Congressperson & CA Tea Party Darling Tom McClintock Votes AGAINST the Will Of The People In His District – Again

Hat Tip To Politico

The 22 ‘no’ votes: Who’s who
By: Alex Isenstadt
July 29, 2011 08:11 PM EDT

There were 22 Republicans who lined up against House Speaker John Boehner’s package to raise the nation’s debt ceiling – a cast that’s almost entirely made up of tea party-backed freshmen and a few deeply conservative veterans.

Of the nearly two dozen ‘no’ votes, about half were cast by freshmen who waged anti-Washington campaigns that railed against Congress’s culture of spending – a group that includes Michigan Rep. Justin Amash, Tennessee Rep. Scott DesJarlais, and Minnesota Rep. Chip Cravaack, who explained in a statement following the vote that, “Last November, I told my constituents in the 8th District that I’m a numbers guy. I gave them my promise and my word that if the numbers don’t add up, I’m not voting for it.”

Nearly all of those who voted ‘no’ are aligned with the tea party, including Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh and Florida Rep. Steve Southerland, two rookies who have distinguished themselves as especially vocal critics of the Washington establishment since arriving in Congress earlier this year.

One relatively small state accounted for almost a quarter of the votes against the Boehner bill: South Carolina, a hotbed of tea party activism. The state’s entire five-member GOP delegation voted in unison, including the four freshmen – Reps. Jeff Duncan, Tim Scott, Mick Mulvaney, and Trey Gowdy – and veteran Rep. Joe Wilson, the conservative who famously yelled “You lie!” at President Barack Obama during a nationally televised joint session of Congress.

“This past November, Americans made it clear they expect their elected leaders to make meaningful fiscal reforms today so as to not burden future generations with crushing deficits and debts tomorrow,” Wilson said after the vote.

Other holdouts include veterans who have made careers out of backing dramatic cost-cutting measures – lawmakers like California Rep. Tom McClintock and Texas Rep. Ron Paul.

Link to full Politico article: http://dyn.politico.com/members/forums/thread.cfm?catid=1&subcatid=70&threadid=5738619&start=1&currentPage=1

American Exceptionalism Fuels Republican Obstructionism

 

As near as I can tell, “exceptionalism” is a made up word only found in the phrase “American exceptionalism.” Yet that hasn’t stopped the creation of a cottage industry asserting the mythological idea. Underpinned by both religion and hubris, American exceptionalism argues that the United States is the land chosen by God to enjoy the miracles of capitalism. According to the belief, Americans are a modern day chosen people – sorry Jews; you’re so yesterday — meant to lead the world by divine right. Divine right, of course, is a concept that used to be associated only with kings. Nowadays, it’s associated with morons.

In the ethos of American exceptionalism, we are the best at everything. We have the best health care, the best economy, the best civil society, the most freedom and the greatest opportunity. God made it so. And who are you to question God? Never you mind any facts to the contrary. Everyone knows that only over-educated liberal snobs like to use facts to find the truth.

This belief is a big factor in why Republicans in Congress imagine we can default on our debt without consequences. Because this same American exceptionalism – borrowing from its 1st cousin, Neoconservatism – argues that we can do whatever we want. Who can stop us, after all? We’re the top of the food chain. Everyone else is dependent on us. Screw ‘em!

Did I mention that most believers have never been outside of the US? Never seeing (Or is it never looking?) is a necessary part of any self-delusion.

So here we are at the brink. Many in Congress are ready to renege on paying the debt created by a decade of government underfunding. A sneering Eric Cantor, for example, has voted to spend the money since 2001. Now he won’t vote to pay what he owes.

Full post via American Exceptionalism Fuels Republican Obstructionism. My favorite artist, a brilliant man, Mario Piperni.

Cross-posted from Jimmy Zuma’s blog at Technorati.

“The Arrogance” of Serving While Black…A Rant | Republicans for Obama

I don’t care about the Far-Right. They’re just crazy ignorant Neanderthals. It’s the way the beltway and the mainstream treats this president that is shocking. In meetings, Republicans have no trouble interrupting him in the middle of a sentence. They look like they’re going to vomit every time they have to say “Mr. President”. They all have this Eric-Cantor-Smirk whenever he speaks. Then they go out to spew their stupid talking points, to the delight of the media. Sarah Palin, a woman who can hardly read, thinks that he was “arrogant” towards John McCain, and somehow this is an important news. Because you see, “Obama’s Arrogance” is the talking point of the day.

Oh, those talking points… he is arrogant (because he knows the facts better than all of them combined).  He is an elitist (because he uses big words that they don’t understand).  He is weak on national security (because he actually thinks about the consequences).  He divides the country (well, he did that the day he had the audacity to win the election).  Worst of all, he actually thinks that he’s the President of the United States.  He even dares to say so. How arrogant of him. Somehow it’s turned out that the one president who treats even his biggest opponents with the utmost respect is the arrogant one. I wonder why.

via “The Arrogance” of Serving While Black…A Rant | Republicans for Obama.

I could not agree more! What are your thoughts?

Lessig on Obama and Change Congres

Update: Well, time has passed and we are now at 2 1/2 years into President Obama’s first term. Take a srtoll down memory lane. Is the term marked by that covered so brilliantly by Professor Lessig? The production values are still some of the best there is, so focus on the content.

Thanks a bunch!

Curtis

A great video that provides insight to Barack Obama and plans to Change Congress–the way official campaign races are funded. Integrity, if you will.

more about “Lessig on Obama and Change Congres“, posted with vodpod

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