The President's Bipartisan Meeting

I picture the President’s meeting in Washington this week with Democrat and Republican law-makers going something like this:

“I want to thank you all for attending this summit today. I also want to thank C-Span for televising our efforts to come together in a bipartisan effort to end this legislative gridlock that has beset the nation in my first year in office. Gentlemen, if you are ready, let’s get started. We have much to do. We can start with healthcare, jobs or financial reform. What would you like to discuss first?” said President Obama.

“I respectfully request that the TV cameras be tuned off and that we adjourn the meeting. We agreed to show up, against our better judgment I might add, and now that we have, I feel we have lived up to our part of the bargain. After all we should not be seen talking with the enemy,” said Senator Boehner.

“Now Senator, you all agreed to come and talk today. The Nation wants us to get things done. Let’s start off with a list of things we both agree on when it comes to healthcare reform. Katherine is passing out a list of all the things that have been supported by Republicans during the Bush Administration. Let’s start with those and see if we can build on them. I’ve talked with my fellow Democrats and we are willing to include all of these points in our healthcare reform bill,” said the President.

“No. We don’t agree with any of them.”

“But Senator, these are your points! These are things you have supported in the past.”

“That was before YOU proposed them, Mr. President. Sorry.”

“Okay, let’s move on to Jobs. Surly we can all agree on creating more jobs to get our economy back on track. We have too many Americans out of work. Millions of our fellow citizens are suffering,” said President Obama. “Hilda, you want to pass around the list of proposed tax cuts and tax breaks for small businesses that our bipartisan caucus put together late last night?”

“We’ve lost our sound, Mr. President,” said a C-Span technician.

“Senator McConnell, you want to hand me those wire cutters, please? Joe, take this duct tape and my pocket knife and see what you can do, will you?”

“Socialist dog! You lie!”

“Now Senator Wilson, that’s not being very productive. Shouting and name calling are not going to help us find a solution to our problems. Let’s move on. Our newest senator, Senator Brown from Massachusetts. Perhaps you can summarize Republican ideas for financial reform in America’s banking industry,” said President Obama as he took some aspirin and rubbed his temples.

“I have nothing to say, Mr. President. After helping to stop that last filibuster, boy oh boy am I on probation with my fellow Republicans. You are on your own, sir.”

“Do any of you have any plans, proposals, ideas, power point presentations? Anything?!”

A long silence.

“Yes, Senator McCain. Thank you. Finally, we are getting somewhere. You have something?” said the President with a sigh of relief.

“Mr. President I move that we all break for lunch.”

And so it goes.

Food for THOUGHT…

Run, Sarah, Run!

Former vice-presidential candidate and former Alaskan governor Sarah Palin attended a Tea Party in Nashville, Tennessee the other day. It was a wonderful affair full of cheering and shouting conventioneers who were excited about her participation. She did not disappoint them. She gave them barbs and jabs directed toward President Obama and Democrats in general. The rabble loved it! She praised the Tea Party movement as the “future of politics in America.”

Palin asked the gathering: "How's that hope-y, change-y stuff workin' out for ya?" The former Alaska governor, who resigned from office last summer before completing her first term, offered a smile when a moderator asking her questions used the phrase "President Palin." The audience stood up and chanted "Run, Sarah, Run!" fueling more speculation that she might run for the top spot in 2012. But is she a future Republican Party presidential candidate or an independent candidate looking for a movement to lead? If the latter, I could not select a better leader, a better representative of this misguided, hot-headed group of ultra conservatives. If the former then God help those moderate Republicans hanging on to their party by their fingernails.

Yes indeed, Run Sarah, Run! And while you are at it, write some more books and do a few more interviews. But, just a word of advice, if I may. Use note cards or even better use one of those new-fangled teleprompter thing-ys. I know, I know! You ripped the President for using them, but that way you won’t have to keep looking down at your palm. You can just keep smiling and waving to the crowd and talking…folksy. Lipstick!

Food for THOUGHT…

Is it Just Me?

That’s the question I’ve been asking a lot lately. I keep waiting for progressives, like me, to mobilize and beat on Washington’s door and say enough is enough! Stop trying to kill each other and get things done! This chasm between liberal and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats continues to widen and deepen. The rhetoric gets louder and more hostile. Lies and platitudes are being thrown around with abandon. We don’t know who to trust anymore. The news media are now owned by large corporations and filled with talking partisan heads. Both sides wrap themselves in the flag and claim to be about the “People’s Business,” but nothing gets done. Gridlock, hate, lies and promises are all they produce.

So many of us wanted change, but we got more of the same old crap that has been destroying our country and our nation’s very character. I’m watching America dividing into different camps and preparing for war at a time when we should be coming together for our common good. We should be rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure including roads, bridges and schools and putting Americans back to work. We should be building solar panels and wind turbines and driving electric cars. We should be figuring out ways to keep people in their homes and regulate banks and insurance companies. We should have affordable healthcare for everyone and schools that can not only compete but lead the rest of the world. We should be repairing and protecting our environment and figuring out ways to reduce our carbon footprint on this planet. We should be spreading peace and good will around the world and exploring the promise of Space.

I mean have I lost it? Are Americans no longer capable of innovation, leadership and noble action? Are we doomed to fall into an… uncivil war of words and political gridlock? Are we doomed to be subjugated by our large multi-national corporations and banks and a handful of power brokers that control our money, our elections and our news media? Have we given away our precious votes to ideologues and bogus theologians? Have we given away our country’s heart and soul?

Is it just me?

Food for THOUGHT…