Tag Archives: Politics

Thursday Afternoon Ramblings

It’s always staggering to me when people push things to an extreme but then act stunned when they have to face the consequences.  In this particular instance, I’m referring to Sarah Palin and the Tea Party.  For nearly two years, the far right has gathered in hate-filled rallies with signs that read, “We Came Unarmed…This Time”  and “Signs Today…Guns Tomorrow” and “Party Like It’s 1773” and Sarah Palin has inflamed tempers at these rallies with phrases like, “Don’t retreat. Reload.”  And then, of course, are her now infamous ads with Democrats lined up in cross-hairs.

Then, someone takes all of this hate to heart, goes on a shooting rampage that kills six and leaves a couple dozen injured, and suddenly Palin and the Tea Party seem outraged that anyone could possibly point the finger at them for their hate-speech.

This was the work of a deranged individual working alone, they say.

Bullshit, I say.  Words have meaning and power, and when you use hate and fear to stir people into action, you are just as culpable for the actions of those “deranged individuals” who carry out your message as they are.  I’ve written on this blog before that the reason why the right scares me is because people like Timothy McVeigh, Jim Adkisson, and now Jared Loughner all took the venomous, hate-filled diatribes of the far right’s elocutionists and followed through with horrendously violent actions.  Against hate and intolerance, there is no reasoning, there is no discourse, there is no civility.  Hate will always spawn murder, and those who spew hate for self-gain and political expediency have the same blood on their hands and the person who parked the van or pulled the trigger.

The far left is no less guilty of using hate and sensationalism as the right.  It’s simply a miracle that we haven’t had similar shooting rampages by a “deranged individual” from that end of the spectrum.  What we need is more of what we saw at the end of last year–cooperation and compromise between the two sides and less extremism.  In short, we need moderation.  Until both extremes of both parties realize that we’re all in this together and we all need to find a way to coexist, there will continue to be more “deranged individuals” who take the inflammatory venom of people like Sarah Palin and commit atrocious acts at their indirect behest.

Tuesday Morning Ramblings

Warning: this entry will contain lots of profanity and is not suitable for children, naive idealists, emotionally sensitive precious snowflakes, and most Democrats.

To the cowardly backstabbing Democrats who are now criticizing the president for compromising with Republicans on tax-cuts, let me ask you a few questions?  If this issue was so goddamned important to you, why did you delay voting on it until after the fucking elections?  The answer is because you inaccurately thought that by not taking a stand before the elections you wouldn’t marginalize the electorate and wouldn’t offend voters.  How did that strategy work out for you?  In 2008, you were elected by a populous that expected and demanded a change in how leadership acted, and in 2010, you were kicked out for being spineless wimps with no ability to demonstrate executive-level decision making on tough issues.  No, the compromise the president agreed to is not perfect, but compromises by their very nature are not perfect.  At least the president had the fucking balls to act.  You pathetic sniveling cowards can’t say the same.

I’m as hard and critical of conservatives as anyone.  I have pissed off and alienated friends who can vouch for that, but I’ll give conservatives this much: they know how to draw a line in the sand and say this is our fucking turf.  Democrats cannot say the same.  For two years you controlled House, the Senate, and the White House, and you still couldn’t get your heads out of your asses well enough to pass legislation that you now claim is vital to the survival of the middle class.  If you cared so much about the middle class, maybe, just maybe, you would’ve acted before the elections and shown some goddamned leadership, instead of doing the politically expedient thing and delaying action.  That’s the same old same old that we voted against in 2008 and again in 2010.  Guess what?  We’ll do the same motherfucking thing in 2012, so every single spineless, gutless, wishy-washy motherfucker in Washington had better take notice that we want action, not bullshit.

Also, why the fuck should the president stand with you bastards on anything?  You sure as fuck haven’t stood by him.  How many of you tried to distance yourselves from him leading up to the election because his popularity had waned?  That’s self-interest, not loyalty, so don’t be surprised when the person you turned your back on during a tough fight does the same to you.  You are a disgusting bunch of elitist pricks who maneuver and contort for whatever seems to be the most politically advantageous at that moment.  That’s not leadership.

I applaud the president for working with Republicans to find a solution.  Raising taxes on anyone, right now still asshole deep in a recession, is stupid.  Extending unemployment benefits for people who desperately need to survive until more jobs are created is smart, so the president gave a little to get a little.  See how this works?  Get your fucking self-serving heads out of your liberal-guilt-ridden asses, stop wringing your manicured hands, and get this motherfucking country moving again.  We have real problems that need to be addressed, and we need leaders who are willing to take action, even at the risk of it not being popular. That is leadership.  Get it?

Entitlement Ramblings

In a shocking new demonstration of bipartisan cooperation, Congress has unveiled its newest program for the country.  While the program is the brainchild of Tea Party candidates Billy Joe Oilmoney and Rob R. Barron VI, Democrats have also rallied behind the proposed legislation to reform retirement.

“We see this plan as the opportunity to save America,” said Theodore Bluedog III, a Democrat from New York.  “We’ve come to see that since the parties can’t agree on healthcare reform or taxation, this program gives us the opportunity to fix most of our glaring issues in one fell swoop.”

In all my years as a political journalist, I’ve never seen witnessed such bi-partisan support for anything, so I sat down with Representatives Oilmoney and Barron to discuss the program.

“Well, like all good programs, it’s rooted in common sense,” Billy Joe Oilmoney stated.  “The program won’t cost taxpayers nothing, and it reduces big government spending.  What more could people ask for?”

“We also believe that this piece of legislation allows Americans to get back from the system what they’ve earned.  It’s fair for everyone,” Rob R. Barron VI added.  “We’ve entered a new era for America, an era free from handouts.”

Impressed by their fervor, I rushed to the private sector to get I finger on the pulse of how corporate America was receiving the news.  I hurried to Minneapolis to speak with Iwanna Getindempokets to get the healthcare perspective.

“Glory to God!” he shouted upon hearing the news.  “My daughter’s dream may come true yet!”

Next, I scrambled to California to speak with Dr. Jen TouchyFeely to find out how academia was receiving the new program.

“We’ve convened a sub-committee to review the emotional impact this legislation will have on field mice in Rhode Island,” she said.  “As long as the rodents aren’t negatively impacted by it, we see no reason to oppose this plan.  In fact, most of us in education are already following this practice.”

Then, I called William Joseph Cartwright III, conservative blogger from South Carolina and Tea Party activist, to see if the Tea Party was pleased with the results of their fear-mongering to win the election.

“You know, my great-great grandfather, who started his business with only one rinky-dink slave trading block but retired having sold more slaves than any other human trafficker in history, would once again be proud of this country.  This was his vision of how the country should run.  Damn, it’s good to be an American.”

Apologizing for his emotions getting the better of him, he excused himself and hung up, so I then called Cletus McOnetooth to see how the rank-and-file Tea Partiers were receiving the new legislation.

“Well, I just finished watching wrastlin, so I ain’t turned on Fox News yet,” Cletus said.  “I reckon Glenn’ll tell me how I feel about it.”

Not wanting to miss the unveiling of this historic legislation, I scampered back to Washington and arrived just in time to see Oilmoney, Barron, and Bluedog on the steps of Congress.  I swelled with pride at the thought of our nation pulling together for a common cause, Democrats and Republicans showing a united front.

“Back when my great-great-great-grandfather, Rob R. Barron Sr. was working Chinamen to death to build the railroad,” Barron VI proclaimed, his voice tinged with emotion.  “He dreamed of this day.  My fellow Americans, here is your new retirement plan.”

All three men pulled a string to draw back the drapes covering up the logo for America’s new step forward:

Work Until to Drop Dead, You Ungrateful Peasants

Thunderous applause erupted from the crowd of Senators, Representatives, and Tea Party volunteers.

“The productive members of this society are no longer encumbered with the burden of caring for the lazy workers.  My great-great-great-grandfather worked harder than theirs to steal land from savages and break the backs of laborers.  He was a shining example of how this country should run and how it WILL run in the future.”

“And let me just add,” interjected Theodore Bluedog III.  “My great-great-grandfather did a better job of exploiting child labor in his sweatshop, so I’m entitled to this office.  No longer will our beaches and ski slopes be encumbered with the throngs of retirees who think a lifetime of making us money entitles them to relax at the end.  Once again, retirement is the realm of the elite.”

The crowd roared in applause, and there wasn’t a dry eye on the steps of Congress.

“Next up,” Billy Joe Oilmoney said.  “We’re gonna reform education.  We’re tired of all this book-learning polluting the minds of the lazy workers.  We’re gonna build an education system free from the shackles of reading and writing.  God bless this great nation.”

And in that manner, our “new” leadership shall restore America to a bright and prosperous future in the global economy.

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