Why Americans are angry at Congress

Anew Washington Post-ABC News poll finds that 80 percent of Americans are dissatisfied with the way the federal government is working. Such a finding leads to an inevitable conclusion: The other 20 percent aren’t paying attention.

• 
  “This is Ducking, Dodging and Destroying,” revised Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.).
  
  “Better called the Slash, Burn and Pander Act,” recommended Pete Stark (D-Calif.).
  
  “Cut, Slash and Burn,” suggested Gerry Connolly (D-Va.).
  
  Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader, corrected them all. “Cut, Cap and End Medicare,” she said.
  
  “Cut, Cap and Default Act,” insisted Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).
  
  “It’s really Cash Cow for Billionaires,” proposed Ed Markey (D-Mass.).
  
  Republicans fought to reclaim the name. “I prefer Cut, Cap and Balance over Punt, Pass and Kick,” said Trey Gowdy (S.C.).
  
  “Kick, Pass and Punt,” said Scott Tipton (Colo.).
  
  Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.) had an announcement. “I have a new name for the bill: The Bill Which Tap Dances Around the Question of Revenue and Lifting the Debt Ceiling Which Was Done Sixty-Plus Times Over America’s Lifetime With Reagan, Carter, President Bush and President Bush and Clinton.”

Quite a mouthful, Congresswoman, don’t you think?

• Jackson Lee tried again. “It’s the Tap Dance Losers’ Club and Bust the Benefits Bill,” she proposed.

Um, okay.

• Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) mulled this suggestion then countered: “What the president has in mind I would refer to as the Whistling Past the Graveyard plan.”

It was enough to give Michele Bachmann a migraine.

DesperateInRI wrote:

Anew Washington Post-ABC News poll finds that 80 percent of Americans are dissatisfied with the way the federal government is working. Such a finding leads to an inevitable conclusion: The other 20 percent aren’t paying attention.

• 
  “This is Ducking, Dodging and Destroying,” revised Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.).
  
  “Better called the Slash, Burn and Pander Act,” recommended Pete Stark (D-Calif.).
  
  “Cut, Slash and Burn,” suggested Gerry Connolly (D-Va.).
  
  Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader, corrected them all. “Cut, Cap and End Medicare,” she said.
  
  “Cut, Cap and Default Act,” insisted Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).
  
  “It’s really Cash Cow for Billionaires,” proposed Ed Markey (D-Mass.).
  
  Republicans fought to reclaim the name. “I prefer Cut, Cap and Balance over Punt, Pass and Kick,” said Trey Gowdy (S.C.).
  
  “Kick, Pass and Punt,” said Scott Tipton (Colo.).
  
  Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.) had an announcement. “I have a new name for the bill: The Bill Which Tap Dances Around the Question of Revenue and Lifting the Debt Ceiling Which Was Done Sixty-Plus Times Over America’s Lifetime With Reagan, Carter, President Bush and President Bush and Clinton.”

Quite a mouthful, Congresswoman, don’t you think?

• Jackson Lee tried again. “It’s the Tap Dance Losers’ Club and Bust the Benefits Bill,” she proposed.

Um, okay.

• Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) mulled this suggestion then countered: “What the president has in mind I would refer to as the Whistling Past the Graveyard plan.”

It was enough to give Michele Bachmann a migraine.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-americans-are-angry-at-congress/2011/07/20/gIQAYUlSQI_story.html

rprp wrote:As I read this Obama is really the one going against the democratic ideals he is supposed to represent and his party (and I) are pretty ticked off with him. He is not exactly listening to what his party or the American people want. Wow, he has been a major disappointment to me and a turncoat. And I voted for him. I really put this one on him. We need a strong leader at this point in time and he does not fit the bill.

Republicans have behaved like bullies and are reprehensible in my book as well. They are for sure to be blamed as they would like to do away with anything that will help the working or middle classes.

DesperateInRI wrote:The President was angry tonight, that was obvious from his tone and just the look on his face. That is the man I voted for, the one who will stand up for the average American and not let them be responsible for bailing out this country again. Time to let the "corporate jet owners" take some responsibility and sacrifice a little, just as they are asking us to do.

Mr. President, please remember the words of FDR regarding his "New Deal" in 1936:

"They are unanimous in their hate for me--and I welcome their hatred."

gettheminNOVEMBER wrote:

DesperateInRI wrote:The President was angry tonight, that was obvious from his tone and just the look on his face. That is the man I voted for, the one who will stand up for the average American and not let them be responsible for bailing out this country again. Time to let the "corporate jet owners" take some responsibility and sacrifice a little, just as they are asking us to do.

Mr. President, please remember the words of FDR regarding his "New Deal" in 1936:

"They are unanimous in their hate for me--and I welcome their hatred."

He needs to stay strong and end the bush tax giveaways. Shame on the right for holding a gun to Americans heads just to protect the rich while taking from the old, sick and poor. POS HUMAN BEINGS!

DesperateInRI wrote:

gettheminNOVEMBER wrote:

DesperateInRI wrote:The President was angry tonight, that was obvious from his tone and just the look on his face. That is the man I voted for, the one who will stand up for the average American and not let them be responsible for bailing out this country again. Time to let the "corporate jet owners" take some responsibility and sacrifice a little, just as they are asking us to do.

Mr. President, please remember the words of FDR regarding his "New Deal" in 1936:

"They are unanimous in their hate for me--and I welcome their hatred."

He needs to stay strong and end the bush tax giveaways. Shame on the right for holding a gun to Americans heads just to protect the rich while taking from the old, sick and poor. POS HUMAN BEINGS!

Did you see Boehner's follow up news conference at 7:15? He looked a little "pale" - no sign of a tan, and really NOTHING to say!

Sick & Tired wrote:My mom was under the impression that obama is the one who wants the cuts to SS and Medicare. It took me an hour to get through to her about it. She said she has been watching cnn and sometimes fox, I educated her about that as well LOL. I said mom you were badly misinformed which is a HUGE problem in this country right now. Once she saw the president speaking on tv tonight she realized what I said to her was true, dont believe it until you hear it come from WH press or Obama himself.

He needs to do a lot more of what he did tonight. Just keep telling it like it is.

Sick & Tired wrote:My mom was under the impression that obama is the one who wants the cuts to SS and Medicare. It took me an hour to get through to her about it. She said she has been watching cnn and sometimes fox, I educated her about that as well LOL. I said mom you were badly misinformed which is a HUGE problem in this country right now. Once she saw the president speaking on tv tonight she realized what I said to her was true, dont believe it until you hear it come from WH press or Obama himself.

He needs to do a lot more of what he did tonight. Just keep telling it like it is.

CLO wrote: The way I see it- Obama and the Dems are wrong for playing the game the repugs and TP'ers have started. Why ask to have any cuts considered right now? Raise the debt ceiling, and then get back to the business of budgeting. JUST LET THE DAMN BUSH TAX CUTS EXPIRE! Get rid of offshore tax evasion, and that is just a start! The Repugs are creating a crisis, and the Dems are just falling into the trap. Keep writing and e-mailing to your Reps., Sens., and the POTUS. Time to double down.

MaryKay wrote:While you are at it send a tweet to Paul Krugman. He is the only economist currently thinking the way to get past all this is to extend benefits, support the 99ers and create enough real jobs to really start moving the economy. Never mind the cuts or the hikes, get the jobs going.

Tweet him: @NYTimesKrugman