Winds of Shame

Amazing! The START treaty has been ratified - today. Did I actually watch President Obama sign the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” into law this morning? Be still my heart. Action in Washington is afoot. Before many of us jump for joy at this news, there are a few wrinkles on the well-trimmed cuffs of Mr. Obama’s success which might see a steam roller rather than a steam iron in the coming year. Mitch McConnell has gleefully announced that his primary focus between 2011 and the elections in 2012 will be to repeal every single law, every forward movement, the Obama administration has created in the last two years. Healthcare Reform is at the top of his hit-list. Such a piss that nay-saying bag of wind is.

I have an idea. Well, it’s not really my original idea; however, let’s consider proactive yelling as a way in which to legally smack  down the smarmy politico’s whose only desire is to regain power in 2012. Yep. Direct yelling and heavy media coverage. You know, the “squeaky wheel gets more grease” kind of thing. It works at times, if for nothing else than to keep TV lights burning on the issue. Shame those smug mockers back into their lockers.

For example, a group of 9/11 First Responders, furious over former doctor (and now GOP senator) Tom Coburn’s threatened blockage of a bill to provide additional health benefits to the ill and dying heroes of that day, marched directly to the senator’s office yesterday and, with media lights blaring, made a point to directly confront the man on his immoral position. Of course, Coward-Burn didn’t appear at his door, just like he didn’t appear on the floor of the Senate when traditional legislative debate had been in session regarding the issue. You see, Mr. Coburn claims he’ll block passage of the bill because it “hadn’t been through a legislative hearing process.” Ironic, isn’t it, that whenever a rep-resent-ative claims there is a technical problem with an issue they are clearly against, they often were absent at the onset of debate. It’s a bit late for such an excuse, don’t you think? All anyone can say about this man’s position is that it stinks.

Let’s get back on point with the agenda of McConnell and fiends. No typo, there. I say kick all of these sorry examples of humans to the corner with their buddy Johnny McPain who no longer is sucking his wittle thumb but has replaced it with lemons. Wow. That guy’s utterly pissed these days, isn’t he? If he was upset on the day the DADT was repealed, now that it’s been sealed into law, today must be his Worse. Day. Ever.

Yawn.

Oh, why am I spending so much time writing about these fools when it’s merely days before a happy holiday filled with toys for the kids, parties with eggnog, aunt Kate’s dry fruit cake and many more surprises of one sort or another. Shouldn’t I find a new group to flog? Aren’t more important events worthy of the woodshed? Politics can make the mind dull and create a surly mood.

I’ve got a good one for you to pass the time. It’s nice and juicy. What do you think about Lindsay Lohan’s latest snafu? Good grief, withdrawal can be a beech.  If you haven’t heard, while still in rehab, she allegedly beat on one of the rehab staffers. She may have to go back to jail for another 60 seconds. Now, that’s the type of story we can sit back and rehash with friends without explaining amendments and all of that weighty stuff to fill up our heads before we fill up our stomachs in the days ahead.

The truly sad part of the above is that Lindsay has enough health insurance to cover the cost of the stay of further hallucinations in a treatment facility, whilst others who have given their lives to save victims of fires and terrorism are left penniless, bereaved, and barely breathe without a deep-seated life-threatening wheeze.

(Update: The 9/11 bill passed the Senate, albeit a "scaled-down" version.)