Obama's Friends and Foes in Congress
The president's bold agenda faces cheers—and jeers—from Capitol Hill
The Foes:
On the other side of the aisle, most Republicans have turned a cold shoulder to Obama's attempts at political courtship. Saying they're more than the "Party of No," they've begun pitching policy alternatives, though shrunken minorities in both houses make it difficult for their ideas to gain traction. Their attack machine, though, has been roaring practically 24-7.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. The head of a caucus that has dropped to 40 members, the Republican leader regularly takes aim at the White House. His mantra on Obama's $3.5 trillion budget proposal is "It spends too much, taxes too much, and borrows too much." The line was widely parroted by GOP lawmakers in both chambers. He and House Minority Leader John Boehner meet weekly, and their staffs are in constant contact. Often they'll target areas where they perceive Obama as weak: spending, record deficits, pork projects in the $787 billion stimulus, and closing the Guantánamo Bay prison. McConnell, 67, a methodical, cool-under-pressure player who was elected to the Senate in 1984, is quick to point out that neither party has had a filibuster-proof 60 seats during his tenure. But if defections on key votes give him heartburn, Specter's exit had him fuming, and the Minnesota contest could give Democrats 60.
House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio. An impulsive gesture, or planned political theater? You be the judge. Check out Boehner on YouTube on February 13, when he held a stack of papers constituting the 1,100-page stimulus and charged that not a single member of Congress had read the bill as the vote neared. "What happened to the promise that we're going to let the American people see what's in the bill for 48 hours?" he roared, dropping the stack on the floor in disgust. Before long, the YouTube spot had 472,678 viewings.
Boehner, 59, a perpetually tanned golfer and fixture on the talk shows, says that he wants the GOP to be the "party of better solutions." Though he has been a guest at Obama's White House, he's not smitten. "It's better than nothing, but thus far the outreach hasn't extended to working with Republicans on policy," an aide says.
House Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia. The Richmond conservative saw to it that not a single House Republican voted for the stimulus. Cantor, 45, entered Congress in 2001 and now holds the No. 2 spot among House Republicans. He's promoting what he calls an "entrepreneurial insurgency" by offering policy alternatives. He may speak with a Southern drawl, but his genteel exterior conceals a street fighter within.
House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence of Indiana. Once a conservative talk-radio host, Pence, 49, elected in 2000, is never at a loss for words. Ranked third in the House GOP leadership, Pence tried to distance himself from Rush Limbaugh's comment that he hopes Obama fails because of his "socialist" policies, but the lawmaker said he agreed with the talk giant's condemnation of those policies. And he tore into Obama for shaking Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's hand, slamming Chávez as a "virulent, anti-American, socialist dictator."
Reader Comments
It's all a Conspiracy
Here is the deal no matter what happens we have no part in it. Whether it is tis or whatever...but what is certain is that 9-11 was an inside job, and there is too much proof to surround this than most know of. For instance the first 3 steel frame buildings ever to collaps due to fire. WTC, and WTC 7. Also the wargames going on which hardly anyone knows about involving the government prepairing for a terrorist attack involving planes being used as guided missles.And the towers collapsed in a way that is not possible when involving free falling due to damage. The way these buldings pancaked was much like a detonation. Which reminds me. A majority of people in or around the buildings at the time heard numerous explotions prior to the towers collapses. Why did we wait 2 hours before sending planes to intercept? Why did we know that at least 3 of the 9-11 terrorists, also big roles in attack were terrorists, yet we did not question it. Why were 2 of those terrorists living using their full names in the same apartment, same room as an FBI agent? Why was none of this included in the full report. Why is there only one video for the Pentagon? Why are there no plane parts at the pentagon? Where are the plane parts for the Pennsylvania plane known as flight 93? And more so, why did the EPA tell people ground zero was safe for clean up, when actually it wasn't and it caused many people to become ill and even death. Also, before we could evaluate the frames of the I dont know either the 47 built to take on a plane colunms of the towers Or the massive steel framework to china immediately after the collaps and melted them down? Isn't that against FBI regulations because it is the destruction of of evidence. Did you know that aspestus was in the towers and it would have cost 1 billion dollars to fix. That is just one motive, there is so much more information out there for the public, and there is a clearer explination as well. I just wanted to make you all think and take into consideration that our government is screwing with us. Go to infowars.com or even just look up 9-11 inside job on any internet search engine. Discover the truth for yourself because the government will not give us the truth.
Bin laden... PLEASE ATTACK THE U.S. CONGRESS
I think that the subject line speaks for itself. I am a veteran. I have always considered myself to be a loyal and patriotic American. In the past five years I have seen and heard more evidence every day that our's is the most corrupt government on this continent. Our government no longer exists to serve the American people, it exists to serve American Corporations. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness has long since given way to Wall Street Profits and The Goals of Industry. I fully intend to take my retirement and move to Costa Rica as I am convinced that American Citizens no longer have a voice in their government and I am sick to death with this realization. When an idiotic leader from Iran speaks to the American people we have to listen twice to make sure that he isn't telling the truth because we know damned well that truth no longer comes from our own government. I believe that if our founding fathers were alive today, Washington, D.C. would be in flames or the FBI would mow them down and the corporate bought headlines would exclaim that another terrorist plot has been foiled. Congress has made a mockery of democracy and we are helpless in demanding change. Obama is a child in a den of lions.
The progression of President Obama
Considering the situation of the country inherited. The president is doing an outstanding job. Give the man a break. I have not heard any criticism toward the succeeding president.
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