Choose your poison

President Donald Trump, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Speaker Paul Ryan are in an all-out sprint.  They're scared shitless their Republican Party will lose control of one or both houses of Congress within a year.  Their wealthy benefactors....the deep pockets that fund their political careers....are going to be pissed beyond belief if they don't get what they paid for were promised. 

While polls say Democrats are not at all well liked, Republicans are even deeper in the hole.  A flip of just 2 Senate seats and a handful in the House of Representatives to the Democrats and the GOP leaders will be asking for more knuckle-dragging body guards.  They won't want to have to face Big Oil, Big Pharma, Big Banks, Big Insurance, Big Ag, and all the others and swim with the sharks. 

By next summer the mid-term election campaigning will be in full swing, so if they're to deliver on their promises, they'll have to do it before then.  The GOP will be doing their damnedest to ram something through pronto, forget thoroughness or public hearings.  Committee members will get 5 minutes each to ask questions, then it's vote time. *Wham...Bam...SOLD...SOLD...SOLD*  And of course President Trump will sign whatever Congress puts in front of him because THEY are the ones who will vote on whether to impeach/convict him and ruin his Mother-Of-All ego trips.

What should we expect between now and then? A push to finalize a tax cut in the House that will please the GOP donors, another run at getting the government out of the health insurance equation, squashing Medicaid as much as possible (we have too many poor people, don'tcha know), and maybe even squeezing Medicare and Social Security dry, too. 

I'm guessing they have 8 months to make it all happen.  By August our politicians will all be back home, looking us in the eye and telling us how much they love us.  I think the Democrats will have a pretty good chance of winning one house of Congress, spoiling the Republican's party.  Further down the road in 2020, at the rate the GOP is digging its own grave, the Democrats just might gain control of all 3 branches of government.  Then it will be their turn to rape and pillage us and glad hand their special interests.

Another day in Washington.

S

IN YOUR FACE, SCUMBAG!

Where did we go so wrong?  For 200+ years Americans have admittedly done a fair amount of bickering among ourselves (our Civil War being the most dramatic example), but we somehow managed to get along well enough to keep us moving forward to become a land of freedom and opportunity for all (well, some more than others). 

But somewhere during the 1980's (?) things began to change.  We became less tolerant of anyone who disagreed with whatever we believed.  We became intensely polarized.  Today liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans, have built a no-man's-land mine field between themselves.  Some of you who may be more politically knowledgeable than me might disagree, but as I recall it the one person who most personified this winner-take-all, take-no-prisoners brand of partisan politics was Rep Tom DeLay of Texas.

DeLay was the Republican House Whip.  He was the guy who "whipped" all his party members into voting exactly as the party leadership said, or else.  You crossed him at your own risk.

Our national leaders after WWII understood it was in our best interest to NOT totally humiliate our recently vanquished enemies.  We allowed the Emperor of Japan to maintain his title, and helped the Europeans rebuild via the Marshall Plan.  Unfortunately Tom DeLay missed history class the day that was discussed.  By the time he made it to a leadership position in Congress he had earned a reputation as the meanest SOB in town.  He was never interested in negotiating with the Democrats, but only in stomping them.  He wanted to steamroll them, kick 'em in the teeth, scalp them, and finally disembowel them and spit on their carcass.

Each party dug in their heels.  The hard-core "base" of each side refused to believe that their guys could ever do anything wrong, and that the other side could ever do anything right.  For 8 years Republicans were constantly at Bill Clinton's throat, and Democrats returned the favor by constantly sniping at Dubya Bush for his 8 years in office.  Each thought they had been wronged, and it was 100% the other parties fault.  They themselves were always right, regardless of the facts.  (Truth was there was plenty of blame to go around.)

We moved from the gutter into the sewer when Barack Obama was elected President.  The Senate Republican Leader, Mitch McConnell, openly admitted it was his goal in life to see to it that Obama was a one-term President.  Many even refused to believe Obama was American born.  Anything the Democrats proposed, the Republicans automatically opposed, sight unseen.  If any Republicans might have wanted to participate in the drafting of ObamaCare, their leadership took them aside and beat them senseless.  "NO COLLABORATING WITH THE ENEMY!"

Now the tables are reversed.  Republicans are proposing a replacement healthcare plan, and they wouldn't in a million years throw the Democrats a bone to get them to play ball.  If they should be offered a seat at the table, I'm sure the Democratic leadership would put any party defector before a firing squad.

And here we are in 2017.  Donald Trump is President, and his family and administration are under attack.  The smoke and stench of something going on between Russia and his administration, if not the President personally, is pretty powerful.  The Republican base refuses to even acknowledge anything smells, and the Democratic base is ready to start build gallows.  As Republicans and their media stooges (FOX News) see it, the crime is not that they did it, but that they got caught because someone leaked it to the other side's media stooges.  "HOW DARE THEY CATCH US!"

IMO we've pretty much hit bottom.  Today our choice is between the Party of Oil  and the Party of Water....they will never mix.  The best quote I've heard in months was this morning when a commentator on TV, a Republican, called Washington politicians "the lowest form of human life".  Too harsh?  I think not.

Oh, and Tom DeLay?  He was indicted and convicted for money laundering in 2011 and sentenced to 3 years in prison.  However, in 2013 his conviction was overturned by a highly partisan (surprise!) Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.  

I'm honestly not trying to be a Debbie Downer, but just a realist.  Individually we're wonderful people, willing to work together to better our neighborhoods and communities and schools.  But the minute we put on a red hat or a blue hat, we turn into animals.  If civil discourse isn't actually yet dead, it's definitely on life support.  Hurts to hear, doesn't it?

S

Senator Cornyn, you're up. Senator Shelby, you're on deck.

Thune....you're batting clean up.  You all know the drill.  Now, off to hair and makeup.

Our latest Scandal de Jour has our Attorney General being accused of lying to his Senate compadres in order to gain their confirmation votes.  So did he lie?  He says it all depends on what the definition of "is" is.  (Old Clinton-era joke.  Look it up.)  His fellow Republicans are in full damage control mode, all lined up to say what a great husband, father, and Saint our beloved AG is, and besides, the Cubs won the World Series so all is well.  Look...SQUIRREL!

 

Meanwhile, across the hall, the Democrats are all foaming at the mouth, taking bids on building new, improved gallows.

Oh, how quickly we forget.  Just a year ago the rolls were reversed.  Former Sec State Hillary Clinton was accused of playing fast and loose with America's state secrets being run through her private email server.  Reid, Pelosi, Schumer and the rest of the Democratic party faithful were calmly shooing us away saying, "Everyone go home.  There's nothing to see here, folks.  Move along."  Not surprisingly, the Republicans saw things a bit differently.  They saw Hillary as being guilty of High Treason.

Let me state the obvious:  Our elected civil servants can't be trusted.  They just can't.  Oh, I might could find a couple if given enough time, but they're rare as purple Unicorns.  The truth is a foreign concept to them, and unless their buds are caught red-handed on camera cramming $100 bills into their coat pockets, they're going to stick up for each other.   

"He is such a fine boy, so kind to his mama, and a wonderful Sunday School teacher, too.  We all love him so."  xoxo

Fifty years ago they could have probably gotten away with their crooked ways, but it's much harder for them today.  What's the difference?  The media.  The press is everywhere, and if they don't have their cameras up and rolling when needed, there are lots of civilians out there with cell phone cameras who do.  BUSTED!

Don't let anyone tell you the media is fake, that they're "the enemy of the people".  If they weren't there, we wouldn't have lasted this long as a republic.   Don't limit yourself to just one source of news, and don't believe what just one source tells you.  Yes, different news organizations have very definite prejudices, but when taken as a whole, the truth will come out.   Freedom of Speech is #1 on the Bill of Rights Top Ten List for a reason.

S

LOOK....SQUIRREL!

...which suits Washington juuuuust fine!

I see the trend on social media these days is to swear off political posts.  "Enough already!  We only want good news for a change."  Well, I'm pretty sick of this Washington circus, too.

Only one problem:  The circus never takes any time off.  The circus is busy 24 / 7 / 365 screwing us over.  But if I take time off from posting political stuff, no one will know how bad we're getting ripped off, 'cause y'all will be too busy watching butterflies and sharing artichoke recipes.  So go ahead, watch butterflies....make a politicians day!  If we aren't watching them, they don't even have to pretend like they give a hoot about us.

We know all about the wall Mexico is going to pay for (but isn't), and the ban on immigrants from seven mid-east countries (never mind that they picked the wrong countries), and the new replacement for Obamacare (that they haven't a clue how to do), and the three million illegal voters who almost cost Donnie John Trump his election.  But that's OK, 'cause it sounds good on TV, right?  The folks back home think they're being looked after, and that's enough.

Meanwhile, Steve Mnuchin, (inmate #288356 if I had my way) is on his way to being our next Treasury Secretary, and Steve Bannon has his fat ass parked on President Trump's shoulder and is whispering sweet nothin's in his ear.

*Have you noticed that our Billionaire President is appointing other Billionaires to his cabinet and charging them with reforming the system that made them all Billionaires?*  

"Uhh, don't worry....nobody's watching.  Today why don't we gut that financial regulation thang that's gettin' in our banker buddies' way.  Oh, oh, and that Consumer Protection outfit that's protectin' consumers....consumers don't need no stinkin' protectin'!  Let's whack 'em both!"

Now don't get all smug, Democrats.  Y'all are swimming in the sewer right there with them.  You sold out to the special interests and didn't' even try to hide it!  You were afraid Lil' Bernie Sanders might muck up your Grand Plan, so you just conveniently slipped Hillary Clinton 500 free convention delegates.  "Order the confetti and balloons.  Par-tay!"

Fortunately for me I actually enjoy calling the bums out when I see them trying to put lipstick on their respective pigs.  

So read, don't read....your call.  But please, do me one favor.  Keep posting your funny memes and videos of stupid tricks gone awry.  I love that stuff.  :)

S 

I don't understand....

I don't understand how the International Olympic Committee can announce on July 4, 2007 that Sochi, Russia would be the host city of the 2014 Winter Olympics, yet on February 4th, 2014, two days before the opening ceremonies, they still haven't finished all the construction.  

They've had 6 1/2 years to get ready.  Jeez, Pootie Pooh, how much time do you need?  It's like a college kid waiting until the night before his final exam to begin studying.

Er....OK, so maybe I have just an inkling how that might could happen.  *Oops*

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I don't understand how people like these ^ in Kiev, Ukraine can get fed up enough with their crooked leaders and take to the streets in protest, while Americans won't even fire off an email in protest when their leaders are stealing them blind.

A weekend newspaper story told of how influental aides to many House and Senate leaders, both Democrat and Republican, shaped the writing of laws affecting banks, agriculture, mortgage reform, etc, then turned right around and went to work as lobbyists (there are over 12,000 of them) representing firms that cashed in BIG on the laws they wrote!  Cha Ching!  So much for "ethics reform".

And when Senators and Congressmen retire, they don't move back home and fish and play with the grandkids.  No, they stay in Washington and open up lobbying firms themselves.

This is just organized crime on a level that would make the Mafia blush.  When are we going to wise up and throw the bums out?  I say we need to bring in some consultants from Ukraine.

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And finally, I don't understand all the rich and famous people who become drug addicts.  They say "they can't stand the pressure".  Huh?  

Obviously I'm not rich or famous, so somebody please 'splain it to me.  What "pressure" makes you stick a needle in your arm?  The pressure of being able to pay your bills?  The pressure of being able to afford first class travel anywhere you want to go?  The pressure of wanting to fit in with the "cool kids"?  Wait....you ARE the cool kid.

That said, of course I'm sad they're gone.  That's a terrible way for anyone to leave this world.

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That's about it.  Everything else I've pretty much figured out.  ;)

Have a great day everyone.

S