Selfish bastards

10/16/2013

Dear Tea Party-ers and your sympathizers,

I’ve been a Republican for more than 30 years. I worked for Ronald Reagan, who many of you call your political guru and who, I'm sure, would not approve of your behavior today. I am embarrassed by your behavior. I am furious that with just over 24 hours to go before this great nation runs into its debt limit, you still are holding back your approval. I’m disgusted that you have closed our government for 16 days and counting. I am fearful that your irresponsible behavior may cost me my savings, which means my retirement, which means I have lived my working life for nearly no benefit. More broadly, I abhor that you are about to watch as the United States leads this world into a depression.

Selfish bastards.

I’m on the verge, and I’m sure this would make you all very happy, of abandoning the Republican Party; this after working for two presidents, a Republican cabinet member, and four national Republican chairmen. Why don’t I leave the party?
Because, if I thought any of you were aware of me, you wouldn’t give two shakes of salt (I cleaned that up). Plus, I like to think – hope – that our party can survive your selfish, holier-than-thou-approach to what you think is governing
this great nation of ours that, in about 24 hours, will be far less great than today. And today, it is less great than when you started your no-end-game strategy of defunding a law that you couldn’t stop from passing, that the United States Supreme Court has upheld, and you clearly don’t have the votes to change. You think Obama is hurting our position among other countries? Look at what you’re doing. The world, and our enemies, are thrilled at what you’re doing
because what you’re doing is knocking this great nation off the pedestal much of the world has us on.

I was trying to explain to friends of mine that you are “true believers” and it’s hard to get a true believer not to believe, hard as we may try. Your beliefs, at this stage of your political “development” cannot be backed up by votes but you
do apparently have enough votes to stop things from happening.

Selfish bastards.

I’m sure you all laugh when you get together at night and count all the good things you stopped from happening. I’m sure you could care less that Republicans in the House are under 10 percent approval. I’m sure you are thrilled that you are stymying a Democratic president from governing.

I have no idea what your goal is other than destroying our government, pushing the world’s economy into decline and ruining the lives of millions of people.

Selifish bastards.

9 Comments

Larry Cirignano

10/15/2013 11:43:41 pm

BJ
The selfish bastards are the ones who continue to borrow rather than cut the budget and push us and future generations further into debt. They are the ones who will not pass any budget, let alone a balanced budget, so that they do not offend anyone who might not then vote to reelect them.That is selfish. The government slim down of 17% is a good start. The President's dramatic cuts not withstanding, government realignment and priority setting are VERY necessary.

What can we afford? Not what would be nice or what will get me the most votes.

B. Jay

10/16/2013 12:26:26 am

Larry,
I agree, we need to reduce spending. I disagree with this tactic.

Satchmo

10/16/2013 02:11:54 am

I am with you, all but for the part about being on the verge of leaving the Party. I did so a while ago.

I like to tell the "believers", the Party left me, I didn't leave the Party.

Hypocrisy Alert

10/16/2013 02:12:00 am

Must say that name calling is my least favorite thing - and usually incites those with whom you are having a disagreement. Let's get one thing straight - the Tea Party was born out of a frustration with unlimited - unbridled spending of tax dollars by the federal government. The endless well must stop. So the idea of once again delaying any REAL action, by once again raising the debt ceiling is simply not tolerable to many - if no concessions to spending are given. So call me selfish - if I happen to be of that mindset. Or call me a bastard and see what hell is unleashed.
If this administration had been able to produce a budget - even ONE budget in the last 5 years - that Harry Reid could have gotten even ONE democratic vote on, I might be a bit more "forgiving". I might call those who continue to spend, and waste, and spend and give MY money selfish. And once again, as is proven - liberals and Democrats and non-church goers are fall far behind conservatives, Republicans and church goers in charitable giving. It might say something about the seemingly free flowing teat of government spending that 3 of the top 5 wealthiest suburbs in the nation ring Washington. It's not because of the weather.... To turn a phrase - "It's the "no concessions" , BASTARD!" and lastly - thank goodness - there haw been legislation - bad legislation - that was for a time the "law of the land" - and they too, have been overturned. At some point you have to admit that even a teaspoon of crap contaminates the whole pie. So why fight it you ask ? Because some feel that putting 1/5th of the US economy (health care dollars) into the hands of the federal government is most likely disastrous for all. What budget have they been able to handle ? and now they are supposed to be able to do this ? I'm simply incredulous.

Corby

10/16/2013 05:11:52 am

I don't understand this blog at all. Was this just a blog to blow off steam? I see alot of me, me, me and name calling, name calling and more name calling but I see no substance at all. I see nothing that would amount to the slightest hint at correcting the true problem here, which I think we can all agree on, the idea that we can borrow and borrow and borrow forever with no consequences. Is this how people should run their household? Their businesses? Then why is OK that we continue to do that in our government? You say you are a Republican but you seem to be fine with a massive overspending government in even more massive debt! When should we correct it and how? This is about the only true leverage that the Republicans have to lower spending. What tactics would make the Democrats lower spending besides this? I know it is too late today as the decision has been made but it will rear it's ugly head in only a few months.

10/16/2013 05:31:51 am

The debt ceiling is about money "we" already agreed to spend. You can't refuse to pay your bills in your household either, and get away with it for long. Do I pretend to know the answers? I do not. I do know, though, that if I put myself up to run for the House I would be prepared to dicker and trade in negotiations. That's how this government has worked for centuries. In this case, Sen. Cruz and his colleagues clearly had no strategy or plan. He raised the issue loudly, and then disappeared. I disagree with both sides' "no compromise" approach. There are no heroes in this episode. The media now will do its "winners and losers" stories. There are no winners in this episode. And, we did not resolve the spending problem at all. We kicked the can because the alternative was destroying the economy.

10/16/2013 12:05:07 pm

Let's look at it like this: A married couple has incurred a incredible amount of debt (for this example we will say that one half of the couple incurred the bulk of the debt because for mystical and unknown reasons that half had more power). Now the half that incurred the bulk of the debt refuses to stop their wild spending ways and the fiscally responsible half has no legal way to stop their spending...except by forcing them to stop by ensuring their mutually destroyed credit if they don't agree to stop the spending. So in the end yes we need to pay the bills we incurred but that shouldn't stop us from using that leverage we have to force change.

James T.

10/16/2013 07:57:56 am

B. Jay, so well said. Was raised in a republican household and called myself one for quite some time. Abandoned the party when it seemed the ultra conservatives, I have another stronger name for them, grabbed the party by the balls and began to squeeze. If the circumstance rose I would still vote republican but until the national party begins to denounce those in their party who would make enemies of other Americans I am hard pressed to pull that lever. Terrific writing from you and I am sure that there are so many very much in the middle who agree with you.

Molly

10/16/2013 03:22:28 pm

You go, B. Jay.

Selfish bastards

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