The US representative to Bali's climate talks was appropriately told that the rest of the world looked to the US to lead, but if we're not going to lead, we should get out of the way.
News sources are making a big deal out of the US delegate's turn-around to finally agree to consensus on the accord. That accord is an agreement to begin 2-year negotiations to revamp the Kyoto treaty. So, don't worry. We can still stand in the way when it matters.
[Mitch] McConnell and his fellow Republicans are playing such tight defense, blocking nearly every bill proposed by the slim Democratic majority that they are increasingly able to dictate what they want, much to the dismay of the majority leader, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, and frustrated Democrats in the House.In fact, the Senate Republicans are so accustomed to blocking measures that when the Democrats finally agreed last week to their demands on a bill to repair the alternative minimum tax, the Republicans still objected, briefly blocking the version of the bill that they wanted before scrambling to approve it later.
Maru at WTF reacts:
Unprincipled scumholes. Jebus Christ. And don't get me started on the Capitulation Party. Damn.
Iran absolutely, positively must not have any nuclear weapons capabilities. Libya, on the other hand, may. And Pakistan? Already done. And, hey, the US government already made available the information necessary on a military website. Arab translation gratis.
The reaction at WTF?
The Democratic "opposition" in Congress – you know, the party that represents the common people, good working folk and the most vulnerable in our society: the sick, the old, the poor, the children – have just effected yet another capitulation to Money Power, gutting an energy bill that would have required Big Oil – now reaping the most gargantuan profit margins in the entire history of human enterprise – to pay a pittance in new taxes.[...]
These measures – displeasing to the boardroom lords and their viceroy in the White House – were dutifully stripped out by Senate Majority Leader Harry "Shaky Knees" Reid.
Time and time again, President Bush has run circles around what is, at least on paper, a co-equal branch of government. Sometimes he doesn't bother to ask Congress for its approval. Sometimes he demands it -- and gets it.Amazingly enough, that didn't change when the Democrats won control of the House and Senate. They just make a bit more fuss before rolling over.
Charles Babington writes for the Associated Press: "Congressional Democrats prepared Wednesday for major concessions on Iraq war funding, children's health insurance, tax policies, general spending and energy, because they could not overcome vetoes by President Bush.
[...]
Historians looking back on the Bush presidency may well wonder if Congress actually existed.
By a vote of 12-7, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved contempt resolutions against Karl Rove and Joshua Bolten, White House chief of staff.
The criminal contempt resolutions now move to the Senate floor, although no action on them is expected until next year.
I would have said that no action on them is expected, period. Maybe a little toothless verbiage.
Two major Republicans voted for the resolution which comes from the refusal of the WH to testify or turn over documents on the Attorney General purges: Arlen Spector and Iowa’s Charles Grassley.
Seattle’s Democratic Reprsentative Jim McDermott, however, showing a suicidal choice of battles, voted against a resolution”recognizing the importance of Christmas” as a protest to Bush’s power over Congress.
"While the Republicans are passing a resolution celebrating Christmas, the president was vetoing health care for children. There's a little bit of irony going on around here," McDermott said Thursday.Earlier this year, McDermott voted in favor of resolutions honoring Ramadan and Diwali. Ramadan is an Islamic holiday, while Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and others.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
