the gar spot

fiction and musings from a gay black dude with delusions above his station

Menu
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • SIN AGAINST THE RACE, a novel
Menu
the gar spot fiction and musings from a gay black dude with delusions above his station

Don’t You Believe It

Posted on November 4, 2013 by gar

When the Republican-controlled House of Representatives finally approved bills to raise the debt ceiling and to reopen the federal government, voices near and far swore up and down that such a thing would never happen again. Senate Minority Leader Mitch O’Connell declared, “There is no education in the second kick of the mule.” He further stated that, “There will not be a government shutdown. I think we have fully now acquainted our new members with what a losing strategy that is.”

In the midst of the government shutdown, Daily Kos ran a piece nearer to the truth, stating that the shutdown unnerved “serious” Republicans, such as Senator O’Connell, because of the damage the shutdown might do to the party, not the country. Poll numbers shortly after the shutdown ended validated those fears.

So for party or country, “establishment” Republicans declare that they have sworn off government shutdowns and debt ceiling crises, right? Ha. Don’t you believe it.

Obstruction is the still the most potent weapon Republicans have to get their own way on things. It’s not one that will be retired too readily. Need proof? Remember the filibuster? It’s back! Senator Lindsay Graham has threatened to hold up the nominations of Janice Yellen for Fed Chief and Jeh Johnson for Homeland Security Secretary unless the administration finally answers all questions related to the attacks on our embassy in Benghazi, Libya. Heaven only knows what other questions could the Senator have. Furthermore, judicial nominations have stalled out, again, with fights brewing over appointments to the powerful DC Circuit Court of Appeals. So while House Republicans have acquiesced for the moment, Senate Republicans have taken up the obstruction baton again.

Actually, House Republicans have gone back to their standard operating procedure of doing nothing. House leadership recently announced the chamber’s “work” schedule for 2014: 113 days, down from 126 days this year, though up from the 107 days worked in 2012. My dad told me a story of when he first started working. He said that his bosses liked the work he did, but that they did not like his absenteeism. Even if you do good work — which the House largely hasn’t since Boehner became Speaker — you can’t do good work if you don’t show up. My dad learned that lesson in his 20s. Apparently House Republicans, in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, still have not.

Republicans failed to dislodge President Obama in the 2012 election. They failed to take over the Senate. They only succeed at skullduggery: filibustering, gerrymandering, and voter suppression.  Speaking of voter suppression, for a time even former House Speaker Jim Wright could not get the necessary ID to vote in Texas in Tuesday’s election. If a former Speaker of the House couldn’t even get a voter ID card, without headlines and much indignation, what chance has the average citizen?

President Obama wants to restart work on comprehensive immigration reform. His efforts are noble, but futile. The few Republicans who might want to join him in this work will be thwarted by the multitude who wish to do nothing. Long sought for budget negotiations have finally commenced. But don’t look for them to solve any problems or break any barriers.

I see nothing coming from the Republican Congressional leadership to indicate that they are willing to work with the president or Democrats to do any of the country’s work. For example, Republicans are too busy bashing the Affordable Care Act rather than working to fix it. The plan, as many have noted, is based on conservative ideas and in fact mimics the same plan then-Governor Mitt Romney deployed in Massachusetts years ago. Standing at Governor Romney’s side to support the new plan during its rocky rollout was none other Senator Ted Kennedy. I don’t see Senator Mitch O’Connell standing next to President Obama touting the importance of Obamacare.

My way or the highway. By hook or by crook. These are the mottos of today’s Tea Party infested Republican Party. As long as the infestation remains, there is no hope of a functioning government any time soon. So watch out. Come late January, early February 2014, we’ll all be scratching our heads wondering how the government could be shutdown again and how the whole world could be teetering on economic disaster again.

Only we shouldn’t be scratching out heads wondering anything. It should be painfully obvious why the country will be on the brink of disaster again.

© 2013, gar. All rights reserved.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

SIN AGAINST THE RACE, a novel–Click image for info

Sin Against the Race

Contact

  • email gar

Twitter

Follow @the_gar_spot

Instagram

garmcveyrussell

Pride brunch. #pride #pridemonth #pridesunday #pr Pride brunch. 
#pride #pridemonth #pridesunday #prideday #pancakes #brunch
Dug up from the archives. I can’t believe we hav Dug up from the archives. I can’t believe we have to fight for this again. 
#abortionrights #abortionishealthcare #cisgaymanforchoice
Time to write more letters to encourage people to Time to write more letters to encourage people to vote. Tempus fugit.
#abortionrights #abortionishealthcare #roevwade #mymarriageisnext #voteblue #voterepublicansout
Pride flag over the Claremont Hotel. Don’t think Pride flag over the Claremont Hotel. Don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. 
#pride #pridemonth #berkeley
New outdoor dining set. #backporch #alfresco #hom New outdoor dining set. 
#backporch #alfresco #homedecor
Consulted with my editors this morning. I value th Consulted with my editors this morning. I value their feedback. 
#trees #hiking #oakland #writersofinstagram #iputmyfaithintrees
Remembering Roger Ebert on what would have been hi Remembering Roger Ebert on what would have been his 80th birthday. 
#rogerebert #writer #legend #cancersucks
Fly me to the moon (not pictured) Let me play amon Fly me to the moon (not pictured)
Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like
On Jupiter (the brighter one) and Mars
#backyardastronomy #jupiter #mars #predawn #goodmorning
A gorgeous day at the #oaklandgreekfestival #oakla A gorgeous day at the #oaklandgreekfestival #oakland #greekfestival #greek #music #food #ilovemycity
I used to rock the hell out of these. Cards of dis I used to rock the hell out of these. Cards of discovery and endless possibilities. I still miss them. 
#cardcatalog #library #knowledge #og #searchengine
A sunny Saturday in 1990 found my sister Tania (@m A sunny Saturday in 1990 found my sister Tania (@makeuptogoblog) and I outside of the Julia Morgan Center waiting. I had seen the great Maestro Pt. Shivkumar Sharma in LA—he even autographed an album for me. And I was studying tabla with his accompanist Ud. Zakir Hussain at the time. We couldn’t wait. But wait we did, because the maestros weren’t there. As my sister and I stood at the front of the line, they came. Ud. Zakirji was laughing and joking. Pt. Shivji looked as if he floated in as he passed and entered the theater. After we got settled in our seats, it was on. A beautiful concert with the two maestros playing rapturously, holding us spellbound. Pt. Shivji floated in like a deity and played to the heavens, taking us all with him. By far one of my favorite concerts. 

Words cannot describe how devastated I am at the great master’s passing. His gifts to music and the world are incalculable. My condolences to Panditji’s family, to @zakirhq9 , and to all who loved his beautiful music. #ptshivkumarsharma #indianclassicalmusic #santoor #rip
This makes me very happy. #oaklandgreekfestival # This makes me very happy. 
#oaklandgreekfestival #theyreback #yahoo #greek #oakland #ilovemycity
Happy 85th Birthday to legendary Maestro Ron Carte Happy 85th Birthday to legendary Maestro Ron Carter! The most recorded bassist in history, he was a huge inspiration for my late brother Robert. And he continues to inspire bassists and musicians to this day. 
#happybirthday #roncarter #legend #bassist #jazz #music
Dinner on the back porch. #alfresco #dinner #pizza Dinner on the back porch. #alfresco #dinner #pizza #arizmendi #evening
My sacred music day where I pay homage to Duke Ell My sacred music day where I pay homage to Duke Ellington (1899-1974) and Ustad Alla Rakha (1919-2000) on their shared birthday. This year I’m also celebrating the 100th birthday anniversary of harmonica and whistling maestro Toots Thielemans (1922-2016). Enjoy the music of all of these legends! ✌🏾 ❤️ 🎶 
#dukeellington #allarakha #abbaji #tootsthielemans #centenary #happybirthday #music
Happy Birthday Ella Fitzgerald! Born on this day i Happy Birthday Ella Fitzgerald! Born on this day in 1917. 
#ella #ellafitzgerald #firstladyofsong #jazz
It’s the only home we got. Let’s treat it with It’s the only home we got. Let’s treat it with respect and love. 
#earthday #earthday2022 #home #planet #environment
A harrowing day, but it ended safely. I’m home n A harrowing day, but it ended safely. I’m home now with a nice cup of tea. ☕️ 
#berkeley #shelterinplace #allclear #home #tea #murchies
This pale blue beauty is destined to become part o This pale blue beauty is destined to become part of my #sundaybrunch #pancakes. Fresh from my next door neighbor!
Celebrating the centenary of a great musician. Hap Celebrating the centenary of a great musician. Happy 100th Birthday Ustad Ali Akbar Khan Sahib!!! His great legacy lives on. 
#aliakbarkhan #centenary #indianclassicalmusic #sarode
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Facebook

Subscribe by email:

Archives

Blogroll

  • Life During Wartime – The Trump Years
  • Patricia Dunn – Author
  • Philip Robinson, poet
  • The Outspoken – You're Welcome
  • Uppity Negro Network

Interests

  • Cassini Probe @ Saturn
  • Daily Kos
  • Doctor Who
  • KCSM – Jazz 91
  • Makeup to Go!
  • The Root

Tags

99% african-american AIDS Bay Area bigotry Billy Strayhorn black Black Lives Matter climate change Duke Ellington dystopia dystopian fiction gay growing up gay healthcare history homophobia jazz LGBT LGBTQ literature marriage equality music North Korea novel Oakland police brutality politics queer queerlit queer lit racism rant reading Religion Republicans Romney SATR science fiction Sin Against the Race Trayvon Martin Trump women in jazz writing

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
©2022 the gar spot | Theme by SuperbThemes