Riddle me this: Why would Republicans fall for the Democrats’ age-old ploy of pressuring them into working on “bipartisan” legislation that will only advance the Democratic agenda and damage the nation?
Indeed, what’s the point in the GOP puffing up its chest about ousting Liz Cheney from her House leadership position if they’re just going to turn around and behave like never-Trumpers by caving on President Biden’s agenda? Why would they play footsy with the most militantly leftist party in American history? That can’t possibly be good for America, nor can it be good for their political fortunes, as voters don’t want them to be spineless wimps.
Republicans need to do more than just talk. They must summon all of their power to block Biden’s disastrous agenda — not for the sake of partisan obstructionism but for the sake of the nation.
People likely to vote for Republicans don’t elect their representatives to engage in self-congratulatory bipartisan soirees; they elect them to advance beneficial policies and thwart destructive ones. They mustn’t appease the cancel culture mobs. The left will demonize Republicans no matter what they do and no matter whether they rally around former President Donald Trump, so how about they just do what is right and aggressively pursue their supporters’ policy preferences?
Why am I bringing all this up? Well, because several recent news stories describe Biden’s meeting with congressional leaders over the so-called “infrastructure” bill. My alarms went off when I read that Biden was “encouraged” about the deal after meeting with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Given Biden’s radical agenda, his encouragement means my discouragement — unless he is misreading or being deceptive about McConnell and McCarthy’s position.
Biden said: “But I want to make it clear to you: I’m encouraged not just because of one solid meeting with the Republican leader in the House and with Sen. McConnell. … I’ve been meeting with bipartisan leaders for a long time now. So, generically, I’m encouraged that there’s room to have a compromise on a bipartisan bill that’s solid and significant and a means by which to pay for it without dropping all of the burden on middle class and working-class people.” By that, Biden surely means he senses Republicans might be open to his intention to pay for the bill through a hike in the corporate tax rate.
Biden wants to repeal Trump’s corporate tax rate cut, which put America more in line with the rest of the advanced world and helped spur economic growth. But corporate tax increases pass through to individual taxpayers. It’s false that the wealthy pay less than the middle class. Biden’s schemes will further retard economic growth, which will disproportionately harm the middle class and the poor. So I’m not particularly thrilled with Republicans kowtowing to this demagoguery just to appear bipartisan.
Let’s review some other Biden statements that illustrate his professed commitment to bipartisanship is disingenuous. In an MSNBC interview, he said: “I want to get a bipartisan deal on as much as we can get a bipartisan deal on. … I’m not going to give up on a whole range of things that go to the question of productivity, of increasing jobs, increasing employment, increasing revenues. I’m not willing to give up on that. So we’re going to fight those out. … Let’s see if we can get an agreement to kick-start this and then fight over what’s left and see if I can get it done without Republicans if need be.”
Do you hear him? Don’t start demanding bipartisanship from Republicans when the Democratic president is openly admitting he only intends to be bipartisan on those matters on which Republicans will agree. He expects Republicans to cave on many items, and on all others, he’ll railroad them right through via the reconciliation process. He has shown no willingness to compromise his positions. What a great deal for Biden — “Heads I win. Tails you lose.”
Making matters worse, all of Biden’s proposed solutions are backasswards. You don’t increase productivity and jobs by injecting play money into the economy and continuing to pay unemployment benefits that disincentivize people from returning to work, a reality he cynically denies.
A watchdog press would be lambasting Biden for his partisanship, not cajoling Republicans to be bipartisan in the face of such an uncompromising president. But that’s a fantasy.
We are already witnessing the poisonous fruits of Biden’s programs: inflation; an overrun border that threatens America’s sovereignty and security; a constant stirring of racial resentment; foreign policy weakness and a betrayal of our ally Israel; gas hikes partially caused by a war on domestic energy; a war on cops; a war on free, fair and honest elections; a perversion of our national security by preposterously identifying white supremacy as the greatest security threat; a weakened military obsessed with identity politics; a never-ending climate of fear over the pandemic that keeps schools and businesses shut down; rampant cancel culture; and our academic, cultural and digital institutions suppressing speech, demanding conformity and smothering academic inquiry.
Note to Republicans: Don’t fall for this sham for the thousandth time. Democrats will promote their agenda zealously, without compromise, and with or without your support. Please surprise us and block them at every turn. You should not set your sights on crossing the aisle for a phony photo-op but on saving the country.
David Limbaugh is a writer, author and attorney. His latest book is “Guilty by Reason of Insanity: Why the Democrats Must Not Win.” Follow him on Twitter @davidlimbaugh and his website at www.davidlimbaugh.com. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
Why would Republicans fall for the Democrats’ age-old ploy of pressuring them into working on “bipartisan” legislation
that will only advance the Democratic agenda and damage the nation?
Republicans need to do more than just talk. They must summon all of their power to block Biden’s disastrous agenda
— not for the sake of partisan obstructionism but for the sake of the nation.
Puppet Betrayal Bidens or his puppeteers intention to pay for the bill through a hike in the corporate tax rate Con.
** Corporates and businesses DO NOT pay their own taxes, they pass them along to the consumer and cause higher prices for EVERYTHING.
The Dishonorable, U.S. Socialist Democrat Party game plan is to lie, cheat and steal elections in order to take total control of the American people, increase Taxes on everything and bring American commerce and economy to its knees.
Then access power and retain it by any means available –
no matter the costs to the people, the government or the nation. 🙁 🙁 🙁
AND IF THEY have no backbone, to summon up to STOP the dems agenda.. THEN QUIT being republicans, and go join the TRUE PARTY they belong to.. THE COMMUCRATS!
It doesn’t hurt to meet with the president, but if a bipartisan bill is going to happen it must truly be bipartisan. That means more than getting agreement where that is possible and ramming the rest through on a party line vote.
The Democrats had an all or nothing stand when dealing with President Trump–they got all they wanted or Trump got nothing. The same should be true this time. The Republicans should stand firm. Either President Biden comes up with a bill they can support or he gets nothing.
There are a number of issues where Democrats and Republicans can reach a consensus. Those items become the bill which everyone votes on. On the disputed items they can try to reach a compromise. If compromise isn’t possible, the Democrats should set those particular items aside and move on to the next item on the agenda.
THE DEMS idea of concensus/compromise, is WE GIVE, they take.. ALWAYS has been… That is why i say “STOP COMPROMISING with them”….
“We are already witnessing the poisonous fruits of Biden’s programs: inflation; an overrun border that threatens America’s sovereignty and security; a constant stirring of racial resentment; foreign policy weakness and a betrayal of our ally Israel; gas hikes partially caused by a war on domestic energy; a war on cops; a war on free, fair and honest elections; a perversion of our national security by preposterously identifying white supremacy as the greatest security threat; a weakened military obsessed with identity politics; a never-ending climate of fear over the pandemic that keeps schools and businesses shut down; rampant cancel culture; and our academic, cultural and digital institutions suppressing speech, demanding conformity and smothering academic inquiry.”
There’s the Biden agenda all summed up. Damn any Republican who even hints at bipartisanship on a single shred of it. If you do so, you are dancing with the Devil and selling us out.
I fear they are SO USED to giving in to the devil, they can’t EVER see how they can finally STOP GIVING THE devil what it wants…
Indeed, what’s the point in the GOP puffing up its chest about ousting Liz Cheney from her House leadership position if they’re just going to turn around and behave like never-Trumpers by caving on President Biden’s agenda?
Diversion. The art of patter.
Nothing up my sleeve.
Wah lah
a new bipartisan bill.
“Why would they play footsy with the most militantly leftist party in American history”? Answer: These Republicans play footsy with the communist Democrats, because these so called “Republicans” are New World Order Open Borders communists, just like the Democrat communists. The “Establishment” Republicans are a disgrace / they are Republicans In Name Only.
According to dummycrats, bipartisan means Lizzy Cheney from the house and Lost My Mittens Romney from the senate voted for the screw ball bill being sent to the stupid senile escapee from a Delaware nursing home to sign.
that looks like nursing home photo.
I’ve often wondered. AS A cop you have a max age you can work to.
Same for the military. Same for teachers. Same for fire fighters, doctors etc.
SO WHY the hell, can one work till they are in the grave, as a politician!
“Bipartisanship” defined:
Year one of a Democrat / Communist administration, negotiate away “only” 25% of our constitutional rights and increase federal spending 50% higher than ever done.
Year two, negotiate away another 50% of our rights and double previous year’s federal budget and help create yet another major cabinet-level department to write more (unconstitutional) “rules and regulations.”
Year three, grant unlimited authority to the president (czar/emperor) because of some (real or imagined) “crisis” in the world.
Year four, cheerfully “live in peace and harmony” under the brutal totalitarian regime (which is fully obeying the leading of Satan himself) and be grateful that you will never have to be bothered with the chore of voting ever again.
Nicely put.
You will never placate or satisfy the radical Democrat hate monger race monster. No matter how much they get and how much they spend they always want more. Any Republican who doesn’t understand this is too stupid to hold public office or a closet Democrat traitor at heart.
Exactly.. THERE IS no placating them, as they will NEVER ever be satisfied..
SO STOP TRYING!
What the majority of “legitimate” US voters want & demand is for every Repub elected to local, state & federal office to unite & publicly declare that Trump policies should be referred to as the Republican Party policies.
All Repub politicians need to stop humiliating & degrading America & it’s citizens.
Any surrender, leeway or cooperation they give to the horrific destructive policies of the current Marxist Dem Party, which is without a doubt the most self admitted, fact proven criminal, corrupt, oppressive, terroristic, tyrannical govt in US history, is nothing short of high treason.
Trump wasn’t afraid to take on the anti America scumbags & he is an American hero for putting his life & livelihood on the line to do so.
Repub politicians need to start publicly correcting Dems & the media every time they refer to Trump &/or his policies & insist that they now be referred to as being the policies of the United Repub Party & the majority of US citizens who will stand without fear or favor to support & defend Trump policies, with or without Trump. Amen.
It’s really quite simple, they’re not known as the “Stupid Party” for nothin’, y’know. “Riddle” solved.
[Addendum: My deepest sympathies and condolences to you and the entire Limbaugh family on the loss of your brother, Rush.]