In June of 2004, in light of a host of thuggish Republican tactics in the U.S. House, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) sent a proposal for a “Minority Bill of Rights” to Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) calling for a more equitable balance of power in the chamber. Her proposal called for keeping any such adjustment to the rules in place no matter which party was in the Majority. Hastert, refused even the courtesy of a reply.
Now, Republican members are circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter to gain support for such a bill. Now that they are in the minority, of course. Cry babies.
Justin Rood has the story, and the letter – “House GOP: Don’t Hurt Us — Please”.
New house rule calls for Dems to wear . . . . . BOOTS Every Day until the JOB is done . . .
http://darwen.us/darrell/kittens/boot003.jpg
Take page from Jim Webb’s book.
So what do we know about the three people who originally sponsored the bill? What’s their record as far as showing respect to the minority?
I’d like to see a name by name breakdown of everyone who signs the letter, followed by a summary of their treatment of minority members of Congress during the time they were in the majority.
And just take the damned pen away from Hastert and Sensenbrenner – and a few of the others who went waaay over the line. Give them a crayon.
Make them write “I’m sorry I was such an asshole, I know I don’t deserve your kindness but please, please forgive me” 1000 times. Then tell them “we’ll get back to you” – and slam the door in their face.
Sorry, where certain people are concerned, I’m not in the mood to forgive and forget. They behaved like spoiled brats and bullies and they deserve to be humbled.
If the portion of the republican dictatorship that was overthrown by the people wants to be in sync with the people’s choice, who will take power soon in congress, then they should join up to do some oversight.
The portion of the republican dictatorship which has not yet been overthrown, the bush regime, is staying dumb and signaling war with congress.
If the smoldering ruin in the minority want their honor back then bush and the dick must be taken down many notches. And to regain their honor it must be done with the support of republicans.
Otherwise let them meet in the basement rooms like they forced Conyers to do.
Re #2–
TPM Muckraker has a bit on the “who” sponsoring this letter. I think the link was on Josh Marshal’s TalkingPoints Memo website.
I share the sentiment about ignoring such calls (esp from the most hypocritical of the Rebumblicans), but sooner or later the Dems do have to develop some strategy of detente. I assume Pelosi’s 100 Hour plan is a sort of time limit for this sort of thing. I read some bloggers who prefer to have it go on from 6 months to infinity.
But the point is somewhere, sometime moderation should begin. It is not a wish for some cosmetic change in tone and protocol. I would like to think that our legislators could be forced to pay attention to issues and flesh-and-blood constituents instead of the long green and the corporate machines.
As ever, my personal choice is to neuter corporations. But that’s just me.
A question for the BradCrowd:
When is bi-partisanship really needed, and how do you get it?
The preznit blush went around the country calling democrats “turrist simperthyzers”, even confusing major MSM hateaholics who don’t know Obama from Osama.
So now I guess these losers think they are at Abu Gharib with the people’s choice incarcerating them.
Poor delusional SOB’s … KBE #2 said it well.
Sorry, it was HuffPo that had this link:
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002257.php
Giving the minority a specific “time-out” is a good idea.
Let them have their temper tantrums, let them sit in the corner and whine and cry and yell all they want – just calmly and deliberately ignore them. To do otherwise rewards and reinforces the bad behavior.
Set a time limit. Let the responsible adults get things in order, then when it’s time, let the minority come back to the group, with the stipulation that if they misbehave again, they will be sent back to time-out.
Let them know, a week’s worth of smiley faces means they get to go out for ice cream!
And if they get a whole MONTH of smiley faces, we’ll take them to Chuck E. Cheese!
(Trust me, it works)
LOL, Republicans can get away with “thuggish tactics” and the Democrats cannot is because America is a center-right nation, and not a left wing one. When the people actually agree with what your goals are, you can push as hard as you want.
Wonder what the very pompous Hastert is doing these days? Hiding under the bed? People like Hastert and Sensenbrenner know the dems. aren’t too crazy about them and if they step over the line their old pals can be seriously mean. Pitiful.
Dems must never forget the Turtle and the Scorpion story when dealing with the gop. . .
http://www.snopes.com/critters/...e/scorpion.htm
Heads up Brad, I just heard on the idiot box that Tom Feeney (they called him Tom Sweeney and neglected to mention his political affiliation, natch) has been reprimanded by the ethics committee for his Abramoff-funded trip to Scotland. Both he and Curt Weldon were informed by the committee last year, but it wasn’t until their last day in power that they actually made this official and public.
Greaat.
They definitely should give extra priviliges to new GOPers, but not to the old ones who refused to cooperate with the Dems in the past.
Some of the GOP whiners are complaining about newly elected Keith Ellison taking his oath on the Koran rather than on the Bible. He is a Muslim.
Problem for the GOP bigots is that he is taking the oath on a copy of the Koran that was owned by Thomas Jefferson.
Bigotry shrinks the human mind.
And as KBE says at post #7, they need a time out where they learn what nation it is exactly that they are in.
Molly #9
He is being quite because he is under investigation for purchasing many acres of land “in the middle of nowhere” then floating a bill in congress that uses taxpayer money to build a road to the property.
The property value thereby increased by millions of dollars.
That is a no no.
Plus he has constipation.
typo in my post#14
“quiet” not quite
Goober in #8 needs a battery replacement, but (kinda OT) it reminds me of this. Left, right, center – what’s it all mean? Go ahead. Take the test.
(BTW, bullies usually get their way for awhile while people are figuring them out, but they are outa there when people do.)
Those sissies! OK, now I have to go look back at this thread…
We here in Montana are calling for a direct response to Bush’s call for increased troop levels, expected to come on Tues.We are organizing direct action to protest this blatant and dangerous disregard for the will of the people and the miltary experts.This is a defining MOMENT and the people need to stop complaining and start resisting. Please organize quickly in your area and get the word out . Lets see if this blogoshere can be used to organize.
Thanks to the American People…
The 110th Congress of the United States
http://www.house.gov
–> http://www.judiciary.house.gov
http://www.senate.gov
–> http://www.judiciary.senate.gov
I knew this would be a good thread when I read it, before I hit the comments button. You guys have summed it up so well on this post. Exactly. Cracked me up too. KBE, you’re on a roll lol.
#18 Troutsky – I hope the right people read yours and have the ways and means. Good ALWAYS triumphs evil, doesn’t it? I sure hope so, because I just read where the Great U S of A is sending a second Carrier Group to the Gulf. Lord help us all and I think IT IS getting quite urgent too.
Yahoo
Back OT – Cheney tells a senior Dem Senator, “Fuck Yourself” on the Senate floor:
Washington Post
Truthout had a good article from The Los Angeles Times, Oct 04, about the Republican bullies.
Truthout
Now they see how it sucks to be unfair and run home to mommy crying, give me a break. Somebody better get these kids to play fair SOON.
Republicans just believe they have the right to live the life they’ve become accustomed to.
KestrelBrighteyes #7
Funny!
I couldn’t believe the minority doesn’t even have the ower to investigate. That is how we got in trouble in the first place.
The system needs to be changed.
Awwww shucks, the Republicans want some rights for the minority party NOW.
OK. We will pass a bill that give minority rights to the minority party and can not repealed with less than a 75% vote.
It will take effect once each and every Republican who did not provide those rights to Democrats has left office, and not a day earlier.
They had their chance to act fair, and what did they do? They closed the caucus doors, ramrodded bills through at 3 a.m. without readings, turned off microphones, refused to allow supeanoas, etc.
They can go Cheney themselves. If they want rights, they can just wait till the smell of bullshit wears off their suits.
Charlie L
Portland, OR