Republicans Whining Because Obama Is Working Around Thie Obstructions

Republicans are howling about the proposal to expand health coverage and tax greenhouse gas emissions without their input, warning that it could irrevocably damage relations with the new president.

"Warning that it could irrevocably damage relations with the new president." Right, those would be the relations where Obama bent over backwards, even offered the GOP 3 cabinet posts, and in return 3 of them - a whopping 3 - voted for the stimulus package. What "relations" are the Republicans talking about?

clipped from www.americablog.com The Republican whining about Obama and bipartisanship is getting tiresome. To work, bipartisanship has to be a two-way street. But, the Republicans have a roadblock on their side of the street -- and they bitch every time Obama tries to get around their obstructions: Obama went to the White House with a vow to change the way things are done. The Republicans are playing the same games. Obama vowed accomplishments for the American people. The Republicans on Capitol Hill are doing every thing they can to stop him. So, when Obama basically, says "Fine, I'll do it without you," the Republicans whine and run to the media. It's pathetic and it's gotten really old already. Rush Limbaugh, the leader of the GOP, has said repeatedly he wants Obama to fail. Most of the GOPers on the Hill are lemmings who follow (and fear) Rush That's what Obama is up against. Republicans want to kill Obama's agenda. It's good that the White House has figured that out

Rush Limbaugh: the Great Divider

I must be masochistic to even bother with the ole windbag but I guess it’s a morbid curiosity akin to slowing down to see a car accident.

He talks about ‘taking back’ the nation. Does he not realize he is, ‘cough’, ‘choke’, a part of this nation?

He obviously has a lot of followers since he has been on the air as long as he has. It’s scary to know there are that many like-minded people who tune him in. Personally I have a difficult time reading what he says, there ‘s no way I would listen to his radio broadcasts.

I have a suggestion, Mr. Limbaugh, how about working with the president, everyone’s leader, to work on a recovery plan that will bring this nation back to prosperity. That is if you can keep your colossal ego in check.

It will probably require an intervention, but if you can admit that Team Bush did a lousy job of running this country and is responsible for the mess we are in, then we can drop this bravado of yours that prevents you from being a part of the solution. If in one those rare moments when you allow the overwhelming truth to seep in past your defenses, even you will have to finally see that we got rid of Bush a little too late.

You claim that conservatives have not done a good enough job letting people know who you are. Au contraire, Mr. Limbaugh, for eight long years we witnessed all too well who you guys are. Say, isn’t this an admission by the ‘infallible’ Rush that Bush did not do a good job? Honestly, the Bush crew paved the path to dismantling the republican party leadership by turning a surplus at the beginning of his first term into the deepest deficit this nation has ever known. And the result has put you in front of the Conservative Political Action Committee pleading for someone to please take the lead of your parry. Can’t you recognize the fruitlessness in trying to find someone to follow those same policies that has derailed this nation? Obviously, no one wants to take the lead of a party that has failed so miserably.

It seems you guys are well versed in how to make corporate leaders richer and you certainly know how to go about protecting their wealth. But, if your grand plan of giving all of the money to those in the ‘upper’ income brackets really would have provided more money to be spread around to everyone else, would we be in the economic mess we are in today? The current state of the economy speaks for itself.

And what is this self-described "first national address" business? One would think you consider yourself president of this nation. I know it plays well with your ego to see yourself in this position, but you did not get elected as my president. The “fear, angst and crisis” charge you put at Obama’s doorstep was GW’s modus operandi and wouldn’t it be great to allow American’s back into a productive position by having your conservative bank buddies loosen their grip on the bailout money and allow it to fulfill its intended purpose?

It has been “historically shown and demonstrated” that republicans can dig us into a deep recession and then complain about how democrats don’t know how to correct it. Mr. Limbaugh, instead of preaching about how President Obama wants us to fear the worst so he and his pals can come in and save the day, how about you recognize that this is exactly what you want to do. Put that nonsense behind us and get on with providing some helpful solutions?

Bailout? What Bailout?

Does acting quickly have the desired effect of appearing to know what you are doing? In the case of the $700B Wall Street bailout, the answer is apparently, No.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson panicked and cajoled Congress into passing a bailout that was identified as needed immediately in order to avert a looming economic crash that would have rivaled the stock market crash of 1929. In hindsight, his plan failed to have any effect and the stock market is still fluctuating wildly. Now, after being given complete control over how that money is to be used, he has changed course. This action has angered many who voted for the measure and has raised the question of his credibility and competence.

The plan was to buy troubled assets. Then the money was used to buy shares in banks. Now it’s going to be used to support financial institutions offering consumer credit. Democrats in Congress want some of the money to go to the auto industry.

The money was to be used to “stabilize” the economy. It didn’t stabilize anything.

The money was supposed to buy “troubled assets”, but it will not buy troubled assets.

The money was supposed to “rescue” Wall Street, but has only rescued some big banks and corporations. (The conspiracy theorist in me wants to think that those who were rescued had some ties to the Bush administration. Another theory has the federal government socializing the banking system. But these are fodder for other posts at another time).

The fact is Henry Paulson doesn’t have a clue how to best use this money and the program that was originally passed has changed. (Sounds an awful lot like a scam, doesn’t it).

The majority of House Republicans didn’t want any part of the original plan without more details and therefore did not vote for it. The plan was voted for by House GOP Leadership defying the wishes of the majority of members of their own House caucus. Now, some members of Congress, republicans and democrats alike, are supporting Bloomberg News in its legal demand that the Federal Reserve provide details of the bailout process.

It is down right scary to know that Congress will vote for a plan without details of that plan and place unprecedented power in the hands of a man who has now clearly shown does not know what to do with the money.

So, what we have is an extremely large pool of money (many say is not large enough), a man in charge of that fund who admittedly does not know what to do with it, and a faltering economy that desperately needs to be stabilized. Would demanding Paulson’s resignation improve things? I doubt it.

People are still loosing their homes and jobs, and our faith in our future is being badly shaken. CEO’s and big oil are walking away with record profits. Politicians grasp at any glimmer of hope to keep things working and no one is truly in control of anything.