Bless the Current Republicans (kind of kidding)

The Obama stimulus package passed in the House of Representatives without a single Republican vote and that's great. I hope it passes the Senate in the same way.

I'm a Democrat.

But I'm a Democrat with a little knowledge of U.S. political history, and after this, you'll have some information you might not have already.

In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated Herbert Hoover in the latter man's misguided attempt to be re-elected. The Depression was in full swing and FDR won decisively and carried with him a majority in both houses of Congress.

The Republicans who were left voted against every New Deal program offered by the new administration, but virtually all of them passed (the rules on senatorial filibusters were different then).

The result of the Republican efforts were clearly seen at the next election. Normally, two years after a president wins the White House, his party loses some seats in Congress. Not in 1934. The Democrats increased their majorities in both houses.

The Republicans continued their negative ways and in 1936, FDR won in an election that was at that time, the biggest landslide in U.S. history, beating the governor of Kansas, Alf Landon. The GOP also lost more seats in both houses of Congress. After that election there were only 17 Republican senators.

They were about as well-represented as intellectuals in Salt Lake City.

So, although at this writing it looks like the package might get some Republican votes I'd like it to pass without them.

And I hope the Republicans continue to be obstructionist.


If you're masochistic and would like to read my writing on other subjects, try: http://JeffOnRadio.blogspot.com and/or http://JeffOnHealth.blogspot.com.