Capitol Nonsense

I don't know about you, but I am getting a little weary of the so-called Fiscal Cliff "crisis," which clearly is nothing more than a media event manufactured by career politicians seeking to justify their existence. A few words of advice: shut up, suit up and show up and just sort this out between you like grown men and women.

To the Republicans, you lost. Get over it. Give Obama what he campaigned for - a restoration of Clinton era tax rates, which won't hurt anyone, never mind "kill jobs." Don't worry, your corporate underwriters will still love you.

To the Democrats, you won. Now get over yourselves. You're only marginally better than the GOP, and your political cowardice knows no bounds. Get this vote done and then go out and actually do something of substance, you spineless hacks.

A pox on both their houses.

Wayne's World

I know I'm a bit late with this post; the NRA's press conference was last week, but I couldn't resist posting this one anyway. It had already been crystal clear to me that the NRA is nothing more than a front for the arms manufacturers, dealers and retailers, but Wayne LaPierre's borderline psychotic rant certainly confirmed my suspicions.

If anyone is unconvinced how else can one explain Wayne-o's brutally callous, clueless nonsenses even as the survivors and families of the victims of the Newton, Conn. massacre had only just begun to bury their loved ones. If it were up to me, I would round'em all up, teabaggers, sister-shaggers, card-carrying cold dead handers and dead-enders, and seal them in reinforced concrete bunkers where they could wait out the rest of their days, fuming at the imminent UN invasion while rotting their puny, feeble brains on Velveeta cheese product and Ritz crackers.

John E. Boehner, Genius

Growing up I loved watching Looney Tunes cartoons, and while the Road Runner may never have been my favorite - I usually sympathized with Wiley E. Coyote - it certainly was an excellent depiction of hubris. In this situation, the so-called "Fiscal Cliff," I'm not sure if hubris is really the right word to describe the mule-headed stubbornness of the Republicans to stick to their caveman conservative fanaticism.

What I am certain about is that the Republicans have mostly themselves to blame for getting themselves into this political pickle, and it appears that Americans will hold mostly them responsible for whatever consequences might arise as a result of the budget cuts. It's frustrating, yes, the whole political gridlock, but I'd rather see the Republicans face the music...those looney tunes.

We Do

Phew - it has been another long hiatus but now I feel revitalized after a few days off for the holidays. Obviously there have been two big issues of late, and with this and the next few posts I'm hammering away at 'em: the aftermath of the Newton massacre and the so-called Fiscal Cliff. First up, an ode to political cowardice and amorality, something that is most definitely a bipartisan defect.

Nothing dulls one's moral compass, one's sense of right and wrong like a little campaign cash, and Democrats are just as guilty as Republicans for their spineless kowtowing to the NRA. All their blather about yet another national "conversation" is just an evasive maneuver to avoid accountability for their own significant contribution to yet another massacre of innocents.

SOSDD

Remember the ancient parable of the wise men? They are all blindfolded and asked to guess at the identity of the proverbial elephant in the middle of the room. Each feels a different part of the creature, coming up with a different answer...But in 2012, we're talking about the Republicans. Whether in victory or defeat, they are always in lock (goose?) step with each other, even if it's to take us straight over the (fiscal?) cliff.

I'm enjoying all of the GOP's post-election ruminations. Some are claiming that they've learned their lessons, leaping to reverse public positions on the racist policies they've touted for decades. Others are holding firm, claiming that they and Romney weren't conservative enough during the election, urging the party faithful to stick with...the same racist policies they've touted for decades.

Maybe the two factions will settle the matter through something competitive, like mud wrestling. Or better yet, some grand old elephant poop. That would make them the GOEP.

Before the Big Storm

My heart goes out to all those who perished in this year's "perfect storm," the combination of Hurricane Sandy, the jet stream cold front and the full moon, among others. What angers me is the decision by politicians to remain silent about the role climate change most likely played in this record-setting climate "event." I am by no means a scientist but I remember hearing about the threats to coastal communities and island nations 20 years ago when working for one of the bigger environmental NGOs in Washington, DC. So the recent event should have by no means been seen as a surprise. It was always a matter of not if, but when, and yet with the politicians and policy makers bought and paid for by the carbon-fuel industry lobby, there has been very little progress to prepare for never mind prevent this very kind of calamity.

At what point does their refusal to take action make them responsible for the deaths and losses suffered by innocents? Who will hold them accountable? Er, uhm, hmmm....guess that would be us.

Frankenstorm

While hunkered down in my home during Hurricane Sandy, towels laid out to absorb our weeping walls, I drew inspiration from the listening to the news coverage. The comparisons between the Bush administration's "response" to Hurricane Katrina and the current administration's preparations and response to Hurricane Sandy were stunning. It's too bad it's not "cricket" for the members of the current administration to underscore the obvious: what was missing 7 years ago in the Gulf is what they're bringing now to the mid-Atlantic: a competent federal government effort that is saving lives. It would probably be too much to expect the tinfoil hat wearing flat-earther types to recognize that maybe we should not be privatizing all of the government's core functions. Instead, I'll just spank'em with this lil' 'toon. Stay dry!