Monday, September 29th, 2008

Blame First, Country Last

I’m watching Republicans Eric Cantor and Roy Blunt live on CNN right now. After the House Republicans have defeated the bill that is needed to help the economy after the failings of their economic policies, rather than take responsibility for their game playing, they actually have the gall to play the mother-effing BLAME GAME on Big Bad Nancy Pelosi and a speech that “forced” the House Republican to not support the emergency economic bill (even though commentators just pointed out that Pelosi’s speech stressed the bi-partisan nature of the bill and praised Republican leadership).

Yes, as the Dow is down 500 points, S&P is down over 6%, and the Republicans are playing politics. And they are fucking LYING. AGAIN. IT NEVER STOPS.

Republicans? I used to be one of you, and after stepping outside the “social progressive/fiscal conservative” bubble I was once in, let me tell you: you have no shame. No concern for the good of this country or nation. Your leaders heard their constituents, whipped up by right wing talk radio about the “evils of socialism”, hating the bill because taxpayers now have to pay for George Bush and GOP economic policy, and so you found a way to look good and keep your seats rather then do what is needed to help this country.

In my estimation, the Republican leaders are nothing less than traitors. I don’t give a shit about your feelings, Republican leaders. I don’t give a shit about who said what, where, or when. You are adults. You are supposed to be leaders, not a bunch of sensitive teen drama queens.

You’re professional politicians, not Hannah Montana or contestants on “American Idol”. The last 30 years of politics in this country have spoiled intelligent discussion, the ability to enact effective policy, and destroyed the very substance of what America as a democracy means. Blame goes on both sides; both Republicans nor Democrats have failed. But the point is now, at a dire point in our economic history — itself a full-bore realization of the failures of “trickle-down” economic — instead of leadership, we have game playing and bullshit. Republicans sticking to ideological purity (even though said ideology has failed), and pointing their fingers so they can keep their jobs.

Does it matter to these motherfuckers that ordinary Americans may not be able to get paid now because companies may not be able to make payrolls now? Of course not. The lasting takeaway of Republican ideology is not a focus on individual strength, or achievement; it’s a focus on the Greed Is Good, Gordon Gekko, Me First and Screw You mentality — and it starts from the top and the shit slides down from there.

It is what has made our country weak. It is what has pushed isolationism and ignorance as values to be desired, rather than moved beyond with education. It is what has made us hated throughout the world, even as we are more dependent on the outside world for our very existence.

And to top it off, now John McCain is trying to blame this on Barack Obama in an effort to prop up his dying campaign — even though only 30% of Republicans voted for the bill vs. 60%-plus of Democrats.

Damn you, House Republicans. Damn the lot of you.

update: John McCain? Guess what — I’m going to take you and Steve Schmidt’s assertions that you were a leader of the Right on this proposal. So here’s how it goes: you only delivered 30% of the Republican vote in the House. Your failed to lead, and now the American people will pay the price. Go Fuck Yourself.