Iowa Caucus

[habsheaven]

What, exactly, are the Republicans obstructing that you believe is good for the country?

They are obstructing EVERYTHING, whether it be good or bad for the country. All you have to do is listen to what Boehner and Cantor say on a daily basis.

[AUTaxMan]

They are obstructing EVERYTHING, whether it be good or bad for the country. All you have to do is listen to what Boehner and Cantor say on a daily basis.

I'll ask it again. What are they specifically obstructing that if passed would be better for the country than if not passed?

[habsheaven]

I'll ask it again. What are they specifically obstructing that if passed would be better for the country than if not passed?

You can ask it all you want. I will never be able to provide you with an answer because you will never admit anything Obama has proposed is better for the country.

[AUTaxMan]

You can ask it all you want. I will never be able to provide you with an answer because you will never admit anything Obama has proposed is better for the country.

I wasn't asking you for my opinion. I was asking you for yours.

[habsheaven]

I wasn't asking you for my opinion. I was asking you for yours.

My point is; I can list any number of things that I think are good and that the Republicans have blocked. Your response will be to say that those things are not good for the country. Therefore, it is a waste of time to answer the question.

Here, I will prove my point.

1. Stimulus package = GOOD, even bigger Stimulus package = BETTER
2. Universal health care = GOOD
3. Raising debt ceiling = NECESSARY if not GOOD

Now would you like me to write your response?

[AUTaxMan]

My point is; I can list any number of things that I think are good and that the Republicans have blocked. Your response will be to say that those things are not good for the country. Therefore, it is a waste of time to answer the question.

Here, I will prove my point.

1. Stimulus package = GOOD, even bigger Stimulus package = BETTER
2. Universal health care = GOOD
3. Raising debt ceiling = NECESSARY if not GOOD

Now would you like me to write your response?

none of those were blocked

[andrewhoya]

Didn't think it would be that close.

[pghin08]

none of those were blocked

Not directly. But the first two (though Obamacare is not universal healthcare the way Canada/Europe know it) were passed with a Democratic majority in Congress. The debt ceiling issue was fought tooth and nail by the Republicans, which was frankly, reckless. I TOTALLY agree with curtailing spending in certain areas, and we need to tackle the national debt issue, but 2011, with an unemployment rate mostly in the 9% and up range and a struggling recover wasn't the time to shift the national discourse.

[AUTaxMan]

Not directly. But the first two (though Obamacare is not universal healthcare the way Canada/Europe know it) were passed with a Democratic majority in Congress. The debt ceiling issue was fought tooth and nail by the Republicans, which was frankly, reckless. I TOTALLY agree with curtailing spending in certain areas, and we need to tackle the national debt issue, but 2011, with an unemployment rate mostly in the 9% and up range and a struggling recover wasn't the time to shift the national discourse.

At what point do you stop raising the debt ceiling? It has to end. Otherwise, you are devaluing the dollar.

Either way, we still haven't established what the republicans have prevented from passing by being obstructionists.

[pghin08]

At what point do you stop raising the debt ceiling? It has to end. Otherwise, you are devaluing the dollar.

Either way, we still haven't established what the republicans have prevented from passing by being obstructionists.

It certainly wasn't in August. They manufactured a crisis. Reckless, no matter how you describe it.

But answer me this (if you can). Bringing the thread somewhat back to the topic, why did Gary Johnson get like, zero Republican support throughout his campaign in 2011? Republicans love to talk a big game about fiscal responsibility (which, in most cases, is a load of crap), but Johnson, when he was Governor of New Mexico, actually did it. He slashed the size of the state government and left New Mexico with a huge budget surplus coming out of the 01-02 recession. Then he pretty much celebrated his accomplishment by climbing Mount Everest. The guy is awesome.