Republicans Vote Against Moms; No Word Yet on Puppies, Kittens

[Dogger]

I used to think that Republicans could at least do politics well.

178 Republicans cast their votes against mothers! And they actually voted for motherhood before they voted against it! The GOP position on flags and apple pie remain unchanged.

Republicans Vote Against Moms; No Word Yet on Puppies, Kittens

By Dana Milbank
Friday, May 9, 2008; Page A03

It was already shaping up to be a difficult year for congressional Republicans. Now, on the cusp of Mother's Day, comes this: A majority of the House GOP has voted against motherhood.

On Wednesday afternoon, the House had just voted, 412 to 0, to pass H. Res. 1113, "Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day," when Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), rose in protest.

"Mr. Speaker, I move to reconsider the vote," he announced.

Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), who has two young daughters, moved to table Tiahrt's request, setting up a revote. This time, 178 Republicans cast their votes against mothers.

It has long been the custom to compare a popular piece of legislation to motherhood and apple pie. Evidently, that is no longer the standard. Worse, Republicans are now confronted with a John Kerry-esque predicament: They actually voted for motherhood before they voted against it.

Republicans, unhappy with the Democratic majority, have been using such procedural tactics as this all week to bring the House to a standstill, but the assault on mothers may have gone too far. House Minority Leader John Boehner, asked yesterday to explain why he and 177 of his colleagues switched their votes, answered: "Oh, we just wanted to make sure that everyone was on record in support of Mother's Day."

By voting against it?

If Boehner's explanation doesn't make much sense, he's been under a great deal of stress lately.

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[rayboyusmc]

ARe these the same Republicans who railed against the Democrats when they wanted to Philly Buster? I believe they have bustered more since they lost control than the Dems did for the six years of Misanthrope's Reckless Rule.

Maybe, they are a bunch of muthers themselves.

 

[William Joyce]

Once upon a time, wise men understood that the role of the federal government had nothing to do with mothers, puppies and flowers. Those were the province of families, homes and Mother Nature. The federal government's job was protecting the shores from attack, printing money and foreign policy. The job of the federal government, in fact, was to stay the hell away from domestic policy. Now that we've dissolved into this silliness, seemingly intractably, what's the end of it? Congress sponsors a resolution in favor of happiness and sunshine? And anyone who objects to that absurdity is against both? This is such a crystallization of the retardation of American politics, where government replaces God.

Actually, I wouldn't be surprised to see a resolution declaring the federal government to be our true mother.

 

[rayboyusmc]

Actually, I wouldn't be surprised to see a resolution declaring the federal government to be our true mother.

No that would really be "true mutha."

 

[Gunny]

I used to think that Republicans could at least do politics well.

178 Republicans cast their votes against mothers! And they actually voted for motherhood before they voted against it! The GOP position on flags and apple pie remain unchanged.

I'm surprised ANYONE proposed, much less voted for such a useless piece of drivel. Almost as surprised as I'm NOT that someone would post this pointless garbage and try to politicize it.

You do liberals more disservice with crap like this than ANY good. And here I thought you claimed (over and over) to be smarter than the average bear.

 

[Dogger]

I'm surprised ANYONE proposed, much less voted for such a useless piece of drivel. Almost as surprised as I'm NOT that someone would post this pointless garbage and try to politicize it.

You do liberals more disservice with crap like this than ANY good. And here I thought you claimed (over and over) to be smarter than the average bear.

The point is that the GOP has become so obstructionist that even something like Mother's Day isn't safe: "Republicans, unhappy with the Democratic majority, have been using such procedural tactics as this all week to bring the House to a standstill, . . . "

I never claimed to be smarter than everyone. Just you and a few others.

 

[Paulie]

The point is that the GOP has become so obstructionist that even something like Mother's Day isn't safe: "Republicans, unhappy with the Democratic majority, have been using such procedural tactics as this all week to bring the House to a standstill, . . . "

I never claimed to be smarter than everyone. Just you and a few others.

Did you ever think that maybe they aren't obstructing the idea of Mother's Day, as much as they're obstructing the use of the United States Congress to spend time and money even DISCUSSING the issue, let alone actually proposing a resolution and coming to a complete vote?

Mother's Day exists. It has for a long time now. Congress has no business wasting OUR time, and yes, their time is OURS, politicizing the idea of celebrating the role of Motherhood. We do just fine with that as citizens, in our own households.

Our economy is in shambles, our foreign relations are disgusting, and you want congress to come to agreement on the issue of Mother's Day.

 

[Gunny]

The point is that the GOP has become so obstructionist that even something like Mother's Day isn't safe: "Republicans, unhappy with the Democratic majority, have been using such procedural tactics as this all week to bring the House to a standstill, . . . "

I never claimed to be smarter than everyone. Just you and a few others.

Are you kidding me? I don't see anything about anyone threatening "Mother's Day." Let's be real ... Mother's Day is an invention of the greeting cards companies to suck more money out of people.

Be that as it may, all I see is a vote against celebrating celebrating Mother's Day.

And you can flap that partisan crap all you want, but Democrats did the exact same thing when they were in the minority and bet you agreed with them every time, so give your aching, superior intellect a rest.

 

[Gungnir]

AFAIK, that Democrat Wilson put Mother's Day into effect. What a silly waste of time for the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT!

President George Bush Sr was the last serious president we had... and that is not saying much.

Look at the contenders since then:
Slick Willy
Viagra Dole
George Bush Jr. (I need not say anything)
Al "Carbon Credits Scam" Gore
John Lurch "Reporting For Duty" Kerry
the barely cognizant John "We Must Fight the ISLAMOFASCIST For 100 Years " McCain
Rudy "When I Was Mayor on 9/11" G-man
John "the Breck Girl" Edwards
Mrs. Bill "Every Word Out Of My Mouth Is Decietful And Contemptable" Clinton
and my personal favorite
The Messiah.


You know, I think Raph Nader is the only person who hasn't made an ass out of himself.

 

[Gunny]

AFAIK, that Democrat Wilson put Mother's Day into effect. What a silly waste of time for the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT!

President George Bush Sr was the last serious president we had... and that is not saying much.

Look at the contenders since then:
Slick Willy
Viagra Dole
George Bush Jr. (I need not say anything)
Al "Carbon Credits Scam" Gore
John Lurch "Reporting For Duty" Kerry
the barely cognizant John "We Must Fight the ISLAMOFASCIST For 100 Years " McCain
Rudy "When I Was Mayor on 9/11" G-man
John "the Breck Girl" Edwards
Mrs. Bill "Every Word Out Of My Mouth Is Decietful And Contemptable" Clinton
and my personal favorite
The Messiah.


You know, I think Raph Nader is the only person who hasn't made an ass out of himself.

I'd take the list back as far as Nixon.

You left out "Two Left Feet" Gerry

"Watch me make a peace agreement and shake hands with this rattlesnake" Jimmy

"Spend 'Em to Death" Ronnie (although I did like Reagan, but his economic policies weren't so hot)

And the all-time, infamous "Read My Lips" George ...

 

[Dogger]

Did you ever think that maybe they aren't obstructing the idea of Mother's Day, as much as they're obstructing the use of the United States Congress to spend time and money even DISCUSSING the issue, let alone actually proposing a resolution and coming to a complete vote?

Mother's Day exists. It has for a long time now. Congress has no business wasting OUR time, and yes, their time is OURS, politicizing the idea of celebrating the role of Motherhood. We do just fine with that as citizens, in our own households.

Our economy is in shambles, our foreign relations are disgusting, and you want congress to come to agreement on the issue of Mother's Day.

I would prefer that Congress deal with our problems. These are bullshit resolutions, but they have persisted under both parties, and normally take up very little time. Mother's Day is not a partisian matter, I would hope.

However, this nonsense resolution was disputed for the purpose of preventing Congress from attending to it's real business. The article stated that "Republicans, unhappy with the Democratic majority, have been using such procedural tactics as this all week to bring the House to a standstill, . . ." If the proponents of the Mother's Day nonsense had responded by withdrawing the bill, the Republicans would have debated that matter instead.

 

[LordBrownTrout]

It's hard to believe that some can be as naïve as to think only one party does this. Lol. I could list about 1 million links of dems and repubs wasting taxpayer dollars.

 

[Gunny]

I would prefer that Congress deal with our problems. These are bullshit resolutions, but they have persisted under both parties, and normally take up very little time. Mother's Day is not a partisian matter, I would hope.

However, this nonsense resolution was disputed for the purpose of preventing Congress from attending to it's real business. The article stated that "Republicans, unhappy with the Democratic majority, have been using such procedural tactics as this all week to bring the House to a standstill, . . ." If the proponents of the Mother's Day nonsense had responded by withdrawing the bill, the Republicans would have debated that matter instead.

Which, is a speculative opinion. But let's spin away!

 

[Dogger]

Which, is a speculative opinion. But let's spin away!

It isn't idle speculation. They delayed a mortgage bill and a war spending bill. This is from page 2 of the same story:

Whatever happens in Mississippi, Boehner has enough trouble to preoccupy him here in Washington, where House Democrats have been passing their agenda with little thought for Republican preferences. "The majority has taken, once again, their go-it-alone policy," Boehner lamented yesterday. "It's time for Democrats and Republicans to work together."

To induce this working together, Boehner decided to stop the House from working at all. As House Democrats tried to pass legislation to ease the mortgage crisis on Wednesday, Republicans served up hours of procedural delays, demanding a score of roll call votes: 10 motions to adjourn, half a dozen motions to reconsider, various and sundry amendments, a motion to approve the daily journal, a motion to instruct and a "motion to rise."

The high point came just after 6 p.m., when, after one of the motions to adjourn, 61 members lined up to change their votes, one by one. Forty-six went from aye to no, while 15 changed from no to aye. The maneuver ate up 28 minutes in all -- and caused an eruption by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, who accused the minority of a "filibuster by vote changing."

"I know that probably all of you did polls on that and focus groups on whether or not you should vote aye or nay," Hoyer mocked. "What just happened is not appropriate for the House for either side, to simply use a device of changing votes, of voting late, of lining up in the aisle and coming down every 30 seconds or so with one more vote."

But the dilatory maneuvers continued, and the Democrats finally announced that they would postpone the vote on the mortgage bill until Thursday, thereby pushing a war spending bill to next week.

Finally, Republicans decided yesterday to suspend their shenanigans; it was time to catch flights to their districts. "Never underestimate the desire of members to go home," Boehner spokesman Kevin Smith explained.

They might also need some extra time with their mothers.

 

[Gunny]

It isn't idle speculation. They delayed a mortgage bill and a war spending bill. This is from page 2 of the same story:

I don't see where anything in the article supports the allegation. You are assuming motive.

Let's assume you are correct, however. What procedure have Republicans used that Democrats have not in the past? And what procedure do you suggest as an alternative to sitting meekly by while shit they don't agree with is rammed down their throats?

To clarify, I don't agree with Congress getting nothing done, but I have watched both sides use the same tactics for years. It isn't something new or something worse because Republicans are doing it. Like it or not, that's how they play the game.

Democrats in this state left the freaking state and holed up in a motel in another state to avoid a vote.

There's just no precedent being set here.

 

[Dogger]

Democrats in this state left the freaking state and holed up in a motel in another state to avoid a vote.

They did that because the Texas GOP rammed through a gerrymandering law that every professional in the Justice Dept. said violated the Voting Rights Act.

Ironically, the new law made it easier for a Democrat to take Tom Delay's old seat.

 

[LordBrownTrout]

I don't see where anything in the article supports the allegation. You are assuming motive.

Let's assume you are correct, however. What procedure have Republicans used that Democrats have not in the past? And what procedure do you suggest as an alternative to sitting meekly by while shit they don't agree with is rammed down their throats?

To clarify, I don't agree with Congress getting nothing done, but I have watched both sides use the same tactics for years. It isn't something new or something worse because Republicans are doing it. Like it or not, that's how they play the game.

Democrats in this state left the freaking state and holed up in a motel in another state to avoid a vote.

There's just no precedent being set here.

I remember that. Van de Putte leading her little crusade up to Oklahoma and hiding out in some local hotel.

 

[Gunny]

They did that because the Texas GOP rammed through a gerrymandering law that every professional in the Justice Dept. said violated the Voting Rights Act.

Ironically, the new law made it easier for a Democrat to take Tom Delay's old seat.

Actually, the Republicans did the same thing the Democrats did when they held the cards. It goes back and forth here. Where was "every professional in the Justice Dept" THEN? It obviously violated nothing but partisan lines of demarcation.

The fact remains, it was an obstructionist move.

A Democrat took Delay's old seat because he was the better choice. I vote for Democrats in state and local elections if they are the better choice.

If Democrats at the National level provided a better choice, I'd have no problem voting for that Dem either. The problem with that obviously being Democrats at the National level just pick worse and worse candidates, IMO, of course.

 

[Gunny]

I remember that. Van de Putte leading her little crusade up to Oklahoma and hiding out in some local hotel.

I thought it was absurd. Maybe Congressional Republicans will hole up in Quebec next?

 

[Paulie]

I would prefer that Congress deal with our problems. These are bullshit resolutions, but they have persisted under both parties, and normally take up very little time. Mother's Day is not a partisian matter, I would hope.

However, this nonsense resolution was disputed for the purpose of preventing Congress from attending to it's real business. The article stated that "Republicans, unhappy with the Democratic majority, have been using such procedural tactics as this all week to bring the House to a standstill, . . ." If the proponents of the Mother's Day nonsense had responded by withdrawing the bill, the Republicans would have debated that matter instead.

I don't doubt that it was a partisan move. And I don't give congress a free pass at all, either party. But I have to agree with voting "no" on the resolution. Sadly, the reason for voting no was probably more game playing than it was principle, but nevertheless it was a waste of time and didn't even deserve to be introduced to begin with. A vote of yes for it is endorsing a waste of time and money, neither of which are in surplus right now.