Ted Cruz is a hypocrite, film at 11

[Borgholio]

To be sure there are other legal methods to prevent it from happening but none can occur if the Speaker of the House is in favor of the shutdown.

See I think that's probably the core of what's wrong here. No one person should be able to wield the power to deadlock the government like that. If the President vetos something, Congress can override the veto, for instance.

[AniThyng]

The articles talks about the "Moderate" Republicans. There is no such thing. There are only extreme right wing Republicans and insanely extreme right wing Republicans.

Guess there is no such thing as a moderate democrat, just socialists and Marxists.

[Zeropoint]

I have to agree with blahface here. We call the Democrats and Republicans "left" and "right" here, and relative to each other, they are. However, if you compare them to the spectrum of political opinions and parties existing in the world today (you know, NOT treating the United States as the entire universe) then our Democrats are a little right of center and our Republicans are far right.

[Rogue 9]

The only reason I asked about calling it treason, is because I feel there's a difference between an asshat in the Senate pushing a dumbass policy, and someone who deliberately and intentionally kicks millions of people out of work, cripples the government, and risks destroying half the world's economies. There's bad policies, and then there's deliberately causing a catastrophe that could result in mass suffering.

Ahem.

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.

Senator Cruz and the House leadership, repugnant as their actions in the shutdown have been, have done neither of those things. Flinging treason charges at anyone whoever's in power doesn't like was a very British monarchical thing to do at the point in time when that was written, hence why it was written. Going back to that is a bad idea.

[Flameblade]

I have to agree with blahface here. We call the Democrats and Republicans "left" and "right" here, and relative to each other, they are. However, if you compare them to the spectrum of political opinions and parties existing in the world today (you know, NOT treating the United States as the entire universe) then our Democrats are a little right of center and our Republicans are far right.

The problem is that here in the US, not treating America as the entire universe (or at least the center of it) is an extremist position.

[Kitsune]

Senator Cruz and the House leadership, repugnant as their actions in the shutdown have been, have done neither of those things. Flinging treason charges at anyone whoever's in power doesn't like was a very British monarchical thing to do at the point in time when that was written, hence why it was written. Going back to that is a bad idea.

Doesn't mean we cannot consider him an asshole and shit head

[Rogue 9]

Senator Cruz and the House leadership, repugnant as their actions in the shutdown have been, have done neither of those things. Flinging treason charges at anyone whoever's in power doesn't like was a very British monarchical thing to do at the point in time when that was written, hence why it was written. Going back to that is a bad idea.

Doesn't mean we cannot consider him an asshole and shit head

Of course not, because he is. It does, however, mean you can't (successfully) charge him with treason.

[Knife]

I have to agree with blahface here. We call the Democrats and Republicans "left" and "right" here, and relative to each other, they are. However, if you compare them to the spectrum of political opinions and parties existing in the world today (you know, NOT treating the United States as the entire universe) then our Democrats are a little right of center and our Republicans are far right.

And when we compare to the others, we should use that idea. However; it's not that weird to go with in country positions. You never hear: "So and so the moderate in France, but in England would be a raving liberal, did XYZ." I'm more than happy to calibrate my scale when talking internationally, but don't see it as a big deal when dealing with national issues, using our national scale, since you know, nationally that scale is pretty much set to our population.

[Grandmaster Jogurt]

Except when you actually poll the population and avoid buzzwords, the typical majority opinion in America is either around or even left of the mainstream Democratic position, so, are we talking about Americans or Congress?

[AniThyng]

I have to agree with blahface here. We call the Democrats and Republicans "left" and "right" here, and relative to each other, they are. However, if you compare them to the spectrum of political opinions and parties existing in the world today (you know, NOT treating the United States as the entire universe) then our Democrats are a little right of center and our Republicans are far right.

And when we compare to the others, we should use that idea. However; it's not that weird to go with in country positions. You never hear: "So and so the moderate in France, but in England would be a raving liberal, did XYZ." I'm more than happy to calibrate my scale when talking internationally, but don't see it as a big deal when dealing with national issues, using our national scale, since you know, nationally that scale is pretty much set to our population.

I'm not even sure it's necessarily even "the whole world" insomuch as it is "compared to Europe". The Republicans are still far more "liberal" than say, moderate Islamic parties.

Except when you actually poll the population and avoid buzzwords, the typical majority opinion in America is either around or even left of the mainstream Democratic position, so, are we talking about Americans or Congress?

While I'd love to take your word for this, is it also not true that to the right wing, the typical majority opinion in America is either around or to the right of the mainstream RINO position?

I have been given to understand that taking SDN at face value representing the american political mainstream is iffy because you lot are actually quite left-leaning even by american standards.

[Grandmaster Jogurt]

I get the feeling trying to include Islamic parties from various countries in Africa and Eurasia on a linear "left vs right" scale calibrated for the American federal government isn't going to get you anywhere but even less understanding than you were before.

[Knife]

Except when you actually poll the population and avoid buzzwords, the typical majority opinion in America is either around or even left of the mainstream Democratic position, so, are we talking about Americans or Congress?

I'm unaware of this study or poll. What I've seen puts the US smack dab in the middle, leaning slightly left or right depending on the particular issue.

[Beowulf]

Doesn't mean we cannot consider him an asshole and shit head

Of course not, because he is. It does, however, mean you can't (successfully) charge him with treason.

Due to the Speech and Debate Clause, it's doubtful you can charge him with anything at all, let alone treason. For issues with a member of Congress' speech or actions in Congress, only Congress can punish them.