"It's very rare that I go to an event where I am only the fifth or sixth most interesting person present." (Barack H. Obama)
I can well remember the government shutdown of 1995. Speaker Gingrich was in constant contact with President Clinton. There was probably not a day that they did not confer during the shutdown. Clinton also met with other Republican leaders. He did not stonewall the opposition and refuse to negotiate.
The relationship between Democratic Speaker Thomas "Tip" O'Neil and President Reagan was known for accommodation and cordiality. Neither of these leaders was reluctant to speak with the other during fiscal maneuvering. They were both too big to engage in pettiness.
In contrast, the present occupant of the White House allows his arrogance to trump the well-being of the country. Certainly, he will negotiate, but only with the likes of those sworn to demean and derogate our country and our strongest ally in the Middle East, Israel.
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives had sent several bills providing for funding of various areas of the U.S. government to the upper chamber. In response, the Senate and its Democratic majority leader have totally stymied any meeting of the minds, returning all the proposed legislation to the House.
This is not how American government is supposed to work, as our system is based on a strong culture of give and take, compromise and negotiation. Perhaps this is how community organizers go about their work, but this is a government based on our Constitution and a tradition of cooperation for the good of the country. We are not to be dictated to, and neither are our duly elected representatives.
The members of the House were elected by constituents who had expectations that their representatives would take defined and principled stands. Their legitimacy of office is just as great as that of the president. As such, the minimum expectation should be that the concerned parties will confer on differences. And the House has every right to be treated with respect and to have its positions considered. We have not yet succumbed to dictatorship, but the 44th president gives every indication of wanting to move in that direction.
Disregarding the Affordable Care Act in its original version as passed by Congress, the president has put himself on dangerous constitutional ground by amending the act on 19 different occasions, granting exemptions, dispensations and waivers for Congress, big business and political allies. Congress is empowered to pass laws, but its ability to modify legislation has been overridden by an arrogant power-hungry chief executive, hell-bent to spread as much pain, hurt and nastiness, hoping to brand principled members of the House with the blame. In other words, it's politics over statesmanship.
Hopefully, the American people still have enough sense to see beyond the superficial spin put on the situation by the president and the Senate. There is still hope for our Republic if ordinary citizens are willing to see beyond the blinders of the leftist media. The future of our country may very well depend on their ability to do so.
Deo vindice!
sp
The relationship between Democratic Speaker Thomas "Tip" O'Neil and President Reagan was known for accommodation and cordiality. Neither of these leaders was reluctant to speak with the other during fiscal maneuvering. They were both too big to engage in pettiness.
In contrast, the present occupant of the White House allows his arrogance to trump the well-being of the country. Certainly, he will negotiate, but only with the likes of those sworn to demean and derogate our country and our strongest ally in the Middle East, Israel.
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives had sent several bills providing for funding of various areas of the U.S. government to the upper chamber. In response, the Senate and its Democratic majority leader have totally stymied any meeting of the minds, returning all the proposed legislation to the House.
This is not how American government is supposed to work, as our system is based on a strong culture of give and take, compromise and negotiation. Perhaps this is how community organizers go about their work, but this is a government based on our Constitution and a tradition of cooperation for the good of the country. We are not to be dictated to, and neither are our duly elected representatives.
The members of the House were elected by constituents who had expectations that their representatives would take defined and principled stands. Their legitimacy of office is just as great as that of the president. As such, the minimum expectation should be that the concerned parties will confer on differences. And the House has every right to be treated with respect and to have its positions considered. We have not yet succumbed to dictatorship, but the 44th president gives every indication of wanting to move in that direction.
Disregarding the Affordable Care Act in its original version as passed by Congress, the president has put himself on dangerous constitutional ground by amending the act on 19 different occasions, granting exemptions, dispensations and waivers for Congress, big business and political allies. Congress is empowered to pass laws, but its ability to modify legislation has been overridden by an arrogant power-hungry chief executive, hell-bent to spread as much pain, hurt and nastiness, hoping to brand principled members of the House with the blame. In other words, it's politics over statesmanship.
Hopefully, the American people still have enough sense to see beyond the superficial spin put on the situation by the president and the Senate. There is still hope for our Republic if ordinary citizens are willing to see beyond the blinders of the leftist media. The future of our country may very well depend on their ability to do so.
Deo vindice!
sp
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