Tag: Speaker of the House

Finally, A Set Of Cajones!

I have wondered along with many other political writers just where are the conservs with cajones…..the adults in the GOP have let the kids from the Tea Party and some advocacy groups run rough shod over the policies of the party…..like the recent budget deal…..personally, I found it lacking in so many areas….but some groups were bashing it even before it was officially announced…..and they were very verbally abusive to the people that were voting for the deal…..

Then a miracle on 34th street (like the Xmas cinema reference?) appeared on the horizon…….a voice of sanity, at least for now….and who could this masked man be?

(Newser) – John Boehner slammed political advocacy groups today, which would be no big surprise except the groups in his sights are on the right, not the left. “They’re using our members and they’re using the American people for their own goals,” Boehner told reporters, after prominent conservative groups such as the Club for Growth, Americans for Prosperity, and Heritage Action slammed the new budget deal even before it was officially announced, reports NBC News. “This is ridiculous.” The LA Times described it as “uncharacteristically forceful” language from the speaker, who has sought to keep the groups in his corner during previous budget battles.

Boehner delivered similar remarks to House Republicans behind closed doors, reports the Hill, suggesting to the rank and file that the groups were more concerned with raising money than defending conservative principles. The groups say they’re angry that the proposed deal raises spending levels in 2014, albeit slightly—to $1.012 trillion from the $967 billion that would have been in place had the full sequester cuts taken effect. The full House votes on the measure tomorrow, and Boehner’s language suggests he’s not worried about the vote failing, even if a conservative bloc defects. Said Ryan: “We feel very good at where we are with our members.”

Yes sports fans….that masked man is John Boehner……who would have thought it?

Will Boehner Survive?

We hear daily that the Speaker of the House, Boehner, is losing control of his people…….that the Tea Party crowd will do what they want and disregard anything they do not agree with…..while that may be an admirable characteristic….it does little to get this country moving in the right direction…..

We have the budget debate sneaking up on the Congress….the debt extension is coming and the debate of the deficit looms……..what can we expect from the Congress….I mean besides another repeal Obamacare vote?

Several insiders tell the Huffington Post that John Boehner could exit the House speaker role after 2014, despite his July assurances to the contrary. “The speaker has made clear publicly he intends to remain in his position in the next Congress,” says a Boehner rep. But others close to the speaker suggest otherwise: “He has to say that. He can’t not say that. The minute you say (you’re leaving), you’re done”—but “everybody around him thinks this is his last term.” “It’s the overwhelming, working assumption as people are making strategy going into 2015 and 2016,” says another GOP figure. For one thing, HuffPost notes, Boehner might not be able to keep the job even if he wanted it. Tea Partiers nearly voted him out last time around, “and that group of opposition has only grown,” notes another insider. On the other hand, the speaker fears the prospect of a GOP in disarray should he leave. Meanwhile, several names have emerged as replacements, led by Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling, the Financial Services Committee chair. Click for more.

Will the House actually get some work done before the end of the year?  Well not much in September….they only work 9 days this month….great job…..health insurance, gym access, retirement and only a part time employee…….not a bad gig if you can afford it.

How long will we, the voter, allow these worthless lumps of crap continue to ruin the country and it economy?  Personally, as long as the voter worries about Buck County Tennessee and not the country then we are doomed for this type of do nothing government…….both parties have turned the country into a throbbing massive lump of contradictory issues with NO solutions in sight.

Debt Ceiling–It’s All A Game

From the VOMITORIUM

Let us be honest……Actually…..ALL politics is a game….a game of spin, of stats, of people……we just finished one game….that being the deadline game of the 2011 budget…..both sides pushed that issue to the limits and then miraculously a deal was struck…and then both sides could claim victory and the peasants back home….danced…..

That was round one and now we will move on to round two…..and that would be the raising of the debt limit….the spin machine has been working overtime and the media has been doing the tango with the politicians to keep it in the news (always look for what they are trying to suppress…it is called a misdirection)…..any way we will be bombarded continuously with this news story…..but go to the local town square and ask people what they think about the national debt….you will be surprised how many do not CARE….most want to see the economy grow and to find a descent job…..but the major story will be the catnip for the media…..the debate on whether to raise the debt ceiling or not……

I know that many of my conservs friends think that I am a bit too sarcastic or pessimistic….but if it is NOT a game then what the Hell would you call it?

From Politico……

Republicans are growing increasingly concerned about the impact a bruising fight over raising the nation’s $14.29 trillion debt ceiling could have on U.S. financial markets.House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has had conversations with top Wall Street executives, asking how close Congress could push to the debt limit deadline without sending interests rates soaring and causing stock prices to go lower, people familiar with the matter.

Republicans and even some fiscally conservative Democrats want to use the debt limit fight as leverage to wring more significant spending cuts out of the White House. Politicians of all stripes are worried about how independents will react to a vote — or multiple stop-gap votes — to raise the debt ceiling. Many executives on Wall Street believe Washington is playing an enormously dangerous game with what is typically a non-controversial vote.

A game is a game….and this debate on the Debt ceiling is a massive game and in the long run the Middle Class will get bit in the ass by the players…..keep playing this game…..holding the US credit rating hostage and you help create another economic meltdown……To the voter….you voted for these cowards….how is that working out for you?

What Is It That Pelosi Did?

I mean besides being a Democrat……..

Mention the name Nancy Pelosi and you will send a conserv into a rage that could be just short of a stroke….she is a socialist….she is a dictator…..she is a liberal….she is too partisan….well hell….you have heard all the diatribes linked to her name……but think about it what did she do?

Besides being a rallying point for the GOP and Tea Party….what did she and her House do while in the majority?  Let me see…..Recovery Act, Obamacare, Wall Street reform, an equal pay act,……..let me see she (Pelosi) and her friends (Dems) passed many bills that became law….but she was demonized for political effect……

I am NOT saying that I agreed with everything the she and the House did….far from it….I believe that they dropped the ball on numerous occasions…….that aside…the House did accomplish lots under her leadership…….

Now fast forward you time machine and let us look at the present Congress…..under the leadership of Boehner what has the House accomplished so far?  Have they created any jobs?  Have they actually tried?  Instead of looking at what can get our country back on track, they (GOP) has concentrated their efforts on NPR, Planned Parenthood, and instead of trying to find a budget compromise they have instead felt that the destruction of social programs is more important….when will the new leadership and the new House start working on bills that mean something?

Granted this Congress has about a year and half before they are a failure….but they are off to a good start…..in the mean time, where are the jobs we were promised by almost every Repub that ran for office in 2010?  Will they actually get to that?  Doubtful!  After the shutdown crap moves on….we will be at the crossroads of another budget debate…this time for 2012.  Will we ever get to the jobs thing?

The House and its GOP members seem to be working on talking about everything but what needs the attention….JOBS!  It seems to me that anytime major issues need to be addressed we resort (by we I mean the Congress) back to emotional issues so we do not have to deal with real problems……let us be real for a moment….the budget?  Everybody is fixated on the planned parenthood thing….and that makes it more an abortion debate than a budget debate…..it is a diversion of thought…once again NO one seems to be serious about this thing…..lots of on camera bluster and cowardly votes after the cameras are turned off….

At least with Pelosi and her gang….we had major problems addressed and yes as always someone tried to turn them into a game and NOT a discussion……Once again…I am not saying that I think they (Dems) did a good job with the laws they passed only that they were at least semi-serious about major issues…..

Boehner’s First Day

In the past I have been very critical of the new speaker of the House, John Boehner…….and when I say critical I mean I have been unkind to the speaker….but his first day he did something that was unexpected by me and if this holds good for the next two years I may have to re-evaluate my opinion of the man….

As reported by Newser…..

John Boehner may be the incoming speaker of the House, but he doesn’t want a whole lot of power. In fact, one of tomorrow’s first votes could be on a package of rule changes Boehner says will decentralize power—and even allow minority-party members to have more of a say. Of course, “new speakers always say they want to have a more open process,” Rep. Anthony Weiner tells the Wall Street Journal. “Then the sheer demands of making the trains run on time and getting things passed requires that you change your mind.”
Boehner’s rule change package, expected to be approved by House Republicans today, includes a requirement that legislation be posted online 72 hours before going to the floor, so that bills will no longer be changed the night before a vote, as well as a requirement that lawmakers vote on whether to raise the federal debt ceiling rather than doing so automatically when a budget is passed. He has promised to “work with members on both sides of the aisle” as he attempts to get things done, but will have to walk a tightrope as he also tries to appease the many freshman Tea Party representatives.

I will admit that this may all be just a silly political game, but some of it is quite good and shows signs of a person that may seriously want the system to work……I will watch and report……but I am NOT holding my breath!

Since every other word out of his mouth for the last year has been ….”Where are the jobs?”  After listening to his open comments and the word jobs was not mentioned once…..and since I was promised jobs by the conservs…I need to ask   Where are the jobs?

Compromise: A New Political Dirty Word?

I had always heard that politicians could speak out of both sides of the mouths, but had seen little evidence to support that accusation until now!

We have all heard the argument for compromise in the government….that if anything is to get done then we need to have our Reps learn to compromise……but apparently it is going to be a dirty word when we get a new Speaker of the House in January…..in an interview with CBS 60 Minutes John Boehner refused to use the word…excerpt below from the transcript of the show of 12 Dec 2010:

Boehner: We have to govern. That’s what we were elected to do.

Stahl: But governing means compromising.

Boehner: It means working together.

Stahl: It also means compromising.

Boehner: It means finding common ground.

Stahl: Okay, is that compromising?

Boehner: I made it clear I am not gonna compromise on my principles, nor am I gonna compromise…

Stahl: What are you saying?

Boehner: …the will of the American people.

Stahl: You’re saying, “I want common ground, but I’m not gonna compromise.” I don’t understand that. I really don’t.

Boehner: When you say the word “compromise”…a lot of Americans look up and go, “Uh-oh, they’re gonna sell me out.” And so finding common ground, I think, makes more sense.

Stahl reminded him that his goal had been to get all the Bush tax cuts made permanent.

Stahl: So you did compromise.

Boehner: I’ve, we found common ground.

Stahl: Why won’t you say you’re afraid of the word.

Boehner: I reject the word.

He rejects the word?  Looks like the tactics are already taking shape for the new Congress…..

The Future “Weeper” Of The House

Now that the Dems have had their collective asses handed to them on a plate….what will happen now?  Will we finally get down to doing the business of the country?  Or will it be the same crap that was doing for the last two years?  Some analysts see a new day in American politics….I think they are just wishing for something new….I am afraid that they will be proven wrong…..it will be business as usual…..partisanship, obstructionism and more lies and half truths…..the usual stuff that comes out of Washington…..

I will bet that you, if you voted to “throw the bums out” are looking forward to the Repubs doing what they promised and emphasized……tee hee……dream on McDuff!

During the campaigns it was all about jobs jobs jobs….for that is what the people are most concerned with at this time in history……..but what will we get?  According to the new “Weeper” of the House, John Boehner…….

He called for fewer regulations on big business, continuing the Bush tax cuts for the rich, a freeze on government pay and hiring, trade deals with countries that violate human rights, an end to the extensions of unemployment benefits and an end to federal aid that is going to states to save the jobs of teachers, police officers and firefighters.

“The Boehner response is to keep tax rates where they are for the rich,” said Biden, “and cut all recovery spending, slashing 25 percent from domestic discretionary spending. We know two things about this program: It will kill more jobs than it creates; and it will add to, not subtract, from projected deficits.”

And then there was the comments made by the Senate minority leader McConnell who said that the nly thing we have to do is see to it it that Obama is a one term president..(paraphrased)……..he has also said that priorities are repeal and replace health bill, cut spending, shrink government size, and end bailouts……and yet…..NOT a word about what they say was the most important issue of the election….JOBS…….does this or the other thing sound like they are going to do anything differently?  Of course, it does not… and this is what I have been saying for 40 years or more……no matter which of the corrupt two parties is in power….NOTHING changes in the government except a few faces here and there……

Do you, as an American voter, really believe that the promise of change will ever come from a career politician in Washington?  Weeping will becoming a national past time and if you think career politicians have your back….. then may I prescribe a good dose of Prozac…after all I am a Doctor……