Direct quote from a teabagger, to me, today:

[Clintonista2]

(I began by pointing out that Bush doubled the national debt and turned a 155 billion surplus into a 1.5 trillion deficit).

Teabagger: Most of that comes from his second term when democrats controlled congress
Me: Republicans had the power to veto anything the democrats wanted to pass
Teabagger: not true. It takes a simple majority to override a veto
Me: (stunned silence)

== == == == == == == ==

Now really. THESE are the people who claim they're fighting for the constitution? :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[tabatha]

1. The republicans were responsible

for the highest number of filibusters after 2006.

Anyone have the graph?

[zeos3]

12. ...can't find the graph, but I found this:

http://www.thefourthbranch.com/2010/02/political-party-abuse-of-the-filibuster-in-the-u-s-senate/#more-714


"I haven’t yet discovered an authoritative source listing the number of times the filibuster has been used by the minority party in any given Congress. The closest I have found is a table (published by the Senate itself) listing the number of motions filed for cloture for each Congress since 1919 (the 66th Congress). While useful, there isn’t a perfect correlation between the use of the filibuster and the number of motions filed for cloture. Often, a majority leader may be aware that he does not have sufficient votes to invoke cloture, and a motion may never be filed. Other times, a majority leader may suspect a minority party Senator will filibuster a bill, motion or amendment and preemptively make a motion for cloture. Furthermore, the filibuster is just one of many obstructionist weapons in a Senator’s arsenal. Others, such as the hold (which often precedes a filibuster), can be equally devastating (and are often anonymous). Consequently, the information below won’t be a perfect analysis of the level of obstructionism of each Congress’ minority party, but it does give at least a rough outline.
The table below shows the party controlling the Senate for each Congress since 1991 (Clinton’s first year in office), the number of cloture motions filed during that Congress, and the average approval percentage for that Congress (according to Gallup polls taken during the relevant period):

Year/ Party Controlling Senate/ Number of Cloture Motions Filed/ Net Change in Cloture Motions Filed From Prior Congress/ Average Approval Rating of Congress
2009-2010 (111th) Democrats 75 +11** 28.8%
2007-2008 (110th) Democrats 139 +71 23.2%
2005-2006 (109th) Republicans 68 +6 30.3%
2003-2004 (108th) Republicans 62 -10 44.3%
2001-2002 (107th) Democrats 72* +1 55.2%
1999-2000 (106th) Republicans 71 +2 45.1%
1997-1998 (105th) Republicans 69 -13 42.4%
1995-1996 (104th) Republicans 82 +2 32.0%
1993-1994 (103rd) Democrats 80 +21 23.5%
1991-1992 (102nd) Democrats 59 +22 30.6%

*There were 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans until May 24, 2001 when Sen. Jeffords (VT) announced he would become an independent and caucus with the Democrats, giving Democrats a one-seat advantage.

**This figure assumes the 111th Congress will file 75 cloture motions in 2010 (the same number filed in 2009) for a total of 150 cloture motions."

[quiet.american]

2. How to argue with people who live in a completely fabricated world?

They're mentally ill. They simply make shit up, and that's that.

[Arkansas Granny]

9. You can't argue with them. Their opinions are not based in fact and they

refuse to listen to a fact based argument. It's known as willful ignorance which can only be cured by a desire to know the truth.

[Joe Bacon]

26. No they live in Ayn Rand's Laissez Fairyland!

It's reenforced by watching 19th Century Fox or Jesus TV 24/7 and weekly visits to right wing pulpits where preachers spit out the latest talking points Frank Luntz sends them.

Now, I am told that Bush left office with the biggest budget surplus of all time and Obama has bankrupted us. Told to me by an idiot who worships the ground Glenn Beck walks on.

[Xipe Totec]

3. They need to exercise their fifth amendment right more often

The right to remain silent.

[FreakinDJ]

4. Just who equated "Tea Bagger" with Intelligence

I'm waiting for FUX News to offer a FREE "Protest Sign Spell Checker"

[Warren Stupidity]

17. NYT

discovered that their poll sample had generally more education than the general population.

[Yavin4]

31. You Can Be Educated and Not Be Intelligent

Today, success in education is based on how well you do on tests, not critical thinking.

[Phx_Dem]

5. #1, he's an idiot who doesn't know procedure; #2 Bush's massive tax cuts and the wars

were the biggest contributors to the debt, and they were passed when Republicans controlled Congress.

So, essentially #1 & #2 are the same . . . the guy's an idiot who doesn't have a fucking clue what he's talking about.

[Bitwit1234]

6. Wait a minute the Democrats did not have a complete majority and

that was in 2006. So from 22000 to 2006 December 31th the republicans controlled congress. They sure as hell are dumb.

[Elwood P Dowd]

10. The Democrats didn't have a majority in the Senate -- it was 49-49-2 from 2007-2009.

The repukes set a record for the most filibusters during that time.

[Arkansas Granny]

7. You'd think we would all be used to it by this time, but their sheer ignorance

still has the power to astound me.

[flpoljunkie]

8. Bush's unfunded tax cuts, Medicare Rx Benefit, and Iraq all passed when Republicans in control.

[BlueIdaho]

11. Don't argue with the five percenters...

It only frustrates you and annoys the 5%er.

[Warren Stupidity]

14. 20.

We laugh, I laugh, but the fact of the matter is that we now have a ludicrously serious rightwing movement that has at least the nominal allegiance of around 20% of the population.

[BlueIdaho]

19. This is not a new constituency

They are the same 20% (your figure) that blindly followed Bush, Cheney, and their jackals as they lead America into 2 wars and a world class financial disaster. These sheeple will always stand with any tin pot fascist leader the reich wingers can sneak into office.

[Warren Stupidity]

20. What is new is that they are a) insane b) in the streets and

c) are a mass movement with the full support and backing of major mass media outlets.

We all laugh at them, I laugh, you laugh, jolly good fun, but when exactly in our history have we had this situation before? Are we all really sure that this is funny ha ha, funny like a clown funny?

[BlueIdaho]

21. From where I sit...

They are no more or less insane than they always have been. They do show up - bussed in to astroturf events but the crowds are getting smaller. This years "tax revolt" drew far fewer folks than last years. The media can lie its ass off about these folks but they can't create a movement out of them. When have we seen anything like this before? 1995.

[emulatorloo]

23. They aren't a "mass movement" -- the media is presenting them as one though

18% of Americans identify with teabag ideas. That percentage is awfully similar to Bush's final approval ratings.

It isn't a mass movement, but media is trying to make it seem that way.

[Warren Stupidity]

27. Keep telling yourself that happy thought.

The fact that they have the full support and backing of at least one major mass media outlet is part of the reason this is not funny at all.

They put people in the streets across the country this week. While doing so, even if their numbers are not all that large, they also got lots of airplay on all the major media outlets.

[emulatorloo]

30. I think you and I are in agreement . . .

Minority being made to look like a majority by news media. Attempted "Mainstreaming" of fringe views by cable news.

[Warren Stupidity]

32. we are in unprecedented territory here

I know I am a bit of a Cassandra on this topic, but really this is new ground. And yes we are mostly in agreement.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

22. Learn to life with it....

About 20 percent (and I think that's a reasonable guesstimate) of the American people are gibbering idiots. Make sure they're not stockpiling weapons and let them go on babbling about one damned thing or another. They don't matter.

[Warren Stupidity]

13. They are entitled to their own facts after all.

That is the only reasonable explanation.
Plus the surplus was eaten by the bush tax cuts, which were practically day one of the bush disaster.

[truedelphi]

15. If the Rat Bastards running the Big Lie Media were not fond of

Where the TB party will lead us, this wouldn't even be an issue.

I have no idea what we are supposed to do. But this development doesn't surprise me. The Powers that Be desperately need an powerfully effective way to override the fact that most Americans are now squarely in the middle and want real statesmen and real states women in higher offices.

But come 2010 and 2012, we will (Sigh) once again have to choose between the Friendly Smiling CorpoRATists and the ass wipe, douche bag Sarah Palin types.

[HughMoran]

16. Time to repeat my usual refrain about the TeaKluxBaggers

Fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking fucking morons!!

[greencharlie]

18. yes

but let's be realistic... how many Americans KNOW that it takes 2/3?

I bet that number is less than 10%. Hell, less than 10% probably know what a veto is.

[Jennicut]

24. And that is what is sad about America.

No one should be excused from being an idiot.

[and-justice-for-all]

25. So, uh...they had 8 years of total power over every faced

of Government and that loser says "Teabagger: not true. It takes a simple majority to override a veto"??? They are dumber than a rock and have no fucking idea what the hell they are saying.

[quaker bill]

28. The democrats when in power

passed smaller deficits than Bush asked for. Same goes for Reagan and Bush I.

[quaker bill]

29. Rule number 1

When a republican is in the Whitehouse, deficits are the fault of congress.

However, when a democrat is in the Whitehouse, deficits are the fault of the President.

Rinse and repeat.

[CLANG]

33. I hope you corrected him/her.