GO BIG OR GO HOME!

"This is no damn game!", shouted a frustrated, outraged John Boehner, Speaker of the House. this past weekend, as we continued with a shut down government.  Boehner was reacting to President Obama's continued refusal to negotiate with the Republicans who have dared to draw their own red line in the sand regarding the funding of Obamacare. Reacting to Obama's refusal to even discuss spending cuts on our now 17 trillion dollar and growing budget, the Republicans played their last card---the defunding of Obama's signature bill, the Affordable Healthcare Act, unless and until the president agrees to talk, negotiate, hammer out ways to control the budget without continuously raising the debt ceiling. Seems reasonable, but Mr. Obama, doesn't see it that way--- as far as he is concerned, everything he is asking for is a "done deal", no further conversation required, period.  Perhaps in his mind, but the constitution does, indeed, allow for such dissent, argument, debate, and even defunding, especially by the House of Representatives, in this case, a Republican majority, who hold the purse strings of the United States Treasury and its people. To do otherwise, is to be irresponsible, irrelevant, and possibly an invitation to a third party.  They may as well go home---

How did this happen? And who's in charge here, to break the stalemate?  Apparently no one.  But shouldn't the prez be the deal broker, the peacemaker, the leader? But did you not hear him? He has no intention of bi-partisanship. Rather, he is annoyed and fed up with the very idea of a balanced government. He said he would not negotiate over the Affordable Care Act. Done deal, even though 60% of the people are not at all sold on it.  He also has accused the Repubs of terrorism. gun holding hostage takers, among other despicable names, which give new meaning to the term "bully pulpit". Obama is holding his ground---Chicago, tough guy style.  "I will not negotiate". Where was that toughness when we needed it in Libya, in Ben Ghazi, in Syria??  Oh, I forgot--that's different, that's called leading from behind. This is called, ' my way or the highway, 'cause I'm the boss here.' That is, until your approval ratings began to dramatically drop, then we heard, "I will negotiate anywhere, anytime, about anything----huh?  But you just said----ah, but what he meant was, he would negotiate, if and when the Republicans offered a full and unconditional surrender.  This man needs a course in Diplomacy 101. Lesson number one: You do not assume an air of kingly condescension,  stubbornly refuse to negotiate, hurl all manner of nasty names at your opponents, then demand a surrender without any compromise or negotiation----that's  a dictatorship, and not the way our system is designed to work.

National monuments, memorials, parks, and other public land closed? And death benefits denied to the families of our fallen soldiers? Cutting off cancer research? Really? The rumor that guards and officials at these sights are being told to make things inconvenient, and in general, to inflict as much pain as possible on the public is hard to believe, but getting easier all the time, as we observe a party and a president in full blown, childish anger, reacting petulantly and furiously against a ground swell of resistance to earlier contentious, forced policies, but ultimately, the enactment of a health care law that was never fully studied, analyzed, or approved by one single Republican, and could very well be the straw that breaks the bank, if not the country's heritage for freedom of the individual.  It was voted in by a rather unsavory method of "Reconciliation", in other words, jammed down the throats of congress, and the American people. Does Obama care, or does he only concern himself with his party's wishes and those who monetarily and politically control his decisions?  And who are they? Are Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi the actual "deciders"? Or are there others whose names we may never hear, but whose arc of power reaches deeper than we'll ever know? But Obama himself said "the buck stops with me", and so it does--cold comfort, when  that buck is used only to stonewall.

One stands in stunned wonder, both at the divisive audacity of this president who seems out of control and out of his depth,--- and the image of a bullied, weak, and fractured Republican party who has finally decided to stand up for itself, but should have a long time ago.This red line may be too much, and too late---it is painful to watch, and frightening to think of the consequences, but there comes a time
when strong opposition must reveal itself, even too late, or suffer the loss of existence for those who would oppose--in this case, a party whose job is to restore balance to a budget gone broke. Contrary to popular opinion, it is not necessarily only the "Tea Party", (named after those in Colonial times who rebelled against exorbitant British taxes to the colonies) or "tea baggers", as the president scornfully likes to call them, who are driving this Republican rebellion, but it is enough people within the party and without, as polls are showing, that are saying, "Enough is Enough!" But is it? And who will blink first? The Republicans, probably---already they have offered several alternative plans and even to fund various important branches of the budget, without any defaults or budget cut negotiations, in order to ease the pain on those being affected by the shutdown, but Obama, true to his word, held firm---all or nothing, fellas. Obama has yet to learn that going big, sometimes means rising above the little, even oneself, and doing what's right for all. His scathing words of hostage, ransom, etc were hints that he views himself as the gatekeeper of all that is good, and everyone else,  evil and mean----what a strange and sad commentary on a man who is supposed to be a wise mediator for all the people.

So where are we? The Affordable Health Care Act, will cost in the neighborhood of one trillion plus dollars,and  is already in such a state of confusion and numerous glitches that one wonders how even the lock step Senate could have passed such an unknown, unquantifiable  legislation in the first place. For the record, this blog is not against a new and improved healthcare piece of legislation that would actually be effective and not result in much higher taxes, especially for the middle class, and loss of free choice. What we have now is not that--it was hurriedly cobbled together, and is perhaps fatally flawed; but it is the law of the land, and it will stand until it either somehow succeeds, or collapses under its own weight.

The second issue of contention, a bloated budget that relies only on raising the limit of spending, will be a cross for our children to bear for generations to come.  Either the Republicans agree to raise the debt limit with no strings attached, having lost their battle to fear and intimidation; or they resist the pressure, stay true to their cause, and refuse to play until an agreement is reached to cut, minimize spending, and stop the bleeding. Doesn't somebody have to, regardless of political fallout, and even a measure of pain for everybody? If not now, when?

As of this Friday writing, another meeting has taken place, where John Boehner and President Obama got together, ostensibly, for purposes of negotiation----wrong. This time, Obama said he would agree to talk after the Republicans agree to his terms, and cancel all of theirs. What? Ironically, this repeat performance was looked upon the media as progress---thank you so much for your time, Mr. President.

Tough to negotiate with a non-negotaitor---especially when he holds most of the high cards, i.e. the White House, the Senate, and for the most part, the main media. What to do? Hold 'em or fold 'em? John Boehner's job is not to be envied---unlike the obedient Democrat politicians, the Republican types are a different breed of cat, independent and not to be coralled so easily. There is discontent among their numbers, as they bicker among themselves as to whether to go along to get along, or to stand up and fight back against what many perceive as a nation taking a life altering, hard, sharp turn to the left.

 One thing is certain---this is no "damn game"---this  is about our way of life and our future. Bets are on for the Republicans to fold with some kind of compromise, make that a concession.  No, let's call it what it is: A surrender to the mighty winds of politics, an elbow bending, head- bowing defeat to the prevailing powers, and a very different America----tea, anyone?? We're almost home.