Dana Milbank And The Purity Trolls
Anyway, the Washington Post‘s Dana Milbank seems to be quaffing deeply from that well as he postulates that a GOP-led Senate would be a good thing for President Obama:
Crazy talk, you say? Maybe so. The prevailing view is that a Republican Senate would only compound Obama’s woes by bottling up confirmations, doubling the number of investigations and chipping away at Obamacare and other legislative achievements.
Yet there’s a chance that having an all-Republican Congress would help Obama — and even some White House officials have wondered privately whether a unified Republican Congress would be better than the current environment. Republicans, without Harry Reid to blame, would own Congress — a body that inspires a high level of confidence in just 7 percent of Americans, according to a Gallup survey last month finding Congress at a new low and at the bottom of all institutions tested.
There would be no more excuses for Republicans’ failure to put forward their own health-care plan, immigration proposals, specific cuts to popular government programs, and pet causes involving abortion, birth control and gay rights. This would set up real clashes with Obama — who could employ the veto pen he hasn’t used a single time since Republicans gained control of the House in 2010 — and sharp contrasts that would put him on the winning side of public opinion.
It is not hard to imagine a Republican takeover of the Senate causing conservatives in both chambers to overreach. House Republicans would get more pressure from their base to take a swing at impeachment, because the odds of convicting Obama in the Senate would be better (if still prohibitive). Alternatively, Republican leaders, recognizing that the public will hold them responsible now that they have complete control of Congress, might try to compromise with Obama.
Not to mince words here, but bull and s***. First of all, there is no Republican agenda other than saying no to everything that the Kenyan Usurper wants; there is no Republican leadership to reign in the Teabaggers (ask Eric Cantor about his thoughts on that topic); there is no Republican compromise to be had with the president on anything, ever.
The Republicans have already effectively stopped all nominations and Darrel Issa has shown that the fish are biting as every bogus internet conspiracy theory is explored and has come up empty. Why would the Republicans change that in the final two years? Bluntly, the Republicans are not interested in governance;they are interested in destroying this president at all costs.
Whatever you’re having Dana, make mine a double, and let’s go ride a unicorn.
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By: Tengrain
Fully caffeinated with twice the sugar, unabashedly liberal. Award-winning Americans United blogger, blogs at Mock Paper Scissors, and sometimes at Crooks and Liars.
You can follow @Tengrain on Twitter, or you might see him enjoying coffee somewhere in Seattle at any given moment of the day.
44 responses to Dana Milbank And The Purity Trolls
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mea_mark July 5th, 2014 at 14:09
I sure hope we don’t have to find out. I think an all republican congress right now would be a disaster. They would do everything they could to turn America into a Theocracy. It could very well start a period of anarchy in parts America. It wouldn’t be an all out civil war but basic services could be frequently disrupted with all sorts of horrible consequences. This upcoming election could be one of the most important in American history, I hope we get it right.
Tengrain July 5th, 2014 at 15:23
Mea_Mark – every election is one of the most important in American History, that’s a by-product of our two-party rule. But I take your point: everyone vote!
Regards,
Tengrain
Trumbull Desi July 5th, 2014 at 17:33
I live in NC. Thom Tillis thinks he’s got a lock on getting Kay Hagen out of the Senate. He hasn’t resigned his seat in the general assembly, so he must know that it isn’t a sure thing. Hagen’s been rising in the polls, in part because of the way Tillis himself has turned this state into a tea pot fantasy land in the last two years. His votes in the assembly are going to come back to haunt him in November. The electorate her is seriously pissed.
mea_mark July 5th, 2014 at 19:10
We know the idiots are going to vote. Let’s hope the rest of us decide to vote and not be so apathetic. We have to think we can make a real change despite what the oligarchy wants to do with all its monetary influence.
Trumbull Desi July 5th, 2014 at 19:14
My lifetime R mother (who has never missed a vote in her entire life) will be voting D this year. She’s so disgusted with the entire lot of them. They’re in trouble if losing people like my 77 year old mother.
mea_mark July 5th, 2014 at 14:09
I sure hope we don’t have to find out. I think an all republican congress right now would be a disaster. They would do everything they could to turn America into a Theocracy. It could very well start a period of anarchy in parts America. It wouldn’t be an all out civil war but basic services could be frequently disrupted with all sorts of horrible consequences. This upcoming election could be one of the most important in American history, I hope we get it right.
Tengrain July 5th, 2014 at 15:23
Mea_Mark – every election is one of the most important in American History, that’s a by-product of our two-party rule. But I take your point: everyone vote!
Regards,
Tengrain
Trumbull Desi July 5th, 2014 at 17:33
I live in NC. Thom Tillis thinks he’s got a lock on getting Kay Hagen out of the Senate. He hasn’t resigned his seat in the general assembly, so he must know that it isn’t a sure thing. Hagen’s been rising in the polls, in part because of the way Tillis himself has turned this state into a tea pot fantasy land in the last two years. His votes in the assembly are going to come back to haunt him in November. The electorate her is seriously pissed.
mea_mark July 5th, 2014 at 19:10
We know the idiots are going to vote. Let’s hope the rest of us decide to vote and not be so apathetic. We have to think we can make a real change despite what the oligarchy wants to do with all its monetary influence.
Trumbull Desi July 5th, 2014 at 19:14
My lifetime R mother (who has never missed a vote in her entire life) will be voting D this year. She’s so disgusted with the entire lot of them. They’re in trouble if losing people like my 77 year old mother.
Dcbos July 5th, 2014 at 14:58
Milbank is one messed up dude; it like a guy saying “my wife’s going to be better off because of my beatings”; she goes along with me a lot better.
Dcbos July 5th, 2014 at 14:58
Milbank is one messed up dude; it like a guy saying “my wife’s going to be better off because of my beatings”; she goes along with me a lot better.
Suzanne McFly July 5th, 2014 at 15:45
I think Dana is using the same type of argument that Cochran used when he beat McDaniel, he was happy Democrats were voting for Republicans. Cochran claimed he was expanding the party. However, I do believe a Republican senate would lead to their demise, but it would take decades to recover from the disaster and I don’t feel that is beneficial to anyone.
Suzanne McFly July 5th, 2014 at 15:45
I think Dana is using the same type of argument that Cochran used when he beat McDaniel, he was happy Democrats were voting for Republicans. Cochran claimed he was expanding the party. However, I do believe a Republican senate would lead to their demise, but it would take decades to recover from the disaster and I don’t feel that is beneficial to anyone.
Robert Johnston July 5th, 2014 at 17:06
Does anybody remember what happened the last time we had a DEMOCRAT as President, with REPLUBLICAN majorities in both the House and Senate?
I believe such was the case during the second administration of Bill Clinton…and golly-gee, didn’t the GOP try to oust President Clinton via IMPEACHMENT and SENATE TRIAL during that time?
Something to think about…
–RKJ
Trumbull Desi July 5th, 2014 at 17:29
Impeach is all they’ve got. It’s the only arrow in their quiver.
mmaynard119 July 6th, 2014 at 09:57
Think about this for a second. All of the Republican cherished beliefs have been proven to be wrong. Government austerity does not lead to economic growth. Corporations will not act as good citizens on their own. And so on….. They don’t have any affirmative arguments or plans to make. Other than being the opposition party, the Republican’s approach to government and governing needs a major rethinking.
Trumbull Desi July 6th, 2014 at 10:19
What out outlined requires self awareness and introspection. What’s left of the so-called mainstream Rs realize that, of which believe Boehner is one. However, until they get the tea pots either out of the party or out of government, Boehner will do whatever he needs to hang on to his job. Boehner doesn’t believe half the stuff that comes out of his mouth. It’s posturing and politics.
The tea party is a cancer and has metastasized to the point where it’s killing the party and, by extension, our country.
mmaynard119 July 6th, 2014 at 10:31
I do believe his enmity towards Obama is real and has
gotten personal between them.
Trumbull Desi July 6th, 2014 at 11:12
Yes, I agree with that.
Tengrain July 5th, 2014 at 18:46
I think that if the GOP takes the Senate, it will be like the final scene of The Graduate when Dustin Hoffman is at the back of the bus with Katharine Ross, and they both get this look on their faces: now what?
Regards,
Tengrain
Robert Keith Johnston July 5th, 2014 at 17:06
Does anybody remember what happened the last time we had a DEMOCRAT as President, with REPLUBLICAN majorities in both the House and Senate?
I believe such was the case during the second administration of Bill Clinton…and golly-gee, didn’t the GOP try to oust President Clinton via IMPEACHMENT and SENATE TRIAL during that time?
Something to think about…
–RKJ
Trumbull Desi July 5th, 2014 at 17:29
Impeach is all they’ve got. It’s the only arrow in their quiver.
mmaynard119 July 6th, 2014 at 09:57
Think about this for a second. All of the Republican cherished beliefs have been proven to be wrong. Government austerity does not lead to economic growth. Corporations will not act as good citizens on their own. Imperialistic foreign policy has failed big time. And so on….. They don’t have any affirmative arguments or plans to make. Other than being the opposition party, the Republican’s approach to government and governing needs a major rethinking.
Their only hope is to buy time while they restrategize and replan. If they don’t act obstructionist and the policies and programs that are being implemented are popular and work, then they are out of power for at least 20 years. They have no good candidates for President in 2016. Their last white hopes are either under investigation for criminal activities or have performed terribly in their jobs.
What John Boehner realizes, maybe if he hasn’t killed off all of his functioning brain cells with Jack Daniels, is that he is the last best hope for the Republican Party, before it self-annihilates.
Trumbull Desi July 6th, 2014 at 10:19
What out outlined requires self awareness and introspection. What’s left of the so-called mainstream Rs realize that, of which believe Boehner is one. However, until they get the tea pots either out of the party or out of government, Boehner will do whatever he needs to hang on to his job. Boehner doesn’t believe half the stuff that comes out of his mouth. It’s posturing and politics.
The tea party is a cancer and has metastasized to the point where it’s killing the party and, by extension, our country.
mmaynard119 July 6th, 2014 at 10:31
I do believe his enmity towards Obama is real and has
gotten personal between them.
Trumbull Desi July 6th, 2014 at 11:12
Yes, I agree with that.
Tengrain July 5th, 2014 at 18:46
I think that if the GOP takes the Senate, it will be like the final scene of The Graduate when Dustin Hoffman is at the back of the bus with Katharine Ross, and they both get this look on their faces: now what?
Regards,
Tengrain
Eric Trommater July 5th, 2014 at 17:34
Milbank isn’t alone in this thinking. There is a growing discussion among some liberals in DC who work for Democratic legislators that the burden of government has robbed the party of it’s vitality and that somehow a time as an opposition party would allow us to become revitalized. To them it’s not just the idea that Republicans would do such a bad job governing that popular opinion would switch back to liberalism. It’s more about the “you broke it you bought it” rule of American Politics where whoever is in power is held responsible for all the countries shortcomings.
I don’t agree with this idea but I do respect the fact that it is a more complex and politically savvy idea than Milbank’s somewhat more puerile vision of GOP over reach empowering Democrats. That is just ridiculous!
mea_mark July 5th, 2014 at 19:16
{“you broke it you bought it” rule of American Politics} This is becoming antiquated as more and more info is being shared on social media. That rule was always grounded in the idea that the public didn’t really know what was going on. That only really applies now to those that want to live in ignorance, you know, most republicans. An informed electorate will not follow that rule.
Eric Trommater July 5th, 2014 at 19:29
The debate among Democratic staffers right now seems to me to be a very cynical one. Often they point to a recent poll showing that 91% of people questioned couldn’t identify John Roberts. There is a morose meme going around DC right now that no matter how much you dumb things down it just isn’t dumb enough anymore.
As one of my friends who now works for Bernie Sanders, but has been on Capital Hill for almost 25 years, put it “we are rife for another Willy Horton add right now. I have never seen the country so dangerously, politically ignorant as it is right now.”
mea_mark July 5th, 2014 at 19:32
Let’s hope that as we get closer to the elections that it becomes a fad to be educated about politics. It can happen.
Eric Trommater July 5th, 2014 at 20:13
Politics is cyclical. That’s a fact missed by both sides most of time.
mmaynard119 July 6th, 2014 at 09:52
And also, they forget the reasons why legislation was done. The EPA was set up by Nixon.
By late 1969, the subterranean rumblings heralding the impending explosion could already be heard. On August 31, Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska complained: “Suddenly out of the woodwork come thousands of people talking about ecology.” On October 20, Robert Bendiner–in a signed New YorkTimes editorial–had a startling prediction to make: “Call it conservation, the environment, ecological balance, or what you will, it is a cause more permanent, more far-reaching, than any issue of the era–Vietnam and Black Power included.”
The Nixon Administration, although preoccupied with an unpopular war and a recession-ridden economy, took some stopgap action on the environmental front in 1969. In May, President Nixon had set up a Cabinet-level Environmental Quality Council as well as a Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Environmental Quality. His critics charged that these were largely ceremonial bodies, with almost no real power.
http://www2.epa.gov/aboutepa/birth-epa
Eric Trommater July 5th, 2014 at 17:34
Milbank isn’t alone in this thinking. There is a growing discussion among some liberals in DC who work for Democratic legislators that the burden of government has robbed the party of it’s vitality and that somehow a time as an opposition party would allow us to become revitalized. To them it’s not just the idea that Republicans would do such a bad job governing that popular opinion would switch back to liberalism. It’s more about the “you broke it you bought it” rule of American Politics where whoever is in power is held responsible for all the countries shortcomings.
I don’t agree with this idea but I do respect the fact that it is a more complex and politically savvy idea than Milbank’s somewhat more puerile vision of GOP over reach empowering Democrats. That is just ridiculous!
mea_mark July 5th, 2014 at 19:16
{“you broke it you bought it” rule of American Politics} This is becoming antiquated as more and more info is being shared on social media. That rule was always grounded in the idea that the public didn’t really know what was going on. That only really applies now to those that want to live in ignorance, you know, most republicans. An informed electorate will not follow that rule.
Eric Trommater July 5th, 2014 at 19:29
The debate among Democratic staffers right now seems to me to be a very cynical one. Often they point to a recent poll showing that 91% of people questioned couldn’t identify John Roberts. There is a morose meme going around DC right now that no matter how much you dumb things down it just isn’t dumb enough anymore.
As one of my friends who now works for Bernie Sanders, but has been on Capital Hill for almost 25 years, put it “we are rife for another Willy Horton ad right now. I have never seen the country so dangerously, politically ignorant as it is right now.”
mea_mark July 5th, 2014 at 19:32
Let’s hope that as we get closer to the elections that it becomes a fad to be educated about politics. It can happen.
Eric Trommater July 5th, 2014 at 20:13
Politics is cyclical. That’s a fact missed by both sides most of time.
mmaynard119 July 6th, 2014 at 09:52
And also, they forget the reasons why legislation was done. The EPA was set up by Nixon.
By late 1969, the subterranean rumblings heralding the impending explosion could already be heard. On August 31, Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska complained: “Suddenly out of the woodwork come thousands of people talking about ecology.” On October 20, Robert Bendiner–in a signed New YorkTimes editorial–had a startling prediction to make: “Call it conservation, the environment, ecological balance, or what you will, it is a cause more permanent, more far-reaching, than any issue of the era–Vietnam and Black Power included.”
The Nixon Administration, although preoccupied with an unpopular war and a recession-ridden economy, took some stopgap action on the environmental front in 1969. In May, President Nixon had set up a Cabinet-level Environmental Quality Council as well as a Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Environmental Quality. His critics charged that these were largely ceremonial bodies, with almost no real power.
http://www2.epa.gov/aboutepa/birth-epa
mmaynard119 July 5th, 2014 at 21:10
Dana Milbank is OK. The paper where he is a columnist is not. I don’t think he thought this one through. The Republicans do have an agenda – repeal the EPA, repeal the DOE, impeach Eric Holder, roll back the watered down Dodd-Frank rules after impeaching Obama. The corpocracy would be in full tilt mode.
mmaynard119 July 5th, 2014 at 21:10
Dana Milbank is OK. The paper where he is a columnist is not. I don’t think he thought this one through. The Republicans do have an agenda – repeal the EPA, repeal the DOE, impeach Eric Holder, roll back the watered down Dodd-Frank rules after impeaching Obama. The corpocracy would be in full tilt mode.
Ormond Otvos July 7th, 2014 at 16:24
It’s “rein in” not “reign in” says the grammar troll…
Ormond Otvos July 7th, 2014 at 16:24
It’s “rein in” not “reign in” says the language purity policeperson…