I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

And in the continuing annals of regressive sore-loser-hood, Crazy Cooch-the-loser has not called Virginia's governor-elect Terry McAuliffe to congratulate him on his win. He reportedly has no plans to do so. "Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) congratulated McAuliffe and pledged a “seamless and smooth” transition. As of late morning Wednesday, Cuccinelli had not called McAuliffe and had no plans to do so, according to two people close to the campaign." according to the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/terry-mcauliffe-elected-governor-of-virginia-after-bitter-race-against-ken-cuccinelli/2013/11/06/6d8a8c9a-46b0-11e3-b6f8-3782ff6cb769_story_1.html The party of sore losers, liars, and cheats.

And in further developments, Representative Pete Sessions (Scumbag-TX) openly admitted that the regressives in the House don't intend to do what their deluded constituents sent them there to do - govern. Instead, they are only focused on "messaging to win back the Senate." Keepin' it classy as always, from the idiot who told the President of the United States during a debt limit negotiating session at the White House that he couldn't even stand to look at him - not earning himself a punch in the mouth that he so richly deserved. More here: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/gop-leader-pushes-messaging-over-governing

GOP leader pushes ‘messaging’ over governing

11/06/13 10:45 AM

By Steve Benen

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) is generally a reliable source for over-the-top rhetoric. It was Sessions, for example, who said shortly after President Obama’s inauguration in 2009, that House Republicans would look at “the Taliban” as a tactical “model.” GOP lawmakers, he said at the time, would emulate “insurgency” tactics.

Yesterday, Roll Call published a piece that included some similarly striking candor from Sessions.

In the year since relinquishing that gig and taking the gavel of the Rules Committee, the Texas Republican is still focused on politics and elections – and scoring points for the GOP. And right now, he’s got one target in his sights.

“Everything we do in this body should be about messaging to win back the Senate,” he said. “That’s it.”

I can appreciate why cynicism may make comments like these seem predictable – of course House Republicans want to see their party win a Senate majority – but this is a pretty remarkable thing for a sitting lawmaker to say out loud, on purpose, on the record.

Ordinarily, we’ll hear members of Congress say, “Everything we do in this body should be about creating jobs.” Or maybe, “Everything we do in this body should be about helping the middle class.” But not Pete Sessions – he thinks “everything” the House does for the foreseeable future should be about influencing Senate races and helping Republican candidates.

In other words, according to this House GOP leader, half-way through the 113th Congress, Republicans should give up on governing altogether. All that matters is politics, campaign considerations, and “messaging.”

In terms of the larger context, keep three angles in mind. First, this Congress is already on track to be the single least productive in generations, and if Sessions is right, this will not get better. Second, there’s actual work lawmakers should be tackling, but if House Republicans officially abandon the pretense of caring about governing, their sole record going into the 2014 midterms will be a government shutdown, a series of hostage crises, and a culture-war crusade the American mainstream has no use for.

Finally, when it comes to the post-policy thesis, it’s tough to top, “Everything we do in this body should be about messaging to win back the Senate. That’s it.” As we’ve discussed, the hallmark of post-policy nihilism is the belief that policy outcomes and substantive governing are largely irrelevant – which apparently summarizes Pete Sessions’ worldview quite nicely.

This was an exchange between Rachel and Ezra Klein back in March:

MADDOW: Does that mean that [Republican policymakers are] post-policy, that the policy actually – even some things that seem like constants don’t actually a matter them, that it’s pure politics, just positioning themselves vis-a-vis the president, and they’re not actually invested in any particular outcome for the country?

KLEIN: I would like to have an answer where that isn’t true. I really would. And I’ve tried – I’ve been trying to find it. I’m sure part is I’m not smart enough to do so, that I’ve not found the right people to have spoken to them. But it is hard to come up with one.

At the time, Rachel and Ezra were talking about budgets and fiscal arguments, but couldn’t their exchange apply to just about every possible political debate in the United States right now?

For Pete Sessions, this is a feature, not a bug. Governing, bipartisan cooperation, finding common ground, working on policy through a series of compromises – these may be fine ideas for saps, but House Republicans shouldn’t bother with any of this.

For pundits and pols trying to understand the roots of Washington dysfunction, wonder no more.

You know it still just boggles the mind what is passing for intelligence in the GOP and certain of last nights losers, and people like the Governor or of Texas who says the ACA is not needed there because every person in Texas has health care. Sometimes I just hang my head -- then I don't have to see the dumb in Rick Perry's face. I hope we come out of all this ok. That of course, is going to take awhile. At least until 2016.

What is it going to be when we don't have the black guy to blame? I think then it will be the woman who is to blame. Sigh !!!!!

Jackie

Yeah, I'm with Jackie - can't WAIT to have a woman to blame

2016 but first we have to work really hard to GOTV for 2014.

Still thinking of E, and tomorrow is Thursday. Hugs to all.

Of course you are special! They are just going to have to learn how many kinds of the best sorts of special you are!

Truth! And it's not "government-run health care" OR "government-run insurance" either. Uh - DUH - you're paying your premiums to AN INSURANCE COMPANY!

Always guaranteed to get you shaking your head at the amount of illogic used and furthermore in such a way that you think everyone should feel the same way. I heard an interesting thought on t.v. last night and already rue the fact that I do not recall her name, but she did say ( I certainly can't back it up or give reference ) that if things keep going along ( if the GOP doesn't wise up -- especially as regards their Tehadists counter-parts ) in a few short years we will be left with only one party.

I guess my thought is....how long do you want to watch your self destruction ? How long do you wish to lie to others, while simultaneously lying to someone you NEVER should, yourself?

Also read in the this morning's Hill tips, that GOPer's are already going after Christie for his big win. I don't think he won much. Or put another way....he has a couple of years to clean up the messes he as made of his Governorship so far. As he is Rt. wing he is adhering to things no one likes or wants and he has good evidence of this since a minimum pay raise that he vetoed ended up getting on the election ballot and passing. Now you shouldn't be for everything and anything.....but excuse me....$1.00 more and Christie couldn't find it in his heart knowing that it was what his people wanted. Also that it WAS needed. They eyes that don't see past the nose are not the eyes of a leader. That's all and that's it.

Jackie

ETA: All said in much, much agreement with you RL.

Well, a lot of Republicans and Tea Party folks ignore spelling and grammar; plagiarism is just the next step.  

U said it!  Thanks, Obama!

No, spelling and grammar are a liberal plot to brainwash innocent children and send them goosestepping to FEMA camps to learn how to implement the New World Order. We are trying to force people to obey the socialist, communist, Nazi rules of grammar and spelling when everyone knows they aren't important. Safe are kontry!

Kam, this does not surprise me at all! I have been expecting to read dirt about Paul either cheating on his college and medical school exams or some other nefarious revelation. Soooo predictable.

Yep, his dad is a lot sharper. Rand got the worst of the worst in terms of genes. Hopefully this means he won't be able to jump into the 2016 GOP clown car.

Enjoyful - jeeezzzeeepeeezee, we cudda told dem you was speshhul - dey better come up with somtin good for anestheeeseeia...or the Spangled Scooter gang will descend - weren't we once called Ganstas?

RL - all this is a commooonist plot, and World Dombinashun, and Won World Wonder, or was it Ordah ( if it was in Boston, it musta bin ordah) Ordah in da coit...I really do like living here.

SO happy for you VA folks to have a Democratic Gov. The alternative was too frightening to even think about..def. a purple state now.