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Mighty America Descends Into Farce

Paralyzing GOP tactics make us look like 18th-century Poland

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 8, 2010 8:20 AM CST
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(Newser) – When Richard Shelby put a hold on all outstanding Obama nominees last week, it reminded Paul Krugman of 18th-century Poland. Back then, the country’s legislature was run by unanimous consent, so anyone could block any legislation by shouting, “I do not allow!” Sound familiar? The US Senate, too, works on unanimous consent, which worked out okay before the Republicans “descended into nihilism, seeing no harm—in fact, political dividends—in making the nation ungovernable.”

“It’s so bad that I miss Newt Gingrich,” writes Krugman in the New York Times. At least when Gingrich shut down the government, he had specific demands. Today’s Republicans refuse to offer any. They rant about the deficit, then block any attempts to reduce it. And Democrats are so hapless that they can’t even score political points off that obstructionism. Faced with Shelby’s move, Robert Gibbs went “straight for the capillaries,” accusing the senator of “silliness.” “Yep, that will really resonate with voters.”

Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., ranking member of the Finance Committee, speaks to the media outside the West Wing of the White in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008.
Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., ranking member of the Finance Committee, speaks to the media outside the West Wing of the White in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 38 comments
freethemall
Feb 11, 2010 6:03 AM CST
You got that right, crazyB. it's know as "duckspeaking".
timeandagain
Feb 9, 2010 4:44 AM CST
Fondue = total fag.
cornelison
Feb 8, 2010 10:26 AM CST
Hi crazy. I don't have a secret agenda. Stimulus plans in both Canada & the USA have helped my investments rebound. The main difference is that CONSERVATIVES in Canada are the ones in power! Mutual funds in Canada supported both packages. Your govt. doesn't work. It's crippled by $$$$ influence.

 
Newt Gingrich • Senate • Senate Republicans • filibuster • Richard Shelby • Paul Krugman • Obama administration

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