Republican obstruction continues

[Rev. Rye]

The suspension of the Garland nomination process is an example of obstructionism and complete bullshit in my opinion. I am mixed on my view of the government shutdown threats. The first was a temper tantrum regarding ACA. Despite my distaste for ACA, the move was petty. Although I disagree with the tactic, I agreed with the premise of the second instance in response to Obama's immigration executive orders. Seriously, if all it takes are executive orders to relieve oneself of the responsibility of upholding the law then let's not fuck around and simply declare a dictatorship and be done with the charade.

My point that we are underserved by Congress because of the partisan uncompromising bickering on both sides stands, specific examples to the contrary notwithstanding. Just go tally the use of 'poison pill' amendments used by both sides to intentionally stop debate on legislation. They vastly outweigh the above examples by volume and have a far greater impact on actual legislative work.

Although there is some on both sides, it really IS lopsided by the Republicans. 

Look, the 112th Congress passed fewer laws than any previous congress in history. Our current congress is not doing better, sadly. It started with the Tea Party, but they really put their feet down because of Obama. They even admit that is why.  The republicans in congress hold an extremely unfavorable view of him (and incidentally, of Michelle), and after he was elected a second time, they have basically refused to function.

Don't tell us it isn't the Republicans. Yes, the Democrats are part of the problem, but they are not the larger part.
Republican way of life is dying out (quite literally with old, white and deeply religious folks being the majority slowly but surely goes the way of the dodo), and they dig their heels in to slow it down as much as they can, at great cost to our country.

The most divided congress ever

And, of course, when's the last time a Democratically-controlled Congress obstructed something so badly as this, like shutting down the government because of a policy they didn't like, or trying to vote against raising the debt ceiling, an act which, if they didn't cave in, would have ended, by definition, in America going bankrupt?

And, as contentious as Robert Bork's 1987 nomination for the Supreme Court wound up being, at least the Democrats gave him a hearing and a vote before the Senate finally rejected his bid. And that whole clusterfuck took only 114 days from start to finish, which is almost exactly half the time it's taking them so far to allow a vote on Merrick Garland.