Everyone’s tired of hearing how our nation has been plagued for seven years with a ‘do-nothing’ Congress; but it’s the truth, and that’s what I’m all about.
Republicans not only ignore the important and even critical issues facing our nation’s people, they choose to waste time and money on situations which only affect Republican politicians.
But let’s begin with the most important inaction by our Republican-led government; the Supreme Court. The failure to conduct hearings for President Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland, has resulted in a dysfunctional Court. Four-to-four ties negate any decisions by our nation’s highest court. Led by the worst Senate Majority Leader in history, Mitch McConnell decided to destroy the effectiveness of the Court for over one year.
This may turn out very badly for the Republican Party. Garland is considered a moderate. The new president is likely to be Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders, each of which may nominate a far more progressive candidate for the Court’s vacated seat. In addition, McConnell’s folly may cost the GOP seats in the Senate with the possibility of Democrats regaining control of the august body.
Now, let’s get back to how Republicans are wasting time and money.
Last week a right wing blog alleged that Facebook intentionally fails to report Republican ‘trending news.’ Their complaints included Obama’s alleged ‘lawlessness,’ and the failure of Obamacare. Another issue was the lack of coverage of CPAC. First of all, these are not ‘trending’ stories, and secondly Facebook is not a news network. The first two items are old, tired, and inaccurate. CPAC is a group of old, mostly white men, who listen to speeches degrading the President, Hillary Clinton, and any other man or woman who sits on the left side of the aisle. No one cares.
Another waste of time is the possible impeachment of John Koskinen, commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. The TEA Party remains vengeful for the IRS’ alleged intention to deny this group of extremists tax exempt status. Republicans in general continue to claim that the IRS is biased in favor of progressives.
Representative Marsha Blackburn, a Republican from Tennessee, is continuing her ridiculous efforts to investigate the so-called “scandal” when an anti-abortion group faked events in a Planned Parenthood clinic. Although the issue has been overly discussed, she continues investigations into the clinic’s practices.
This is your Republican Party, hard at ‘not-working,’ while they continue to accept the salaries and bloated benefits we pay for.
There has been no discussion about tax reform, campaign finance reform, or immigration for the last seven years; with the exception of one Senate committee, known as the ‘gang of eight,’ who delivered a bill on immigration reform Republicans chose to dismiss.
Intelligent voters would return control of both houses to Democrats if our government is to work once again. Extremists and obstructionists in the GOP have created gridlock. With “leaders” such as McConnell and Paul Ryan, nothing is likely to change.
For Congress, time is money, and they are wasting our tax dollars. After President Obama’s first inauguration in 2009, McConnell promised that Republicans would do nothing with the exception of guaranteeing him a single term in office.
Another failure by a failed Senator.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey
The Truth With No Restrictions 