House Speaker John Boehner is in a tight spot. He doesn't have control of his party members and he wants to keep his job as Speaker. Republican members of the House are divided into factions. Tea party members, the most extreme and disruptive group, are loyal to the tea party movement, not to the Republican party. So Boehner cannot lead the Republican House. If he did, it would be blatantly obvious that he has all the authority of a gelded buck private.Consequently, Speaker Boehner cannot tackle any major issue without taking into account his divided party. Heaven forbid he should take Democrat votes into consideration.
Through their inaction, Congress has increased revenue by allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire for the wealthiest Americans. They've also reduced government spending by allowing sequestration to take effect. It's not by design and it's not pretty, but the country's long term fiscal picture looks a lot better.
So when Boehner says the budget is the top priority and immigration is not, he's playing to the tea party faction. When he says Congress should be judged by how many laws they've repealed, not passed, he's slathering lipstick on the pig.
That's all he's got. His claim to fame is 30-some votes to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act, none of which became law.
Even by his own standard, Congress hasn't done squat.
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Pelosi has also lost control of her party caucus. And thank God for that.
Conyers and other Democrats are supporting Rep. Amash (R-MI)'s bill to partly rein in Obama's illegal NSA surveillance state.
Rank-and-file congressional members are putting country before party, and are willing to defy their corrupt leaders-- Pelosi and Boehner--in the House.
It's small-d democracy versus big F Fascists.
Amash's bill:
Ends authority for the blanket collection of records under the Patriot Act. Bars the NSA and other agencies from using Section 215 of the Patriot Act to collect records, including telephone call records, that pertain to persons who are not subject to an investigation under Section 215.
The Pentagon is also on the Hill shopping Syrian war plans. Americans would prefer Congressional foot-dragging on that one, too.
Though, Obama will probably just Libya it, or Tonkin it, without Congressional declaration.
How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for John Kerry's ego?
The parties appear on the verge of implosion. The heavy corporate hand has stifled attempts to address the nation's issues, and suffocated credible younger leaders. When necessary, party-corporate-NSA brass send in Ray Kelly to beat the kids into submission. The corrupt rise, but are felled by hubris in increasingly brief cycles of corruption.
The elites have no long term plan beyond expanded surveillance, distraction, and suppression.
Senator Wyden has definitely stood up to his party:
http://m.guardiannews.com/world/2013/jul/23/house-amendment-nsa-bulk-surveillance
WARNING: President Obama has ordered certain federal employees not to read The Guardian ensure mental "hygiene." Read the Guardian or any other media source AT YOUR OWN RISK.
The President objects particularly to the 150 year old, prize-winning Guardian's accurate reporting on NSA surveillance.
The President does welcome a discussion on surveillance, as long as that discussion is not based on reality or facts.
HeartFelt™ speech explaing it all to follow.
Senator Wyden has definitely stood up to his party:
http://m.guardiannews.com/world/2013/jul/23/house-amendment-nsa-bulk-surveillance
WARNING: President Obama has ordered certain federal employees not to read The Guardian ensure mental "hygiene." Read the Guardian or any other media source AT YOUR OWN RISK.
The President objects particularly to the 150 year old, prize-winning Guardian's accurate reporting on NSA surveillance.
The President does welcome a discussion on surveillance, as long as that discussion is not based on reality or facts.
HeartFelt™ speech explaing it all to follow.
I oppose the current immigration bill because it doesn't provide a framework for fair trade, further militarizes the border, and fails to regulate multinational corporations. It makes things worse, except for elites and the Border Patrol budget.
Democrats said NAFTA and WTO would allow open borders and decrease incentives for illegal immigration. They lied.
I would support a straightforward amnesty stopgap for residents under 30 until our trade agreements are renegotiated with labor, environmental, and safety protections and open, democratic dispute-resolution structures.
Today the Democratic Party is a Weiner roast. Huma Abedin may support her husband, but everybody else is mystified: How can you cheat on a woman like her?
I'm surprised the almighty Clintons haven't brokered a deal: Weiner out, Abedin for mayor.
New York is too backwater for reason though. Exhibit A: Ray "Bull" Kelly.
The NSA is giving separate top secret briefings: One for House Democrats and one for Republicans.
Seriously? What next? Separate drinking fountains?
This divide and conquer crap has got to end.
I wonder how Alexander tailored his lies, threats, and bribes for each group.
Aren't we supposed to be "one nation, one people"?
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