American Politicians Day The Darndest Things...unfortunately
A television show from long ago was hosted by a gentleman named Art Linkletter and
was called "House Party." A regular segment on that show was called "Kids Say The Darndest Things" and it involved Mr. Linkletter having simple chats with small children who almost always had something cute, adorable, or insigthful to say about their family, their experiences, or life in general.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the American political class, i.e. usually when they speak their words are not cute, adorable, or able to inspire confidence that they have a handle on what they are doing when it comes to running the country. Their words usually indicate a severe disconnect with the reality outside of the D.C. Beltway.
For example, Congresswoman Diane Wasserman-Schultz, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, recently commented that the economy "has turned the corner" to recovery. She fialed to mention that unemployment was still at 9.0%, probably over 20 million Americans are either unemployed or underemployed, the country's national debt was approaching $15 TRILLION, and all consumer and business surveys indicate a growing pessimism about economic conditions. Despite the evidence, she falls into the category of "politicians say the darndest things" with her assertion that the economy has turned the corner to recovery, a corner that is nowhere in sight for most Americans.
But she is not alone since politicians and government officials in all parts of our government continue to say the darndest things, indicating their inability to connect to reality, accept blame for their missteps, or really do not know how to resolve a problem or issue. Consider some of the recent statements from others within our political class:
- Recently, U.S. law enforcement uncovered an Iranian plot to blow up the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States in Washington D.C. Apparently, the schemers were going to blow up the ambassador via a bombing at one of his favorite restaurants, a bombing that, if successful, would have resulted in many many deaths and injuries to others. The plot was being put together in Mexico and has brushed up against the potential of Iran allying itself with the lawless and powerful Mexican drug cartels.
So what did our Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have to say about the plot, as quoted by the Associated Press: "The idea that they would attempt to go to a Mexican drug cartel to solicit murder-for-hire to kill the Saudi ambassador, nobody could make that up, right?"
Are we to believe that the U.S. government in general and the State Department in particular has not considered the potential for violent chaos spilling over our borders courtsey of the Mexican drug cartels? These are potent, violent, well financed, heartless crime organizations. They would have no hesitation to make some money anyway they could, even if it involved murder and bombings, things they are involved in on a daily basis in Mexico. Given that that Hillary and the State Department could not foresee this obvious threat, it is doubtful they had contingency plans to deal with this scenario.
Thus, we have caught Hillary saying the darndest thing, a prime example of our politicians again not anticipating and planning for potential crises. Out of touch with reality, out of touch with the dangers and issues facing the country, a darn dangerous position to be in.
- History has proven that when an illegal or stupid act is done by a politician, it is usually not the act but the lies after the fact that get the politician in trouble. Attorney General Eric Holder finds himself in that situation lately. The ATF organization, that organizationally resides within Holder's Justice Department, operated a severely botched, illegal, and irresponsible gun running sting operation in Mexico called Fast and Furious over the past year or so.
This operation probably broke numerous U.S. Federal laws and probably violated several international treaties on gun running. This is very serious stuff. But Mr. Holder said the darndest thing in front of a Congressional hearing back in May when he clearly stated that he had not known of the operation until a few weeks before the hearing.
But this raises some darn serious issues:
* Are we to believe that such a major operation was not known to the top person in charge, namely Mr. Holder? This was not a one time, small gun sting. This operation moved thousands of high powered, military weapons into the hands of the Mexican drug cartels. The only explanation, if this is true, is that Mr. Holder is quite incompetent or he has no control over his own organization.
* But he probably did know what was going on since the Congressional committee investigating Fast and Furious has uncovered emails send to Mr. Holder in 2010. These emails updated him on the operation, almost twelve months before he publicly stated he had just found out about the effort. Those darn pesky emails can be such a pain.
* And finally, in a March interview, President Obama talked about Fast and Furious in a taped interview. Are we to believe that the President, Mr. Holder's boss, knew about Fast and Furious months before Mr. Holder stated he found out? Seems darn improbable.
- Nancy Pelosi is so precious since she never stops saying the darndest things. The Republican-controlled House Of Representatives just passed legislation that is likely to go nowhere but it certainly plays to their base of voters. The legislation sought to legalize an Obama administration executive order that prohibited the use of Federal funds for abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or the life and health of the mother was in danger. The Republicans hoped to pass the legislation since they know that a Presidential executive order can be repealed at any time
However, before the legislation even reached the voting stage, Nancy Pelosi was off on a ballistic rant about how this legislation would result in pregnant women being left to die on hospital floors: "Under this bill, when the Republicans vote for this bill today, they will be voting to say that women can die on the floor and health care providers do not have to intervene if this bill is passed. Its just appalling."
Ms. Pelosi stated this orally at a press conference and also stated it in an official press release. However, she apparently did not read the legislation's actual words since it explicitly states exactly what is in the executive order that medical treatment and an abortion cannot be denied to victims or incest and rape or when the life of the mother is in danger.
If you read the actual bill, about two pages into the bill you can find the words which verify that Ms. Pelosi is completely wrong and that pregnant women will not be left to die on hospital floors. Darn, maybe she should have read the bill first before looking like a fool.
Given that she did not read this bill which is only a handful of pages long before her public rant, it makes you wonder if she ever read the 2,500 page health care reform legislation.
- One of the best recent political class statements comes from House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, as reported by Mike Lillis writing for the Hill on October 22, 2011: "The American people have every right to be angry and disappointed at the performance of Congress. Of course, the American people have also elected people with hard stances, so that to some degree, the American people are realizing the results of their votes."
How could we have been so stupid! It is not our politicians' fault that they are incompetent and get nothing done, it is our fault for electing them. It is so obvious. If we had just elected better people to Congress, Congress would perform better.
Mr. Hoyer seems to overlook a few things:
* The political class controls who runs for office so we really never have a real choice who to vote for. We are stuck voting for the same tired candidates that people like Mr. Hoyer put on the ballot.
* If Mr. Hoyer is right and we elect the wrong people to office, maybe they should resign for the good of the country or better yet, maybe Congress should impose term limits on themselves to make sure incompetent people do not stay in Congress forever.
* Mr. Hoyer also forgets to note that many of those currently in Congress have been in office for 10, 20 or more years. They are now officially part of the problem since they have not been part of any solutions. They should do the noble thing an just resign and go away so that us ignorant voters do not continually re-elect them.
* Blaming voters for our politicians' incompetence because we voted them into office. Darn original on Mr. Hoyer's part but also pretty inane and childish.
- But we also get some pretty darn entertaining statements from government bureaucrats, our political class does not have a monopoly on inane comments. Consider what David Vladeck, the head of the Federal Trade Commission recently stated relative to a $25 million settlement with Reebok and Reebook's claims that it's toning shoes firmed users' buttocks: "This settlement is...to remind advertisers big and small that they must have adequate proof before making claims." (Source: Business Week, October 3, 2011)
Think about this statement and effort in light of the following:
* Medicare loses at least $60 billion a year through waste, fraud, and criminal activity.
* Medicaid loses at least $30 billion a year through waste, fraud, and criminal activity.
* Social Security probably loses $70 billion or so a year through waste, fraud, and criminal activity.
* The IRS fails to collect about $200 billion a year in personal income taxes because of fraud and criminal activity.
So, rather than take government resources and put them on this problem of collecting over $350 billion that is lost every year via government incompetence, we fund government organizations like Mr. Vledeck's that are worried about whether Americans' buttocks are actually getting tightened up. Sounds like a darn bad set of priorities.
Every time a politician says the darndest things and tries to explain something it usually makes the matter worse since it reinforces the growing perception that we are severely underserved by a naive, pompous, and out-of-touch set of politicians and government bureaucrats. Not cute, not adorable and certainly not effective.
by: Bruno Korschek
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