Bloggers Put The Heat On The Obstructionists

Over the weekend, bloggers responded to Robert Borosage's call to "Expose The Obstructionists" and sign our petition, urging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to force conservatives to filibuster popular legislation in broad daylight.

Digby deemed the petition smart strategy:

This is important for setting the terms of the debate as well as actually getting some of these initiatives off the ground. The congress is suffering in the polls because the Republicans are blocking any progress on issues that people care about. Now is the time to begin educating people about who is really responsible for this and it's going to take some drama.

FireDogLake makes a similar case:

It’s important for the Democrats to know that there is popular support for this kind of fight, and the American people will continue their attitude of “pox on both your houses” until it becomes clear that the GOP is responsible for the current quagmire. Reid may be quite proud of the Democrats’ success in the first six months but that could be the problem — it’s just not enough.

Talking Points Memo is flabbergasted by the hypocrisy:

For the last several years, Republicans, with a 55-seat majority, cried like young children if Dems even considered a procedural hurdle. They said voters would punish obstructionists. They said it was borderline unconstitutional. They said to stand in the way of majority rule was to undermine a basic principle of our democratic system.

And wouldn't you know it; the shameless hypocrites didn't mean a word of it. As Roll Call reported this week, 239 separate bills have passed the House, only to find Senate Republicans "objecting to just about every major piece of legislation" that Harry Reid has tried to bring to the floor, whether it enjoys bi-partisan support or not.

Indeed, Senate Republicans -- the ones accusing Dems of being a "do-nothing Congress" -- are proud of their efforts. Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott boasted, "The strategy of being obstructionist can work or fail. So far it's working for us."

South Georgia Liberal shames the media:

That is hypocrisy, but does the national news media call them on it? No. Does the news media report that it is Republican obstructionism that is stopping important legislation, that enjoys popular support amongst American voters? Again, no. The media simply regurgitates whatever Republican talking points is available to them and reports on a "do-nothing Congress" and ignores the fact it is Republican obstructionism that is stopping the legislation.

Pygalgia writes: "Funny how obstructionism is OK when Republicans do it."

The Newshoggers argue:

It is vital that the public understand why the Dems have failed to get massively popular, House-approved legislation through the Senate: there are 49 Republicans there who've opted for obstruction over the popular agenda that Democrats ran and won on in 2006.

Blog for Arizona looks ahead to 2008:

In a way, this issue is one of those problems you are glad to have: it's a symptom of being in the majority, after all. But at least part of the public's current dissatisfaction with Congressional performance is the impression they are unable to get anything done. In a way, 2008 will be a test of the proposal that an "obstructionist" minority will be harmed electorally by their intransigence.

The Sideshow chimes in: "Make 'em hold a real filibuster that America can see in all its glory - and hear what they use as 'debate' to prevent passage of those popular bills."

Seeing The Forest sounds the call: "How long can this go on? As long as the public lets them."

Sign The Petition!

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