All Sides Now - Deaf, Dumb And Blind

 I couldn't believe the headline on the Yahoo news site saying both parties aim to score political points off the shutdown.  Sheesh!  It hasn't even been resolved as I write this and the pols are already slapping each other on the back saying, "Well done!"

Hardly.  We know how it goes.  The Republicans are going to claim that they really tried by putting forth how many mini bills trying to make the Dems look bad by not passing them.  The Dems are going to blame the Republicans for all that is not happening because of the Republican caused shut down like FEMA aid for the South Dakota ranchers who have lost nearly 75% of their herds due to an early and severe blizzard.

Well, boys and girls, if all of you had done your job none of this would have been necessary.  My bet is you are still ignoring the truth of why you're in Washington in the first place which is to take care of the country's business; not to finesse non-stop campaigns for your political lives.

The President too has to share in the blame game.  One, he has allowed it to go on for his own personal agenda showing 100% concern for that which leaves 0 for the country.

To already be figuring how to make political points disgusts me no end.  I've seen two fairly reasonable politicians in all of this mess.  Joe Manchin, D - WVA and Susan Collins, R - ME.  Where is everyone else?

Ted Cruz and his bunch were at the veterans memorial grandstanding along with Sarah Palin who was there for the publicity.  Why else?  Greta Van Susteren was there with camera crew in tow looking for footage thus ratings for her show which will air tonight.  Come on.  The veterans were making their point well enough without political help.  In fact the fewer political faces the better to make their point but no, there were those who had to make sure the limelight was shared.

I'll be watching the aftermath of the agreement whenever it comes to see who is doing the most strutting.  Their contributions to the mess will be the first I check.

Collectively, however, they should all be ashamed.  They're putting out lousy legislation, too many regulations and those given the task of overseeing the implementation are utterly incompetent.  It's no wonder they won't listen to reason of any sort.  They're not competent enough to understand what reason is.

If that isn't true then then we're the ones who are deaf, dumb and blind.

Political Alter Egos - Politicians And Vampires

Looking at all the holiday decor out and about these days and the current popularity of all things occult it occurred to me that vampires and politicians might just be interchangeable and Halloween is the holiday that should be devoted to them.

Do you think there's a ghost of a chance? Just consider during the campaign how many  candidates were left by the way side if they weren't enough like us. Did we actually elect who we thought we did?  Are they middle class?  Humble? Hard working?  Reasonable?  Patriotic? Prefer beer to wine and hamburger over foie gras?  Does that  pretty much describe who you see when you look in the mirror? I don't think it's what politicians see.  Not that they necessarily should any more than all of us do, but I don't think what we elected looks at all like we do no matter the stripe.

Take vampires.  They don't even reflect.  Why is that?  Because, according to folk lore, the mirror reflects the soul and being dead Vampires have no soul.  I'm not sure politicians do either after being witness to the activity engaged in by all concerned parties the past several weeks.Would they actually behave in the same manner if they could see themselves?  I would hope not, but then this whole post is a fantasy being written on a lazy Saturday afternoon.  I couldn't take any more news.

There are plenty of goblins, the mischief makers, and ghosts who are barely discernible. Witches and devils abound. All playing havoc with our country and our lives.

It's those pesky vampires though that are predominating these days.  Not only do they come across more often than not as absolutely batty, they also bleed us dry.

So how do rid ourselves of them?  We know they don't see the light. They actually hide from it in their cushy caskets.  So we have to work harder to shed some light upon them.  If that doesn't work there's always the old stake through the heart remedy.  That would be, I think, not re-electing them.

At that point we'll be free to fill those hallowed halls of Washington with real live reflections of ourselves and our values rather than the dregs who now roam the halls like zombies on a singular path of destruction caused by excessive ego and self righteousness!

Buying Time But Little Else

I get a kick out of the fact that everyone is hailing huge success because the Republicans are offering the President a short term increase in the debt ceiling, which he might sign (or might not), in return hoping to get more time to discuss spending and the debt.

I for one am not clapping and cheering.  This could have been done in a timely manner if Ted Cruz hadn't gotten on his quixotic campaign to defund Obamacare.  By the way, where is he?  Has anyone seen him lately?

So what are we gaining other than six weeks to catch our collective breaths before we go through it again?

To make any progress a few things need to happen.  The President has to understand that in his role as leader he is expected to do just that to get the sides to come to an agreement even if not perfect.

Harry Reid has to bring legislation submitted by the House to a vote.  We need names on record as to what they vote for and against.  It's the only way we can hold individual Senators responsible.  I see Mr. Reid is planning to run again.  The people of Nevada will have to decide whether they want to continue with an obstructionist or opt for someone who might actually care about the country.

The Republicans have to control the Tea Party mavericks.  They aren't about to change themselves.  They obviously don't have the intellect to know which battles they can win and which they cannot, not to mention which ones they should even challenge. In their way they are as bad as Reid and the President.

And the President.  You all know how I like to rag on him.  A lot of this could have been avoided if he had talked with both sides and told them to get their act together rather than preaching to his select audiences and disparaging Republicans. That does not make for cooperation.  I'd rather see him win his battles with well thought out suggestions, a willingness to admit he isn't always right and compromises accepted with grace.

I realize why he's doing it the way he does.  He wants so much to regain the House in 2014 but even as bad as the Republicans are it's anything but sure. I also don't think he has a clue as to how to lead.  He's never had to do it and I don't see that he has an appetite for learning be it domestic policy or foreign.  His way is to threaten and punish and he does that well from the little old couple in the corner house to the small business man to the military and the media.

It's no way to run a country.  Any country.  But especially the United States of America.  If government doesn't soon change it's ways we'll become merely the States of America.  United will be a word as foreign to us as civility.

A Few Thoughts On The Stalemate

Obamacare.  How many people realize the bill being fought over is not the one passed by the Democratic House and Senate?  This is thanks to Presidential meddling where he took it upon himself to grant waivers without Congressional approval.

This smacks of dictatorship and in my opinion should negate the law.  It isn't how we make nor amend them.  I don't buy that executive privilege gives that right.

That being said and since no one else is saying it I'll move on.  The Tea Party Republicans, as any sane person will agree, had no chance of winning the defunding issue nor should it.  One doesn't defund to fix.  You either repeal or repair.  The issue shouldn't be tied to the CR but then we shouldn't be having CR's in the first place.

Though too late at this point because of ego and pride on both sides, this might have been a reasonable fix for the mess that didn't have to be.  The President could quit giving speeches and actually sit down with the Republicans.  Let's say Boehner for the sake of discussion.  "I will admit over reach in giving the waivers to Congressional members and staff. I will rescind all waivers I have given in return for the CR." Boehner accepts and promises to get it past his obstructionists by showing some leadership himself. Obama tells Harry Reid to get it done.

For now even forget the tax on medical devices.  That can be done in Congress in time. So can everything else that needs fixed and a lot does.

What they seem to forget is at the moment they don't have the votes and unless they win in 2014 they won't. Obamacare is the law.  If it's as bad as we're to believe it will collapse from within.  If it can be fixed, give fixing it in incrementals a chance.

We're stuck with the bunch we have now but we won't be forever.  The lesson we should take from this is to make our voices heard more quickly when something displeases us.  Waiting until Washington  takes the rumblings and makes them it's own defeats all of us.

They Deserve Better

It started with sequestration when White House tours were canceled.  Not suspended for they have not yet been put back in practice.  Because they cost the government a stupendous $17,000 a week.  How many of those tours could be run for the cost of one of the President's golf outings  for which we pay dearly?

Now we have another crisis on our hands.  The funding of government programs in return for a variety of choices in trying to mend the debacle in the making that is Obamacare.  Nix.  Nothing.  Shut down everything that will be a disruption to the everyday citizen like barricading the World War II Memorial where Honor Flights of veterans come often. This memorial was privately funded and is staffed with unpaid volunteers.  The excuse for the barricade is that park staff is qualified to give CPR.  You know, I rather think those who accompany the veterans on these trips also have knowledge of the technique and as far as I know 911 works even in D.C.

This is nothing but pure pettiness.  Say what you will about the stupidity of how the Republicans have been handling the Obamacare debate, but the Democrats, especially the White House, should be given no slack when it comes to their response.

The youngsters and the veterans, the future of our country and those have served it well, have both been slapped in the face by this White House. It has disgraced itself beyond words.

What, I wonder, are we in between the two generations going to do about it?  It's time, you know.