12 Angry Men (and their majority leader)

The senate has rejected the congressional bill to repeal Obamacare. But now these 13 in-duh-viduals (many of whom are asshats) will decide the future of healthcare in this country.

It's funny because its sad. No wait, it's funny because during th Cold War a term was coined called "first world nations" which basically meant any countries that aligned with the US in policy and basic well being (and capitalism), and opposed the Soviet Union.

Over the years it's been re-defined as wealthy nations, or those that provide for their people.

And here's the funny part: we are the ONLY first world nation that does not provide universal healthcare. We've fallen so behind, and become so petty that we have decided that wealth and the ultra elite are all that matters. Screw everyone else. Which essentially means we are becoming a third world nation. Because we don't ally with the principles and values that created the term first world.

And given that 3rd world nations are often considered the ones that don't provide for their people, we're there.

It's absolutely unbelievable to me that 13 white men are going to decide the future of healthcare for 300 million, and move us further away from great.

#ConMen

I don't know how, when, or why (well, maybe I do know why-money!) all of these people fell into el donaldo's con game, and decided it would be in their best financial interest to turn their backs on the people they were elected to represent.

Asshats.

Oh look, and they are all white. And all men.*

(* women are considered on a case-by-case basis)

Ryan can go F himself.

This. So this. 

http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/332232-ryan-pictured-with-man-wearing-repeal-and-go-f-yourself-shirt

Political games

Sometimes things are not quite what they seem in the world of politics. I watched "trumpcare" get rammed through the house today in a spectacularly absurd way, with no budget scoring, a hodgepodge of silly items listed out (some added at the very last minute) and of course no one - and I mean not a single congressman/woman - read it. 

They violated their own doctrine of allowing for transparency (the pledge to America) which calls for them to post a bill publicly and take time to review it. 

But the thing is that passage of this bill will actually harm Americans, those that our congress people are elected to represent. And how did congress respond to its passage? Why by having what amounts to a keg party with the orange cheeto!  Yes they celebrated their "victory" of harming everyday folks.  Nice guys (and girls). But don't forget that they are all up for reelection in 18 months. It's our duty to ensure that they're not re-elected. 

Anyway, back to my main point: it occurred to me later in the day that this wasn't quite as cut and dried as it seemed. Ryan and his ilk have such loathing for Obama that they will stop at nothing - even the threat of hurting Americans - to attack his legacy. And in the near term, they lined up donors for their re-election campaign, and managed to get specific concessions from other legislators for their own pet items. And they appeased el donaldo for now ("look we did all we could!") to try and get him to give them some of what they have on their agenda. 

And all the while, they were pretty certain that the bill would go nowhere in the senate. Ryan hinted at this yesterday when he was asked about it and replied "we'll let the senate figure out the details."  That's code for "I don't give a shit, I'm just #winning"

The senate, of course, said that the bill was crap and would craft their own.  But due to technical issues, it has a bit of an uncertain future: due to their own rules, they need 60 votes to get legislation through.  And even so, getting to 51 votes (or really even 50 so pence can break a tie) is going to be tough. 

The silver lining here is something I noted on social media earlier: as a nation, it seems we are more passionate about the political system.  People know who they're representative is, how to reach them, and know when they do (or don't) have town halls. We're more aware of the political process and are rallying and engaged. Those are all pretty amazing, good things. 

These asshats couldn't even follow their own rules

This is an excerpt from the pledge to America. The healthcare change wasn't even printed until this morning and still had changes in it.

I don't think any of them - as in none - actually read it before voting on it. How's that for transparency?!

What am I missing: healthcare and trickle down economics.

Here are prominent politicians touting, touting, touting trickle down economics. As a primer, here's what that means from Trumans speech writer:

> The philosophy that had prevailed in Washington since 1921, that the object of government was to provide prosperity for those who lived and worked at the top of the economic pyramid, in the belief that prosperity would trickle down to the bottom of the heap and benefit all.


So give to the wealthiest and they'll spend more and we all win!

And on the other hand, you have the same politicians wanting to do away with the affordable care act. And in doing so make insipid comments like "why should I have to pay for someone else?..."

Isn't it the same freaking thing? What am I missing?

Trump wins stupidest comment of the month

And it's only May 1st!