Buried deep within the back pages of most major newspapers and aired at the end of each news hour on all of the major news networks was a story that only the "liberal" media could air.The Democrats actually did something.
That's right, folks. I know it's hard to believe but for once a group of politicians kept their promise:
The First 100 Hours.
Nancy Pelosi, the current Speaker of the House of the United States House of Representatives, promised the American people that if they Democrats were elected in November of 2006, shit would get done. It has gotten done. And they even got it all done in only 42.5 legislative hours. For those of you keeping score on this so called "do nothing" political party, here are the facts:Jan 9, 2007: Anti-terrorism recommendations of the 9-11 Commission. The first piece of legislation out of the gate was security. Why this had not been passed by conservatives and does not have the support of President Bush (two groups of people that supposedly want our nation safer) is a mystery to me. The new bill changes the formula for allocation of federal funds for distribution to states and cities which is good because places like Kentucky, Alabama, and Mississippi (three very conservative states btw) were getting more money than places like New York, California, and New Jersey get more. Gee, I wonder why. This bill also beefs up intelligence on our border and scanning of cargo coming into the US. (Passed 299-128, GOP Support 68)
Jan 10, 2007: Raised the Minimum Wage...to $7.15 an hour. Oh well, I guess more people will be making more money aka The End of the World is nigh. Lock up your daughters! (315-116, GOP Support 82)
Jan 11, 2007: Passed Stem Cell Research which lifts President Bush's restrictions on using federal funds for human embryonic stem cell research and puts our country back onto a path of actual thinking and away from the "let's use leeches and think good thoughts" method of science we have employed for the last seven years. (253-174, GOP support 37)
Jan 12, 2007: Passed Medicare Drug Prices plan which requires the US government to negotiate directly with drug companies to obtain lower prescription prices for seniors. Yep, now my grandmother and grandfather, ages 89 and 90 respectively, won't have to skip pills anymore because Anderson T. Wilson, CEO of Butt Ram Pharmaceuticals, needs to have a third vacation home. (Passed 255-170, GOP Support 24)
January 17, 2007: Passed Student Loans bill which would but the interest rate in half. Again, less money for rich people. How sad. (Passed 356-71, GOP support 124)
January 18, 2007: Passed a new Energy Policy which will roll back 14 billion dollars of tax breaks and subsidies for US Oil companies. The money will go into a reserve which will fund alternative energy. Probably the saddest one of all...because my life's goal is to make sure that this fat fuck to the left (recently retired Chairman of ExxonMobil, Lee Rayomond ) gets to continue to stuff his face full of one hundred dollar pastries. (Passed 264-163, GOP Support 36)In addition, I am happy to report that on several of these issues my congressmen, Jim Ramstead, voted with the Democrats. Apparently he, along with several other Republicans, are starting to wake up and smell the coffee. The American people want change and if they don't get it, elected officials in Congress are going to be shown the door.
The same can not be said for Michele Bachmann (last seen making lipstick imprints on her 8 x 10 glossy of President Bush) however, voted against every one of these bills. I am so shocked by this that it is hard for me to even type right now. Just out of curiosity, and I really want an answer here, is it possible that there is someone who is more of a mindless sycophant than Michele Bachmann.?
Anyway, the reality is that the Senate will take longer to pass these bills and President Bush will more than likely veto the stem cell bill and the energy bill for sure. Even so, I am extremely heartened by the number of Republicans that voted on each of these bills; 82 for the minimum wage and 124 for the student loans bill are huge steps in the right direction and it may just be that I will have one or two less things to bitch about on this blog. Sigh....
But the most satisfying gift of all that the Democrats have given us is the one that plucks a large tomato from the cart and throws it squarely in the eyes of the naysayers. The constant dirge of verbal epithets, email, and posts on this blogs which characterize the Democrats as a "do nothing but whine" party can now be viewed as having the intrinsic worth of a bucket of warm spit. Isn't it odd that it took the Democrats, the supposed representatives of the irresponsible and lazy citizens of our country, to insist upon an actual 40 hour work week for Congress?
Do tell.
6 comments:
I think the most interesting part of this post was the last paragraph. I, too, find it funny that the "responsible" and "hard working" Republican Party didn't actually work a 40 hour week. I saw some stories on TV and on the web after the Democrats began enforcing the 40 hour work week that Republicans were grumbling about the long hours.
To be sure, some impactful, albeit "easy wins" for the Dems. I wouldn't be so quick to strain your arm patting yourself on the back, however.
As has been debated ad nauseum, the jury is out on just how "positive" the minimum wage hike is.
And, if you actually check the facts on the medicare bill, you will find most major experts (Congressional Budget Office, the actuarial commission that oversees the program, etc.) agreeing that the impact of the Medicare bill is almost certainly neglible. Not that you'll hear the Dems caution anybody about that prospect.
Finally, the beloved student loan interest rate cut. Just thinking about helping our students makes you go "awwwww". Oh but wait...you mean there's a $6 billion price tag associated? A $6 billion price tag that could "impact the services and benefits students receive" according to leading financial experts and lenders? A $6 billion price tag that is in lieu of increasing benefits to the same needs-based population in the form of grants that wouldn't have to be paid back? Yeah. Big score, Dems.
Still, credit where credit is due. Some of the measures they passed were long overdue and, inexplicably, going nowhere under Republican leadership.
Thanks PL, good post.
The Democrats, of which I am a proud member, have been getting things done all along, Mark. The corporate media refused to report it because they were too busy with Kevin Federline being attacked by a shark in Aruba.
Stop believing what you hear on CNN and the like. There are people in our government that are decent people.
Oh there's no doubt the Dems have been getting things done all along. My only concern is that I wish more of them were positive, productive things. If you ask them, and if you read Markadelphia's original posting, it's as if a social revolution occurred during the past week. Nothing but obvious and positive changes, right? But when you actually sit back and examine each change, and measure the width and depth of its impact...use a scorecard, to borrow the term of my friend Markadelphia...then you'll find, political affiliation aside, that the Dems are probably spending so much time trumpeting how great they are because their resume is awfully thin.
There are undoubtedly decent people in our government today. Like it or not, that's been a major theme of both HMHC and I over the past few years. Like it or not, there are just as many decent people on our side of the aisle as there are on yours. (gasp!) There are many people on this blog who have a hard time admitting this, but not every Republican platform item is predicated on religion and greed. Not every action of GWB stems from stupidity or abused power. The fact that there are exceptions doesn't invalidate the entire "rule".
To clear something up for our new readers - HMHC is me.
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