WASHINGTON (CNN) – A leading congressional Republican did not pull any punches Sunday when asked whether President Obama had kept one of his most prominent campaign promises.
“I must say I'm disappointed,” Senate Minority Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union. “After two months, the president has not governed in the middle as I had hoped he would. But it's not too late. He's only been in office a couple of months. Still before him are the opportunities to deal with us on a truly bipartisan basis,” the Republican told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King.
McConnell also criticized the president’s $3.6 trillion budget and the ambitious agenda on education, energy, and health care which the budget seeks to implement.
“Republicans are very much in favor of dealing with [the country’s economic crisis],” McConnell said. “What we're not in favor of is going on this spending spree over the next five to 10 years and sending the bill to our grandchildren.”
Obama’s administration “is going to be the furthest to the left of any government . . . certainly in my lifetime,” McConnell also told King. “I’m not sure that’s what people voted for. I mean they were angry with President Bush. They were not happy with the economy.... Whether they intended to see America kind of turned into a Western European country as a result of an explosion of spending and debt and regulation is another matter.”
On Iraq and Afghanistan, McConnell did have some tongue-in-cheek praise for Obama.
“I want to commend the administration,” the leading Senate Republican said. “The surge in Iraq worked. I wish they could bring themselves to say that and I think the surge in Afghanistan is likely to work as well under the brilliant leadership of General Petraeus.”
“The administration is essentially adopting the policies of the Bush administration and both Iraq and Afghanistan. And I want to commend them for it,” McConnell said.
From CNN Politics
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Mr. McConnell, you as well as the other republicans need only to look in the mirror to find the people responsible for the lack of bipartisanship.
Sen. McConnell you may want to have a little dialogue with your peers on this topic....you want him to be 'in the middle' but your peers have made that very difficult...there is no good game without good players on all the teams.
McConnell's idea of bipartisanship is the old Bush line: My way or the highway. Obama tried to work with the Repugs and was rebuffed. So he will go ahead and work without them if necessary.
Republicans are the ones who aren't bi-partisan, they vote NO on anything and everything while offering no alternative and expect a near supermajority to bow to them.
Oh please, I'm 'disappointed' in the GOP's lack of bipartisanship.
Why is it that John King, appears to only interview Republican's ?
McConnell is an idiot. He has been a part of the problem all along, but like any "good" Republican he's going to try and deflect the blame from himself and the GOP. Sorry, nobody's buying it Mitchie, not even your Appalachian constituency. Your party's "spending spree" is what bankrupted us in the first place. It's about time we started funding healthcare and education, and not billionaire pensions and bank accounts.
I now see why Sen. McConnell was only narrowly elected. After refusing a personal invite to the White House to discuss the budget and economy, Sen. McConnell has the incredulous gall to call Obama bipartisan?
Come on Kentucky, you can do better!
President Obama doesn't have to show any sort of bipartisanship; #1 is that He is president of these great United States, #2 which he is a Democrat holding the most powerful office in the Country. #3 he is clearly showing more signs of a Socialistic leader going back to the Biblical times that are signs of Sodom & Gomorra all over again...;
Where do I even start? After doubling the debt during good economic times to spend on STUPID things like the war in Iraq and no-bid contracts for Halliburton, McConnell and his pals are now complaining about the deficit THEY left Obama? He is at least using the deficit to fund crucial things like health care and education. Bi-partisanship? How about the fact that not ONE GOP member voted for the stimulus? Give me a break...
I'm very disappointed in the GOP and their refusal to work with Obama. They don't want a truly bipartisan working relationship. They act like spoiled children who refuse to play/work with others because they lost. During the last 8-years the GOP went on a wild spending spree, grew the size of our government larger than it has never been and deregulated like crazy. The GOP and Bush created our current economic crisis but they are trying to place the blame on Obama who has only been President for two months.
He won the election. He doesn't need to be bipartisan. Even thought thats how he won convincing the independent voters he would bring everyone together for smart decisions. I am constantly surpriosed at how his approval ratings can be at 60 some perscent, when he was not even elected by that much, and I am pretty sure if you did not vote for him you would not approve of his spending fetish so far.
When this dead cat bounce in the market goes south again, he will be too far in too blame Dodd and Frank (or as he says Bush). There is a credit card crash coming later this summer with all the unemployed that are carrying high balances. Plus, more foreclosures when the band aids wear off. Plus, a bunch more houses coming to the market when the next round of ARM adjust.
I've grown very tired of politicians using the tired old expression "we don't want to spend money and stick our children and grandchildren with the bill". If this sentiment were true they there would be greater efforts to address the issue with social security. My money, which I will have contributed over my entire adult working life, won't be there for me because we will run out long before I'm due to collect. However, this problem continues to be ignored. Truth is politicans dont' care because it doesn't affect them. The money will still be aounrd when it is time for them and their colleagues to collect. This is further evidence they just say what sounds good and the actions they take don't match the rhetoric. We won't see any change until the next generation of politicians come of age to be ellected
McConnell wants Obama to govern from the center? Republicans will only be satisified if Obama starts embracing all of their simplistic and failed right-wing policies and ideas: tax cuts for the wealthy, creationism, deregulation....
One of the criticisms about Obama during the primaries was his chameleon abilities. We see that now with his working the different venues – internet, late night, 60 minutes – doesn't seem to matter. So, the issue here is – is Obama going to grow into the role of the Presidency or is this going to be an "as if" Presidency – never really being the commander-in-chief, but rather the chameleon-in-chief.
I would like to ask; What sort of bipartism is possible when a party declared through its defacto mouth piece that he wishes Mr. Obama to fial? I did not vote for Mr. Obama, but the more I hear and witness the GOPs attempts at "reforming" itself and attacking the new administration, claiming that after eight years of total and willful failure it now knows how to do things – the more I fear that we only really have one party operating with any accuity in this nation.
He doesn't want to go on a 5-10 year spending spree? Where was he when Bush was throwing money around like a drug dealer? The past eight years saw unbelieveable spending and yet he said nothing. He is towing the party line in his "dissapointment."
Senator McConnell,
You didn't mind your republican controlled party and President Bush spending billions and billions leaving our grandchildern to pay for. I didn't hear one word about spending when your party was in power. So just suck it up and shut up and let the party elected get things back in control.
If I'm not mistaken, Obama said "I won, so get over it." He's not bipartisan either. The truth is he is a Democrat and no matter whether Dem or Rep – all sides only want their side to win. None of them are bipartisan. Just because Bush wasn't bipartisan doesn't mean Obama shouldn't be. The fact is, he isn't bipartisan and that is the truth. He ran on change, and he hasn't produced any change yet except for an enormous amount of extra debt and non bipartisanship. No change whatsoever. And the debt was run up by congress who holds the purse strings. Don't go blaming it on Bush. And congress has been democratically controlled since 2006. Hmmmm.......
Republicans are sooooooooo out of the main stream....sick political party. Nothing new to offer, no solutions....just same old...same old!
Wow! "GOP leader dissapointed with Obama", a big freaking surprise that is...
Bipartisanship!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pres Obama has certainly tried more than the previous Admin...
I guess the GOP interpretation of Bipartisanship is " do it my way or we will continue to say NO to everything you suggest.". They seem to forget that the American people voted for a change to this way of thinking but as the saying goes "You can't teach an old dog new tricks>"
When was the last time George sat down with a democrat to talk about issues?
Losers
problem is...the republicans STILL want it THEIR way...middle my behind..GOP, YOU gotta bend or you will get left wayyyy behind, America speaks, just as we spoke in electing a leader, not a GOP behind the times, silly rhetoric party. get with the president or get lost !!! America now has a president willing to fix everything, instead of screw it up like the republicans did, time and time again.
I'm quite certain that Obama will move more toward the middle, after some headway is made fixing the mess that McConnel and his cronies created. I've yet to hear one republican make even a single constructive comment. All they do is criticize. The country is tired of these corrupt jerks and, quite frankly, nothing they have to say interests me in the least. The last time the Democrats turned the country over to the republicans we were over a trillion dollar in the black and the economy was doing fairly well. McConnel, Phil Gramm and company made sure that wouldn't if when lost power. What a bunch of jerks.
That's actually funny. What did he and other Republicans expect after their stunt in the House on the stimulas bill? Did they really think that closing ranks to give the bill absolutely no Republican votes that it would encourage Obama to continue to try to reach out to them?
Sometime you should be careful about the message you send. They other person may decide they don't need you.
President Obama has bent over backwards for these fools. Everytime he offers to met with them. have them join him to talk, they are rude and are like a brick wall. I wouldn't even give them the time of day if I were Obama. They could kiss my backside! All they do is trash talk him and act like some kind of victims. They don't have the guts to stick their necks out and try to help. That way they can oppose everything the President does.
This has got to be a sad joke. The Republicans have only criticized Mr. Obama and his policies and have not presented any suggestions. As far as our children facing the burden, Mr. Bush already established that pattern. Three Republican Senators voted for the rescue package and now they are being threatened for their future possible campaigns. They saw besides the party and thought that somethings in Mr. Obama's package would help the people of their respective states. To the public, it sure looks like Mr. Obama stretched out his hand to the Republicans; and without even trying to come up with a compromise, the Republicans turned off any overtures.
Senator, President Obama has invited Republicans to join his administration. He has met with Republicans in the 1st few months of his administration more often than the previous administration did with Democrats in the its first entire year! Republicans have done little but whine and pout since Jan 20, 2009. Your days of "my way or the highway" are over. Try to reconcile.
As for the surge, what worked? Additional troops were sent and the violence was reduced. No surprise there but did it bring Iraq any closer to managing the country without U.S. support? Did it improve the water and electric supplies to the people of Iraq? Do Iraqi refugees feel that it's safe to return home? No! I guess it depends on what your goals were.
Are the Republicans serious? After 8 years of the most partisan, vicious administration in our nation's history, where the minority Democrats were given no opportunity whatsoever to play a role in the administration, these same smug neo-cons now complain that Obama has been too partisan? The same Obama who named Republican Judd Gregg to be his Sec'y of Commerce, only to have the offer thrown back in his face? Or who added Republican Ray LaHood to be his Sec'y of Transportation?
How many Democrats received cabinet posts under Bush 43, Mr. McConnell? Now please quit your whining and try and do something meaningful fo r he country.
McConnell,
Thank you for speaking up about the 3.6 trillion dollar budget proposal. I hope you vigorously fight to balance the budget. Cutting the deficit in half in 4 years is not good enough. I won't borrow from my children's savings accounts, I expect our government to give our children the same courtesy. I acknowledge President Bush started robbing, however, President Obama is continuing to rob. I think there are plenty of policy changes we can make in healthcare, education and energy that don't cost money. Spending money does not always equal progress. I do like that President Obama is ending the war in Iraq.
No, McConnell, you are sooo wrong. RE: “The administration is essentially adopting the policies of the Bush administration and both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Unlike Bush/Cheney, we are not going into a country to wage a war based on lies and to "finish what George H. Bush started" and we will not torture!
Excuse me???? What planet has this guy been on? Obama is the only one trying to be bipartisan. No republican has even pretended to try since before he was even sworn in!
He turns down AN INVITE TO THE WHITE HOUSE and goes on network television to complain that Obama who invited him to the white house for talks isnt bi-partisan??? Mitch your hypocrisy and deceit is scary!!!
What a jerk. He and his party are only interested in bipartisanship because they're in the minority. Were the roles reversed, he'd be pushing through all manner of "conservative" agenda items with no regard whatsoever for the views of Democrats.
Get on with a progressive agenda, Mr. President. Let Republicans whine all they want.
Maybe McConnell could use a dictionary for Christmas. Bipartisanship does not mean you get to hold the process hostage until you get what you want. The Democrats won the Presidency and both houses of Congress. They get to call the shots. The Republicans need to come up with some useful plans that can be implemented for the good of the country, not more of the same BS that got us into this mess.
Boo hoo!
These Republoicans are a bunch of hypocrites and liars.
They already had their chance to screw up the world.
Now they should just shut up... it would only be good taste!
What???????????
McConnell was a poster child of NON-partisanship. He had 8 yrs under Bush to reach across the aisle....did he? Heck no!
Give Obama a break. He has been in office less than 3 months.
He HAS tried to reach out...what the GOP wants is to still maintain control....which they don't have anymore.
You would think that the close call McGOP had in Ky re-election....he might have learned something.
Hey Mac....how about coming into the discussions about issues with some IDEAS...not just NOOOO!!
Another hyprocrite from Congress. Where was all of this concern for "Bipartisanship" from Republican members of Congress during the Bush Presidency?
After all this country has been through since Obama has been elected, if this guy thinks a GOP candidate would have done a better job, well, he outta step down...............the entire Republican party FAILS to realize: if Obama fails, WE ALL FAIL.....I'm disappointed with the GOP for constantly acting like like the ultra-partisans we all know they are. IT"S ONLY BEEN 2 MONTHS!
The only word that Republicans know i |NO||. Pres. Obama has many times reached out to them in an offer of bipartisonship and all he gets is "NO".
Mitch McConnell's presentation of himself as a proponent of true bi-partisanship would be laughable if the obstructionist minority that he represents didn't threaten the well being of our great country.
GOP "disappointed' SO WHATS NEW?
The more Republican's talk the dumber they CONTINUE to look, ha,ha,ha I'm loving it, keep it up Republicans
R- Righteous
E- Egotistic
P- Perfect....they think
U- Unthankful
B- Big headed
L- Liars
I- Ignorant
C- Cons
A- Arrogant
N- Nuisance
S- Selfish
I'm amazed at all the Dems who are so historically challenged. True just a few short months ago Obama invited Republicans to share their ideas on the stimulus; then he rejcted all of them telling them "I won". An exact quote. Pelosi and Reid never wanted Republican involvement at all, as was obvious when they wrote the bill without ANY Republican involvement until after it was done. Then when they realized they needed a few Republican votes to get it through the Senate they grudgingly let a few Republicans participate. Bipartisanship doesn't mean inviting the other party to a Superbowl party. It's up to the party in power to make concessions to those not in power. The only one saying 'my way or the highway' is Obama and the criminal gang of Pelosi and Reid.
I am disappointed that for eight years, from 2001 to 2009, Mitch McConnell rubber-stamped every decision that George W. Bush made, including lying about the reasons for going to war in Iraq, okaying the transfer of billions of dollars to Bush-friendly corporations, the record deficits Bush and McConnell created for our children and grandchildren, and the reversal of hundreds of years of legal traditions of our country (e.g.,Bush and McConnell's embrace of torture).
I call on McConnell to retire in shame and to give back all his ill-gotten gains (if he wants to commit hari kari in shame that's between him and Jesus).
And I do so in the spirit of non-partisanship that I learned from studying McConnell's 100% partisan record as a senator.
I think that Mr. Obama has been too bi-partisian, Mr. McConnell. He should cut you and your party out of everything as you have so far had nothing constructive to bring to the table.
All I see on here is a trashing of McConnell, America you need to wake up about what Obama is doing with your Taxes.
All of our taxes are about to go through the roof where is the OUTRAGE THERE!!!!!!
I am amazed at these politicians! Don't they yet realize yet who won the election and who is going to do the governing. They had their chance but supported Bush 100% disregarding the other party, then the electorate pushed them out. As long as THEY keep the barage of NO, NO, NO, what do they expect?
What??? i saw on my t.v how obama try and they practically slap him in his face,with a resounding no!!! get lost.
McConnell is one of the worst Senators in my memory. I am not a Democrat, either. He is just a blathering blowhard like Reid. We should sent both of them into space for a long trip to Mars.
What would you expect any Republican to say about Obama? The president could find a cure for cancer and eliminate Al Qaeda, and the Republicans would still find him "disappointing".
Personally, I do not agree with a lot of his agenda, but it's nice to have a president who actually communicates with us, instead of running a secret presidency. I haven't seen him go off to cut brush yet, either.
Washington must be in shock, going from a do-nothing president who went on vacation and left the country at the mercy of Cheney, Rumsfeld, and other neocons, to a president who actually works long hours and in involved at every level of his administration.
McConnell should have lost his bid this last election. Where WAS the bipartisanship when the GOP ruled to roost? This is so typically hypocritical of the GOP. He along with his colleagues offer NO solutions. A 19 page pamphlet with two staples and NO details put out by GOP congressmen says it all. Hopefully, more and more Americans will see what I see: that the GOP and their conservative base are inhumane, selfish, elitist, anti-intellectual bigots only concerned about winning and being in power and not about people and people's welfare. Let's relegate this party to becoming only a regional one!
HOGWASH ! the repubs have gone to great lengths to whine, complain and fight Pres Obama..Obama has tried to be bi partisian, repubs wouldnt have any of it..Sen McConnel, go back to your tribe of repugs, get your act together, and then try to be bi partisian yourselves instead of just party of NO..what you really mean, is Obama wont let y'all have your way, so you will continue to whine, stomp feet, throw fits...
I would bet that President Obama has had more sit downs with Republicans in two months than President Bush had with Dems in 8 years. The GOP's definition of bipartisanship must mean that President Obama MUST adopt all their ideas and policies(even the old, tired policies of a failed administration). As a reminder, you guys lost, deal with it.
Mitch we've seen your party of "NO" in action since Jan 20, you and your followers in the senate are "IDIOTS" why should the President be accountable to you and your party? was BUSHY and CHUCKLES accountable to the DEMS? (I think not)
MITCH fooled a lot of KY voters last election, I hope they've realized this by now!
Senator McConnell and his wife (former Sect of Labor) help create this big financial and lack of job mess and he has the nerves to be talking about President Obama's ideas.
So Mitch McConnell is "disappointed" in Obama and the Democrats.
Well, Mr. McConnell, we've all been far more than disappointed in the rule of Bush and the Republicans over the previous eight years. Speaking of bipartisanship, just how "bipartisan" was Tom Delay? Now that you're at the receiving end, it seem that you just can't take it.
Where was Mitch(the economics expert) when the republicans had
the Presidency and getting us into this mess. This old tired right wing
rhetoric is what the people rejected on November 4, 2008.
I am disappointed that neither party wants the other to succeed. So we all lose. Bush and the GOP were a disgrace for going on their spending spree for six years. And the Democrats and Obama are not doing any better.
Congress and the executive branch should not get any pay checks unless they balance the budget. Bet, you would see a lot of balanced budgets if that was law. Gee whiz, living within your budget, now there is a novel idea.
How disingenuous. The Republican's, with McConell their leader for much of the time, governed like Hitler. They screwed this country big time and now the party of "it's our way or the highway" has turned into the party of "NO", whining and crying. Grow up and shut up Republicans. Get out of the way and give Obama a chance. Freaking babies.
Spare me. McConnell is one of the biggest reasons why the GOP won't work with Democrats. Fortunately, no one listens to him. He's done.
It takes two to tango Sen. McConnell. I am disappointed, but not shocked, by the lack of bipartisanship demonstrated by the Republicans. Their actions say obstructionism is more important than substantive arguments. Take their "budget plan" that has neither a budget nor a plan! The thing is a rehash of failed ideology. Please Mitch, step up to the plate and actually put some new ideas on the table. Americans are sick of gamesmanship, we want solutions.
Between this clown, the clowns in the GOP House and that new clown heading up the RNC, the GOP is headed in the right direction.....off a cliff.
Are these republican leaders stupid? Or do they think the american people are?
Everyone is well aware of the efforts of the president to work with their stubborn narrow minded groupies.
I CAN WAIT TO VOTE AGAINSTS CANTOR!!
iDIOTS!!!
It's kind of hard to deliver on bipartisanism when the opposing side "hopes you fail" and do everything possible to ensure it.
funny....republicans accusing a democrat of not being bipartisan. pot, meet kettle.
AND please shut up about the surge and move on!!
Do you really think this bit of information is newsworthy?
SHOCKING a Repub is "disappointed" in President Obama. This is news!!! WOW, unbelieveable!
I am neither a repub or a dem and I think it is disappointing the the Repubs don't find some common ground – time for them to step up to the plate, not the other way around!
Grow up people and take some criticism. The Golden child is not perfect.
hahahah cry cry cry cry cry GOP is done!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gosh. Mitch McConnell is disappointed. Go figure.
Now if that isn't calling the kettle black I don't know what is. The republicans are a disgrace and are in disarray. Nobody demonstrates that fact better than McConnell. He has not submitted one single idea towards overcoming our current economic crisis. Not one. Does the press report this? Not on your life!
I still want to know why GOP did'nt say squat about Dubya doubling the National Debt while they were in control???????????????????????
Republicans are disappointed? You know what I am wondering when I hear things like this? Is this person actually believes in what he is saying. If he is then how possibly can he ignore glaring lack of any desire on the republican side to compromise... It is very apparent that for republicans now bipartisanship means following republican program program to a single letter. Frankly, at this point whenever a republican politician talks I really don't know what to do either laugh or cry.
Sen. McConnell, Obama has made more of an effort for bipartisanship in 2 months than Bush and his goons made in 8 years. Come out with a budget with some numbers on it, and a real plan that doesn't include "free-market" or "de-regulation" ... and then you can talk.
I am so tired of Republicans who have spent the country into this hole with all the fancy bookkeeping such as keeping different books on the war and the regular. Come on the spending is the spending. Your god of Reagan cheated the economy into double the previous presidents combined. This last person did a great job in doubling that previous spending. As far as bipartisanship where was the Republican under Bush. Face the fact Republicans messed up and cannot even see that they lost. Worst yet they still do not have any plan other than there is terror out there and we need to be at war with someone or let us tell you howto live your life. Good riddiance to bad rubbish.
I wonder what McConnell thought of bipartisanship when Bush was president.
The GOP continues to make noise that no one is listening to.
They just don't seem to get that America wants to hear another tune,
and that's why they have voted the way they have the last two election
cycles.
If McConnell and the rest of the GOP persist in the same old message,
then 2010 and 2012 will be more of the same.
Takes two sides to be bipartisan. However, even with that goal the democrats have the majority in both branches set the agenda. While its their job to accommodate the republicans it would be wrong to just give in to their demands. The republicans job on their part is to negotiate to get as many of their goals as possible. Publicly blaming the democrats like this hurts that process. Then again... considering the comments by various prominent republicans lately maybe sabotage is their goal.
Great!!!! The GOP is disappointed with the President's lack of bipartisanship. This is great news for Americans! The GOP has run this country in the garbage for years. We didn't vote for your butts so sit back and enjoy the ride. I hope that your party never wins again. Why didn't you all have solutions when you were in power??? Idiots!
I think both sides are to blame and I would say Pelosi and Reid are more to blame than anyone else. But Democrats will always blame Bush and Republicans for anything bad that happens in their life and Republicans will always blame Democrats so what's new.
Take reality, spin it on it's head, and accuse the "other" of exactly what you are doing.
We have seen through this time worn republican ruse.
"Reality testing" among republicans is extremely poor. Have you forgotten how the country voted last November???
Boo Hoo. A dope is McConnell is dissapointed. Isn't that special. In the months, years to come, we will likely see the real reasons imbeciles like McConnell are dissapointed, or angry, or whatever as the prosecutions begin to worm their way through the Republican party. It's important to be dissapointed, or angry, or whatever when you are functioning in CYA mode all the time.
"Whether they intended to see America kind of turned into a Western European country as a result of an explosion of spending and debt and regulation"
You mean like the explosion of spending under Bush? Where was your fiscal conservancy then?
What about Dick 'Deficits don't matter' Cheney? I don't recall McConnell trying to reign him or Bush in.
The only thing McConnell and his cabal have consistently ignored and opposed are REGULATIONS, which the American people DID vote for when they elected a pro-regulations Government in the Democrats and President Obama.
Remember, these are the same revisionist idiots who take pride in being ignorant, insulting the intelligence of the American people, and claiming the New Deal didn't really work. These people are FINISHED and the fear is so thick within the GOP you couldn't cut it without a chainsaw.
Who cares......The party votes NO at the start. They have rejected every policy before it even hits the press. Talk to the hand!!!!!!!!!!!
I am a Republican and I believe the call for bipartisanship is bunk. I accept the fact that I am now the opposition party and my task is two-fold. To show to the electorate that the Democrats are all wrong, and convince them that I have a better plan, that's all!
Bipartisanship is an oxymoron! If we are all going to agree, why bother to have two parties? And remember GOP, we will be back in power soon and then the Dems will be asking for "bipartisanship" to re-inject their socialist agenda into what we will be trying to do.
Here we have a nice Republican calling Obama on bipartisanship when his party slammed the door on the Dems for 8 years! What a joke. Let's look foreward to 2010 when we get rid of this fellow and replace him with a Dem.
Obama's success means GOPs doom. Obama's success will prove GOP's wrong. For that reason, they want Obama to fail. GOP isn't bipartisan from the very start.
Goodbye Old Party!
McConnell is an idiot. He has been a part of the problem all along, but like any "good" Republican he's going to try and deflect the blame from himself and the GOP. Sorry, nobody's buying it Mitchie, . Your party's "spending spree" is what bankrupted us in the first place. It's about time we started funding healthcare and education, and not billionaire pensions and bank accounts.
Who cares what McConnell thinks? Did he complain about the last administration's policies which have taken us to the brink of disaster – both economically and on defense issues? NO – he was one of the leaders so why should anyone believe he knows what's best? He toes the party line, thinks the American public is foolish enough to just take him at his word (some are) and looks like a fool to anyone who can read and keeps up with current events.
Mitch McConnell and other republicans who insist that President Obama is turning our country into a Western European country would do well to study Ronald Reagan's actual implementation of economic policies.
Is he kidding?? He needs to help clean up his backyard (the Republican Party).
...OF COURSE they are...Well, gee–IMAGINE THAT! Does that surprise anyone?? The GOP BLAMED (and is STILL blaming) BILL CLINTON all the way through both of Bush's terms...!! It's always someone else's problem or fault. The only disapointment to me is they STILL don't get it; and they already have the AUDICITY to say, 2 months in, that Obama will be a one-term President...PUHLEEEEZE!
KATE
Democrats: Bipartisanship doesn't mean that every body votes for everything that Obama proposes. Bipartisanship means compromise. That means that you include Democrats and Republicans in the drafting of legislation (from the beginning). You also can't just say, "I'm going to listen to your ideas, but I'm not going to use any of them." Of course, Bush was not bipartisan. However, Obama campaigned heavily on being that way. Yet, so far, he has not included Republicans in any of his policies. It is not sufficient to try to talk them into voting with him. He needs to actually include them from the beginning of the process. Everyone who is calling the GOP the party of "NO" needs to wake up. In our two party system, the two sides generally have very different ideas. Obama cannot simply push through an extemely liberal agenda and expect the Republicans to fall in line behind him. He needs to actually include some of their ideas. This all just goes to show that Obama campaigned on bipartisanship, but never really meant it. He expected to get 60 votes in the Senate and the increased majority in the House. That way, he wouldn't have to even admit that another party exists. Since he failed to get the 60 votes in the Senate, he now likes to remind the Republicans that he won the election, and then smear them for not being "bipartisan." Bipartisanship goes both ways, not just having the opposite party vote for everything you say.
Bicycles require two wheels working together.
Bipartisanship requires two parties to want to work together. If Obama is failing at bipartisanship so are the Republicans!
and i am disapointed in mitch mcconnell.
Obama has attempted to be bipartisan, but since Sen. McConnell's definition of bipartisanship is to vote the straight Republican platform. there is no bipartisan consensus on what bipartisanship is. Sen McConnell needs to re-read the election returns. He lost. He cannot expect to get his way, just to nudge the legislation a bit. Too bad he was one of the few Republican Senators to retain his seat.