Obama Tactics May Strain McConnell-Boehner Tie

[babylonsister]

Everybody wins! :D

Obama Tactics May Strain McConnell-Boehner Tie
By Alan K. Ota, CQ Staff


A push by President Obama to cut deals in the Senate is likely to put increased stress on relations between House Minority Leader John A. Boehner and his Senate counterpart, Mitch McConnell .

While McConnell, R-Ky., quickly opened quiet talks with the new White House on a range of issues, Boehner, R-Ohio, has taken a tougher approach and has recently moved with mixed success to begin a dialog with Obama. The president met with leaders of both parties Jan. 23 and plans to discuss the stimulus with Republicans during a visit to Capitol Hill on Tuesday.

Obama’s plan is to begin his term with bipartisan legislation that could help generate momentum for his most difficult objectives — overhauls of health care and entitlements. But it remains unclear whether Obama will press for deals with Republicans in both chambers or focus instead on the Senate, where some bipartisan support will be essential.

Senior Republicans say Boehner and McConnell share a low-key managerial style, but that their differences may be highlighted when they confront a Democratic administration. A longtime appropriator, McConnell has long pushed for deals on big spending measures such as the stimulus. Boehner, leading a caucus that has grown more conservative, has taken a harder line on curbing domestic spending.

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http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docid=news-000003017018

[Cha]

1. Yeah, too bad boner's full

of it.


He just listened to limpbaugh's too much.

[calimary]

3. Look at that sour face. How dare that upstart be sitting in MY chair, he quietly steams.

MY guy should be sitting there. Not you. I should be King of the Congress. Not that weasely San Francisco broad. If it weren't for her and a few million more voters, I'D be The Guy. I'd have THE Gavel. And NOBODY would be messing with my last name. I'd show 'em. Damn Democrat Party. Doesn't anybody understand how things are supposed to be? I'M supposed to be on top. The GOP is supposed to rule. We were born to it. Divine Right! They don't call it "Divine Left," do they!? I hate my life.


Yeah, boner. Better lay off that tanning booth or you'll soon be known as Melanoma Man.

[madrchsod]

5. you said boner.......

[OregonBlue]

2. McConnell actually refered to the Democratic leadership the other day. Not the Democrat. WOW.

[calimary]

4. Really? Seriously?

Because THAT is one outward sign that just gets my goat, but good. SAY OUR NAME CORRECTLY, DAMMIT!!! If you want to get ANY business done with US - the LEADERS VOTED INTO ALL POWER BY VAST MAJORITIES OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE - then you can damn well get our party's name STRAIGHT.

I've begun to complain about that whenever I call the TOLL FREE Capitol Hill switchboard number to be transfered to some republi-CON's office. I make sure that's on record when I get through all the way.

They keep doing it because they haven't been nailed for it, and forced to stop.

And the next time I call mcconnell's office, I intend to bring that up - that it's been noticed, and duly noted, and that he better keep things straight - 'cause we're watching, paying attention, and keeping track. (That's why I keep those TOLL FREE Capitol Hill switchboard numbers in my sig line below - so they're easy to find, since I tend to post a lot. And I try to stay on top of things and keep 'em updated, too. Use 'em. They're free. They work!)

They need to know WE ARE WATCHING. AND KEEPING TRACK.

Sorry to shout, but this is truly URGENT.

These people are very well accustomed by now to operating in the shadows. They watched how the bush/cheney crowd did it with all that fucking secrecy and sneaky-ass behind-closed-doors national-security locked-out shit. You get away with stuff when you know people aren't watching and keeping track. When you know people haven't seen. THAT'S what we have to do - make sure THEY know that WE know, and that they know we are watching, and keeping track, keeping score, and taking names.

They need to know that "we're watching you. We know who you are, and we know what you did already, and what you're doing now, and what you're trying to do for later."

[OregonBlue]

6. Yes, I was dumbstruck. I thought of sending him an email letting him know that i

noticed and was very pleased and that I think it makes him look so much less petty than the other minority "leaders".

[calimary]

9. When they actually DO achieve something positive, then positive reinforcement is warranted.

I've actually done that, too - called someone from within the enemy camp to express my appreciation for something well done, or done generously or reasonably (or uncharacteristically) - or in a truly bipartisan manner. They do warm up. I'm still getting Christmas cards from now former Senator Chuck Hagel and his family, up til this most recent Christmas. But it also underscores that there is a VERY vigilant and activated crowd out there filled with sharply focused eyes and wide open ears, and we don't sleep much.

[OregonBlue]

10. I did in fact send an email to McConnell thanking him. I also sent an email to McCain yesterday

telling him that I noticed that he used "Democrat" yesterday and pointing out that it was small and petty and asking him to be more adult like Mitch McConnell.

[RB TexLa]

7. Good, divide and conquer

[DFW]

8. Boehner is one of those sorts who only smile when they can pluck the feathers off of live chickens

Or the wings off of live flies.

To hell with him.