Democratic Congress May Adjourn, Leave Crisis to Fed, Treasury

[katty]

more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=washingtonstory&sid=aVPBaUbYV_qQ

Democratic Congress May Adjourn, Leave Crisis to Fed, Treasury

By Kristin Jensen

Sept. 18 (Bloomberg) -- The Democratic-controlled Congress, acknowledging that it isn't equipped to lead the way to a solution for the financial crisis and can't agree on a path to follow, is likely to just get out of the way.

Lawmakers say they are unlikely to take action before, or to delay, their planned adjournments -- Sept. 26 for the House of Representatives, a week later for the Senate. While they haven't ruled out returning after the Nov. 4 elections, they would rather wait until next year unless Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, who are leading efforts to contain the crisis, call for help.

One reason, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said yesterday, is that ``no one knows what to do'' at the moment.

``When you rush to judgment, you usually make mistakes,'' said Sherwood Boehlert, a former Republican congressman from New York. ``This is something you can't go on forever without addressing, but Congress in a short span of time is best served by going home.''

[ixion]

1. behold: Amerika's Bestest and Brightestest

we're doomed. :nuke:

[katty]

2. o yeah...a cluster of brain trusts all working overtime-right!

[spin]

7. I'm not sure that they could accomplish anything...

In fact I'm not sure that anyone can accomplish anything.

But going on recess only reminds voters of the last recess that the Republicans used to their advantage. Do you remember the Republicans who stayed behind after the recess and gained media coverage making the Democratic Party look bad.

Despite the fact that Congress is official in recess and on vacation for five weeks, many Republicans have decided to stay in Washington to show the American people the are serious about the energy “crisis.” Nancy Pelosi has had the lights, mics, and cameras turned off, but those there are continuing to work.
http://blog.craigdthomas.com/2008/08/republicans-continue-to-work-with-the-lights-off.php

Of course, the Democratic leadership might see an advantage in leaving the economic mess to the Bush administration, hoping that any efforts he would make would only make the situation worse. Unfortunately this could backfire. All the political bickering in Washington has resulted in little progress over the last few years. And while the blame can be laid at the feet of both parties, the voters are growing very frustrated. Possibly the voters might decide to vote the incumbents out. If the Republicans can convince the voters that the Democrats have run a "do-nothing" Congress they might well benefit.

Never underestimate the Republicans. Obama should have a overwhelming lead because of the failure of the Bush years, He doesn't.

[katty]

8. i think it could backfire-especially now

[The Hope Mobile]

12. Me too! If they said ":there's nothing we can do until the GOP stops obstructing

and we can work with an administration that has the people's best interest at heart" . . . then it might make the point they need to make.

[katty]

13. yes, that wld be wise, however-it will be twisted to "they're

not ready" any storm that comes...blabla.... even though the ReTHUGS have a history of greed and corruption, they dump the results of disasters on the doorstep of incoming Dem admins--they rape and pillage & Dems have to pull out the forklift size pooper-scooper and cleanup their mess.

[The Hope Mobile]

16. Truer words were never spoken!

[Dr.Phool]

19. Yeah, and now the GOP will plaster them as doing nothing!

Fuck adjournment! Stay in session. Hold investigations.

The only reason they want to adjourn anyway, is to campaign for re-election.

Please do what's right for a change. We pay you for the whole fucking year. Don't come back in 2 months, freshly re-elected (maybe), and hold superficial hearings and rubber stamp the chimp's plans for economic destruction.

If you leave Bernanke and Poulson to their own devices, there won't be a nickel left for social and safety net spending.

Stay in session until January. The repukes can't campaign either.

[Hestia]

11. Ya'll, this may be a good thing - remember in "The Shock Doctrine"

'reform' (royal screwing to the masses) is pushed through at the first sign of trouble. Do we really want any rush right now? After the last 30 years of family values, 57 days is really not going to hurt us. Repug's rush, we think, remember?

[spin]

14. "The Shock Doctrine" is one scary book....

Let's just hope that the economic turmoil that Naomi Klein documents isn't being planned and in the process of being implemented to our country.

[katty]

15. well, i think a certain sector/gang has been pushing this plan

and the last 7 yrs of government gutting, etal has certainly softened the field for a total ploughing-the Dems and other concerned in gov/public/private sector are desperately trying to 'hold the line' - and it is a desperate match at this point.

[DJ13]

3. Bad Bad Move

First, that just gives the GOP ammo for the election.

"Those lazy Democrats wont even work to solve our economic crisis!"

Second, the Democratic leadership needs to look back at past elections and realize how the GOP used Congressional actions (even empty actions that had no chance of passing) to promote their party leading into an important election.

If Reid and Pelosi really do close Congress, they are complicit with trying to help the GOP retain power.

[katty]

4. right-more ammo for the GOP

[sasha031]

5. I called Reid's office. they said they were going to be doing investigations

[dixiegrrrrl]

18. and sending letters, no doubt

which will be ignored.

[spelldmilk]

6. JMJ!

"When you rush to judgment , you usually make mistakes." Is this what they finally f#%&ing learned from passing the Patriot Act?!? So, the freekin' global banking system requires more judgment than suspending Civil Rights, more judgment than approving what turned into a 7 year war with no foreseeable end in sight? WTF? Not that I am mad that this financial crisis is being taken seriously, but, jeezum, can the bullies from '01 PLEASE be held accountable for attempted murder of this Union? Cripes, man.

[TomInTib]

9. Amen, spelldmilk.. nt

[Enthusiast]

10. Abolish the fucking Gramm-Leach-Bliley act

immediately! For starters. Run down and prosecute every single individual engaged in this fraud. Treat them like terrorists! Find those that perpetrated these disasters on the American people and call them out on it. Including every fucking complicit Democrat, and there are a bunch of them.

[trthnd4jstc]

17. Fantasic Idea for the House and Senate to stay in session.

If Congress does not know what to do about the economy, how about:

1. Impeach and Try George Bush and Dick Cheney.
2. Work on balancing the Federal Budget.
3. Real ethics reform.


That should keep you all easily busy until November.