Is our congress the rubberstamp congress or the do nothing congress?

Question

With the results of this past election the Republicans were sent a strong message that I think they needed to hear about corruption, spending and getting our act together in Iraq.
However, I have a problem with the talking points that the Democratic leadership put out. According to them, this was the "do nothing" congress and at the same time they say that this congress was a rubberstamp for the Bush agenda. These points totally contradict themselves. For example, one of the things that supposedly earned them the "do nothing" label was the immigration issue. The fact is that this did not get passed is that though this congress was Republican, they definately were not a rubber stamp for Bush. Another example is the stem cell issue that Bush vetoed.

If the congress is Rubberstamping the Bush agenda then they are in fact doing something, even if you or I don't see it as good.

Answer 1

They are/were both depending on when you're talking. In recent session they were in DC for a small portion of time. for some things they rubber stamped pretty much all Bush wanted.

Interestly enough, the Dems are throwing stones but they live in the same glass house. Granted, they had little say, control but still.

Answer 2

Here's the problem with congress the people whom serve on the Congressional board have been there for 30, 40, Evan some of them 50+ years there stuck in the past and that is why we as a country can not move foreword. If we the people wanted to we could have congress wiped out and a whole new one set in place by the people for the people as it should be, but when you have police makers that are still living in 1950 it causes just a few problems. We need to, and I hate to say this start over when it comes to are government, allot of are polices are good but some are there just to create problems and to keep the rich, rich and the poor, poor. We are losing are middle class and we need them more then anything else in this country or else we will end up just a broke *** super power that is more of a monarchy then a democracy. So the point is if we relay want congress to do something then we need to change all whom are in office now, so that there is no old school verse new school and we can make things happen.

Answer 3

No, in effect they really don't contradict each other. The point is, the government does not do enough positives to be considered competent. Yet, they rubberstamp anything and everything that doesn't help the country and increases their own power and paychecks while simultaneously undermining the Constitution.
As a matter of fact, Congress rubberstamps and does nothing at the same time. They read hardly any of the bills proposed to them, and rubberstamps them despite how despicable the laws are (such as the PA and MCA).

Answer 4

They were do nothing because they did nothing. They were a rubber stamp because they abdicated their responsibility to oversee Bush, giving him carte blanche to do whatever he wanted. For comparison, when "overseeing" clinton, they spent nearly 200 hours reviewing his use of the Christmas Card list. This congress hardly worked 200 hours TOTAL. They were also a rubber stamp for the budgets, which was the minimal amount of work that this Congress had to do.

Basically, "do nothing" wins although "rubber stamp" isn't inaccurate because it largely applies to other things, such as oversight and approving Bush's budgets.

The use of the stem cell veto is rather pointless because its completely misleading, considering it is the ONLY example of contention. In fact, that there was only 1 veto just shows how much Bush had this congress in his back pocket, since he was never sent legislation he disapproved of.

Answer 5

I can see your point on those two things. I think they usually rubber stamped things and did not take much of their own initiative. The few times they actually went against Bush were a big deal and a lot of attention was given to that in the media, possibly even an overreaction, like, "Showdown between Bush and Congress!" and stuff like that.

Answer 6

What little the Repuke Congress did do, was a rubberstamp the Dumbya Coup agenda. You would think that somebody among Repukes would say something serious about "signing statements" which is a threat to make them superfluous and effectively out of any meaningful work. So we have had the worst of all possibilities. Down with Dictator Dumbya!!!

Answer 7

Do no longer something Congress has 2 factors to it. word how many republicnas began speaking out against the conflict....and word how a lot of them honestly voted to passs this contemporary equivalent time in deployment equivalent time at domicile degree. Now you already know whos only speaking and whos relatively obsessed with ending this political failure. REPUBLICANs are very sensible at handing issues off to the dems. Thats the project -- the DEMS arent biting this time. So we've a stand nevertheless because of the fact DEMS do opt to end this conflict, AND Repubs wantto shop this conflict going nomatter how many cases they arise and talk out against it. choose them by using ways they vote, no longer what they say of their interviews

Answer 8

I don't see a contradiction. They rubber stamped everything Bush sent them, and did nothing to make sure what he was doing was right.

Remember, over 1000 supeanas were sent to the Clinton White House, not a single supeana has been sent to the Bush White House.

Answer 9

This next Congress had better be the most competent and effective of all time to start to undo the harm of Bush overs his inevitable vetos.
He will veto nothing but measures of common sense and fiscal probilty.

Answer 10

Bush rubber stamps and congress does little .