If I were a Republican I would be ashamed of my party right now. They are trying to prevent the Dems from doing anything, so much for being the loyal opposition. The Democratic government was elected to fix all the wrongs of the Bush era. But between Health Care and Jim Bunning’s recent standoff, to financial sector regulation, energy and environment legislation, deficit reduction and of course any job bill, they are all held back by Republicans.
Why do Republicans want the job if they won’t want to do any work?
In health care reform, The President has bent over backward to include republican ideas. He has included some ideas from Republicans that aren’t very good in my opinion and dismissed ideas that should be included (like the public option) in order to gain their support. At every committee level the Democrats invited Republicans to offer input and more than half of their amendments were included into the bill. The bill has most of their ideas in it including tort reform and a national exchange where insurance can be sold across state lines, but they still won’t vote for it.
The reason for the attempt at bipartisanship is that Democrats did not want to treat Republicans like they were treated when Republicans controlled both bodies of congress. Shut out.
Republicans are working for the short run. In a myopic strategy they are only working for the next election. They don’t see the long term. If they want the right to govern again they have to have the long term in mind.
In spite of all the bluster over the deficit, I believe if they were in control again they would run up the deficit again as they did under, George W. Bush and Reagan/Bush. History is not an ally to Republicans. Citizens remember that Democrats and Bill Clinton were the only recent government to end deficit spending and begin to re-pay the debit.
If you are a Republican please encourage your representatives to GET TO WORK! We need to get health care done and then energy/environment, jobs and banking regulation. Please stop holding up progress and get to work!!!
