THE 49 OBSTRUCTIONS

by Malik Isasis




















For the six years that the despotic Republican Party had absolute power, they had often accused the Democratic Party of being obstructionists, crying with raised fists at every turn if the Democrats objected to any of their legislation. The Republican leadership even threatened the “nuclear-option” a rule change that would have effectively ended the 200-year old tradition of filibustering used by the minority party. The Republicans infected and rabid with absolute power were willing to forgo 200 years of tradition to push through their agenda no matter what, Democracy be damned.

The Republicans are known for their lock-goose-stepping and will follow one another right off of a cliff. The corporate media refers to this hierarchical system as being organized, they are organized all right, with a top-down leadership Republicans are primed for despotism. The main tenets of this party are loyalty and obedience.

Party before country.

They are willing to sacrifice themselves if it means holding onto power. It is the genetic flaw of the party’s DNA, which is why they always implode so fantastically, and dramatically when they arise to power, collapsing under the weight of their festering petulance.

Even as Bush surfs on a crest of Iraqi and American blood, they stand on the sidelines justifying the occupation of Iraq and the hundreds of thousands of deaths so that their corporate raiders take as much as they can from the US Treasury.

The Democrats’ feeble attempts to end the occupation were met with cries of a Constitutional crisis and defeatism. Republican Senator Orrin Hatch went so far as to say that the Democrats’ filibustering was, “unprecedented, unfair, dangerous, partisan, and unconstitutional,” and said they created a “constitutional crisis.” The Republicans who threaten the “nuclear-option” only two years ago are now filibustering the Democrats at almost every turn.

“The strategy of being obstructionist can work or fail ... so far it’s working for us,” said Republican Minority Whip Senator Trent Lott. What a difference an election makes.

Not a lick of shame in their hypocrisy.

The Senate

The US Senate is nearly equal with 49 Republicans and 51 Democrats, Bernie Sanders an Independent, caucuses with the Democratic Party; Joe Lieberman an Independent also caucuses with the Democrats when it is in his interest, in matters of war and destruction he caucuses with his kindred spirits to the Right of the aisle.

I gave the Democratic Party hell for caving in and giving Bush his way on the troop surge six months ago by continuing to fund the occupation. The Democrats as well as Republicans knew the surge was dead on arrival. It’s an occupation, not a war. The Democrats could not get the votes needed to override Bush’s veto of their bill, calling for troop withdrawal because the Republicans would not budge.

Party over country.

The 49 Republicans in the Senate are the culprits that allow Bush to hang ten on the ocean of blood that is spilling out of Iraq. They are supporting Bush in spite of their conscious.

49 Republicans

As the news in Iraq worsens, some senate Republicans are speaking of breaking off their support for the occupation but still won’t support a Democratic bill, because it is a Democratic bill. As the despots grumble about how the occupation is affecting their reelection efforts, Bush being Bush, gives them the finger because for as dumb as he is, he understands the party’s political DNA.

Party over country.

They will support him as they always have.

The 49 Republicans in the senate is the latchkey for making a change, but they have chosen to join Bush at the table in drinking the blood and misery of the Iraqi and American families. These obstructionists have paved the way for Bush’s Messianic madness, and delusion. Now they must convinced themselves that the lives lost due to their cowardice and personal gain was worth it. The most beautiful thing, and the most tragic thing about the human mind is that it is able to justify anything.

The Obstructions

Senate Republicans have obstructed almost every bill in the Senate – even ones with wide bipartisan support.

* So far, in the first half of the first session of the 110th Congress, there have been THIRTEEN cloture votes on motions to proceed – each one wasting days of Senate time. (110th Congress, Roll Call Votes #44, 51, 53, 74, 129, 132, 133, 162, 173, 207, 208, 227, and 228)
* In comparison, in the first sessions of the 108th and 109th Congresses combined, there were a total of FOUR cloture votes on motions to proceed.

EIGHT times Republican obstruction tactics slowed critical legislation

* Fulfilling the 9/11 Commission Recommendations (Passed 97-0, Roll Call Vote #53)
* Improving security at our courts (Passed 93-3, Roll Call Vote #133)
* Water Resources Development Act (Passed 89-7, Roll Call Vote #162)
* A joint resolution to revise U.S. policy in Iraq (Passed 89-9, Roll Call Vote, #74)
* Comprehensive Immigration Reform (Passed 69-23, Roll Call Vote #173)
* Comprehensive Immigration Reform (Passed 64-35, Roll Call Vote #228)
* CLEAN Energy Act (Passed 91-0, Roll Call Vote #208)
* Funding for the Intelligence Community (Passed 94-3, Roll Call Vote #129)

FOUR times Republicans blocked legislation from being debated

* Senate Republicans blocked raising the minimum wage. (54-43, Roll Call Vote #23)
* Senate Republicans blocked ethics reforms (Rejected 51-46, Roll Call Vote #16)
* Senate Republicans blocked comprehensive immigration reform (Rejected 45-50, Roll Call Vote #206)
* Senate Republicans blocked funding for renewable energy (Rejected 57-36, Roll Call Vote #223)

FOUR times Republicans stopped bills from reaching a vote

* Senate Republicans blocked funding for the intelligence community. (Rejected 41-40, Roll Call Vote #130)
* Senate Republicans blocked raising the minimum wage. (54-43, Roll Call Vote #23)
* Senate Republicans blocked ethics reforms (Rejected 51-46, Roll Call Vote #16)
* Senate Republicans blocked funding for renewable energy (Rejected 57-36, Roll Call Vote #223)

TWICE Republicans blocked bills from going to conference

* Senate Republicans blocked appointing conferees on the 9/11 Commission Recommendations (6/26/07)
* Senate Republicans blocked appointing conferees on ethics reform (6/26/07)

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