The joy of Communism

[Badger52]

Originally Posted by tonyz

You are correct that this shit won’t become law...for now.

I trust McConjob and HIS circus about as far as '.'
That far.

[tonyz]

Originally Posted by Badger52

I trust McConjob and HIS circus about as far as '.'
That far.

Concur. Not a dime’s worth of distance between establishment snake oil peddlers in both major parties.

WTF did Rs do during that brief window when they had the House, the Senate and the WH?

These should be boom times for the nation...things are good...but things could be so much better - for all - if we really focused on building this country.

Instead we bicker about which bathroom to use and give time to folks who want to abolish the use of fossil fuels in 10 years with NO responsible substitute on the horizon.

[Badger52]

Originally Posted by tonyz

WTF did Rs do during that brief window when they had the House, the Senate and the WH?

They obstructed to insure their rice-bowl, a Star Fleet Prime Directive.

Spots on the gallows are equal; none is more equal than others. And hemp is still a growing industry... how 'bout that economy?

[Box]

...the phrase "foreign and domestic" comes to mind

[CSB]

WTF did Rs do during that brief window when they had the House, the Senate and the WH?

That was what I thought when I read "the Republicans 'control' the House, the Senate and the White House."

Not true, at least, not by a realistic definition of "control."

Sure, it would seem that 51 - 49 in the Senate, and 218 - 217 in the House (plus a Republican President) = "control."

But the real numbers are:

To defeat a filibuster by the minority of the Senate = 60 votes.

Before the 2018 elections, the Republicans held only 54 seats in the Senate.
After the 2018 elections, the Republicans held only 52 seats.

That's not enough to defeat a determined Democrat filibuster.

And the House always has a few "Independant" "Abstainining" "Dead" (literally, dead Representatives and otherwise vacant seats) that a margin of 220 - 225 is neded to have "control." (Thank God there is no filibuster in the House, else 261 would be needed for a 60% closure.)

[tonyz]

Originally Posted by CSB

That was what I thought when I read "the Republicans 'control' the House, the Senate and the White House."

Not true, at least, not by a realistic definition of "control."

Sure, it would seem that 51 - 49 in the Senate, and 218 - 217 in the House (plus a Republican President) = "control."

But the real numbers are:

To defeat a filibuster by the minority of the Senate = 60 votes.

Before the 2018 elections, the Republicans held only 54 seats in the Senate.
After the 2018 elections, the Republicans held only 52 seats.

That's not enough to defeat a determined Democrat filibuster.

And the House always has a few "Independant" "Abstainining" "Dead" (literally, dead Representatives and otherwise vacant seats) that a margin of 220 - 225 is neded to have "control." (Thank God there is no filibuster in the House, else 261 would be needed for a 60% closure.)

Thank you for that. You are absolutely correct about the numbers with respect to filibuster - but I was thinking of (and particularly disappointed with) the attempted Obamacare repeal - where opposition from a few senators meant Rs couldn’t even muster a simple majority for what amounted to THE signature campaign issue for many. I can still see the “maverick” giving that late night thumbs down sign...