Backroom Backbone Challenge

Where to begin? Or, should I write, when will it end?

Of course I'm continuing to rattle on over the continuing rattlings-on over the U.S. debt ceiling situation. Beyond the concern over Social Security, Medicare, and other "entitlements" at risk in the hostage-taking of most things sacred to people who think as I think on these issues, what disturbs me is how the debt ceiling has been used to whittle-away at the governing party's supposed "power" in so-called "negotiations."

Nay-No-You-Don't-Machinations, is more like it.

But wait! Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate Minority Leader, has told ABC News that a deal is looking better by the second. He would know. He appears to be running the show now. With the Democrats leaning forward until their heads look as large as Lawrence O'Donnell's head does on a TV screen from his "Lean Forward" MSNBC desk, it would appear that everyone will end up with a headache when the fat lady finally chokes out her last song.

Despite the Tea Part-ier's in Congress' best attempts to send the USA into a sacrificial volcano of default UNLESS THEY GET WHAT THEY WANT and damn everyone else, they too will have to bite a few big ones if McConnell and the man formerly known as the President of the United States, Mr. what's-his-name-again, agree on yet another bill for Congress to kick around for yet another day.

As of this moment, Congress is in recess until tomorrow.

Take your time, Menz and Wimenz of Power. Enjoy your Sunday afternoon. Let the nation swing about in the dense eastern humidity by the shards of what's left of their hair before coming to the 12th hour agreement to avoid sending grandma and veteran's and soldiers, among others, into a financial meltdown on Wednesday, the day they are usually paid for the month.

And, by all means, do make sure to create that Super Congress so that more ideologues can ram bills through Congress without intervention. That's how Democracy works best, doncha' know! Give power to a few. Screw the people. That fine little bit of language in whatever Obama ends up signing is not Un-American at all, is it! But, let's ensure that the U.S. doesn't move further toward Socialism by providing Universal Heath Care to the citizens, or help Social Security and Medicare thrive. No. That is way too kind and decent. Too "Socialistic."

A refresher on the power to be given to a Super Congress: They Are Doing What?

I wish Obama would use the 14th Amendment to get past all of this madness. As former President Bill Clinton said, "I wouldn't hesitate to do it ... and let the courts sort it out."

That's where I'm at in this debate...or whatever it is called. After all, that little line everyone is hoping will be the ace President Obama will use to shut everyone down could not be more clear:


The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.


Sadly, we have a president who doesn't like to play hard ball. He is a gentleman to a default. His "poker face" may be good for hiding missions to kill Osama bin Laden, but his negotiating skills are weak.


Where is Lyndon Baines Johnson when we need him? That man would break your arm while kissing you on the forehead to get a deal done in Washington. Where did we get Medicare, anyway? From his administration. Where did we get the Civil Rights Act? During his presidency. 


Rather than Obama looking over the padded shoulders of Ronald Reagan's presidency for answers, I suggest a quick tune-up and review of the Johnson era (putting Vietnam aside).


But then again, Obama wouldn't sit on a toilet while talking to reporters and aides, now would he?