14 reasons why this is the worst Congress ever

[carlfense]

http://www.washingto...-congress-ever/

This week, the House of Representatives voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. On its own, such a vote would be unremarkable. Republicans control the House, they oppose President Obama’s health reform law, and so they voted to get rid of it.

 

But here’s the punchline: This was the 33rd time they voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

 

Holding that vote once makes sense. Republicans had promised that much during the 2010 campaign. But 33 times? If doing the same thing twice and expecting a different result makes you insane, what does doing the same thing 33 times and expecting a different result make you?

 

Well, it makes you the 112th Congress.

 

Hating on Congress is a beloved American tradition. Hence Mark Twain’s old joke, “Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.” But the 112th Congress is no ordinary congress. It’s a very bad, no good, terrible Congress. It is, in fact, one of the very worst congresses we have ever had. Here, I’ll prove it:

[JJ Husker]

So, voting to repeal the ACA is what makes them a bad congress? The majority of US citizens are opposed to it and would like to see it repealed.

Now if the point is that the republicans in congress are too dense to realize that they don't have enough votes and that the dems currently have enough to keep them from repealing, well I would agree that they aren't smoo tart. 33 times would seem to be quite a waste of effort but, this is the US Congress after all. Maybe all those votes helped to keep some of them out of jail.

[Moiraine]

So, voting to repeal the ACA is what makes them a bad congress? The majority of US citizens are opposed to it and would like to see it repealed.

Now if the point is that the republicans in congress are too dense to realize that they don't have enough votes and that the dems currently have enough to keep them from repealing, well I would agree that they aren't smoo tart. 33 times would seem to be quite a waste of effort but, this is the US Congress after all. Maybe all those votes helped to keep some of them out of jail.

 

Did you read the article? No, voting for it 33 times doesn't make them a bad congress. It's one of the many things that contributes to them being a bad congress. Voting that many times on the same thing is a waste of time, no matter what the thing is. Of course they knew they didn't have enough votes. They were just doing it for show.

[carlfense]

So, voting to repeal the ACA is what makes them a bad congress?

Having the same doomed vote 33 times in a row is 1/14 of what makes them a bad Congress. There's quite a bit to the article. I think you'll agree with several parts.

 

The majority of US citizens are opposed to it and would like to see it repealed.

Actually . . . if current polling holds . . . that's no longer true.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/president-obama-mitt-romney-deadlocked-in-race-poll-finds/2012/07/09/gJQAaJwdZW_story_1.html

http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/8329.cfm

 

This is part of the reason why Republicans keep holding votes to repeal it even though they are destined to fail. The American people like being on the winning team . . . and there is no doubt that the Supreme Court ruling was a big win for the ACA. The Republicans are desperate to make it look like the game is not over . . . like the issue is still in doubt . . . because otherwise acceptance of the ACA will grow. Hence, 33 repeal votes. (And zero "replace" votes.)

[zoogs]

It would appear the two parties in Congress are currently engaged, to the detriment of the disregarded welfare of the nation, in a bitterly unending "FU" entanglement.

[carlfense]

It would appear the two parties in Congress are currently engaged, to the detriment of the disregarded welfare of the nation, in a bitterly unending "FU" entanglement.

+1

[krill]

When congressmen have more to gain politically doing the bare minimum, perhaps even less, the results are fairly predicable. There are plenty of representatives that would like to work on legislation that would help Americans in real ways, and start addressing the long term financial issues, but a bipartisan vote is too risky when the next guy is lined up with millions of dollars to replace you, promising to do less because it sounds good to angry people.

[JJ Husker]

It would appear the two parties in Congress are currently engaged, to the detriment of the disregarded welfare of the nation, in a bitterly unending "FU" entanglement.

 

+2

[Mavric]

The majority of US citizens are opposed to it and would like to see it repealed.

Actually . . . if current polling holds . . . that's no longer true.

http://www.washingto...ZW_story_1.html

http://www.kff.org/k...rpolls/8329.cfm

Or perhaps not: Rasmussen: 53% favor repeal, 41% oppose

[knapplc]

The majority of US citizens are opposed to it and would like to see it repealed.

Actually . . . if current polling holds . . . that's no longer true.

http://www.washingto...ZW_story_1.html

http://www.kff.org/k...rpolls/8329.cfm

Or perhaps not: Rasmussen: 53% favor repeal, 41% oppose

 

I would presume that we could find at least five more polls that show a majority favors the ACA and five that show the opposite. Anymore, polls are meaningless.

[carlfense]

The majority of US citizens are opposed to it and would like to see it repealed.

Actually . . . if current polling holds . . . that's no longer true.

http://www.washingto...ZW_story_1.html

http://www.kff.org/k...rpolls/8329.cfm

Or perhaps not: Rasmussen: 53% favor repeal, 41% oppose

I'm more concerned in the long term trend. I expect instability for some time.

 

That said, I'm shocked to see a Rasmussen poll that leans towards the GOP talking point.

[lo country]

Politicians serve the people. Not the other way around. They (Pols) and the American people need to remember this in November. Passing laws ie Obamacare that they are not subject to, failing to pass a budget, gas has been an issue since Carter and we are still dependent upon nations who hate us for oil, Iran one step closer to going nuclear, the economy in the crapper etc....... If anyone on this board who is employed performed like congress you would have been fired.

 

It is not just Congress, they all suck.

[strigori]

The majority of US citizens are opposed to it and would like to see it repealed.

Actually . . . if current polling holds . . . that's no longer true.

http://www.washingto...ZW_story_1.html

http://www.kff.org/k...rpolls/8329.cfm

Or perhaps not: Rasmussen: 53% favor repeal, 41% oppose

 

I would presume that we could find at least five more polls that show a majority favors the ACA and five that show the opposite. Anymore, polls are meaningless.

Phrase a question in the 'right' way and you can make the poll show whatever you like.

[Mavric]

Phrase a question in the 'right' way and you can make the poll show whatever you like.

Did you bother to look how the question was phrased?

A proposal has been made to repeal the health care bill and stop it from going into effect. Do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose a proposal to repeal the health care bill?

How would you phrase that differently to be more neutral?

[Mavric]

The majority of US citizens are opposed to it and would like to see it repealed.

Actually . . . if current polling holds . . . that's no longer true.

http://www.washingto...ZW_story_1.html

http://www.kff.org/k...rpolls/8329.cfm

Or perhaps not: Rasmussen: 53% favor repeal, 41% oppose

I'm more concerned in the long term trend. I expect instability for some time.

 

That said, I'm shocked to see a Rasmussen poll that leans towards the GOP talking point.

The like I cited had polls going back to March 2010. How much longer of a term would you like?

 

So you're "shocked" that a Rasmussen poll would lean right but you apparently have no such reservations about a poll from an organization interested in health care would show results in favor of the ACA?