It Ain't Over Till It's Over --- But Is It Over?

Barack Obama and a majority of Democrats were elected to office because many Americans were dissatisfied with what was done and not done during the Bush/Cheney years. The level of dissatisfaction was so great that the Democrats not only won the White House; but took control of both Houses of Congress. Unfortunately, having been given this opportunity to affect change the Democrats seem to have fumbled the ball on far too many occasions. We will soon have mid-term November elections and the Democrats are on the ropes facing the possibility of losing control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. What went wrong?

Well, no doubt Mr. Obama assumed the Presidency just after this country hit a financial and economic iceberg of gigantic proportions. We were still engaged in unpopular and seemingly pointless wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan and there was an overall optimistic attitude that positive changes were soon to take place. Unfortunately as time passed it became apparent that we were dealing with the same crap but different flies. The economy got worse as Americans lost their jobs, homes were foreclosed and major financial institutions collapsed. We did get health care reform; but to the many without jobs and those about to lose their homes health care reform was a poor consolation prize.

Believing that we would soon extract ourselves from the unfortunate and costly mess in Iraq and Afghanistan it became apparent that not only were we not getting out of these wars; but we would be increasing our level of involvement. To add salt to Americans' wounds we saw the same financial institutions that were the catalyst for our economic catastrophe receive billions of dollars in tax payer bailout money because they were "too big to fail". On the other hand the hundreds of thousands of Americans who lost their jobs and their homes in foreclosure were apparently too small to save.

The cast of characters in this gut wrenching tragic comedy was even more annoying. We were treated to the arrogance and contempt of Attorney General Eric Holder and former Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson, the confusing rationale of alleged economic genius and the new Secretary of the Treasury, Timothy Geithner, the obvious incompetence of patently unqualified Janet Napolitano and the verbal gaffes of Vice President and occasional buffoon Joe Biden. As usual the Democrats displayed their uncanny ability to grab failure and defeat from hands of success.

Now we are dealing with the semi-intelligent ramblings of John McCain's gift to political theatre, Sarah Palin, and a cast of characters that include off the wall Glen Beck, the well tanned John Boehner, the sometimes out to lunch Nancy Pelosi and of course the intellectual lectures of President Obama himself. All that is missing are delusional comments of a court jester like Rod Blagojevich. Is it any wonder that Americans are turning their backs on the incompetent antics of both the Democrats and the Republicans? Is anyone surprised that the simplicity of the Tea Party is so appealing to so many?

Many elected Democrats and Republicans are more loyal to the color blue or red of their respective party than to the colors red, white and blue of all Americans. These elected politicians ignore the concepts of compromise, mediation and moderation. Their working attitude has been and continues to be their way or the highway. As a result we are in a state of gridlock with little getting done. Consequently many Americans will opt to clean house and throw the bums out. Unfortunately neither the Democrats nor the Republicans have many alternative candidates of substance, experience and intelligence to offer to the voting public. Americans are caught between a rock and a hard spot.

No doubt when Americans vote in November many Democrats and Republicans will experience the disapproval of Americans as they are voted out of office. It is unclear as to whether the Republicans will actually take control of both Houses; but it is clear that the Democrats will no longer be in control, if they ever indeed were in charge. After November the only question that remains will be whether or not Barack Obama will be elected to a second term.

Thirty Days Ago ….

It has been about thirty days since I last wrote and so much has happened. George Dubyah and his sleazy sidekick, Little Dick are out and Barack Obama and Big Joe are most definitely in. It has been an incredibly educational and informative experience watching the Presidential appointments take place. I had no idea so many Washington players were so confused by the federal tax code. It really is true that two of life’s certainties are death and taxes.

Now we have the continuing saga of the Stimulus Package. Watching the behavior of the House and Senate Democrats and Republicans can be both amusing and confusing. Traditionally, the Democrats were the party of Main Street; but their concern over saving Big Banks and propping up Wall Street and ignoring the plight of the jobless and those facing foreclosure is astonishing. The Republicans, on the other hand, have always been more concerned about the economic health of their brothers in Big Business and Wall Street and less concerned about the difficulties of the middle class on Main street. However; it is the Republicans who seem more concerned about the middle class and are vehemently opposed to the Democratic appropriations (the pork) designed to ingratiate themselves with their special interest groups.

Presently various leadership roles are being filled and some of the choices are very puzzling. Timothy Geithner, the new Secretary of the Treasury, has made decisions both personal and professional that demand further scrutiny and questioning. Furthermore, it is probably a good thing that Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services considering his recent role as a lobbyist and special policy advisor for a health care focused Washington law firm.

While President Obama is setting up his new team one can only hope that he takes a very close look at the federal agencies that were set up protect and safeguard the public. FEMA, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, SEC and the FDA, to name a few, all have miserable track records and basically can not be counted on to serve and protect.

Closer to home we have the unbelievable, unnecessary, irresponsible and continuing budget stalemate in Sacramento, California. Hard working state employees are being furloughed two days a month without pay while the Sacramento dead beats continue to suck up their latte’s and play on their lap tops and bicker over the growing $42 billion dollar state deficit. In the words of Thomas Paine: “Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Way!”