Pathetic Republican Children

Posted on 07/10/2011 at 12:50 pm by Bob Cesca

The other day on the podcast, I said the Republican will not compromise in any way shape or form. And two days later…

WASHINGTON — House Speaker John Boehner is rejecting President Obama’s offer to make historic cuts to the federal government and the social safety net, saying in a statement Saturday evening that he can not agree to the tax increases Democrats insisted on as part of the bargain. [...]

Obama had proposed to Republicans a “grand bargain” that accomplished a host of individual things that are unpopular on their own, but that just might pass as a huge package jammed through Congress with default looming. Obama offered to put Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid cuts on the table in exchange for a tax hike of roughly $100 billion per year over 10 years.

They know the president will be a grownup and try to reach an agreement in order to avert disaster. And they’re using it against him in order to get what they want — everything. The president’s only recourse here is to stonewall and give them nothing.

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  • http://twitter.com/TyJuanOn Lonnie

    But will he? I’d be glad to lend Pres Obama some of my chutzpah!

  • http://johngunn.tumblr.com/ John Gunn

    Only recourse? While I doubt Brand Obama would do this, he’s being presented with yet one more opportunity to raise unmitigated hell. He could unleash a wicked speech, attack dogs, and such telling our citizens what is long overdue. The President’s nice guy, grown up routine is great and yet righteous indignation (I’m thinking a Samuel Jackson “I’m tired of these MFing …” approach) seems smart. Respectfully, john gunn

    • Anonymous

      Yeah, why doesn’t he act like Shaft or Dolomite while he’s at it?

      • Anonymous

        Well…I don’t know if screaming, “You no-good business-born insecure junkyard MUTHA-F**KA!” will play well on the local news.

        • Anonymous

          How about calling Boehner a rat-soup eating insecure honky motherfucka! Too strong?

          • Anonymous

            ranger, you know how emotionally unstable Boehner is. The president isn’t dealing with stable people.

            Are you trying to make him cry…?

            Have you ever negotiated with a crier? It makes the president’s job that much more difficult.

            “Wook at dat wittle weepy frowny face.”

            This is a delicate situ…

            Son of a…

            “There, there, John Boehner, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the free world. ranger11 didn’t mean it. He knows you love America so much you’re willing to publicly lynch a negro for it.”

            Oh shit.

            Damn it, ranger!

            Call off America. It was fun while it lasted.

          • Anonymous

            Heh heh! Maybe do that with “Big Daddy vs. Dolemite” playing at full blast in the background….

      • http://johngunn.tumblr.com/ John Gunn

        I hadn’t thought of the blacksploitation angle to my comment. My regrets. I grew up in the southern tradition of politicians stripping the bark off opponents when necessary. I do think Obama and the Democratic party would be well served by some of “our” top “leaders” learning to hit back. There’s value to backbone, grit, or whatever one might label the fighting trait. Respectfully, john gunn

  • http://johngunn.tumblr.com/ John Gunn

    Only recourse? While I doubt Brand Obama would do this, he’s being presented with yet one more opportunity to raise unmitigated hell. He could unleash a wicked speech, attack dogs, and such telling our citizens what is long overdue. The President’s nice guy, grown up routine is great and yet righteous indignation (I’m thinking a Samuel Jackson “I’m tired of these MFing …” approach) seems smart. Respectfully, john gunn

  • http://twitter.com/nicole473 nicole

    Pres. Obama knows damn well they won’t cave on taxes.

  • Anonymous

    For every yard obama gives, the GOP gives an inch at best. Time for Obama to stand up, and stop crawling to the Right. This is not what we elected him for.

    • http://www.facebook.com/matthewmcd Matt McDaniel

      Obama didn’t give them anything. He made an offer, knowing they would refuse it. And like all the other negotiations he’s had with the GOP, he looks to be willing and open, and they look like whiny brats.

      For all his tough talk, Boehner is as scared of the debt ceiling as anyone else and he will cave like the spineless toad that he is.

      • Anonymous

        Yes, it probably was a strategic move, but I believe a risky one. But I guess you are right , the GOP would never alienate their fat cat base with higher taxes.
        In my opinion, Obama caved on health care. I have lost a lot of faith since then. The repubs won that round, while still labling the watered down to nothing changes “socialist” , to keep the tea party riled up.
        Boehner is still trying to placate the ignorant republican masses who don’t even understand the implications of the debt ceiling.. Hope you are right that he doesn’t believe his own rhetoric.

        • Anonymous

          Where were the votes on health care? And why are we still talking about the health care/public option smashup? My brother stole my Nerf football when I was eight. Fucking asshole. I then lost confidence in him as a brother for the rest of my life.

          • Anonymous

            “And why are we still talking about the health care/public option smashup?”

            Good point. Because for some people, it was the only bloody thing that mattered.

            Which, of course, was incredibly stupid, but…

            • Anonymous

              “And why are we still talking about the health care/public option smashup?”

              Because it showed no matter how much the American people are behind Obama his negotiating style is to sell you out.

              See the passing of the Bush tax cuts.

              • Anonymous

                Sorry, but the passing of the Bush tax cuts was because the republicans were holding unemployment benefits hostage until they got the Bush tax cuts reinstated. So what do you suppose Obama and the Dems in Congress should have done; let about 9 million people’s unemployment benefits expire?

              • Anonymous

                I see that you are a one-note guy.

              • Anonymous

                “Because it showed no matter how much the American people are behind Obama his negotiating style is to sell you out.

                See the passing of the Bush tax cuts.”

                Uh, no. Please go and get the damned facts straight, all right?

    • Anonymous

      W elected him to crawl to the left and be our personal Puff Daddy.

      • Anonymous

        We elected him to fight for the things he ran on and get it done.

        • Anonymous

          So . . .
          In your opinion, he hasn’t done that?

          • Anonymous

            What do you think they’re going to say dude? Yes?

            • Anonymous

              Actually, I wasn’t expecting them to answer at all. ;-)

              And for the record, that’s dudette to you. :-)

              • Anonymous

                Sorry about that!

          • Anonymous

            I guess that’s what they feel…despite the fact that a whole lot has gotten done.

            But, when one suffers from NIA/HUA disorder, you can only see one or two issues. And not much else.

            Obama isn’t perfect, but by God and Sonny Jesus, he did get quite a bit done. It’s just that cleaning up the mess that was dropped in his lap will take time.

            Why can’t people see that? Or the fact that he isn’t a King?

            • Anonymous

              Just look at him. And his name. And the way he talks. Wow. He should be turning water into wine at this point. Why isn’t he? Pony!

        • Anonymous

          Get r done! Larry the Cable Guy might run third party. Good luck.

  • http://twitter.com/nicole473 nicole

    Pres. Obama knows damn well they won’t give in on tax increases for the wealthy.

  • http://www.southwestwoodandsilverartist.com dildenusa

    I will say it again. This “my way or the highway” nonsense pushed by the republican leadership in congress is not human nature. It is learned behavior by a small minority of politicians who believe they are doing their constituents a favor. They are not doing any favors for anybody except themselves.

    • Anonymous

      By constituents, you are referring of course to big banks, big oil, and big pharma?

  • http://www.southwestwoodandsilverartist.com dildenusa

    What will obviously happen now is the republicans in the house will vote on their bill and send it on to the senate where Majority Leader Reid and President Obama will again present the “grand bargain.” By then it will be too late.

    Speaker Boehner has completely lost control of his caucus. How he can allow this is a puzzle. He has allowed Cantor and Ryan to undermine republican credibility. To what end?

    This is a symptom of a sick society that holds personal political power above the needs of the members of the society.

  • Anonymous

    There’s a good article in today’s Wash. Post by Robert S. McElvaine, regarding the lessons of the last Great Depression and how Congress (mostly Republicans) are just ignoring or are completely ignorant of the lessons that should have been learned about it.
    Short read. Here’s the link.
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/want-to-avoid-another-depression-try-understanding-the-first-one/2011/07/07/gIQAbKlx6H_story.html

  • Anonymous

    There’s a really good (short read) article in today’s WaPo, by Robert S. McElvaine – about how our current crop of politicians (and some of those in the past) are completely missing or ignoring the obvious lessons of the great Depression. Here is the link.
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/want-to-avoid-another-depression-try-understanding-the-first-one/2011/07/07/gIQAbKlx6H_story.html

    • Anonymous

      Thanks for the link, BHL6; good read.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_V2RXUAHT27RPSGS5GAQVHFFCKQ sketchartist

    Obama prepares to sacrifice Social Security and Medicare and Bob Cesca STILL makes excuses for him. Unbelievable.

    • Anonymous

      He called their bluff. That’s all.

    • Anonymous

      Well hello little buddy where did you come from?

    • Anonymous

      And your proof of this is?

      Honestly…why are you still spewing this meme? Every bloody time we keep hearing from folks like you that “Obama’s gonna cave!!” we see that he doesn’t or makes sure that the people end up benefiting the most from deals with Republicans.

      Please, for the love of humanity….get your facts straight. Get a clue. Turn your guns on the right target (the Republicans). Can you do that?

      • Anonymous

        Bush tax cuts. If that’s not called caving then what it is.

        • Anonymous

          Sorry, but the passing of the Bush tax cuts was because the republicans were holding unemployment benefits hostage until they got the Bush tax cuts reinstated. So what do you suppose Obama and the Dems in Congress should have done; let about 9 million people’s unemployment benefits expire?

          • Anonymous

            Yeah, fuck the unemployed as long as we win the rhetorical argument on cable news and the Internet. Hurray for us!

            • Anonymous

              I hate to say it, but I’m afraid you are spot on with that. It seemed that was the attitude they had…and they still push it.

        • Anonymous

          Look at what happened when the Bush tax cuts were set to expire during the end of the last congress. A lame duck congress, thanks to your incessant whining and demoralizing idea of holding the line against right wing nuts. It was a trade off for:

          The START treaty.

          New food safety regulations.

          Repealing DADT.

          Improving nutrition for children’s school lunches.

          Extending unemployment benefits.

          Passing the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Bill.

          Re-instituting the estate tax in conjunction with passing 80% of his tax policies(middle income tax cuts).

          He also got the Republicans to stop obstructing a continuing resolution to, uh, fund the government!

          Got confirmation of a couple dozen judicial appointments.

          Please don’t negotiate for me. The president doesn’t need your advice in dealing with crypto-fascists.

          You just smile and say, “great job, Mr. President.”

          “I’m with you.” “We’ll get em’ next time!”

          m’kay?

          • Anonymous

            A lot of good things got done with that cave-in. Compromise and negotiation is literally written into the Constitution. It is inescapable.

            • Anonymous

              Can you imagine these Republicans negotiating the ratification of the Constitution?

              There would be no America.

              I am an extreme moderate, I believe anybody not in favor of moderation and compromise ought to be castrated. ~ Benjamin Franklin

          • Anonymous

            Ahh…facts, facts, and more facts. Thank you for doing this.

            The sad thing is that some people will still look at this and go, “But…he extended the Bush tax cuts! He caved! Damn him!!”

            Some people refuse to see the truth…even if you try to knock it into their heads with a ballpeen hammer.

            • Anonymous

              Yeah, that’s because those same people don’t pay attention until something happens to them that knocks into their heads like a ballpeen hammer.

              That’s what happened in Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida, New Jersey, Michigan, Indiana and Minnesota.

              They see the truth clearly now.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_V2RXUAHT27RPSGS5GAQVHFFCKQ sketchartist

    Obama prepares to sacrifice Social Security and Medicare and Bob Cesca STILL makes excuses for him. Unbelievable.

    • Anonymous

      So nice had to say it twice.

  • Anonymous

    I’d refuse to hold any more talks, take it to August 1 and have a clean vote.

    • Anonymous

      By then the markets will be tanking.

      • Anonymous

        Yep.

      • Anonymous

        That’s my point… The Wall Street masters will be calling, and those who say “we don’t really have to do this” will have to eat those words.

        • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_VV4SLINTCRQKVEOCIT62UXCVDY AJ

          Lots of ordinary middle/low income teachers and “such” have some/most of their teeny weeny retirement incomes invested conservatively in some stocks/bonds et al.

          As a senior and retired teacher do not want to see the market “tank” again. Like in ’08.

          It isn’t just the “rich CEO’s” that have money in the market. In some form or another.

          • Anonymous

            For the record, AJ, my husband and I live 100% on our retirement savings. We haven’t gotten back to where we should be. But if we let the Repubs keep dictating cuts for seniors and the poor, at the expense of the rich, we’ll just keep getting screwed. I almost feel like we lived through a plunge to 8,000 and, yes, it will suck it big time, but we cannot continue to negotiate with terrorists. People need to really understand the depths the republicans want to take this country to harbor their rich masters.

  • Robert Scalzi

    I see we have a firebaggin Texan (so called uber lefty) here freaking out…. again…. can someone make it stop ????

  • Anonymous

    For those who are saying Obama is “caving again”: Caving would be taking any tax increases/closing loopholes off the table and agreeing to draconian cuts across the board in everything, including SS and Medicare (But not defense, because that’s the one area of federal spending the GOP always wants to increase). What you don’t realize is that Obama is already winning the court of public opinion. He looks like the reasonable adult who was willing to meet the GOP more than half way, while the GOP are acting like petulant children.

    The one who is losing right now is Boehner. Cantor is clearly angling for his job. Boehner has to raise the debt ceiling or he’ll lose all support from his Wall Street masters. But if he gives Obama even an inch, he’ll face a revolt among the teabaggers in the House. He’s completely cornered and loses no matter what happens.

    If the debt ceiling passes, Obama wins for being able to negotiate reasonably. If it doesn’t pass, Obama wins because the GOP acted like whiny little bitches who put partisan interest ahead of the good of the nation.

    • Anonymous

      Your so far up Obama’s ass you can’t see the light.

      There should be no talk of austerity measures in this country when you are fighting two wars with the lowest tax rate in 50 years.

      The conversation on the debt shows we have already lost this battle.

      The number 1 thing that should be talked about in this country is getting rid of the Bush tax cuts.

      Then the next conversation should be how much more are we going to tax the rich.

      Wake me when we have it.

      “President Obama Echoes GOP Talking Points on the Economy”

      Senior White House adviser David Axelrod told the New York Times recently that “it’s my job to report what the public mood is.” The public mood, said Axelrod, is anti-spending and anti-deficit and so the smart politics is to alleviate those concerns. “I’ve made the point that as a matter of policy and a matter of politics that we need to focus on this, and the president certainly agrees with that,” said Axelrod of the deficit hawkery that the administration has engaged in over the last several months.

      http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/38222

      That article is from 2010 and where are we now.

      Wake up Sucker.

      • Anonymous

        Why are you being insulting?

        For the record, I agree with your points regarding how this country needs to proceed in getting out of this mess that the republicans made, but the bottom line is the REPUBLICANS and the LOBBYISTS that are funding them are the problem, not the President.

        Being frustrated is one thing; taking that frustration out on those that you should be uniting with to deal with the problem is shooting yourself in the foot.

        • Anonymous

          There will be no unity with these people. The only chance for any sense of unity to occur is when Obama leaves office.

          • Anonymous

            That’s way too late, ranger.

            And damn near suicidal.

            • Anonymous

              The thing is that are some that you can’t persuade.

              • Anonymous

                Very true, Sir.

                True indeed.

        • Anonymous

          He can’t help it.

          Then again, HE’S the one with his head up his @$$. All he’s done is spew out the same bulls**t talking points that have been proven wrong time and time again. He still blathers on about the Bush Tax Cuts, even though MrBrink in an above post explained the real story behind what happened and why Obama still ended up gaining a lot more than he lost.

          These folks cannot be debated with. They have the insane idea that Obama is worse than Bush, and that it’s better if he’s out of office. No thought about the alternative and the fact that the Republicans are bending the country over the rails and giving it the business with no Vaseline.

          Nope–it’s all Obama’s fault, and no amount of evidence to the contrary will change their minds.

          Talk about thick-headed.

      • Anonymous

        And you’re sucking Jane Hamsher’s cock! This is a fun game.

      • Anonymous

        I see I’ve pissed off the trolls. Then my work here is done.

    • http://drangedinaz.wordpress.com IrishGrrrl

      I agree D_C, I think Pres. Obama is letting Boehner get hoisted on his own petard. I have a comic posted on this issue at my blog.

  • Anonymous

    If the Republican party were making these demands with middle eastern accents, we’d be bombing the shit out of them.

  • Anonymous

    We shouldn’t be talking about deficits. That’s the worst part about the entire debate. And from that fundamental problem all others follow. In the midst of the most tenuous of recoveries from one of the most severe recessions, we should be talking about jobs and mortgages and stimulus. We should be talking about reinventing our economy to be green not lean and mean. We should be talking about the Republicans as depraved agents of regression and extremism. We should not be talking to them as if they are willing to negotiate in good faith. We should not be talking to them as if they are capable of making sound decisions on policy.

    The Republicans want to destroy President Obama. Understand that and you begin to understand the futility of even trying to reach out to them. Which begs the question why President Obama continues to reach out to them, and on key issues such as the stimulus or health care reform make concessions before negotiations have even begun, guaranteeing that he will end up compromising down from what he otherwise might have negotiated down to. But when Republicans are so extreme and are operating in such bad faith, he is not required to try to work with them. President of all the people does not mean trying to appease all the people. It means trying to work for the common good. The Republicans do not work for the common good. They and their puppet masters consider the common good to be so common. But politicians and voters both recognize and respect displays of leadership and responsible demonstrations of power. Show weakness and it is blood to sharks. But Barack Obama is not a weak man. That is not the problem. But he does at least seem to play politics from a position of weakness. Over and over and over. And that is a problem.

    http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/07/10/992708/-President-Obama-and-the-New-Deal?via=blog_1

    • Anonymous

      We’re talking about deficits because you’re still talking about caving on the public option and betraying America.

    • Anonymous

      Once again SharksBreath, I agree with about 98% of what you say.

      We are talking about the wrong things. We should be talking about an additional bigger stimulus, job recovery and mortgage lending. We should also be talking about legislation to circumvent the Citizens United ruling in the SC, the corporations and the rich doing “their fair share”, much stronger regulations for Wall Street so that we can prevent another Greedfest by the corporate overlords, etc.

      This is why the republicans brought up this ridiculous debt ceiling bullshit to begin with. This is what they do; change and dominate the narrative and the media (because they’re owned by the corporations) licks it up. The republicans don’t have a any ideas on how to improve this economy or this country and they themselves no that the “trickle-down theory” does not work. They’ll continue to do what they are good at and what the Dems suck at; changing and dominating the narrative.

      President Obama continues to reach out to the republicans because he has no legislative power to overrule them other than his veto pen. He can’t even use that pen unless a bill that has been passed by both houses winds up on his desk. What he can do is continue to reach out to them; negotiate. He knows they will operate in bad faith. He knows that the will be uncompromising. He knows that the republicans are so extreme right now that they will not, I repeat, WILL NOT compromise on anything he or the Dems in Congress propose. He must be the adult in the room. He can’t get down in the gutter with these idiots. That’s what the Dems in the House and the Senate are supposed to do, not the President.

      The President is not showing weakness; he must act in good faith even though they are not going to do the same. This exposes the republicans for the frauds they are. This shows the American public, the ones that are hurting because Congress can’t seem to get their heads out of their own asses, that it’s not the President that won’t come to the table and negotiate on the behalf of “Real Americans”, it’s the republicans.

      Let me ask you something SharksBreath. Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, Florida, Minnesota, Indiana and New Jersey are all suffering right now at the hands of a Republican governorship and/or legislature. The majority of these states have cut union benefits and pensions and have given HUGE tax breaks to corporations at the expense of the middle class and the poor. You don’t think these residents in these states are not only paying attention to what the republicans are doing in their own backyard, but nationally as well? They see just as we do who the republicans are beholden to. Do you think they are gonna vote these assholes back into office for another chance to screw them?

      • Anonymous

        Well said, I am always amazed how the tea party yolkels go against their own best interest in the name of God, Country and Apple Pie when they blindly vote for Republicans. The only thing the Republicans have been legislating is social issues. I think the President pulled the ole Rope a Dope on the Republicans by pushing for a deal he knew they would never agree on. Reminds me of the scene from Lethal Weapon 1 when Mel Gibson grabs the guy who wants to commit suicide and offers to jump with him. The guy has second thoughts and no longer wants to jump but Mel makes him jump anyway. That puts them on the defensive and in the end, I think the American public will blame those clowns for this clusterfuck.