The behavior of Barack Obama and the far left Democrats in Congress continues to amaze. Over and over and over again Obama, Pelosi, and Reid have criticized the actions and policies of the past. In return, they have promised a more open form of government. More open to whom? Lobbyists and left-wing radicals? Yes on both accounts. Clearly they weren't talking about the American people.
Obama promised he would not hire lobbyists in his administration. That promise lasted about one day. He and Nancy Pelosi promised transparency in the way Washington operates. Instead, we now have a process where the public is shut out of major actions of Congress. Just look at what's going on with the "negotiations" on the health care bill.
First, let's take a step back in time. Following election victories in 2006, Nancy Pelosi said on national television that the Democrats "intend to lead the most honest, most open, and most ethical Congress in history."
Wow! The words keep ringing in my ears... most open and ethical in history? Is she kidding?
Here is what Barack Obama had to say about openness and transparency:
Obama talks about wanting to stop negotiations behind closed doors... to broadcast those negotiations on C-SPAN. I don't think I've heard rhetoric ever veer so far from reality.
As noted by the Associated Press story running on GOPUSA, the Democrats now intend to completely bypass the traditional negotiation procedures on health care and move everything behind closed doors and away from the scrutiny of the American people.
Democratic aides said the final compromise talks would essentially be a three-way negotiation involving top Democrats in the House and Senate and the White House, a structure that gives unusual latitude to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California.
These officials said there are no plans to appoint a formal House-Senate conference committee, the method Congress most often uses to reconcile differing bills. Under that customary format, a committee chairman is appointed to preside, and other senior lawmakers from both parties and houses participate in typically perfunctory public meetings.
So much for public meetings and transparency.
In a letter to Congress, C-SPAN Chairman Brian Lamb requested that congressional leaders "open all important negotiations, including any conference committee meetings, to electronic media coverage."
President Obama, Senate and House leaders, many of your rank-and-file members, and the nation's editorial pages have all talked about the value of transparent discussions on reforming the nation's health care system. Now that the process moves to the critical stage of reconciliation between the Chambers, we respectfully request that you allow the public full access, through television, to legislation that will affect the lives of every single American.
Despite the pointed letter by C-SPAN, the Democrats are saying no to being open and honest with the American people. As noted in the Washington Examiner, "Democratic leaders appear to be unfazed by a letter sent to Congress from C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb, requesting that lawmakers open up talks on merging the House and Senate health care reform bills. House Democratic leaders Tuesday afternoon were meeting secretly in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office to discuss what kind of compromise with the Senate they would be willing to vote for."
House Republican Leader John Boehner has stepped out and addressed the C-SPAN request directly:
"As House Republican Leader, I can confidently state that all House Republicans strongly endorse your proposal and stand ready to work with you to make it a reality," Boehner wrote in response to a letter C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb sent to congressional leaders. "Hard-working families won't stand for having the future of their health care decided behind closed doors. These secret deliberations are a breeding ground for more of the kickbacks, shady deals and special-interest provisions that have become business as usual in Washington. Too much is at stake to have a final bill built on payoffs and pork-barrel spending."
Under the Democrat plan, there will be NO health care negotiations held in public. Nothing will be broadcast on C-SPAN for the American people to review. That's quite a different approach from what Obama promised:
As summed up perfectly in an editorial from the Washington Times, "Congressional Republicans, especially in the Senate, should not let them get away with it. Transparency and ethics should be Republican rallying cries, and obstruction on those grounds should be a point of pride."
By now it's almost trite to complain that President Obama repeatedly has broken his campaign pledge to "broadcast [health care] negotiations on C-SPAN so that the American people can see what the choices are." That doesn't make the complaint invalid. For legislation that could so profoundly and personally affect the daily lives of every American, Congress and the White House should be more transparent and more accessible than ever before. Instead, the process has been secretive and sordid throughout.
Congressional Republicans and the RNC have an obligation to fight these tactics. They also have an obligation to let the American people know what's going on. This is OUR government... or it's supposed to be. This is not the Soviet Union. Transparency in government should be demanded by each and every American citizen. If there is any time for Republicans to grow a backbone, it's now. This health care bill is all about bringing power to Washington and making lobbyists rich. It must be stopped, and the process must be open.
What did you expect! Democrats lie to get elected, that is the God honest truth! Democrats lie continuously.... Transparency, no back room deals, freedom of information, bipartisanship. All of this was promised but none kept. They are in charge and don't give a dam about you or I. They only care about power and wheedling it. We have to get these people out of office. They are doing everything in their power to destroy our country. Why do the keep allowing low skilled labor legally in this count in the order of 100,000 + per month. We do not in any laborers imported into our country. They have no since of fairness and they constantly flout flout congressional procedures and do an end run around, so as not to have a true debate. They know they are nothing more than snake oil salesmen.
Comment by Sapient January 6, 2010 @ 11:41 am
If ever there was an unmasking of who and what these people are, we have it before us.
Shame on any Republican and any American who will not call tyranny by its rightful name, and condemn all those who embrace it, no matter who they might be. "Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act."
Free men must stand somewhere. If not here and now, then when?
"We the People are the rightful masters of both Congress and the Courts--not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution."
--Abraham Lincoln
Comment by onewildman January 6, 2010 @ 11:44 am
Where are the Freemasons when they are once again needed?
Comment by Tucker Scofield January 6, 2010 @ 11:56 am
I have said continuously that the reason the Dems continue to pass bills that will result in their political suicide - not being re-elected - is because they know something we don't. That "something" is that they are not planning on leaving office. OneWildMan, you asked why they continue to allow illegals to flow into our country and my answer is that they hope to pass immigration reform - amnesty - before the 2010 elections (see link below), putting 12 million plus Hispanics on the Democrat registers. And if they can't make it effective in time for the elections, they'll use ACORN and its affiliates to "get out the vote" fraudulently, and then the courts to tie up the results. I honestly don't believe they intend to let go of their power, man. I hope I'm wrong - I PRAY I'm wrong - but I just can't shake this feeling.
Obama is a thug. He has brought Chicago politics to the world stage and has proven that his only REAL interest is fleecing the "haves" and entitling the "have nots". He showed his true colors long ago and the fact that there are STILL FANS of this manipulative Marxist is highly disturbing.
Comment by Tucker Scofield January 6, 2010 @ 11:57 am
Sapient: Great comment...nicely put.
Comment by Tucker Scofield January 6, 2010 @ 12:01 pm
The Democrats are TOTALLY TRANSPARENT --- as they truly view transparency which means invisibility to them -- THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE ANYTHING
Comment by voxoreason January 6, 2010 @ 12:26 pm
Obama is about like Clinton, but worse. However, if either made a public statement either containing the word "not" (in which case, you would remove the "not") or a statement NOT containing a "not" (in which case, you would add the "not"), you could determine what was more probably true.
Has anything that Obama said in '08, as he basked in the worship of the lame-stream media and "superior" people everywhere, actually turned out to be true? --
Can ANYONE think of anything? If Obama has said something that didn't turn out to be a lie, distortion, exact opposite of what actually happened, it has escaped my notice. --
Can someone help me? If not, I will simply have to console myself with Dodd the Odd's announcement that he won't run again. Has the statute of limitations run out on this guy? If anyone deserves a full body cavity search administered by a much larger cell-mate more than...well, several top dems should enjoy this treatment.
Comment by Sapient January 6, 2010 @ 1:04 pm
Thanks Tucker...its time to take the proverbial gloves off. Americans need to quickly come to the realization that there are those among us that are not for us...for us as free and dignified people anyway.
Ditto Balliet...the Dems ARE being transparent for all the world to see aren't they...yet the lawless and greedy among embrace them and the rest have been reduced to such a state of torpor that they do not even know when they are being eaten.
The only analogy I can think of that does justice to the situation is the Morlocks coming for the Eloi ala HG Wells and the Time Machine.
Comment by Ken January 6, 2010 @ 1:05 pm
Brian Lamb needs to watch his back! He's about to be stabbed by Nancy, Harry and Barrack.
Comment by wildfire January 6, 2010 @ 1:39 pm
OK, now that we have all had many months to whine, complain, and generally get things of our collective chests it is time to get to work. The primary season has started. Filings here in Texas have already closed for congressional seats. All of you who want REAL change need to become active in your local groups, be they Republican, Conservative, Libertarian (however, if you really are a Libertarian you should read the analysis of "Liberal Democracy" in National Review), or Tea Party. There are many people out there who help getting elected and getting out information about elections. So, stop blogging and get to work!
Comment by lietomeagain January 6, 2010 @ 1:41 pm
You really have to kidding me. Transparent. I do not think so. No wonder Mr Chriss saw the handwriting on the wall. He did not stand a chance in hell to get reelected again, and I hope Harry Reid goes down in flame too. Good Luck.
Comment by Karl Hungus January 6, 2010 @ 2:19 pm
I am amazed but what do people expect from libs. They lie about everything, especially the community orginizer Barrack. The ignorant asleep at the wheel people of this country have elected a president that is just a shady, shady person, and it shouldnt suprise anybody, since he's basically a terrorist.
I can't wait for 2010 to come around and the people of this great Country will show these Democrat scumbags for what they really are, scum. Hopefully their isn't to much damage done by that point.
Comment by ConservativeInCA January 6, 2010 @ 2:28 pm
So according to Michael Steele, the Rs have no one but themselves to blame for not being ethical and morally upright citizens when they get elected and now have a 12 step program to regain control. Somehow, when he and others at the top have put into power those he now blames for the Rs downfall, something is amiss. Yes the Rs blew it going back to and including the highly reveared Ronald Regan. More government spending, higher taxes, a greatly failed foreign policy, and not keeping strong the CIA & FBI are only a few to name. Would things have been worse under the Ds control? Absolutely as is now quite evident, but we must now elect fiscally conservative legislators whose moral characters are beyond reproach, and support them for sticking by their guns.
Eventually the Congress and President will need to address the same pieces of legislature that the Dems have ram rodded down our throats and repeal these laws to restore our Country to greatness once again. But to do so we must support all conservatives, and not just some hokey conservative sounding liberals running under the disguise of moderate Repubs.
Michael Steele is the first Republican this party needs to rid itself of if they ever hope to regain power. When that happens and conservatives regain power, we need to remember how we are feeling right now and never go back to politics as usual or we will surely lose again.
Comment by neenee2k January 6, 2010 @ 2:35 pm
Vote out the worst corrupters of all time. The democrats have hurt our country and most American don't trust them. They will kill America as we know it. I hope that the republicians do take them to court and win because it is plain as day to the American people that they are liars and they are destroying our country. Pelosi is disgusting and for her to say on tv that the demos are honest and don't lie. Right. Sorry princess Pelosi but YOU are the biggest liar. You are disgusting. So is Reed and Obama. You all are disgusting liars and we don't believe a word you say. You will get what you deserve.Ying yang. What goes around comes around. DON'T REELECT ANY OF THEM. LIARS. All of you. GOD help our country against these evil does. Because that is what they are. GOD BLESS AMERICA. YOU CAN'T STOP ME OBAMA FROM SAYING IT. IF YOU ARE SO HONEST AND TRULY AN AMERICAN WHY DON'T YOU SHOW YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE? BECAUSE YOU ARE A LIAR AND YOU WANT TO DESTROY OUR COUNTRY. THEY VOTED YOU IN WE WILL VOTE YOU OUT.
Comment by Tucker Scofield January 6, 2010 @ 2:38 pm
Voxoreason: Quit being silly!! Our media would NEVER fawn over a president if there weren't PLENTY of examples of his integrity! Now lemme' see, there was uh...no, he didn't do that. Okay, well there was...nope, forgot he didn't do that, either. Didn't he...?? Oh yeah, no he didn't. Um...I GOT IT!! HE PROMISED TO FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE AMERICA!!
Comment by ONTIME January 6, 2010 @ 3:24 pm
Pathogenic, is a word used to describe "in your face liars" and it seems that politicks has a literal plethora of such, the likes of Oueenie Pelosi and the scum of the earth Hairy Reed are the type of paranoid personalities that are occupying positions of leadership that are in direct opposition to all legal, ethical and moral positions that we as Americans are privilleged to believe in.
This corruption, no matter the party or the office has got to come to a halt, we are in dire need of solid commonsense people who are willing to stand up to this group of schizoids and put them and the lies they live on out to pasture and it needs to be done sooner than later. By allowing this lax attitude of tolerance to exist a dependecy on allowing government to be responsible for decisions that needed to be made by communities and individuals became acceptable, our schools were given over to government intrusion and the growth of government became uncontrolled and is now far more expensive in ways than anyone could have imagined. Now it is imperative for the future of the nation to expel this laxity and regain the control of government to regain the ability to become responsible for ourselves and keep the intrusion of government to a bare minimum.
Comment by Sapient January 6, 2010 @ 5:14 pm
For those of you gleeful about the Democrats messing up royal by passing unpopular legislation and being voted out...
Well, a fellow named James Simpson at American Thinker asks "What do they know that we don't know?"...and then describes the strategy of Universal Voter Registration...motor voter on steroids....adding another 12 million voters to the rolls...
Its here on GOPUSA too.
So, better make sure your belt is buckled.
I leave you with the motto of the Texas Rangers: "No man in the wrong can stand against a fellow in the right who keeps on a-comin'."
That just might come in handy.
Comment by Tucker Scofield January 7, 2010 @ 4:49 pm
Sapient: Just read the American Thinker article...thank you! Maybe I'm running in the wrong circles but I am the only person I know saying these things about the 2010 elections. I'm not trying to take credit for originality because I'm sure I heard this theory of how they'll steal the elections somewhere - probably Beck - but I can't consciously think of where I heard it. And certainly if I DID hear it elsewhere, it was a one-time thing. I know that I've had some serious frustrations with Hannity and Rush both stating that the 2010 elections were going to be a serious wake-up call for the Dems, as though they're going to pay a price for this reckless agenda. I never bought that and I still don't. This article cements that for me.
However, I've felt like a lone voice because even my most cynical of coworkers has questioned my reasoning. After all, this is AMERICA, right? That could never happen HERE! This will help me to bolster my case.
There's a special place in hell for these people. They are ideologically stealing the greatest country on the planet. If enough people in this country RECOGNIZE THE DANGER and see how serious the progressives are in their efforts, maybe we still have a chance at reclaiming it.
Comment by Sapient January 8, 2010 @ 7:02 am
Greetings Tucker
If that helps...while you are on The American Thinker website, take a look at their articles on The Cloward Piven strategy. Here's an excerpt:
"The Cloward/Piven Strategy is named after Columbia University sociologists Richard Andrew Cloward and Frances Fox Piven. Their goal is to overthrow capitalism by overwhelming the government bureaucracy with entitlement demands. The created crisis provides the impetus to bring about radical political change.
According to Discover the Networks.org:
Rather than placating the poor with government hand-outs, wrote Cloward and Piven, activists should work to sabotage and destroy the welfare system; the collapse of the welfare state would ignite a political and financial crisis that would rock the nation... [Emphasis added.]"
Tucker, it is probably wise not to underestimate some people and the depth of their hatred for America. You might also seek out Robert Bork's book, Slouching Toward Gomorrah. There you will see where the seeds were sown to undermine what our Founders called "The Civil Society." This is the target of the statist.
No my friend, you are not the only one by any means. Many understand precisely what you are saying, and are as alarmed as you are.
It will never be the crowd that gets it, and it is not necessary. "It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in peoples' minds." Samuel Adams said that. You are in good company, that of Paine, Henry, Adams, Revere, and others.
Speak as they would, and did!
Indeed this IS America, and that is precisely the issue. America is a unique experiment based on unique assumptions, not something set in stone.
A society based on the self evident truths of Creator endowed rights rather than by the government is unique in history, and this can certainly perish from this earth, and in one generation.
All that is needed, is to change the assumptions.
Comment by OldSlowGuy January 8, 2010 @ 1:09 pm
The American Psychiatric Association need only look as far as the nearest picture of Pelosi for their new mental illness "poster child"
Comment by Sapient January 11, 2010 @ 6:23 am
Indeed OldSlowGuy...indeed. And not just Pelosi.
Have you read the analysis of liberals by psychologist Lyle Rossiter, The Liberal Mind: Psychological Causes of Political Madness?
Title kinda says it all huh? That old quip about the inmates running the asylum is not that far off.
The question now, is what to do about it?
Comment by Tucker Scofield January 11, 2010 @ 4:28 pm
Sapient: Thank you for the additional resources. And once again I commend you on an incredible post. Some things for you to kick around:
“Speak as they would, and did!” - I sent an email “rant” to 50 friends/family/coworkers just this morning that outlines how truth is being assailed in our country like never before. My call to action was to ask that they NOT allow themselves to be spoon-fed through traditional media but to “arm” themselves by researching stories on their own and then to “speak out loudly and boldly to anyone who will listen.” I am admittedly weak on early American history but was glad to hear I was in good company in suggesting that!
“A society based on the self evident truths of Creator endowed rights rather than by the government is unique in history….” – A GREAT point that is often overlooked when considering this “experiment in self-government” that is America. It is VERY interesting to connect the dots on the need by Progressives to minimize, downplay, or outright reject the notion of a Creator in order to establish man as the highest authority. If our rights are endowed us by our Creator, then no man can take them away. But if our Creator can be discredited, made fun of, and attached an air of ignorance as though He’s nothing more than a Santa Claus for adults, then our rights can be easily stolen “for the betterment of mankind.”
Comment by Soapbox Jill January 11, 2010 @ 4:58 pm
Bobby, you clinched it: the Dems in Washington are hiding what they are doing from the American people because they know we would oppose 99% of it.
But the American people continue to speak out against the Democrat health care idea and bill. Here's a sample of these true blue American voices in audio clips at a town hall meeting in Sheboygan, Wisconsin last Friday held by Rep. Thomas Petri (R-6th District WI)
Hi Tucker
You are right on the money my friend, and again, you are in good company.
John Adams made a particularly poignant statement to his wife Abagail that can guide you, and all of us:
"The science of government it is my duty to study, more than all other sciences; the arts of legislation and administration and negotiation ought to take the place of, indeed exclude, in a manner, all other arts. I must study politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. Our sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry and porcelain."
My sense Tucker is that "politics and war" might not have been Adams' first choice in life, but rather was a duty to his posterity that presented itself, and that he embraced. I think that duty has presented itself to our generation, or at least to those like yourself, regardless of what our first choice might have been. Destiny called him, and it has called us.
To understand the Founders, the easiest place to start is probably "Americas God and Country"...an encyclopedia of their own words regarding this nation, its principles, and its God. It will not leave you where it found you.
The original documents and many other resources are also available at The Patriot Post. Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum has a free university that you might check out at http://www.eagleforumu.org/eagleforumu/
You definitely want to be acquainted with books on economics like "Free to Choose" by Milton Friedman, and Hayek's "Road to Serfdom." See why Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations," also published in 1776, was the economic shot heard round the world, and why our Founders chose that system, above all others, for us.
As for personalities, no one I now has a better handle on the Founder's intent than Alan Keyes at Loyal To Liberty. Read his stuff and listen to his speeches. They are saturated with it.
God speed my friend
Sapient
""We fight not to enslave, but to set a country free, and to make room upon the earth for honest men to live in." - Thomas Paine
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