Wednesday, October 02, 2013

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor attempts to humiliate Democrats with photo-op. Gets mocked mercilessly instead.

Okay so the photo-op above, of the Republican's bicameral conference committee, was arranged by Eric Cantor to indicate that they were ready to negotiate a deal with the Senate Democrats on passing a CR. (It should be pointed out, once again, that the Continuing Resolution that the Senate has agreed to keep in place, and the House has rejected, contains the sequestration cuts that the House Republicans forced upon the American people the LAST TIME they pulled a stunt like this. Essentially it is already a capitulation by the Democrats in order to keep the government funded.)

The purpose of course is to give the impression that the House Republicans are the reasonable ones, and it is Harry Reid and the Senate Democrats who are responsible for the government shutdown.

This from the New York Daily News:

Cantor gathered the group, which included House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich., House Appropriations Chairman Harold Rogers, R-Ky., and House Budget Chairman Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., for a photo-op and to signal that the Republicans were waiting to open the line of communication. 

"Come talk to us," Cantor pleaded. 

"All of us here, sitting at a table (are) waiting for Senate Democrats to join us so we can begin to resolve our differences," Cantor added. 

To which Harry Reid appropriately responded:

"Shutting down the government is deadly serious. Republicans seem more interested in organizing stunts with empty chairs."

And boy do the Republicans love their empty chairs.

Rachel Maddow on her show last night revealed the duplicity of this action however, by revealing that Senator Patty Murray has been asking for just such a meeting for months, eighteen times in fact, and they have always refused.

So yeah, this was nothing more than another bullshit move to dodge responsibility and lay the blame for the shutdown on the Democrats.

And it probably worked on those conservatives who really want this to be true, but not so muhc on the rest of the American people.

One of who tweeted this graphic to demonstrate his disgust.

The Republicans are working overtime to kill Obamacare in its cradle, and then blame the resulting political mess on the Democrats. But that only works if we aren't paying attention.

I am paying VERY close attention. And so are a lot of Americans who sent tons of money to the Democrats yesterday in frustration over the shutdown.

The train wreck was never Obamacare, the train wreck was what was going to be left of the Republican party AFTER Obamacare. 

26 comments:

  1. Anonymous12:43 PM

    Thank you for this informative, comprehensive overview of the idiot House majority.

    I've been calling and emailing my GOP congresscritter for days. Turns out, he not only doesn't care what I think, he's on record saying he doesn't even care what the GOP business community thinks. He's on a mission from god. And, so far, no one--GOP or Dem--is planning to run against him. So, giving up on my congressional district, I'll will work to make sure Dems win elsewhere and put the numbskull in my district back in the minority.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous1:13 PM

      On a mission from God?!? For WHAT?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous1:53 PM

      mission from God: to kill the government and democracy as we know it (my interpretation)

      Delete
    3. Anonymous2:17 PM

      Who is your congresscritter? I'm curious.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous2:51 PM

      To keep people from having their own medical insurance? The guy is in no way talking to his god! Another asshole Republican that doesn't act Christian or practice their teachings!

      Delete
    5. Anonymous4:39 PM

      A mission from god that is absurd. This isn't Gods plan.They are way off track. I am sure this isn't what god had in mind.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous6:09 PM

      Imagine that (1:13 here)! NOwhere does it say "undemine!"

      " I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior…” -1 Timothy 2:1-3

      Delete
  2. Anonymous1:08 PM

    Wonkette ran a caption contest for that pic, the favorite was "Republicans and the women who love them."

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous1:25 PM

    Thanks for the annotated picture.
    Back when Members of Congress had to disclose the very rough estimates of their wealth, I remember vividly that Eric Cantor had millions of dollars invested in overseas --specifically Asian -- mutual funds and stocks.
    So, not only can these men, on their own, afford any kind of health insurance, but it pays to look at their family dynamic as well. Ted Cruz's wife works at a high level at Goldman Sachs. How will his votes affect his pocketbook? What about Cantor -- will he be interested in better trade agreements with specific Asian countries?
    Follow the money. These jokers who can probably self-finance any campaign they want to, without letting K Street and the Koch Brothers through their doors.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous1:34 PM

    Get these friggin' multi-millionaire Republicans out of office in Congress. They have zero clue as to relating to Americans that can't obtain and don't have medical insurance. What fucking assholes!

    Americans need to get to the polls this next election cycle and get as many Republicans out of office across the nation as possible. They have a horrible party and have done nothing but obstruct President Obama and create havoc for the poor and middle class...all the while making the rich even richer.

    Watch the states that are Republican too - especially the ones headed up by Republican governors...we ALL need to stand up to them like we did both times when President Obama was elected.

    We can knock them on their asses and assuredly should!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous1:41 PM

    People in Alaska need to pay attention to Congresswoman Lisa Murkoski...she votes one way and talks the other. She voted against the Affordable Care Act along w/all the other Republicans. She could care less about the folks in Alaska that have no medical insurance - the same as the jerk Governor Parnell. Time to get rid of them in their next election cycles (Parnell is coming up!) even though Alaska is a 'red' state...it's way past time that we start going blue and get some folks in office that make sense INSTEAD of spending our taxpayer money as is Parnell!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous2:15 PM

    It is the Senate Democrats and Obama that refuse to negotiate.
    Time to have a Republican Senate and President
    It will also be the end of Obamacare as an added benefit
    Thanks to Ted Cruz and Sarah Palin for standing strong.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous2:46 PM

      Keep singing, Sunshine. The Republican Party doesn't exist anymore. There's only a minority Tea Party, and a powerless remainder. But stick around, the upcoming circle jerk needs a cheerleader just like you.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous2:48 PM

      @2:15 So, John McCain gets no thanks from you. How quickly you forget.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous2:48 PM

      2:15 Suppose you are a true Christian, huh? Why in the hell would Republicans not want their fellow Americans to have access to medical insurance?

      You folks make me literally want to barf....I've never seen such assholes in my life.

      Vote them out of office folks, every chance you get!

      Delete
    4. Sally in MI2:50 PM

      Oh my. Poor baby. The ACA is here to stay, fella. And Cruz is a maniac tearing down the country, incase you haven't followed him. Palin is still an idiot after all these chances to become educated. And you, sir, need to stop watching Fox Noise and read some facts. The idiotic sequestor spending was negoitiated by the President with these traitors, and is not being repealed. So up yours. The GOP has done nothing but damage this nations since they stole the 2000 election. Enough.

      Delete
    5. Anita Winecooler8:20 PM

      Time to have a republican senate and president......yeah, good luck with that one! The GOP Teatard Party has lower popularity ratings than a diseased yak's testicle. Boehner's asleep at t the wheel and the clowncar's got no gas.

      Get a life.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous2:19 PM

    Slightly off topic but I thought it worth mentioning. Sarah Palin could be harping about the shutdown for a self serving reason. All tax audits are put on hold during the shutdown.

    TEXASMEL

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  8. Anonymous2:23 PM

    Even I, unemployed at the moment (w/o unemployment insurance or savings) managed to send in $10. When you get angry, sending funds to the Democrats is good therapy!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sally in MI2:52 PM

    My own career Congressman Dave Camp is in that photo. The nine million dollar man. Now I ask you, where does an attorney who has been in Congress for 11 terms get that kind of cash? Don't you wonder? I have been writing him daily for aweek, and will continue to do so until he sees the light and stops acting like a bully. These people should be ashamed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous3:46 PM

      I've been writing to our Congressman since the most recent redistricting, Dr. Dan Benishek, the doctor who doesn't mind taking food away from poor people or stopping the WIC program (part of shutdown losses) and who is completely opposed to the ACA. He gets money from Centra, CMS Energy, the Koch Brothers and the Amer. Orthopaedic organization, among others. Gives us a clear idea of whom he represents and it's not "we, the people." Dave Camp is, I'm sure, the same way. I even got a response today from Dr. Dan. He says the GOP in the House has been trying so hard; it's the Democrats, you know. What a laugh. These GOP traitors should all have noses that are ten feet long.
      Beaglemom

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  10. Anonymous4:19 PM

    Never before in my life have I been so convinced that there is true evil in the world.

    I never imagined that, in this country, I would witness such blatant examples of cruelty for the sake of cruelty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anita Winecooler8:24 PM

      Well said. Their combined putting fees and country club memberships, alone could feed a few third world countries.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous6:20 PM

    Since Republicans want the Democrats to come to the table and negotiate, here is what Democrats need to say:

    We want Universal Background Checks on gun buyers with limits on ammo purchases and a national gun registry. This is what the majority of Americans want, and we are just representing the will of the people, after all.

    We want all funding restored to family planning and crisis pregnancy centers that has been stripped by Republicans.

    We want a clean CR.

    There. Democrats have negotiated. How do Republicans like that?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anita Winecooler8:27 PM

    The photo ploy was so lame to begin with, but I'm glad it got put to good use.

    ReplyDelete

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