Originally posted by Rude
Kinda hard to fix the economy when the congress wont help ya get it done.
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Republicans control both Houses in Congress, so it's going to be difficult for Bush to sell that story. I haven't yet heard Democrats threatening to filibuster a tax cut, and indeed there's no need for them to do so at this point with moderate Republicans supporting their position.
If Bush fails to fix the economy because Congress won't pass his tax cut package, responsibility will probably fall on the Republicans and especially Republican leadership in the Senate for failing to bring moderates to support the party line. That was always a problem for Democrats when they controlled Congress, so it's interesting and unsurprising that Republicans now must also deal with it.
He should be allowed to inact his policies....if he fails vote him out. Should be allowed to do his job...if he can't do it well enough, then fire him.
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Time to whip out that Constitution and look up the part about separation of powers and presidential vs. congressional responsibilities.
If Congress is supposed to serve as a rubber stamp for presidential agendas, why even bother with a legislature at all? Just let presidents enact their policies and then rise or fall based on their success or failure.
Thankfully it doesn't function this way, and that's exactly how Madison envisioned it when discussing government in the Federalist Papers. Members of Congress serve different constituencies and often oppose legislation that they deem harmful to those constituents. They're also allowed to form their own opinions about what's best for the economy without being spoonfed ideas by the presidential administration. In short, Congress was designed as ponderous, slow, divided, and independent in order to squash poor policies meant to appeal to the cause du jour. It's a pragmatic institution; let
them do
their work.
The dems worst fear is a recovering economy and victories in the war against terrorism. Talk about partisan politics.
Tell that to the Republican senators that Karl Rove chewed out for opposing the tax cut package -- including Majority Leader Frist. I wonder if Mr. Rove understands his place in the constitutional place of things. Hint: Don't piss off the Majority Leader.
-- Todd/Leviathn
