Congressional Republicans Archives

Business Leaders Call on Congress to Certify Election

January 5, 2021 Buck Banks

200

Almost 200 of the country’s top business leaders urged Congress to certify the electoral results for President-elect Joe Biden in a letter Monday, arguing that “attempts to thwart or delay this process run counter to the essential tenets of our democracy,” the Washington Post reports.

Pelosi’s Take on the Republican Exodus from Congress

December 23, 2019 Buck Banks

“It means that they know they’re gonna lose. And if you win, you’re going to serve in the minority under a Democratic president. You may want to spend more time with your family.”

— Speaker Nancy Pelosi, quoted by Politico, on the high number of Republican retirements from Congress.

One Third of Republicans Not Happy with GOP Leadership

June 16, 2014 Buck Banks

30%

Of Republicans have a favorable view of Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), according to a new HuffPost/YouGov poll. Also troubling for the GOP leaders is the fact that 45% of Republican respondents said GOP leadership in Congress is not conservative enough.

Boehner: Running House Majority Like Herding Frogs

January 24, 2014 Buck Banks

I like to describe my job as trying to get 218 frogs in a wheelbarrow long enough to pass a bill. It’s hard to do.

— House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), quoted by the Los Angeles Times.

Again and Again

January 6, 2014 Buck Banks

The 113th Congress is back in session again.
The Republican-led House is doing it yet again.
They’re starting off
Right where they left off,
They’re voting to defund Obamacare — again.

House Still Considering Impeachment of Obama

December 4, 2013 Buck Banks

We’ve also talked about the I-word, impeachment, which I don’t think would get past the Senate in the current climate … Is there anything else we can do?

— Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-TX), quoted by the Washington Post, noting there are enough votes in the House to impeach President Obama.

Republicans Gain 10 points in Generic Congressional Ballot

November 26, 2013 Buck Banks

49% to 47%

A new CNN/ORC International survey finds Republicans with a two-point edge in the generic congressional ballot — a big reversal from just last month when Democrats led by eight points.

Cumulative Polling on Congresional Approval Ratings Reveals GOP Vulnerability

October 2, 2013 Jon Ponder

Steve Benen at Maddowblog:

I put together this image charting the results from a new national Quinnipiac poll, which shows Democrats taking a nine-point lead over Republicans on the generic congressional ballot — an advantage that’s steadily grown in recent months.

There is simply no good news for the GOP in the Quinnipiac results. Significant majorities oppose Republicans using a shutdown to go after the Affordable Care Act, trust President Obama over the GOP on most national issues, and blame Republicans for gridlock. In all, 74% of Americans disapprove of congressional Republican lawmakers — their lowest score ever in a Quinnipiac poll.

So Do We, Sherwood, Even Us Atheists

August 12, 2013 Buck Banks

I thank God every night in my nightly prayers for giving me the insight to decide in 2006 not to seek re-election.

— Ex-Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), quoted by National Journal Daily.

Chait: Boehner a ‘Trembling Child Monarch’

August 2, 2013 Buck Banks

Yesterday, the House of Representatives pulled a bill from the floor for lack of votes — the sort of scrambling chaos that occurs routinely in the chamber where John Boehner presides like a trembling child monarch. But this defeat was different. The bill concerned the funding of housing and transportation programs, though its failure represented more than just a programmatic setback, or even a setback for the Republican economic strategy writ large, but the potential ruin of its entire posture toward Obama. Since taking control of the House two and a half years ago, Republicans have fomented a series of crises that seemed to have no end in sight, explicitly refusing to negotiate with Obama and implicitly denying his legitimacy as president. The crumbling of that wall is far from certain, but yesterday a wide crack opened up.

200

Almost 200 of the country’s top business leaders urged Congress to certify the electoral results for President-elect Joe Biden in a letter Monday, arguing that “attempts to thwart or delay this process run counter to the essential tenets of our democracy,” the Washington Post reports.

“It means that they know they’re gonna lose. And if you win, you’re going to serve in the minority under a Democratic president. You may want to spend more time with your family.”

— Speaker Nancy Pelosi, quoted by Politico, on the high number of Republican retirements from Congress.

30%

I like to describe my job as trying to get 218 frogs in a wheelbarrow long enough to pass a bill. It’s hard to do.

— House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), quoted by the Los Angeles Times.

We’ve also talked about the I-word, impeachment, which I don’t think would get past the Senate in the current climate … Is there anything else we can do?

— Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-TX), quoted by the Washington Post, noting there are enough votes in the House to impeach President Obama.

49% to 47%

A new CNN/ORC International survey finds Republicans with a two-point edge in the generic congressional ballot — a big reversal from just last month when Democrats led by eight points.

I thank God every night in my nightly prayers for giving me the insight to decide in 2006 not to seek re-election.

— Ex-Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), quoted by National Journal Daily.

— Jonathan Chait, writing in New York Magazine.

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“So many names, there is barely room on the walls of the heart.”

– Billy Collins. The final line from the poem, “The Names,” U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins’ ode to the victims of the 9/11 attack.

“After 45 minutes, I was wondering if there was a mercy rule in presidential debates.”

— Taegan Goddard, Political Wire

“He’s played through this really old entire playbook where there’s no floor for him in terms of how low he will go. And we should be prepared for that, we should be prepared for the fact that he is not burdened by telling the truth… I think he’s gonna lie.”

— Kamala Harris, on The Rickey Smiley Show, talking about what Donald Trump will do in the debate.

“I have never seen a candidate more determined to blow an election.”

— GOP pollster Frank Luntz, on X, on Donald Trump’s latest vow to use the power of government to imprison his political opponents.

“Cheney and I agree on nothing — no issues. But what we do believe in is that the United States should retain its democratic foundations …. I applaud the Cheneys for their courage in defending democracy.”

— Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), on Meet the Press.

Numerati

30%

A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll found 30% of registered voters said tonight’s debate will help them a great deal or good amount in making their selection for president. Roughly 69% said they do not think the event will help them very much or at all with their decision in November.

$1.3 billion

“The IRS has collected $1.3 billion from high wealth tax dodgers since last fall, the agency announced Friday, crediting spending that has ramped up collection enforcement through President Joe Biden’s signature climate, health care and tax package signed into law in 2022,” the AP reports.

46% to 45%

$48% to 43%

$25 million