Eye Recommend --- The Shallow End of the Campaign

THE SHALLOW END OF THE CAMPAIGN, New York Times editorial -- "On issue after issue raised in the first weekend of interviews after the conventions, Romney and Ryan actively tried to obscure their positions, as if a clear understanding of their beliefs about taxes, health care or spending would scare away anyone who was listening."

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/11/opinion/the-shallow-end-of-the-campaign.html?_r=1

Flip-flop Friday - Romney on the Economy

"Well, I frankly wish that the last Congress (had) dealt with the stimulus issue and that the president could have signed that before leaving office. I think there is need for economic stimulus. Americans have lost about $11 trillion in net worth. That translates into about $400 billion a year less spending that they'll be doing…And government can help make that up in a very difficult time. And that's one of the reasons why I think a stimulus program is needed." -- Mitt Romney, when asked about then President-elect Obama’s $750 billion economic stimulus package during a January 4, 2009 interview with Wolf Blitzer.

“No time, nowhere, no how” -- Mitt Romney, when asked about the exact same stimulus package at a town hall meeting in Goffstown, New Hampshire on September 28, 2011

what eye thynk: So, apparently if the stimulus package had been passed by W. it would have been a good thing, but because it was passed by Obama, it is a bad thing?

Republican stimulus = good. Democratic stimulus = bad.

And THAT attitude--which the Republicans have carried over into every issue, no matter how small or how large--is exactly what has all but crippled this country for the past four years. 

Note to the Republican Party:  "Compromise" is not a dirty word; and "No" is not a plan.

Do You Want a President Who Thinks Truth is Irrelevant? Romney is Your Man!

In early August, when Mitt Romney was questioned by the media about the factual haziness in some of his television ads, he said that he believed “the various fact checkers”, not the media, should decide what was appropriate and what was not. By late August, he had changed his mind, with Romney campaign pollster Neil Newhouse stating “We’re not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact checkers”.

what eye thynk: Right! Why let facts get in the way of a little campaigning? Truth is for losers!

The whole truth vs. falsehood argument came to a head in late August after the Romney campaign began airing vitriolic television ads claiming that President Obama had “gutted” the work-for-welfare requirement. Fact checkers from every spectrum have condemned this claim as completely false.

What President Obama did was give states some leeway in applying the work requirement. This is the same type of flexibility that Republican governors asked for seven years ago, including then Gov. Mitt Romney.
http://whateyethynk.blogspot.com/2012/08/romneys-hypocritical-welfare-argument.html

But the fact that these ads are based on an out and out lie will not deter the Romney campaign from continuing to air them. They plan on ignoring media criticism and will spend vast amounts of money on them because, as Ashley O’Connor, advertising strategist for the Romney campaign, told ABCNews, the welfare ad is “our most effective ad”. In other words, truth is irrelevant if it gets you what you want.  (I wonder if that’s something Mr. Romney learned in Mormon Sunday School. Maybe the Book of Mormon only has nine commandments?)

It is like the Republicans live in a parallel universe that only they can see; a universe where up is down, black is white, where facts are malleable and where attaining power is a panacea to be treasured above all else--even if it means giving up your soul to achieve it.

Republican Poster Child for "We Built It" Turns Out to be Anything But

Sher Valenzuela, Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor in Delaware and a Latina small business owner, spoke at the Republican National Convention on August 28. She, along with her husband, own a small upholstery business that currently employs approximately 40 people. The Republicans chose to highlight her speech by giving her a primetime slot to emphasize their “We Built It” convention theme.

what eye thynk:   Choosing Ms. Valenzuela to speak at the RNC was undoubtedly viewed by them as great P.R. What better way to promote the GOP party mantra that small businesses are born solely through entrepreneurship and built wholly with personal sweat equity, than to present a woman--and a Hispanic woman to boot--as the prime example of how hard work pays off?

Unfortunately, Ms. Valenzuela is not the perfect poster child they advertised.

I’m going to skip right over the obvious, (her goods are moved on public roads, her business depends on municipal utilities, etc.), and point out her even more blatant I-built-it-alone lie.

In 1998, working with the Small Business Administration, (a federal government agency) and the Delaware Small Business Development and Technology Center, (a state government agency), Ms. Valenzuela received a $20,000 express loan so she and her husband could rent storage space beyond what they were using in their own garage.

In 1999, she and her husband were able to gain larger contracts with the assistance of the Procurement Technical Assistance Center, (a federal government sub-agency within the Small Business Administration).

In 2002, Ms. Valenzuela bragged “We got two loans from the SBA…!” The SBA gave them a $96,000 loan to “modernize and expand our inventory” and, because “the 9/11 tragedy challenged our very existence”, a $65,800 “disaster loan to maintain our business and employees”. 

In each year between 2006 and 2011, the Valenzuelas received at least $1.5M in government contracts--contracts that the PTAC helped them to find.

In all, the Valenzuelas have received $2M in loans from the SBA as well as $15M in government contracts, (about two thirds of those non-competitive), through the PTAC. For someone who is supposed to exemplify the we-built-it-alone-no-government-assistance-needed mantra of the Republican party, she sure seems to have used a lot of government money to run her company.

Ms. Valenzuela continues to use government resources to operate her business and encourages others to do the same. In 2001, in a presentation given to a group of women entrepreneurs, she told them to “start with the no cost/low-cost resources that you, the taxpayer, have already paid for”, calling the loans and free business advice available from government agencies her “BIGGEST secret weapon!”.

And Ms. Valenzuela is not the only business owner who has given up their personal integrity to promote the Romney campaign. One among other entreprenueurs being used by the Republican machine to criticize President Obama is Jack Gilchrist, owner of Gilchrist Metal Fabricating, who stars in a Romney ad criticizing President Obama for his “You didn’t build that” line.

Mr. Gilchrist received $800,000 in tax-exempt revenue bonds as well as a loan “somewhere South of $500,000" from the SBA plus matching funds from the federally-funded New England Trade Adjustment Assistance Center . His explanation? “I’m not going to turn a blind eye because the money came from the government. As far as I’m concerned, I’m getting some of my tax money back." (“Some” of his tax money back? $1.8M?!) “Shame on me if I didn’t use what’s available.”

No, shame on you, Mr. Gilchrist, for appearing in an ad that suggests otherwise. And shame on you Ms.Valenzuela for allowing yourself to be used to advance a lie.

Eye Recommend --- Letter to the Editor

A LETTER TO THE EDITOR, NYTimes -- I'm reproducing this in its entirety.  It is a succinct and well written letter.  Wish I'd written it myself: 

     I am a member of President Obama’s base of supporters. I am disappointed in him because of his failure to sell his achievements to the American people. He inherited two wars and the worst recession since the Great Depression. He also inherited a Congress that was more interested in getting re-elected than in working in the best interests of the American people.

     We have a Supreme Court that feels money is the equivalent of free speech, and so more money is being spent in this election than in any previous election. This money is being spent by both parties to spread lies and half-truths.

     I do not like the America envisioned by Mitt Romney and Paul D. Ryan, in which taxes are cut and there is no safety net for the poor, weak and disabled except for private charities — and in which the primary motive for Americans is to accumulate wealth with no regard for our climate, for the health and education of our children or for the rest of the world.

SUSAN STERN
Newton, Mass., Aug. 31, 2012

Eye Recommend --- The GOP Fact Vacuum

THE GOP FACT VACUUM, by Charles M. Blow -- "Sally Kohn, a contributor to Fox News, said:

'Ryan’s speech was an apparent attempt to set the world record for the greatest number of blatant lies and misrepresentations slipped into a single political speech'."

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/01/opinion/blow-the-gop-fact-vacuum.html

Eye Recommend --- Mr. Romney Reinvents History

MR. ROMNEY REINVENTS HISTORY, New York Times editorial -- "Mitt Romney wrapped the most important speech of his life, for Thursday night’s session of his convention, around an extraordinary reinvention of history — that his party rallied behind President Obama when he won in 2008, hoping that he would succeed."

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/31/opinion/the-hidden-subject-in-tampa.html?_r=1

Eye Recommend --- How the Republicans Built It

HOW THE REPUBLICANS BUILT IT, New York Times editorial -- "Voters looking for a few nuggets of truth would not have found them in Tampa on Tuesday."

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/29/opinion/how-the-republicans-built-it.html?_r=1

Romney's Hypocritical Welfare Argument

In Des Moines on Wednesday, Romney continued his attack on President Obama and welfare saying that when the work requirement was first argued in Congress, then Senator Obama voted against it, (which is true). Mr. Romney went on, “Now he's President, and just a few days ago he put that original intent in place with a very careful executive action, he removed the requirement of work from welfare”.

what eye thynk: First, let’s get the facts straight…the work-for-welfare requirement has not been removed. Then, let’s call Romney's latest attack what it is…hypocrisy, plain and simple.

Last month, the Department of Health and Human Services granted all states some flexibility in the work-for-welfare requirement first put into effect in 1996 under President Clinton.  Following the President's signature, states will now be permitted to extend training periods as well as grant some exemptions. Each state must show that they have a plan better suited to their individual needs and must ask for and gain approval before making any changes. This is the exact type of flexibility that was sought by twenty-nine Republican governors in 2005 -- INCLUDING THEN GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY.

Last year, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, (Republican) asked for and was granted an easing of the work rule. Some families in that state can now be exempted from the work requirement for six months while officials work with them to stabilize their household.

More recently, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, (Republican) asked that refugee families be treated differently because of cultural barriers to employment.

The President, along with the Department of Health and Human Services, has given states exactly what they have been asking for for seven years, but Romney refuses to acknowledge that the impetus for the changes originated with Republicans like himself, choosing instead to vilify the President in the hope that his sanctimonious outpouring of outrage will drive a wedge between President Obama and blue collar voters.

The numbers of white and minority welfare recipients are currently fairly equal, but why allow facts to get in the way when ignoring them can be used to feed the latent racism of this country’s conservatives? And what better way to do that than to malign our first black President by portraying him as coddling his own?

Romney, the Businessman. Think About It.

Mitt Romney continues to campaign on his business record saying it is this record that proves he is ready and capable of running the country.

Last month in an interview on Radio Iowa when asked to defend his off shore accounts, he said, “I don’t manage them. I don’t even know where they are”. According to Mr. Romney, these accounts are managed by a trustee and Mr. Romney makes no hands-on decisions about them.

what eye thynk: Mr. Romney is running on his business record, but large parts of his business enterprises are actually being run by a trustee with no day to day input from Mr. Romney.

So, if we follow this to the Land of Ludicrous, maybe the trustee should be running instead of Mr. Romney?

And, yes, I realize this is silly and there are lots of holes to aim for, but there are just days when Swiss cheese silly is the best way to make a point.  A man who is so wealthy that he doesn't even know where all his money is located cannot possibly understand the economic realities of middle class America. 

If you want my serious take on whether I think Mr. Romney’s business record makes him the right choice for President of the United States, read my post from March 21 of this year: http://whateyethynk.blogspot.com/2012/03/is-unemployment-joke-who-cares.html
  
It reads, in part, “We need answers, and ‘I know how to run a business’ is not an answer. You can’t run a country like you run a corporation. When part of your citizenry asks for decent health care, you can’t fire them because you don’t like their attitude. When the budget doesn’t balance, you can’t sell off a couple of states to raise capital. Think about it”.

Please.  Think about it.

Devalued by Romney

Much has been written about Mitt Romney’s overseas trip this past week. One of the most deconstructed exchanges has been his comparison of Israel and Palestine.

While in Israel, he spoke at length about the difference in Israeli and Palestinian economic situations, comparing the two countries' GDP, (gross domestic product) and pointing out that Israel's GDP is much higher than Palestine's. His interpretation of that was that Israel is populated by a higher class of people with a better developed “culture".  "…and as I come here and look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things."

What eye thynk: “…a few other things”? Really, that’s the best his speech writers could do?

The difference in these two countries’ economic picture has very little to do with “culture” and much to do with economic sanctions forced upon the people of Palestine by the government of Israel. No country can develop a prosperous economy if its citizens are isolated, forbidden trade and restricted from regular, gainful employment.

All of that is obvious to anyone, (except, apparently, Mitt),  and has been dissected by every media outlet over the past few days; but what struck me the most about Mr. Romney’s speech wasn’t the summary of his judgment, but the criteria that he used.

His determination of each country’s “accomplishments” was based solely on their monetary worth--not education, not customs, not religion, not art or music, not family unit, not morality--simply by how much money they have. Can anyone listen to his words and believe that he would judge the 99% in this country any differently?

The man has only one yardstick--money--and if you don’t have it, you are inferior. I may be holding onto the lower end of the middle class by my fingernails, but that doesn’t make me less worthy of notice as a person and citizen of this country.

The fact that the possibility exists that we could elect a man who would impugn my value based simply on the state of my bank account angers me.  And if you’re one of the 99%, it should anger you too.

Willard Mitt Ramirez-Romney for President?

Earlier this year, Mr. Romney was quoted as saying that it would be “disingenuous” of him to claim Mexican heritage.

Now, as he finds himself on the losing end of the projected Hispanic vote count, he is making an all out attempt to connect with Latino voters by playing the Mexican emigration card. Recently, in an apparent attempt to show he is "one of them" he told a group of national Hispanic leaders in Florida that his father emigrated from Mexico.

what eye thynk: How incredibly patronizing.

He didn’t bother to mention that the reason his father had to "emigrate" was that his grandfather had fled to Mexico from the U.S. to avoid America’s anti-polygamy laws.

And it only gets worse. The Romney campaign is now running a Spanish language ad that features one of the Romney sons saying, “My grandfather was born in Mexico. I’m proud of my heritage.”

What heritage?! They were living in Mexico as American citizens in a Mormon church colony. They weren’t there to become Mexican citizens or even to soak up the local culture. They only wanted to continue the early Mormon practice of polygamy and if they could convert a few Mexicans along the way, that would be fine too. They didn’t even speak Spanish for Pete’s sake!

George Romney didn’t emigrate to the United States. He packed his suitcase and moved back home.

The whole thing reeks of  smarmy.  Just another example of Mitt being willing to say and do anything to get what he wants.

Norquist vs. the Citizens of the U.S.?

If Congress cannot get past their present income tax stalemate, the Bush tax cuts will expire on January 1, 2013 raising income taxes for everyone. The Democrats would like to extend the cuts for middle and lower income Americans for one year while ending the cuts for the wealthy. Republicans, who signed the Norquist I-will-never-raise-taxes pledge want to make the tax cuts permanent. This week, Democrats offered a new solution to this conundrum. They offered to allow all the tax cuts to expire on January 1 and would then immediately vote to re-instate the tax cuts for those in the lower and middle income brackets.

Republican Senate Minority Leader, Mitch O’Connell said “This isn’t an economic agenda. It’s an ideological crusade”

what eye thynk: I would call the Democratic plan a convoluted last ditch effort, but an “ideological crusade”? No. 

Mr. O'Connell's comment is even more absurd when you remember that it is coming from the man who, in 2008, said that his party’s main objective would be to defeat President Obama. Not to improve the economy, not to seek an end to a baseless war, not to protect the health of American citizens nor safeguard the environment, not to do anything constructive -- simply to defeat President Obama.

Also consider that this is the party that boasts that over one thousand Republicans, (including Mitt Romney), have signed Grover Norquist’s I-will-never-raise-taxes pledge and have bull-headedly stuck with it even though economists on both sides of the aisle have said we need to generate more tax revenue if we are to have any hope of reducing our national debt.  Now, that is what I would call an "ideological crusade".

Recently some Republicans have voiced their regret at having signed up to be one of Norquist’s groupies. Taking a cue from ex-Florida governor Jeb Bush, (“I don’t believe you outsource your principles and convictions…”), Lindsey Graham, Republican Senator from South Carolina, has said he intends to attempt to convince his fellow Republicans that the time for compromise on tax issues is here. Unfortunately, many of the congressional Republicans whose names are on Norquist’s list fear reprisals from their own party members if they go back on their pledge.

What really angers me about this pledge business is that the same Republicans who are so intent on remaining loyal to Mr. Norquist seem to have forgotten that they also swore an oath of office when they became a member of Congress; and nowhere in that oath does it mention swearing allegiance to one man’s dogma. The United States is supposed to be a country governed by the people, for the people---not by the people, for Grover Norquist.

The Democratic plan, (which, frankly, makes me a little nervous; I mean who is to say that those middle and lower income tax cuts will be reinstated as promised?), gives the Republicans a way to avoid actually voting to raise taxes on the wealthy, allotting them some cover from those who would take to the media to renounce them as pledge breakers. It is sad that governing has come to this -- that in order to accomplish anything, we have to find a way around a self-engendered roadblock.

Mitch O’Connell, who seems to have appointed himself Grover Norquist’s lieutenant/enforcer, needs to look at his own party when he begins throwing around words like “ideological crusade”. Democrats have bent themselves into pretzel-like contortions to assist the Republicans in avoiding any Norquist blowback. Now it is up to the Republicans to decide where their allegiance should rest-- with Norquist or with the country they promised to serve.

If You Can't Get What You Want Fair and Square -- Cheat

Last week, North Carolina’s Governor Bev Perdue (D) vetoed a budget passed by her state’s Republican legislature that cut all funding for Planned Parenthood. The Republicans overrode her veto.

Last year the same pattern of pass/veto/override occurred, but a Federal judge stopped the defunding of Planned Parenthood by saying that a state may not target a particular health care provider simply because it advocates abortion rights since, though abortions cannot be paid for with federal money, they are legal under federal law.

This year, the Republican legislature is attempting to get around the judge’s ruling by not naming Planned Parenthood openly. Instead they use language prohibiting the state from contracting with “private providers” of family planning services. Since Planned Parenthood is the only organization in North Carolina that fits this criteria, the result is the same.

what eye thynk: Will these people never give up? This new budget language is nothing but a blatant attempt to scam the court into overlooking their prejudicial stand on a woman’s legal right to choose.

And North Carolina is not alone in this. Recently, Ohio abortion foes got language added to Governor John Kasich’s budget review bill stripping Planned Parenthood of 1.7M in federal money that was to be used for health care in that state. Since federal money cannot be used to pay for abortions, what do they think they are actually accomplishing?

As a side note, this is money that you and I pay as taxes that is supposed to come back to us in services--services to which these legislators are denying us access. If our state refuses the money, we don’t get a refund; it just becomes money we threw into the wind and for which we gain no benefit.

This Republican anti-abortion posturing may look good to their religious conservative fan base; but, in the end, they have achieved nothing in their war on abortion rights and, in fact, may be making it worse. By defunding Planned Parenthood, these conservatives are not only denying poor women in North Carolina, Ohio and other states basic health care, but also their access to contraception.

Less contraception can only result in more unwanted pregnancies. And more unwanted pregnancies can only result in more abortions--which Planned Parenthood will still be providing using the same private funds they were using before this legislative finagling started.　

July 9 - Monday Quote

All the Republicans who continue to insist that Ronald Reagan was the be-all and end-all of conservative politics, should remember that he also stood for fairness in our tax laws and that being wealthy shouldn't exempt you from paying your fair share.

monday quote:  We are going to close the unproductive tax loopholes that have allowed some of the truly wealthy to avoid paying their fair share. In theory, some of those loopholes were understandable, but in practice they sometimes made it possible for millionaires to pay nothing while a bus driver was paying 10% of his salary and that’s crazy. It’s time we stopped it. (Ronald Reagan, President, 1911-2004)

Delaware!

In response to all the Republican declination of the Supreme Court's ruling on the ACA, Governor Jack Markell of Delaware, (D), is quoted as saying that he welcomes the opportunity to help more of his constituents and is working to make sure that the state of Delaware is prepared to implement all aspects of the Affordable Care Act in full and on schedule.

what eye thynk: Finally, an adult has entered the room.

The Republicans are Lunching on Sour Grapes

The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act--and the Republicans are not happy.

The facts -- Each state is required to set up an insurance exchange where the people of that state can compare policies and costs before joining a health care plan. If a state does not set up an exchange, the federal government will take over and set up an exchange for that state. Citizens making up to 400% of the poverty level will get a subsidy to help pay for their health care. Those at or below the poverty level would be added to the Medicare rolls with the federal government paying 100% of that cost for the first three years. After that, the federal government’s portion goes down by small increments each year until it reaches 90% where it will stay. Any state can refuse to expand Medicare.


#1 Mitt Romney says that the ACA puts the government between patients and their doctor.

what eye thynk: Mitt, buddy, think beyond your affluent circle of acquaintances for just a minute. Millions of Americans would love to have a patient/government/doctor relationship, but first they need a doctor…and they can’t afford one!


#2 Republican Governor John Kasich of Ohio spoke through Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor.  "At this point, the governor and I agree--we discussed this today--he’s been fully briefed--that we do not see how running a state based exchange is good for Ohio. Ultimately we concluded that Obamacare is not consistent with our values…"

what eye thynk: So, the uninsured and the poor in Ohio don’t count in your “values”? Exactly how much money does an Ohio citizen need to have before he has value in your eyes, Mr. Kasich?
　
#3 Republican Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana says he will neither expand Medicare nor create a state based exchange for those wishing to purchase health insurance. He says he is waiting for November when he hopes that Romney will undo the law.

what eye thynk: Good luck with that. Romney’s promise to repeal the ACA on “my first day in office” is an empty oath. Only Congress can repeal the ACA, and that just simply is not going to happen. Even Louisiana’s hospitals and health care providers are begging Gov. Jindal to reconsider his stance. If Medicare is not expanded in Louisiana, the poorest of the poor will get nothing. The money that the federal government would have spent to help the truly poor in Louisiana will go to other states while Louisiana hospitals and free clinics, (free clinics like Planned Parenthood which is, of course, also anathema to today’s Republican politician), will be left to deal with the problem.

#4 Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky said "Just because a couple of people on the Supreme Court declare something to be ‘constitutional’ does not make it so".

what eye thynk: Does this man have any idea how our government is structured? Maybe a remedial course in Government 101 is called for.

#5 Glenn Beck is calling Chief Justice Roberts a coward and has begun selling t-shirts saying this.

what eye thynk: Is this man really an adult? Has anyone checked to see if maybe he’s just a 6 year old wearing an old guy costume?

#6 Michael Sanger, (spelling?), conservative radio personality said that Roberts ruled the way he did because he was taking epilepsy medication. “Neurologists will tell you that medication used for seizure disorders, such as epilepsy, can introduce mental slowing, forgetfulness and other cognitive problems. And if you look at Roberts’ writings, you can see the cognitive dissociation in what he is saying”.

what eye thynk: Whoooo, boy.

**********

The fact is that the Affordable Care Act is a LAW. Conservative pundits can rant against it all they want--this is, after all a country that guarantees their freedom to speak out.

However, the elected officials who are declining to uphold the federal statute need to be reminded that each of them put their hand on a Bible and swore to uphold the laws of their state and their country. There is no small print that says “except when I don’t want to”. Every one of these preening politicians is in contempt of the job he pledged to do.

And, finally, the disdain with which they view their own citizens is chilling...and disgraceful.

Michigan, the State that Made "Vagina" Into a Four-Letter Word

No Monday Quote this week; I thought I’d share this instead...

Last Thursday, Michigan State Representative Lisa Brown (D) was barred from speaking on the House floor as punishment for using the word “vagina” the previous day while speaking out against a proposed anti-abortion bill. Her exact words were “"I'm flattered you're all so concerned about my vagina. But no means no." Republican State Representative Mike Callton found Ms. Brown’s comments “offensive“, going on to say “I don’t even want to say it in front of women. I would not say that in mixed company”.

what eye thynk: I actually feel a little sorry for Mike Callton. He appears to have the same emotional/sexual maturity of your average twelve year old; you know, the ones who can’t say “it” out loud so they giggle over some smutty euphemism instead.

As Representative Brown said in a later interview, “If I can’t say vagina, why are we legislating vaginas? What word should I use?” It should be pointed out that the 50 page anti-abortion bill that she was debating, (and which eventually passed the House 70-39), uses the word “vagina” three times in the text. Perhaps Mr. Callton’s staff had the word redacted from his copy of the bill so as to save him from such distressing exposure?

As a side note, State Representative Barb Byrum, (D) also found herself barred from speaking after she tried to introduce an amendment to the same anti-abortion bill that would have banned vasectomies unless the man’s life was at risk. (Apparently she didn’t get the memo that, in today's political arena, birth control is to be considered a female-only issue. The sanctity of male freedom to choose is not open for debate.)

Someone needs to explain to Representative Callton that, while he may be offended by the word, it is really just a word…like penis…or idiot.

Forget Economic Oversight - Just Make Sure There Are Enough Pencils!

This is an addendum to my post of Sunday, June 10. 

Before leaving Washington for this week’s recess, the House of Representatives passed judgment on a few more important pieces of legislation. They voted to reduce the budget for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, refused to budget funds for the Securities and Exchange Commission that are needed to carry out the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill and cut funds that had been designated for repairs on the Capitol dome. They also passed a piece of legislation increasing their individual office budgets.

what eye thynk: So the Republican led house wants to nix any new oversight on the stock market or banking industries, effectively allowing them to operate in the same way that brought about our 2008 economic meltdown.

At least when the country implodes and the Capitol dome falls on their heads, our Representatives will have enough paper clips. 

I feel better already.

Congress - Are We Getting Our Money's Worth?

Next week is the twenty-fifth week of 2012 and Congress will be adjourning for their fifth week-long recess. In preparation for their week off, the House of Representatives rushed to pass some new legislation designed to enhance their conservative credentials but destined to die on the congressional scrap heap.

what eye thynk: Why do these people even bother coming to work? Or better yet, why do we bother to pay them? Maybe we should begin to consider our congressmen to be piece workers--pass a piece of legislation that can get through both houses of Congress and that the President will sign and we’ll cut you a paycheck. I’d be willing to bet we’d see them working more than 20% of the time. They would most certainly have to stop wasting time passing bills that are designed only to be eye-candy for the far right. They may even learn to listen to other opinions and (gasp!) rediscover the art of compromise!

The latest round of silliness includes a Republican sponsored bill that prohibits the creation of any new federal regulations until unemployment goes below 6 percent. This is just a skewed way of saying “We don’t care about worker safety, the environment, job equality or anything that may impede the corporate double-time march to godhood“. (It would, however, be interesting to see how that no-new-regulations idea could be applied to all those abortion road-blocks of which the Republicans are so proud.)

Last Thursday, the Republican controlled House voted to repeal an important part of the Affordable Care Act by voting to remove the requirement that companies selling more than $5M in medical devices pay a higher tax on their earnings. This tax money was intended to subsidize health insurance for those who fall into the lowest income brackets. The House bill will not even be taken up by the Senate, the fact of which the Republicans were well aware even as they preened for their conservative homeys.

At the same time, the House refuses to consider any legitimate or useful legislation like the transportation bill which is designed to help the economy by creating millions of new jobs while rebuilding our aging infrastructure. But NOT helping the economy is their real purpose here. The Republican party has completely lost sight of reason. They have become so focused on the goal of defeating the Democrats that they have abandoned any semblance of governing--and governing is their job, it is what we, as citizens pay them to do.

How long to you think Romney would have employed a private sector worker he hired to paint a yellow line down the middle of the highway if that worker instead spent all his time pulling weeds along the berm? But this is exactly what the Republican controlled House is doing while conservatives rain kudos down on their congressional heads, never noticing that the highway, with its missing center line has become a million car pile-up.

I’m sick of being treated like a dandelion. It is time to hire a Congress that will keep their hands on the paint brush and off the Round-Up. Is anyone with me?