60-Second Recap - 9 truths

 
1) America was already losing over 600,000 jobs per month, months before Obama became President
 
2) Despite those job loses, Republicans worked in lock-step to block the Stimulus Bill – with zero House Republicans and only 3 Senate Republicans voting for the Stimulus
 
3) Within 6 months of passage of the Stimulus Bill, monthly job losses decreased by over two-thirds
 
4) Despite that quick reversal, Republicans continued to oppose virtually every job creation bill, business development bill, and economic stimulus bill right though September 2010 – based, ostensibly, on “philosophical” issues*
 
5) The Recovery is not a philosophical issue – it is an economic one
 
6) As Republicans blocked bill . . . after bill . . . after bill – The Recovery began to lose steam
 
7) Republicans, as the ones most responsible for the economic crash, deliberately blocked The Recovery – knowing that economic recovery credited to the Democrats would spell political devastation for the Republican Party for years to come
 
8) If Republicans focused their efforts on making America succeed, instead of spending their time trying to make President Obama fail, Americans would be well on their way to an economic recovery by now
 
9) It’s been said that those who do not learn from history, are doomed to repeat it. You can vote to put those who tanked our economy and blocked The Recovery back in charge . . . or you can entrust it to those who tried to speed The Recovery and help tens of millions of Americans regain their independence and dignity
 
But you've got less than 24 hours to decide.
 
 
*Here’s a link to 31 Bills Republicans Blocked in 2010:
http://johnsvor.blogspot.com/2010/10/31-bills-republicans-have-blocked-in.html


 
 

Godspeed

For anyone who still believes the claim that Republican obstructionism these past 2 years has been based solely on “fundamental, philosophical differences” – that lie was put to rest this week when Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell stated that, after next Tuesday’s mid-term elections “the single most important thing (Republicans) want to achieve is for Obama to be a one-term President”.

Doesn't it strike you as odd that McConnell did NOT say the Republicans top goal was to “fix the economy” or “help hard-working Americans get back on their feet” or even “create an environment that’s conducive to creating good, new jobs for American workers”?


I'm not making this up. Here’s the news link: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-mcconnell-20101027,0,4005860.story


Perhaps this explains why they blocked virtually every job creation bill, every business development bill, and every stimulus bill since Obama’s election. If that sounds like partisan blabber to you, just Google the terms “GOP blocks” or “Republicans block” and read what comes up on your screen. Or click here for direct links to 31 Bills Republicans have blocked in 2010: http://johnsvor.blogspot.com/2010/10/31-bills-republicans-have-blocked-in.html
 
After spending the past 2 years doing everything in their power to “make Obama fail”, their new goal for the next 2 years is to “make sure Obama is a one-term President.”

That may make for good (or typical) politics, but what about you and me and 308 million other Americans? Can we afford to wait until the Republicans place another Republican President into the White House before they start doing what is best for us – instead of what is best for them?



There is little argument that it was primarily their policies and actions during the preceding 8 years that led to the greatest economic collapse this country has seen since the Great Depression.

And yet they repeatedly said “No”, “No”, “No” as over 10,000,000 Americans lost their jobs, their homes and their life savings.

Exactly whose best interests are they representing?

Yours? Mine?

It’s time to read between the lines.


Next Tuesday, you get to decide the future of this country for, at least, the next 2 years. Either we have 2 more years of Republican obstructionism and legislative gridlock . . . or . . . we allow President Obama to continue his plan to create jobs and restore the American economy.


You may not like the choice, and it’s yours to make – but one is guaranteed to be a continuation of the last 2 years. The other at least provides hope.

Please vote.

Godspeed.
  

31 Bills Republicans Have Blocked in 2010

By the time President Obama was sworn into office in January 2009, America was losing 600,000 jobs a month.  Within 6 months of passing the Economic Stimulus Bill (which was opposed by every single House Republican and all but 3 Senate Republicans), those job losses were reduced by two-thirds. 

That was a good start.

Yet, despite the marked improvement, Republicans continued to block dozens of job creation, business and economic development, and consumer protection bills right through September of 2010, stalling the recovery.

You have every right to ask why.  Did they want Obama to fail due to philosophical differences?  Or was it because, as the ones who were most responsible for the biggest economic collapse since the Great Depression, they knew that economic recovery credited to the Democrats would spell political devastation for the Republican Party for years to come?

Why did they choose to spend their time doing everything they could to make the President fail, instead of spending their time trying to make America succeed?

Whose side are they really on?

Here is a partial listing of journalistic news reports from (primarily) mainstream news sources of Bills the Republicans Have Blocked – or attempted to block -- during the past 20 months.  These are the actual article headlines.  I’ve provided several media links to confirm and verify the accuracy of each article.

It’s an eye-opener.

John

Republican obstructionism . . .  is based on the idea that the failure not just of President Obama but of American society itself is the G.O.P.’s quickest ticket back to power.

Bob Herbert   New York Times   9/10/2010

UPDATE: October 2012
Bob Cesca releases article on Huffington Post reiterating, and expanding upon, much of the above. 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-cesca/republicans-filibuster-ev_b_2018663.html

Republicans Block Bill to Aid Small Businesses

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/us/politics/30cong.html
http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/senate-republicans-block-small-business-aid-bill/19572912/


Republicans Block Unemployment Benefits Extension
http://www.todaysthv.com/news/natInt/story.aspx?storyid=109570&catid=288
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2010/07/gop_brown_vote.html
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/25/nation/la-na-jobless-vote-20100625


Republicans Block Bank-Reform Bill
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/democrats-reach-deal-on-tough-derivative-law-2010-04-26
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63Q5CR20100427


Republicans Block Campaign Disclosure Bill
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2010/07/republicans_blo.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66Q65I20100727
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38434903


Republicans Block Jobs Bill in Senate
http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/29/small-business-jobs-bill-stalls-in-senate/
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2012485381_congress30.html


GOP Blocks Transparency in Campaign Contributions
http://www.care2.com/causes/politics/blog/gop-blocks-transparency-in-campaign-contributions/
http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20100727/pl_mcclatchy/3578774


Republicans block bill ending tax breaks for US companies sending jobs offshore
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/28/AR2010092802768.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2821013620100928
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20017896-503544.html
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gjFU-ZOgeJNcMKBh9YdqcUyzXUPQ?docId=CNG.df9e6a188a034ac23300ab0760b91861.ad1


Republicans Block Bill to Raise Oil Spill Liability Cap
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20005333-503544.html
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/may/14/nation/la-na-oil-spill-new-20100514
http://thenorthcoast.blogspot.com/2010/06/republicans-block-bill-to-raise-oil.html


Republicans Block Wall Street Reform Bill
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/94485-gop-blocks-wall-st-bill
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8644952.stm


GOP blocks Senate campaign-finance bill – again
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2010/09/senate-campaign-finance/1
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2323068220100923
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Election-2010/From-the-Wires/2010/0924/Campaign-finance-Republicans-block-bill-to-identify-ad-sponsors


Republicans Block Small Business Lending Bill
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-29/senate-republicans-block-small-business-lending-bill-sought-by-democrats.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38469644/ns/business-small_business/
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100729/ap_on_bi_ge/us_small_business_lending


Republicans Block Repeal of Military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Policy
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/09/21/republicans-block-dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal/
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5grHLcTA5VMaxM1KPtvrf3OTOfZuQD9ICK7K00
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senate-vote-repeal-ban-gays-military/story?id=11685658


Senate Republicans Block Own Amendments on Health Care Bill
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/scarce/how-senate-republicans-obstruct-health-care


Republicans Block Energy Legislation…Yet Again
http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/08/04/republicans-block-energy-legislation-yet-again/
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66H1BS20100718
http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2267599/senate-blocks-energy-bill-yet


G.O.P. Blocks Debate on Financial Oversight Bill
http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/26/g-o-p-blocks-debate-on-financial-oversight-bill/
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/business/27regulate.html
http://worldjewishnews.blogspot.com/2010/04/gop-blocks-debate-on-financial.html


Republicans Kill Measure That Created 240,000 Jobs
http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/09/30/republicans-kill-measure-that-created-240000-jobs/
http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-09-30/business/24103870_1_jobs-program-summer-jobs-subsidized-employment
http://motherjones.com/mojo/2010/09/job-99ers-tanf-senate
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/09/30/if-we-re-serious-about-jobs-don-t-stop-job-creation
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/4/906979/-Republicans-kill-jobs


Senate Republicans block Dems' effort to pass mine safety bill
http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/worker-safety/121457-senate-republicans-block-dems-effort-to-pass-mine-safety-bill


GOP Pledges to Block Immigration Reform
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/04/25/GOP-pledges-to-block-immigration-bill-push/UPI-56291272231701/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/01/AR2010070100388.html


Republicans Block Democrats’ Efforts to Hold BP Accountable
http://ynative77.wordpress.com/2010/05/18/republicans-block-democrats-efforts-to-hold-bp-accountable-gop-leaving-taxpayers-on-the-hook-for-bailing-out-bp-may-18-2010/
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20007511-503544.html


Senate Republicans Block Two Bills to Spur Renewable Energy Investment
http://www.grist.org/article/no-renewal-for-renewables/


House Republicans Block Medical Help for 9/11 Heroes
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20012217-503544.html
http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/07/30/house-republicans-block-medical-help-for-911-heroes/
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/nyregion/30zadroga.html


GOP blocks small business bill. Who will get the blame?
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/07/dems_will_get_blamed_for_gop_o.html?hpid=sec-politics


GOP Blocks Financial Reform As Millions Lose Homes
http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/5875/gop_blocks_financial_reform_as_millions_lose_homes/


GOP Blocks Small Biz Bill
http://www.phillytrib.com/tribune/newsheadlines/14208-gop-blocks-small-biz-bill.html
http://wwj.cbslocal.com/2010/07/30/republicans-block-small-biz-lending-bill/
http://articles.cnn.com/2010-09-15/politics/obama.economic.relief_1_tax-cuts-small-business-gop-sens?_s=PM:POLITICS


Senate Republicans Kill Renewable Energy and Job Creation Bill
http://solveclimate.com/blog/20080610/senate-republicans-kill-renewable-energy-and-job-creation-bill-wheres-mccain
http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/the-gaggle/2010/09/15/who-killed-the-energy-and-climate-bill.html


Republicans Block US Senate Committees From Holding Hearings
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/03/24/GOP-blocks-Senate-committee-meetings/UPI-88161269468743/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/24/gop-blocks-senate-actions/
http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/republicans-block-senate-committees-holding-hearings/


Senate Republicans Promise To Oppose Tax Cuts If Wealthy Aren't Included
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/13/mcconnell-every-senate-re_n_714739.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/13/senate-poised-for-highsta_n_714766.html


Senate Republicans Kill Job-Creating Tax Cuts
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=11232


GOP Blocks 20 Judicial Nominees
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Obama-getting-fewest-judges-confirmed-since-Nixon--102306839.html
http://blog.pfaw.org/content/gop-blocks-20-judicial-nominees-rebuffs-goodwin-liu-again
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202471710311
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/23/opinion/23thu2.html?th&emc=th


GOP Blocks Freeze on Credit Card Interest Rate Hikes
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/18/gop-blocks-freeze-on-cred_n_362787.html


How Many Jobs Can Republicans Kill This Week?
https://democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=326871&



Here’s one they’ve decided to support:


GOP has No Problem Extending Tax Cuts for the Rich
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/13/AR2010071305391.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68B1SH20100913


Is there any question where their allegiances really lay?