Nation’s Chief Obstructionist, Mitch McConnell
Shawn Dixon July 26th, 2007
It’s no surprise that Mitch McConnell has been leading the obstructionist charge in the Senate this year and has repeatedly shutdown important legislation. But, his tactic to then blame Dems for the failure to pass the legislation is just shameless.
McConnell was quoted in a NY Times article yesterday as saying:
“They’ve wasted the first seven months being excessively partisan and creating unnecessary, in my view, disputes with a pretty robust minority of 49”
Of course to McConnell “excessively partisan” can be defined as trying to end an unpopular and ill conceived war, overhauling an immigration system that doesn’t work, and expanding child healthcare.
Yesterday,Media Matters also highlighted the work, or lack thereof rather, of the nation’s biggest obstructionist.
Republicans have repeatedly blocked legislation proposed by the Democratic majority in the Senate. As Media Matters for America noted, McClatchy Newspapers reported on July 20: “This year Senate Republicans are threatening filibusters to block more legislation than ever before.”
Additionally, Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-MS) acknowledged the GOP’s “obstructionist” Senate strategy in an April 18 Roll Call article (subscription required): “The strategy of being obstructionist can work or fail. … For [former Senate Democratic Leader Tom] Daschle (S.D.), it failed. For [then-Senate Minority Leader Harry] Reid [D-NV], it succeeded, and so far it’s working for us.”
- 2008 KY U.S. Senate Race , Mitch McConnell
- Comments(2)
From a political strategy point of view, this is a very dangerous path the Republicans and Mitch are embarking upon. Why? Because they are betting that the narrative that the mainstream media and the American public is going to bite on is that the Democrats just aren’t doing anything. But Americans are far more likely to believe that Republicans are just stopping everything. Republicans aren’t popular right now. There’s no love for them and absolutely no love for McConnell. Therefore, why should the American people switch their entire perspective on what the Republicans represent and start siding with the GOP on this. It just doesn’t make any sense. It’s a REALLY, REALLY poor strategy from McConnell.
He’d have been better off to let the Dems get their legislation through and then rally his base against the Dems and blame all hell breaking loose on the Dems. But now the Dems can just say that no progress has been made on anything because of the Republicans, McConnell and Bush.
Let’s all keep our facts straight; Mitch is correct there are 49 Senators in the Democratic Caucus. There are also 49 in the Republican Caucus. The Independant(s) caucus with each other and Mr. Sanders and Mr. Lieberman then vote their contituencies and consciences. As long as there are not 67 votes in the Senate on any issue there is a veto awaiting at the other end of Constiution.
It’s time to unifiy; quit bad-mouthing Demos with whom you don’t agree 100% of the time; elect people who are fathful to the spirit of Choice; get your friends to do the same; be accountable for success. We don’t need to be too pure; when we were we were defeated in ‘68 & ‘72 and then we had a 1-termer in Jimmie Do-little.
Then we need to treat the Republicans the way they treated us for the last 27 years, so that they can never get back up.
Or not.
BimBeau