Tea Party takes over
To the editor:
It’s now official; The Tea Party, better known in the House of Representatives as the Freedom Caucus, all 40 of them, have finally accomplished their goals made five years ago, that is of course to take over the control the U.S. Government and hold the U.S. citizens, all 320 million of us, hostage to their unreasonable, uncompressing demands. That’s right, only 40 of these bloodsucking, me-first meatheads are doing this to you and me. It’s hard to believe our own Republican House of Representatives; with the majority of votes in that branch has allowed this to happen. However, considering the fact they have a 7 percent approval rating, I guess anything can happen. As it turns out the House of Representatives of the United States of America cannot even elect a leader who is capable or willing to take the job of Speaker of the House, one that has been described as the job of a lifetime. Before this an unbelievable turn for the worst happened, many smart people were questioning if the Republicans could govern, well, guess what? Now we know for sure, they cannot.
This issue goes back way before Thursday, Oct. 8, when the vote for the Speakership was scheduled to take place. This whole demise of our freedom started with the Republicans winning many states in 2010. Then in 2014 they concluded their march to this horrible situation we are in today with a takeover of the House and the Senate. Oh, did I mention the State Governments also captured in this tidal wave of hate, discontent and lies? With this newly acquired leverage and responsibility, the power hungry right wing wacko birds started their march to destroy all of our God given rights as stated in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Let me mention a few; how about voting rights which denied millions of voters the right to vote because of “voter’s fraud” which was proved to be nonexistent and furthermore, struck down by most courts who heard the ridicules claims. They drew new lines on congressional maps to change voting districts to favor the Republican candidates, even though this was against the law and, furthermore, voted down again not in favor of the voters. These were later declared illegal by the courts who eventually did the work for the Republicans and drew the lines themselves. This whole mess was of course paid by whom? You guessed it. Florida tax payers. Let’s move on.
Since the $800 billion stimulus bill they approved to bail out the banks and insurance companies who were deemed too big to fail and furthermore caused this entire financial mess, since then the Republicans have blocked every effort to help the economy get bank on its feet. Who could ever forget the unbelievable statement made by the Speaker of the House, John Boehner on July 21, 2013, “Congress ought to be judged on how many laws we repeal not by how many new laws we create.” This further proves what I’ve been saying, these people are actually proud of the do nothing Congress they have created. One problem, the country suffers for their self serving, childish do nothing approach to governing. Don’t believe me? Ask yourself how much time and money they wasted on the 60 votes to repeal Obamacare.
The list of litigation they have failed to approve or put a stop to altogether is of some consequence. Let’s look at just a few that cannot be disputed.
1) They have obstructed efforts to help the economy improve for everyone but the wealthiest few.
2) They have slowed down or stopped any attempt to maintain our infrastructure.
3) They have cut budgets needed to hire teachers or improve our schools.
4) A raise in the minimum wage is not on their agenda, whatsoever.
5) To give equal pay for women who do the same job as men, is unheard of.
6) They have voted for special tax breaks for millionaires and corporations.
7) They have supported tax breaks for companies who send jobs out of the country.
8) Provide student loan relief, out of the question.
9) Help the long term unemployed, are you kidding me?
10) They have cut budgets for any environmental protection measures
There is no question that all of the above did in fact truly happen, just look at the record. Even though they are denying having anything to do with any part of this slow economic recovery, they are in fact totally responsible for it. First Bush caused it then the Republicans would do nothing to improve it. In most cases they are in fact very proud of what they have not accomplished and destroyed. Don’t ask them about any of this, all you’ll get is lies and excuses or simply blame it all on Obama. This reminds me of the old joke about the wife walking in on her husband with another women and he looks at her and says, “you going to believe me or your lying eyes?”
This is what I consider the true heart and soul of what I’m calling the new Republican Party. First of all this party is definitely not the party of Ronald Regan. Regan was a firm believer in the Republican values and beliefs. These spit ball throwers do not. The main difference between then and now is the fact that Regan knew how to move his agenda forward. Even if it meant compromises along the way. Just look at the tax breaks his administration initially passed in the first part of his term and then the seven tax increases he made as his term went along. In the old, old days this art of compromise by both sides was called log rolling. This element of governing is in no way any part of the new Republican platform today. Don’t believe me. OK, then just ask any of them if they are willing to compromise on anything. The answer will by a resounding NO. Just look at the record which includes two government shutdowns on their watch. What have they done? Virtually nothing positive except naming and renaming some Post Offices. Yet they stand around patting themselves on the back telling each other and all of us what a great job they are doing and what a lousy job President Obama is doing. I find this hypocritical behavior very disturbing as do millions of other Americans. Approval rating of 7 percent? Are you kidding me? Actually it’s worst than all of this, these people are actually proud of their record. In spite of all of this I’ve not touched on the worst impropriety of them all. The greatest sin, their lying agenda.
The Ten Commandants tell us “Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor”. Jesus said (John 8:32) “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The reading of these Scriptures brings me to the disgusting Bengazi investigations and hearings the Republicans have been wasting their time and our money for the last year and a half. I wrote a letter on these bogus hearings a year ago, it seems that we have had one huge development a few weeks ago that I’m sure will blow up any honest explanation by the right to justify or legitimize these laughable hearings.. The event I’m talking about here are the comments made by the then-heir apparent to the House of Representatives, Mr. Kevin McCarthy, the House majority leader, “Everybody thought Hillary Clinton was unbeatable, right? But we put together a Bengazi special committee, a select committee. What are her numbers today? Her numbers are dropping.” Now I don’t care from which planet you’re from, but here on Earth, that is a direct admission of the real truth behind the entire Benghazi hearings. Thanks to McCarthy we can now positively confirm the fact that these hearings were set up, from the start, to discredit Hillary Clinton before and during the election cycle for the 2016 Presidential elections. Of course, ever since the truth be known McCarthy and his gang of righties have been walking back their comments. Another strange, well maybe not so strange, thing is happening and that would be we’ve heard nothing from Fox “News.” Nothing. Don’t you find it a bit strange that before this Republican fiasco, Fox had the Benghazi story broadcast day and night? 1,000 in depth stories since the beginning. Now, silence. Why is that? Could it be that this network is not what they advertise themselves to be, fair and balanced?
The truly sad chapter in this story is the fact that this committee promised the families of the four heroes who were tragically killed on that horrible night Sept. 11, 2012; these leaders of the Republican Party told these families that they were only after the truth of what happened that night. That this was a non-partisan investigation only devoted to finding the truth. Nothing could be further from the truth. They knew full well they were lying through their teeth. They can wiggle and dance all they want but we must always remember what Jesus taught us, “The truth will set you free.”
I don’t care if you’re a Republican, a Democratic or an Independent you must agree that as a nation we cannot condone this type of behavior in any case or from anybody or any group. We must extricate these lying crooks from our political system all together. If we sit around and do nothing about this problem we will all be consumed by their unlawful, unethical behavior. Are we to become another Middle East quagmire and swim in the toxic stew we ourselves served up? From all indications from the right, I would say they really don’t give a damn, as long as they get their demands, no compromise. They seem to be quite satisfied with the scorched earth policy they have established.
Jim Healy
Cape Coral