Mitch Daniels, Republican Indiana governor, got rather testy today in response to a Democrat walk-out, effectively killing 80+ bills. Some of these bills were completely bogus, but alas, others were legit.
Chuck sez:
[Daniels and state Republicans are] especially pissed because the walk-out-so-the-chamber-doesn’t-have-quorum maneuver has been employed by their own party as recently as, well, last session, when they were in the minority.
There’s nothing that gets the Republicans going more red-hot than when the system works for someone other than them. You know, like the poor, the educated, the homeless, the single mothers, the raped, the atheist, the agnostic, the thinking, and the working class. And certainly, there’s nothing they hate more than the minority having a voice or an impact. The shock and indignation rising up out of the governor’s office that the Democrats dare use what power they have to represent the people that elected them was positively appalling, leading to yet another wonderful “liberals are terrorists” metaphor:
“Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels lashed out at House Democrats on Wednesday for a boycott of business that derailed about 130 bills, saying they “car bombed” Indiana’s drive for growth and reform for purely political reasons.” (emphasis mine)
The reason rules like quorum and filibuster are available, you idiots, is precisely so, despite what anyone with a majority wants to think, majority does not rule. Majority only rules when it is A) overwhelming, typically consisting of at least a 60% majority if not more, and / or B) takes the time to work with the minority.
How quicly the time passes. Just last session, state rethugs did just the same thing. Tit for tat, a spoonful of sugar.
Scott is keeping a running tally:
Good moves:
+1 (for taxing the wealthy)
+1 (for writing his own speeches)
2 total
Bad moves:
-1 (for having only Sandy Patty and other uber-fundamentalist Christian entertainment at his inauguration party)
-1 (for refusing to address the constitutional ban on gay marriage)
-1 (for comparing Democrats to terrorists)
3 total
Score to date: -1
I add another negative for halting construction on all state schools, effectively costing the school systems and taxpayers additional funds to put all construction efforts on hold. And lest we forget, the children enrolled in said schools.
Nonetheless, this kind of language is ridiculous. Comparing one’s peers to terrorists or insurgents is unnecessary and petulant behavior from someone of his political stature. Perhaps this is the kind of language one learns when perched to the right of Dubya’s knee.