And just when you think the republicans in the House of Representatives can't sink any lower they do. After holding the middle class and poor of the country hostage in a vain attempt to prevent their keepers, the super rich, from paying a higher rate of taxes you would have thought they might have, for a moment anyway, headed into the light for a breather.
On Tuesday evening there was supposed to be a vote on a $60 billion relief package for the victims of super storm Sandy. Toward the end of the night's session and before the relief bill was presented, Speaker of the House, John Boehner "just walked off the floor and sent in a representative saying that there wouldn't be any further votes." That quote was attributed to republican congressman Pete King of New York by NBC News.
In other words, New York and New Jersey, fuck you.
The outrage was swift and intense. Governors Chris Christie of New Jersey and Andrew Cuomo of New York issued a joint statement saying the house was guilty of dereliction of duty. Christie told NBC that he called Boehner four times last night and the speaker refused to, well, speak to him about the whole rotten affair. Christie also said he'd received no explanation for "the disappointing and disgusting decision." Christie is, of course, a republican, although suspect in the eyes of the rigid right because of his praise of Obama's initial handling of the disaster.
Ultimately, therein is the rub. New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, the three primary recipients of the aid, all helped re-elect Barak H. Obama. Yes, this all probably boils down to revenge in its most savage form. There is precedent for it. In 1972 Richard Nixon carried every state except Massachusetts. In 1973, shortly after his inauguration and not long before he was impeached, the Boston Navy Yard was shut down.
This really goes beyond that, however. You're not talking a few thousand jobs. You are looking at an area in which nearly a half million homes were either destroyed or damaged.
For those of you who think I might be whistling that left wing "GOP conspiracy tune" Congressman King had this to say about the whole deal. "I can't believe that type of indifference, that type of cavalier attitude being shown to any other part of the country." He went on to say, "We can't believe this cruel knife in the back has been delivered to our region." Finally he added, "They can't count on any vote from me now." The they he is speaking about would be the people in his own party. Republican congressman, Michael Grimm stated, "the delay is a personal betrayal." Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand suggested Boehner should visit Staten Island, but said she "doubts he has the dignity, or guts to do it."
Boehner seems only barely phased by all of this. His aide Michael Steel came out and said, "The Speaker is committed to getting the bill passed this month." Yada, yada, yada. Yes, well I'm sure that will be of great comfort to those home owners who have been without heat, or a roof for the last nine weeks or so.
Right now a vote on a $9 billion bandage is tentatively scheduled for Friday. There is hope, but no guarantee there will be a vote on a $51 billion package on the 15th. Unfortunately, Boehner's anger that he has been exposed as a completely inept Speaker of the House and the tea party loon's uncontrollable hatred of the president and anyone who might have voted for him could jam up the works at any moment.
The house republicans have all the compassion of a colony of sewer rats gone berserk on meth. Their party got their asses kicked in November and now they have a chance to pay back those who they feel screwed them.
That's right bitch, next time you'll know who to vote for won't you? Enjoy this winter without any windows.
It didn't take long for this year to start looking like the last one did it?
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