politics and politicians
See other politics and politicians Articles
Title: The Tea Party [Freedom Caucus], Not Democrats or Republicans, Is the Problem
Source:
The Daily Beast
URL Source: https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-t ... -or-republicans-is-the-problem
Published: Oct 20, 2013
Author: JON FAVREAU
Post Date: 2018-02-12 06:00:36 by Gatlin
Keywords: None
Views: 8852
Comments: 52
The Tea Party [Freedom Caucus], Not Democrats or Republicans, Is the Problem. It’s de rigueur to decry ‘partisanship’ as Washington’s ‘real problem.’ Let’s get real—the most destructive force in American politics today is the Tea Party, says Jon Favreau. So now that our government is open and able to pay its bills, what soon-to-be-forgotten lessons have we learned from this sorry fiasco? Perhaps most important is the reminder that political temper tantrums in Washington exact a toll that goes far beyond unfavorable headlines and worse-than-dog-poo poll numbers. This decision hurt people. Some families couldn’t pay their bills. Others had nowhere safe to send their children while they worked. Poor women lost vouchers that helped buy food and formula for their newborns. Cancer treatments were put on hold for patients who didn’t have much time to waste. All told, the shutdown and flirtation with default cost America north of $20 billion. The countries that weren’t busy mocking us were frightened by our behavior, wondering if the world’s wealthiest nation would become the world’s deadbeat nation, taking everyone else down with us in a global collapse worse than 2008. And for what? For what purpose was this pain and humiliation inflicted upon the American people? Yes, you, Rep. Marlin Stutzman from Indiana. Do you have an answer? “We’re not going to be disrespected. We have to get something out of this. And I don’t know what that even is.” Oh. Which brings me to the second shutdown lesson. As a country, we may never get a more revealing, disturbing look at the true source of Washington’s dysfunction than we did over the last few weeks. Together, we endured a 21-hour non- filibuster speech from White Castle enthusiast Ted Cruz that was so devoid of self-awareness I’m not even sure he knew he was giving it. We saw Sarah Palin come all the way back from the small town of Irrelevancy, Alaska, to lead the charge against an open-air memorial that was blocked by a 3-foot barricade, while a few assholes waved Confederate flags outside the White House and reminded each other that Obama’s a Muslim, just for good measure. We saw the shutdown rationale shift from defunding Obamacare to delaying Obamacare to cutting spending to reforming entitlements to charging congressional staffers more for health insurance to cutting taxes for stethoscope manufacturers to something, anything that would embarrass the president. As we inched closer to the abyss, we witnessed a parade of right-wing mathletes run the numbers and confidently deny the economic catastrophe that would result from America’s first-ever financial default. And as the speaker of the House made one last half-hearted effort to save his caucus from total defeat, we watched Jim DeMint’s Heritage Foundation kill the plan with a press release, a move just about everyone saw coming that only served to remind us who’s really in charge. In Official Washington, decrying “partisanship” as the “real problem” is the prerequisite for being taken seriously as a smart, unbiased political commentator. But from where we stand right now, partisanship is not the problem. Democrats are not the problem. Republicans are not the problem. The relationship between President Obama and John Boehner is not the problem. The Tea Party is the problem. The Tea Party is the most destructive force in American politics today. Over the last few weeks, it has demonstrated again that its intent is not to shake up the establishment but to burn down the village. As a Democrat, I disagree with its policy positions, but its policy positions alone are not what make the Tea Party so dangerous. What makes the Tea Party dangerous is its members’ willful disregard for the most basic tenets of American democracy. They do not believe in the legitimacy of our president. They do not believe in the legitimacy of decisions handed down by our Supreme Court. Unlike President Obama, Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, or a host of other Democratic and Republican lawmakers who grasp the basic reality of politics, they have never, not once shown a willingness to compromise on anything. Merely uttering the word is enough to draw a primary challenge. All this, despite the fact that the Tea Party represents the views of a small, ever- shrinking fraction of Americans. Even within the Republican Party, its members’ favorability hovers around 50 percent, the lowest of all time. Their recent legislative strategy, a word that can be used only in its loosest sense, led to 144 Tea Party House members voting against a bipartisan compromise simply to open the government and avert default. But when Reuters polled people who weren’t satisfied with last week’s outcome, only 2 percent said it was because the House passed the Senate’s bipartisan bill. Only 5 percent said it was because Republicans compromised. Only 3 percent said it was because default would have taught our government an important lesson. Most people said their main dissatisfaction was with the ugly process the Tea Party dragged us all through. And yet, somehow, this small minority of Tea Party House members, who represent less than one half of one legislative body in one branch of government, has been given enormous influence over the national agenda—a situation without precedent in American political history. It’s insanity. The president and Boehner can hang out, drink beers, play golf, and shake hands on all kinds of deals. Boehner has been open to revenue in the past. Obama has put entitlement cuts on the table that made his party uncomfortable. The Senate has already passed bipartisan immigration legislation, and there are enough Republicans and Democrats in Congress who are willing to compromise and make progress on any number of issues. But Boehner was, in his own words, “overrun” by the Tea Party during the shutdown, and so long as he and other Republicans fear challenges from the fringe more than the frustrations of the majority, nothing will get done. And we will find ourselves in the same predicament again and again, regardless of who is elected president or speaker or majority leader. The Republican Party is at war with itself. And as tempting as it might be for Democrats to gloat from the sidelines, it is in all of our interests—Democrats, independents, and Republicans—to make sure the Tea Party doesn’t win. In 2014, candidates of both parties should challenge their rivals to sign a No Shutdown Pledge and a No Default Pledge. In House races, candidates should be asked whether they’re willing to violate the ridiculous Hastert rule and allow simple up-or-down votes on legislation that could pass with bipartisan support, no matter who holds the majority. In Senate races, they should be asked whether they’re willing to make it harder for bipartisan legislation to be filibustered by a Ted Cruz or a Mike Lee. Democrats and Republicans can argue all they want over the role of government, but we cannot allow the Tea Party to continue holding the country hostage over its kamikaze mission to destroy government. The vast majority of Americans reject that mission, and we’re not about to sacrifice ourselves or our democracy as collateral damage. It’s time for all of us to get together and fight the crazy. Poster Comment:
Jon Favreau is a Democrat and wrote this article for The Daily Beast back in October, 2013. He says that the Tea Party [Freedom Caucus] is the most destructive force in American politics today. And what makes the Tea Party dangerous is its members’ willful disregard for the most basic tenets of American democracy. They have never, not once shown a willingness to compromise on anything. Where is Jon Favreau wrong?
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 35.
#1. To: Gatlin (#0)
In 2013 it was the Tea Party. Today it is the Democrat Party that is on a kamikaze mission to destroy the President at any cost. The Tea Party failed, and the Democrats will fail. Republicans failed long ago. We're governed by failures all around. Throw them all out and replace them with the Olympians when they come home from Korea. True, they know nothing about politics. But the people who run Washington know everything about politics - and they keep crashing the plane. So it won't be worse. And the Olympians, at least, every one of them, have a decades-long tradition of self-discipline and focus on what is necessary to succeed. The politicians also know how to succeed - in getting elected - but self-discipline has nothing to do with it. Since we're not really going to do that, we just have to tend our own gardens and hope for the best. There's no real chance that our government is going to get any better.
[U.S. Figure Skater Adam Rippon Unimpressed By ‘Generic’ Olympic Condoms] Eff the "Olympians" and the "elite" STD infested jackwagon they dribbled in on.
Olympians are not infested with STDs - if they were it would drag down their performance - but they are true elites: the best in the world at what they do. Whether what they do is valuable or not is a matter of personal opinion, but the notion that they are not the epitome of athleticism is ridiculous. They are.
ESAD/FOAD. If you do, you will. Bon Appetit, Mr. "Elite" Jesuitard!
If you do, you will. Bon Appetit, Mr. "Elite" Jesuitard! Thank you for your kind words, Christian.
Why don't you tell the class how AIDS improved the performance of Grandpa Viscount and his "nurse"; and how it's all their fault you didn't get a L.I.F.E.R. payoff from your "elite" navy "career", Grifter.
WTF does AIDS have to do with it? How many viruses are registered to vote or hold office? If you are not a homo,WTF are YOU so focused on AIDS? Someone can mention the temperature in Chicago,and idiots like you want to jump on the thread and start screaming about faggots and AIDS. Methinks thou protests too much.
What do Condoms have to do with the "elite" Olympics? Sure, let's take the Uberfruit cakes off the ice and put MORE of 'em in the White Hut. FAIL.
What do Condoms have to do with the "elite" Olympics? That's the best lame shit you can come up with? I don't want to shock you,but condoms are also used to prevent pregnancy,as well as to prevent catching venereal diseases besides AIDS. And at the risk of putting you further into shock,Olympic athletes tend to be young in amazing physical condition. Which means sex drives pegging the meter. Boys and girls WILL do what boys and girls do when they are away from home. Deal with it.
#40. To: sneakypete (#35)
(Edited)
XX+XY=Human Think about that with every wheeezing breath, turd burglar.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#7. To: Vicomte13 (#1)
(Edited)
Throw them all out and replace them with the Olympians when they come home from Korea.
More condoms will be distributed at the Pyeongchang Games than at any previous Winter Olympics.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ad am -rippon-olympic-condoms_us_5a8026e4e4b044b3821e4901
#9. To: VxH (#7)
Eff the "Olympians" and the "elite" STD infested jackwagon they dribbled in on.
#10. To: Vicomte13 (#9)
(Edited)
#12. To: VxH (#10)
ESAD/FOAD.
#13. To: Vicomte13 (#12)
(Edited)
#20. To: VxH (#13)
Why don't you tell the Class how AIDS improved the performance of Grandpa Viscount and his "nurse"?
#22. To: sneakypete, Vicomte13 (#20)
(Edited)
WTF does AIDS have to do with it?
#35. To: VxH (#22)
WTF does AIDS have to do with it?
Replies to Comment # 35. Deal with it.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 35.
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]