You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life - Albert Camus

‘We’ll Keep Shooting Ourselves In The Foot Until It Hurts”

by West Virginia Rebel

While we’re on the subject of Republican stupidity, there’s this to ponder:

Republicans in Washington and New Hampshire are mounting a full-court press to keep Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) in the Senate and out of the Obama administration, aides and senators said Friday.

But if he does take the commerce secretary job, they want a commitment that New Hampshire’s Democratic governor will appoint a Republican senator so the party holds at least 41 seats, the minimum needed to sustain filibusters. No such commitments have been made, even as Granite State Republican sources tell Politico they are worried Gregg will take the Cabinet job if offered it by Obama.

“I think it would be a loss to the Senate of a great mind and somebody who I think we need a lot as we chart our way through economic challenge,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told Politico on Friday.

I hope the governor of New Hampshire tells them to stuff it. What if the Democrats said the same thing? Ben Smith adds more:

“bipartisanship" is as much a brand as any conceivable Washington reality. These House Republicans, as is traditional when a caucus shrinks, are more conservative, and in safer seats, than their predecessors. The notion that they’d wind up anything other than extremely rare allies of the Democratic President was always unlikely. Obama doesn’t need their votes. But his visible, cable-television-grabbing bipartisan gestures are aimed at cementing his hold on that brand, and ensuring when Republicans and Democrats go their separate ways, Republicans are seen as the partisan ones.

It’s not a particularly novel tactic, but it places the House Republicans in an uncomfortable spot. As Chris Cillizza wrote in a very smart piece today, their party is in danger of being defined as pure, intransigent, Rush-Limbaugh-style opposition, and Obama’s visit to the Hill may give their image a further shove down that road.

This is why Obama can (for now) steamroll over any Republican opposition. With conciliatory gestures from Rick Warren to Judd Gregg, Obama can make the argument that he, at least, doesn’t play favorites. To put it another way, remember how so many (including those who commented on this very blog) rightfully said that the Republicans lost by being unwilling to budge on social issues? Economic issues can be the same thing. Or, as John Cole says:

I understand the psychological need for the Republicans to feel relevant, and I understand their opposition to spending, but really, we would be so much better off if the Republicans just took a little breather, got themselves pulled together and composed, and stopped being the crazy uncle at the holiday dinner ranting insanely about everything. These guys need to get their act together and figure out that the “loyal” in loyal opposition is fealty to the country first, and not the party.

If they really understood that, their guy might have won, and be the one making budget decisions right now.

Comments

Posted by mikeguas on 01/30/09 at 07:11 PM from

I don’t think it’s stupid of them to fight to keep Obama from taking what little power is left, in an obvious stunt under the banner of bipartisanship. I’ll give him credit for the strategic move though. I don’t think it’s a bad idea for them to rant against spending. The fact that they stopped, and participated in it is what pissed people off.

As stupid as the Republicans may be, you give them some stiff competition. Actually, you blow them out of the water with your nonsense, and ill thought out comments. I think if the Daily Kos could take a shit, these threads of yours are what it would look like. Lee, you’re blog has truly gone to shit. What happened man?

Posted by Hal_10000 on 01/30/09 at 07:31 PM from

I have to say that I think the Republicans are right here.  That 41st vote is critical to any hope of political relevance.  The idea that Obama won’t get hurt if he tries to steamroll the Republicans is a bit absurd.

Posted by josparke on 01/30/09 at 08:40 PM from

It’s expected and proper for them to want to replace and R with an R. It’d expect democrats to do the same! Are you on crack? This blog is crap now!

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