The recent movements (or stall tactics, as they are) in Washington, D.C. around the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) reveals some interesting overtones in our country today. First and foremost to fully appreciate what is at work here one need only look at the convenient timeline Mr. Obama has created. He promised future constituents that he would tackle the hard issues of DADT from the very start – and then did nothing. He promised to address the issue of same-sex marriage and did nothing. He promised to bring a tone of civility around these issues and to encourage a broader “conversation” about the issues – and then did nothing. Now he has proposed looking at DADT and trying to find a way to bring it to conclusion. The problem, of course, is that Mr. Obama set forth no timeframe in which this had to be done. So, the military will launch a series of investigations and internal reviews, as only the military can, to determine whether abandoning DADT is possible, and that process will take approximately 10-12 months to complete.

Of course by then the country will have gone through another election cycle and once again the real issue of basic human rights will have been clouded by the right-wing hypocrisy machine and we will all take one giant leap backwards. The right-wing will have vilified every aspect of individual rights because it makes them uncomfortable. What’s interesting about the right-wing approach to DADT is that the rhetoric you hear frames the debate as a moral/morale question that harkens back to a time when African-Americans could not serve in the full military.  It is this polarizing tradition of the right-wing that is the lifeblood of the GOP. In the 1960’s it was the Civil Rights movement, in the 1970’s it was the anti-establishment, anti-War, pro-Abortion Rights that fed the beast, and in the 1980’s it was the liberal intelligentsia that kept the GOP moving forward with pro-business/anti-government sentiment. The 1990’s were especially sweet for the party of hate as it focused on everything Clinton. But the past decade has been the best so far for the GOP.  You can basically define the last 10 years as the Age of War for the right-wing because it’s the period of time when the right was at war with anything and anyone with a thought contrary to the Kool-Aid formula, which conveniently means that terrorists and gays get lumped together.

Political systems generally understand that in order to maintain control they must exercise control. Some use military force to gain and retain control over the people, while others use mental torture. Our political system, not just the GOP, has elected to take the later.  Fear is a rich element by which to rule the masses. Today we have a fear of gays the way we had a fear of African-Americans 50 plus years ago.  Fear is also a powerful tool to control the moral beacon of a people.  Frankly, I believe that what our society really fears is the face we see in the mirror. If your moral convictions are so high, and your spirituality allows you to have a close personal relationship with a deity, then what do you have to fear by allowing gays to marry, or even serve openly and proudly in the military. That is, of course, unless your moral convictions are shallower than you admit to, or perhaps your spiritual connection is not as clear as you might hope.

In either case, grow-up America!

I think my colors are bleeding a bit. For my entire adult lifetime I have been a pretty liberal soul. Wanting the government to “do” certain things to make MY life easier, and wanting it to stay out social issues like gay marriage. But lately my views have shifted somewhat, to the point that I want government to get our of my life entirely and to let free markets and society decide what is best for me — and everyone else.

Healthcare is one of those topic where I sit back from the television with a disgusted look on my face and just think of how screwed up our sociopolitical systems are today. The first finger of blame goes to the President for having brought this topic to the table in the first place. I understand that he is looking at the legislative calendar and that he believes he needs to tackle the hard issue now to avoid severe repercussions in the 2010 midterms. But. Now? Really?

The second finger of blame points to the crazy mixed up leadership in Congress. You are never going to make anyone happy with this legislation as it stands, and the Democratic leadership in the House and Senate are the wrong people to lead this debate. (Sidebar: The current leadership is capable of leading this party into a deep dark hole, and that is about it.) Who are the people Obama is trying to help here? The poor? The displaced? The disenfranchised? Of course, and quite frankly that is not a great constituency that is going to remember the good things come 2010 or 2012.

What is needed right now is an open and honest debate about not only healthcare, but a complete redesign of tax code and entitlements.

I have a job. A pretty good job. One that helps me obtain health insurance through monthly payroll deductions. But I am afraid that government involvement in either providing, subsidizing, or otherwise participating in health insurance is going to serve as an impetus for my employer to stop providing health insurance altogether. Why shouldn’t they? The cost of healthcare is astronomical, and anyone who believes that the government entering into the fray to either compete or join with private insurance providers is going to somehow magically contain costs are just nuts. (Not just Manson nuts — Sarah Palin nuts!) I think many businesses will see this as their  opportunity to turn to their employees and say ‘We’re cutting costs by eliminating health insurance. But we have this nice brochure from U.S. Government that tells you where to get on its insurance plan. Good luck!’ How does the government keep this from happening? Well, through more legislation, oversight and regulation!

It’s time to stop the madness!

Let’s establish a flat income tax rate that creates a flat field of revenues. Eliminate tax credits that benefit those with children and those that are married. Tax entitlement payments as income. Make everything flat for every living and breathing person in this country. Need health insurance? Great! Step right this way and pickup your new universal membership card. Have health insurance through a private provider or employer? Great news! Step to the left and pickup your refund check. You just saved the U.S. Government tons of money and here is your reward. Still smoking after all these years? Tisk. Tisk. That’s going to cost you. Gave up smoking, and joined a gym? Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner — please pickup your refund prize on the way out.

Pretty simple (and yes, probably overly simple) really. Let’s tax everyone equally no matter how much they make or take, and reward those who take fiscal responsibility for their own welfare instead of those who depend on the government to fix everything.

Have you noticed that the media keeps telling us how ‘the next primary’ will determine everything. Yet, if you look at the delegate numbers remaining in the all primaries over the next +/- 6 weeks, there is plenty of play left and this thing will drag on until at least June. 

Shame on the media for continuing to put the spotlight on the delegate race, and shame on the media for sensationalizing this primary process. Shame on Democrats for making this into a circus. I don’t think the party is damaged (yet) by this process, but I can see where a prolonged and contentious delegate fight could easily divide the party. Democrats must realize that this race is theirs to lose.

From the Washington Posttoday comes an article on the President’s “inadvertent” mispronunciation of “Democratic Majority” (he called it “Democrat Majority”).

 Bush also said he “didn’t mean to be putting fingernails on the board,” while noting that the parties need to work together on addressing problems with the Social Security system. “I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town,” the president said. “And I’m sorry it’s the case, and I’ll work hard to try to elevate it. So the idea that somehow I was trying to needle the Democrats, it’s just — gosh, it’s probably Texas. Who knows what it is? But I’m not that good at pronouncing words anyway.”

 There are several points I want to make about this statement that are absolutely disturbing to me, and should be disturbing to people across this nation:

1. YOU, Mr. President, created the distrust that exists in this town today. Let’s be perfectly honest. You are the son of a life-long Washington politician, you fabricated evidence against an entire nation in order to retaliate for planned attempts on your father’s life, you lied to the American people, you lied to Congress, and you lied to the World. YOU, Mr. President, drove the Republican majority (or, “Republic Majority” if we need to speak your language, sir) to steamroll the minority rights of house members and Senators in order to further your failed agendas (of which there are many). So, I’m not sure why you are surprised, unless, of course this is another example of how far you are removed from reality.
2. You are the leader of the free-world (what you haven’t destroyed or allienated at least). DON’T USE THE WORD “Gosh“…EVER…AGAIN!!
3. “…it’s probably Texas…”– Huh? What the hell does that mean? Are you implying that Texans don’t speak well? Are you trying to blame your personal inadequacies and lack of a logical mind on the fact that you are from Texas? If that was your intent, then I would have to congratulate you on succeeding at something…finally. As a Texan, I would like to point out that you are not a product of the Texas education system (something you were responsible for during your do nothing term as Governor) and that your inability to formulate a coherent sentence has absolutely nothing to do with were you are from. Furthermore, I would like to point out that if Texas has done this to you that you seek another state to place your Presidential Library/Think Tank/Out-house (Alaska might be a good choice. I hear they have newly cleared land in the ANWR region of the state).
4. “But I’m not that good at pronouncing words anyway.”– Pronouncing words. That is your major fault? Mr. President, you are poor at pronouncing words beacuse you lack a clear command of the English language and simply lack the brain power to formulate logical thoughts into words that anyone can comprehend.

President Bush today told reporters that he is “the decision-maker” on the plan to increase the number of troops in Iraq, and that he urges Congress to seriously think about their opposition to a plan that hasn’t been put into practice yet.

It may very well be the most telling statement about the divide between W and reality that we have ever seen. Clearly Mr. Bush is the “decision-maker”, as it was he who decided to enter into this war. It was he who decided not to enter the war with sufficient numbers of troops to begin with, and it was he who decided to pay little attention to the infrastructure requirements in restoring order qucikly after entering the country. It was he who also decided on the six different “post-War” strategies that have all ultimately failed.

And so it is crystal clear that W is “the decision-maker”, and the truth is that had he made decent decisions to begin with, Congress would not be opposing his “decision” today. I almost felt sorry for the guy during his state of the union address Tuesday night. There he was, like a whipped puppy, looking as if he just woke up after a long binge and realizing all of the transgressions he had committed while under the influence. Had he finally reached the point of repent? Was he finally taking responsibility for all of his mistakes? Was he going to turn over a new leaf? At times it seemed like we just might see a new W.

But, alas, it was all for show. Today he is reminding us that the emperor truly has no clothes, and no sense for that matter. Instead of making a generous statement about acknowleding the conflict with Congress, or striking a conciliatory note that signals some understanding of the opposition to the plan, he puffs up his chest like a fighting cock and proclaims “I AM THE DECISION-MAKER”.

That’s the sort of talk that brings it all back to reality. This guy is an arrogant, out-of-control, spoiled rotten brat that is living in some fantasy world where he is the terminator, and ultimately we will do what he says, simply because he says to, and not based on any sound judgement. 

Imagine my pleasant suprise on New Year’s Eve when I opened the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and read an article by Bud Kennedy entitled “New poll detects a change in the political climate in the Capitol”:

 Texas Democrats have pulled even with Republicans, and the state is now about half red, half blue. At least, that’s according to 1,053 Texans surveyed by an independent Democratic pollster. The poll’s news announcement focused on one specific response: By 46 percent to 35 percent, respondents said Democrats “care” more about “people like me.” That’s a reversal from two years ago.

But most eyes went immediately to the bottom line of the poll, conducted in early December by Austin-based Montgomery & Associates:

Asked which political party they lean toward, 45 percent chose Democrat.

Only 43 percent chose Republican. If you figure in the poll’s margin of error, that’s a tie.

Two years ago, in the same Democratic poll, Republicans led by 55 percent to 34 percent.

As author Bud Kennedy is quick to point out, the poll was a simple poll and not directed at “voters”. Needless to say, the momentum is still there and we can begin to see the turning of the red tide in Texas.

Our biggest challenge in the coming two-year cycle is to raise awareness and to motivate those who find their interests better represented by Democrats to register to vote and to actually vote.

2006 proved to be quite an exciting year as we saw that the average American voter just might “get it” after all. I am cautiously optimistic about 2007 as we anxiously await the changing of the guard in the House and Senate in Washington.

Rest assured that our work here is not done, and that we can always do more to help those that cannot help themselves, and to ensure that the basic civil rights of ALL of our citizens are protected under the Constitution created by our founders. This means that watching all of our lawmakers, Republican and Democrat, is a priority and that we should call BS when we see it no matter the party affiliation.