According to FindLaw.com, first degree murder is (in most states) defined as an "unlawful killing that is both willful and premeditated, meaning that it was committed after planning or 'lying in wait' for the victim." Of course, first degree murder is among the worst crimes that one human can commit. The prosecutor describes to the jurors how the accused not only intended to kill the victim, but also planned the attack – all while the victim's survivors listen in horror.
On January 16 2009, Rush Limbaugh made his famous "I hope Obama fails" proclamation. There was a small media firestorm over the comment because most Americans knew that Obama's goal was to help America dig itself out of the Great Recession where we'd been left by the Bush administration but, as happens all too often, the moment is soon forgotten as the media turns the page for us. Besides, President Obama was about to be sworn into office with a majority in both houses, right? Right.
What we didn't know at the time was the plan being put together by the Republican Party to make a political comeback. Some light on their internal decisions is now being shed by Michael Grunwald in his excellent article in Time, and reading his article made me feel like a juror in a first degree murder trial. Why? Because I knew that the circumstantial evidence and particularly their unprecedented use of the filibuster, far more than at any point in the history of the filibuster, pointed to the Republicans' intentions to stop Obama from accomplishing anything at all, good or bad.
It wasn't that they were just stopping Democratic efforts that they didn't like; they tried to stop almost everything! Here's a short list of legislation that the Republicans filibustered, and many of them make no sense since the legislation that was filibustered was very often on issues that should have had front-and-center support by every Republican in the country! So why? Why would the Republicans filibuster or otherwise obstruct almost all legislation in the Senate (as this article from The Atlantic shows so well)?
Many Dems and liberals who were paying attention could see what was going on: the Republicans were saying that Obama's presidency was going to be a failure, and they were doing their damnedest to make sure of it. There was nothing, absolutely nothing, that Obama could do that was seen as good or right in the eyes of the Republican Party, and they fostered this perception to their rank-and-file. Even the congratulations that some Republicans gave Obama for the killing of Osama bin Laden were muted at best, and many gave him no credit at all for it, even when he was was given truly high praise by the admiral in charge of our SpecOps forces. What brought on this intolerance, this hatred of everything Obama says or does?
Article comments
1 - John Lake
The Republican hypocrisy is becoming more apparent daily. How can intelligent men let themselves be led in such mindless fashion? And the obstruction, which they seem to feel is invisible to the average voter, rose from of an election that was founded on bilateral promises to “reach across the aisle.”
2 - Igor
IMO, John, the republicans have become shameless in their pursuit of a "Rule or Ruin" policy. They are willing to risk the ruin of the USA to gain rule.
3 - John Lake
Shameless. Exactly.
4 - Big T.
The House has passed many bills, but the Senat (Run by Democrat Harry Reid) won't even bring it up for a vote or even discuss the issues.So it's both sides not cooperating, not just the Republicans.
5 - Igor
T: the only bills passed in the Republican house are totally partisan. There's no hope of them passing, they're just fakes to fool the easily deceived, as you appear to be.
6 - Glenn Contrarian
There was a bill recently stopped in the Senate - IIRC, it was for hiring more teachers and emergency responders nationwide, but the Republicans filibustered it because Harry Reid wouldn't let them put in a rider on the bill that would completely defund Obamacare.
Looks like "Big T" has no clue as to what the Republicans in Congress are doing.
7 - Peggy
I hope he win with much joy especially dealing racist people in this country .,
8 - Not the liberal actor
Glenn, I must again ask if you are "for real?"
First, you refer to Rush Limbaugh's "I hope he fails" statement, and the media firestrorm that remark created. Have you EVER listened to Rusah Limbaugh? If so, you would know that Limbaugh was referring to his POLICIES rather than (as the MSM portrayed it) a personal reference. Unfortunately, Obama did not fail, as the deficit increase, green energy cronism, Obamacare, unemployment, foodstamps, ...., attest.
Second, may I remind you that from January 2009, until November 2010, Democrats controlled both houses of Congress, and Obama had a filibuster-proof Congress. Perhaps those "wasklly Wepublicans" are trying to stop Obama's policies.
9 - Glenn Contrarian
Warren -
Have you EVER listened to Rusah Limbaugh?
Yes I did, back in the day when I was a conservative very much like you. And if you'll read the rest of the article, you'll see how the GOP put party above country. But that's all just fact and history, and as such has no bearing on your opinion.
10 - Not the liberal actor
Re: comment # 9, Glenn, you say, "... the GOP put party above country." I disagree with that statement. The GOP is trying to stop Obama's POLICIES, thus putting country first. If, as you suggest, the GOP put party first, how did they do so well in November 10?
And I can't help but notice that you pick and choose what history to observe, while ignoring other history, such as the period from January 09 through November 10.
11 - Glenn Contrarian
Warren -
You still haven't read the article, much less checked the links therein where you will find that the Republicans filibustered bills that they themselves co-sponsored, just to keep Obama from accomplishing anything. Now are you going to tell me that the bills they co-sponsored were actually Obama's policies, that they weren't (in Republican eyes) good for America? No? Then WHY did they filibuster them?
Hm?
The answer lay in the quotes contained in the article, in the links where you can find where the Republicans themselves stated that they were not going to be bipartisan AT ALL. NOT AT ALL.
Reagan would be ashamed of today's GOP. He used to claim that he didn't leave the Democratic Party, but the Democratic Party left him. Now, so has the GOP.
12 - tdawg
the only thing I noticed that past legistlature w/ lightning speed was there pay raise
13 - Igor
That was sudden, wasn't it? Congresscritters are not happy to receive the no-payraise bite that they think their constituents should put up with.