Ted Rall for July 07, 2010

Seems like a somewhat irreversible solution.

@Ted Rall - By the way, I read your post on your website from 6/24/2010. It’s given me much to think about.

Interesting. Not surprising.

Checked out your upcoming book (http://www.amazon.com/Anti-American-Manifesto-Seven-Stories-Press/dp/1583229337/ref=sr12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278518989&sr=8-2) - this one, I might actually buy.

‘Nuff said.

What’s that story anyway? Another balloon boy?

@Jade – about that column: When Ted talks of “do-nothing Democrats,” he neglects to mention all the things Democrats have tried to get done, only to be stonewalled by Republican filibusters. Trying harder doesn’t get you a single extra vote from a party whose only agenda is to make you fail. If a Republican fell down a well, I wouldn’t help him out, but I’d throw down a heavy rock on his head instead. That’s how they treat people who aren’t millionaires.

Abolish the filibuster! It’s just a rule, not in the Constitution.

Democracy means majority rule. That’s 50+ percent, not 60.

@sirromsirrom - Democrats floundered when they had 60 seats. I will not say they have not accomplished anything because that’s a right-wing version of history but they could have done so much more when they had 60 seats. I’m particularly irritated, right now, that ENDA may lose its Gender Identity clause… not because of Republicans (they are going to vote against it anyway), but because of Conservative Democrats. Republicans are evil civil rights blocking cherry-picking religious nuts, but they’re coherent.

I support benbrilling

The Democrats didn’t have 60 seats till Al Franken was confirmed and sworn in, exactly a year ago today (July 7, 2009). They lost that seat when Scott Brown was sworn in on February 4, 2010. Granted, in hindsight, they could have pushed more legislation through, but politics (and public perception) being what they are, and with two senators who were barely functional during much of that time, the passage of health care was probably as much as could be expected. The filibuster is certainly an evil thing, and to my mind unconstitutional as well, especially since the Senate is already weighted toward minority states. But short of a constitutional amendment, only the Senate itself can get rid of it, and that would take the kind of majority (two-thirds) the Democrats just don’t have.

Of course, there’s always the “nuclear option.” You can look that up – it’s way too complicated to try to explain here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_option

^ Also known as the “Constitutional Option” when Republicans use it.

The healthcare bill is more or less irrelevant to my ire, actually. That being said reconciliation could have been used far more.

It’s more of a frustration in knowing that come November civil rights will flounder for another several years as the country knee-jerks right (it happened to Clinton, too).

I like the filibuster as a last resort and think it is essential to fight off a bully majority. But as a first-line-of-defense tactic I do not like it at all.

they could have jammed everything in- and tied it to the bank bail outs. and passed it all. But too many “beautiful losers” in the dem party. They fall for it all the time, it’slike the Dems ae @ a back stabbing party in line, and they say polietly, each time “cuse me, pardon me, stab stab….damn fools.

this dem would have stopped ALL fed aid to all the reds states and moved our Miltary bases and prisons out. (they hate big government- fine), take SAC out of Nebraska, and put winter training of troops back in NY(jack frost) and OUT of Alaska. people who complain? move out or suffer with yr elected repubs…..boo hoo. be JUST as cold as the Repubs are. USE wield POWER, if you do not use yr juice, then you lose it. Instead we are like Teds toon, “HOPE MORE!”

Obama needs to horsewhip his staff, starting with the fed and treasury dept., in public, on c-span.

okay i feel better…..

thanks(NOT!) D ben nelson for voting with the repubs and not extending the unemployment insurance benefits. Those citizens would just spend it on main street, or mallwarts. paying mortgages is so trying… can anyone say CRASH! ? costofwar.com

Teds toon: yeah that threw me as well….the fbi gave taxpayers $$ to WHO for WHAT?

I’d almost bet that they paid the Pakistan intel agent the reward on O. bin laden…LAST YEAR, as well, and now running his comments (it is not known where these comments came from osma….etc.) as a classic disinformation game… SUDDENLY, Bin laden no longer demands a free democratic election in royal sadi land, …HUN? and reduced to the standard swipe at Israel.HUN? and get that american back f/ over there, as Bin laden is dead.

okay i feel better…..hahahaha.

@jaxaction: The only time Democrats really have anything going for them is when they don’t act like Republicans. Declaring the truth might not be appreciated by enough ignorant voters, but it’s the right thing to do. Ultimately, nothing good can be achieved by adopting the tactics of evil.

@ sirromsirrom: Filibuster is just a Senate rule, majority is all that is needed to abolish it.