Dems learn to play the game like Republicans

[Riot]

Geesh, maybe modern Dems are finally learning how to play this politics game seriously?

Dems trick House Republicans into almost mistakenly passing their own severely conservative budget that they don't really want passed:

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2...et.php?ref=fpi

The vote was on the Republican Study Committee's alternative budget -- a radical plan that annihilates the social contract in America by putting the GOP budget on steroids. Deeper tax cuts for the wealthy, more severe entitlement rollbacks.

Normally something like that would fail by a large bipartisan margin in either the House or the Senate. Conservative Republicans would vote for it, but it would be defeated by a coalition of Democrats and more moderate Republicans. But today that formula didn't hold. In an attempt to highlight deep divides in the Republican caucus. Dems switched their votes -- from "no" to "present."

Panic ensued. In the House, legislation passes by a simple majority of members voting. The Dems took themselves out of the equation, leaving Republicans to decide whether the House should adopt the more-conservative RSC budget instead of the one authored by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan. As Dems flipped to present, Republicans realized that a majority of their members had indeed gone on the record in support of the RSC plan -- and if the vote closed, it would pass. That would be a slap in the face to Ryan, and a politically toxic outcome for the Republican party.

So they started flipping their votes from "yes" to "no."

In the end, the plan went down by a small margin, 119-136. A full 172 Democrats voted "present."

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Riot

Geesh, maybe modern Dems are finally learning how to play this politics game seriously?

Dems trick House Republicans into almost mistakenly passing their own severely conservative budget that they don't really want passed:

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2...et.php?ref=fpi

What exactly would the American people gain from this if it was indeed successful? Neither Republican budget will pass the Senate so embarrassing the GOP only deepens the divide...childish trick imo!

[Riot]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

.... Neither Republican budget will pass the Senate ...

That's right. So the House Republicans were wasting time, taking a vote on a ridiculously conservative budget they created and brought to the floor, that even they didn't want to pass, only so that they could talk a good story to the folks back home and make some political ads.

They wanted to look really tough and conservative, slashing the budget and giving even bigger tax cuts to the rich. Knowing the Dems wouldn't let them.

But the Dems simply stood back, didn't interfer with the majority and did let them

Found this video clip: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_849715.html

It's hilarious They are mostly through the roll call, and the Dems start voting "present" - the Republicans can't figure out what is happening, but some start changing their "yes" votes to "no" to prevent passage. And then the Republicans held the vote open when time had elapsed, so they could continue to change their votes so the measure would not pass.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Riot

That's right. So the House Republicans were wasting time, taking a vote on a ridiculously conservative budget they created and brought to the floor, that even they didn't want to pass, only so that they could talk a good story to the folks back home and make some political ads.

They wanted to look really tough and conservative, slashing the budget and giving even bigger tax cuts to the rich. Knowing the Dems wouldn't let them.

But the Dems simply stood back, didn't interfer with the majority and did let them

Found this video clip: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_849715.html

It's hilarious They are mostly through the roll call, and the Dems start voting "present" - the Republicans can't figure out what is happening, but some start changing their "yes" votes to "no" to prevent passage. And then the Republicans held the vote open when time had elapsed, so they could continue to change their votes so the measure would not pass.

With all the important business...both sides play games....children all!

[Riot]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

With all the important business...both sides play games....children all!

How many jobs-economic bills have hit the floor of the House this session?
How many anti-abortion bills have been presented?
Your point is not lost on me.

Don't forget, the Republicans have the overwhelming majority in the House. They brag about it. They bring up all bills for voting, the Dems cannot bring bills to the floor. The Dems were not in any way responsible for this vote happening. They don't hold the majority. They don't control the outcome of the vote, of what bills pass in the House - they cannot. The Republicans control completely the outcome of what bills are voted upon, and the way the House votes.

The Dems simply sat back and let the Republicans live with that reality.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Riot

How many jobs-economic bills have hit the floor of the House this session?
How many anti-abortion bills have been presented?
Your point is not lost on me.

Don't forget, the Republicans have the overwhelming majority in the House. They brag about it. They bring up all bills for voting, the Dems cannot bring bills to the floor. The Dems were not in any way responsible for this vote happening. They don't hold the majority. They don't control the outcome of the vote, of what bills pass in the House - they cannot. The Republicans control completely the outcome of what bills are voted upon, and the way the House votes.

The Dems simply sat back and let the Republicans live with that reality.

Unfortunately, in this day of partisan politics, this is indeed the reality, must be very frustrating to the GOP on one hand to pass all their right wing agenda only to see it die in the Senate. On the other hand, I'm not blind to their political posturing, trying to appease the radical right by voting for stuff with the Senate as a "safety net"....that's the state of American politics.