Sen. Whitehouse: ‘The Party of No’ has become the ‘Party of No Show.’
Sen. Whitehouse: ‘The Party of No’ has become the ‘Party of No Show.’
According to Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Republicans have devolved from the “Party of No” to the “Party of No Show.” Led by Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), the Republican boycott of climate hearings has entered its second full day. During today’s hearing on the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, Whitehouse argued that being the “party of no show” is a miscalculation that harms the nation:
I think it is unfortunate that the party of “no” has now devolved to the party of “no show.” And I hope that they reconsider their strategy here, because I don’t think it’s good for them, I don’t think it’s good for the country, I don’t think it’s good for the legislative process. I think it is a mistake, and I hope it is reconsidered.
Watch it:
Inhofe’s boycott — and other demands for delay by both Republican and Democratic senators — now guarantee that a bill to tackle the climate crisis and rebuild our economy will not pass this year.
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Inhoff is an idiot and is evryone in Oklahoma who voted for him!
November 4th, 2009 at 12:45 pmSo then it sounds like this might be a great time to devise sweeping climate-protection legislation and vote it out of Committee unanimously…
November 4th, 2009 at 12:49 pmAnd next the GOP will whine about how they were “cut out of the political process”.
You have ideological concerns about how a piece of legislation will be crafted? Launch a rational debate.
The GOP isn’t a political party; it’s an organization of overprivilaged six year olds.
November 4th, 2009 at 12:49 pmI guess the GOP does have philosophical disagreements, case in point being who they chose to head the minority on the Envrionment and Public Works committee. The Dems want to protect the envrionment; Inhofe refuses to believe the environment exists.
November 4th, 2009 at 12:51 pm.
The Party of NO!…
No Leadership
No Ideas
No Stewarship
No Vision
.
November 4th, 2009 at 12:52 pmThe GOP isn’t a political party; it’s an organization of overprivilaged six year olds.
November 4th, 2009 at 12:56 pm“I can’t have my way so I’m not going!”
I think you have a point there Ennui.
Inhofe could phuck up free beer.
November 4th, 2009 at 12:56 pmThe repiggies are generally quite good at winning (or stealing) elections, but they immediately lose interest in the governing aspect, unless it involves the transfer of even more wealth to them and their friends.
It is the party of greedy, selfish people, beings that are concerned with their own creature comforts and toys and the expense of anyone else.
They abandoned their “principles” during the Iraq run-up, which tells me that they never had any “principles” to begin with, apart from the shameless and ruthless pursuit of personal enrichment courtesy of the taxpayers.
November 4th, 2009 at 12:56 pmWow.
Can you imagine any of us deciding no, I won’t be attending that meeting because we don’t want to.
We’d all be fired.
November 4th, 2009 at 12:56 pmI don’t want stupidheads, those who think that the world is only 6000 years old and was created in six days, making any sorts of important decisions involving the sciences or medicine.
The repiggie party is the Party of the Stupid.
It has embraced the fiercely ignorant, anti-intellectual positions of the dominionist evangelical lunatics who are hell-bent on bringing about Armageddon.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:00 pm“…now guarantee that a bill to tackle the climate crisis and rebuild our economy will not pass this year.
Yep, it’s great being in the majority and having the agenda driven by the America hating minority, ain’t it?
Would SOMEONE in the Democratic Party please – pretty please – grow a pair and start leading?
November 4th, 2009 at 1:00 pmI agree with dogfather. They don’t want to show up? Fine, let’s vote on this today and get it out of committee. But the Dems in the Senate won’t do that, “because that’s not how we do things in the Senate.”
This collegial bull-shi’ite has to end. Stop being so wishy-washy and letting the Rethugs walk all over you. We have 60 votes – use it!!
November 4th, 2009 at 1:00 pmThey have to return at some point. Simply wait to hold the hearing at that time. In the meantime, work to change EPW rules so that they do not have to be present, and work to pass other legislation in their absence. If the GOP feels that they can best serve the American people by not showing up, we can give them more of an opportunity to do that in 2010.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:04 pmhar5125 says: “Inhoff is an idiot and is evryone in Oklahoma who voted for him!”
I agree that Inhofe is an idiot but it’s a really good idea to be VERY careful about spelling and grammar when you’re commenting on someone else’s intellect.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:04 pmNo surprise there. Republicans don’t like work very hard–at least when it comes to government jobs.
Everyone knows about George W. Bush’s vacation-prone Presidency. Fewer know that the Republican 109th Congress (the ones we threw out in 2006) met for business from late Tuesday morning to around noon on Thursday. Of course, it was easier for them, because most of the bills were written on K Street, leaving more time for chasing pages around. Those were the days.
Hating ACORN
November 4th, 2009 at 1:08 pmSounds like their pay needs to docked.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:09 pmInhofe may be an idiot, and the Repubs may be morons and babies, but you know what? They succeeded. The bill they’re against won’t be passed this year. Who’s fault is that?
November 4th, 2009 at 1:09 pmmike from Arlington says: @9
November 4th, 2009 at 1:09 pmBear in mind mike, you can get away with it, but you absolutely have to work for the government. I get away with it about once a month.
Loki and Dave N have it down:
Even without a single Repub in the room, the Dems wouldn’t be able to pass progressive climate legislation. Lincoln and Nelson won’t support it because it’s too “liberal”. Bayh, Byrd, Rockefeller, Specter, Casey, McCaskill probably won’t support it unless there is ample protection for miners/manufacturers. And Sanders and Feingold are unlikely to support it because the bill won’t go far enough in its reach while acting as a massive boon to corporate interests.
Well, Sanders might support it. Feingold, though, is to the Senate Dems what Paul is to the House GOP. So incredibly consistent and dedicated to a notion of “fiscal/governmental responsibility” that they would blight their own party to avoid compromising their views. Feingold would’ve made one hell of a President, but his support is needed on legislation like this.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:09 pmInhofe’s boycott is tantamount to the Republican’ts taking their marbles and going home…. except they seem to have lost all their marbles… :)
November 4th, 2009 at 1:11 pmOMG! What an immature baffoon. Did he stamp his feet? Did he whine? My Lord, these guys are pathetic.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:13 pmI do wish they would hurry up, it was a record breaking 96 degrees in Phoenix yesterday!
November 4th, 2009 at 1:16 pm“Led by Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), the Republican boycott of climate hearings has entered its second full day.”
Seems to me they are shirking their responsibilities as duly elected representatives of the people.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:17 pmI personally can’t see the downside here.
They don’t show up, we pass meaningful legislation without their obstructionist obfuscating tactics.
All good.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:17 pmNo Intelligence
November 4th, 2009 at 1:21 pmNo Common sense
No Guts
No Patriotism
No Humanity
No Compassion
Oh, and for Blanche and the rest of the ‘centrist’ (read corporatist) dems, y’all got primaries coming up and we all got dimes, nickels and dollars we’d like to bet against you…
November 4th, 2009 at 1:23 pmRUC,
November 4th, 2009 at 1:24 pmUnfortunately, many in Congress are still stuck in the belief that legislation is only meaningful and good when (R)epublicans approve of it.
Awww… the bullies are taking their balls and going home whining.
Oh – wait – they have no balls.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:25 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Dr. Matt,
November 4th, 2009 at 1:28 pm“No Show”, just another notch in that ever tightening belt of the G(no)P.
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Yeoman thinks he’s smart and yet he wants Beck for president. Priceless.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:33 pmI concur 100%. I believe Glenda should run.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:33 pmYeoman Warder says:
“…it was a record breaking 96 degrees in Phoenix yesterday!”
Get used to it.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:33 pmI believe Yeoman is actually a Lefty doing an imitation of a teabagger. My 0.00002 cents.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:34 pm@31 – Facist? Is that one who rules with his face?
November 4th, 2009 at 1:34 pmDo you suppose Inhofe finally got tired of sounding like a total moron every time he speaks?
November 4th, 2009 at 1:37 pmWe talking the indie rocker, the beer or that dude who won’t quit crying?
November 4th, 2009 at 1:39 pmfrom yeoman warders blog:
Now there is an example of how intelligent he is.
He also pitches for a book deal…..really, it’s more like begging.
You’ve got to pity people like this. really, there is just no other way for decent people to react to mental disorders like this one exhibits.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:39 pmBy his own admission, Jimmy doesn’t even bother reading bills that contradict his religious and political Beliefs. I see absolutely no reason to consider anything such a willfully ignorant person would say.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:41 pmIf Warder had a brain, maybe he wouldn’t still be a Yeoman — he’d at least be a PO2 or something…
November 4th, 2009 at 1:51 pmThese type of tactics by the Republicans can be turned to the advantage of the Dems. They need to campaign with the theme about the party of no and no show. The underlying premise is that the Republicans have done nothing and are trying to bring the government to a halt. The gridlock continues while the Dems are diligently trying to work with them and get important legislation passed. The Dems can make the 2010 elections a referendum on the Republicans rather than let the Republicans define the elections based on Obama’s policies. Every no vote, large and small, cast by a Republican can be used in local races.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:52 pmFred yeah,
I took a visit to that blog.
Sad really.
Just a bunch of random thoughts.
No Coherence.
No Creativity.
Not worth my time.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:56 pmpete says
November 4th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
By his own admission, Jimmy doesn’t even bother reading bills that contradict his religious and political Beliefs.
_____________________________________________________________
It kind of makes you wonder how he decides whether any given bill contradicts his beliefs, doesn’t it? Here are some possibilities:
1. He scans the bill for certain keywords, using the same technology employers use for resumes. Which means he’d vote for banning fossil fuels if the bill had the term “tax cuts” in it somewhere.
2. He makes his decision based solely on the name of the bill. If there was a bill calling for immediate withdrawal of all our troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, and it was called “The Return to Morality Act”, he’d be on board.
3. Lobbyists read the bills and then tell him how to vote. My money’s on this one.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:59 pmWell, I think that just maybe it would be very good for the country if they just did a permanent No Show…it’s not like they have any good ideas or reasonable thoughts on anything.
Fcuk the Republic Fascist Party of Stupidity
November 4th, 2009 at 2:00 pmDr. Hussein Matt says
November 4th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Yeoman Warder says:
beck for president.
I concur 100%. I believe Glenda should run.
____________________________________________________________
HA! He’d never take the pay cut. Besides, the job would require him to do more than whine, complain, and cry.
November 4th, 2009 at 2:02 pmmissmolly,
I suspect you’re right but the fourth option is that he simply votes against anything authored by a Democrat.
November 4th, 2009 at 2:12 pmPerhaps the people from the states that these bozos represent should ask for them to return part of their salary, because I believe they earn that by taking part of the process, not sitting on the sideline….
November 4th, 2009 at 2:12 pmZimzone at 12:56pm
“Inhofe could phuck up free beer.”
You don’t realize how true that is.
We couldn’t get liquor by the drink passed here until he was out of office.
And he just threw up his hands last week and forfeited millions of dollars in stimulus road money, that our state will now have to fund.
No reason, just to much effort, or was having a bad day.
Inhofe always appears to keep his own alcohol levels consistently high, though.
November 4th, 2009 at 2:20 pmAs repugniscum whine and cry that they are not consulted, why do they boycott committee hearings to which they are invited and in fact are members?
If Democrats had even thought of doing such things during the Bush admininstration, they’d have been quickly labeled “obstructionist,” pilloried in the press and shamed.
I may be mistaken, but if at least two opposition party members are not in attendance, nothing can move forward.
So they stomp their feet and have a hissy fit (boycott) just so they can prevent Obama from accomplishing anything at all — damn the country and its people – their party is all that matters to them.
November 4th, 2009 at 2:26 pmAny Dems that continue to behave like repugs on these important issues should take a lesson from last night:
November 4th, 2009 at 2:28 pmIf you act like a repug – you won’t gain repugs’ vote, and you’ll lose the dems.
okie dokie says:
“And he just threw up his hands last week and forfeited millions of dollars in stimulus road money, that our state will now have to fund.”
Has the interstate through Oklahoma City ever been resurfaced?
November 4th, 2009 at 2:29 pmWorst stretch of highway in the US.
For 20 years.
Republican legislators, voted in to engage in legislating, are not showing up to engage in legislating. That seems to be a fraud perpetrated against their constituents.
Liars devolving into frauds. Is anyone surprised!
November 4th, 2009 at 2:30 pmYeoman hits the keyboard and shows what a dumbf..k he is. Is anyone surprised!
November 4th, 2009 at 2:32 pmI hope that Barbara Boxer will start an investigation into Inhofe’s dealing with the oil companies. They are just too close and I’m sure there is some sort of illegal activity going on.
November 4th, 2009 at 2:33 pmWhile we’re on the subject of repugs and DINOs, Joe Lieberman may have some trouble coming his way:
November 4th, 2009 at 2:34 pmNed Lamont, the Connecticut businessman who defeated Sen. Joe Lieberman in the 2006 Democratic primary only to lose the general election, has now announced the formation of a statewide exploratory committee.
Yeoman Warder says: the same thing ‘Beefeater’ says because they are the same troll.
Say, Yeoman are you part of those being investigated? Two Beefeaters at the Tower of London have been suspended over allegations the first female yeoman warder at the fortress was bullied by some of her male colleagues.
November 4th, 2009 at 2:38 pmYeoman Warder says:
Blah, blah, blah
MY GOD! Don’t you ever have a COGENT, SEMI-INTELLIGENT thought in that SPACE between your EARS where your BRAIN was supposed to be INSTALLED? WHY is it all YOU CAN DO is come here with your KNUKLE DRAGGING, JUVINIAL INSULTS? Do you JUST come here to show how STUPID you really are? Have you EVER had ANYTHING to contribute TO THE TOPIC OF the THREAD
November 4th, 2009 at 3:02 pmI just tuned in the hearings for a while here on C-Span. The empty chairs of repugs is clearly apparent: even the normally conservative-leaning C-Span is panning the camera across the empty seats.
November 4th, 2009 at 3:39 pmYep, that’s how you get work done – you boycott – you stop all progress because you are indulging yourself in a vertical hissy. Repugniscum, republican’ts, repiggies, whatever you prefer to lable this party of NO — the G-NO-P, it is pretty evdient that they are determined to halt efffective governance with their petty, peurile obstinancy.
The party of no more spending money we don’t have. Get it right, loony lefty.
November 4th, 2009 at 3:39 pmIf they are serious about saving money they should not be paid during their boycott and should cover the salaries of the others. Personally, I think any employee who refuses to show up for a rough day should be fired on the spot. I would hope that these freaks’ constituents will consider this incident next election season.
November 4th, 2009 at 3:59 pmBeing a GnOP legislature is the most overpaid and under worked profession of all time.
November 4th, 2009 at 5:19 pmGee, the Pubs are on strike. How union of them!
November 4th, 2009 at 5:43 pmlokidog says: “…would someons….pretty please…’grow a pair’ and lead…?”
IMO, the pressure on legislators is high, that they lead, and exert leadership on important issues, and show sufficient qualities of a leader!
A couple of social realities may somewhat ease any realistic, suffering:
1. Legislators are a heterogeneous group, of men and women, adults and seniors, and they ‘ll always represent districts of all sizes!
2. American political occupational roles are relatively permanent; whereas, contrasted with shorter-span parlimentary systems, these other systems appoint ministers who administer quick, or short-term modifications. Although these ministerial political institutions may have more effective short-term implementations, our own American politics may have a somewhat longer, and more versitile, ‘lens’!
November 5th, 2009 at 12:43 amI guess people in my party are so gutless they try to just ignore what needs to be done about the climate mess. That might work with the far right fringe but thinking Republicans are sick and tired of the grand standing of folks like Inhoff. Republicans do this at their peril. There are still a lot of us moderate Republicans who have not switched parties but it appears like the party leadership continues to give us the boot on every issue. I want Republicans to act responsibly on the environment and not just knee-jerk react in these radical ways. Even a fool can understand that our environment is being degraded as we speak. Republicans can bury their heads in the sand all they like, but while they are there, the environment is being degraded by the minute due to lack of legislative action by Republicans.
November 5th, 2009 at 12:48 pmDidn’t hear you complain when we spent over a trillion dollars (and misplaced 10 billion of it) in Iraq for nothing.
November 5th, 2009 at 3:16 pmWhy should the GOP care about environmental issues?
GOP’s politics are enacted purely for the financial gain of the VERY rich. These people feel and to some extent are right, that natural disasters and food shortages simply wont affect them, cause they are all land-owning multi-millionaires who can all afford small private armies.
The longer the GOP obstructs healthcare and global warming, the more money they all make.
The GOP knows that the hearings are completely stalled if only one of the Republican members turn up. Knowing that delay on the climate issue may be fatal millions of people they are trying to force Obama into doing something draconian that they can use to worry moderates and enflame their more crazy base.
November 5th, 2009 at 3:23 pm