If only all politicians could be so endowed.
President Obama was recently overheard on an open microphone taunting Republicans by saying "You want to repeal healthcare? Go at it. We'll have that debate. You're not going to do that by nickel-and-diming me in the budget. You think we're stupid?"
Reporters also heard him privately rip Wisconsin's very own Paul Ryan, the GOP's Budget Committee chairman who had proposed cutting federal spending. "Paul Ryan says his priority is to make sure he's just being America's accountant, "Obama said. "This is the same guy that voted for two wars that were unpaid for, voted for the Bush tax cuts that were unpaid for, voted for the prescription drug bill that cost as much as my healthcare bill, but wasn't paid for.... So he's not on the level."
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| Lincoln A man of action |
The lovable persona that is staged on television (shaking hands and holding babies while the U.S. flag flies in the background) or on Sunday morning talk shows (my good friend, Senator McCain) is one of a concerned politician who is "working hard" for the American people.
Unfortunately, that translates into the American voter, since so many politicians are mostly concerned about being re-elected. So concerned that Democrats (and for the most part Republicans) will 1) do nothing, 2) say nothing and 3) propose nothing that gives the slightest hint of substance.
Isn't it time we get more out of these fraudulent wind bags?
Take our country's national debt -- estimated at 14.2 trillion. President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Reid and Speaker of the House Boehner made daily headlines trying to avoid a government shutdown over the federal budget. Each participant let it be known that they had a moral responsibility to reign in out-of-control spending while maintaining critical programs needed by the elderly, disabled and children.
In reality, they were fighting for their constituents who demanded that no action be taken on Planned Parenthood and new Obamacare spending (Democrats), raising taxes (Republicans) and almost anything to do with Social Security and Medicare. Bottom line, with 2011 spending at $3.87 trillion, our fearless representatives are having orgasms over a measly $28 billion in cuts. Sounds like business as usual in Washington, where every year since 1969 politicians have spent more than they have taken in.
I'm beginning to think every politician in Washington is nothing but an empty suit filled with nausea-inducing sound bites -- like this one from Mr. Boehner, "The biggest accomplishment of the first 100 days is that the spending debate ... has turned 180 degrees." How about that? It's now a major victory to say that "talk" has changed in Washington. All politicians DO is talk - how is that an accomplishment?
Truth be told, this country is in big trouble unless we can get politicians to do MORE than talk.
Another example of the "meaningless babble" we get from Washington has to do with the high cost of gasoline. Everyone is feeling pain at the pumps these days -- from commuters and truckers to anyone heating their homes or buying groceries. Since 2008, the price of a gallon of gasoline has increased from $1.84 to almost $4.00 in most parts of the county.
Naturally this ties in nicely with the country's overall energy strategy, which since the mid-1970's has produced no new oil refineries, and no new nuclear power plants since Three Mile Island in 1970. Is doing nothing really a strategy, or is it just cowardice on the part of these politicians to avoid taking a stand against environmentalists who would like to see America riding bicycles and heating their homes with ear wax?
So let's play the blame game -- something else politicians are good at.
Who's responsible? Local and national media would have you believe one of the following: 1) Obama, whose restrictions on drilling for new oil in the United States means we can't even take advantage of our own resources; 2) Congressional Republicans who refuse to support alternative fuels which would reduce our dependency on foreign oil; 3) market speculators who have bid up the price of oil in order to make a killing; 4) freedom fighters in the Middle East and North Africa who have destabilized major oil producing areas; and 5) supply and demand with the recovering economy and recovering demand.
President Obama -- completing the final trifecta of all good politicians -- calls for an investigation into the high price of oil, thinking this will somehow provide an answer (but not lower prices since he has stated numerous times that he wants higher oil costs to support his alternative energy agenda). Investigations are like catnip to politicians who would rather discuss the problem, rather than a solution. Remember the arrogant and condescending Senate hearings into auto companies in 2008, which included testimony from the CEOs of Ford, Chrysler and General Motors? What ever came from that charade? Government Motors and electric cars?
Nonetheless, not to be outdone, the following congressional committees are gearing up to investigate the situation:
May 8th: House Energy and Commerce Committee
May 9th: House Select Committee on Energy Independence & Global Warming
May 10th: House Science and Technology Committee
May 15th: Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee
May 16: House Judiciary Committee
May 22nd: House Oversight Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Can you believe we actually have that many committees? And that's just energy.
Imagine the political theatre that will follow when politicians -- on television, of course-- tell oil executives to stop price gouging (oh, no!) while taxing those profits to expand wind and solar energy. And then pass the cost for their political ineptitude onto us through even higher gas prices.
Politicians will continue to play the part of hollow men as long as we allow them to play it. It's time we put some people with substance in Washington to take care of business.
Cool new background! And I like your new profile picture--VERY mysterious! Great article, too!
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