A conductor jumps from a train as it pulls into the station, Yorkshire, England.
It's the Theatre of the Absurd and Irresponsible in Washington, D.C., where Tea Party Republicans are manufacturing chaos and undermining all sense of reason within their own party. It's as though an out-of-control train is racing down the track towards certain doom, while passengers squabble over who is to blame, yet deliberately resist rescue.
As the clock ticks ever closer to the August 2nd deadline to avoid default, it looks as though President Obama and the US Senate must take bold action to avert catastrophe. It's obvious that House Republicans are incapable of compromise, much less governing. Who elected these uninformed idealogues??!! They seem unable to grasp basic economics and clearly don't understand how government functions or how the world works.
Meanwhile, millions of Social Security, veterans' benefits and other government checks are at risk, if Republicans force a default on the government's loans. Our Triple-A credit rating will be downgraded and world financial markets will plummet. And Americans can expect interest rates to rise.
Every day for the past week the dollar has weakened against foreign currency, as stocks and bond markets faltered. The International Monetary Fund and governments around the world are watching the US debt situation with increasing alarm. Yet Tea Party radicals refuse to compromise, unless their unreasonable demands are met.
Intransigent Republicans already have shut down the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), costing the government $30 million in fines per day. Meanwhile, airport maintenance and construction projects around the country have been suspended and at least 4000 FAA employees sent home. (Reacting swiftly to the news, greedy airlines raised airfares 7.5 percent).
Who's in charge here??!! Time for President Obama to forget trying to compromise with obstructionists, take a strong stand and lead.
GOP fervor cuts two ways for Boehner
Here's what the Tea Party wants: chaos
Republicans abandon vote as deadline looms
Let's just call them the Deadbeat Party
I agree with you, Mary Jane. It seems bold action is required, as neither the House nor the Senate seems capable of agreeing about a reasonable and realistic solution. Worst spectator sport ever!
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 30 July 2011 at 21:06
The Tea Party has highjacked our government, and is holding the country hostage. This is not how a democracy works. They are not a majority. Meanwhile, they are throwing us into another recession. I am disgusted by what I watched on CNN last night. I think Obama needs to invoke the 14th amendment.
Posted by: Mary Jane | 30 July 2011 at 20:44
I never thought I would miss Lyndon Johnson, but I do. He knew how to play hardball and played it ruthlessly for the good of the whole country. Can you imagine trying to get desegregation or civil rights legislation passed today?
Posted by: Charles Baker | 30 July 2011 at 17:29
It is as though a crew of deadbeat dads (male and female) are jerking the chain in Washington. Sorry, but when bills are due we need to pay them and in this case it won't be just our children who will be hurt by this charade.
The only happy news here is that it yesterday it was 104 degrees and Congress is still in town!
Posted by: patricia | 30 July 2011 at 14:20
"Who elected these uninformed idealogues??!!"
Here's a glimpse into my midwest life: recently I had a conversation with a woman who told me that she was a moderate... then explained to me what she meant by telling me what TV news shows she watched. She watched Fox News, but not Hannity as he was just 'too intense;" & on "that other station" [MSNBC] she sometimes watched Morning Joe, "for balance." She never watched CNN.
And that, Tara, is the answer to your question-- individuals who have no interest in issues, cannot discern the leanings of the tv news they digest, and who don't read.
Disheartening, isn't it?
Posted by: Ally Bean | 29 July 2011 at 21:13