We have had quite enough of diversionary tactics. There have been endless hearings about Benghazi, and tens of millions of taxpayer dollars have been wasted. And now we have a new focus on emails. Will this never end?
Our country needs to be governed and is suffering from the utter irresponsibility of an antigovernment radical fringe controlling the Republican party. When they took control of Congress, they told us they would show us how they can govern. They have and they can’t. In addition to the nihilism of their antigovernment stance, there is the racism being spewed by the Tea Party. It may be thinly disguised, but it is clear.
We have an eminently qualified nominee for attorney general in Loretta Lynch who is being held hostage to the immigration issue. Our past unfortunate international policies and our refusal to deal with the second failed prohibition of marijuana as well as our drug appetite in general have led to waves of desperate people coming to our shores. And the Republican Party exhibits an unwillingness to respond humanely and is refusing to deal with what we created.
Recently there was an effort to give some educational debt relief to our young people. It was blocked. The future of our youth is being impaired and with it the future of our country. Instead, the call goes out to cut taxes for the wealthy.
The list of political and governance failures is long, but the worst was the recent letter to the government of Iran signed by 47 Republican Senators. It was the height of irresponsibility as they interfered in crucial negotiations. And at the same moment, without any coordination with the White House, they invited the head of Israel’s government to use our Congress as a stage for his campaign. To make matters even worse, he then trashed delicate efforts for peace by disclaiming any intent to work toward a two-state solution.
A democracy requires dedication and honest debate, not endless diversions and immature manipulations. A democracy also requires support of voter participation. Instead, the Republican Party has been leading the charge to suppress voter participation.
The descent into irresponsibility has been breathtaking. They are demonstrating utter failure of statesmanship. One expects some political machinations, but we can at least hope that in the end governance and responsibility will hold the stage. There will be differences between political parties, but this kind of behavior is unpardonable and is sanctioned by the sorriest lot of presidential contenders in the history of the Republican Party.
And it seems they believe we should be sidetracked by the dog and pony show of hearings on issues which are nothing other than diversions.
Many of us remember a very different Republican Party, and we can only hope that the remaining responsible members including such people as Colin Powell will again come to the fore. In the meantime, it behooves the rest of us to turn away from them and say enough is enough. We need maturity, responsibility, statesmanship and sound governance which the Republican Party is not offering.
Joe Diamond says
I think Colin Powell will sit this one out,
He will be at some golf course watching the fun. After the lies he was asked to deliver at the UN regarding the weapons of mass destruction Sadam was prepared to use I don’t think he is ready to sally forth for “The Party.”
The Benghazi events will have an interesting turn soon, I think. The hearings and show trials about defending the embassies there and the accusations that more should have been done are about to get a parallel event. Recently the State Department closed the American Embassy in Yemen. Conditions there appear to be deteriorating and the decision was taken to get out. So now we are to expect accusations of incompetence for leaving America without diplomatic function or intelligence gathering capability is a terrorist stronghold.
Diversionary Froth = understatement!
Joe
Stephan Sonn says
Joe, both you and roger have great knowledge of the what, but in newspaper jargon there is the how and why to consider and the strategy to combat it. The first time I ever read Mother Jones is when they did their Koch expose. It has spawned another underground conspiracy movement that rings true given the sophistication of mass behavioral manipulation. of late. But that is shrouded by the natural disbelief inherent in pseudo-intellectual news practices. There is just a place where mainstream media will not go. I know because I went there. Doubtful that you will see that journey here. When I advanced these ideas at Esquire I was kept around like an amusing pet but it was literally the dead intellectuals society.
Steve Payne says
I don’t think what the far right group is doing is a diversionary tactic. It’s what they are, anti government. There’s an entire industry built up around this market and they TURNOUT to vote. The hearings just provide great Youtube content for the members. Just listen to the call in segments on CSPAN.
joe diamond says
Steve,
We live in strange times. The Espionage Act of 1917 is still on the books. That WW I era law prohibits what those senators did with their little letter writing activity. Can US senators be arrested on the floor of the senate? Maybe not………. but they are still expected to be the adults in the room.
Maybe the Patriot Act……………
Joe
Gerald Maynes says
Gosh, It isn!t as Shocking as you would think. After all, Mr Obama has been sticking his nose into the business of the Congress for better than two years now. He has refused to cooperate with congressional oversight into investigations into the IRS scandal, Gun running by his justice department into Mexico, etc, etc., etc. Do two wrongs make a right No! But if a person is honest there is enough blame to be passed on two both parties. In fact, Mr Obama could have been impeached for issuing and executive order on immigration, which is clearly a legislative duty.
It doesn’t make any difference what treaty Mr Obama agrees to. If it is as one-sided as most people think the Senate will reject it. Mr Obama will join President Wilson in failed treaty club. Why we are negotiating with Iran is a mystery! In fact, they will ignore us and do what they want anyway. In the entire history of arms reduction treaties that we have agreed to, not a one since the end of World War One, with the exception of the treaty that ended World War two in the Pacific , has ever been followed by anyone but us.
We should continue the sanctions and let the Mulas know that If they use the bomb that they are developing, that quick retribution by us will follow. Hopefully in time their own people will overthrow them. I believe that this is the only course of action open to us.