How Many Republicans Will Vote Against Sebelius?
A good question from Chuck Todd and the gang at MSNBC:
At a time when the swine flu is dominating headlines and TV news, how many Republicans today will vote against Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ nomination to be President Obama’s Health and Human Services secretary?
With the Senate set today to vote on Sebelius’ confirmation, and with Republicans continuing to filibuster her, that is certainly one of the questions of the day.
It’s worth noting here that the Democrats have done a very good job at navigating what might be called the politics of crisis. They’ve used the economic meltdown to construct a frame that, if polls are to be believed, is working: Republicans have two choices — either they want to help Obama succeed in helping America, or they want America to fail for partisan gain.
One thing that makes this frame so effective politically is that it doesn’t allow room for actual policy disagreement, and makes everything all about the GOP’s motives — either Republicans want America to succeed, or they want it to fail. Dems, naturally, will use the swine flu crisis and the Sebelius vote to tighten the nuts and bolts on that frame if and when many GOPers oppose her nomination. So that vote is something to watch today.
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Holy ****, Chuck Todd had a good question today? I never thought that would happen… maybe MSNBC can put a gold star in his lunch!
It bugs me to no end that the two dominant political parties in this country both use national crisis’ for political gain.
Epic Failures .. the lot of them.
How about the same number that has voted for everything so far – zero.
They were filibustering her, weren’t they?
@Bob: True. It’s disgusting, but predictable.
Bob sez: “It bugs me to no end that the two dominant political parties in this country both use national crisis’ for political gain. ”
I couldn’t agree more. There is such a vacuum of leadership in both parties. Harry Reid, PElosi, Cantor, McConnell et al do NOT give me much confidence but it’s who were’ stuck with so hopefully they won’t eff it up…..too much.
I’ve gotta gp with Bob. Epic failures, the lot. I love that Obama got elected, I love that the GOP is on the ropes (where they deserve to be after nearly a decade of lies, rape, murder and child abuse for profit). But to cheer Dems reaching a hand out for the same piece of pain-bourne cake is sickening. These things aren’t easy questions to resolve, but a large part of the promise of Obama was an end to this ****.
I think you are framing this framing perfectly, greg. And you’ve set me to considering the differences in how a threat such as this one (or Katrina) will move the political universe in the US quite differently than an event like 9/11.
Three cheers for Bob!
Perfectly naive to think that somehow our response to a swine flu outbreak is inhibited by the failure to vote for cloture. Also disingenuous to claim that Obama’s failure to fully staff other important positions has somehow made our response weaker. The appropriate agencies are staffed and funded and the lack of a few purely political appointees is not going to mess anything up. Both parties need to resist the urge to immediately try to gain political advantage from a media-contrived pseudo-emergency. Greg is not helping by musing about how the Dems can gain political advantage right now.
To all above: all one needs to do is look at the picture and listen to the words. On the one side: Pres Obama. On the other: Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi; John Boehner and Mitch McConnell. When the four stooges talk their have great difficulty being clear and concise. They shuffle, bob and weave. Our Congressional leadership is more concerned with covering its political backside than with engaging in some straight talk. They give dancing a new meaning.
Simon: sark and snark???
“a media-contrived pseudo-emergency”
Yes. Precisely. The WHO and the Center For Disease Control and national governments around the world really ought to stop watching television. It clearly warps their perceptions of what the words “emergency” and “threat” actually mean.
Great post on swine flu!