Forgetting their Oath: Rep. Allen West

Confused Representative Needs to be Schooled

by Max Johnson
On Thursday Representative Allen West of Florida was interviewed on NPR for perhaps the most confusing interview ever on public radio. He is a rare African American member of the tea party, and has no understanding of economics or his oath to preserve and protect the constitution.

Rep. WEST: Well, this is the thing. You know, I could very easily sit up and say, sure, let's raise the debt ceiling. And then, what happens as far as our long-term spending problem that we have in Washington, D.C. and our long-term economic situation? Anyone that is reasonable will say that we need to contend with the spending issue that we have in Washington, D.C.

A couple of problems here Congressman. First, your party built this debt with a couple of wars that were not paid for and a whole bunch of unfunded programs put on the nation's check book over the last 10 years. Remember, we were under a trajectory for federal surpluses in 2000 and then we gave a huge tax cut to the wealthy and now we have a major debt. Republicans have raised the debt ceiling under President Bush regularly, but have now found religion under Obama. Finally, since your party is in charge of one branch of government, why do you have to link long term spending with the debt ceiling.

Why can't your party figure out a solution to long term debt instead of going on your August recess and decoupling it from the debt ceiling debate? Anyone who is reasonable agrees that we need to deal with spending by bringing in more revenue, Mr. Congressman.

Here is the dumbest thing ever said on the radio:

Rep. WEST: Yeah. As a matter of fact, I'm just looking at a chart that was sent out from the U.S. Treasury, as well as Goldman Sachs, that alludes to that point, that there's revenue that will be there, about 250 billion, that will allow us to prioritize and then take care of that debt interest payment, take care of our seniors and take care of our military as well.

Then there was some back and forth with host Robert Siegel about which departments can or cannot be funded. This is a violation of his oath of office. He did not sign up to pay only some debts of the United States. How can he suggest that the courts shut down or not pay for any food inspectors? This is bordering on treason to suggest that the President has a right to pick which debts to pay and which not to pay. Don't they teach this in freshman orientation to new Congressman?

West had a career in the military, which came to an abrupt end when he was charged with assault and Article 134. He left the military after paying a fine. Now, he is suggesting paying active military over veteran's benefits. He is suggesting not paying military contractors. Rep. West is suggesting that we not pay for Florida's beloved space program debt in August, and not paying any of the doctors who should be reimbursed by the Medicaid program. It is treason and the NPR host should not allow this to stand.

Rep Price Does Not Remember His Oath

Price Proposes Default: No Media Backlash
by Max Johnson

Once again a leader in the Corporate Party is suggesting default by only paying some of our debts in August and NPR's Melissa Block on July 7th allowed him to make that suggestion without calling him on it. Budget Committee member Representative Tom Price claimed that "Americans are not interested in a tax increase" without any proof or justification for the statement. NPR's Block did not follow up asking for proof. Where is the liberal media when you need it? Then he came up with a sweeping statement about defaulting on our bills, and Block did not question his patriotism or his commitment to his oath of office.

"And then, I think the president hurts himself when he says, look, if this doesn't happen, then students won't be able to get loans, Social Security checks won't go out, we won't be able to pay the troops, when he knows that if we were to prioritize appropriately and decrease the amount of spending, for example, in the Department of the Interior, the Department of Commerce, that we could continue to pay the interest on a debt, which is a relatively simple thing to do at 8 to 10 percent of the amount of money that's coming in still, and pay the troops and pay the Social Security checks." said Rep. Price on NPR.

There is no rational person who does not see that we will not have enough money to pay all of our bills. We have obligations that we cannot cover, because the Congress for the last 10 years has fallen down on controlling spending. But Rep. Price is suggesting that we just not pay the bills for two Departments of the federal government. Does that mean that those employees do not get their paychecks? Or some small business that was doing business with these two Departments will not get reimbursed? It is a violation of their oath of office that Price would suggest defaulting on obligations of the United States. Block should have beat him up over this answer. Not that it would matter. She did try to engage him on corporate jet tax loopholes, and Price blew off the question refusing to answer.

Any discussion of not paying some of our bills or not raising the debt ceiling is a violation of the oath to protect and defend the constitution. The media should jump all over these guys, and if NPR were in fact liberal they would have slammed this Representative for violating his oath of office.

Why You Can't Vote for the Republicans in 2012

Reasons to Vote Against the Corporate Take Over of America

There is so much coming over the next two years to be angry about, we should keep a running list that is easy to reference. Just since the 2010 election, there is plenty to be angry about with regard to the Corporate Party of America. We are going to keep a running tally for you of why you should not vote for Republicans. We are going to update this with a running list for you to use when arguing with your conservative friends or family. We are not going back to "You lie" or pre 2010 election. Feel free to add your own in the comments section and we will post them.

December 2010/January 2011:
1. Two Republicans skipped the swearing in ceremony to attend a fundraiser.
2. The Tea Party staged a political event to read the Constitution, but featured an edited version to remove the "three-fifths of a person" clause so as not to damage the belief that we should go back to the original document.
3. Dismissed the CBO estimate that repealing health care would cost $230 billion.
4. Ohio and Wisconsin and New Jersey Governors reject huge jobs programs with the canceling of passenger train projects.
5. Ohio governor refused to release his taxes, objects to media knowing who had applied for jobs, and wanted to close the media out of his swearing into office.
6. Two people die in Arizona because the state cut off funding for urgent transplant funding.
7. Dick Armey said he wanted to eliminate the AmeriCorps Program that allows young people to work on fighting poverty.
8. 97 judicial vacancies (44 judicial emergencies) because of Republican blocking votes on nominees.
9. Cut the time down that Congress members spend in DC, so that they can spend more time back in the district (read less time working--more time fund raising).
10. Promised $100 million in cuts, but the first week in power cut that in half.
11. Further weakened Congressional power by delegates from territories, the district of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
12. Placed a provision making it difficult to close Guantanamo Bay prison (a leading cause of terrorists to take up arms against the US) in the 2011 Defense Authorization Bill.
13. Tax breaks for BP, Exxon and other oil and gas interests are already exempt from any budget cuts also off-shore tax havens are exempt.
14. Ohio Governor Kasich had campaigned against waste in government then gave his new staff huge raises over similar positions in the Strickland administration.
15. Darling of the far right, Sarah Palin, suggested the media were "manufactur[ing] a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn" in response to the murders in Tuscon Arizona in January.
16. New Ohio Jobs private entity to oversee economic development will not have the same level of scrutiny as a public governmental organization including open board meetings.
17. Ohio Governor could not find one member of a racial minority population who could be characterized as the best person for a job within his cabinet. What about a minority and senior citizen for the Department of Aging who may remember the 1950s--the last time that there was not a member of a minority in the Governor's cabinet?
18. A conservative house caucus has proposed massive cuts to the federal government, which would mean people without money not having access to a lawyer, public radio in small communities would close, no more renovations of public housing, and access to train services. Nothing in the study talks about cuts to the military industrial complex.
19. The Majority party of the House demanded that every bill cite some constitutional authority. In the introduction of the Protect Life Act, they failed to cite any constitutional authority in violation of their own rules. They have an easy time criticizing, but a tough time following the rules to govern.
20. Ohio Senator Tim Schaffer believes that poor people are to be assumed guilty until they prove themselves innocent with a drug test. He would prefer that they freeze to death in their house over providing them any public dollars while they struggle with their behavioral health problem of addiction.
21. Ohio, Wisconsin, and New Jersey governor wants to kill the unions representing public employees (including teachers) in the state. Unions built this country and this state, and has allowed blue collar workers to crack the middle class.
22. The most conservative member of the US Supreme Court improperly hid his wife's income for 20 years, which is not a big deal unless she was receiving funds for political and lobbying activity. An argument could be made that the success of her business which richly rewarded her family could influence her husband's conservative opinions.
23. The Banking Party passed a reform of bankruptcy law in 2005 written and pushed by the banking industry, which now we see contributed to the housing bubble and recession of 2008.
24. Fundamentalists within the Corporate Party repeatedly attack the President's faith. The previous two Republican presidents were rarely seen in church, but no one questioned their faith. These fundamentalists can't even give take the guy on something so personal as his own religion.
25. They ran on a platform to get the US working, but have focused all of their attention on repealing health care and balancing the federal budget--both of which will put people out of work.
26. Ohio Governor called a police officer an "idiot" in January for giving him a ticket for not yielding to a emergency vehicle on Interstate 315 in Columbus.
27. Ohio federal Corporate Party members support a second engine $450 million defense bill even though the military does not want it. They preach fiscal restraint until it hurts their own district.
28. In a prank phone call Wisconsin Governor Walker admits to contemplating dirty tricks when speaking to a fake David Koch.
29. Republican dominated executive branch locked out protesters from the Ohio Statehouse, and then made up stories about disruptive behavior.
30. Ohio Republicans, over the objection of both Police and Restaurant and Bar owners, are voting to allow concealed guns into a bar.
31. Ohio legislators are moving forward on ending the estate tax so that rich people can keep their money within the family to set up an aristocracy.
32. Ohio has stripped away collective bargaining rights of public employees from fire fighters, police, teachers, social workers, and trash collectors. This despite President Ronald Reagan declaring unions a fundamental human right.
33. Unwilling to raise taxes on the wealthiest and cut the tax breaks for corporate jets and the oil industry while pushing the country near the edge of default.
34. Ohio leaders of the far right claim that the new voting law in Ohio does not make it harder for people to vote. How could a shorter time to vote and an inability for local Boards of Elections to notify voters of early voting option not hurt voters?
35. One of the Ohio far right delegation from Cincinnati who championed family values was arrested for drunk driving in a car with a young woman (not his wife) who worked at a local strip club and refuses to resign his position with the Ohio legislature.
36. Extreme Conservatives passed an Ohio budget that cuts local governments, education for our children, selling public infrastructure, and destroying consumer protections, while not closing tax loopholes or raising any additional resources.
37. One Northeast Ohio GOPer state legislator actually admitted that he accidentally voted for the water legislation which allows massive amounts of water to be withdrawn from Lake Erie in Ohio as a "reflex" because others from his party were voting for the legislation.
38. Two weeks after passing a major reform of the procedure for voting in Ohio, the Empire reformed the reform law. Without explanation and despite the objections of the Ohio Secretary of State, the Ohio legislator dominated by one party made more confusing changes on the voting procedure.
39. Again trying to shove unnecessary cuts down the throat of the other party and displaying an inability to compromise and thus an inability to govern forced the partial shutdown of the FAA. Then they went on vacation while the FAA was still shut down.
40. Both parties are to blame for the loss of AAA rating for the United States, but the Corporate party staunch loyalty to not raising taxes has to be considered a huge factor. Get back to work!!!

Brief Thoughts of Tuesday

by MAX JOHNSON

The Fabrication Party Plan: End the Federal Government as we know it.
I am so glad to see the "Pledge to Trick Voters" because it is something to react to. This is a gift, and the Democrats need to hammer this plan. There are no specifics and it is the same tired ideas that we know don't work. I saw one evaluation of the Pledge by a former Reagan official who said if this plan is fully implemented, the government in 2020 would only be able to pay off debt, pay for social security, medicare and defense and nothing else. Every other function of government like the national parks, making sure our food is safe, the hurricane center, responding to a disaster, housing vouchers, food assistance, farm subsidy, space exploration, and on and on and on. This is not just extreme, but this is insanity.

A Local Lesson in Paybacks
Today's lesson in paybacks...Last week Peter Lawson Jones remained quiet after the County Commissioners meeting, and Tim Hagan said that it was uncomfortable and embarrassing. This week Dimora "accidentally" hit Hagan's car as he arrived late for the meeting. Impressive rough justice by Mr. Dimora.

Someone Needs to Be Fired
Whoever decided to allow Stephen Colbert to testify in character before Congress needs to be shown the door. It trivializes the issue (does anyone even remember what he was speaking in support of?), and makes the Congress look like they were looking for a free comedy show. This is like asking Charlton Heston testifying on the second amendment as Moses or Robin Williams testifying about childhood health issues as Mrs. Doubtfire. It was a prime example of why people hate Congress.