Letter: Bush - not Democrats - is blocking progress

Monday, Nov. 19, 2007 | 7:06 a.m.

This president has a very low standing in virtually all current polls. So does this Congress. But do the Democrats in Congress really deserve the criticism they receive? Don't people realize that the "rules" have changed since the Democrats were elected to a majority both in the House and Senate?

The old rule, touted highly by President Bush during his first six years in office, required a vote of the slightest bit over 50 percent to pass any legislation. According to the president, such support gave him cause to declare he had a "mandate," and gave him lots of "political capital" to do whatever he pleased.

The new rule in today's Congress, however, requires not 50 percent, but 67 percent of the vote to pass Democratic-introduced legislation. In case you don't understand this, here's how it works: When Republicans had a majority in Congress from 2001-2006, Bush rarely saw a Republican piece of legislation he didn't like. That's because the White House told Congress what to do, and the party always voted "Yes, sir!" Only once was a presidential veto needed in those days.

When Democrats introduce any bill now, a presidential veto is inevitable. A two-thirds majority is needed to override that veto.

So who is holding the country back from ending the war in Iraq, bringing our troops home, restoring our reputation with the rest of the world, and seriously addressing domestic issues such as health care, education, jobs, outsourcing, Social Security, immigration and the rest of what has been so messed up during the rule of this administration? It's not the Democrats. You can thank the president and his party that our nation is now ruled by a small minority.

Bruce Talbert, Henderson

archive