The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age
    jollyroger's picture

    Never missing an opportunity to miss an opportunity...

    By jollyroger on Sat, 10/18/2014 - 10:11pm |

    With apologies to the scumbag who delights in applying this formula to the Palestinian Authority in the context of peace negotiations, let us turn our attention to the sad sack who occupies the White House.

     

    Consider the field of play as Ebola fever (the panic kind, not the body temp) began gripping the public imagination.

     

    His prestige, power and political capital in the toilet, Prez was handed a golden opportunity to back the congressional repugnants into a corner, rally the forces of good government, and burnish his own seriously dimmed leadership credentials.

     

    From fantasy Prez, we would get this speech:

     

    "I am appointing as Ebola czar Vivek Murthy, who should already be serving as the Surgeon General, but whose confirmation is being held hostage by a hold from Rand Paul.  Shame on you, Senate Republicans!

     

    I am sending to the House of Representatives for immediate action two emergency appropriations--First, to restore to the NIH the funds dangerously cut by the meat ax of sequestration that was forced by an intransigent Republican House leadership as a quid pro quo for the simple agreement not to flush our credit worthiness down the toilet by refusing to increase our debt limit.   Shame on you, House Republicans!

     

    Second, immediately to advance to the UN sponsored Ebola Trust Fund the full one billion dollars they request, subject to reimbursement from donations from other countries as they come in.  This is a global emergency, and we are 'the indispensable country'."

     

    This, of course, is not what we have heard from Obambi...

     

    Instead of seizing the moment, and politicizing the Ebola outbreak to the advantage of those who understand what it means to live on a unitary globe, Obama laid back and only when swept away by a politicization framed by his enemies, responded with the utterly lame appointment of an Ebola czar whose choice failed in any way to highlight the real political villains of this story--those whose mindless penny pinching  has crippled both the national and international public health apparatus, and whose slavish obeisance to the NRA left us with no Surgeon General when he is most needed. 

     

    What a worthless punk!

    Comments

    Both parties are at fault.

    The Sequester, Explained | Mother Jones

    “ For now, all that's really happening is that both sides are barnstorming the country blaming the other guys” 

    It is clear; winning elections is more important to politicians than protecting the country.  

    If Obama and the Democrats try to pin this urgent health matter on the Republicans, why shouldn't the Republicans ask or say "you had an opportunity to finance healthcare/research  but when faced with the reality of NO REVENUE; you Democrats failed to cut other programs, in order to support your priorities. 

    What part of NO, do the spending junkies not understand?

    The credit card is maxed out. 

    We need to eliminate the bribery in elections.


    by Resistance on Sat, 10/18/2014 - 11:12pm

    Well of course, when it comes to revenue, the Dems have the perfect comeback: "We would have the revenue needed, if some moron hadn't extended the Bush tax cuts when he had the chance to let the expire and only his signature could extend them...oh, wait.  Never mind."


    by jollyroger on Sat, 10/18/2014 - 11:23pm

    I'll have to go back and read his lame reasoning from back then; unless you already know?

    Amended 

    Why Is Obama Caving on Taxes? -- NYMag


    by Resistance on Sat, 10/18/2014 - 11:50pm

    To be frank, I was referencing the first great surrender, back in 2010, but you correctly adduce the most recent example of no backbone 'bama as well.

     

    The worst stupidity of all was his failure in the first instance to at least demand in the 2010 extension that the clear result--the need for a raise in the debt limit--be addressed at the same time and in toto, by rolling the debt limit raise into the tax cut extension.


    by jollyroger on Sun, 10/19/2014 - 12:48am

    They are gearing up for another round of shutting down the government for more budgets cuts.  This will start the day after the election.  This should be shown over and over again.


    by trkingmomoe on Sun, 10/19/2014 - 1:53am

    Comments on an Ebola op-ed at NYT:

    And now, years of political ideological foolishness have us all sweating. Our government hasn't failed us, we've failed our government. And the best we can do now is blame Obama?

    No one seems to remember or care that the same Obama administration now being accused of incompetence successfully brought home and treated four Americans who contracted Ebola in West Africa. No one gives the administration any credit for that, and the Republicans in Congress certainly didn't hold any hearings when it happened. Instead, everyone is blaming the president for mistakes made by privately-owned, local hospital in Dallas.

    I absolutely agree that incompetence is the key issue in this election - the incompetence of an electorate that is apparently beyond disgusted with the performance of the United States Congress, but nonetheless plans to return most of them to office, including that group most responsible for impeding the current Administration's every effort to impose order on chaos.... the virus that I'm most concerned about here is that one that keeps Americans the dupes of ideologues and oligarchs. Let's just call it Stupola.

    Bruni’s criticism is directed at President Obama’s persona. Leadership is a complex attribute, but let’s be clear - the nation’s current cynicism about government institutions and government leadership didn’t happen in a vacuum. Saint Ronald sowed the seeds with his “government is the problem”, and his party set about spreading the word among the American people. So after three decades of wanting to strangle government in a bathtub, this disreputable cast of Republican characters sees its wishes coming true, only to scream bloody murder at the government’s incompetence, cheered on by the likes of Nocera and Bruni. This is what happens when leverage over government is entrusted to a party that doesn’t believe in it. Those who now cry for leadership after doing their utmost to reject and destroy it are cruel, calculating hypocrites of the worst order.

    Our political system is much better at creating disasters than it is at protecting us from them.....Our country has never been about being prepared, because it costs money.

    .....cynical political ideologues can weave a terrifying narrative if they're more interested in scoring political points than in helping their country during difficult times....

    And it's not surprising that senators running for re-election would advocate for flight restrictions. It may be a popular position, but that hardly means it's in Americans' best interest. The president has made a very strong argument against such restrictions, making the case that they'd be counter-productive. That sounds like leadership to me. Mr. Bruni should focus on that, and rebut it if he can, instead of campaign statements made by Democrats engaged in tight races.

    You get the government you deserve. If you institutionalize government is the problem, don't feign surprise when the object of a generation of scorn fails you at the critical moment. The Texas hospital is a private business. The state of Texas is responsible for regulating its practice. This is exactly the system envisioned by Reagan and his followers.

     


    by NCD on Sun, 10/19/2014 - 12:30pm

    Blame Obama? Who gave us this Congress:

    Imagine the government in charge of protecting the nation, in the hands of people who don't believe government is the answer to anything.

    Imagine it in the hands of people who don't believe in the public good or the public interest; only private gain.

    Imagine it in the hands of people who regard scientists as just one more special interest group, and science as irrelevant to decision making.

    Imagine the government in the hands of people who regard poverty as not a social problem but a criminal lifestyle choice, and soaring inequality a feature, not a bug.

    Imagine it in the hands of people who consider the Constitution subordinate to the Bible, and Faith superior to Reason.

    Imagine it in the hands of people who believe it's more important to keep a hundred thousand people from voting, than let a single person cast their vote fraudulently.

    Imagine it in the hands of people who believe corporations are citizens, and people.. are an inconvenience.

    Imagine it in the hands of people who believe government should have nothing to do with healthcare - except when it comes to women and their bodies.

    Imagine government in the hands of people who have nothing to offer except Fear and War, Anger and Punishment, Greed and Ambition.

    You don't have to imagine these things, unfortunately. They're all too real. This November, vote as if your life depends on it - it does.


    by NCD on Sun, 10/19/2014 - 3:46pm

    Imagine a government that has failed it's responsibility to finance the government, Of The People, For the People.

    Instead our government leaders, decided to usurp the Peoples sovereignty;   in order to serve a constituency, whose primary focus is not; preservation of our Nation and its stated will, but they serve their own selfish interests.

    The People through the Constitution granted the revenue sources, needed to finance the government. The people never imagined an intrusive government, would abolish the stated sources,only to be replaced by another form of taxation, that would exempt commercial interests.  

    Corporate and commercial profits, over the general welfare of the people and they did this by enacting NAFTA and other such programs. Destroying the very foundation, weakening the governments ability to fund needed programs.  

    It is clear these unfavorable trade agreements resulted in limiting  ALL means necessary, to accomplish the goals of our Union, as stated in the Constitution. 

    Historic revenue sources; replaced by other intrusive and less than adequate forms of taxation, needed to address our nations needs. 

    We have seen the results over these many years, of how a reduction of revenue sources has undermined our security and left us at the mercy of moneyed interests, who have exempted themselves. 

    The power to tax, is the power to destroy. As is the inverse; the power to exempt taxes leads to destruction.

    Both parties abuse their authority, through taxation or lack of taxation, exempting their own special constituencies 

    Leading to an abusive 17 trillion in debt that will eventually enslave the nation, for the benefit of corporate interests.  Eventually leading to our destruction. No longer being able to finance important programs, because we exempted some from taxation 

    Special interest  Deja vu? 

    East India Company - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


    by Resistance on Sun, 10/19/2014 - 7:36pm

    If Obama politicized Ebola, the GOP would have ramped up their fear campaign. Instead of addressing the issue and focusing quelling the infection at it's source, we would be playing politics. Instead finding a solution, we would be diverted playing politics. When other cases of Ebola occurred in the United States, the complaint would be why Obama was playing politics and not focusing on Ebola.


    by rmrd0000 on Sun, 10/19/2014 - 6:30pm

    You don't think demonizing the Republican congress by others, is politicizing? 

    Both Corporate parties have brought this upon us.

    "A plague on both houses".

    Thing is; the people will continue to suffer, at the hands of these two corporatist parties.

    Demonizing each other, in order to win votes.   

    An electorate getting what they deserve; because they play the game, designed by the corporatist, to keep them in power.

    Suckers!


    by Resistance on Sun, 10/19/2014 - 7:52pm

    The crisis was bound to be politicized, particularly three weeks before an already nationalized midterm election.  The only question was which side would grab the initiative in framing.

     

    Politicization only means connecting the public policy dots.  EG,

    Obama (the non politicized version).  "Congress needs to do it's job and fund _______________________(fill in the blank)

     

    Politicized version: "The Republicans in Congress need to do their job and fund ______________"

     

    Which version more  accurately reflects reality?

     

    Never let a crisis go to waste--the forces of reaction have already learned this (see, Naomi Klein, Shock Doctrine)

     


    by jollyroger on Sun, 10/19/2014 - 11:33pm

    The Shock Doctrine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    We are fighting against deeply entrenched forces, and I am afraid, WE The People will not prevail.


    by Resistance on Mon, 10/20/2014 - 1:27am