK you have, but by the number you KNOW you have.


  3. Chris in AZ says:

    so wait, our country is no longer on the auction block?
    Will the dems use this to get the cuts from the pork?


  4. Spudge_Boy says:

    And the trolls still think the republicans have full control of this ship. I would have to say that it sure doesn’t look like it to me. As I have said before this is turning out to be one heckuva year.


  5. Robert says:

    Worst Lead Congress Ever


  6. hardass says:

    Could it be true .Sanety , that endangered specie is finally creeping into congress ,cut the porc , reestablish the tax on the rich .Is it possible they see that dim light.


  7. Lefty says:

    there is blood in the water, and the sharks are circling….just enough time left to get some popcorn and a soda before the show begins. Watching the repukelicans implode is the best entertainment I’ve seen in years.


  8. Andy says:

    #7-

    It would be entertainment if this were a TV-show, or a DVD series. I wish these guys would just get it over with and fall completely apart. What a bunch of losers. I’m waiting for Bush to rewrite history in his autobiography and pretend like he made no mistakes. Hopefully, I’ll be reading that autobiography in late-2007 after his impeachment.


  9. Jesus Christ God of WAR says:

    Ah, these Greedy ‘Ol Parasites. Torture. Treason. Thievery. Lies. Immorality. Zero ethics.

    In this expanding power vacuum, who will step forward? Who will lead? I certainly hope it’s not from the GOP. Dems? Greens? Someone? Anyone but these fools.


  10. pigboy says:

    geez louise……… carl!…….. carl!…….. carl!!! where are you?…….. we need your guidance!……. where is your that wonderful moral compass?…….. carl please help!!…… $51 billion in cuts withdrawn!!!… Conservative Republicans actually speaking out against torture on the Senate floor!!!…. Conservative holding pretend hearings against oil price gouging! Attacking the very soul of our base!!!….Herr Arnold losing in Kalifornia!! Democrats winning elections all over the nation!!…. …….. Harry Reid and that damnable rule 21!!!…….. Carl we need you! help! help! people are begining to think America represents more than wealthy people……. CARL!!!!! People are no longer afraid! I cannot even look out the window……. I may see sheeps and lions lying down together!!! OOOOHHH!! Maybe I should look! That sound like an unnatural act to me! Yes, it could have some dividing the nation possiblities during this time of crisis:)


  11. Zookeeper says:

    Cool. Just…cool. Ahhh.


  12. Clyde the Ripper says:

    Andy,

    I’ll give my usual odds ($20.00 to a glass of warm pee) that Bushie will be nowhere near the White House on the Fourth of July next year. And Crawford on vacation doesn’t count. The train is barrel assing down the derailment track and we will see it pick up speed exponetially (for the trolls that means faster and faster, accellerating, incresing at an increasing rate, GOOD BYE!).


  13. Alex Dorph says:

    My my my how the once mighty crumble.

    Bathroom Review
    Rocketry


  14. WC says:

    I know this a a bit off-topic, but I wanted to post it in a location that would get the maximum viewers:

    Karl Rove is scheduled to be on The Situation Room at 7pm ET today. Wonder what he’ll talk about? Surely not the Plame investigation. I was under the impression that no one in the White House was supposed to be commenting on that…?


  15. WC says:

    Re: 14

    That’s on CNN in case anyone is wondering…


  16. Official A says:

    He’ll be explaining how the Dems messed up the Iraq war plan, how the Dems didn’t fund armor and enough troops. He’ll explain how the Dems are causing IED deaths of our soldiers and the increasing casualty rate.

    Wolf Blitzer will nod knowingly.


  17. Locomotive Mule » Pass the… says:

    [...] Let’s Be Blunt: Congressional Leadership Is In Disarray House Republican leaders scuttled a vote Thursday on a $51 billion budget-cut package in the face of a revolt by lawmakers over scaling back Medicaid, food stamp and student loan programs. The development was a major setback for the GOP on Capitol Hill and for President Bush, who has made cuts to benefit programs a central pillar in his budget plan. [...]


  18. The Muse says:

    I was a Dem house committee staffer 1987-94. Note the ending date in ‘94.

    I have to be totally honest and tell you I had grown sick of my own leadership’s antics.

    But folks, it was nothing like this. And Lord knows we didn’t have a war-gone-bad to defend.

    But they’re taking steps…and you won’t believe it.

    New on EWM: “Rove out, Rover in.”
    Scaled down agenda includes a “war on gingivitis” and plans to occupy Aruba.


  19. Average TV Viewer says:

    It all fell apart in the span of afew weeks. It happened so fast the Neocons can’t see it.


  20. Ginger says:

    First oil drilling in ANAWAR gets the heave-ho…then (oh, puleezzzeee, tell me I’m not dreaming!) the entire $51 billion budget-cut package gets the boot???!! Yes, indeedy…this is a muy cool thing! (It will make for great T.V. to see how this gets spun by the oh-so con$ervative clan!) My faith is momentarily restored!


  21. Monkeyfister says:

    Hmmmmm…

    As A GS, I wonder if I should expect an extended holiday some time soon.

    I guess it’s time to slow down my already limited consumerism. I may need to survive a while on no paycheck.

    Thanks, Republicans. x(

    -mf


  22. Erik Weinberger says:

    DOn’t you just love watching them panic


  23. Monkeyfister says:

    It will make for great T.V. to see how this gets spun by the oh-so con$ervative clan!

    It will be spun as “The Democrats are trying to outspend and bankrupt America.” Never mind that Bush and the Republican Majority have Borrowed More than ALL OTHER PRESIDENTS COMBINED.

    The Republicans’ 15 minutes is LONG up.

    (quack quack)

    Don’t let the door hit you, you bunch of Conservathugs… How’s ’bout the lot of you hop into Grover Norquist’s bathtub, eh? He’s got the plan you you.

    -mf


  24. nowar says:

    There is a simple way to do this. Add a billion dollars for every oil company. Give every millionaire a million more and Voila, a done deal.

    Are the republicans losing their touch or are they simply running out of money?


  25. tomz says:

    Isn’t it funny what happens to these folks when the reality of being exposed hits them in the face. They run aroud like the keystone cops. The Reich-wing is dissolving. Perhaps because the country is broke and there’s no more cash at the feeding trough.


  26. Oblogatory Anecdotes says:

    Dennis Hastert and RINOs Kill ANWAR Drilling!

    What is especially astonishing is House Speaker Dennis Hastert is responsible for killing ANWAR drilling. He should no longer be House Speaker. If Republicans maintain the majority in the House next year we must put intense pressure on our congressmen …


  27. RichB in Carroll County md says:

    2006 Looming

    voters ask

    can you not raise our taxes
    can you cut wasteful spending
    can you keep us safe in the terror war
    can you behave honestly

    if progressives and Democrats can take those issues, the Republicans have no chance.

    richb


  28. Ryan Neat says:

    RichB,

    That’s what you ask, voters ask lots of other questions as well.

    If republicans hadn’t trained AlQueda in the first place, then we would be much safer. That’s why republicans have no place to run the american government. They’re inept and foolish!


  29. Dan says:

    I would rather see them ‘in Jail’ instead of merely ‘in Disarray.’


  30. WaltTheMan says:

    Those who live in grass houses shouldn’t heat with bonfires.


  31. Rpublican Troll says:

    I don’t have my talking points yet! Everytime I get some, they are already inoperative by the time I get here!


  32. Innocent Bystander says:

    How many times do we have to prove that taxcuts for the rich don’t grow the economy? All it does is increase the deficit and costs more money to service the debt? Reagan ’s budget proved it. Clinton’s budget proved it. Now, after 5 years of irresponsible fiscal policy, the Republicans are faced with a choice: cut taxes and increase the deficit. With re-elections coming in 2006, I guess they’re losing their appetite for tax give-aways to their friends.


  33. KillCon2006 says:

    They’re on the mat, it’s time to pin them.

    Comment by War4Sale — November 10, 2005

    Uh… no. It’s time to stomp them to death and throw them out of the ring, for good.


  34. The Fly-man says:

    Isn’t Roy Blunt eyeing for Tom Delays leadership title, boy there is one intersting set of words” Tom Delays’ Leadership”. Anyway Google Blunt or Nepotism, sorry Roy Blunt, just Blunt might get you something else, and see waht comes up. He and his family are the Poster Children for greasing the wheels of fortune. This could be an ugly fight the Grande Ole Party Of Pork would love to go on outside of the fishbowl of current DC viewership. CBS just announced more episodes of Survivor this season maybe this will be it .You name the Title. Wait till they get to deal with immigration, I know I can’t. As Thurston Howell III said “GOOD HEAVANS”


  35. Mama says:

    Cutting entitlements: it’s reverse robin hood, steal from the poor and give to the rich.


  36. Mama says:

    News Update: Bush Poll Numbers Down Again and Public Now Favors a Dem Majority in Congress:

    WSJ reports: Broadly, the telephone survey of 1,003 adults, which was conducted from Nov. 4 to Nov. 7, finds that Americans want Democrats to take control of Congress in next year’s election, by a margin of 48% to 37%. The 11-point gap is the widest enjoyed by either party on that question since the poll began asking it in 1994.

    For the first time since the Republican congressional landslide that year, a majority of respondents say it’s time to replace their member of Congress.

    http://online.wsj.com/ public/ article/ SB113158656126793098-e_Q2UQQNLAWnZqaHSTfPjijCiH8_20061109.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top


  37. michael72 says:

    I have never in my whole life seen a political party fall apart as quickly as the republicans in the last 3-4 months. it’s just amazing isn’t it? and very thrilling. I am loving it. now the progressive forces in the country have to get it together and take advantage of the power vacuum.


  38. Mary says:

    My site was first built to assist Congressman Conyers in his DSM probe. He was able to present his time line in a House Judiciary Committee Democrats hearing with the help of his bloggers who contributed to this project. Then our site got hacked and I had to rebuild it. Since then, I’ve been posting to it pretty much by myself and I am simply overwhelmed… every day’s current events leave me further and further behind.

    This project is to be used by Congressman Conyers (who will be chair the committee after the Dems take the House in 2006) in his efforts to bring justice to this administration.

    It’s other purpose is to prepare for future elections. This database searches and sorts by categories, person, election and so on. This allows users to quickly compare candidates’ histories and significant contributions or misdeeds.

    It’s an important project and deserves some assistance. Please help us by contributing to the listings and by appropriate link exchange.

    Thanks very much,

    Mary
    soapbox4truth.org


  39. Paul Pastrano says:

    #40, sounds like you are on the right track.


  40. Mark Marco says:

    Sounds like everyone is on the right track! Is there any way we can pin this Paris burning story on the reichwing uber fascists? Maybe we could say they provoked the “youths” by broadcasting re-runs of “Will and Grace”….There has to be an angle, we can’t let this opportunity fade away!


  41. Pablo in Mexico says:

    Aint the puke party just a great one? The budget boys are cutting education, welfare and other programs so as to give another tax break to their rich contributors.

    Aint Amurka great? Land of no opportunity.


  42. The Deke says:

    As a Republican, I have to disagree. I was drawn to my philosophy by love.

    I love the rule of law, and have tremendous respect for those who enforce it. I love the freedoms offered by our country, and have tremendous respect for those who protect them. I love the opportunities presented to all persons in this country, and have deep admiration for those who avail themselves of those opportunities.

    There is a huge distinction between hating gay people and protecting the institution of marriage. There is a huge distinction between being afraid of women and protecting a fetus. (I happen to be pro-choice, but I can still see the distinction). As for hating “poor people”, I think we all saw what 60 years of Democratic “help” gave to the poor people of New Orleans.

    My point is this. There are extremists in both parties. I find them all to be equally scary. However, painting with such a broad brush dilutes the credibility of otherwise cogent arguments. Do you really believe that every registered Republican in the United States of America is afraid of women? That list would include Sandra Day O’Connnor, Condeleeza Rice, Harriet Myers, Laura Bush, Elizabeth Dole etc. Think it through.


  43. Ryan Neat says:

    Deke,

    You’re a fool. Everything you say is just apologistic non-reason for WHY you hate, it doesn’t change the fact that hate underlies your opinions.

    1) What drives the anti-gay movement has nothing to do with protecting marriage, you hate gay people. And this is despite the fact that being gay is not a mental illness, but homophobia IS. You should get a checkup.

    2) The reason you don’t want women to have control over their own bodies is because you fear their self control. After all, if you can’t rape one and force her to have your baby, you might not reproduce. A FETUS is not a baby, and to protect it as a ‘baby’ is as insane as your protection of schiavo. It’s religious whacko hatred of women that underlies your attitudes.

    3) You do hate poor people. At the turn of the 20th century and up through the great depression, poverty averaged 40% in america. By the time of Johnson that had been reduced to 25%. By the time of Carter, that had been reduced to 11%. Not only have DEMOCRATS done great strides for america’s poor, it has been against the constant meddling and destructive acts of republicans who are too stupid to care about the results. And under every republican president since the time of Carter/Reagan, poverty rates have increased, while every democrat has seen decreases. You want to blame democrats for the state of NewOrleans, but that fault is 100% the fault of inept republicans – across the board.

    You are self deluded, and you’re wrong on every point. I doubt you ‘intend’ to be wrong, but the facts do not bear out either your bigotry and your hate as anything but those traits. Wake up, you’re a bigot and a delusional whakco who’s just interested in his own selfish interests!

    And if you want to see REAL republican values in action, go to Columbia. They have the same system you want to implement, as does paraguay. And the poverty rates in those countries is over 60%. You’re a fool!


  44. Ryan Neat says:

    “Do you really believe that every registered Republican in the United States of America is afraid of women? That list would include Sandra Day O’Connnor, Condeleeza Rice, Harriet Myers, Laura Bush, Elizabeth Dole etc. Think it through.”DekeTheDuped

    You should increase your reading comprehension. I attributed the reasons people are republicans is one of greed, fear and hate, but that doesn’t mean that every republican shares all 3. Greed is the most common thread among republicans. If you ask those women who are in the GOP, it will be greed and homophobia that often drives them. And considering that Condi and Harriet are still ’single’ at their age, it’s clear why they’re homophobic, just as it’s clear why YOU are.


  45. wedding ring says:

    wedding ring

    wedding rings


  46. Kuben says:

    Kuben

    I love your site. They really look very nice. The articles provided are long enough to provide great content but not so long as to be totally engrossing, if you know what I mean.



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