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Loading...Sanders: GOP Obstructionism “Unprecedented”
Sen. Bernie Saunders (I – VT) had harsh words for the Republicans of Congress this morning on CBS’s Face the Nation talk show. Asked about the lack of progress on legislation this session, Saunders lashed out at the GOP, calling them the Party of No and stating that he doesn’t believe that they want America to succeed.
Via CBS News:
A progressive Senator accused the Republican Party of putting their drive for power ahead of the public interest, saying this morning that the GOP chooses to obstruct legislation aimed at creating jobs in their bid to regain power in Congress.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., also said President Obama, who has suffered in many polls from a seeming inability to make headway on the economy, is facing a more extreme form of political opposition than he’d ever seen.
“I think in his heart the president is a very, very decent guy; he wants to do what most Americans want him to do: To reach out, bring people together,” Sanders said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” Sunday.
“But what has happened is the Republicans have said ‘no, no, no.’ They have waged more filibusters than any time in the history of this country. They have been the party of ‘no’ and obstructionism. At some point, what the president has got to understand [is] they do not want America to succeed. They’re into politics.”
Host Bob Schieffer asked Sanders if it was fair to say Republicans don’t want America to succeed.
Yes, he replied. “I think gaining power is their major initiative. On the floor of the Senate, Bob, I’ve got to tell you, every single day it’s 60 votes to pass legislation. That is unprecedented in American history.”
Obstructionism has been at an all time high since Obama took office. In February of this year, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi sent out a list od nearly 300 bills passed by the house that died in the senate due to filibuster.
“The Speaker believes that the filibuster has its place, but clearly Senate Republicans are taking what was once a rare procedural move and abusing it to the detriment of progress for America’s working families,” said Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill.
In this year’s State of the Union address, the president declared, “if the Republican leadership is going to insist that 60 votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town — a supermajority — then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well.”
The most recent filibusters and permanent blocks have been used on everything from stopping an appropriations bill over Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and was finally just overcome to stop Republicans who were blocking small business tax credits.
Read more: bernie saunders, fillibuster, Obstructionism, politics, republicans
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+ add your own@ Judy S.
You throw words out like you actually know what they mean.
Could you actually describe Communism or Socialism? Do you know that Socialism and Communism are much, much closer to Christ's teaching in the Bible than Capitalism?
You do know about the Bible and where it is written, "Give up your worldly possessions and live a communal life of poverty"?
The thing I love is when the GOPricks get up and with a straight face say stupid and unfounded things like this:
1: "President Obama is not interested in meeting us half way"
Answer: Actually he's gone far bast that landing in what would have been considered "conservative territory" just in the 80s or 90s
2: "President Obama's socialistic policies"
Answer: Like the ones that came from the GOPricks and President Obama liked it and wanted to get it passed (hey the GOPricks USED to have some good ideas but they've abandoned them for right wing-nut rhetoric)
3: "The President is an ineffectual leader"
Answer: Coming from brain dead morons who the President can't fire. Also, those morons have the backing of major money and even if they should lose (hopefully) in the next elections, they'll land a cushy job for $250k/yr plus options. So why would they even attempt to follow if someone else has their hand up their asses using them as puppets?
Judy S., why are you HERE? Don't you know that the liberal wrath is gonna rain down upon your unthinking head? Get educated. Don't proliferate the American STUPID electorate.
Elected Republican's behavior is as it has been since they were voted out of power, they obstruct, obstruct, obstruct, and I'm sick of them. They care only for big business, and their big paychecks. They rest of us, all of us, are only a stepping stone for their ambitions.
It's not only about power. It's about racism. I beleive that.
Judy S
How in the hell do you know what Bernie Sanders does or doesn't do with his money? For all you know he helps support a dozen charities! And I'd rather be a "communist" Sanders than a "patriotic" Paul any time at all! Your comment is pure idiocy! Go hang some tea bags from your pork pie hat and try to pass yourself off as a clear-thinking citizen!
Susan T
Glad that you agreed with a bit of what I said as I agree with what you are saying. Just so you know, I've known Bernie and voted for him since he was the Mayor of Burlington Vt and a Socialist at that. He is a man of the people and I respect him a great deal, but I also believe what I wrote a few days ago. That he is at least making some noise now, and following Obama's lead in pointing to the truth is helpful, but without other legislators doing the same thing, he is standing mostly alone and the door opens for idiots to call him a communist. Just for the record, he is a Socialist and an Independent. The fact that he stands for the people as a real human being, should, even if he is a politician, be enough for him to be considered a Senator with integrity and focused on real issues, even though he has a fat wallet like all the others.
Personally I think the Tea Party will be the death knell of the Republican Party. They have turned the Repubs into the poster child of the crazies. I'll bet there are a lot of frantic back room meetings trying to figure out what to do now! All you had to do was watch the news coverage of the tea party rallies and you could see the quality of people who were supporting them. Bigots, gun toters, silly old ladies with tea bags on their hats............ ( I really, really wanted to slap her for making us older citizens look like idiots.) Mostly people who want to take our country back while the rest of us want to take our country forward into the next century like the rest of the world is doing. They even home school their poor kids so they follow the party line into perpetuity. No global warming, no evolution in spite of all the evidence. Those kids will be in for a shock when they have to face the real world when Mommy and Daddy won't be with them and when they have to compete in a scientific, global world. Shameful! That seems to be the only way they can keep the party line going.
For the person that asked: Try alternet.org and motherjones.com for news alternatives. npr.org is good too. Also, I have subscribed to the web newsletters of my favorite politicians. These are all the reasons that I have been less involved with Care2 lately (sigh--I do love it). This Senate election in less than a month (!) is more important than a presidential election, it seems... since the president has been castrated by the GOP since his election.
I don't even have TV. Maybe that is why I feel like I have a slightly different POV than so many others here.
I have donated a tiny bit of money to my candidates, and I am volunteering this week. These guys seem grossly underfunded compared to their Republican counterparts.
If you have time or money, try to do the same in your communities.
I hate filibusters! If they're not working then they shouldn't get paid. If the American people go on strike or quit work to protest, THEY DON'T GET PAID.
sanders is not an independant I believe he is a communist hiding as a democrate. He was to share everyones wealth with the poor. How about sharing his. Pres. Kennedy gave his salary to charity
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