I kind of left you hanging there didn’t I? There was travel and now a sinusy mucousy thing going on and making me want to remove my ears, nose and throat. No doctor necessary. I’ll just do it myself. Anyway, where were we? Oh yes, the President decides to take the debt debacle to us, the American people and then I realized that this shit was getting way too long and could be like a novel as opposed to a blog post and here we are! Part II!
I become uncomfortable yet deeply enthralled while watching people argue. It’s a flaw of mine. I’m that person who doesn’t mind a train-wreck. So while it was entertaining to watch two grown men duke it out on national television there was still a fair amount of wincing. You guys? We got to see the President of the United States and the Speaker of the House fight over who has the biggest YOU KNOW WHAT (another reason to have more women in office. Just saying). And yes, I realize that I am speaking about two of the most powerful men in the country and probably the world but their behavior during Debt Debacle 2011 left much to be desired. You should be less alarmed by my referencing their ‘swimsuit spots’ and more by the fact that they brought there dirty politically driven laundry and aired it in public. They both stood up in front of billions to point fingers. “It’s HIS fault” could be the slogan of a five year old or 50 year old.
As a person with a soft spot for congress (probably because my fontanel never closed properly) I was embarrassed and while I get on my high horse and tell people that they need to pay attention because what is going on in Washington is important, this? The bickering, the evils of party politics, this is not what I meant. In fact the entire month of July did nothing but give the American People – whose approval was so sought after – a reason to dislike Washington even more. The President and Speaker Boehner both took their cases to the American people in an evening of special reports and speculation via talking heads. At the end, Speaker Boehner asked that God bless America then promptly walked out of his ceremonial chambers to say that he did not sign up for this; to go mano-a-mano with the President of the United States. In hindsight it fairly reminiscent of fights with my younger brother where we raced to tell our mother our side of the story. We were too busy devising talking points and finding fault instead of seeing the error of our ways. In short; Washington became the world’s largest daycare center.
What happened next is what is now par for the course in DC: After weeks of deliberating up until the last second – White House meetings were held, backroom deals are made and suddenly there wass a ‘compromise’ of sorts. ‘Compromise’ is a word best used loosely because it was anything but give and take. More push, pull and a possible threat of doom should default actually arrive or the threat of the 14th amendment. An even darker cloud loomed over Washington; not over the vote mind you because with those backroom deals also come an assurance that leadership will be able to deliver the votes needed to get a bill to pass. The dark cloud that was over the nation’s capital was the knowledge that despite bringing This to the American People, it did nothing but make the American people more apathetic than they already were. There was no good will and pats on the back for those who represent but instead a shadow of resentment within capitol and a public wholly disengaged and scratching their heads wondering if all of that really just happened.
It was the above that caused the credit downgrade. One would think that a last ditch effort slide into home base would have kept us from this cruel fate, alas not. As we watched Washington at its most childish so did the rest of the world and credit agencies. What the S&P saw was a representative democracy not able to keep their shit together enough to do something for the people who got them to where they are today. Constituents were quickly forgotten about as was the money. It was a me game, plain in simple. Two men vying to prove just how powerful they could be and in the end one was forced to surrender.
Now what? Is the question that remains. Congress returns after Labor Day, a Super Committee has been formed to find an additional $1.4 trillion in cuts and if they do not, if there once again is no compromise and blatant ignoring of the American people, then a trigger is in effect to cut Defense, Medicare and Medicaid. It’s waiting for a return and votes and meetings and partisan bickering. It’s watching a vicious cycle continue while congress remains at an all time low. That’s what.
I’m having technical difficulties but here was the greatest moment ever in congress especially after two months of hardcore bickering. It makes you think of what’s truly important when it comes to representing us – the people. And watching two grown ass men fight isn’t that: Gabby Giffords on the floor of the House
In the News: The President has some pipes
I’m currently in Salt Lake City, Utah for a conference and though I mentioned that I would be 2,000 miles away for the week my mother phoned the other day to ask when I’d be returning. Sunday, I replied.
“Oh. Well Obama is doing this fundraiser at the Apollo tomorrow night and I have an extra ticket since no one else could go but if you’re not going to be back then you can’t go”
“Uh….thanks?”
So she went to the Apollo and spent the first hour telling me all of the things she would tweet if she were on Twitter:
- Apollo, India, Al, Barack — Absolutely Amazing!
- India Arie just came into the audience to hug Roberta Flack.
Shortly thereafter my aunt sent me a message saying “Thought you would appreciate this”:
Fun, right?
This morning I woke up to this:
There’s the comparisons to President Clinton on Arsenio playing the sax of course but it’s so refreshing to see a President goof around and show off their other talents. It almost makes them ‘real’, if you know what I mean. I found it absolutely charming. Also, I think singing Al Green to a bunch of supporters at the Apollo Theater is a great way to get your base back. But that’s just me.