War of Attrition

That is what we're facing in Washington at the moment. Democrats hold the fort and are damned and determined to keep the Republicans on the out, while Republicans have apparently circled the wagons and launched a siege/guerrilla campaign. While I don't completely endorse what the leading Democrats seem to be doing politically, the fact is that the Republicans aren't doing anything to endear themselves to anyone except their own core. Short version? Republican have adopted a strategy of obstructing, filibustering and fighting tooth and claw everything the Democrats are putting out. They reason that, A: they are scoring points as responsible objectors and B: that eventually the political momentum of the left will be spent and then they can work on rebuilding their own majorities again. Delay, distract and derail are the watchwords of the right in Washington today.

Unfortunately for them, this sort of thing requires time and worsening conditions. Neither of which seem to be in their favor; the recession is expected, by even the most pessimistic economists, to start turning around no later than the 4th quarter this year and the administration is running on all six cylinders in getting the stimulus money out the door and into the economy. Topping it all off, the American people seem to be demonstrating remarkable patience.

The other major problem that the Republican have is the rapidly proliferating consensus regarding their attitude and actions. "The Audacity of Nope" is the new tag line, drawing a lovely contrast with the positive message of the Obama campaign. Its a good hook, its stuck and it just seems to be a better fit every time the Republican leadership opens it's mouth. As an example, the general consensus in the country now favors the so-called "Green Revolution", yet Republican leaders like Boehner are doing their level best to demonize appropriate policies;

“‘Cap-and-trade’ is code for increasing taxes, killing American jobs, and raising energy costs for consumers. Middle-class families are struggling during this recession, and the last thing they need is even higher costs of living and weaker job security, which is exactly what ‘cap-and-trade’ would deliver.”

Now first of all, look at the language of this statement. Its both a prophesy of doom and an accusation of secret malevolence; as if there was a conspiracy among Democrats to wreak hardship on their own constituents, complete with secret codes and hidden agendas. Come on, are you really that paranoid? Or is it simply that your campaign donors don't want to increase the cost of their business? If so, then just say so; trust me when I say that people will give you a great deal more respect for raising and negotiating over legitimate business concerns than for trying to invent conspiracies where there aren't any.

Secondly, if we look at the statement itself we note it makes an assertion about the terrible effects of 'cap & trade' on voters, specifically identified as "Middle-class families" but no effort is made to explain exactly how this will occur. Now I see two possibilities for this omission, either the Congressman can't demonstrate something that won't happen or else he recognizes that by identifying the method he would facilitate its remedy. Neither of these helps him in trying to agitate the emotions of the voting public though, so they are summarily ignored.

Realizing that legitimate argument isn't going to serve them in a majority of discussions, the Republicans feel compelled to resort to procedural wrangling instead of trying to meet Democrats in the middle; admittedly further left than they might like to go, but still further right than they'll get if the Democrats just have to keep ramming legislation through. Why? In brief: pure pig-headedness. The fact is many Republicans are staunch conservatives, they consider it a "Matter of Principle" to oppose government spending or involvement in any aspect of public life beyond the military. While most of us can admire someone for standing up for their principles, you cannot run a government without a degree of compromise.

For the time being the right seems to be intent of trying to insulate itself against the rest of the country and the 21st century. Everywhere you turn they're once again exulting the altar of Reagan and using the language and tactics of the 80's. It seems doomed...but maybe one of them has invented time travel.

Meet Joe Crack

OK, first of all we all know by now his name isn't Joe and that he isn't actually a plumber. Why isn't he a plumber? Because he didn't pay his taxes and as a result, doesn't have the appropriate contracting licence. Curiously enough, Bunky seems to spending a fair amount of time these days blasting certain Democrats for (say it with me now) not paying their taxes. Feel free to insert relevant commentary about pots and kettles.

On the plus side, his completely artless excuses for why his case is different from that of the people he currently feels himself fit to criticize serve to illustrate, beautifully, the fact the current batch of so-called conservatives are as hypocritical as they are predictable. 'Tis far more difficult to be seduced by a snake-charmer when he has such prominent warts.

Interestingly, the man seems to be dispelling rumors that he was planning a run for the House. I'll refrain from speculating why (actually, I'll only refrain from posting my speculation) and instead point out some of the language that came up in when he was briefly interviewed by Tim Farley on POTUS. Let's start with his claims of feeling as though his current status as a cult celebrity is an onerous task he fulfills out of a sense of duty. If Bunky actually didn't want to be a mascot for his particular batch of fanboys then he'd quietly slip off the radar and head back to Ohio. Presently he's working for PJTV and I get the idea he isn't averse to the occasional book signing, since he's got one of those out too.

On the note of his rumored run for public office, he stated that he wasn't interested in doing so now, instead wanting to focus of raising his son to be a good, Christian man...because we need more of those. His words, not mine. I'll bite my tongue here and settle for reminding the man that not paying his taxes might qualify as setting a poor example for that son of his. Unsurprisingly he also said that after his son is raised and off to college that he'd consider a run, because we need honest people interested in the public good rather than their own aggrandizement. He lumps all the politicians from both wings together here, basically setting himself up as their superior. I can practically hear the first strains of "Fanfare for The Common Man" as he tries to sell this sort of "average guy ascendant" rhetoric.

If you need surgery done, do you want a surgeon, or one of your drinking buddies? If you need representation in court, do you look for a lawyer or just ask for a volunteer from the bowling alley? Do you want your house built by an engineer? Do you want your wars fought by professional soldiers?

Why on earth would you even suggest that any random, "normal" citizen is better qualified to run the nation's affairs than, say, a specialist in constitutional law?

I don't doubt that everyone enjoys playing "if I was in charge." The fact is though that the vast majority of citizens aren't qualified to lead a sewing circle, let alone the nation. Brother Sam would be better advised to pay up is taxes, get licence and get some professional credibility in his own trade before trying to teach others theirs.