An Example Of Rick Perry's Hypocrisy

According to recent media reports, wildfires have consumed 3.6 million acres of Texas since December of 2010.  To put that in perspective, it is essentially an area the size of Connecticut.  Over 700 homes have been destroyed and at least four people have been killed.  Six of the ten largest wildfires in Texas history have occurred this year.  Isn't that an interesting thought?

Here is another interesting thought.  Texas governor and GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry has cut funding for volunteer firefighters, who respond to ninety percent of all wildfires in Texas, by seventy five percent.  While the fires raged, Perry left his underfunded firefighters to fly to a Republican presidential debate at the Reagan Library where he proceeded, in his best tea party fashion, to bash "big government" while simultaneously praising "the brave men and women who put themselves in harm's way to protect Texans' lives and property" whose funding he slashed. 

Wow, Gov. Perry, it must really be difficult to talk out of both sides of your mouth like that.

Conservatives act as if the government is some alien, foreign entity when the Constitution (Are you listening tea partiers?) simply says, "We the people".  The government is us.  Among its other accomplishments, the federal government has, during our history, freed the slaves, defeated Hitler, built the interstate highway system, won the Cold War, integrated the South, put men on the moon, and killed Osama bin Laden.  Perhaps the next time an al Qadea operative needs taken down, the tea party and Gov. Perry can call one of their millionaire CEO buddies out of the executive suite to complete the mission.  Maybe Mr. Perry can ask the same CEO to hop on a fire engine and respond the next time his state catches fire.

Along those same lines, during the aforementioned debate, Mr. Perry praised, and rightfully so, the Navy SEALs who killed bin Laden while, in the next breath, stating that government does not create jobs.  For whom, pray tell, does Perry think the SEALs work?  BP?

(Special thanks to Paul Begala for contributing part of the material for this column.)

Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.

The Tea Party Is Cheering The Deaths Of The Uninsured

You know what I don't understand?  I don't understand how the so-called Tea Party can be so callous that they are actually cheering the deaths of the uninsured.  Seriously.  It was repulsive enough when they lustily cheered Rick Perry's Texas execution record, but now they are celebrating the death of the uninsured.

Example number one involved an exchange at a Tea Party rally involving libertarian favorite Ron Paul (R-TX).  When asked about who should care for an uninsured thirty year old injured in a traffic accident, the Tea Party crowd actually cheered at the moderator's suggestion that the person in question die due to lack of care.  (Notice the classy sign being held by the Tea Bagger in the attached link.)

Tea Party And Ron Paul Cheer The Death Of An Uninsured 30 Year Old

Example two occurred during this week's Republican/Tea Party presidential debate.  While the aforementioned Gov. Perry was attempting to attack former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney's healthcare plan, the Tea Baggers in the audience actually cheered at the idea of a twentysomething dying because he/she could not afford health insurance.  Yes, you read that right.  The Tea Party is happy about death by poverty.  Just when you think they can't be any more reprehensible...........  See the 9:23pm entry in the attached link.

An Uninsured Twentysomething Died? Hell, Yes!!!!!!!!!

And here is a very personal story from someone who lost an uninsured loved one to cancer.  I am sure my Tea Bagger readers either won't read this link, or will come up with some ignorant, inane "reason" why this man should have suffered like he did, and I can tell you on first hand authority that this is not an isolated incident.

Here Is What You Shameful Tea Party Hacks Are Cheering

Ladies and gentlemen, I just cannot fathom this.  The Tea Baggers are happy, nay---celebratory, because those who cannot afford health insurance may prematurely die.  Yeah, that is just great.  You scumbags make me oh-so-proud to be an American.  The biggest problem this country has right now is that all anyone cares about is what they have and how they can keep it.  If the other guy doesn't have it and has no chance to get it, who gives a damn as long as I can keep mine!!!!  Unconscionable!!!!  What is wrong with the people in this country???  Have we lost our compassion and charity??????  The Tea Party most assuredly does not represent the America that I love and am sworn to defend.  I do not recognize the America that they put forth, and I hope you don't either, dear reader.  Let us be sure that their despicable agenda is stopped in its tracks.

Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.

Presidential Debates On Twitter? RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!

You know what I don't understand?  I don't understand how anyone can actually think political discourse, up to and including presidential debates, should be conducted on Twitter.

Explain Your Position On Tax Reform In 140 Characters Or Less

True confession time...............  I have a Twitter account, but I rarely use it for anything but to post this blog and a "Song Of The Day" for my fellow music lovers.  When I watch people attempt to "debate" politics on Twitter, I never know if I should laugh or cry at the sheer absurdity of it.   For the record, "BHO is an idiot" and "Palin is a moron" and the other thoughtful insight you will find on Twitter do not qualify as intelligent political discussion, at least by my definition.

Now, it is one thing for common citizens and even elected officials to make 140 character statements about the issues of the day and current policy, even though Twitter itself is, by far, the silliest thing I have ever seen.  I mean, really, how can one express a logical thought or opinion in 140 characters?

It was bad enough that President Obama chose to hold a "Twitter Townhall" earlier this week (where he at least did not limit his responses to the 140 characters), but now there are discussion about a presidential debate on Twitter?  I wish I were making this up, but I am not.

Has political debate in this country really sunk to this level?  We are going to limit political discussion to a limited number of characters with no regard to grammar, spelling, or punctuation.  Seriously?  Have we really been this dumbed down as a nation?  The Lincoln-Douglas debates have regressed to...............Twitter.  God save us if this is the case. 

I was bemused by the gentleman in the article who said Twitter will essentially force candidates to "answer the question".  You don't say?  I can hardly wait to hear our potential future leaders explain their stance on the Middle East peace process, the tax code, the threat of terrorism, same sex marriage, etc. in 140 characters.  (I take very little solace from the fact that "multiple tweets" will be permitted during this proposed debate.  The whole concept is still sodding inane.)

I understand that media changes, and our politics have to evolve, but Twitter?????????????  May the Good Lord help us.

Peace and love, my brothers and sisters.