Congress showing results.
By on May 26th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Congress showing results.
The 110th Congress has now been in session for 150 days. During that time, the House has passed all 10 bills it promised during the 2006 campaign, including enacting the 9/11 Commission recommendations, lobbying reform, a minimum wage hike, and stem cell research. The Senate has passed 6 of the 10; 3 others are currently being considered. The White House has signed just two of the bills. It has vetoed or threatened to veto 5. See the New York Times chart on the right for details.
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Gosh darn that obstructionist WH, thwarting the will of the Majority. But goerge is the Deciderer-In-Chief, isn’t he? After Big Dick and KKKarl, of course. And Barney.
May 26th, 2007 at 5:48 pmYes the Democrats in Congress are doing better than the GOPers did for the last few years, but they blew it caving to Bush on Iraq funding.
May 26th, 2007 at 5:52 pm3452 up 8 more today
May 26th, 2007 at 5:52 pmhalf a year to pass 6 laws – WOW – Snail Congress
May 26th, 2007 at 5:59 pmIts unfortunate that 8 more died today and 80 more will likely do so in the next couple weeks. However, when belittling the Democrats for “caving” on the iraq spending bill you need to keep in mind that Bush would have vetoed it if it had passed.
Give the Congress some time to build consensus on this issue. Its not going to happen over night. The fact that we have a “president” who will veto legislation that we the people want is even more reason to make sure that Al Gore is in the White House on January 20, 2009
May 26th, 2007 at 6:01 pmhalf a year to pass 6 laws – WOW – Snail Congress
Comment by Tobey Tall
Yes but they gave us a grand finale of a complete capulation to the stupidest damn president ever…
May 26th, 2007 at 6:02 pmSnails Pace Congress
May 26th, 2007 at 6:03 pmThis chart demonstrates what I have been saying for quite some time. The Democrats need to announce that as of today, they will no longer work on any legislation. All legislation they have worked on has either been blocked by the Republics, vetoed or threatened to veto by the President. The only legislation that got through (minimum wage) only got through because it was attached to the war funding bill.
I think that the Democrats should announce that since they can’t work on legislation, they will spend the next year and a half doing all the oversight that the Republics didn’t do for the last six years. Not having to attend to legislation will give the Democrats lots of time to delve into all the criminal activities of the Republics and the Bush Crime Family. And the Republics can go home and relax while awaiting their defeat in 2008.
May 26th, 2007 at 6:05 pmDover > it is never smart to cave to a bully like Bush. Standing up means doing nothing to help him, nor funding his fiasco in Iraq.
May 26th, 2007 at 6:06 pm$16 Million in Counterfeit Bills Seized in Cologne
A major raid in the Cologne area has uncovered a record haul of counterfeit dollars, were of excellent quality.
Germany’s central bank said they were high-quality forgeries. Authorities also €150,000 in (real) cash,
In 2006, according to the BKA, two-thirds of all forged foreign bills in Germany were counterfeit US dollars. The dollar is the most-forged note in the world, and $100 bills are the most popular among counterfeiters.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,485088,00.html
May 26th, 2007 at 6:15 pmBen Dover; I have a problem with dawdling for time to build a consensus. In case you hadn’t noticed, people are getting killed and maimed EVERY day there is a delay.
May 26th, 2007 at 6:17 pmAnd not only that but Nancy Pelosi is in Greenland watching ice melt! Way to go Democrat Party!
May 26th, 2007 at 6:17 pm#8-Kate Henry–
“I think that the Democrats should announce that since they can’t work on legislation, they will spend the next year and a half doing all the oversight that the Republics didn’t do for the last six years. Not having to attend to legislation will give the Democrats lots of time to delve into all the criminal activities of the Republics and the Bush Crime Family. And the Republics can go home and relax while awaiting their defeat in 2008.”
That’s an excellent idea! I couldn’t agree with you more!
May 26th, 2007 at 6:23 pmOne glaring ommission:
May 26th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
And if he had, then what? Either the war would have been over that much sooner, or Bush would have spent what funds he had, and left the troops to die in Iraq without food, equipment, munitions, nor even so much as a ticket home.
Our troops are dying for Corporate profits, nothing more.
May 26th, 2007 at 6:39 pmMEXICO CITY (May 15th) – Mexico’s arid north – 54% of the nation’s land surface – is drying out and blowing away in the wind at an alarming rate as desertification transforms this always-hardscrabble terrain into an American Sahara.
And George is in Mexico watching the dirt blow away beefeater
May 26th, 2007 at 7:35 pmThat’s fine. But we want the occupation ended and we want our Constitution back.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:47 pmwell, it’s a nice enough chart for those who need it… many do…
and it’s obvious enough, also, that the negativity is ALL coming from that far RIGHT column…
kate henry spelled it out also… the congress IS working on the oversight and investigations… but, maybe it is time to quit butting heads and devote ALL the attention and time to the OTHER issue that gave the dems the congress in 06:
May 26th, 2007 at 8:15 pmCORRUPTION
…
that will enevitably lead to the IMPEACHMENT proceedings…
…
and maybe THAT will endear them once again into out hearts…
… hopefully…
…
and maybe THAT will endear them once again into out hearts…
… hopefully…
…Comment by katy
IF Pelosi can find a table……
May 26th, 2007 at 8:41 pmAnd not only that but Nancy Pelosi is in Greenland watching ice melt! Way to go Democrat Party!
Comment by beefeater
And George W. Bush is at Camp David drinking himself silly.
What’s your point?
May 26th, 2007 at 8:58 pm2 laws in 5 months, go Dimocrats!
I love how the NY times bubbles in both houses when they have different bills, and have been stuck in negotiations for 2 months.
May 26th, 2007 at 9:52 pmOne point in saying that “Nancy Pelosi is in Greenland watching ice melt†is that it is ripped from today’s headlines, and meant to point out the complete and utter incompetence of the Speaker in her attempt to deal with the most important issue that you guy’s , in “automatic trustâ€, thought you voted for last November.
May 26th, 2007 at 10:29 pmYou, on the other hand, in a lame attempt at humor, just spew crap that is totally meaningless.
In other words, don’t send a women ……
Btw juan c, I think that zooey can take care of herself.
Btw juan c, I think that zooey can take care of herself.
Comment by beefeater
Thanks for the vote of confidence, beefeater.
Juan and I are friends, on TP and off board, so we stick up for one another from time to time — the way friends do.
May 26th, 2007 at 10:53 pm“And not only that but Nancy Pelosi is in Greenland watching ice melt! Way to go Democrat Party!”
You know what beefeater? I actually agree with you. My first thought was she was running away from her pissed off constituents. So, you are right. That gives you some idea how objective lefties are. Now, are you going to defend Bush to the death when he is clearing brush at the old hobby ranch?
May 26th, 2007 at 11:46 pmYeah, m12, the Times is so liberal. Do you know how ridiculous you are?
May 26th, 2007 at 11:47 pmKudos for Congress? Are you kidding? Every member of Congress, this includes Speaker Pelosi, who voted against demanding a timetable for withdrawal of troops in Iraq should be booed every single time they speak or show their face in public. They are a disgrace to the American people for kowtowing to the president and his white house administration ! At the least the republicans who voted for the president are cowards. At the worst, they have sold their souls to oppression, illegal occupation and bear much responsibility for the deaths and maiming of soldiers from now until this president finally ends his tenure as god in chief.
May 26th, 2007 at 11:50 pmfaith, the right speaks with one voice you know. And do you know what that voice says? Baaaaahhhhhh.
May 27th, 2007 at 12:02 am#25
HAven’t you read the garbage that Maureen Dowd writes?
May 27th, 2007 at 12:42 amNow, are you going to defend Bush to the death when he is clearing brush at the old hobby ranch?
Comment by JPark — May 26, 2007 @ 11:46 pm
Nope, I would be one of the 70 some percent that think we are going about this conflict all wrong. I think Bush pissed down his leg every bit as much as Truman did in Korea, Kennedy did with the Bay of Pigs, Johnson and Nixon did in Viet Nam, Carter did with the Iranians and Clinton did in Serbia. If you’re going to pull a gun, then shoot to kill. If a decision is made to use military force then use it till the job is done and then leave. Have the courage of your convictions, kick the crap out of the opposition and let the cards fall were they may.
May 27th, 2007 at 12:51 amWhen I came back to the world from Nam I protested the war. I was in the streets, not because I thought the idea was wrong but because I was sick of the pussy footing around.
Politics and indecision, on both sides, are killing our soldiers, and it does make me sick.
I can’t disagree with you except about the Iranian hostage situation. Reagan submarined Carter on that.
May 27th, 2007 at 12:53 amOh, and the pussyfooting around point…they had been escalating for years. Air strikes were at an all time high during the Nixon admin. I don’t think most people understand how difficult and costly it is to subdue a native population.
May 27th, 2007 at 12:54 amBy the way, beefeater, exactly how disasterous WAS the pullout from Vietnam?
May 27th, 2007 at 1:11 amReagan submarined Carter on that.
Comment by JPark — May 27, 2007 @ 12:53 am
The Iranian hostage debacle was over a year old before Reagan cut Carters legs out, and Carter deserved every bit of it. His inaction is causing problems to this day.
May 27th, 2007 at 1:16 amAs for Viet Nam, remember that FDR approved and Truman used the nuclear bomb to both destroy the Japanese will to fight and to let the Soviet Union know we both had it and would use it. 1 or 2 nukes in North Viet Nam would have solved the problem and let the Chinese know that we would still use one.
If the world doesn’t respect us they should at least fear us.
beefeater, Carter had a deal in place and Reagan came in and extended the length the hostages would have to stay in Iraq. You are good with that?
May 27th, 2007 at 1:30 amYou are good with that?
Comment by JPark — May 27, 2007 @ 1:30 am
Sure, if that’s what it took to have the American people dump Carter. Jimmy had plenty of time to resolve the situation, should have been over in hours or days not over a year. Hell! Even Ross Perot, a private citizen, got his people out of Iran for cripes sakes.
May 27th, 2007 at 1:40 amOk, beefeater. Paying for hostages is a good thing to you, beefeater? And then saying you don’t negotiate with terrorists? Glad your morals are so flexible.
May 27th, 2007 at 1:49 amAnd then saying you don’t negotiate with terrorists? Glad your morals are so flexible.
Comment by JPark — May 27, 2007 @ 1:49 am
Okay you lost me.
May 27th, 2007 at 2:15 amI prefer situational ethics but whatever.
I’m also not sure where I said I wouldn’t negotiate with terrorists. And here’s how. Iranian “students” grab our embassy (and I’m sure you know that by international treaty it’s sovereign soil), Carter blows up a Mosque killing a few mullahs. Carter says release the hostages and we won’t blow up another one, deal or no deal? And so on. Now that’s a negotiation.
Paying for hostages is a good thing to you, beefeater?
Comment by JPark — May 27, 2007 @ 1:49 am
I may have misunderstood about paying for hostages. Perot didn’t pay to have his employees released. He hired armed thugs to go in and get them.
May 27th, 2007 at 2:23 amRead Wings of Eagles by Ken Follett.
Reagan got into power, on the back of America’s disgust at the Iranian hostage crisis, which he made worse, and then promptly sold weapons to the guys who took American hostages in Iran.
And you are trying to make out as if Carter was the problem there?
May 27th, 2007 at 5:24 amAgree with many above who thing this is a snail’s pace. And …. 1 item actually enacted in 6 months ….. the R’s are laughing their butts off. And the one item costs how much support of their base? Mine for one. I had given to quite a number of Blue causes last cycle and they all aligned with Bush when it counted. WTF?
May 27th, 2007 at 10:21 amI wrote my congressman to complain of his vote, he wrote back with news of a different reality …. that this is the beginning of the end of the war and there were timelines!!!!!!!!!!! Is this the ploy where you lie so much it becomes reality? did the D’s hire rove part time?
10 bills but not the most important. I expected the withdrawl to be happening now. Not 3 mos, another Friedman Unit, another 3 mos. The Democrats in Congress are fracturing the party and causing defections that will hurt them in ‘08. The Republicans have reason to jump for joy. The Democrats just gave them a lifeline. We are in the middle of a blood feud in Iraq and nothing we or any other country can do to quell it. The Sunni and Shia’ will climb over the bodies of Al qaeds and the US to get at each other. We aren’t liberators there! We are in the way! Saddam, however brutal, kept them from getting at each other. We removed him and this is what we have. A Christian country occupying land of Muslims is not going to create peace. We are creating another target just by being ‘infidels. It’s obvious our memories are not as long as theirs. OUR only solution to stop losing soldiers is to leave. This was a mistake and nothing is going to change that. Democratic Iraq? Laughable. Their Koran won’t permit it. They are as commited to their book as the evangelical unerrant bible believers in the administration are to theirs.
May 27th, 2007 at 11:23 amWay to go NEW CONGRESS. Now the OLD Congress would not have done that. The old Congress rode shotgun for the Bush team as it rode in and out of “Lawbreakers Gulch”, break a law, remake the law such that it conforms to the lawbreakers performance.
And speaking of PERFORMANCE, where is there a record of the Bush team’s performance? They talk RHETORIC. Not Performance.
“Q”: What is a good way to stop the unauthorized downloading of copyright material?
“A”: “Blow up” the computers of the downloaders.
And later, a battery type product showed up, that would do exactly that.
“Q”: How to fix the high price of gasoline?
“A”: Put $100.00 in the pockets of every voting American.
“Q”: How to process IMPEACHABLE BEHAVIOR?
“q”: What is the party of the President?
“a”: Democrat.
“q”: Has impeachment count down started?
“a”: yes
“q”: What is the offense?
“a”: Bad personal behavior.
“q”: Is he impeached yet? If no – Impeach Now.
“Q”: How to process IMPEACHABLE BEHAVIOR?
“q”: What is the party of the President?
“a”: Republican.
“q”: Has the Impeachment count down started?
“a”: no.
“q”: Have you reset American’s moral, ethical standards and character to the same level as the Republicans? If not do so now. There is no need for an Impeachment process.
Remember, the Republicans are THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIGHT(as they define it)
May 27th, 2007 at 12:19 pmI can’t disagree with you except about the Iranian hostage situation. Reagan submarined Carter on that.
You’d have to be a miserable President if the governor of California can get a leg up on you.
May 27th, 2007 at 7:30 pmm12:
In Reagan’s own diaries, he writes that he was not involved prior to the election and only after Inauguration Day did he find out “that last 2 weeks of hostage negotiations were completely dominated by Iranian fear they’d have to negotiate with our admin. I couldn’t be happier.” If you get a chance to get this book, I highly recommend it.
Also on the Middle East, from an entry on Jun 16, 1981: “We have just learned that Israel & the previous Admin. did communicate about Iraq & the nuclear threat & the U.S. agreed it was a threat. There was never a mention of this to us by the outgoing admin. Amb. Lewis cabled word to us after the Israeli attack on Iraq & now we find there was a stack of cables & memos tucked away in St. Dept. files.”
Jimmy Carter was (is) an asshole.
May 28th, 2007 at 4:52 pmm12:
My posts are getting deleted again. Read Reagan’s Diaries to answer some of your questions.
May 28th, 2007 at 5:00 pmJ. Randall makes a premature judgement about the dem congress having “caved” over Iraqi funding. This isn’t a one time matter. It’s an on-going fight, which will be revisited. It ain’t over yet.
May 29th, 2007 at 1:18 pmjp