Tag: Republican Congress

Why Republicans Don’t Need to Govern

Buck Banks

You can’t simply assert, like it’s some sort of natural fact, that Republicans ‘must show they can govern’ when an alternative course is available. Not only is it not a secret — this other direction — but it’s being strongly urged upon the party by people who are a key part of its coalition. … The alternative to ‘show you can govern’ is to keep President Obama from governing. Right? Keep him from accomplishing what he wants to get done in his final two years and then ‘go to the country,’ as Karl Rove used to say, with a simple message: time for a change! This is not only a valid way to proceed, it’s a pretty likely outcome.

— Jay Rosen, on his PressThink blog.

Is Congress Abdicating Its War Powers to Obama?

Buck Banks

“There’s one power Congress has that it doesn’t want: The power to declare war. And that’s certainly so seven weeks before congressional elections.

— Bloomberg reports. “The House will vote today on an amendment that gives the administration the authority to train and equip Syrian rebels as part of President Barack Obama’s strategy for destroying Islamic State. But it is silent on whether the president can deploy U.S. forces in the region. Some say Congress is setting a dangerous precedent by abdicating its war powers.”

GOP Representative Says House Could Impeach Obama

Buck Banks

He’s just absolutely ignoring the Constitution, and ignoring the laws and ignoring the checks and balances. The problem is, what do you do? For those that say impeach him for breaking the laws of bypassing the laws — could that pass in the House? It probably could. Is the majority of the American people in favor of impeaching the president? I’m not sure.

— Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA), asserting the House “probably” has the votes to impeach President Obama, Politico reports.

Voters Want GOP Congress to Counterbalance Obama’s Policies

Buck Banks

53% to 39%

Margin by which voters say they’d rather see the Republicans in control of Congress as a counterbalance to President Obama’s policies than a Democratic-led Congress to help support him, according to a new ABC News/Washington Post poll. Meanwhile, Obama’s job approval rating, after a slight winter rebound, has lost 5 points among all adults since March, to 41%, the lowest of his presidency.