Rush Limbaugh said the only Republican folks with a back bone are Palin and Bachmann.
Last week Congress was apprised by the Heritage Foundation about the provision in the Obamacare bill which appropriates $105 billion towards its funding- a complete and fraudulent circumvention of the legislative process.
In the bill, instead of following the rules and letting the next Congress go through the appropriations process, Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats appropriated billions of dollars in funding for Obamacare without holding a single hearing, or even allowing Members of Congress a chance to read the bill. Why is Bachmann one of the few sirens of this message? Why is she not getting the attention and backing of her fellow Republicans?
As a former female senior military officer, I know telling it like it is becomes unpopular. I’ve often wondered why everything must be sugar coated to be palatable. Why do the guys “play nice” all the time, going along just to get along like some happy sports team?
Take for instance the situation in Wisconsin where Gov. Walker is being labeled a bully. Hardly.
I would have handled the situation much differently. To heck with the $100-per-day fines for the AWOL Democrat legislators! I’m not sure if the $250-per-day fines being bandied about in Indiana are even enough. Lessons must be taught here.
A fellow journalist once told me that the only thing that changes Americans’ behavior is when the pain outweighs the pleasure. Mitt Romney understands the concept - with his appropriately named “Obama Misery Index.”
In Wisconsin’s case, the pleasure is having a job with power and a paycheck to go along with it. And the “adoring staff” is the icing on the cake.
So at a minimum, my going-in position would be this:
If the Democrat legislators feel it isn’t their duty to report for work and do their duty, there is no need for their respective Support Staffs: temporary furlough or drawdown!
Divide the state’s cleanup bill for the Capitol building by the number of absent legislators and start the fine there, leaving room to negotiate downward.
Because their departure has created both a loyalty and security problem, not only should their copier keys be inactivated, so should any ability to charge state expense accounts, use items such as phones, state vehicles or anything else paid for by the state’s taxpayers.
Leave an answering machine in the office and check it periodically for messages by the “supervising” senator. This should be sufficient for a Leader who irresponsibly left his or her post in an attempt to bring the wheels of government to a screeching halt: totally unethical, irresponsible and unprofessional conduct.
If legislators aren’t present for the job voters selected them to do, they should be replaced with someone who will. Begin that process now based on misfeasance.
The behaviors precipitating these actions are seen every day on playgrounds where Johnny is mad and takes his toys elsewhere or decides to play with someone else. The difference here is that unions playing with our money by increasing salaries, benefits and perks for teachers, firefighters, police over the decades have left states scrambling for revenue to support many other competing obligations.
This is an ideal time to delineate those competing costs. How about the exorbitant amounts illegal aliens are costing states like Florida: $5.463 billion annually? But let’s not go there because it’s not politically correct – right? Not!
I’m not afraid to say it: Actions have consequences.
Press on Palin and Bachmann.
The sooner Republicans don a skirt (if that’s what it takes), grow some cojones and walk the talk, the better. Otherwise, they’ll become the next raggedy has-been doormat destined for the political landfill.
Carmen Reynolds, Lt Col (Ret), USAF is an investigative journalist, copy editor and researcher. Carmen can be reached at: journalist@bellsouth.net
