January 3, 2011

House Republicans are irresponsible

There is no other way to say it. Their first order of business, well, besides reading the constitution aloud (wondering if they will read all the amendments), is to repeal my access to healthcare. Thanks for that. Second, they have already changed the rules to allow tax cuts without having to pay for them. This will increase the deficit, no matter what they say. And I don't want to hear a Republican talk about fiscal responsibility as long as they elect irresponsible people who refuse to consider even modest tax increases to pay for our government. They are not serious, nor moral, nor ethical people.

And speaking of that constitution, Fred has a great post on the fact that it doesn't include God, and a great review of the opposition to the constitution. You know, from the deified Founding Fathers? The anti-federalists who opposed the constitution because it didn't include God and refused to prefer Christians? The one that evangelicals of the time said would result in a government run by Mohametans and Jews, and that the government would take away our Bibles and right to worship?

Sound familiar? But now the evangelical right and Tea Party idiots love the constitution. Well, not all of it. They would like to edit out the parts about the common good, and the religious litmus test (not allowed). They would like to repeal the 14th amendment, as well as those allowing income tax and direct election of senators. Because they love the constitution, mind you, more than you do. They just don't love all of it. Or have not read it. Or think that it is what they wish it to be.

BTW, Happy New Year to you and yours. I am not optimistic about this year because I know full well that Republicans are working anxiously to take away my healthcare and remove any government programs that actually help people. I am ok right now, so should follow their lead and not really care about those left behind. But for some reason, I think our government should be concerned with promoting "the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity..."

9 comments:

Noah said...

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

But, Streak, we don't get that America any more. I guess we no longer want the mother of exiles.

No, our new poem to be installed on the base of Lady Liberty might as well be this.

steves said...

The anti-health care reform crowd doesn't have the votes int he Senate to get rid of the law. Even if they did, they certainly don't have the votes to override Obama's veto. The longer we wait, the more time we have for the provisions that people will like to kick in and this movement will lose steam.

It may be possible that we will see some tweaking, but that may not be bad. I just doubt we will see wholesale gutting of the reforms.

Noah said...

I am kinda with Steve. I just don't see the votes, and I *definitely* don't see enough votes for a veto override. I see that this is some early chest-thumping to remind people who's in charge.

Streak said...

I agree. The votes aren't there. My point is that these are their values. Symbolic or not, this is what they care about and would do if they could.

I hope Steve is right about the more that the ACA implementations become law it will be harder to defund it, but I no longer trust the right to respond to this or any other thing with rational thought. I would love a reason to believe otherwise, but just don't see it.

Monk-in-Training said...

Fear not, good Streak. Most of the Republicans' bluster has been spent, now with actual governing issues ahead, and being forced to go against the Tea Partier's wishes by raising the debt ceiling, Pres. Obama has a fairly good year ahead of him. Remember he has passed most of what he wanted, so now comes the implementation phase.

The current crop of Republcians seem to be far more about symbolism than reality.

For example they are making a big hoopla over requiring that each law cite the Constitutional passage that permits it, not realizing that the rules of the House have required that for some time now.

Bob said...

"I just doubt we will see wholesale gutting of the reforms."

Steve-

I would love to read an analysis by you on the constitutionality of the individual mandate.

steves said...

Bob, I will probably have one up in the next few days. Tea Party wackos notwithstanding, there are some logical arguments against the constitutionality of some parts, but ultimately, I think it will pass muster.

Obama's most recent approval rating is over 50%, which is higher than Reagan or Clinton from that time in their first term.

Bob said...

I guess your headline has new meaning now huh?

Streak said...

Yeah, Bob, that is true. Since I had not posted in a while, that headline kept staring at me on the blog, and I was thinking it had taken on a whole new context.