Democrats Don’t Want to Assume Leadership

• November 12, 2008

WASHINGTON – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for “emergency and limited financial assistance” for the battered auto industry on Tuesday and urged the outgoing Bush administration to join lawmakers in reaching a quick compromise.
Four days after dismal financial reports from General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co., Pelosi backed legislation to make the automakers eligible for help under the $700 billion bailout measure that cleared Congress in October.
In a written statement, the California Democrat said the aid was needed “in order to prevent the failure of one or more of the major American automobile manufacturers, which would have a devastating impact on our economy, particularly on the men and women who work in that industry.”
“Congress and the Bush administration must take immediate action,” she added. Administration officials have concluded that the bailout bill that passed earlier does not permit loans to the auto industry, but lawmakers are expected to return to the Capitol for a brief postelection session beginning next week.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., also supports help for the industry, and he issued a statement saying Democrats were “determined to pass legislation that will save the jobs of millions” as part of a postelection session.
“This will only get done if President Bush and Senate Republicans work with us in a bipartisan fashion, and I am confident they will do what is right for our economy,” he said.

How much are they talking about? $25 billion isn’t a small amount of money and we’re told it’s not enough. The question is who knew that the $25 billion was just the opening demand of the auto industry. It’s pretty obvious that once they tap into the treasury they’ll never make the changes needed to produce cars that people want profitably in the 21st century.
The bigger issue of course is the lack of conviction shown by Nancy Pants and Dingy Harry. After all, they’ve got the majority they can advance this all by themselves. I’m sure Obama will sign this legislation first thing in January.
By and large the Republicans did what they thought was right on controversial issues. Specifically I think there was a thing called the regime change in Iraq and homeland security that were somewhat controversial.
But these Democrats are more interested in being able to assign blame for their own agenda than in doing what they think is right.
This looks to be the last chance for a while that they’ll be able to do that. I would hope that President Bush and the Republicans say that we aren’t going to be their whipping boy anymore. With the $25 billion in loans already approved there’s no reason why this can’t wait for Obama.

Tags: Politics

http://Array mnconservative

The other day GM had enough cash to get through the first 5 or 6 months of 2009. Now suddenly there’s not enough to see them through the end of the year. Suspicious, that suddenly there is all this urgency on the part of the libs to get a bail out package to them. Let Obama and his thugs author and pass the bail out! Also tired of the heedless whine of the union machine. don’t worry the auto industry will survive, but the unions are going to have to give. Maybe this will break the union’s back and we will again have a thriving auto industry.
di butler

What exactly did they filibuster? I read their calendar for the first 4 months of this year, every day, and didn’t see where they did diddly, except name post offices and crap like that. I don’t know where else to go except to look at the calendar for their day to day business and see what happened at each session. BTW, those people are never there. They only stay for a few hours on the days they actually meet. Some days they were only in session for about an hour. We are all in the wrong businesses! This is the ticket. No wonder they don’t want to give up their chair. The thing I read through was just a whole heck of a lot of Nancy Pants talk talk talking about nothing.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

exactly, if the government gives them a blank check the union will continue to loot the taxpayers.

No changes until the next bailout.
sc

GM has sufficient capital to get them through to about June 2009. No hurry. Let Obama and dems do it. R’s will not filibuster. If Bush does it, Obama will only blame Bush for his excessive spending.
http://sayanythingblog.com/ likwidshoe

Nancy Pelosi thinks she’s an economic tsar, “in order to prevent the failure of one or more of the major American automobile manufacturers…”

It is not the government’s job to prevent the failure of a failing company.

On one hand we have the Democrat’s Congressional leadership calling for the bailout of private industry and on the other we have her supporters bemoaning “spending spending spending”. HUGE disconnect there.
http://sayanythingblog.com/readers/author/realitybasedbob/ realitybasedbob

Remember when the filibuster was an important tool that ensured the minority view was heard? The Republicans had the majority then, now that they don’t we’ll be hearing about how it’s the reason the Democrats can get anything done.
Seth Williams

Remember when the filibuster was an important tool that ensured the minority view was heard? The Republicans had the majority then, now that they don’t we’ll be hearing about how it’s the reason the Democrats can get anything done.

Hey, Buzz, time to man up: the Democrats are in charge. They can get some Republicans to cross the aisle (they only need a couple to defeat any filibuster). Failing that, they can simply CHANGE THE RULE.

At the end of the day, the Democrats have utterly NO REASON to not be able to execute their agenda. All this talk about “they won’t be able to get things through because of the Republicans being able to filibuster” is simply bunk. It’s a matter of political ability and will. That you and others are lowering expectations before even a single filibuster has happened is very telling.

Stop trying to prepare the ideological battlespace, and own up to what your guys can, and can’t, do.
2Hotel9

Democrats only want to assume ownership, of course they will not assume responsibility. Silly Americans! Responsibility is only for victims. Wake up, silly American idiots.
Buzz

After all, they’ve got the majority they can advance this all by themselves. I’m sure Obama will sign this legislation first thing in January.

Im pointing out that your article is a lie. They cant advance this all by themselves, and you know it. Thou you all always make it seem like the Dems can do anything they want, based solely on the fact that they have a majority. Lies, told by lairs, like you it seems.
Mickey

The Democrats orchestrated this financial mess in order to manipulate the public opinion for the election. Screw em. Let the smooth talker fix it with some hope and change. Sorry GM, ask the union for some sacrifice. Close some plants and put the workers on lay off for six months. This is Obamanomics, get used to it.
Buzz

I’m not blaming the Republicans, I’m blaming you for attacking the Democrats for not doing something that is not in there control.

And if you read the news GM is out of money, and there bond rating has been lowered to the lowest possible. That means they cant borrow any cash. But you would rather see 100,000 laid off than see the Republicans and Democrats work together. That might make Obama look good, and would not be acceptable to you no matter what the cost.
RebTex

Screw GM
THey let the leach unoin overwhelm their resources.
Maybe the union can do like the guys at Harley did & buy the company!
http://sayanythingblog.com/readers/author/realitybasedbob/ realitybasedbob

Can you click on links yet?
id

Poh massa Soros, he dun got in a big ol mess.
Kidtransport

The Dems don’t WANT to do this alone because of the tax increases required to pay for the bailouts. Where is the list of companies in the US who are NOT GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE for future bailouts? During the depression in the 1930′s millions of people left the land to flood the cities looking for jobs. I think if there is another depression we will see millions of people returning to the land–to raise their own food for survival. What we have we better be prepared to defend.
Seth Williams

No, rbb, I can’t follow your link.

I assume the filibuster count you provide is past filibusters, since the new Congress hasn’t actually done anything yet. What time period does it cover? Last two years? All Time?

Answer me this: what’s the Democratic filibuster count for, say, 1994-2006? All time?

The answers to the above questions are very relevant as to whether or not you actually have a valid point. Or you could just call me names and insult my intelligence and abilities. I’m treating you like an adult, let’s see if you can return the favor.

My point is that Democrats love the filibuster when in the minority, not so much when in the majority. They only need to get 3 (or maybe less…there’s still 3 races up in the air) centrist Republicans to cross the asile on any one issue (by throwing in an earmark or 20, perhaps) to break any one filibuster. They would have to be politicial incopetents to not pull that off.

Failing that, they have enough votes to simply change the filibuster rule to break its power.
Seth Williams

Since I can’t see the picture, rbb, why don’t you tell me what your point is?
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

The GOP will just filibuster any bill they don’t want to get voted on.

There you go ASSuming again. Who says the GOP will filibuster this bill?
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

First of all there’s no reason why it has to be done before Obama’s in office.

Secondly there is no evidence that the Republicans will try to filibuster this.

I see you’re going to keep blaming Republicans even after you win the election.

Do you guys ever do anything else?
Buzz

And Whistler, you know good and well the Democrats cant get any legislation through without the Republicans help. The GOP will just filibuster any bill they don’t want to get voted on.
So your argument is bullshit from the get-go.
Kidtransport

I totally agree, Rob. No rush on any increase. Let the Dems be big boys and girls and take “credit” for passing out more of middle class American’s cash themselves. After all the “rich” are busy paying for the 2 trillion increase in spending proposed by the President Elect so it would stand to reason the middle class will be next in line for tax increases since those already geting govermnent checks will not be expected to help.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

I guess Buzzoid missed the point that his Democrats are afraid to what he wants them to do.
Buzz

With the $25 billion in loans already approved there’s no reason why this can’t wait for Obama.

GM is going broke, and they themselves employ over 300,000 Americans, not to mention the tens of thousands of subcontractors. Even if they have to borrow 100 billion and it takes ten years to pay back it has to done and done now.

At least there loans are used to pay the wages of the American worker and not given to the board members of big banks as bonuses like the financial bail-out.
Seth Williams

Yes, there is a reason Seth can’t do that. It’s called a firewall, which I don’t control. Is there a reason you can’t put into your own words the argument you wish to make?

I’m not advocating the abolishment of the filibuster, merely noting two interesting things: [1] the Democrats have no reason to not push their agenda if they deem it critical, they have all the political capital they need to do so -and- [2] the Democrats are enamored of the filibuster when they are the minority and loathe it when they are the majority (in this I suspect they and the Republicans are rather quite the same: cravenly hypocritical…in other words: average politicians).
http://ndgoon.blogspot.com/ goon

There you go ASSuming again. Who says the GOP will filibuster this bill?

Good call Whistler we still have enough week kneed RINOs what will sign off on this bill.
Iffy

Absolutely true. There is no reason these democrats can’t push this through. Money we give to bailout anyone automatically gets used for exactly what it’s NOT supposed to get used for.

**Jon**
http://sayanythingblog.com/readers/author/realitybasedbob/ realitybasedbob

Seth, can you read this chart?

Lik, is there some reason that Seth can not see the chart I posted nor follow a link?
I can do both from my computer.

Seth, are you advocating for the abolishment of the filibuster rule? Trent Lott’s nuclear option?
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

Which is the only reason Nancy pants and Dingy Harry want it done now.

And it would be better to wait and actually come up with a plan that won’t just put off the disaster.

But I have to wonder. GM’s sales went down 45% in October. Does Buzzoid think that we ought to employ all of the GM workers to make hardly any cars.

It also escapes him that there is a procedure for companies in a position like this. It’s called Chapter 11. Of course in that case they have to actually make changes in order to succeed, in which case everyone’s better off.
http://sayanythingblog.com/readers/author/realitybasedbob/ realitybasedbob

I think the gop filibuster count is up over 130.

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