The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
On last week's Ricochet Podcast, our own Peter Robinson shared his fear that one possible path to victory for Barack Obama in 2012 is to ape the Harry Truman campaign of 1948 and run against a do-nothing Congress. If that's the tact that the president is going to take, he's got plenty of talking points from a piece in today's Washington Times:
It’s official: Congress ended its least-productive year in modern history after passing 80 bills — fewer than during any other session since year-end records began being kept in 1947.
Furthermore, an analysis by The Washington Times of the scope of such activities as time spent in debate, number of conference reports produced and votes taken on the House and Senate floors found that Congress set a record for legislative futility by accomplishing less in 2011 than any other year in history.
The Senate's record was weakest by a huge margin, according to the futility index, and the House had its 10th-worst session on record.
Of the bills the 112th Congress did pass, the majority were housekeeping measures, such as naming post office buildings or extending existing laws. Sometimes, it was too difficult for the two chambers to hammer out agreements. More often, the Senate failed to reach agreement within the chamber.
A thought in passing: true enough, the Congress helps the president by giving him an electoral foil -- but it may provide him with a greater assist by creating so much political gridlock that the economy actually has a chance to breathe in the run-up to the election.
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Nov '10
Re: The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
I didn't read the linked article, but the pasted excerpt is the best news I've read in weeks.
Jun '10
Re: The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
I love do-nothing Congresses. However, the next one needs to be more active, but active in repealing things (Obamacare, Dodd-Frank, and reining in the EPA as starters).
Jan '11
Re: The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
Well, if passing legislation (no matter how bad) is the only criterion for "effectiveness," then apparently any member of the House or Senate who ever votes No on any bill is being "ineffective."
That's the Democrat headline this year: Voting No is Wrong! You Must Agree With Us!
You know, when someone is forced to have sex without their consent, they call it rape. When someone is forced to stay somewhere without their consent, they call it kidnapping. What do you call it when you're expected to vote Aye, even if you don't consent? The Democrats call it "effectiveness."
May '10
Re: The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
I would love to see Paul Ryan announce "I saw your headline. I'll take that as a compliment."
Oct '10
Re: The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
Just ask the electorate, "Would you rather have a 'Do Nothing Congress' or a 'Do Anything, Even Without Reading It Or Understanding It And Even Though A Majority Of Americans Are Against It Congress'?"
Admittedly, it's a bit wordy.
Aug '10
Re: The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
dittoheadadt: Just ask the electorate, "Would you rather have a 'Do Nothing Congress' or a 'Do Anything, Even Without Reading It Or Understanding It And Even Though A Majority Of Americans Are Against It Congress'?"
Admittedly, it's a bit wordy.
We could call it a "Do Everything Badly" Congress.
Dec '10
Re: The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
BlueAnt
dittoheadadt: Just ask the electorate, "Would you rather have a 'Do Nothing Congress' or a 'Do Anything, Even Without Reading It Or Understanding It And Even Though A Majority Of Americans Are Against It Congress'?"
Admittedly, it's a bit wordy.
We could call it a "Do Everything Badly" Congress. · Jan 16 at 11:03am
You left out "often" and "repeatedly."
Aug '10
Re: The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
A relevant quote:
"In a perfect world, virtually every day's coverage of the state legislature -- or Congress, for that matter -- would begin with the words 'As expected, lawmakers took no action.' ... Both parts of the sentence herald good news. In most cases, the republic is better off and its citizens sleep better when politicans take no action. ... Plus, wouldn't it be great if legislatures were 'expected' not to monkey around with our laws, our liberties, and our livelihoods most of the time?"- John Hood
Mar '11
Re: The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
Troy Senik, Ed.:
A thought in passing: true enough, the Congress helps the president by giving him an electoral foil -- but it may provide him with a greater assist by creating so much political gridlock that the economy actually has a chance to breathe in the run-up to the election. ·
While a do-nothing Congress (or, more specifically, Senate) is better than one passing all of Mr Obama's desires, the wonders of baseline budgeting will ensure that we go bankrupt, anyway - the debt increase was cunningly pre-programmed in the first two years of the Obama first term (including, of course, Obamacare).
I'd like to have more confidence that the American electorate is smart enough to see through Mr Obama's obvious demagoguery. I'd like to.
Edited on Jan 16 at 11:27amDec '10
Re: The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
BlueAnt: A relevant quote:
"In a perfect world, virtually every day's coverage of the state legislature -- or Congress, for that matter -- would begin with the words 'As expected, lawmakers took no action.' ... Both parts of the sentence herald good news. In most cases, the republic is better off and its citizens sleep better when politicans take no action. ... Plus, wouldn't it be great if legislatures were 'expected' not to monkey around with our laws, our liberties, and our livelihoods most of the time?"- John Hood · Jan 16 at 11:19am
Indeed. When we need you, we'll let you know. Don't call us; we'll call you.
Dec '10
Re: The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
David Williamson
Troy Senik, Ed.:
A thought in passing: true enough, the Congress helps the president by giving him an electoral foil -- but it may provide him with a greater assist by creating so much political gridlock that the economy actually has a chance to breathe in the run-up to the election. ·
While a do-nothing Congress (or, more specifically, Senate) is better than one passing all of Mr Obama's desires, the wonders of baseline budgeting will ensure that we go bankrupt, anyway - the debt increase was cunningly pre-programmed in the first two years of the Obama first term.
I'd like to have more confidence that the American electorate is smart enough to see through Mr Obama's obvious demagoguery. I'd like to. · Jan 16 at 11:24am
Deroy Murdock had an article about New Hampshire's new novel approach to budgeting: they get Ways and Means report first then budget off that. Brilliant!
Aug '10
Re: The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
What the heck, let's make it Congress-bashing day!
"This country has come to feel the same when congress is in session as when a baby gets hold of a hammer." - Will Rogers
"One useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three is a Congress." - John Adams
"A one-hour work-week...would minimize the damage that Congress can do." - Charles Krauthammer,
"Congress does two things well: nothing and overreacting." - Rep. Mike Oxley
"The debates of [Congress] are frequently vague and perplexed, seeming to be dragged rather than to march, to the intended goal. Something of this sort must, I think, always happen in public democratic assemblies." - Alexis De Tocqueville
"If Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which the people send one hundred and fifty lawyers, whose trade it is to question everything, produce nothing, and talk by the hour?" - Thomas Jefferson
"Can any of you seriously say the Bill of Rights could get through Congress today? It wouldn't even get out of committee." - F. Lee Bailey
Jun '11
Re: The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
It should be any Republican Congress' first order of business. There are more than likely hundreds of Acts of Congress that should be included on the platform's to do list for repeal. There may not be the political will, however.
If Congress is unable to do the right thing, "do nothing" is about the best that one can hope for.
Re: The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
Completely agree, David. On a more short-term basis, the business community gets some of its much-coveted "stability", knowing that the legislative branch is inert for the time being. In the long-term, however (as your rightly point out), what's predictable is a tidal wave of debt.
David Williamson
While a do-nothing Congress (or, more specifically, Senate) is better than one passing all of Mr Obama's desires, the wonders of baseline budgeting will ensure that we go bankrupt, anyway - the debt increase was cunningly pre-programmed in the first two years of the Obama first term (including, of course, Obamacare).
Jan 16 at 11:24am
Edited on Jan 16 at 11:27 am
Dec '10
Re: The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
BlueAnt: What the heck, let's make it Congress-bashing day!
"This country has come to feel the same when congress is in session as when a baby gets hold of a hammer." - Will Rogers
"One useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three is a Congress." - John Adams
"A one-hour work-week...would minimize the damage that Congress can do." - Charles Krauthammer,
"Congress does two things well: nothing and overreacting." - Rep. Mike Oxley
"The debates of [Congress] are frequently vague and perplexed, seeming to be dragged rather than to march, to the intended goal. Something of this sort must, I think, always happen in public democratic assemblies." - Alexis De Tocqueville
"If Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which the people send one hundred and fifty lawyers, whose trade it is to question everything, produce nothing, and talk by the hour?" - Thomas Jefferson
"Can any of you seriously say the Bill of Rights could get through Congress today? It wouldn't even get out of committee." - F. Lee Bailey · Jan 16 at 11:30am
Straight to facebook. Thanks!
Oct '10
Re: The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
The good news: At last we have a do nothing congress.
Better news: We need an undo everything congress. A couple of cycles of undo everything and we might have a good starting point.
Dec '10
Re: The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
That word you were looking for was tack. As in the angle a sailing vessel takes, with reference to the wind. Of course, I am not displaying much tact by pointing this out.
;-]
Re: The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
The Republicans should start right now -- pitching their campaign against "the do-nothing Democratic Senate." If they do so -- in, say, cheap radio advertisements all over the country -- it will throw a very large monkey wrench into the Democratic plan, and it will lay the foundation for their taking a large number of seats in the Senate.
Dec '10
Re: The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
Will it be enough to overcome the bully pulpit of the presidency and the 50,000 Megawatt bullhorn that is the MSM? I fear the left will always be able to write the narrative, we'll remain on defense, and at some point nature will hit the little silver lever on the tank.
Apr '11
Re: The Virtues of a Do-Nothing Congress?
Futility
Least-productive
Accomplishing less
Poor performance
I don't think these words mean what the Washington Times (who should know better!) think they mean.