Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Budget Zero


The week before last, I wrote a post called "Tea Anyone?" I was discussing the rash of anti-tax "tea parties" that were supposedly a "grass roots" populist movement but, it looked more to me like the remnants of the Republican National Convention last year. I thought that a so-called grass roots movement was supposed to be inclusive of a wide range of the nation's populace? These "tea parties" were so lily white and bordered so dangerously close to being Klan rallies that fellow blogger and Philadelphian, The Field Negro, and I were wagering on if we could find one token black in the crowd (kinda like a "Where's Waldo" type of thing)... only our game was called "Where's the Negro?"

Even more disturbing about the tea parties was that Republican National Party Chairman Michael Steele wanted to speak at one of these events and was not so politely told "Thanks, but no thanks." That was the first time I ever heard of an RNC guy not being allowed to speak at a Republican Party rally. But, oh... that's right... this was not a Republican Party rally. It was a grass roots, populist movement kinda thing. Right! No Blacks, no Native Americans, no Hispanics, and no Asians. If there were any gay people there, they were closeted. Okayyyyy! I seriously digress... but, I just wanted to get that off of my chest.

I asked if there was an alternative budget, did I not? In late March (a few days before my birthday), House Minority Leader John Boehner called a press conference to announce that there was indeed an 18-page alternative budget. He said he was tired of the Democrats referring to the Republicans as the party of "No" and especially tired of one "Maverick of all Bloggers" calling them out on a daily basis. (Okay, he might not have said that in public but, in private, he was thinking it!)

This document entered Capital Hill lore as one of the most preposterous things a politician has ever handed to a reporter on the hill with a straight face. This was intended to blindly oppose every Obama Administration initiative - without a real plan. Boehner said, "This President has said that we haven't seen a budget yet out of the Republicans. Well, that's not true because here it is Mr. President."

(Crickets!)

I'm serious here... all jokes aside. The 18-page pamphlet contained almost nothing of substance. The actual text included no specifics or numbers at all. It said things like "Republicans would fully fund our ongoing commitments overseas while devoting the entirety of any savings from reduced fighting to deficit reduction." One observer said that this was akin to war plans that simply said "Send ships, land troops, kill the enemy." Not only that, it looked like it had been written by a college student who was trying desperately to meet a professor's requirement of 20 pages by double spacing (not that yours truly would have ever done something like that in college himself). When a reporter asked for details, he was told that "this is a blueprint for where we are going. Are you asking for some other document?" My question is "Are you serious Mr. Boehner?" He's a holdover from the Bush Administration. Can't you tell?

We are in the middle of a deep financial crisis caused by greedy rich people, right? Within this 20-page document, there was talk of eliminating the estate tax and the flat tax of 25% on income above $100,000. In other words, two massive tax cuts for rich people. Again, I ask... "Are you guys serious? Does your head hurt just a little bit when you propose this?"

In closing, I seriously have to question whether these guys are sane or whether they think that the American people are that stupid, still? I thought that Sarah Palin might not have been the brightest bulb in the light socket but, here is Minnesota Representative, Michele Bachmann, who might win the 2009 award for dumbest person to ever sit in the House of Representatives for proposing within that same budget that we make the U.S. Dollar the "official U.S. currency forever and ever" (exact quote). Excuse me but, isn't it? Hasn't it always been? Was anybody thinking otherwise? I can't make this stuff up... this is what might have been the leadership of the U.S. Government had that election gone the other way in November of last year. As scary as the last administration was, these guys and their idea of an alternative budget scares me even more. You should be scared too!

A public service announcement by the Maverick of all Bloggers!

22 comments:

HEALTH NUT WANNABEE MOM said...

STopping by from Regina's and glad I did. Great blog and I will be back!

Solomon said...

LMAO Keith, Official currency for ever and ever!

The Republicans should all be wearing big clown shoes and a rubber nose these days, where do they get this stuff from?

And you really can't make this stuff up can you.

James Perkins said...

You are off the hook!LMAO!

Sean said...

Tell em why you mad brother,Tell em why you mad!!LMAO @ You!

Simon Bastion said...

This was too funny, but scary because this stuff is real too!

Captain Jack said...

Keith, you are too funny..This was a brilliant peice of political satire!

Toni said...

I remember when I was the first commenter....Look how your blog has grown Keith...I'm proud of you.
Loved this post.

Tate2 said...

This was too funny, yet scary as hell. Are these folks for real??

Swaggie said...

"Forever and ever" LMBLAO...I shook my head when I heard her say this on CNN.

Jazzy said...

You rock Fam! LMBAO

Cheryl said...

The Republicans have fallen so far out of touch..not just with the American people, but with reality!

Brenda said...

Incredible post. You have a keen sense of what is real and balanced with a great sense of humor too!

Angie B. said...

Off the Hinges Keith! You and the
Republicans. LMBAO!!!!

Beautifully.Conjured.Up said...

LOL @ "Where's the Negro?"

I thought Michael Steele didn't have a backbone...hmmmm, I recant that and would like to say he doesn't have a soul.

Lisa said...

Keith, they really are out of touch with reality. How many times have they criticized Michelle Obama's "arms" in her sleeveless dresses?? Lolololo, WTF?? I'm not surprised by anything you wrote about them.

Halo said...

What would we do without the Maverick of all Bloggers lookin out for us? lolol, ROFLMBAO @ "Where's the Negro?" You are nuts, but so right, so on point!

Vanessa said...

You really can't make this stuff up...It's so funny, it's tragic.

Grover Tha Playboy said...

The Republicans, especially the "holdovers" from the Bush Administration really do think that the average American Citizen is unimformed and stupid..Sadly enough, they are right in a lot of cases..but that percentage is dropping.

Sunflower said...

I agree with Soloman- They must be wearing clown shoes and rubber noses now of days...I too wonder where does this stuff come from?

They've finnally been exposed.

Anonymous said...

I will take "these guys are sane" for $200.

Strongblkwmn said...

Another great one!

I have found that so many people have become more informed throughout this whole election process. I'm so glad that so many of us are not as uninformed as we once were.

You have such a way with words. Loved this post.

Mizrepresent said...

Great post Keith...i love it when you put it down like this!




KEEPING THE FAITH: RANDOM PRAYERS "ON THE DOWNLOAD"










































































"Mommy, can I go to Timmy's blog and play?"



































Click on image to enlarge for reading






Click on image to enlarge for reading



Click on image to enlarge for reading