The biggest difference between Democrats and Republicans is which of our liberties they want to take away.

They want us to think this is about free trade, and about making sure goods will move properly. But Paul Ryan blew the gaffe. He actually said they must pass the bill so we could find out what was in it apart from the fog of debate! Just what Nancy Pelosi said! But of course Nancy Pelosi shot the bill down--maybe for the wrong reason, but still--we didn't like it any better.

Duh!!

Fast Track Authority on TPA proves that it is time to shrug.

This is not a question of policy, but of how to get better policies enacted. So I offer these ideas.

1. The two-party system is the problem. Any reform that helps third parties gain seats in legislatures, including such radical changes as Ranked Choice Voting, the Single Transferable Vote, and/or a British style parliamentary system, can only help.

2. Let's encourage more fringe-lefties like Bernie Sanders to run, while encouraging right-leaning candidates to quit early once there are more than a couple of them. So long as we are stuck with the two-party primary system we might as well game it by getting "spoilation" to happen on the left and not on the right.

3. I would like to see more questions referred to voters -- but not as an alternative to legislation (unless it's limited to repealing existing laws). As a first shot (and example), I propose a constitutional amendment that any new law on certain hot-button topics (say guns, abortion, and any further bans of foods or drugs now legal), should require voter approval IN ADDITION to the legislative approval now required, not instead of it. Because too much sneaky lawmaking goes on on those topics, and making it harder can only help.

While we're at it we should also require voter ratification of treaties and constitutional amendments. Many countries in Europe now have this, including the Swiss, and it has blocked a lot of stupid legislation.

The left voted it down because the Trade Adjustment Assistance component wasn't rich enough. The GOP tried to pass fast track with the taa uncoupled from the bill. I have no idea why the GOP would be pushing anything Obama cooked up.

For my take on TPA, see "Trust Me, Charlie Brown," which I posted on SLL and Galt's Gulch this morning.

It is proof that it DOES MATTER who you vote for.

Every vote should be a vote against the state, and that means every vote should go for a candidate that is NOT part of the DemRep Party.
The GOP does not represent you.
The Democrats do not represent you.
Vote AGAINST THEM BOTH by voting for a 3rd party.
STOP WASTING YOUR VOTE ON THE GOP.
(It should go without saying that a vote for Democrats is a wasted vote.)

Do you really think McCain would have done the same damage as Obama?

Neither party represents us. And there is no saving this country from within - it's too far gone. But choosing the lesser of evils still makes sense.

Do you really think McCain would have done the same damage as Obama?
(Repeated for emphasis.)

It's proof that it matters very much!

Boehner is a disgrace to our state! He says one thing and does another. Trump, I am suspicious of, as he could well be the spoiler, the one you insures Hillary is elected, like Ross P a few years back.
These guys expect a pay day down the line, and that is why they support TPA. They don't care about the folks back home, except at election time, the they turn their backs for years. They say they support gun rights, then vote for something like this. They say they are against Obamacare, and vote for something which would expand it. Yes, and the big environmental issue of Agenda 21, yest their vote would promote that as well. Jerks, one and all.

I remember once engaging in a discussion with my liberal 82 yr old Aunt and saying: "The Democrats have become communists, and the Republicans have become Democrats."

Her response? She punched me on the arm. Owww!

Efforts to lower the cost of living by efforts to lower barriers to trade sees increased efficiencies in the exchange which lowers costs to consumers. wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/10thi_e/10thi01_e.htm

It is almost as if once a person gets inside the beltway, that person's brains start leaking out its ears. Perhaps what this nation needs is a benevolent dictator. Any recommendations?

America can compete - silly that ExIm Bank & Trade Authority both expiring in 2 weeks! Would be good for small & medium business - the big corps don't NEED it! None of USA probs will be solved with only 2% growth, but most ALL can be solved with 4% growth!!

Remember Congress' Golden Rule: Whoever has the gold makes the rules.

It took this to show you that?

Do what I did two years ago--SHRUG. You can then sit Bach and watch the idiots with amusement!

For the most part, voting appears to be a joke.

Democans or Republicrats, doesn't really matter.
The country is on the road to hell no matter who gets elected. The difference is the Demos have us on an express train to hell, and the Repubs want to put us on a local, which would make a few stops prior to arriving at the infernal destination.

I've grown completely tired of the Repubs making promises to stop Oblabla before an election, then caving when it comes time to stand up for their values.
They always have an excuse: "We only have the House." So now they won the Senate, and that excuse is gone. Now it's "We don't have a veto-proof majority".
OK, so if a Repub prez gets elected, and they retain control of Congress, what will their new excuse be? I can foresee what will happen when they try to repeal Obamacare: the mainscream media will run story after story about the poor people that "will lose their health care", and the Repubs will cave again. Their excuse will be "We don't want to take away the social safety net." It won't matter that the left will redefine "social safety net" to include Obamacare as being necessary; the Repubs never seem to realize when the left changes the rules to benefit their own agenda.

From what I understand, TPA is only the ability to arrange a trade deal (only) in which congress votes up or down, which is very different from the obamatrade bill that has caused much ruckus because of it's secret nature...you know, balmy wants it passed before we find out how we get screwed!