© 2011
I’m not applauding the legislative deal that John Boehner and House Republicans cobbled together to extend the payroll tax cut. Some may say I’m being overly difficult – to which I would reply: “No, I’m not – I’m saying enough is enough. I’m saying that I am sick of Boehner’s ineptness and that I am sick of his feckless charade of leadership.”
I’m sick of the oft-regurgitated bromide that says, “We have to pick our battles.” I’m neither a political neophyte nor a Republican ideologue who blindly accepts the argument that “extending the payroll tax cuts was important, but this is even better because we’ve forced Obama to make a decision on the Keystone XL oil pipeline project.” Those of us who have been around the political block know political speak when we hear it, and we know when politicians are playing us for fools.
First of all, Obama has already decided on the Keystone pipeline. He decided on it when he said he wasn’t going to decide on it. Boehner has accomplished nothing – zip, nada, zero – and giving him a pass and applause for failure is precisely why America stands with her toes extended over the abyss.
In his USA Today article, “Obama unlikely to change mind on oil pipeline,” David Jackson wrote: “Gene Sperling, director of the National Economic Council, noted that [the] proposals only require Obama to make a decision within 60 days. The State Department continues to conduct an environmental review of the Keystone XL oil pipeline project.”
He pointed out that Sperling told CNN: “I just referred back to what the State Department said, [that] it was very unlikely … that 60 days would be enough time for them to be able to guarantee to the American people that an adequate safety and health and environmental review had been done.”
Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., echoed same when he said Obama [was] just going to use the option given to him not to let it go forward.”
Charles Krauthammer nailed it when he said, “Congress … reached a compromise on what must be one of the worst pieces of legislation in years.”
The legislation extends unemployment benefits and payroll-tax relief for a whopping two months, but it doesn’t create-encourage-provide one job. Worse, it makes Obama look like the unifier and it allows him to paint tea-party groups as the villains when they reject Boehner’s imbecilic deal making.
I don’t agree with Krauthammer often, but he’s absolutely spot-on when he says: “To begin with, what even minimally rational government enacts payroll-tax relief for just two months? As a matter of practicality alone, it makes no sense. The National Payroll Reporting Consortium, representing those who process paychecks, said of the two-month extension passed … just days before the new year: ‘there is insufficient lead time to accommodate the proposal.”
This summer, I wrote: “I told you Boehner could not be trusted – and once again I’m right. I was right on the budget talks, when not only did he not get a good deal but, as David Stockman, Mark Levin, myself, and others predicted, he caved in and then [misled us] about what he did get” (“I was right not to trust John Boehner,” July 9, 2011).
I continued: “Now he’s back to the same old tactics – bluster, bluff and then fold like a $3 pair of pants.” This drama will now be played out again, supposedly, when Congress returns from its Christmas vacation – at which time we will witness yet another kabuki theater of the absurd production, with Boehner accompanied by Eric Cantor (his stunt double in these dramas) traipsing from camera to camera, giving his best impressions of talking tough.
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Boehner had a chance to stand firm in the budget cuts, and he didn’t. He had a chance to stand firm on the debt ceiling issue and, again, he did not. He may have picked up the tough talk heard in taprooms from his days as barroom worker, but he obviously didn’t pick up the part where you back up the tough talk with tough action. We need more real leadership and less empty rhetoric. Boehner and the Republican leadership have disappointed and failed us at every turn, and it is time to put an end to it.
It is misleading and dishonest for conservatives to singularly blame Democrats for the economic condition in which we find ourselves. Democrats may have had Congress for several years, but if we are to be honest, we cannot ignore what Boehner and company did when they were in charge of Congress. Even today, uncontrolled spending has neither subsided nor decreased under Boehner’s leadership. ( See: “How much of this did Republican leadership oppose?,” Dec. 22, 2011.)
I repeat – we cannot and will not have change until we remove the blinders from our eyes. Our nation and way of life are in peril. Our children and grandchildren are in jeopardy of losing everything America has stood for from its inception. Fighting for Boehner and company to do more of the same is not the answer. Congress works for us, and Obama would be less of an enemy if we had Republican leadership that understood guerilla warfare.
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I’ve about come to the conclusion that nothing short of a revolution will ever change anything in todays government. I’ts too well funded and entrenched. In fact we have the best government that MONEY can purchase.
hankypanky: we had the start of revolution w/ the tea party…but as I warned against the heads of many tea party groups wanted to be the darlings of the republican party and what began as a true movement of the people was allowed to be corrupted by politicians…to the point that those tea party groups who refuse to bow to the thrown of the republican hierarchy are openly bastardized…
Another insightful article, Mychal! It seems to me that instead of being active in choosing our representatives, we’ve become a nation of just going with “The lesser of two evils.” The TP are the rare group of American’s who seem to want to work hard toward putting the BEST people for the job in office, and sadly, the rest of the sheeple chastise them for it. Frankly, now that HC is out of the running, I can’t wrap my brain around any of the GOP candidates – I keep thinking, “Can’t we do better than THESE folks?” Guess that’s what happens when we put all of our eggs in one basket — guilty as charged. Ugh.
snoopsister: you didn’t put all of your eggs in one basket…you put them in the basket of the only candidate who was truly in touch w/ the people…and the so-called leadership is intent upon continuing “the lesser of two evils” because they know it works…just as they know they can bastardize the voters for daring to think for themselves…
People; This is what it all boils down to.
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/Illuminati/rockefeller_fortunes.htm
Your’re right. “They” don’t care about The People. We are but Robots to most of the present elected officials and a lot of them have become Obama’s Robots. At first, I did feel badly for Speaker of the House because he was caught between a rock and a hard place. No matter what, The Speaker would be the butt. If he didn’t cave, The People expecting the tax breaks would hate him. If he did Cave The People would hate him for giving in. No win situation there. Correct me if I’m wrong on that. As we well know, Obama usually gets his way with his “agenda.” Just recently, he asked for more money to add to the debt crisis. (trip to Hawaii was expensive for Obama family and Pelosi) If Congress didn’t pass it, he would veto and do his thing as President. Now, That is a threat in my book. We have a Dictator in the White House!! Obama uses threats and intimidated on the House and Senate almost daily! By-passed Congress all together on important issues that should have been Congress’s job. Congress did not have the intestinal fortitude to stand up and say “Wait a minute Pres, you’re usurping our power!” My opinion is that there is so much “Soros and Bilderberg” going on in all corners of government that our decent elected officials are beaten down like mangy dogs and have no self worth. They have become like the robots that “The People” have become. Those who refuse to give up and perform as Obama wishes, are outcasts. It is time to clean House and it boggles my mind as to which R Candidate can truly do the job. He/She cannot be one of the Bilderbergs or on any Soros money take. That will be a problem since they have advanced this far for One World Government. Obama definately is a Bilderberg President with links to George Soros, James Johnson and Frank Pearl. Forget about Rev. Wright and Ayers. That is a decoy. The real menace lies in the afore mentioned.
marilyn: I have no sympathy for boehner…he is worthless…had he done his job before we’d have less debt today…but he went along w/ bush spending…doing what is right is doing what is right…not doing what is convenient…thk goodness the apostles didn’t share the point of view of convenience…
Throw them out starting with the leadership, Beohner, McConell,etc, put them all on Social Security and Medicare, take away their expense accounts, and jail them when they break the law,
ben: i agree w/ you….
People, we can sit back and complain all we want but until we decide once and for all to do something about it, nothing will change. In fact, it will only get worse until we cannot even complain with our voices or our fingers for fear of the consequences. Say goodbye to the Constitution and our great nation!
We know that we have poor leadership in the HOR and the Senate and we have a person who is President of the United States BUT believes he is a king. Never thought this would happen in my lifetime.
2012 is going to be the most important election year of our lives because this great country as we know it is at stake.
Now is the time to stop complaining and take action. We all hear or read the words “Vote them out.” How are we to do accomplish this mission? Well for one, it’s time to get behind candidates who believes in the Constitution and will uphold it.
You can/should volunteer your time, donate money not matter how small the donation, write letters to your local newspaper, internet forums, etc., etc. in order to get true American patriots elected to office. Did you know that you don’t even have to leave your house to donate time for a candidate? You may phone bank, talk to your neighbors, have campaign sign(s) in your yard or bumper sticker(s) on your vehicles. All you need to do is contact the candidate to see what you can do to help with his or her election. You are going to have to not only talk the talk but walk the walk.
However, in the meantime when Congress does something that you know is wrong contact each member in Congress who is leaning or voting the wrong way and let them know how your feel. They have to know that the American people are watching their every move. It does not matter that you are not in their district because they are voting on issues that affect you and your family. Let them know how your feel and that you will do whatever it takes that they will not be re-elected and then do it. Donate to their rivals. Share your knowledge with your family, friends, neighbors and anyone else who will listen.
To contact members of the House of the Representatives go to this website for their contact info -
http://www.theorator.com/government/house.html
To contact members of the Senate go to this website for contact info –
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Call, write or fax these representatives. They need to know that We The People are fed up and are willing to do something about it. How will they know? By your taking the above action. It is as simple as that. Be sure and bookmark these websites for future reference and share with others.
I’m sorry this is long but I had to get this office my chest. BTW, I have been doing all of the above and more. If every concerned American citizen who loves our great country did this, she would get back on the right track once again. I’m willing to continue to do the above, are you?
Frances Morgan> Thank you for websites. Much appreciated. I’ve contacted State reps and Senators but usually return messages are not exactly subjects I had addressed. I know they work hard….you know, that kind of thing. All we can do is read, listen, phone, talk with others, read what Mychal has to say, write to Representatives and Senators, visit local groups, and try to make sense of this type of government.
Frances:
Try the Raise Your Voice feature on this website
Unfortunately too many idiots who still enamored by Obama , indoctrinated by Media that not only carries Obama’s water , but even photoshop his pictures to make him look better than beanpole with padded shoulders, too many people are too dependent on the government with welfare,lengthy unemployment compensation and free cell phones with free text messaging even, free, free, free…they will not give it up for nothing…and they eventually will outnumber all of us in the voting booth, even NY Times acknowledged that Obama gave up on Middle class, he created his own voter block-that is his secret to re-election. And you are right the republican establishment only aiding him in his victory. Stupid? Or deliberate…since all they are interested is- their personal enrichment , DC has never seen such unprecedented amount of fraud!!! .
How can you fight it?
brassia: by refusing to let them tell you how to vote and by refusing to financially support a republican machine…speak out often and continuously about the beast that confronts us…it is important to vote out people like boehner, mccain, hatch, cantor, pelosi, reid, mcconnel, et al, out…and not make the mistake of voting mirrors of them back into office…
frances morgan: faxes are always better when possible…but that said see my editors comment below…
You are absolutely right Mychal. Beware of “crying” men!! It turns me off and I never regain a good feeling. Happy hump day!!!
josie: it depends on what they’re crying about…boehner is just feckless and inept…
I have finally realized, only lately, after desparately wanting to believe otherwise, that our leadership REALLY DOESN’T CARE ABOUT THEIR COUNTRY. Oh really? Leaders who are chosen, well paid, and should feel fortunate to be chosen to lead, REALLY DON’T CARE ABOUT THEIR COUNTRY. The reason I know this, is so blatantly obvious. If we had no budget deficit, our schools, manufacturing, per capita income, household wealth, etc etc etc all were where they should be, I STILL CANNOT COMPREHEND THEIR LACK OF URGENCY AND APATHY. It’s as if a huge advancing army were at our doorstep, and the forward lookout is screaming into the field radio “they’re coming, they’re coming!”, and the commanding general is sitting back, smoking a joint, and saying, “what is everybody getting so excited about?” Our leaders should be running around with their heads cut off trying to fix the problems. I wake up everyday, feel impending doom coming, and am mind boggled by this. Is there something they know that we don’t? Are they expecting to be able to ditch the sinking ship and get the same level job in another country? Evidently, because when you are homeless and cold, the only reason you wouldn’t seek shelter is because you want to die.
At this point, the only reason I don’t drop everything and move to another country is because it’s a huge hassle. We are moving down the world list in healthcare, education, quality of life, technology, almost every category, from month to month, and THEY REALLY REALLY DON’T CARE.
dave buls: those things you list as being those that we are falling behind in…we were the leaders of the world in until carter decided the government good do better…
continuation from above:
I STILL CAN’T UNDERSTAND THEIR BEHAVIOR, AMBIVALENCE, AND LACK OF URGENCY.
dave buls: what’s not to understand…they are ignorant fat well provided for and feckless…and “K Street” keeps them that way in exchange for favorable legislation…
I have finally realized, only lately, after desparately wanting to believe otherwise, that our leadership REALLY DOESN’T CARE ABOUT THEIR COUNTRY. Oh really? Leaders who are chosen, well paid, and should feel fortunate to be chosen to lead, REALLY DON’T CARE ABOUT THEIR COUNTRY. The reason I know this, is so blatantly obvious. If we had no budget deficit, our schools, manufacturing, per capita income, household wealth, etc etc etc all were where they should be, I STILL
dave buls: they care about themselves and the preservation of their power…
3 – or I should say 4 now – responses to this timely message. Does anyone else care? No wonder our nations stands on the thresh hold of extinction.
richard: reasonable point you make…
“First of all, Obama has already decided on the Keystone pipeline. He decided on it when he said he wasn’t going to decide on it. Boehner has accomplished nothing – zip, nada, zero – and giving him a pass and applause for failure is precisely why America stands with her toes extended over the abyss.”
First: Are you and I the only ones that understand this?!!?!?
Second: Why is it up to Obama? The American people want/need the pipeline, so why don’t we go with it. Obama is not King of the USA as he seems to think he is!?!?
No Kidding! This is a goddam democracy, and the president makes the decision? Maybe he should be able to decide if we eat next month!
It’s actually a Federal Republic Dave.. :)
12thgenerationamerican: sometimes it appears that way…we need to get people over the idea that a 435 men and women know more than we do…we need to remove them and demand accountability from republican party hierarchy…or dismiss them…they are to represent us not we slave for them…
Absolutely spot on commentary Mr. Massie! I couldn’t agree with you more. We need more citizens to listen to people like you!
dave radetsky: thk you…we need people to stop buying the party nonsense and start replacing those in office now w/ those who will remember they are there to represent us…
we have political and, more importantly, moral cowards in leadership positions in congress.
time to vote them out.
dmacleo: vote them out indeed…none to be spared…that will send a clear message to those who replace them…