By Judith Gayle | Political Waves
Are we having fun yet? Are the hostage situations — the people’s good being tossed like a beanbag between the political parties, First Amendment guarantees being assaulted in the WikiLeaks cyberwar, the tick-tick-tick of the climate change clock proceeding without us — proving entertaining to you or just stressful? Perhaps both? Would you miss all this if it was gone tomorrow, you excitement junkie, you?
No worries. Not that long ago I asked, whatever would we do without George Bush to keep us twisted up, on the edge of adrenal exhaustion and frothing at the mouth, but look where we are two years later. Still twisted, still frothing. And so it goes.
I’m sure that some of you must be good progressives, triple-pissed at our ever-pragmatic President for capitulating to the Republicans, trading middle-class protections for renewal of Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthy. Pleading concern for those citizens soon to be thrown to the wolves, Obama has proposed a two-year extension of the tax cuts — while pointing to the Republicans as the heavies in no uncertain terms — and has promised to work toward a high-end tax repeal in 2012. This is not a popular proposal with either the public or the political class, blue OR red.
Nothing’s written in stone yet. As I write, Christocrat and Bagger-spokesman, Jim DeMint, is pledging to filibuster further reckless spending on the lazy, drug-addicted unemployed; similar possibilities from the left are led by Independent Bernie Sanders, who is not happy with an additional $70 billion borrowed to bless the burgeoning coffers of the filthy, and largely ungrateful, rich. Between these two poles stand the vulnerable citizens of the nation, waiting to see what — if anything — leadership is planning for their relief. If neither side gives an inch, we don’t move forward at all. In fact, Sanders is not the only politician who fears we’re headed for a government shut-down at the hands of a Republican House.