Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

They don’t have outfits that big. nor codpieces that small.

If you are still in the gop, you are either an extremist yourself, or in bed with those who are.

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

Accountability, motherfuckers.

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. keep building.

Rupert, come get your orange boy, you petrified old dinosaur turd.

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

Trumpflation is an intolerable hardship for every American, and it’s Trump’s fault.

Jack Smith: “Why did you start campaigning in the middle of my investigation?!”

When you’re a Republican, they let you do it.

Let there be snark.

Hell hath no fury like a farmer bankrupted.

It’s easy to sit in safety and prescribe what other people should be doing.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

One lie, alone, tears the fabric of reality.

Lick the third rail, it tastes like chocolate!

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

In after Baud. Damn.

The republican speaker is a slippery little devil.

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

You are here: Home / Politics / Proud to Be A Democrat / GOP Still Showing Their… Acumen

GOP Still Showing Their… Acumen

by | 49 Comments

This post is in: , ,

Via Dave Weigel, from the NYTimes:

…[A] debate in the House Rules Committee on the merits of a lawsuit that Speaker John A. Boehner plans to file against President Obama, exposed simmering partisan tensions as Democrats used the occasion to ridicule the speaker’s move as a hollow ruse.

“We have seen subpoena after subpoena after subpoena, witch hunt after witch hunt,” Representative Jim McGovern, Democrat of Massachusetts, said. “The American people should sue the House leadership for emotional pain and suffering.”

Republican members of the Rules Committee, and the legal experts they called to defend their case, were pressed to explain what appears to be the biggest problem with the House of Representatives’ filing a lawsuit against a president: the need to prove that the House has somehow been injured by the president’s actions….

“The lawsuit is clearly being used to appease members of the Republican Party who will not rest until President Obama is charged with articles of impeachment,” said Representative Louise M. Slaughter of New York, the committee’s senior Democrat. “This incredible waste of time will also be a colossal waste of money,” she added, pressing Republicans to reveal how much they were spending on the case.

Far from unanimously embracing the speaker’s plan, some prominent Republicans have been tepid in their support…

Democrats and their constitutional experts pointed out that the lawsuit could have consequences Republicans probably do not intend. If it is successful in challenging the administration’s move to delay parts of the health care law, for example, the result will be that the law is put into effect more quickly…

My emphases. If we didn’t have so many categories already, I’d add “Republican Clown Car on Parade” to the list…

Reader Interactions

49Comments

  1. 1.

    PsiFighter37

    How much money did the House GOP waste in defending DOMA? For all their talk about hating lawyers and judicial activism, they sure seem to favor suing first and (not) thinking about the merits later.

  4. 4.

    The Dangerman

    I don’t get their strategy sometimes; for example, they insist on sending the National Guard to the border…

    …and do what that the Border Patrol isn’t doing?! I can’t believe they are advocating live fire but when Perry and Hannity ride down the Rio armed to the teeth, maybe they do?

  5. 5.

    WereBear

    Democrats and their constitutional experts pointed out that the lawsuit could have consequences Republicans probably do not intend. If it is successful in challenging the administration’s move to delay parts of the health care law, for example, the result will be that the law is put into effect more quickly…

    Republicans INVENTED Law of Unintended Consequences, mark my words.

  6. 6.

    Roger Moore

    My big question is what relief they’re going to ask for. Even if the House has somehow been injured, they have to propose a remedy to their injury. It’s hard to see what remedy they could ask for except for specific performance, which will soon be moot anyway. It’s hard to see how this whole thing could more obviously be a publicity stunt.

  7. 7.

    dmsilev

    And to top it off, the base doesn’t seem to be particularly impressed by this stunt. They regard it as a cop-out from what they *really* want, which is impeachment.

  8. 8.

    burnspbesq

    There are times when I wish we had the English rule that the loser has to pay the winner’s attorney’s fees. Holder could have a hell of a party for all of DOJ. Rent out Nationals Park, hire Beyonce to perform, open bar …

  9. 9.

    Thoughtful David

    @Roger Moore:
    @dmsilev:
    Yes, it is a publicity stunt, aimed at the batshit crazy fringe. But it’s so transparent they can’t even fool their own loons.

    I’m still guessing it never gets filed. They’ll yammer and yammer and then it will just quietly disappear. And taking its place will be outright screams for impeachment from the loons, which Boehner will have to tamp down, and which will cause serious stress among the whole Tealiban.

  10. 10.

    Suffern ACE

    @The Dangerman: I assume they are going to ask them to shoot the children. They can’t believe that waving guns around is going to deter these children. I mean, these kids have probably seen men with guns before. It’s why they are leaving, actually.

  11. 11.

    Little Boots

    the fact that these people will probably be re-elected this year is a deep shame to this country.

    although, maybe stunts like this will wake up just enough people before november.

  12. 12.

    Davis X. Machina

    @Roger Moore:

    My big question is what relief they’re going to ask for.

    Your Honor, we seek an injunction that would enjoin the President from any further presidenting, an’ shit.

  14. 14.

    NotMax

    Same folks who have assiduously labored on creating carve-out after carve-out within which it is illegal for reg’lar folks to bring suit against the saintly business sector.

    Janus weeps.

  16. 16.

    piratedan

    @NotMax: so all Obama has to do is incorporate himself as POTUS LLC and all of his employees, i.e. the Nation, would then have to deal with whatever health plan he could negotiate with the insurance company of his choice….. I think we may have to revisit this…. because I can see that some middle management could be marked for early retirement under this management model :-)

  17. 17.

    Baud

    The Orangeman is such a loser, I can see him not having the votes to even pass this resolution.

  18. 18.

    Mandalay

    …pressing Republicans to reveal how much they were spending on the case.

    The answer to that is known: absolutely nothing. The appropriate question to be raised ad nauseam is how much government money Republicans are wasting on the case. Every time a Republican advocates spending cuts, ask them the cost to taxpayers of their frivolous lawsuit.

  21. 21.

    Hal

    Ugh. I still have Orange Julius’s screeching “when’s he going to take responsibility for anything!!!” stuck in my head.

    This is what Republicans voted for in the end. People making 170,000 a year to do nothing but say no, and file frivolous lawsuits. Haven’t any Repubs noticed their house member doesn’t do shit? The Lawsuit is just a way to make it seem like they are working one something, anything in order to justify all those job perks.

    Also, I still can’t figure out the point to the suit. If it did somehow win, wouldn’t that mean the immediate implementation of the employer mandate, which Republicans originally asked for a delay in implementing in the first place?

    Not to mention the fact that all we have heard from house Republicans is claims of criminal activity in Benghazi and the IRS, but all you can come up with is a delayed ACA mandate? I also wondered who the people were who bought vacuum cleaners from door to door salesman. I guess I should look no further than Boner’s district.

  22. 22.

    Anoniminous

    Gallup, so don’t take too seriously:

    The political environment in which the 2014 elections are being contested promises to be difficult for congressional incumbents, as public attitudes on key indicators that predict election outcomes are comparatively worse than in prior midterm election years. The likelihood of significant improvement in any of these indicators between now and the fall is fairly low; the dominant trend for congressional approval, presidential approval, and satisfaction is that the measures become more negative by the eve of the midterm elections than they were in January of the same year.

  23. 23.

    Davis X. Machina

    @Hal:

    Their objection to doing anything is philosophical. That government is best, that doesn’t.

    It’s in Burke. Or Oakeshott. Or Nozick. Or Rothbard. Or one of those guys.

    But it’s someone famous….

  24. 24.

    Matt McIrvin

    @WereBear: I assumed that forcing the employer mandate to come into effect more quickly was the point, under the assumption that it would cause general outrage and that they could then attack Obama for it in advance of the fall election.

  25. 25.

    Anoniminous

    “Your edited comment was marked as spam. If this is in error, please contact the admin. ”

    FYWP

  26. 26.

    Davis X. Machina

    @Matt McIrvin: A clever move, this — to rob Obama of the support of people whose support he never had, going into a re-election fight from which he’s constitutionally barred.

  27. 27.

    mai naem

    Maybe Obama just needs to throw it all to the wind and tell the GOP to go ahead and impeach him. Tell them he wants tax rates for those making $1M and up go down 6.66 percent and tax rates on those making minimum wage go up 6.66 percent. Those making $50-100K go up 3.666 percent. He then can tell them that he’ll sign up for drilling in ANWR and the Keystone pipeline. And, oh yeah, sign a bill outlawing all abortions. Just go for it all, because the Pavlovian response of the GOP to anything Obama wants is “Hell, no!”

  28. 28.

    Anoniminous

    GOP needs to keep their base enthusiasm dialed to eleven or they could be facing losses in the House.

  29. 29.

    dmsilev

    @efgoldman: Some GOP Rep was quoted today as saying that they’d like to impeach Obama but they’re just too busy to get around to it.

    These people have all the self-reflection of a nest of vampires.

  30. 30.

    Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name)

    @efgoldman: Time to bring out my favorite Oliver Cromwell speech:

    It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.

    Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter’d your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?

    Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil’d this sacred place, and turn’d the Lord’s temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress’d, are yourselves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors.

    In the name of God, go!

  31. 31.

    Randy P

    @WereBear: When our lab got frustrated at that kind of teasing, she’d just start gnawing on my arm.

    Hmmm, your analogy might have some possibilities…

  32. 32.

    WaterGirl

    @Anoniminous: Were you trying to reply to someone? That’s what I was getting when I tried to reply to Omnes or MikeJ when their nyms were having trouble.

  34. 34.

    Roger Moore

    @Thoughtful David:

    But it’s so transparent they can’t even fool their own loons.

    When you can’t even fool the teabaggers, you’ve scraped far enough through the bottom of the barrel that you’ve probably struck oil.

  36. 36.

    WaterGirl

    @Roger Moore: Sadly, I think that is getting closer to the truth.

    When I hear people say “I don’t think this is about race”, I look at them and wonder what world they are living in, because it’s not the same one I live in.

  38. 38.

    SFAW

    @WaterGirl:

    When I hear people say “I don’t think this is about race”, I look at them and wonder what world they are living in, because it’s not the same one I live in.

    Oh, come on, get real. Even The Fuckin’ Nuge (or Nuuuuuuuuge!) says that he likes niggers black folks just fine, he’s hired some during his 50-odd years in rock’n’troll, and based his judgment on their character, not their color.

    Unless they’re sub-human mongrels, of course – then he’ll wanna shoot ’em.

  39. 39.

    Scott S.

    So could the White House just go into court and say, “We concede,” let the judge order the ACA enacted immediately, and sit back and enjoy the squealing? It’s not like Boehner could appeal a case decided in his favor…

  43. 43.

    RaflW

    …the result will be that the law is put into effect more quickly

    A few days ago I suggested here that Obama just issue a new executive order rescinding the delay in the employer mandate. I still feel that way. Just sign the thing and then have a low-level press officer call a quick presser in front of Boehner’s office in Congress to reveal that the deed is done. The aid can say “If you have any questions, step thru this door. That’s the man that is demanding the reversal of the order. We’ve complied. It’s his baby now.”

  46. 46.

    The Other Chuck

    @RaflW: Why on earth would Obama want to cut short the glorious spectacle of the GOP endlessly stomping on its own dick? Hell, he should delay it another year.

  47. 47.

    NonyNony

    @The Other Chuck:

    Why on earth would Obama want to cut short the glorious spectacle of the GOP endlessly stomping on its own dick?

    Yeah.

    Let’s be honest here – if Obama undermines Boehner that way then Boehner will just come up with something else. He’ll have to – his caucus will demand it.

    Might as well let them fume over this for a while and fight amongst themselves. You can always undercut them at the last minute if it looks like they might be getting somewhere.

Comments are closed.