GOP sits on its hands...again

[Precious_b]

Originally Posted by 1blackman1

Republicans can’t govern. It’s on full display.

They wanted the house but really just wanted to be an opposition party. They can’t even pick a speaker which is the most basic function. I hope Jimbo wins. He’ll spend the next year having a clown show. No legislation will come from the house that’s got a snowball chance of becoming law aside from renaming parks and post offices. We can almost guarantee a govt shutdown since he is a shit negotiator.

The likes of Gaetz won’t have him kicked out but he’ll learn quick enough that they’ll never agree to passing anything that can get through the senate to signature and he’ll have a very difficult time negotiating with democrats to pass something.

I’ll watch for the humor, even while congress is burning.

Unfortunately I have to agree. They are on full can't-work-and-play-well-with-others. Be it within or out of their party.

Originally Posted by Salty Again

... No worrys there, mates.

There will be MORE Republicans in the House and Senate
after next year... Along with a Republican President!

Won't be any sitting on hands then...

#### Salty

It shall be as the voters say.
And it won't be if they sit on their hands.

Originally Posted by FesteredUncle

Seems a false premise. I doubt anyone actually cares if the GOP sits on their hands. The only actual concern they have is them sitting on the wallet of money that we do not have to spend on stupid stuff that very few want or need, while not spending for stuff we do actually need.

So, that's the answer. Do Nothing. That is the sinister plan they have to solve the countries problems? Well, let us say that is. I can sure see that the price of gas is going down. Well below the three buck complaint level. But according to the repubs, that can't be. Y'all quite clearly state that the POTUS sets the price (though you never showed *me* the proof when I asked for it.) So, where is the praise for joey gittin'er done? Anybody? Buehler? Buehler?

All of y'all rightie rights give yourself a pat on the back in showing the world how fucked up we are because you can't even pick one person to be the voice of the House.

[Tiny]

Originally Posted by texassapper

Why SHOULD Congress be writing new laws every day? When was the last time Congress ACTUALLY completed a formal budget for submission?

It can't fcuking walk let alone chew bubble gum. A Congress that can't do anything is better than a Congress spending money we don't have and making laws that further reduce our liberty.

Good post

Originally Posted by Precious_b

So, that's the answer. Do Nothing. That is the sinister plan they have to solve the countries problems? Well, let us say that is. I can sure see that the price of gas is going down. Well below the three buck complaint level. But according to the repubs, that can't be. Y'all quite clearly state that the POTUS sets the price (though you never showed *me* the proof when I asked for it.) So, where is the praise for joey gittin'er done? Anybody? Buehler? Buehler?

The average retail price of gasoline, "all grades all formulations", was $2.42/gallon when Biden took office. It was $3.98 last month. And the price has been on an uptrend since December.

https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/Le...te_nus_dpg&f=m

How much of the price increase can you attribute to Biden? Well, probably some but perhaps not a lot. OPEC and Russia certainly have had more influence on U.S. gasoline prices than the Biden administration. Biden did shut down the Keystone XL pipeline expansion. His EPA has used a heavy hand regulating refineries and forcing refiners to add biofuels to their blends. He campaigned on and intended to shut down drilling on federal leases, which account for about 20% to 25% of USA oil production, but backed off because of political considerations and the courts.

In the longer term though, the Biden Administration may play a larger role in oil and gasoline prices. There's not as much money flowing to the oil patch from Wall Street and other investors, as they realize policies of the Biden and future Administrations may leave oil companies with stranded assets -- oil and gas fields they'll have to abandon prematurely. And over the longer term, since about 2012, it's the USA that has produced the world's incremental oil, and thus played an outsized role in setting the price of oil. We were producing around 5.6 million barrels a day in 2011 and are now at 13 million barrels a day. Obama bragged about the increasing oil and gas production during his administration. USA oil production has increased since Biden took office too, as a result of a rebound from the price collapse that occurred in 2020 because of COVID. Biden though, unlike Obama, wants to knee cap the domestic oil and gas industry. He wants to see it eventually go out of business. Not soon of course. That would hurt his re-election prospects.

Originally Posted by Precious_b

All of y'all rightie rights give yourself a pat on the back in showing the world how fucked up we are because you can't even pick one person to be the voice of the House.

In this new MAGA world, Democratic politicians accuse Republicans of being pro-Authoritarian. Not to defend Trump, his influence over the party, or election denialism, but are Democratic Politicians the Authoritarians?

Republicans can't agree on a Speaker. But they're free to disagree. Certainly you wouldn't see this kind of thing happening under Iron Nancy Pelosi.

[Precious_b]

Originally Posted by Tiny

...
Republicans can't agree on a Speaker. But they're free to disagree. Certainly you wouldn't see this kind of thing happening under Iron Nancy Pelosi.

I think repubs secretly desire to operate under an iron fist. Being made to give fealty to donny supports such from the top down.

[dilbert firestorm]

this chism inside the republican party has been brewing for quite awhile. so its not really surprising that it blew up during the budget negotiations.

this is between the small groups of populist and moderate factions.

the populist faction took down McCarthy who is considered to be a moderate.

the moderate faction got pissy, so takes down Scalise & Jordan. their claim is that they're J6 supporters and shouldn't be speaker.

the position of the speaker used to wield a lot of power, however, the power has been significantly curtailed, but they are things a speaker can do.

regarding pelosi on keeping her caucus in line, bribing the members with goodies is what will keeps them in line. thats something that scalise & jordan wouldn't do.

[Salty Again]

... As I keep sayin' - this is Democracy in Action!
And the Dems also fuel it as well.

IF the "state of America" was truly "in peril" because
of no speaker - the Dems surely coulda put a quick end
to it by just supporting Jordan and voting him on.

... Yet they didn't... So there is where we are.

#### Salty

[dilbert firestorm]

Originally Posted by Salty Again

... As I keep sayin' - this is Democracy in Action!
And the Dems also fuel it as well.

IF the "state of America" was truly "in peril" because
of no speaker - the Dems surely coulda put a quick end
to it by just supporting Jordan and voting him on.

... Yet they didn't... So there is where we are.

#### Salty

stirring the pot. i think they want guarantees the republican factions are not prepared to accept.

something to do with the image.

the majority are stuck between the two sniping factions.

you know. its not a bad thing when congress can't do shit.

there have been stoppages before and people got along fine without congress screwing things up.

[eccieuser9500]

Originally Posted by eyecu2

Apparently the GOP has not yet learned this lesson. Our federal government cannot operate without a speaker in the house to pass any legislation. Oh and it seems as though the world is on fire, but thanks to dear old Matt Gaetz, and the GOP's 8 assholes have decided to cripple government.

And of course the freedom caucus that have decided to control all of Congress and hold the world and the United States as a hostage, just as Hamas is holding hostages, won't be happy until they finger point, shit their pants, and have another 15 votes, to hold Kevin as the next speaker - yet again.

The GOP does what it does - squeals like a little bitch, sits on its hands, and gets nothing done

Then there is a power vacuum. "If nobody knows who to pay, nobody gets paid."

There's another idea out there:

[eccieuser9500]

Originally Posted by dilbert firestorm

you know. its not a bad thing when congress can't do shit.

Yes there is. Somebody needs to tell those free-loading welfare babies to get to work. What the fuck dilby?


You know there are a lot of people crossing the border waiting to work who can do their job.

[Precious_b]

Originally Posted by dilbert firestorm

this chism inside the republican party has been brewing for quite awhile. so its not really surprising that it blew up during the budget negotiations.

this is between the small groups of populist and moderate factions.

the populist faction took down McCarthy who is considered to be a moderate.

the moderate faction got pissy, so takes down Scalise & Jordan. their claim is that they're J6 supporters and shouldn't be speaker.

the position of the speaker used to wield a lot of power, however, the power has been significantly curtailed, but they are things a speaker can do.

regarding pelosi on keeping her caucus in line, bribing the members with goodies is what will keeps them in line. thats something that scalise & jordan wouldn't do.

Think it started with that "Just One Term!" mantra they adopted as the panacea cure all for all the party woes when Obama got the second term?

Originally Posted by Salty Again

... As I keep sayin' - this is Democracy in Action!
And the Dems also fuel it as well.

IF the "state of America" was truly "in peril" because
of no speaker - the Dems surely coulda put a quick end
to it by just supporting Jordan and voting him on.

... Yet they didn't... So there is where we are.

#### Salty

So, you saying da dems forced McCarthy to accept the overbearing rules gaetz (sp) set up because he was so desperate to be Speaker? Or are you saying it was da dem that invoked that rule that got him kicked out? Show me where da dems were actively trying to boot him while he held the chair.

Originally Posted by eccieuser9500

Yes there is. Somebody needs to tell those free-loading welfare babies to get to work. What the fuck dilby?


You know there are a lot of people crossing the border waiting to work who can do their job.

No shit! They should pull all their salary and benefits that come with their position until they sort the crap out.

[Texas Contrarian]

Originally Posted by texassapper

This is a FEATURE, not a BUG.

Boo hoo, the government can't pass any new laws making Americans criminals, it can't send MORE money to Ukraine, it can't get get a budget passed... whoops it hasn't done that properly in over a decade either.

I'm in the camp that considers government gridlock an unambiguously good thing, at least up to a point.

Consider the second half of the 1990s, when deficit spending declined dramatically as the Clinton administration and the Gingrich House were continually at loggerheads over budget issues.

Or the 2011-2015 period following midterm elections, prior to which both the House and Senate featured (nearly) 60%-40% Democratic majorities. Then Republicans got on the same page, acted resolutely, and reined in the spending fantasies of that era's progressives.

After Matt Gaetz and his close allies followed through with their earlier threat to deep-six McCarthy's speakership, ugly chaos immediately ensued. (Did anyone expect any other outcome?)

But how in the world could anyone think Jordan would be a good choice? He's been a bomb-thrower of the first rank for years. Other than the uber-nihilistic narcissist-in-chief, I can't think of anyone more likely to wreck Republicans' electoral chances over the next half-decade.

Originally Posted by txdot-guy

There are plenty of adults in the room . But unfortunately they are too afraid of what will happen to them if they choose to compromise. If the Republican center had the courage to work with Democrats we could have a real power sharing arrangement. I'm sure there are a number of things we could agree on if they weren't afraid of being primaried next election or worse, being called a rino and waiting for some nut to show up at their house with a gun to kill them or their family members.

Sadly, I believe you are spot on. Someone reported earlier that about 100 Republicans (in a private conference) said they opposed Jordan, but only a small fraction will say so publicly. (Real profiles in courage, eh?)

Although razor-thin, Republicans still hold a House majority, and need to get on the page with a solid set of proposals to address myriad challenges and repair what's gone off the rails. (Especially the frightening debt-accumulation trajectory and border security, but numerous other failures as well.)

Originally Posted by Tiny

Yes Waco Kid. Unfortunately Democratic Party politicians have no fear of $2 trillion deficits, a $25.5 trillion net national debt, or the $1.3 trillion per year we'll be spending just on interest expense if rates normalize around 5% per annum. And perhaps it makes sense for them. They figure they can spend like drunken sailors to buy voters and special interests. And then hopefully Americans won't have to pay the piper for their profligate spending until they're no longer in office. Admittedly a lot of Republicans think similarly, but the Democrats are worse.

Tiny, I generally agree with you on economic and fiscal issues -- but here I must take issue with your post, as I find it rather offensive.

It's a gratuitous insult to drunken sailors, who --after all -- spend their own money. In fact, throughout the history of the US Navy, sailors on shore leave have always settled up with the waitstaffs of bars all around the world when asked, leaving no trail of debt in their wake.

I would say instead that progressives seek to spend like SMU trust fund brats at a strip club. (With daddy's credit cards!)

[eccieuser9500]

Originally Posted by Texas Contrarian

I'm in the camp that considers government gridlock an unambiguously good thing, at least up to a point.




Tiny, I generally agree with you on economic and fiscal issues -- but here I must take issue with your post, as I find it rather offensive.

It's a gratuitous insult to drunken sailors, who --after all -- spend their own money. In fact, throughout the history of the US Navy, sailors on shore leave have always settled up with the waitstaffs of bars all around the world when asked, leaving no trail of debt in their wake.

I would say instead that progressives seek to spend like SMU trust fund brats at a strip club. (With daddy's credit cards!)

I am reminded of either Jay Leno or Dennis Miller who said "Republicans want money for nothing, and Democrats want chicks for free."

Point being: sailors, and other government employees for that matter, spend their earned money how they want.


Progressives who earn their money spend it as they find legally fit. Not their daddy's money. Sir.

[dilbert firestorm]

Originally Posted by Texas Contrarian

[SNIP]

But how in the world could anyone think Jordan would be a good choice? He's been a bomb-thrower of the first rank for years. Other than the uber-nihilistic narcissist-in-chief, I can't think of anyone more likely to wreck Republicans' electoral chances over the next half-decade.

[SNIP]

may eye remind you good sir that Newt Gingrich was a bomb thrower before he became speaker.

being the minority leader prolly helped.

[eccieuser9500]

Being a bomb thrower for a party that only has dust to offer is completely different from a party that can get shit done.

Newt had real power.

[Yssup Rider]

As I recall, he came into power during a previous RWW revolution.

Texas turned red.

The Dark Side had taken over our state.

Gingrich is a throwback to an earlier, allegedly dumber time. Republicans sat on their hands then too.

What is currently at play in the House today, though, should convince one or two of their voters to consider not re-electing these dipshits.

[Texas Contrarian]

Originally Posted by eccieuser9500

I am reminded of either Jay Leno or Dennis Miller who said "Republicans want money for nothing, and Democrats want chicks for free."

Hey, what's not to like about that? Count me in!

Point being: sailors, and other government employees for that matter, spend their earned money how they want.

Progressives who earn their money spend it as they find legally fit. Not their daddy's money. Sir.

No one has a problem with sailors, progressives, or anyone else spending money they've earned pretty much any way they please!

What we should have a problem with is progressive politicians seeking to spend other peoples' money (whether taxed, borrowed, or printed) in wildly excessive ways on myriad vote-buying schemes that run up trillions of dollars of additional debt. We're already at the $2 trillion dollar annual deficit spending run rate. Isn't that quite enough, or should we try to double it again over the next four years?

Originally Posted by dilbert firestorm

may eye remind you good sir that Newt Gingrich was a bomb thrower before he became speaker.

Yes, he certainly was! But there's a big difference, as alluded to by eccieuser9500. To wit:

Originally Posted by eccieuser9500

Being a bomb thrower for a party that only has dust to offer is completely different from a party that can get shit done.

Newt had real power.

Whether you liked him or not, Newt and his caucus enforced real spending discipline during the second half of the 1990s. In fact, federal government spending as a percentage of GDP fell by over three percentage points during the period.

Of course, it helped that Bill's administration (and especially Treasury Secretary Rubin) actually had some fiscally conservative instincts, especially compared with today's Democrats.

By contrast, Jordan is clueless and incompetent. His bombs are more likely to be duds, or to misfire and explode right in the middle of his party's electoral prospects next year. If you're looking for the congressional leader most likely to torpedo his own party's majority status in November of 2024, Jim's your man. Hell, he even sort of looks like a torpedo!

The title of the thread references a Republican Party that's viewed as just "sitting on its hands."

Oh, but would that it only stop there. I'm afraid this is much worse than one of our two major parties just "sitting on its hands."

It looks more to me like it's embarking on a fully amped-up kamikaze mission.