Never pass up a chance to sit down or relieve yourself. -old Apache saying

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

mean-spirited GOP

I get so sick of these partisan games.  So much of the opposition to Obama's agenda is simply politics.  They seem to really hate him, even more than the left despised Bush, and we (the left) had good reasons.  I just don't see the reasons they hate Obama so much, except for 1) he's black; and 2) he's a Democrat.  Neither of those reasons is valid in my book.  

It's kinda like the Chris Christie situation right now.  He didn't really seem to care how much pain got inflicted on his New Jersey citizens, as long as he could punish the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee, New Jersey.  

Likewise, Republicans don't seem to care how much pain gets inflicted on Americans as long as they can blame it on Obama.  It's pathetic. Oh, that and they really seem to despise poor people.  

Anyone ever remember working for the good of the country and not your party?

The Disturbing List of the Latest Republican Demands
by Thom Hartmann

On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had to delay a crucial vote on unemployment benefits so that Republican lawmakers could finalize their list of demands.  Although Democrats want to extend long-term unemployment benefits for 11 months with no strings attached, Conservative senators only want a three month extension, and they want the cost of the program off-set with more austerity measures.  Among the proposals, which will likely be offered as amendments to the final plan, are some of the most inhumane ideas ever dreamed up by the Republican party.  

According to a senior Democratic aide, in exchange for helping out-of-work Americans, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell would like to deny healthcare to millions with a one-year delay of Obamacare.  Senator Kelly Ayotte would like to put the cost of an extension on the backs of immigrant children, by making it impossible for their parents to claim a child tax credit.  And, Senator Rob Portman wants to cut Social Security benefits for the few Americans who receive disability benefits and unemployment assistance – a measure that would save a meager $100 million dollars a year.  

Rather than asking the wealthy to pay more, or closing a few corporate tax loopholes, Republicans think that the cost of unemployment insurance should be paid by sick people, children, and the disabled.  To make matters worse, some Democrats are going along with these ideas in an effort to restore the financial lifeline that 1.4 million out-of-work Americans rely on.  It shouldn't have even come to this.  

When Republicans were in power, they extended these important benefits multiple times with no strings attached.  Now, however, they're using this emergency as an opportunity to inflict more pain on the American public – for the sole purpose of blaming that pain on our President.  Austerity has never and will never benefit our economy, and this Republican political hostage-taking is causing real damage to millions of American lives. 



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