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Lumps of Coal All Around
The Congressional gridlock setting in to Washington this week just in time for Christmas is painful to behold. The Republicans in the House have passed a plum pudding of a bill, extending the payroll tax extension. They have insisted on inserting several poison pills into it that they know will make the Democrats sick. One permits an oil pipeline to run through the country connecting Mexico to Canada that the Republican governor of Nebraska opposes and another loots money intended for preventative care in the Health Reform Bill to avoid decreased reimbursements to doctors for Medicare in 2012. The Democratic leadership in the Senate has stalled a crucial bill funding the government after Friday, threatening to hold it hostage, trying to get a surtax on the very wealthy passed to fund the bill. Issues involving abortion and travel to Cuba are involved in the pudding as well.
Watching Mitch McConnell at work this year is like watching Mr. Magoo trying to channel Darth Vader. And Harry Reid doesn’t get the pulses racing either, with his school-marmish pronouncements and bland excuses. This is leadership? If so, it is a long way down from the standards set when the honeyed-toned Everett Dirksen and the ever-resourceful Lyndon Johnson did battle for their respective parties and constituents in these hallways and antechambers.
Over in the house, it is no better. John Boehner sounds increasingly robotic and preprogrammed. Eric Canter reminds us of the smarmy guy in junior high school with the book-bag who was always brown-nosing the teacher. And the Democrats there seem mostly missing in action. Who are the adults in the room?
Is it too much to ask both parties to take a long hard look at their leadership in January and try to find leaders of genuine stature, people who remember they are public servants elected by their constituents, not agents for their big contributors or supernumeraries in an orchestrated political pageant? Next November someone should be held accountable for this ongoing display of bad acting.
Meanwhile I am writing Santa, hoping he has some really big lumps of coal to put in their stockings this December 25. They have richly deserved them.
Tom Godfrey
Best line: “Who are the adults in the room?”
Looking good Tom!
You are my first comment. I would like to give you an Academy Award + Nobel Peace prize and a Pulitzer just for that alone. Thanks so much. Can we exchange guest posts some time soon? Best to Dr. A + Waylon
Yes of course! In the new year?
Blogging is slow going in the beginning and has a steep learning curve–don’t give up!
Thanks. I am now committed.
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Many thanks for your kind words. I have put up another piece this morning. Please stay in contact. Tom
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Thank you, John. What did you read that was most valuable? Tom