Republicans

In Defense of Congress

~ Lee Swanson ~ 1 Comment

It seems as though everywhere you turn some Beltway observer is complaining that the 113th Congress did not do anything. It’s true that up until their last day in session they had passed fewer bills than any in history. Then in a flurry of activity they voted on just enough legislation to surpass the 112th Congress, barely.

But those who consider this a “do-nothing” Congress, weren’t watching C-SPAN at the right time.

“We’re totally outraged by this legislative deal, which was done in the middle of the night.”

Congress Says It Has to Cut Pensions to Save Them
Bloomberg BusinessWeek

“[The bill was] released in the middle of the night,” Slaughter said at the beginning of the hearing.

Boehner Ally Admits Omnibus Bill Was Crafted in Literal Cigar Smoke-Filled Back Room
Breitbart.com

That’s why Democrats had to use a parliamentary maneuver in the middle of the night to pass it.

Obamacare & the Gruber Democrats
Real Clear Politics

Remember in 2009 when the Democrats controlled the House and Senate and passed Obamacare in the middle of the night without anyone reading the thousands of pages of the law and over the vehement objections of the American people.

Obama: President or King-Dictator?
al.com

The vote was moved up two weeks in the middle of the night …

Messy Fight for Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Slot
Rollcall.com

If they bring it up in the middle of the night and there are only Democrats there, it is ratified.

Gun Rights Activists Are Worried Obama Could Use Executive Action On United Nations Treaty Limiting Gun Rights  
Westernjournalism.com

“The fact that we have made it legal now…in the middle of the night, days before Christmas…”

Blanche Lincoln Segment on Mike Huckabee Show Full of Nonsense
USPoker.com

“These kinds of backroom deals and changing of the rules in the middle of the night is exactly why Congress has a lower approval rating than cockroaches and traffic jams,” he said.

Nancy Pelosi Says Decision to Delete Reporting Requirement for Free Trips ‘Must Be Reversed’
National Journal

Unlike the criticism Congress received following the passage of UIGEA (which was attached to the Safe Ports Act of 2006 literally in the middle of the night)…

House Judiciary Committee May Hold iGaming Hearing During Lame Duck
NJPokerOnline.net

Apparently Congress worked a lot, but waited until after dark to do it. It also seems the work they did at night was on legislation that no one liked and may have actually been harmful.

The solution seems simple. The halls of Congress should close at the same time as the Georgetown bars.

The Night They Drove Old Herman Down

~ Lee Swanson ~ 1 Comment

If only we had listened to The Band, none of this Herman Cain pizza-candidate-for-president would have happened.

http://youtu.be/-VShpcqd3zE

As Robbie Robertson would have us think this was the story:

Virgil Caine is the name, and I served on the Danville train, ‘Til Stoneman’s cavalry came and tore up the tracks again. In the winter of ’65, We were hungry, just barely alive. By May the tenth, Richmond had fell, it’s a time I remember, oh so well, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, and the bells were ringing, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, and the people were singin’.  They went La,  La, La, La, La, La,     La, La, La, La, La, La,    La, La,

Back with my wife in Tennessee, When one day she called to me,  “Virgil, quick, come see, there goes Robert E. Lee!” Now I don’t mind choppin’ wood, and I don’t care if the money’s no good. Ya take what ya need and ya leave the rest, But they should never have taken the very best.  Like my father before me, I will work the land,  Like my brother above me, who took a rebel stand. He was just eighteen, proud and brave, But a Yankee laid him in his grave, I swear by the mud below my feet, You can’t raise a Caine back up when he’s in defeat.

But here’s what we know today:  Sing along

Herman Cain is the name, and I rode on the campaign train ‘Til Ginger White came along, and tore up the tracks again. In the fall of eleven, we were debatin’ and stayin’ even. I went on CNN.  It’s a time I remember, oh so well.

The night they drove old Herman down, and all gals were lyin’ The night they drove old Herman down, and the people were singin’. They went Nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine.

Back with my wife in Sandy Springs, and one day she called to me, “Herman, quick, come see, there’s another one on TV!” Now I don’t know about Uzbeka-beka-stan, and I don’t care about the also-rans. Ya take what you know and ya praise the lord, But they never should have taken Ginger’s word.

The night they drove old Herman down, and all gals were lyin’.  The night they drove old Herman down, and the people were singin’. They went Nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine .

Like my father before me, I will work real hard, And like my mentors above me, I’ll have a radio show.  We were on our way to the top, dodgin’ Libya and harassment claims I swear by the mud below my feet, You can’t raise a Cain back up when he’s in defeat.

And that’s tonight’s lesson for Mitt and Newt and Ron and Rick and Michele and the other Rick and Jon and Andy and Fred and Jimmy and Tom and Buddy and Matt and Vern.

Sleep well America.  Another idiot has fallen by the wayside.  Only 13 more to go.