McConnell: I Don’t Want Obama to Fail, I Just Want Him to Lose

Let’s unpack this a bit because I don’t think it’s as tortured as you describe. Obviously, McConnell would like two non-contradictory things. While Obama is president and will be for at least 2 more years, McConnell would like the President to adopt his party’s positions. Then, in 2012, McConnell would like somebody from his own party to beat Obama and take the White House. Should Obama thus think that any entreaties to move right by McConnell constitute a political trap? Uh, yes.

McConnell could have just said what he means: “Do as I say and get out of the way.”

I am sure when the Republicans get serious about tackling the debt Obama will be more than happy to listen.

However in the meantime why should he listen to a party of complete fiscal frauds. A party that moans about it out of power then the minute they get back in ignore it and drive the debt higher.

The problem with the obstructionist team of McConnell, Boehner and Cantor is that they place (in order) self preservation, dedication to party, defeat all democractic proposals and then country. Country is far down on the list. McConnell, with all his mumbling and two faces: Against Rand Paul before he was with him: Boehner: spends more time in tanning salons and saloons than working to solve the country’s problems, and Cantor: too dedicated to Israel for my taste. He had no business calling Rham Emanuel and ask that the President go light on Israel when they were violating UN and our agreements by buillding illegal settlements. His major concern should be that countries honor their agreements with this country. None of these three place country first… Pathetic.

This just popped in my head for some reason…

James Bond: Do you expect me to talk?
Auric Goldfinger: No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die.

If you’re going to urge a president to cooperate on your key issues, you might not also want to telegraph your determination to end his presidency above all else.

Really? Is this a serious argument.

First, the opposition ALWAYS wants you to lose.

Second, the Republicans have no intention of working with Obama in good faith (But if Obama agrees to completely capitulate and give the GOP everything they want, the GOP might consider that “a good start.”

The idea that this statement of McConnell’s — as opposed to the endless accusations by the GOP that Obama is a Kenya-born Maoist-socialist-Muslim — has poisoned the well is absurd.

I actually thought they are in Senate to DO The JOB we are paying them for.
I do not consider anything like “wish to fail” as any kind of job I should pay.
Along with all benefits I personally do not have.
Why should any decent person want Elected Offcial to do the job to make someone to fail
Isn’t it all about The Country?

If the dems were actually lead by liberals, they would naturally adopt the GOP’s form of tenacious opposition. They would have fought to the last dying gasp against everything Bush proposed for 8 insufferable years. Liberals don’t vote for right-wing policies, but examine the record–far too many dems did.

Of course, CW has it that that’s about their lack of spine.

Obama has already several republican positions. The health reform act we ended up with started out as a republican idea, proposed as a counter to more liberal ideas of the Clinton administration. It is also modeled after Romneycare. Cap and Trade was also a republican idea–they were strongly for it until dems adopted it as a good idea.
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How far right does the president have to move to get any cooperation from these “just say NO” republicans?

“Liberals don’t vote for right-wing policies, but examine the record–far too many dems did.”
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Or to put another way. liberals have no principles except to be re-elected. Despite all the heated rhetoric they care nothing about governing but everything about power.

“How far right does the president have to move”
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And the left thinks the Tea Party is extreme! The above statement proves without a doubt that liberalism is a mental disorder as evidenced by your delusions that Obama is some form of moderate.

So, freeinpa, humor a confused liberal. Eirieangel states that the HCR bill which passed is essentially the same as Romney’s Massachusetts plan, and was based on the plan that Republicans offered 10 years ago, and endorsed by Dole and others, making it, therefore, at least a moderate proposal. Again, cap-and-trade was originally a Republican, market-based approach. How or where is erieangel wrong?

Of course, the republican party has become more ‘conservative’ – or at least much less willing to compromise with democrats- in the last few years. But these approaches were considered by everyone as right-of-center when they were proposed. Why do you now think they represent something ‘extreme’?

Are you being willfully obtuse?

I don’t think the media gets it, and I don’t think the President gets it. McConnell and Co. have sold the GOP lock stock and barrel to an element that thinks the President is evil. Not wrong or misguided, but evil. Those polls that showed that a significant percentage of Republicans believe Barack Obama to be the Antichrist might have generated a few chuckles in the press and amongst progressives, but I wasn’t laughing. (Remember the hullaballoo when Mr. Obama wanted to do something as benign as address the nation’s school children?)

The base will see any compromise with the President on any issue as betrayal, pure and simple (accent on the simple). In his heart of hearts McConnell probably knows he’s dooming the GOP (Generally Obtuse Party?) in the long run by alienating moderates, independents, gays, Hispanics, etc ad infinitum but he can’t help himself. He doesn’t want a primary challenge in a few years (he represents Kentucky, remember; he can see Rand Paul from his house). He and his cohorts have leapt on to the back of the tiger; all they can do now is hang and see where it takes them.

Freep~
Come on, man. Do you honestly think that Republican politicians are any less concerned with getting elected/re-elected than Democratic politicians? Power is the end-goal. Abuse of power a constant reality. If we, as a society, could stop chasing non-existent Communists and Nazis, we could, perhaps, make a dent in the real enemy, the fascist inclinations of both of our political parties.

Are you being willfully obtuse?
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Are YOU being willfully obtuse?

McConnell: I don’t want Obama to fail, I just want him to accidentally fall into a vat of liquid cancer.

Technically, they sold themselves to Big Business. They marketed themselves to the “evil” crowd.

Touché Cliff-san. Not sure what came over me.

I konow it is getting old but I really believe it; screw the GOP!

I’ll admit, I’ve got to pull out a stick and poke the trolls every once in a while.

Extremely well said once again, sqr1.

This right here was a surprisingly entertaining little thread.

MItch’s problem is more likely to be Jim Demint obstructing action than Obama. Mitch will have more seats 2011 and take more responsibility for actions than 2010. In other words, the GOP will carry the ball part of the wayt.

WH wants to work on energy, education, protect Ws and HC reform. Mitch wants to extend Bush tax cuts for all even wealthy and energy.

Both sides can take credit for success, but both sides will be blamed if gridlock continues.
Cel