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Groucho Marx once said, “I don’t want to belong to any club that will accept people like me as a member.” Look at it this way, the Republicans would not want me as a member, and I totally would not accept membership if offered. Fat chance of that happening given some of the posts I’ve written. I have “issues.” I don’t like all that negativity they thrive on. And let’s face it; they’re boring! They’re all about suits and smug ‘let’s do lunches’ and fat cigars. Me, I like casual jeans; positive thinking; let’s give free lunches to the poor, and think marijuana should be legalized. Life is fun for Democrats, whether they are rich or poor. Throw some burgers on the grill, pop a top on a can of beer, put it in a foamy, and you bring the chips. I would bet those stuffy Republicans only eat at chic restaurants where the portions are so small, you have to follow the drizzle-line of the sauce to find your steak. Do I sound too plebeian? Well, that’s okay ’cause it took me years to tell people that I’m a Thespian! I was always afraid some Republican would hear me and get all confused and picket my house, bringing Tea and such.
Being the kindhearted Democrat I am, I have chosen an anthem for The Party of No. How magnanimous is that? See, we like helping folks out. All they have to do is play this song from their side of the aisle when it comes time to vote on any issue proposed to help the poor, save the environment, end the war in Anywhere, keep Social Security alive, fund small businesses, and don’t clip my pension funds.
So here is my vote, and only Dems can vote on this one because it may be our only chance to be obstructionists. The following is my nomination for Anthem For The Party of NO:
—cher
Tags: Democrats have fun, don't want to be a member of your club, groucho marx, obstructionists, Politics, Republicans are boring, the party of no
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Once again, the Senate Republicans have chosen to live up to their “Party of No” reputation by blocking a bill intended to provide assistance to small businesses. The bill, sponsored by the Obama Administration, was intended to provide $30 billion in loans for small businesses, combined with tax relief for a ten year period. In addition, the bill was to provide another $1.5 billion in grants to state lending programs that are currently running low on cash. Clearly, the intent of the legislation was to stimulate economic activity and job creation by putting sorely needed funds into the hands of America’s economic engine; small businesses. Predictably, the Senate Republicans refused to support anything proposed by the Democrats, regardless of whether it was in the best interests of the American people. The Republican political strategy has been, and continues to be, to ensure that no legislation with a potential to help the economy improve will be considered. An improvement in economic activity and a reduction in unemployment prior to the November Congressional elections would be the Republican’s worst nightmare. Senate Minority leader, Mitch McConnell attempted to justify his party’s appalling, obstructionist behavior by saying they didn’t want to increase the National debt, even if it meant jobs could be created by small businesses. In a nutshell, the Republican Party talks a lot about their support for small businesses, but is not willing to support anything that will improve their situation.
The effects of the “Great Recession” , that began almost three years ago, in 2008, have continued to linger throughout 2010. The nation’s Gross Domestic Product for the quarter ended June 30 showed a increase of a paltry 1.6% , and will probably show an increase of 2.0%, or so, again in the third quarter. Although the Obama Administration has taken bold, decisive moves to save the American economic system from collapse, still more needs to be done to help economic activities regain momentum. The newly proposed “business aid bill” was the kind of legislation to do just that.
In Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”, Mark Antony speaks to the people of Rome after the assassination of Julius Caesar. He starts off by flattering Caesar’s murderer, Brutus, by saying “. . . the evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones. So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus hath told you he was ambitious. If it were so, it was a grievous fault and grievously hath he answered for it here under the leave of Brutus and the rest. . .” Much like Brutus, the Republicans, under the leadership of Mitch McConnell, have metaphorically tried to oust the Obama Administration, and any chance they may have had to improve the condition of middle class Americans. They have told the American people that bills such as the Health care Reform Bill, or the Financial System reform Bill, or the “business aid bill” are not good for America. In the end of Julius Caesar, Brutus (i.e. Mitch McConnell) is exposed for his crimes, and forced to flee from Rome. In November, the Republicans should be held accountable for two years worth of obstructionist politics, and be forced to flee from Washington DC.
Rich
Tags: Gross Domestic Product, Julius Caesar, Mitch McConnell, Party leaders of the United States Senate, republican party
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Saturday, on the anniversary of Martin Luther Kings’ great “I Had a Dream Speech,” Glenn Beck drew hundreds of thousands followers to the very site of King’s speech. Beck’s rally was called, “Restoring Honor,” and he proclaimed, “We’ve got to go to God Bootcamp.” Can I hear an Amen! No, not just yet.
Let us remember that Glenn Beck profits from fear and hate-mongering five nights a week and has stirred emotions of his followers with rhetoric of a less than Godly nature. Although listening to him, I had two thoughts. First, I thought this guy sounded like a televangelist. Second, I thought he sounded self-aggrandizing and full of dangerous charisma with an audience at rapt attention, as though awaiting the Rapture. “I can testify to you now that one man can change the world!” Wasn’t it Hitler who addressed such huge crowds with similar emotional manipulations?
This is the same Glenn Beck who has told his audience that he believed President Obama “…is a racist with a deep-seeded hatred of white people.” This is the same man who stated, “The president is a Marxist…who is setting up a class system.” This is the same man who has repeatedly stated that health care legislation is “reparation.” His views seem to be in stark contrast with Dr. King’s and yet he chose that time, that site to tell folks to get right with God. I could not help but wonder what Dr. King’s reaction would have been. I do know what Rev. Al Sharpton’s reaction was.
Sharpton stated, “”It couldn’t have been more of a contradiction. When government stayed out of people’s lives, women and blacks couldn’t vote. When government stayed out of people’s lives we were in the back of the bus. We need government to do what Dr. King came and asked government to do in ’63 and we need government to do that now. When you start saying you’re going to reclaim the civil rights movement that’s not even coded, that’s a blatant attempt to high-jack a movement that changed America.”
Maybe, just maybe, Beck has had an epiphany. This morning on FOX News Sunday in an interview with Chris Wallace, Beck was asked about his remark regarding Obama’s “deep-seeded hatred for white people.” Beck actually told Chris Wallace that he regrets his earlier remarks, and that, in fact, Obama’s “viewpoints come from liberation theology…and I miscast it as racism.” Will the real Glenn Beck please stand up?
The messages from Beck were duplicitous, given his statements on TV night after night. Perhaps he is wrestling with his own spiritual demons. I do know that he is a man to be watched. Charisma is great for ratings, but when one man can make heinous statements and then tell people to “…look to God and to love”, well, I cannot help but be alarmed at the number of individuals would may fall victim to the prey, not prayer of his rhetoric.
—cher
Tags: Al Sharpton, Chris Wallace, Civil rights movement, Dr. King, Glenn Beck, Glenn Beck's Rally of Restoring Honor, Martin Luther King
