That's it for now....

It's been a long time since I've written anything, and for those who follow my ramblings, I apologize.

The past few weeks, have been particularly busy, but I won't go into detail. There was also a period of time in which to reduce my own stress level, I eliminated all exposure to current events. Frankly, it was almost like a vacation. But now, I've fallen back into the habit of keeping up with what's going on with national politics....so that's giving me a reason to write at least a little. And a little is what you're going to get.....so here it goes.

The obstructionists got their asses kicked a couple of weeks ago when President Obama hosted them in the televised banquet hall meeting. He called them out on all the silly standard Republican talking points. It was so effective, FOX news dumped out of the coverage because it showed just how unwarranted their stance has been against the Democrats. ...and Obama shut them down without a teleprompter.

It was great to see President Obama get tough over the last couple of weeks. I just wish he'd quit trying to go “bi-partisan.” No way in hell is any Republican going to vote for anything that Obama and the Democrats want. He the President would come out and state the world is round, the Republicans would insist it was flat. You think I'm kidding? I'm surprised the Repubs don't wear their pants backwards just because the President wears his frontwards.

I can't wait until the Health Care Summit. This should be good!

The “Pay as you Go” legislation which passed a couple of weeks ago in the House, passed without one vote from any Republican. This very Republican piece of legislation was a Democratic sponsored bill. Yet, not one Republican voted for it. It's amazing that not one Republican has the guts to go against the daily instruction from the RNC....and the lobbyists.

The east central Illinois budgetary moral compass known as Rep. Tim Johnson also voted against the bill. He's just another Republican shill who will vote against anything the Democrats or our dually elected President is in favor of. It's past time to replace him.

Answer this one....what have the Republicans done for America in the last 20 years? Not just the Republican Presidents, but the Republican Congress as well...? Oh, wait, they passed the Bush tax cuts for the rich...and it went right to the deficit! I forgot!

The business and banking loopholes have forced manufacturing jobs out of the country. The labor unions which helped build this country have been dissolved as well as a large number of middle class well paying jobs in the country. The number of “for sale” or “for lease” signs I see in front of previously occupied factories and businesses tell that story.

Now is the time to eliminate the filibuster....for all time. After all, majority rules. Let's be a democracy once again.

Doesn't it bother you to have the U.S. Government held hostage by the Republicans, the group which has the main goal of proving the government doesn't do anything right? Isn't it obvious the very obstructionists are the one's who will later criticize this administration for not getting anything done? So, we as voters should reward the Republicans with our votes to punish the Democrats? NO WAY!

Isn't it obvious that the reason why this administration is not accomplishing it's largest goals is because of the very people who will later criticize it for not getting anything done? Give me a break!

I hope the “tea baggers” have plans to sign their Social Security checks back to the government. They want smaller government, no Social Security, no government intervention in their lives. I also hope they have plans to cut off their homes from municipal water supplies, sewers, police protection, fire protection, pull their kids out of public schools and go and live on some mountain side in Montana. I guess they didn't notice their taxes went down over the last year. I hope none of them ever get sick, obviously they have no need for a public or private healthcare.

One more thing...the question is, where were these people during the previous administration? Government didn't just begin with the Obama administration. Neither did taxes, regulations along with Social Security, Medicare and other social programs that the “tea baggers” seem to be against.

Look, this President inherited a real mess. This mess didn't begin at the beginning of the Obama administration. It has been well underway over the last 8 years of the previous administration. Was everyone sleeping over that time?

This weeks CPAC convention has been a real hoot....a comedy show of right wing wackos, along with a scary bunch of torch carriers for the “party of NO.” This event should be an embarrassment for any well intentioned Republicans, if there are still any left.

Barry Goldwater, Dwight Eisenhower and even Richard Nixon would be appalled at what the Republican Party has become.

Dick Cheney and his daughter should shut up and fade away.

I wasn't happy that Bush and Cheney got elected twice, but I got over it....and I sure didn't want to see the country go to hell to prove that he was the wrong guy...even though it did happen pretty quickly.

If this President succeeds, we in the middle class will all succeed.

I still have my fingers crossed for at least a public option as part of the healthcare package. The recent obscene rate hikes for those small business owners should be an obvious argument in favor of the public option. The audacity of those already very very profitable health insurance carriers in raising the premiums for their customers at this time is either the most brazen act by any company ever, or just plain stupid. They had to see what a PR problem this would become. Maybe they just don't care.

Those healthcare insurance consumers who had their rates increased are the lucky ones. Many people had theirs canceled. I hope a few of those were “tea baggers.”

If the Repubs at the Health Care Summit don't play along and contribute(which they won't), then the Democrats should say, “You don't want to sign on? Fine, we'll go back to square one, include the public option and pass it by reconciliation.” That's leadership. Reconciliation has occured many times during the last 20 years, with about 16 times of the last twenty times by the Republicans.

FOX viewers are low information viewers driven by fear. I find it disturbing people buy into the whole FOX thing....and totally believe the crap they spew. That would also include those “ditto heads” who listen and buy into Rush Limbaugh.

FOX brags about it's news audience numbers. It's still WELL BELOW the audiences of the network news shows on ABC, CBS and NBC by far.

I'm not saying you should become a liberal, I'm just saying you should take the responsibility to investigate all sources of information.

All journalistic integrity went out the window with the coverage of the Tiger Woods apology. His personal problems are no one's business but his and his family. The fact that all the networks covered his press conference live, including sources who passed on recent Presidential press conferences is incredible. Would Walter Cronkite or Edward R. Murrow have presided over this event? I don't think so. When has the National Enquirer style of journalism replaced good news judgment? If it's sports related, then let the network's sports department cover it.

That's it.