No!

by: Foiled Goil

Republicans in Congress remind me of a bunch of 2-year-olds because it seems the only word they know how to say is, "No."

Bailout of the giant troubled financial institutions? "No."

Aid for America's ailing auto industry? "No."

A stimulus package to help states, local governments, educational institutions and private industry put people back to work? "No."

Health-care reform? "No! No! No! No!"

Even now as President Barack Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress offer additional plans (and money) to bring down the nation's unemployment rate, Republicans say we can't afford to do that.

They suddenly are worried about the budget deficit. The truth is, we can't afford not to do some of these things as the country battles against a depression-like economy, record unemployment and home foreclosures, sky-rocketing health-care costs and - dare I mention? - two wars.

The other unvarnished truth is that Republicans are hoping that things stay bad, at least for another year.

That is the only way they will be able to manage anything remotely resembling victory in next year's mid-term elections. They want unemployment high, which they think will translate into the president's approval numbers being low.

They want people hurting in hopes that voters will take revenge for their pain against Democratic officeholders in the House, Senate and state houses around the country. [snip]

These are tough times for this country, imperiled partly by the disunity that prevails from the halls of Congress to local neighborhoods. Americans should be able to expect better from their leaders than divisive rhetoric and the ability to throw out stumbling blocks to progress.

Certainly recent history has proved that such childish behavior can come from either major political party.

It just so happens that it is mostly coming from the Republican side of the aisle this time because they are in the minority and they are bankrupt when it comes to having progressive ideas.

So, as the president and his party struggle with some of the toughest problems facing this country in a generation, it looks like we can count on Republicans to remain on the sidelines (or in their playpens), continuing to hurl their one-word solution to everything: "No!"

---

GOP · Obstructionism