One Step Closer to the Edge and We're About to Break

We have gone beyond the breaking point where a middle ground is a minefield. Both sides of American politics have placed themselves in "defense mode," each sighting the behavior of the other as justification for their own acts. When did we replace the adults in Washington with dolts?

I spent 1994-2008 pissed off at the Republicans and gave my support to the Democrats because of the "hope and change" they offered. I should have known better after the 2006 elections when we, as a nation, gave the Democrats Congress because they promised to end the war and, instead, pushed Health Care Reform. I should have known better, but I didn't. I voted not only for Obama for President, but basically went straight down the ticket electing every person with a "D" behind their name in hopes of ending Republican Tyranny. How was I to know it wasn't a Partisan Tyranny at all we were dealing with, but more of a general "I know what is best" type of hubris?

During the RNC Reign of Terror, we had what was, at the time, the largest expansion of government in history without so much as a cry. We invaded two countries on flimsy evidence and there was a roaring silence. Spending was out of control and the only thing the DNC could be bothered to combat during these years was Bush's picks for the Supreme Court.

When opposition to the RNC goals was brought up, the person saying it was accused of having no better ideas; of just hating the President; of being a sore loser; of being an obstructionist just to be one. The RNC suggested changing the rules of the Senate to combat these lone few voices of reason. We, the American people, watched this and remembered in 2006. What we didn't know is that the playbook was going to remain in place.

After the DNC takeover and promise of change, when opposition to the DNC goals was brought up, the person saying it was accused of having no better ideas; of just hating the President; of being a sore loser; of being an obstructionist just to be one. The DNC has even suggested changing the rules of the Senate to combat these voices. The only difference is that the RNC is far better organized than the DNC could ever be and that is due to the make up of Conservatives vs Liberals and the Conservatives will always be better organized.

Look at the two groups, Conservatives and Liberals, and think for a moment what their central theme is. Conservatives seek to conserve; to remain the same; to be cautious. It is therefore very easy for a group of Conservatives to look at something and agree on what must be done.

Liberals, on the other hand, do not have the single goal of Conservatives outside of change, but change to what? Liberals will all see something, most will agree it needs changing, and then come up with as many plans for change as there are Liberals looking at the problem. Today's crop of Liberals are not burdened by this problem; they have adopted a "group-think" mentality. They are not acting like Liberals at all, but have taken the Bush Playbook and are running with it page for page.

Why am I saying all this? Simple really. I am hoping, begging, pleading, praying, and any other form of coercion for a viable third party option that is more central in the way most Americans are. We have repeatedly voiced our concerns and voted our interests, but the parties have goals of their own and we do not factor into those plans.

A Bit of a Rant

The Health Care Bill passed the House today by a very close vote and, unless some unforeseen even like alien contact or G-d's return occurs, it should pass the Senate as well. Did the Democrats pull out every nasty trick they could think of to get it to pass? Yes. Did they bully those within their party who wouldn't go along? Most certainly. Did they behave exactly like Republicans did after Bush beat Kerry? You bet. Can the Republicans be upset about it? Not at all, for you reap what you sow.

For the record, I did not support this bill. I found myself in the “Dennis K/ Michael Moore” camp of “this is a bad bill,” but did not agree with their follow through of “therefore we must vote for it to support the President.” Look at it like this: is voting for a bad bill because you like the President really any better than voting against it because you hate him? Is Dennis' vote to support Obama any better than a GOP'er who actually likes the bill, but would vote against it to bring Obama down? Doesn't the bill count for anything because the bill will be with us long after Obama is no longer President.

None of my opinions on the Health Care Bill, or how the Democrats are ruling matters or factors into my opinion on the GOP however. While I agreed with the “why” of it, I will admit the DNC roadblocked Bush as much as humanly possible. Most of the time, they were correct, but I did find myself wondering why many times at their actions; particularly after Kerry lost. I honestly cannot believe that 100% of Bush's judge nominees were evil and corrupt. The same goes for the bill. I cannot believe 100% of the Republicans did not find this bill worthy of modification rather than death.

Further more, I am so beyond pissed off at McCain today announcing:

"There will be no cooperation for the rest of the year...They have poisoned the well in what they've done and how they've done it."

Then there is also Michael Steele's calling of it Armageddon

I cannot agree with this blind obstruction in the name of obstruction and hyperbole to fool the naive.

When I voted for Obama, I was voting in Change because I was sick of this "business as usual" nonsensical inaction from Washington that has plagued my entire life. It seems the only time they ever move, it is in the wrong direction and the only time they agree is when we are getting screwed.

I have spent the last year and a half or so pissed at the Democrats for behaving like Neocons. I have complained to anyone who will listen that the DNC is pushing the Health Care Bill in the exact same manner that the RNC pushed the Patriot Act and the War in Iraq: there is no time for debate; question the loyalties of those opposed; point out that the other side has no plan; call them "obstructionist" and accuse them of acting out of a blind hate for the President. And what does the GOP do after a defeat equal to the passing of said Patriot Act? They circle the wagons and pull out all the Democrat tricks they spent 2002-2006 telling us were un-American. The fact that the Democrats brought up the idea of a Nuclear Option and nobody blinked an eye of hypocrisy really makes me worry for the short term memory of our nation.

Maybe I am naive in what I think America is and the job of our politicians. I always believed that the House represents the people of a state, the Senate represents the state as a whole, and the President represents the country. Somewhere along the road, the parties took over the people, the state, and the country and now the House represents the Party; the Senate represents the Party; and the President speaks for the Party; damned the people.

I do not mind the bill passed, but I mind GREATLY the behavior of the leaders of BOTH SIDES in this fight and am more pissed right now at the Republicans for threatening to do everything they just got done condemning.

The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

The Washington Post is reporting today that Nancy Pelosi is planning on having the House vote on "a more popular package of fixes to the Senate bill" and then use an obscure rule known as "deem and pass" to skip the Senate voting on the changes and having the President sign it into law. This is a great plan, except for one small minor problem; it is that "G-ddamned piece of paper" as Bush once put it: the Constitution. Sadly, even Obama doesn't know this is un-Constiutional: "I don't know about the politics, but I know what's the right thing to do."

The matter of the House and Senate passing different versions of the same bill has been brought up before the Supreme Court a few times already, so I do have them backing me up on my opinion for the record.

The first time was in 1998 in the case "Clinton v. City of New York" where it was ruled that "(1) a bill containing its exact text was approved by a majority of the Members of the House of Representatives; (2) the Senate approved precisely the same text; and (3) that text was signed into law by the President." The Constitution explicitly requires that each of those three steps be taken before a bill may "become a law."

Notice how Clinton v. City of New York repeatedly uses the term "exact text?" If one word changes during the path a Bill takes to become law, it MUST start the process over. This was reaffirmed in 2007 with "PUBLIC CITIZEN,
Petitioner, v. CLERK, U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" where it was ruled that "Pursuant to this bicameralism requirement, a bill must be passed in identical form by both chambers before it can become a law."

The one thing that sets America apart from other countries is the fact that we are dedicated to the rule of law; that we never let the "Tyranny of the Majority" run wild over the minority; that all are equal in the eyes of the law.Nancy Pelosi's insisting that her being able to amend the Senate Bill and have that mean that both house agree without the Senate ever seeing those changes is unconstitutional and the courts have already ruled on this more than once. Obama's encouraging of this action is beyond disgusting to me as I voted for "Hope and Change" and we already had a President for no respect for the rule of law.

Sleep Deprivation Inspired Eureka Moment

I have been doing research all weekend trying to find the person which I wish to damn for all time, but it seems there is not a single damnable person because Daylight Savings is not an idea born of one mind: it is a conspiracy dating back as far as the Romans to deprive us of sleep. What I need to do now is just find that bastard who said “let's make it Saturday and not day, but rather at 2am while everyone is asleep so they wake up disoriented on the following Sunday” so I can damn him in effigy.

The late Saturday night idea for DLS has to have come from a politician. I say that because there is no logical sense in making it so close to a day like Monday where we already dread waking up. Only a politician would come up with the rational of “well, they are already miserable” as the justification for such a sadistic deed. Is not going to work after 48 hours....no, 47 hours of freedom not cruel enough? Remember, you already TOOK an hour from us!

“OK smart-ass, what would you do” I can hear you thinking and you should really see a doctor. I should not be able to hear your thoughts from such a great distance. Can you hear my thoughts? I really hope not; some are kind of perverted at times and broadcasting those thoughts might get me in trouble...right, DLS!

Assuming we need Day Light Savings, which is something I really don't believe we do although I do love falling back, then the solution is rather simple to this lethargy problem: do it on Friday at 5pm. Why? Simple, most people are off work by that point, but it is early enough that they can choose to adapt early or not. They then go about their Saturday on the new schedule, missing the hour without any major responsibilities that cannot wait, such as work. Then, they wake up Sunday almost adjusted and go about their normal full Sunday. By Monday, the lost hour is a thing of the past; the day is no more painful than it normally is; and I can't think of a third thing. Then, once rested and ready, we can discuss why we still even do this nonsense in the first place.

I Cannot Let This Pass: Texas Board of Education cuts Thomas Jefferson out of its textbooks

The Texas Board of Education has been meeting this week to revise its social studies curriculum. During the past three days, “the board’s far-right faction wielded their power to shape lessons on the civil rights movement, the U.S. free enterprise system and hundreds of other topics”:

– To avoid exposing students to “transvestites, transsexuals and who knows what else,” the Board struck the curriculum’s reference to “sex and gender as social constructs.”

– The Board removed Thomas Jefferson from the Texas curriculum, “replacing him with religious right icon John Calvin.”

– The Board refused to require that “students learn that the Constitution prevents the U.S. government from promoting one religion over all others.”

– The Board struck the word “democratic” from the description of the U.S. government, instead terming it a “constitutional republic.”

As the nation’s second-largest textbook market, Texas has enormous leverage over publishers, who often “craft their standard textbooks based on the specs of the biggest buyers.” Indeed, as The Washington Monthly has reported, “when it comes to textbooks, what happens in Texas rarely stays in Texas."

Main Story

Let "The Great Nothing" Commence

"So Brad, what are you going to do this weekend?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing? I'm sorry."

I'm not, not even a little. In fact, I have been counting down all week to the "Great Nothing" that will be my weekend. Laundry? Nope. Cleaning? Not a chance. Food shopping? OK, that may be done, but that is it! Other than waking up, which I may skip on Saturday, I plan on sitting on my couch and watching movie after movie after movie. Why? Because I can.

What brought this on? My co-workers and overhearing them bitch about their spouses and how little these poor guys want to do on their days off after working all week. One co-worker even complained that her husband dare want to spend time with his family when the lawn needs mowing! WTF? Did they marry the men they loved or simply the most handy guy they could find? I decided that someone had to take a stand for all those married men who can't stand on their own by not standing for 48 hours and doing JACK SHIT!

I am inviting all my single friends, male and female alike, to join me this weekend in the "Great Nothing" and just relax and enjoy the time away from other people's duties.

Amen

I STILL Hate You, AT&T

I got my tax return on Saturday. That should be good news, right? I should start planning all those projects that my home requires, but was simply lacking the funds to do, right? I should buy myself a present maybe, like that new Netbook I bought on Thursday, right? Well, thanks to you AT&T, and your taking of the money I had set aside for my credit card bill, now NONE of that will be done....ok, I already did the Netbook, but wouldn't have if I had known you were about to fuck me anally without the use of lube....sorry mom.

My tax return was not the bonanza it usually is this year for some reason, but it was enough that I could repay my parents, put some in savings, and still have some fun (see Netbook.) Now, it all goes to my credit card. Why? Because you forced me to give them the minimum payment you schmucks!

Ya know, most companies will TURN OFF SERVICE after two months and then I would know you were not getting my automatic payment. I would have said "funny the phone isn't working. I know it is automatically paid every month and I know there is money in my account, so something must be wrong" and I would have taken care of it when it was only like $150! No, you waited FIVE MONTHS! FIVE? FIVE? WTF?

So now, thanks to you, you evil whore of a corporation, I had to deposit the entire tax return and earmark it for the credit card company. Thanks for screwing me once again AT&T!

You really have perfected the art of screwing your customers. You have hit the trifecta with me now.

Today's Theme: I HATE YOU AT&T!!!

Oh my yes AT&T, how I loath you. I wish I could hate you more than I already do, as I have hated you this deeply for so long that it is losing it's thrill, but there is no lower level to my hate yet. You have passed Hitler. You have passed Spice Girls. You have even passed that baby crying in the back row of Shutter Island, and that takes skill. I hate you like Kirk hated Khan; like Jerry hated Tom; like Palin hates thinking.

It is not enough to suck completely at every facet of what you claim to do, my dear AT&T, but you take pride in your sucking. You brag about the "Retention Department" as if having so many people threatening to quit your service that you had to start a subsection of customer service is a good thing. Most companies don't piss off their clients to the point of wanting to quit the service on such a frequent basis. You should look into it.

Here is a novel idea by the way: fire all your customer service people and promote the Retention Department to the front lines? It has gotten to the point now that, when I call you, I just ask for them right out since 9 out of 10 of my calls to you ends up there anyway. It makes me feel bad for them since they are usually quite nice and I am usually quite pissed after dealing with: first, finding your number; second, the "press one, now press three, did you mean two" menu I have to navigate; third, the inbred who answers the phone; fourth, the "non-caring floor supervisor" who did the inbreeding; and then the brilliance of the manager who says there is nothing he can do. Somehow, Retention ALWAYS fixes the problem.

Dealing with you first thing on a Friday is not the way I want to start my weekend. You are on notice now that I am seeking an alternative. I have found Comcast for my internet; I already canceled my DirecTv, and, once I find a new home phone, you can kiss my ass AT&T!

You suck rotten pig eggs in the deepest corpuscles of Hell.

Dr Seuss

There are spots in my memory that can never be replaced
And these are the things with who I am are interlaced
So, from the Zax, to the the Lorax, to the Sam that I am
From the places I'll go and the things I will plan
From the made up words that somehow made sense
To the warring butter parties on opposite sides of the fence
With Sneeches who happen to love their stars
To Sneeches who have none upon thar's
The Who hearing Horton up in the nest
To the turtle stuck on the bottom, just wanting a rest
From the 5000 Fingers of Dr T
To the Cat in the Hat with Things 1, 2, and me
Happy Birthday Theodor Geisel better known as Dr Seuss
You were a "one of a kind" they will never reproduce.


Slightly weak I know, but I am at work and didn't have long to write it.