tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2946942062204448159.post777651675369090957..comments2023-10-14T04:34:47.438-04:00Comments on The Happy Wanderer: The Final Runvanillamanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385749975343350948noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2946942062204448159.post-83522817431098678652010-03-18T16:15:24.883-04:002010-03-18T16:15:24.883-04:00the democrats did go against reconciliation for th...the democrats did go against reconciliation for the bush tax cuts and i am comparing how this was used in 2001 while the majority party (republicans) used it and the democrats went against it while now the democrats support it and the republicans are going against itvanillamanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08385749975343350948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2946942062204448159.post-14876484394273017752010-03-17T18:09:42.724-04:002010-03-17T18:09:42.724-04:00Actually, it's not quite the same. Democrats ...Actually, it's not quite the same. Democrats may have grumbled about the reconciliation process being used to pass the Bush tax cuts. However, living there at the time, I don't even recall that so it would be interesting to see the source of that statement.<br /><br />Regardless, the most important fact is they accepted the basic concept that a majority vote rules. <br /><br />In this case, Republicans prevented a 60-vote margin to bring the measure for a vote. The Democrats could have undertaken a reconciliation-based bill from the beginning, but they were acting in good faith that a measure could reasonably be created that would allow for a traditional vote. The Republicans announded as early as summer that they would have none of that, but Obama and the Democrats spent months working down that path.<br /><br />Now, shifting the process to get a Health Care bill completed. And now, the Republicans aren't just scowling. They are essentially screaming that their using reconciliation is tantamount to treason.<br /><br />If you really thing the situations in 2001 and today are the same, then you're really buying into a big lie. <br /><br />Republicans are applying once sparingly used filibuster rules to essentially shut down all normal legislative processes. It's a whole new world in Washington these days.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com