How Republicans Sell Out Their Base While Pretending To Fight

[AAAintheBeltway]

We have had repeated cases of congressional republicans making a big show of opposing stuff, only to fold in the end. Their base is outraged. They cannot understand why the congressional majority party is so impotent against an unpopular president.

This article explains it pretty well. http://www.nationalreview.com/article/423679/corker-cardin-congress-obama-iran-nuclear-deal

Briefly, republicans have designed a cynical strategy the author calls "Surrender...then Play Fight. " It involves requiring obama to propose something that republican leaders secretly want, like more spending or amnesty, but then they get to vote on a disapproval resolution, which of course obama vetoes, then the veto is up held. So obama gets what he wants and republicans get to vote against it twice but of course to no avail.

The iran nuke resolution is the latest version of Surrender...Then Play Fight. It turns the Constitution's treaty approval process on its head and allows the deal to go through with a blocking minority of 1/3 plus 1 in the Senate. Republicans will rail against it and hope their base forgets they set up the process to allow it to be approved by only 1/3 plus 1 member of one house of congress.

As the author notes, republican leaders are obsessed with "governing", ie not being criticized by the media for shutting down the government. Constitutionally, congress has no responsibility for governing however. That is the Executive Branch's role. Congress' role is to legislate and ride herd on the Executive. That can mean saying no to a foolish and misguided president, even if that results in a battle of wills and stare down. But you have to have leaders who have the balls for that.

 

[fhl]

 

[Ricter]

It could be this vast conspiracy. Or simply that your position hasn't enough traction despite how vehemently you feel about it.

 

[AAAintheBeltway]

Good one fhl.

 

[der_kommissar]

I knew this was their strategy back in the Fall of 2008...90% disapproval of the "emergency" bailout and 7 years later we can't even raise rates off the zero bound without all the needless drama...

My favorite is the "it didn't get enough votes this time around" to placate the "constituents"...but then in round 2 it has just enough votes to pass...we all know they sit around in the bar and decide who will take one for "the team" by getting what needs to get passed without making it too obvious that they are a bunch of sell-outs.

 

[BSAM]

Here's what cures 99% of the monkey business the D.C. whores conduct on a daily basis:

1. Term limits.
2. Abolition of the IRS. (Replaced by a consumption tax.)
3. Balanced budget amendment.
4. Campaign finance reform.

 

[loyek590]

Here's what cures 99% of the monkey business the D.C. whores conduct on a daily basis:

1. Term limits.
2. Abolition of the IRS. (Replaced by a consumption tax.)
3. Balanced budget amendment.
4. Campaign finance reform.

2. How high would that consumption tax have to be? and who would be responsible for collecting that consumption tax? I know when I ran a retail business it was the good old Indiana Department of Revenue that collected both my sales tax and my income tax, so I don't see how a national sales tax will eliminate the IRS.

1. We need term limits because the American people are so stupid they will just keep electing the same old corrupt fools?

3. How long do you think IBM would last if they had a balanced budget? Sometimes you just gotta borrow, especially if somebody is attacking you. I don't want my soldiers asking if we can afford to fire another missle.

4. We need campaign finance reform because the people have become so stupid they believe any ad they see on tv?

talk about a nanny state, if this is your solution I want no part of it. I'm more interested in helping those that are honest and hardworking.

 

[Tsing Tao]

2. How high would that consumption tax have to be? and who would be responsible for collecting that consumption tax? I know when I ran a retail business it was the good old Indiana Department of Revenue that collected both my sales tax and my income tax, so I don't see how a national sales tax will eliminate the IRS.

1. We need term limits because the American people are so stupid they will just keep electing the same old corrupt fools?

3. How long do you think IBM would last if they had a balanced budget? Sometimes you just gotta borrow, especially if somebody is attacking you. I don't want my soldiers asking if we can afford to fire another missle.

4. We need campaign finance reform because the people have become so stupid they believe any ad they see on tv?

talk about a nanny state, if this is your solution I want no part of it. I'm more interested in helping those that are honest and hardworking.

Holy shit, this is a bunch of nonsense.

 

[loyek590]

Holy shit, this is a bunch of nonsense.

that is a very sensical reply, thank you for contributing. I take it you are for a consumption tax? They are worse than the democrats. They want a sales tax but won't say how high. Keep in mind my sales tax is already 6 or 7 so add your consumption tax on top of that.

you crack me up...sales tax, everybody pays the same, it only hurts people that buy things

I can solve 90% of the corruption just by eliminating the corporate tax

 

[Scataphagos]

Odumbo WANTS IRAN AND ISLAM TO FLOURISH AND FOR AMERICA TO BE DESTROYED!

His immigration policies and this "deal" with Iran are the most harmful and blatant examples. As America's "leader", he continues to act against the interests of our country and in bad faith.

Rev. Wright preached, "Not God bless America, GOD DAMN AMERICA!". Odumbo listened to that for 20 years and took it to heart.