Essay/Commentary: "Tea Party Terrorism?"
Following the debacle of the 2013 shutdown of the U.S. Federal government by intransigent Republicans, can the most stubborn politicians of all in the Tea Party be considered terrorists?
Not a punch was thrown nor a bomb planted nor a bullet fired, but the Tea Party and many other right-wing Republican conservatives did use terrorist tactics in order to try to get their way when the usual accepted practice of majority rule didn't work. What they did was perpetrating an act of economic terrorism. Fortunately, the right-wingers ultimately failed, but during their temper tantrum/siege the economy took a hit for 16 days of around one billion dollars a day. Noone knows what the long-term ripple effect(s) will be on our economy and our international reputation. Hopefully voters will now think at least twice before they vote for Tea Party madhatters or right-wing conservatives. Unfortunately, in TExas, government shutdown ringleader Ted Cruz is now more popular than ever. Similar to how Islamists still believe that Ayatollah Khomenei and Osama bin Laden are 'great' men or even heroes, in TExas the masses feel hero-worship for this Tea Party madman Cruz.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Essay/Commentary: "Anarchy in Disgraceland"
Essay/Commentary: "Anarchy in Disgraceland"
With only days before the U.S Treasury runs out of money and the effluent hits the fan (default on U.S. debts and obligations) Congress seems no closer to a solution to this mess that it did at the beginning of the artificial, Tea Party-made crisis. Washington, D.C. ought to be renamed Disgraceland because a small minority of vocal radicals can hold our government and likely our economic solvency hostage over petty whims. THese stubborn, seemingly unaccountable politicians would rather our economy crash and our government go into a state of near chaotic anarchy if they cannot get their way. Kicking and screaming like spoiled brats, it is appalling that the American electorate puts up with any of these alleged leaders. The Tea Party is a symptom of how broken and out of touch our Federal politicians are, particularly in Congress (both the Senate and the House of Representatives). Speaker of the House JOhn Boehner (R- Ohio) behaves as if he puts the whims of the Tea Party extremists ahead of the needs of his constituents as a whole. Hopefully, future voters will smarten up and avoid electing right-wing radicals, who prioritize the whims of the wealthy, powerful and connected ahead of the needs and wishes of the struggling Common Man. (tbc?)
With only days before the U.S Treasury runs out of money and the effluent hits the fan (default on U.S. debts and obligations) Congress seems no closer to a solution to this mess that it did at the beginning of the artificial, Tea Party-made crisis. Washington, D.C. ought to be renamed Disgraceland because a small minority of vocal radicals can hold our government and likely our economic solvency hostage over petty whims. THese stubborn, seemingly unaccountable politicians would rather our economy crash and our government go into a state of near chaotic anarchy if they cannot get their way. Kicking and screaming like spoiled brats, it is appalling that the American electorate puts up with any of these alleged leaders. The Tea Party is a symptom of how broken and out of touch our Federal politicians are, particularly in Congress (both the Senate and the House of Representatives). Speaker of the House JOhn Boehner (R- Ohio) behaves as if he puts the whims of the Tea Party extremists ahead of the needs of his constituents as a whole. Hopefully, future voters will smarten up and avoid electing right-wing radicals, who prioritize the whims of the wealthy, powerful and connected ahead of the needs and wishes of the struggling Common Man. (tbc?)
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Essay/Commentary: "The Hastert Rule and the Government Shutdown of 2013"
Essay/Commentary: "The Hastert Rule and the Government Shutdown of 2013"
Elected scoundrel Speaker of the House John Boehner (R Ohio) is using an arcane rule known as "the Hastert Rule" named after former G.O.P. Speaker Dennis Hastert to ensure that the government ramains closed for the immediate future. This notorious rule also referred to as "the majority of the majority rule" (also used by former Speaker Newt Gingrich when he temporarily shut down the government in the Clinton era) is a bullying tactic commonly used by Republican Speakers of the House to refuse to allow a vote unless the majority of the party in power supports the bill. It is also used to punish maverick representatives who go against the Speaker's rule, as well as those of the minority party. I guess Mr. Boehner is between a rock and a hard place. He either has to stand firm with his My Way or the Highway demand to delay or destroy ObamaCare , or he will lose his position as Speaker to someone who may possibly be worse, such as an unyielding arch-Conservative or a TEA Party nutjob similar to Michelle Bachman or Sarah Palin. I wouldn't bet on it happening, but hopefully Speaker Boehner will put the solvency of our economy and international reputation ahead of self-interest and ignore the Hastert Rule to fully reopen the government; no strings attached.
Elected scoundrel Speaker of the House John Boehner (R Ohio) is using an arcane rule known as "the Hastert Rule" named after former G.O.P. Speaker Dennis Hastert to ensure that the government ramains closed for the immediate future. This notorious rule also referred to as "the majority of the majority rule" (also used by former Speaker Newt Gingrich when he temporarily shut down the government in the Clinton era) is a bullying tactic commonly used by Republican Speakers of the House to refuse to allow a vote unless the majority of the party in power supports the bill. It is also used to punish maverick representatives who go against the Speaker's rule, as well as those of the minority party. I guess Mr. Boehner is between a rock and a hard place. He either has to stand firm with his My Way or the Highway demand to delay or destroy ObamaCare , or he will lose his position as Speaker to someone who may possibly be worse, such as an unyielding arch-Conservative or a TEA Party nutjob similar to Michelle Bachman or Sarah Palin. I wouldn't bet on it happening, but hopefully Speaker Boehner will put the solvency of our economy and international reputation ahead of self-interest and ignore the Hastert Rule to fully reopen the government; no strings attached.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Essay/Commentary: "No Government, No Pay Act" ; Is Political Money 'Free Speech' or Legal Bribery?
Essay/Commentary: "No Government, NO Pay Act? ; Is Political Money 'Free Speech' or Legal Bribery?
Potential good news regarding the unnecessary Government Shutdown. U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, a Democrat from Minnesota has filed a bill: The No Government- No Pay Act. I just found out about it today. If this bill is enacted, as long as the government is shut down Congressmen and women will not be paid. I urge anyone to put pressure to pass this bill, their Congressperson, particularly in the U.S. House of Representatives. If Congress was forced to go without pay when on a whim they decide to shut down the government, then I can almost guarantee that a compromise or a solution to this problem would quickly be reached. Hopefully if this Act is passed, there will never be a spiteful government shutdown ever again.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is hearing a case that would potentially eliminate any limit on political contributions, under the ridiculous argument that political donations are "free speech". If this decision is made the pernicious scourge of monetary influence in U.S. politics, particularly by the rich and superrich will only get worse. Already, Congress puts the whims of the wealthy against the wants and needs of the Common Man. Unfortunately, the usual suspects (Scalia, Thomas, Elite-o and Roberts) are likely to decide in favor of this abomination.
Potential good news regarding the unnecessary Government Shutdown. U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, a Democrat from Minnesota has filed a bill: The No Government- No Pay Act. I just found out about it today. If this bill is enacted, as long as the government is shut down Congressmen and women will not be paid. I urge anyone to put pressure to pass this bill, their Congressperson, particularly in the U.S. House of Representatives. If Congress was forced to go without pay when on a whim they decide to shut down the government, then I can almost guarantee that a compromise or a solution to this problem would quickly be reached. Hopefully if this Act is passed, there will never be a spiteful government shutdown ever again.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is hearing a case that would potentially eliminate any limit on political contributions, under the ridiculous argument that political donations are "free speech". If this decision is made the pernicious scourge of monetary influence in U.S. politics, particularly by the rich and superrich will only get worse. Already, Congress puts the whims of the wealthy against the wants and needs of the Common Man. Unfortunately, the usual suspects (Scalia, Thomas, Elite-o and Roberts) are likely to decide in favor of this abomination.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Essay/Commentary: "Under Siege"
Essay/Commentary: "Under Siege"
For almost a fortnight, the intransigent and radical Tea Party supporting G.O.P. has held our government and our economy under siege over a my way or the highway opposition to the Affordable Care Act, better known as ObamaCare. IN other words, the G.O.P. leadership and rank and file would rather tank our economy than for exorbitant health care and insurance be affordable to the masses. Speaker of the HOuse John Boehner refuses to allow a vote in the House of Representatives to end the government shutdown, falsely claiming that it is "the will of the American people". It may be the will of his extremist Tea Party colleagues, but a majority of the people do not want to put our economic prosperity at risk as a matter of principle or more accurately and bluntly typical political bullshit which benefits the few or noone. It is a shame that Mr. Boehner isn't held accountable or either recalled from office or even impeached for his arguably treasonous actions. His stubbornness can and will negatively affect nearly everyone for years to come.
For almost a fortnight, the intransigent and radical Tea Party supporting G.O.P. has held our government and our economy under siege over a my way or the highway opposition to the Affordable Care Act, better known as ObamaCare. IN other words, the G.O.P. leadership and rank and file would rather tank our economy than for exorbitant health care and insurance be affordable to the masses. Speaker of the HOuse John Boehner refuses to allow a vote in the House of Representatives to end the government shutdown, falsely claiming that it is "the will of the American people". It may be the will of his extremist Tea Party colleagues, but a majority of the people do not want to put our economic prosperity at risk as a matter of principle or more accurately and bluntly typical political bullshit which benefits the few or noone. It is a shame that Mr. Boehner isn't held accountable or either recalled from office or even impeached for his arguably treasonous actions. His stubbornness can and will negatively affect nearly everyone for years to come.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Essay/Commentary: Who Are the 10%
Essay/Commentary: Who are the 10%?
The other day I was watching the Cable News Network while waiting for my car at a local garage. According to CNN, a poll regarding the approval rating of the U.S. Congress is currently at a paltry 10%, probably the lowest it has ever been. THe current crop of Congressmen and women has a lower approval rating of such things as "head lice" and other unpopular things. I would expect the approval level to be much lower, as low as 1%, except that many people are misinformed by the propaganda of so-called "Fair and Balanced" [not!] Fox News and such liars and frauds as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. The people who approve of these clowns in Congress are probably very conservative or very misinformed or uninformed. How can you approve of folks who are willing to ruin our economy and possibly our way of life as a matter of principle or ideology. It is ridiculous that the conservative Republican Party puts the wants and whims of approximately 10% of their constituents over 90% who disapprove of the politicians' performance. (tbc?)
The other day I was watching the Cable News Network while waiting for my car at a local garage. According to CNN, a poll regarding the approval rating of the U.S. Congress is currently at a paltry 10%, probably the lowest it has ever been. THe current crop of Congressmen and women has a lower approval rating of such things as "head lice" and other unpopular things. I would expect the approval level to be much lower, as low as 1%, except that many people are misinformed by the propaganda of so-called "Fair and Balanced" [not!] Fox News and such liars and frauds as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. The people who approve of these clowns in Congress are probably very conservative or very misinformed or uninformed. How can you approve of folks who are willing to ruin our economy and possibly our way of life as a matter of principle or ideology. It is ridiculous that the conservative Republican Party puts the wants and whims of approximately 10% of their constituents over 90% who disapprove of the politicians' performance. (tbc?)
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
An Open Letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner
An Open Letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner
re: THe Government Shutdown
Shame on you for being a key reason why our Federal government has shut down. The Tea Party are about 20%, if that, of the electorate. By kowtowing to the demands of Tea Party extremists you are showing disdain for the other 80% of potential voters (not to mention non-voters), some of whom could vote you out of office. This shutdown was absolutely unnecessary. It is frustrating, aggravating and a true disgrace that Congressmen and women still receive their $3000+ checks while perpetrating this nonsense. To make matters worse this shutdown could affect both our domestic economy as well as economies around the world thanks to the Global Economy. Using your personal job security as an excuse for shutting down the government is ridiculous. Isn't the solvency of our fragile economy more important than whether or not you remain a U.S. Representative from OHio or Speaker of the House? Also, Obamacare is the law of the land. Sabotaging the law at this point will do more harm than the alleged 'good' you appear to risk our economy for. Forget your pride and ideology, do something to undo the government shutdown.
Sincerely,
Brian Mich
Norwood, Massachusetts
re: THe Government Shutdown
Shame on you for being a key reason why our Federal government has shut down. The Tea Party are about 20%, if that, of the electorate. By kowtowing to the demands of Tea Party extremists you are showing disdain for the other 80% of potential voters (not to mention non-voters), some of whom could vote you out of office. This shutdown was absolutely unnecessary. It is frustrating, aggravating and a true disgrace that Congressmen and women still receive their $3000+ checks while perpetrating this nonsense. To make matters worse this shutdown could affect both our domestic economy as well as economies around the world thanks to the Global Economy. Using your personal job security as an excuse for shutting down the government is ridiculous. Isn't the solvency of our fragile economy more important than whether or not you remain a U.S. Representative from OHio or Speaker of the House? Also, Obamacare is the law of the land. Sabotaging the law at this point will do more harm than the alleged 'good' you appear to risk our economy for. Forget your pride and ideology, do something to undo the government shutdown.
Sincerely,
Brian Mich
Norwood, Massachusetts
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