BETTER LATE THAN NEVER FOR MIDDLES CLASS; POLITICAL DISASTER FOR BOEHNER

Picture of a one-term Speaker of the House

Boehner finally caved in , saying that they had to do the 'right'  thing for the people.  The Washington Post had an interesting view of the cave-in   Jonathan Capehart wrote::  "Boehner’s colossal cave comes after three days of being pummeled by Senate Republicans, President Obama and the Wall Street Journal editorial page, the latter being the equivalent of the Republican principal’s office."

We can't even blame Grover Norquist for the resistance, since it was resisting a tax cut for which they had previously been in favor, not a tax raise.:  Rachel Maddow described his handling of this crisis as a career killer.  Mitch McConnell, made it clear 30 minutes after Boehner said he would not cave-in, that he was on his own! Maddow made it imminently clear that he just was not good at his job with a lovely comparison to Nancy Pelosi
Capehart went on to say: "The American people are the winners in this latest bit of Washington craziness. But Boehner comes out the biggest loser. The man from Ohio has little to no control over his recalcitrant caucus. The inmates are running the asylum. If we didn’t appreciate it during the debt-ceiling crisis last August we most certainly do now.".

THE CONSEQUENCES OF VOTING AGAINST RATHER THAN FOR A KNOWN SOMETHING

The TeaPartiers sold lies to the public and under false promises were elected as a 'quick fix' to a problem that has no possible quick fix.  No matter how many times it is said that the economy had a surplus when Clinton left office and GW Bush took his whole two terms to spend with his Republican buddies either from stupidity, being duped by more evil forces, or a reason that has never been mentioned and is not clearly visible to those of us out of government or not economists.

A large group of freshman TeaPartiers promised to work on job creation and the budget. Adopting a policy of 'my way or the highway' they have sworn to make Obama a one term president, raise no new taxes, ignore all warnings from Federal economists, and have only pushed their own disparate agendas, mostly on religious and bigoted issues.

Boehner, speaker of the house, walked out in a gesture as immature as that of his colleague Eric Kantor. For more details, click here.

Like giving a child a privilege, they can't give it up[ even when all indication shows it is bad for them. They do not see that they couldn't handle what they had and resent it being taken away, forgetting it was a trial plam not a permanent one.

How long will the public tolerate elected officials who walk out of negotiations as though it is not a critical part of their job to negotiate and compromise.  It is my contention that the Republicans simply voted against the Democrats and bloated their numbers by adding the TeaPartiers who came in falsely by hanging onto their coat tails.in an attempt to legitimize themselves to get on the ballot when in fact, they are pretty much independent even of one another.

Other than the TeaPartiers, at least those of us whose head is not in the sand,  hope that enough of the House Members will realize that removing tax breaks from the wealthy is not ADDING new taxes.  Gtover Norqujist seemed a little slimy over that explanation.

MANDATES CHANGE AFTER THE VOTE IS TALLIED AS DO POLITICAL PRIORITIES

Gov Scott Walker

Speaker John Boehner repeatedly says,'The American people gave a mandate when they voted us in, last November.'  He thinks that a mandate to a politician is a static plea and does not change with time or circumstances. 

Wrong!

Governor Walker has only been in office a couple of months and already polls show that half the people in Wisconsin, had they to do it over (many Republicans included) would vote this time for the Democrat candidate. 

Boehner might do well to focus less on maintaining a tan, or playing golf.  He might check what his constituents are wanting and saying today.  Those who came to Washington to reverse Roe vs Wade will be a great disappointment to the people who thought the change they would be bringing to Washington would be about getting jobs for the unemployed and helping the middle class.  The wealthy, Wall St thieves, big corporation greed, and lying lobbyists, may soon find out that people can only be pushed so far.  When the snake oil for which  they paid to cure their ills clearly does not work and they realize they were lied to, eventually they will realize they are not alone and the power is in numbers.  Peaceful protests, right now, seem to be quite effective.  Let's support the peace.

WHO WROTE BOEHNER'S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH?

The speech spurred motivation for 'the people's interests', was well-written, and promised something other than what we have heard to date from the man who will not use the word 'compromise'.  For the full text of his speech, click here.

The House was referred to as 'the people's house' over and over again.  I'm not sure for  what that is a euphemism, but it has never before been the way all the politician's in it have treated before. In an Associated Press article By Stephen Hurst, he quotes Obama as saying, he expects Republicans to play to their base.  He adds:  "But I'm pretty confident that they're going to recognize that our job is to govern and make sure that we are delivering jobs for the American people," he added. "My hope is that John Boehner and (Senate GOP leader) Mitch McConnell will realize that there will be plenty of time to campaign for 2012 in 2012."

Kantor and Boehner are well noted in Washington as rivals.  However, at the moment, Boehner is the Speaker.  We can all sit back and watch how many lies or truths are in the acceptance speech and to whom he must first pay homage for getting the votes to become speaker.  I, for one, will be happy to see him stop licking McConnell's shoes and become his own person...as bad as that may be.  I cannot believe he can be any worse than as McConnell's 'yes' man.

Let's face it...anyone can buy an acceptance speech.  Just click here for details.

THE FIRST INNING FOR THE LAME DUCK CONGRESS

Today the House agreed to a middle class tax cut continuance.  The Senate, under Mitch M has already announced it will fight any proposals unless the Republicans get the tax cuts extended for the ultra rich.  John Boehner has described on TV that he thinkis the proposal to keep tax cuts for the middle class as a maneuver of chicken crap.  If the rich are only 1 or 2 % of our population, how can this man ever get re-elected?  


Apparently the Republicans plan to filibuster the tax cuts for anyone if they don't get  tax cuts for the rich extended.They are holding the poor people's fate hostage to get more money for greedy people already millionaires and billionaires.

"The president continues to believe that extending middle-class tax cuts is the most important thing we can do for our economy right now and he applauds the House for passing a permanent extension," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said. To read the article by BBC, click here.

I believe the bluff of the mutineers ought to be called even if it stops the American world for a while.  We cannot continue being hostage to ignorance and greed.  Read the PBS comments and transcript by clicking here.

PBS refers to the Senate actions promised as a 'blockade'.
clicking here

WHAT A LOOK CAN REVEAL

Today Obama attempted to bridge the resistance of the GOP to anything proposed by the Democrats.  The spirit of obstruction shows clearly in faces...John Boehner scarcely hiding his lack of respect.  His face hardly wears a look of cooperation, trust, or even friendship.

It is difficult to know what a man is thinking from a single look, but it is also not difficult to read a lack of agreement in Boehner's mien.

The AP photographer has captured the evil I have long observed in John Boehner.  Any man who puts himself and his own goals before the American people while constantly using rhetoric about the wishes of the American people, as though he is stating or even aware of them, cannot be right for the job of representing us.  Yet, representing us is his job which he does not do well yet keeps being re-elected.  Can someone explain how voters can support a man who is, in my mind, treasonous...so against our current President as he is?

THE LAST DELAY FOR TOM DELAY

Corruption has been so rife in the Republican party but, assisted so heavily by the 'Rush Limbaughs' and radio and media support, the public has been fooled for years,. and continues today.  Mr. DeLay, known as 'the Hammer' for his power tactics and strong arming, indicted in 2006, has consistently denied wrongdoing but it had been clear for a very long time that he held power and his ethics and consideration for honesty were flawed.  While he was forced to step down as Speaker, he managed to get publicity (and money) by being on  Dancing with the Stars.  It was DeLay's misfortunes that opened the path for John Boehner to become the next Republican Speaker.

An article published in Austen, Texas, by James C McKinley, Jr. reads:  "Tom DeLay, one of the most powerful and divisive Republican lawmakers ever to come out of Texas, was convicted Wednesday of money-laundering charges in a state trial, five years after his indictment here forced him to resign as majority leader in the House of Representatives."  He was indicted for violating campaign finance laws.  His power as Speaker of the House was massive.  He restructured districts to help his party win seats.

Today's finding of guilty raised hope in me that finally not all lies were believed nor those in disagreement powerless to react against them.  I've too often wondered why the Obama administration is seeming so absent in decrying the lies against the Democrats.  I can only hope there is a master plan somewhere and those bumper sticker that read 'I Voted for Obama - My Bad' will be torn off all vehicles.  People are expecting too much from a human being who has Republicans opposing everything he suggests and needs to make most Americans' lives improve.  McConnell runs a tight ship.  One can only hope that
Americans who voted for so many untried Republicans will come to their senses by the next election and reverse the damage.  Dare I hope that our country will leave the grips of those multi-billionaires who have seized control of it?

A NEW LOOK IN WASHINGTON

An article on Boehner as House Majority Leader writes the following quote from him:  "In an emotional victory address, Boehner promised an agenda of cost-cutting and "reducing the size of government..  Where has he been and what has he been doing on these issues for the past ten years.  I will always wonder why voters are so taken in by campaign promises.

The fat cats who got there on the backs of poor, working folk, have no conscience about the money wasted on campaigns for the losers of the Teaparty.  The joke remains on those who still think that things can be changed quickly in Washington and that Obama is a failure because he didn't do the job they wanted in less than two years.  It is obvious that no one noted the 60 vote rule, threats of filibuster, and overt hostility by the Senate Republicans and promises to make Obama fail.  Do those supporters really love their country more than their job.

Morning Joe (MSNBC) :11/3 

Joe Scarborough:"How ironic that [Obama] paid in part for bailouts of the banks, that began with Bush. For bailouts of Fannie and Freddie, that began with Bush. For bailouts of the auto industry, that began with Bush... I just wonder if [the midterm election] is not more of a rejection of both parties than it is the Democratic  party."

While it may be true that it was a rejection of both parties,  what kind of mentality does it take to put in people who have an agenda that has nothing to do with the real issues.  They know what they don't want but have no ideas about how to go about getting what they do want.  I was always taught that you should never ask for your boss for anything unless you can also suggest a way to get it done.  Amputation of programs without a replacement of the service it had provided is not my idea of a viable suggestion.

Are we headed for two years of a Mexican Standoff in the Legislative houses?  Perhaps those people complaining about the economy will note that most of those for the past two years were the Bush appointees who allowed the problem to get to the magnitude it now enjoys.  The many opposing forces may be a change from the lockstep of the House and Senate under Bush.  The Republicans have continued the same stance.  What is it that is blackmailing them; refused a chair position?, no support for re-election? squealing or blackmailing them about their actions?  Something other than they are all always of similar mind HAS to be the answer.

REPUBLICANS PREFER TO KILL PEOPLE THAN JOBS

Boehner complains the HealthCare bill will cost too much and will kill jobs. There can be no other conclusion than to assume he believes it is better to continue to allow people to die for lack of health care than to suppress the greed of the fat cats who prefer excess profits to sparing their fellow mankind suffering and death.

Not all Democrats voted for the bill passed by House, suggesting that some of them can still vote their own conscience (or protect their election funding) than march lock step like the Republican robots.

This is only a beginning and a long way still from the goal post. Oddly, today I received a request from a telemarketer who said they were not asking for money but, rather, would pay $10 for my answering a questionnaire. Not surprisingly, when I truthfully answered that I was over 64 (thus likely on Medicare) I was thanked and told that the quota had been filled for my age group. Of course, why would the greedy private companies want an opinion from people on Medicare?

To hear what the BBC reported on the passing of the bill, click here. You will be forced to wait for the short commercial to finish, while wishing this was taped so you could fast-forward through it. However, the wise marketers who usurp those few seconds of your life make the commercials short.

HEARD ON THE MEDIA AND IN MY HEAD

Re: tragedy shooting at Ft. Hood 11/5/09, : 'Ambulances were driving by, their sirens flashing.' delivered by an adorable young blonde newscaster.

On capturing soldiers, "Put up your hands and throw down your arms." by another newscaster a while ago as he described soldiers capturing enemies.

John Boehner, who should know better, quoted (11/5) in a speech to Michelle Bachman's motley group: waving a folded up copy of, he said, the Constitution, and proceeded to quote from it...but, in fact was quoting from the preamble of the Declaration of Independence, as did another speaker, pontificating that the Constitution which starts 'We the people....' also from the Declaration of Independence. We certainly do not need politicians who cannot differentiate between the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution...nor do we need them in leadership positions as House Minority Leader and loud mouth.

Michelle Bachman was quoting a long dead politician as saying we need a revolution every now and again. Unless I misunderstood what I learned in government classes, this is a no-no and rather subject to punishment...plotting to overthrow the government. Am I mistaken or was a law passed to change this, too, when my back was turned? Click here to learn how people lobby for your total destruction in the name of your salvation. She makes a strong plea, "Everyone needs to come to Washington tomorrow." That request really makes a lot of sense, doesn't it. As much as all the rest of the nonsense she purports to be truth!

For many years I have maintained that political jobs should not be voted on by people who have no idea what it takes to do the job, but rather, there should be tests and standards to be passed, just like any other meaningful job. The government should look at its Bible as having been written at a time when today's world could not have been anticipated, just as the Holy Bible no longer relates to the current real world though many people like to read into it whatever they want it to say.

WHOSE SKIN DO THEY LIVE IN?

Boehner thinks he knows the mainstream and what the 'American Public' (as though they are all as rubber stamped as the Republicans have been for the last 9 years) thinks. Doesn't the fact that the Democrats became a majority last November give some indication about what the American Public thinks? Or does he truly believe that the lies he supports have actually swayed the majority of the voting public instead of those few fringe wackos that seem to be speaking for the Republicans these days.

The House minority leader, Eric Cantor, claimed yesterday that a public option did not represent America's "mainstream." Read Steve Benen's article (Washington Monthly) on this.

Unfortunately, in my early years I was too busy working for a living and raising children to have the luxury of following all the mean things politicians do to one another and the public. Now that I have a bit more luxury of time for it, I watch
and read a lot of about politics and what our Administrative and Legislative branches of government do to one another. With media lacking honesty and integrity, millions can see the lies that put most non-politician con men to shame.

The Wing-Nut Code: What Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin Are Really Saying to Their Followers By Adele M. Stan "
You thought they were just unhinged. But here's what they're really saying to the armed and dangerous.

When Glenn Beck offers an odd-looking icon for his 9-12 Project, or Sarah Palin says something about her native state that sounds a bit to off-kilter to the ears of those in the lower 48, it's tempting to think, well, they're just nuts.

Perhaps they are, but that's beside the point. The point is that when Beck throws up a graphic of a segmented snake as his project's mascot, or Palin speaks of her native land as the "sovereign" state of Alaska, they're blowing a kind of dog-whistle for the armed and paranoid who make up the right-wing, neo-militia "Patriot" movement and the broader "Tea Party" coalition." For the full article click here.

Do any of these self-serving people REALLY believe they speak for the majority or even people they believe think as they do?