"Thank You!"

Today is January 1, 2013. 

Happy New Year! 

And welcome to the bottom of the fiscal cliff.

We should probably be writing about how congress  failed to reach an agreement on the fiscal cliff issues before the midnight deadline; once again placing their ideology and job security before the good of the nation.  After all such historic incompetence warrants comment.  But we’ll save that for  when and if a deal is actually voted into law.

In case you were too deep in the cups to notice; two hours after the deadline the senate managed to cobble together a lame ass bill that addresses the tax issues but puts off the really tough decisions on spending for a couple of months.  The House is supposed to vote on the matter at noon today.  But with the Tea Party crazies involved passage is anything but certain.

So rather than waste your time on “ifs and buts” we’d like to take this opportunity to say...

“Thank You!”

“Thank You” to all of you who have taken time from your busy lives to read our ramblings.  “Thank You” for your comments… both pro and con.  “Thank You” for your support and encouragement.

We have tried our best to cut through the noise and bring you the sometimes ugly and dysfunctional truth about our politics.  To say that our self imposed task is often frustrating is an understatement.  But your encouragement and support over these past two years and 546 postings make it all worthwhile.

Thank You!

Plenty Of Blame To Go Around

Today is Monday, December 31, 2012…the day the country OFFICIALLY steps to the edge of the fiscal cliff.

For those of you who may have a life outside politics; the fiscal cliff is a combination of self imposed spending cuts and tax increases designed to scare the beejeezus out of legislators and force them to deal substantively with the country’s debt and deficit.  Naturally, Washington has waited until the eleventh hour to have any meaningful dialogue on the matter.  Consequently, as the midnight deadline approaches, it appears that the final episode of the 112^th Congressional Clown Show will produce little more than a temporary agreement to keep middle class tax cuts from rising while tabling the core issues of our fiscal mess (defense, entitlements, tax reform) until the debt ceiling debate in February.

We cannot express strongly enough how utterly irresponsible this congress has been in legislating this matter.

This problem was a decade in the making.  It started when the Bush administration passed the infamous “Bush Tax Cuts” without establishing any means to pay for them. 

The Obama administration continued this flawed policy by extending the expiring tax cuts for an additional two years while once again making no effort to offset them with spending cuts.    In an effort to bring the matter to a conclusion congress agreed to the “sequestration” tax increases and spending cuts that are set to take effect at midnight tonight.  This “fiscal cliff’ deadline was set two years ago.  For two years we have watched Washington lawmakers avoid the issue; placing their own political self interest ahead of the well being of the country.

The truth of the matter is no one in Washington…from the president on down…is willing to make the tough political decisions necessary to place our fiscal house in order.

Once upon a time the president established the Simpson-Bowles Commission to develop a plan to reduce our debt and deficit.  But when the commission published its findings the president barely cracked the spine on the report.

The Republicans ripped the president for ignoring the findings of his own commission.  They praised Simpson-Bowles as sound basis for curing the county’s financial woes.  But when it came time to negotiate they ran away from the $2.6 trillion in revenue increases in the SB report and offered the president a meager $800 billion.

Democrats in congress say they are serious about reducing the debt.  But they won’t touch three of the four biggest drivers of our long term financial obligations: Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

Republicans in congress say they are serious about reducing the debt.  But they continue to feed a bloated defense budget; ordering aircraft, missiles and vessels that the pentagon says they don’t want or need.  All to cater to local defense contractors back home.

Democrats want to solve our financial problems by raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans…even though the increased revenue from those tax increases will only run the country for 7 or 8 days.

Republicans say they don’t want to raise taxes on anyone.  Yet they are willing to watch taxes go up on everyone rather than raise the rates on 2% of Americans while keeping rates the same for the remaining 98% of the country.

So how does this happen? 

Tom Brokaw says it happens because: “The system is rigged.  Seventy-five percent of the members of congress come from gerrymandered districts in which they are bulletproof.”  In other words they are more concerned with local politics and their prospects for re-election than they are the national good.

Republican Senator Tom Coburn says that it happens:” Because congress no longer functions the way the founders intended.  Deals are done in backrooms.  It used to be that bills were brought to the floor.  They were amended and then voted on.  If the passed they were sent to the other chamber…where they were amended.  They went to conference.  And then they were sent to the president for signature.  But that doesn’t happen anymore.  Bills aren’t put on the floor because everyone is afraid to cast a vote that may get them sent back home.”

We agree that both of these scenarios are instrumental in developing the gridlock that permeates Washington.  We also believe that there is a lack of leadership.  Boehner and Reid have combined to make this 112^th congress the most inept and impotent congress in our history.  But the president must shoulder his part of the blame as well.  It’s not enough to be right on policy.  You have to sell it.  And while we understand that this president is loathe crawling into the trenches of everyday politics…that’s his job.

But the blame for our financial difficulties does not stem solely from Washington politics and gridlock.  The American people must bear their share of the blame as well. Because it is the American people who penalize Democrats if they dare suggest modifications to entitlements.  It is the American people who penalize Republicans if they dare to raise taxes. 

The ugly truth of the matter is that the American people have demonstrated that they are more than willing to “saddle our children with the burden of our debt” if the debt reducing alternative is the elimination of programs or the reduction of benefits that they receive now. 

How does this happen?

There is plenty of blame to go around.    

     

      

Boehner Still Holds The Key

Today is December 26^th.  Only five days remain before the country goes over the fiscal cliff.

One would think that our illustrious members of congress would be in Washington feverishly working out a deal that would save the country from another recession. 

Sadly that is not the case.  Most of them are still at home, enjoying their families and trying to explain to their constituents why their membership in the most unproductive congress in US history matters. 

Speaker Boehner has withdrawn from the fiscal cliff negotiations having suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of his own party.  He says that it is now up to the president and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to craft a plan that will be able to pass the gridlock of the House.

Not so fast my orange friend.

While Boehner might like to wash his hands of this whole mess it is he and he alone who will decide if we go over that cliff. 

You see, no matter what the president and Harry Reid cobble together it is certain to include a tax increase.  And the Tea Party members of Boehner’s caucus say that they will never, ever, ever vote for anything that includes an increase in taxes.  So the only way this gets done before the cliff jumping begins is for Reid and Obama to put together a bill that passes the Democrat controlled Senate.  Then Boehner must be willing to call for a House vote on the bill that includes a small handful of moderate Republicans who are willing to vote for passage with the House Democrats.  Boehner has vowed that he will not call for a vote on ANY bill unless it is supported by a majority of his Republican caucus. 

So unless Boehner is able to control the Tea Party radicals or is willing to go back on his vow…nothing will pass.

Happy Holidays!          

NRA: Arm The Schools

The NRA promised to provide us with “meaningful contributions that would prevent tragedies like the Sandy Hook murders from ever happening again.”

This morning, in one of the most self serving and bizarre news conferences that we have ever witnessed, NRA Executive Director Wayne LaPierre told us that the way to stop events like Sandy Hook from ever happening again is to provide armed security at every school in America.

(NOTE: There WAS an armed security guard on site at the time of the Columbine shooting.)  

Mr. LaPierre called on congress and local authorities to provide the funding that would put armed guards at each and every school in America by the time the children return from their holiday vacations.  He noted that the NRA sponsors a nationally acclaimed security training program that they would be willing to offer free of charge.

Mr. LaPierre said that: “the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun.”

As one pundit noted: "According to the NRA, the way to protect our children is to marshall an army of George Zimmerman's and turn them loose in our schools."

At no time did Mr. LaPierre address the assault weapons or the place they play in the proliferation of violence in our country.  In fact he blamed the media for propagating the unfounded vilification of assault weapons and the individuals who own them.  Mr. LaPierre attributed the cause of the mass shootings to deranged monsters and the media that glorifies them.  He also blamed the entertainment industry that produces graphically violent video games and once again the media for failing to report on the affects of these videos on our children.  Finally he blamed the parents who allow their children to watch these videos.

Mr. LaPierre took no questions and was interrupted twice by protestors carrying signs.

It is hard for us to know where to start.

First of all mass murders like Sandy Hook do not just occur in schools. If we are to follow Mr. LaPierre’s logic then we should have armed guards at every mall, cinema, grocery store, church, temple, mosque, civic center etc.  Are we to become an armed society where everyone carries a gun as a matter of course?  In Mr. LaPierre’s world…yes.

Second, the United States of America is not the only country that produces violent video games.  Japan and Great Britain produce the vast majority of violent video games viewed worldwide. Yet their gun related instances are infinitesimal when compared to ours.  Could it be that is because they have very stringent gun laws?

Finally, we are not the only nation that has citizens that are mentally challenged.  Once again their gun related instances pale in comparison to ours.

Our violent crime rates are off the charts compared to those in every other industrialized country.  The only difference is the proliferation of firearms in our society.  Mr. LaPierre would like to see that number increase.

This was not a press conference.  It was an advertisement on behalf of the NRA presented by a cold, self serving man who is out of touch with the majority of Americans.

The Republican Party dances to the tune of the NRA.  Their members court “A” ratings from the NRA and count on NRA funding for their campaigns.  Republicans are so in bed with the NRA that they have remained noticeably silent on the Sandy Hook shootings this week awaiting today’s much anticipated words of wisdom.

Now Republicans have their marching orders.

The way to combat the proliferation gun violence in our society is by increasing the proliferation of guns in our society. Brilliant!

This is the "meaningful contribution" that the NRA waited a week to tell us...the same nonsense that they preach after every gun related tragedy.  Their answer to gun violence is to put more guns on the streets.

Congratulations to Wayne LaPierre and the NRA.  With today's out of touch tone deaf "press conference" you may have galvinized the anti-gun community in a way that they have never been galvinized before.  

   

  

             

Tea Party Crazies Embarrass Boehner Again.

John Boehner’s “Plan B” is now history.

Speaker Boehner was unable to take his “Plan B” proposal to the floor when it became clear that he didn’t have the votes within his own caucus to pass the measure.  An embarrassed and severely weakened speaker sent his caucus home for the Christmas holiday with no indication as to when they might meet again.

The speaker will hold a press conference today during which he is expected to wash his hands of the “fiscal cliff” negotiations.  He will say that it is now the responsibility of the president and the Democrats in the Senate to put together a package that will avoid the cliff.

“Plan B” was a bad plan that was poorly executed by the speaker.  You never call for a vote on a bill unless you have first counted noses to make sure that it will pass.  Speaker Boehner misinterpreted the willingness of 30-40 Tea Party members to put their partisan ideology ahead of the will of the country.  He thought that by publically announcing that the House would pass his “Plan B” he and other party moderates could persuade the Tea Party coalition to come along for the good of the party.  He was wrong.  He is without question one of the most ineffective speakers in our history exceeded only by the impotence of the do nothing House chamber over which he presides.

Now it will be up to Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell and the president to put together a plan that can pass the Senate.  That WILL happen.  Then it will be up to Boehner and House Republicans to decide whether or not the country will move forward or go over the fiscal cliff.

The Republican Party is in disarray, held hostage by Grover Norquist, the NRA and a small minority of Tea Party crazies that would rather see the country crash and burn than give up in their ideological dogma.  They are tone deaf to the will of the country.  Instead of talking about taxes and jobs and small government conservative values that have stood the test of time they talk about birth certificates, contraception, gay marriage, fair pay and self deportation. 

A year ago Boehner and the president had worked out a deal that was far better for Republicans than the one currently on the table.  But when Boehner took it to his caucus the Tea Party crew shot it down.  We now know that last Monday the speaker and the president had worked out the frame work of another compromise.  Once again the radical right forced the speaker to walk away.  And last night they embarrassed Boehner once again.  This is not a political party with a distinctive brand and a set of core values.  It is a little more than a gaggle of warring factions fueled by blind ideology and the desire to preserve their jobs come Election Day.

Consider that one week ago Adam Lanza took the lives of 26 people…20 of them 6-7 year olds.  One week later…in the wake of one of the most horrible tragedies in American history…we have heard nothing from the leadership of the Republican Party. 

The NRA has scheduled a news conference this morning where they promise to put forth a strategy that will stop instances like the Sandy Hook shooting from ever happening again.  This morning Joe Scarborough, former four term conservative Republican congressman and current host of MSNBC’s  “Morning Joe” revealed that he had reached out to several of his Republican friends including members of party leadership and asked them to appear on his show to discuss gun control.  He was told:  “we can’t talk to you until the NRA holds its news conference.”

From our prospective…that says it all.

The Republican Party is on the verge of irrelevance held hostage by a radical few. 

    

"Houston...We Have A Problem"

Just when it looked like Democrats and Republicans were close to a deal that would avoid the “fiscal cliff” the wheels came off the wagon.

The president campaigned on the promise of raising taxes on those individuals making over $200,000 and those families making over $250,000.  He said he would not budge on that promise.  Then he did; raising the number to $400,000.  And there is little doubt that he would go to $500,000 if that cemented the deal. 

The president said the he would not place the burden of avoiding the fiscal cliff on the backs of the middle class while giving tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires.  Then he did; agreeing to Republican demands to adjust the cost of living indexes for entitlement programs…a move that will save the government about a trillion dollars in benefit payments over the next decade.

He said that he would reach out to the business community to get their pulse on the changes needed to revive the economy and create jobs.  Then he did; hosting a number of industry leaders at the White House.  As a result, CEO's who had previously opposed the president’s efforts to reach an economic deal are now firmly in his corner.  CEO’s want a deal; even if it means that they pay higher taxes.  Certainty trumps tax rates.

The president says that he has met the Republicans half way.  By any measure he is correct.  You know that the president has given in on some of his core issues by the savage attacks he is receiving from his own base.

So where are the Republicans?

The president was expecting some type of counteroffer to his $400,000 proposal.  Instead Boehner announced that the House would vote today on a bill that kept the Bush tax cuts in place for all but those making over $1,000,000…period…a plan the speaker refers o as “Plan B.”  Eric Cantor then added to the mess with $200 billion in spending cuts that slashed the social safety net.

What?

If passed in the House this “Plan B” has no chance of passing the Senate.  And even if it does the president has pledged to veto it. 

So what is Boehner doing?

Basically trying to save his speakership.

Boehner doesn’t really care about going over the fiscal cliff.  What he cares about is avoiding a deal today that may cost him his speaker ship when his caucus votes on the matter on January 3^rd.  So he proposes this $1,000,000 bill with two thoughts in mind.  If it passes the House Boehner can say that he has his caucus in line and that he is in a stronger position to debate the president on cutting expenses and raising the debt ceiling.  If the bill fails he may look weaker; but he is gambling that when the country goes over the fiscal cliff Americans will place the blame on the Democrats and the president for shooting down legislation that raises taxes on millionaires.  Meanwhile he will have bought the time he needs to secure his speakership and the bargaining power to reach a more favorable deal with the president.  Boehner is taking a big gamble here.  He wants to keep his speakership.  But to do that he has to bow to the far right in his caucus who have yet to get the message that the president won the election.  Essentially Boehner is putting his speakership ahead of the will of the people. 

If you look at the proposals on the table the two sides are about $250 billion apart over ten years.  That’s chicken feed.  There is a deal to be made.  But Boehner still has the problem of getting his caucus in line.  Many of his more conservative members still refuse to raise taxes under any circumstances.  In the end Boehner may find himself forced to do something her really doesn’t want to do…bring a bill to the floor that passes the House with only a bare minimum of Republican votes.  If that happens before the end of the year Boehner’s days as speaker may be drawing to an end.

Elections matter.  The president has the country’s support and the very large megaphone of the bully pulpit.  The business community is on board.  And in the country has little patience for ideological pettiness in wake of the Connecticut shootings.  Everyone wants a deal…now.

Houston...Speaker Boehner has a problem.         

        

This & That!

WHERE ARE THE REPUBLICANS?  The Republican Party has been very quiet these past few days on the issue of gun control.  As the groundswell of support for banning assault weapons and extended capacity clips grows Republican legislators seem to have retreated into hidey holes.  Surely, in the after math of the murders of 20 6-7 year olds Republicans could find it within their hearts to ban weapons that are intended for use in war.  Joe Manchin had the courage to speak out as did a few conservatives in the media.   But by and large Republican legislators have been silent.  Perhaps they are awaiting their marching orders from the NRA.  The NRA has promised to release a major policy statement this Friday.  Then Republicans will know what to do.  Stay tuned.

LOOKING TOWARD 2016!  While we wait for Republicans to do the right thing on gun control there are a few who have chosen a very different path.  Republican Texas Governor Rick Social Security is a ponzi scheme Perry Virginia Governor Bob trans-vaginal ultra sound McDonald have decided that the best way to protect our children is to arm their teachers.  They are seconded in this brilliant strategy by the always ridiculous Republican Congressman from Texas; Louis Ghomert.  Both governors are eyeing White House bids in 2016.  They are most definitely GOP presidential material.  And what could be better than having the support of a lunatic like Ghomert.

WHERE IS JOHN McCAIN? The AP reports that an independent panel charged with investigating the September 11 attack in Libya that killed a US ambassador and three other Americans has concluded that “systematic management and leadership failures at the State Department” led to “grossly inadequate security” at the mission in Benghazi.  In other words…the blame for the death of four Americans lies at the feet of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her management team.  Now that we have the results of this independent study; why haven’t we heard from Senator John McCain?  The good senator was more than willing to eviscerate UN Ambassador Susan Rice for her accounting of the attack on the Sunday news shows; even though he knew full well that she had nothing to do with the security measures at the Benghazi mission.  But he seems unwilling to level the same diatribe at Secretary Clinton; the person ultimately accountable for the tragedy.  Could it be that McCain’s torpedoing of Rice’s nomination as Clinton’s replacement was simply payback for he attacks on him during the 2008 campaign.  Or could it be that he knows that attacking the powerful and popular Hillary Clinton would destroy his already marginal hope of retaining any position of power within the Senate?  Senator McCain is a war hero who has served his country with honor. We salute his years of service.  But he is also a grumpy old man who is still bitter over his campaign loss to the president and the part Ambassador Rice played in his defeat. 

SPEAKING OF HILLARY CLINTON…  Mrs. Clinton, succumbing to the effects of dehydration, fainted last week and suffered a concussion from the fall.  She was schedule to appear before Congress tomorrow to answer questions on the attacks on the Benghazi mission.  Her office has informed Congress that she is still recuperating and will be unable to testify.  State Department officials William Burns and Thomas Nides will appear in her place.  Hmmmm...  Football players get their bell rung all the time and are back on the field the next day…  We’re just sayin’.  The last time somebody substituted for Clinton to answer questions on Benghazi it didn’t go so well.  Burns and Hides might want to get some pointers from Susan Rice.