Lame-duck agenda: What should it be? IMO the Veterans Jobs Bill should be at the top.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

Lame-duck agenda: What should it be? IMO the Veterans Jobs Bill should be at the top.

President Obama has won re-election decisively, and Veterans Day is next week. In their most shameful vote ever, Senate Republicans filibustered a bill to help our heroes transition into civilian emploument. Cloture failed by two votes (see http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/vet-jobs-bill-fails-in-senate-caught-in-hill-battle/2012/09/19/9d35a104-0292-11e2-91e7-2962c74e7738_story.html ).

IMO it would be very difficult now for Republicans to repeat their obstruction of this bill. The kitchen lights are on, and the roaches won't dare to come out again. What could Mitch McConnell possibly say to justify a huge insult to new veterans on Veterans Day?

Victory here could help revive the American Jobs Act and other recovery legislation McConnell and company have blocked for years. IMO, now is the time to get Republicans to end their economic sabotage.

WHAT'S YOUR OPINION?

WHAT OTHER LEGISLATION SHOULD BE ON THE LAME-DUCK AGENDA?

[Revolutionary Girl]

1. Repeal DOMA.

[Kennah]

2. House GOP will set the agenda

Even though some of the fucking crazies were tossed out, West and Bachmann may yet be tossed, but the House GOP will be intransigent. If they regain some sanity, then perhaps they will work with the President.

If not, if the House GOP goes crazier, fuck, it's going to be interesting. Obama could turn to fireside chats with the American people and cajole the House GOP into submission. Whatever he does, if he's getting his hands slapped away at every opportunity, I believe he'll don a pair of massively oversized shoes, like a pair of 18s, and put 'em up the GOP's ass. He's going to engage more.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

3. Only if we let them. The only reason to block a Vets Jobs Bill on Veterans Day

is pure partisanship, not wanting the give the President any success, even if it costs recently-returned veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Let's dampen down that partisanship with a high-profile bill few if any Republicans will want to take respnsibility for blocking.

[GP6971]

4. Killing

the bill is (or mostly tabling the bill) inexcusable. Frickin chicken hawks. May the worst happen to these assholes

On the other hand, now that PBO has been re-elected, will that lead to bipartisanship? Nah..".from the words of Bob & Ray.........."you're a dreamer man" Loved their radio show !!!!!

[ProgressiveEconomist]

5. IMO this is winnable. PBO could start off huge pressure for the VJB in a speech on Veterans Day,

citing this legislation as emblematic of what's wrong in Congress. Then his surrogates, Democratic Senators, and Democratic Reps could keep the pressure on the Republicans until Veterans Jobs passes. Now that the race for President is over, the media are left with a huge "newshole" to fill. Let's take advantage of all these opportunities that are coming together in th enext couple of weeks and see what hapens.