Hypocrisy On The Hill #202
By Hank Silverberg
Manchin says he's a 'no' on Biden's Build Back Better social spending plan (msn.com)
Manchin complains about the cost of the legislation, ignoring the fact that his state would benefit substantially if it passed. He cites inflation as the reason for opposing it, even though many economists say the bill would help fight inflation. The democratic leadership, including the President, had been willing to compromise and cut the bill down a bit, but Manchin kept playing with the numbers. He basically said he couldn't go home and explain it to his constituents in West Virginia.
Sen. Joe Manchin says again he ‘cannot vote’ for $2T Build Back Better bill - oregonlive.com
Like many things in Washington, that statement is a bit hypocritical. Let's look at West Virginia. The state ranks 44th in the poverty rate at 17.8%. It is the least educated state in the country with only 20.6% of the population with a college degree.
Its economic outlook is poor, ranking 32nd among the states. If any state in the country needs help from the Build Back Better bill, it's West Virginia.
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| (Courtesy ASU) |
Manchin could have easily explained the bill, which would NOT raise taxes on the middle class or the poor. Manchin might not connect with that, though. His net worth is $6 million, which he made from a series of coal mines. His personal taxes would most likely go up under the bill, so he might have to sell his luxury yacht (estimated worth $700 thousand) or get rid of the $80 thousand Maserati he has been seen driving. The median household income in West Virginia is $51,615. So Manchin may have some explaining to do to his constituents about a NO vote. Bills never really die on Capitol Hill. You can expect some of the provisions originally included in the BBB to come back as separate bills. But the President only has approximately until June before the Congressional election cycle kicks in for 2022.
Manchin, of course, is not the only hypocrite on the Hill. Only 13 Republicans voted for the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill which passed Congress last month. All of them are now being attacked by far right-wing critics, and some of the Republicans who voted "yes" have even gotten death threats.
They deserve some credit for doing what is good for their constituents. The hypocrites, though, are the majority of the Republicans in the House who voted against the bill, but are now going back to their districts and bragging about all the money coming to local projects.
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| (Site of Northern Beltline ADOT) |
Then there is North Carolina Congressman Madison Cawthorn, familiar to my readers for his repeatedly dumb quotes. He also voted "no" on the infrastructure bill, but then bragged about the two grants worth over $7 million that would be coming to two rural health clinics in his state. Republicans Glen Grothman and Lee Zelden, also "no" votes, did the same thing.
So, voters beware when you congressman or senator claim they are looking out for your interests. It is my experience they are looking out for themselves, particularly in an effort to get re-elected. And in our polarized politics of today, that is even a bigger deal.
Revisionist History
If you have ever read George Orwell's classic novel 1984, you may remember the main character Winston Smith's job at the "Ministry of Truth" was to cull through old newspaper articles and historical publications and purge them of anything the "party" and "Big Brother"| didn't want the mass public to know or wanted them to forget.
Well, it seems the "Ministry of Truth" has just opened a new office in Oklahoma.
A Republican state legislator in the Sooner State has introduced a bill that would limit how slavery is taught in schools from Kindergarten to state- financed universities. The bill prohibits state agencies and public schools from teaching "that one race is the unique oppressor," or "another race is the unique victim in the institution of slavery." The bill bans teaching that "America has more culpability in general than other nations for the institution of slavery," or that the founding of America was "the initiation and perpetuation of slavery."
Oklahoma Republican introduces bill to limit how slavery is taught in schools (msn.com)
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| (Slaves in a 19th Century cotton field in Georgia.) |
I guess they will prohibit slavery from being cited as the main cause for the Civil War, which of course it was.
As you might expect, educators and civil right's advocates quickly pounced on this deliberate effort at "Doublespeak."
It will be interesting to see if Oklahoma Republicans gets away with this. They will be held accountable for this Stalinist tactic SOONER or later.
Dumb Mistake:
General Warning
There seems to be a story every week that presents a frightening scenario for our future. This one caught my eye. Three retired U.S. Generals have written in a column that another coup attempt in the United States if there is another disputed election in 2024 could divide the military and plunge us into a civil war--a shooting one.
The warning comes from former Army Major General Paul Eaton, former Brigadier General Steven Anderson, and former Army Major General Antonio Taguba. You can read the entire column at the link below, but the gist of it is that a "disturbing number" of veterans and even active-duty military
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| (The Pentagon, DOD photo) |
They note split loyalties could make some troops follow the rightful orders of the real commander-in-chief, while other rogue units might follow the "Trumpian loser."
They also noted that not a single leader who inspired the last insurrection attempt (Jan 6th) has been held accountable for their actions. Basically, they are advising Congress and the Justice Department to show more urgency. Considering the Republican half of Congress won't even acknowledge what really happened on 1/6, this could be a real problem.
The column is a very disturbing prediction that should not be taken lightly.
Dumbest Quote of The Week!
This week's dumbest quote comes not from a politician but from Fox News pundit Tomi Lahren, who seems to know nothing about how the government works. She always sounds naïve and uninformed, but this was one of her worst comments ever. She seems to fit the pattern of young, female blondes on Fox whose only qualification for the job is looking good.
Here's her tweet.
Apparently, Lahren, who may have been quoting or paraphrasing one of her followers, has no idea what a communist is. And she hasn't been watching the President at all. He is definitely in charge. He just doesn't feel the need to come out of the White House every day and say something obnoxious or rude like his predecessor. He prefers the leadership style of many other Presidents. Speak when necessary, lead by example and let those who you hired to run the day-to-day operations of the government, do their jobs with Presidential policy guidance. That's what president's do.
In general, the "right" has also been very critical of Vice President Harris for not being very visible. Well, guess what? That's the VP's job, to fill in for the President when needed and do whatever the President asks. Harris has done just that.
(Copies of my latest book "The Campaign" can be purchased at the links below. Or you can buy a copy by emailing me at:
HankSilverberg@gmail.com for instructions on how to get a copy at a reduced price and with my signature.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084Q7K6M5/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-campaign-hank-silverberg/1126429796
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