Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Free at Last, Free at Last!

At long last, the votes have been counted, and it's all over but the shouting.  The debt limit has been raised, burdened by an attachment that purports to address the debt itself.  I must admit that I was wrong. I was betting the voting wouldn't happen until the very last minute Monday night.  They managed to milk the situation until noon on Tuesday, the sadistic bastards! This has come to be par for the course in Washington. And, as soon as the votes are counted, both sides claim victory and smile and make nice and call each other "friends" and assure the American people that all the angst was necessary and just proves the system works, blah, blah, blah. Actually there was only one losing side - the side of the American people. And, the politicians just don't care.

They don't apologize for their ham-handed political theater. Oh, no.  Instead they promise to put us through the same thing in 2013, when the debt ceiling will need to be raised again.  They are counting on the fact that the American voters have short attention spans and even shorter memories.  They may be very surprised, come the next election.  At least, I hope they are.

And, now, we are to have a "Super Committee" to advise us on reducing spending.  Don't we already have one of those? You know, the one President Obama appointed. The one that came back containing Alan Simpson's dream of destroying Social Security?  Oh, that's right.  That committee had only six members. The new one will have twelve, six from the Senate and six from the House.  An equal number of Republicans and Democrats who are doomed to create a Mexican standoff from the first day.  And, there won't be anyone to break the stalemate. Does anybody think this will end well?

Does anybody else wish Hillary would run again? I'd like to see a re-match. How about you?

Stay tuned.

10 comments:

Margaret (Peggy or Peg too) said...

Even if she did run again it wouldn't be any different. The right will do all in their power to make her look bad and even though their constituents (sp?) want them to do otherwise it's not about the people....it's about their power and winning over the left. Just like they did to her hubby.

What gets me about all of this - Bush got us here - anyone remember that?

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, I think Margaret might be correct. But wouldn't an all-female race be interesting? Hillary/Bachmann, perhaps?
I would LOVE to see those debates.
Hillary would chew her up and spit her out.

Margie's Musings said...

Absolutely!

I think Hillary would have made a great president. But now she won't run.

Margie's Musings said...

If you too realize Bush got us into this mess, read my last blog at Margie's Musings.

Betty said...

Margaret: I remember Bush, vividly, but not fondly.

alwaysinthebackrow: An all-female race would be fun.

Margie: Oh, I know she wont run. I'm just wishing she had won in the Primaries. I did read your last blog, and I agree with you.

Grayquill said...

Regardless who got us into this mess or who has kept the mess spinning - its a mess.

Looking to the Stars said...

Good post! Yes, I remember Bush got us here. And like you, I hope everyone remembers next election, the crap they have put us thru!

Betty said...

You're right. It really doesn't much matter who or what caused the mess. It's who or what will bring us out of it that I'm interested in.

Looking: I'm blaming the Democrats as much as the Republicans for the latest debacle (well, almost). I'm disgusted with the whole bunch of them.

Margie's Musings said...

My problem with it is that those who were not even elected called the shots. Why can't our congress think for themselves?

Betty said...

Grayquill: Sorry, I neglected to put your name on my answer to your comment. You're still right.

Margie: Because thinking hurts, I guess.