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and welcome back to the Thom Hartmann program obviously
I am NOT Thom Hartmann tom is an interview is too short for his book is
led lots and lots of interviews Danielle and Shino
times associate producers are here filling in for the next our in time
we'll be back said yes
if you're waiting please hang on either will get your calls or Tom will
in just a few minutes but in the meantime we wanted to talk
about the so-called do nothing Congress and
back in 1947 the
the eightieth congress
under President Harry Truman past 388
laws about 400 pieces of legislation which was not there much in their called
the do-nothing Congress as a result
exactly and how many we passed in this congress under the
113 congress up today under President Obama
there have been a total 4949
29 pieces the Bloodsail back to last congress
even once I'm not quite sure love what we can call them
but we are going to speak with somebody who is and expert
at all of this stuff David bender the political director of progressive voices
you could check it out a progressive voices dot com is here too
help us figure out David what would you call
this congress if do nothing is already taken no nothing
no nothing no nothing I
any and it's already taken by it has menu since 1856 elwood
it seems like the the copyright is probably
past I don't think north from or anyone is gonna
really object if we call a congress that is
dominated why people who actually
little we know nothing they do not know
what is causing are climate change they don't wanna know
actively dole wanna know the truth
about by issue after issue after issue that don't wanna know
that people needed health care in this country
they have no solutions they know nothing
and eat it is easy and
and factual and accurate to call them the party of no
by it should be can go w it is the party if they don't know anything
and to worship they distrust science
they distrust fact 18 the stress abt that's what's driving this car
well and they distrust government i mean they're constantly railing about the
evils of government while trying to run it
on that note you know you have republicans blaming Harry Reid
4 inaction saying it's because Harry Reid blocks republican amendments and
you
of course at the democrats saying that be republicans abuse
up the filibuster is responsible but what do you think is behind this
political gridlock I mean can it really all be about hating President Obama
yes I was just look at the numbers
again in history both public half
all the filibusters on and let's be clear that
they are real soul busters because as we know the ideas that
it was intended for people to take to Florida hope that that doesn't happen a
destructive to do it but
powerful all the film us risk in the history of the republic
guys have happened in five years under President Obama
that that is beyond comprehension
physicist at it's not a statistical anomaly
I anymore than glaciers melting is a statistical anomaly
these things all we all this is all directed
at keeping respect for example the federal bench
from containing are President Obama's appointees white now the entire federal
bench
has 390 republican appointees
than 300 my D Democratic appointees I think that number just went up with
with from these conformations post I
the undertow buster but that's a dead sports
across the country now there are 93
you all were part for ninety much say vacancies to
you you do the math that is a significant percentage
all the court by little better than 10 percent %uh police
that this president can feel implore you to slow start his term
three years that they would slow walk if Mitch McConnell and
and john bainer had their way Mitch McConnell to quit the senate
there was more to the point where people withdraw the nomination
can't and these are people who help with wide bipartisan
support yeah I mean we've seen several people several
you know very good strong nominations that should have bipartisan support
withdrawal their own names because I love this gridlock
well they put your life on hold to go through this process can you know and
what what we need to understand is that your
question is this paste on keating President Obama yes
it would it be true love any democratic president
yes but they're somewhat this all here and
the level of intensity answered with a fractured out the numbers
billowed out this is just never happened before we've never had
your truck a goal was which threatened
Republican former senator are was held up
ocean appointee to as defense secretary this is
its order parts it or all about being sad
I the filibuster is dead and
buried for now and I think we're going to see and in a lot of people have been
critical curry then I'm not saying that he has an acceptable pop
party for this whole dayum that's going on is because the republicans are black
churches up to
desk on 12 but well but you know you say that the filibusters dead the nuclear
option really only help so with presidential appointments and still
you know not even all them nothing to help with Supreme Court nominees
how is that going to affect this hold on legislation
on you know bill after Bill immigration the Enda
but you know one after another is it going to have any effect
there just because Harry Reid went nuclear what we got
I and and and we will you know probably have listed helps
are a is job it'll bring up before he won't bring immigration reform
to the for your were after place right now
where r I you actually rights legislation is not affected
by for bus will form 1040 for the uninitiated for the people who are smart
enough
to have their heads explode when they hear the word for Buster
this really is about lighting the majority
who happen to be democrats elected past
are or confirm appointees and that's really what it wanted to
limited to right now it's up to the Supreme Court so I believe
don't actually do believe that they will see that once government starts working
missus this is the best this is Harry Reid's calculation
and Barack Obama's is it is allowed to do is drop
and the government starts to work because people
are selling these vacancies actually
doing with the job the executive branch
people will respond and they will see government working
for three years for that bet to pay off
its it's a gamble to be sure and yes
chris Christie is president and the republicans should manage to take the
senate
in the in 2014 or probably was I think why sixty
points between I then you know
we'll see if it was about with taking I believe it it's
I i certainly do I I almost wonder and
David you have such eighty vast knowledge
love you know the inner machina politics
would've been better for Harry Reid instead of just going nuclear
on nominations but to say that if you want to stand up in filibuster and block
legislation and
keep america's business from getting done you actually have to stand up there
and talk
well our chef Marco EN and Tom Udall proposal
bring back to talking for bus which I i think is absolutely
a great idea and frankly when
when it moves to the next plays when it's about legislation
and not about a nominee because there really are differences on legislation
the nominees they all agree
this affects there will be no one to two hundred you know I in opposition to
I the just the judge was just confirmed has been appointed
usually George W Bush administration for the republicans up there
that maybe two groups yeah I was just waitin
the talking filibuster maybe Harry Reid's next card to play
because I think we're going to see an effort sometime
used sure love them later who I and the four bus from looks like well
I certainly hope that goes from your lips to God's ears were speaking with
David bender
political director progressive voices you to check it out a progressive voices
dot com he's gonna be joining us for one more segment
so don't go anywhere this is the Thom Hartmann program and Tom will
be right back