The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

[Kepler]

Re: The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

Legitimately funny line from Gail Collins:

One thing that never changes in Washington is the difference in metabolism between the House and Senate. Have you ever watched pet-rehabilitation shows like “The Dog Whisperer”? The House is the deranged Pomeranian that yelps and throws itself against the window and tears up the upholstery 24/7. The Senate, meanwhile, is like a narcoleptic Great Dane you can hardly rouse for dinner.

 

[unofan]

Re: The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

I'd rather have nothing than be dead.

But would you rather millions of people have nothing than Joe Shmoe being dead?

It's easy to compare one man's death vs. mere impoverishment. It's another to compare millions in poverty to one man's death.

Either way, Kelloggs survives without a doubt. May need to rebrand itself, but 50 deaths are a drop in the bucket. Even at $10,000,000 per death, that's only $500,000,000 in damages. For a company with billions in revenue every year, meh.

 

[BassAle]

Re: The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

Jack in the Box killed something like 4 kids and made hundreds of people sick and they are still around.

 

[Priceless]

Re: The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

The Senate, meanwhile, is like a narcoleptic Great Dane you can hardly rouse for dinner.

Senator Scooby?

 

[Kepler]

Re: The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

But would you rather millions of people have nothing than Joe Shmoe being dead?

It's easy to compare one man's death vs. mere impoverishment. It's another to compare millions in poverty to one man's death.

Either way, Kelloggs survives without a doubt. May need to rebrand itself, but 50 deaths are a drop in the bucket. Even at $10,000,000 per death, that's only $500,000,000 in damages. For a company with billions in revenue every year, meh.

It would also hit their revenue stream, though.

Then again, they may be insured.

 

[Foxton]

Re: The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

Ah yes, the evil corporation theory rears its ugly head. All these companies have is their reputation. If a batch of corn flakes kills 50 people, do you really think Kellog's survives?

Welcome to the jungle! We got fun and games!

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

So the Assembly passed Walker's bill 51-17 last night, 25 Democrats, 2 Republicans, and 1 independent were too busy yelling at each to vote apparently. In total, there was 61 hours of debate on the bill. But of course, that just wasn't enough for some people:

Democrats erupted after the vote, throwing papers and what appeared to be a drink in the air. They denounced the move to cut off debate, questioning for the second time in the night whether the proper procedure had been followed.

“Shame! Shame! Shame!” Democrats shouted in the faces of Republicans as the GOP lawmakers quietly filed off the floor and a police officer stood between opposing lawmakers.

How many hours of debate did they want exactly?

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

Elections have consequences. The Dems probably should just let it pass and not make a big stink. People need to get what they voted for. And when NOTHING about their budget or the economy changes the voters can get mad and wonder what the hell happened. The lost decade continues.

 

[icebadger]

Re: The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

How many hours of debate did they want exactly?

Probably enough to discuss the ammendments they proposed, per legislative rules. Regulation just sucks, doesn't it? Free market legislatures for all! What's so difficult about the Republicans following procedure? They couldn't even use the nuclear option right this morning to force the vote without violating the rules.

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

Probably enough to discuss the ammendments they proposed, per legislative rules. Regulation just sucks, doesn't it? Free market legislatures for all! What's so difficult about the Republicans following procedure? They couldn't even use the nuclear option right this morning to force the vote without violating the rules.

Yeah, I'd be a little more receptive to that argument if the same people wearing orange, throwing drinks, and yelling now hadn't passed a Doyle repair bill in less than a day- with no debate.

As for amendments, they were only being used to stall the bill, which I admit is a legitimate tactic, so good for them. But it's equally legitimate then to force a vote on final passage, which is what the Republicans did.

 

[Handyman]

Re: The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

Elections have consequences. The Dems probably should just let it pass and not make a big stink. People need to get what they voted for. And when NOTHING about their budget or the economy changes the voters can get mad and wonder what the hell happened. The lost decade continues.

I am sure Walker, his fellow party members and WeWantMore will find a way to blame it on the Dems and the union workers

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

I am sure Walker, his fellow party members and WeWantMore will find a way to blame it on the Dems and the union workers

Yeah. They sure have/will.

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

No, if this bill doesn't work, and if Walker doesn't create the 250,000 jobs he promised to create over 4 years, he'll pay the price for it. That's how elections work. Just like Republicans are only in power here in Wisconsin because Democrats failed to deliver on their promises. This is hardly new.

 

[Handyman]

Re: The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

No, if this bill doesn't work, and if Walker doesn't create the 250,000 jobs he promised to create over 4 years, he'll pay the price for it. That's how elections work. Just like Republicans are only in power here in Wisconsin because Democrats failed to deliver on their promises. This is hardly new.

He promised that? Does he not want a second term? That could be a tough call in a decent economy! (not to mention he was threatening to lay people off to get his way which seems a bit funny considering that plan)

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

No, if this bill doesn't work, and if Walker doesn't create the 250,000 jobs he promised to create over 4 years, he'll pay the price for it. That's how elections work. Just like Republicans are only in power here in Wisconsin because Democrats failed to deliver on their promises. This is hardly new.

We're still waiting for all the jobs the Bush Tax Cuts were supposed to create. He won't suffer at all for this cause the GOP has convinced the electorate of two things.

1. Taxes are stealing.
2. Public Workers are taking a broomstick to your backside.

He'll get reelected easily.

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

He promised that? Does he not want a second term? That could be a tough call in a decent economy! (not to mention he was threatening to lay people off to get his way which seems a bit funny considering that plan)

Funnily enough, it was criticized as being rather meaningless as a goal, because that number is what should be created anyways. (Can't find the link right now). We'll see.

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

We're still waiting for all the jobs the Bush Tax Cuts were supposed to create. He won't suffer at all for this cause the GOP has convinced the electorate of two things.

1. Taxes are stealing.
2. Public Workers are taking a broomstick to your backside.

He'll get reelected easily.

I've explained this before, but this is about Wisconsin. It's not about George Bush. Believe me, Jim Doyle certainly didn't think taxes were evil. Last budget repair bill, he tried to raise $1billion with tax hikes. And guess what? It didn't work.

As for the second part, I've made this point before as well but it's not the "GOP" going after public workers. Democratic Governors all over the country (notably in NY and California) are realizing the system is unsustainable as well. Hell, Rahm Emanuel of all people managed to anger the unions enough in the Chicago mayor's race that they endorsed his opponent. Have Andrew Cuomo, Jerry Brown, and Rahm Emanuel joined the GOP now?

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

I've explained this before, but this is about Wisconsin. It's not about George Bush. Believe me, Jim Doyle certainly didn't think taxes were evil. Last budget repair bill, he tried to raise $1billion with tax hikes. And guess what? It didn't work.

As for the second part, I've made this point before as well but it's not the "GOP" going after public workers. Democratic Governors all over the country (notably in NY and California) are realizing the system is unsustainable as well. Hell, Rahm Emanuel of all people managed to anger the unions enough in the Chicago mayor's race that they endorsed his opponent. Have Andrew Cuomo, Jerry Brown, and Rahm Emanuel joined the GOP now?

That's great. But we had 6 years here in Minnesota of "no new taxes" and we were still left with a 6 billion dollar shortfall. It didn't fix a thing. And Walker's plan sounds a lot like the Pawlenty plan.

That's why I say, he'll get reelected (just like Pawlenty) and he won't solve a single problem (just like Pawlenty). One of the major issues in Minnesota is local government aid. And the way the funding sources are set up throughout the system when the Fed is screwed up, the States are screwed up, AND the local governments are screwed up. There is TOO much dependence in the system. Until that gets resolved nothing will ever change.

 

[icebadger]

Re: The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

Yeah, I'd be a little more receptive to that argument if the same people wearing orange, throwing drinks, and yelling now hadn't passed a Doyle repair bill in less than a day- with no debate.

As for amendments, they were only being used to stall the bill, which I admit is a legitimate tactic, so good for them. But it's equally legitimate then to force a vote on final passage, which is what the Republicans did.

The Doyle repair bill was largely an increased fee paid by hospitals. Walker is screwing the middle class. Why must he ram through a bill ending collective bargaining when the majority of local governments prefer to CB with their unions as opposed to the "flexibility" Walker says they want? I think the answer starts with a K.

 

[unofan]

Re: The 112th Congress - The first Orange-American to be elected Speaker

As for the second part, I've made this point before as well but it's not the "GOP" going after public workers. Democratic Governors all over the country (notably in NY and California) are realizing the system is unsustainable as well. Hell, Rahm Emanuel of all people managed to anger the unions enough in the Chicago mayor's race that they endorsed his opponent. Have Andrew Cuomo, Jerry Brown, and Rahm Emanuel joined the GOP now?

To the best of my knowledge, none of them threatened to actually bust the union, however. They simply demanded concessions from the unions or signaled their intent to do so at the next round of negotiations.