One of the most fierce debates going right now in the political arena is whether to extend the Bush Tax Cuts. While most folks favor extending the cuts for those making under 250k, a fight has been brewing over whether to extend them for the very wealthy, adding $830 billion to our deficit over the next ten years. Now, despite the fact that Republicans are trying to paint themselves as "fiscally conservative" by opposing anything that helps working America because it "adds to the deficit" of course the one thing they are always ready to add to the deficit for is money for the rich. Unfortunately, many Democrats are buying into it as well. However, if they cared about the will of the American people they would scrap them.
All over the country a not-so-funny thing is happening. You see, the right-wing cannot run on their vision for this country because quite frankly that vision crashed this country into a ditch. So, instead of running on their vision or lack thereof they are stuck having to lie through their teeth to America about what Democrats have done, and what they seek to do. Two of their favorite "lying points" are the expiring Bush tax cuts and the stimulus act which although not enough, did save millions of jobs. Of course, the stooges on the right cannot let you know that.
We all saw the video of Anthony Weiner blasting the Republicans on the House floor for playing politics with 9-11 first responder healthcare. While that issue was personal to him, the fact of the matter is that every since they lost power for crashing the economy and dividing and nearly destroying this country Republicans have been using political games to try and keep anyone from cleaning up the huge mess Republican control of our government wrought upon this country. Now Weiner, far from backing down is pointing out how nothing not even the well-being of our country is above politics to Republicans.
Everyone hears how Republicans are always bemoaning the fates of "small businesses". Those of us who have long ago seen through their facade know that is just a talking point, and their true goal is to protect the profits of Corporations who outsource middle-class jobs, not small businesses who create them. The fact of the matter is if your bank account is less than seven figures Republicans could care less about you no matter what you do. Now, the proof positive is out to small businesses. When it comes to regaining power to protect Corporate America Republicans do not give a damn about you.
With the looming fight for control of Congress, Republicans despite an ailing economy and an ailing country have just decided to say no to everything Democrats have proposed to do to try and help America recover from the mess Republican control of our whole country during the George W. Bush years and before caused. From denying unemployment benefits to those who lost their jobs due to the Republican crashing of the economy, to allowing Corporate money to continue dominating elections, to opposing any attempt to reign in Wall St., who used Republican deregulation to crash the economy the Republicans consistently say no to anything that could help the country by claiming it would add to the national debt.
With all the fights so far in the last many months in Congress a new, very important fight in the direction of our country is soon to be joined. With the Bush Tax Cuts set to expire a fight will ensue on renewing them, renewing a few of them, or renewing them all. This is one fight we should use common sense on. Yes, the economy is hurting and the deficit is booming. However, after decades of a free ride, and being the only "patriots" to ever receive a tax cut in a time of "war" it is essential that the wealthy once again pay their fair share and that the middle and lower classes reap the benefits for once.
What do you do when you are the third ranking member in the House and your party's policies when enacted almost completely crashed our country into a ditch?? What do you do when the opposition party is desperately trying to clean up the mess you created?? What do you do when you cannot let the working American know what you really feel about them, except when Rand Paul accidentally lets it slip out?? What do you do when you care nothing about average Americans but only seek to enrich the greediest and least patriotic among us?? Of course, you lie through your teeth about what you really believe and what the other party really wants.
We all hear the bluster from the modern Republican Party of No who say no to anything good for this country. Always used is the argument that it will "hurt small businesses". However the modern Republican Party cares nothing about what happens to small businesses, all they care about are the big Corporations and the very rich. More proof of this is demonstrated yet again in their opposition to a Democratic plan to aid real small businesses.
Over in Kentucky's Fourth Congressional District a Democrat is emerging that could very well take that seat back. While not on many radar screens, the good folks at the Waltz campaign have really worked hard and it is really showing. Now, they have posted a really great fund raising quarter and stand poised to challenge Geoff Davis for that seat. The race in Kentucky's Fourth Congressional District just got really interesting....
It is really an amazing thing. The more oil that gushes into the Gulf of Mexico, the more Republicans step forward to defend BP. It really should come as no surprise. Republican politicians have long ago sold what little soul they had to the devil that is Corporate America. They constantly defend the greed, lunacy and unpatriotic actions of the greediest and least patriotic among us at every turn. To them, all the folks out of work because of the actions of bailed out corporate America need only get off their lazy asses and get a job. Yes, while they want to hold YOU accountable, Corporate America should not be responsible for anything but sucking up Corporate welfare and taking huge tax breaks and taxpayer subsidies to outsource our jobs.
Despite a new Administration our country still remains deeply divided on the war in the middle-east. While most Republicans have not problem with war without end many Democrats are tiring of the money wasted and lives lost. Instead of cutting off funding altogether they are coming up with a way of making the cost of the war less painful. Now, they are adding money to avoid teacher layoffs when school starts.
It is an enigma I have long struggled to understand. Anyone in the state of Kentucky voting Republican. For a while now we have had mostly Republican representation in the Congress except for the mixed bag voting record of Blue Dog Ben Chandler. Only with the inclusion of Congressman Awesome John Yarmuth from the Third District have working Kentucky families had a solid voice in the Congress on all issues. Now the price of voting against our own interests is catching up with us.
For a long time now we have had a problem in Kentucky. While our state has a wide majority of Democrats, we have several Congressional seats that remain Republican, have two Republican Senators, and vote on a national level in Presidential elections Republican. Now it appears as if we will have a leader of our state party who donated too the two worst Republicans of all, disgraced former Governor Ernie Fletcher and the Darth Vader of Kentucky politics, Mitch McConnell. To me, this shows the weakness of our party as a whole. Their are too many apologists for the Corporate Republican ideology within our state and national party and the best thing they can do is leave our party, not lead it.
Across the country a funny thing is happening. Despite all the cries of "socialized medicine" and all the doomsayers that stated that America would be gasping her last breath if we got healthcare reform, support for the healthcare bill is going up. While I believe that the bill that was passed did not go nearly far enough, many claim it was a government takeover of the industry and it has been blasted since before it was passed. However, now it appears as if the whole country is figuring out what we here have known for a long time. The Right-Wing gasbags who preached doom and warned of the "government taking over your Medicaire" are completely full of hot air.
You want to talk about strange bedfellows. It appears as if Democrats in Congress and the NRA have reached a tentative agreement on rolling back the Citizens United Supreme Court decision. This would remove a major obstacle of the bill as the NRA has millions to sink into opposing it and have more than a small amount of Democrats in their pocket. While it will be hailed as "bi-partisan" compromise the jury is still out on whether it will be a good thing.
One thing many Progressives have tried to tell President Obama even before he was elected that the only thing that he will get by "reaching out" to the modern Republican Party is a bloody nub. After a couple of years of watching these folks shun every bi-partisan attempt made by him to include them it seems like now, hopefully the President may give up on working with the radical modern Republican Party.
One huge ideological difference that exists between Progressives and Republicans is that Progressives believe that it is far past time that we invested in our own country and people. While Republicans are interested in investing in China, and failed wars in the middle-east Progressives are seeking to invest once again in our own land and people. While a Conservative and a tea-bagger will tell you this sort of investment is "waste" the truth of the matter is that these investments, far from the bottomless pits in China and the middle-east actually offer dividends to the American people on their investment.
Finally someone within the Democratic Party is standing up and saying that it is time to fight for real Democratic principles. After compromising to much before sitting down and "reaching out" too much on the healthcare bill it appears as if at least a couple of Democrats are sensing the public mood and have decided to fight for real reforms. Today in a controversial move both Russ Feingold and Maria Cantwell bucked the party leadership and voted against closing debate on the Financial Reform bill.
Last month much was made among the right-wing foghorns on the radio and elsewhere about the Republicans taking the lead in the generic Congressional ballot among the American people. Despite all the self-righteous celebrating one thing was lost on them that evidently has set in on the American electorate. Republicans have absolutely no vision, or solutions to fix the huge problems that still confront our country. They offer only the same failed ideas that have been disgraced and have failed time and again. The party of no, no ideas and nothing good may be finding out that it takes something besides a lot of hot air to win elections. It takes ideas.
Tuesday in Kentucky we will go to the polls and choose our Democratic nominee. While I will not endorse in that race on the same day up in Pennsylvania there is another Senate race that I really hope Joe Sestak wins. I think this would send a mini "tea-bag" message to the Democratic establishment that while not as rabid as the right-wingers our base is tired of being taken for granted too. We do not have to reach out to opportunists like Specter to win elections or enact agenda and it is time our leadership realized that and fought for real Democratic values, not only those that are "convienient".
