Archive for the Politics Category

Republican obstructionism?

Posted in Politics with tags , , , , , on 4 March 2010 by The Pissed Off Tree Rat

     I don’t understand why Pelosi/Reid keep blaming their failure on the Republican “obstructionists”.  They had a majority, and supermajority, in their houses all year.  They could have passed what ever they pleased and had it signed off on by the executive branch.  Until the Brown election the only thing that prevented them pushing ANY agenda they wanted was themselves.  How is that the fault of the Republicans?  Yes, they tried to block legislation.  No denying that at all.  But remember, they had no power to actually stop a damn thing without Democratic defections.  Only Pelosi and Reid have failed to keep their own party in line to achieve their  own goals.  I’m not sure how they can spin their piss poor leadership on the opposition party.  Not sure at all, but they do try hard don’t they…… 

(FOX)  Democrats have been blasting Republicans as partisan obstructionists, arguing that they’re turning to reconciliation out of necessity. They say the bill cannot be redrawn from scratch and it must be passed now in order to stop insurance companies from dropping sick patients, denying coverage over pre-existing conditions and raising rates beyond what families can afford. 

“What has happened in the past year in the United States Senate is total obstruction by the Republican senators,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “So this isn’t just about their rules, it’s about a decision that a party over there has made to stop everything.” 

Come on and bring it Fat Man!

This post is for the hard core NFL junkies out there

Posted in Politics with tags , , , , , , , , , on 20 February 2010 by The Pissed Off Tree Rat

     There are some things only an NFL junky cares about.  Namely anything the NFL does before the draft in April.  Now the Combine has some interest to me, but not enough to watch more than a few minutes of it.  To sit there for days on end, 8 hours a day, staring at the NFL Network broadcast of young men wandering around a football stadium as fat men poke at them…………… well that’s just not my thing.  Now the owners meeting in March is where interesting things start to happen.  Real decisions are made there and I’d love to be a fly on the wall for those sessions.  Granted, a fly immune to getting swatted flat by Jerry Jones’ rolled up meeting agenda.  Maybe Ford Jr.  will have enough balls this year to use the Ford Automotive advertising clout (very substantial) to ensure the Lions get a MNF game this season.   If the good Lord’s willing and the rivers don’t rise that is.  Key upcoming pre-draft dates:

Feb. 24-March 2 — NFL Scouting Combine

Feb. 25 — Deadline for designating franchise players.

March 5 — Free agency begins

March 21-24 — Annual owners meeting

Early April — 2010 regular season schedule announced

April 22-24 — 2010 NFL Draft

The Mount Vernon Statement

Posted in Politics with tags , , , on 17 February 2010 by The Pissed Off Tree Rat

     Well freaks it’s not Shakespeare, but the point is made.  Now this will get some cross-threaded wingnut knickers in a real twist.   I can’t wait to hear the liberals use their first amendment rights to state how conservatives should not be allowed to use theirs for this obvious “hate speech”.   It’s worth the read, if only for the last line:  “We must begin by retaking and resolutely defending the high ground of America’s founding principles.”  I’d say I felt this thrill going up my leg, but I’m not a mindless sycophant.  I’m a mindless conservative, zombie hunting, beer loving, gun toting Detroit Lions fan.  There is a difference.

Official endorsed by the American Conservative Revolution ACR (party of one Pissed Off Tree Rat). 

H/T  to IP fo the statement site link.

The Mount Vernon Statement Constitutional Conservatism:  A Statement for the 21st Century

We recommit ourselves to the ideas of the American Founding.  Through the Constitution, the Founders created an enduring framework of limited government based on the rule of law. They sought to secure national independence, provide for economic opportunity, establish true religious liberty and maintain a flourishing society of republican self-government.

These principles define us as a country and inspire us as a people. They are responsible for a prosperous, just nation unlike any other in the world. They are our highest achievements, serving not only as powerful beacons to all who strive for freedom and seek self-government, but as warnings to tyrants and despots everywhere. Read more »

Totally subjective, opinion based, cultural lens biased, ranting of one Pissed Off Tree Rat

Posted in Beer, Football, Guns, Hotties, Politics with tags , , , , , , , on 9 February 2010 by The Pissed Off Tree Rat

     I’ve been a muddle mess of late.  There has been plenty to post on.  But a bit of overload and burn out had set in.  Not I’m not talking the culturally acceptable Janice Joplin burn out that leaves an awesome reputation, but a corpse that’s unfortunately the person who burned it at both ends.   I’m talking about the mind cramping frustrations with the world, news, office crap (but bill paying crap I acknowledge) resulting in ambivalence based burn out.   It appears that my G.A.S. meter had run out.  I recharged with Sam Adams and the NFL.  The best way I know to get a man’s mind straight.  The last thing left to do is take out the mental trash to clear the head.

So now you get to see the dump in progress. In no particular order I give you two weeks of random,  un-referenced, totally subjective, opinion based, cultural lens biased, news snipped, rantings of one Pissed Off Tree Rat:

  1. After the earthquake in Haiti does anyone seriously think that the U.N. has a legitimate purpose anymore?  I think they’re still formulating their press release on what they plan to take credit for after the Americans and British are done with the actual helping out.
  2. Am I the only one mystified by the gushing out of money to Haiti by the Hollywood telethons?  Not that they raised money for the cause.  That was good.   Yes it was good.   But where have these caring folks been?  Haiti has been the Somalia of the northern hemisphere for almost 2 decades.  That $500+ million would have been handy before the earthquake.   Nobody gave a shit about them last year and I been Bono and friends won’t next year either. 
  3. Is there anyone that Nancy Pelosi is not condescending to?   I actually think less of the people in San Francisco for voting her into office.  Fair?  Nope.  But this is my subjective brain dump so it is what it is. 
  4. Saints won the Super Bowl.   I picked the Colts to win, but really had no emotional investment in either team.  I just wanted to see a good game.  First half was great football to watch.  The WHO’s halftime show was a disaster no matter how cool the laser show was.  Dear NFL, please for the love of GOD enough with the post-expiration-date-band half time shows.  Second half of the game blew.   Granted it would have been better if I was a Saints fan.  My friend ‘The Weasel’ was peeing on himself I’m sure.
  5. President Obama’s FY 11 defense budget gives a 1.4% pay raise to the military.  The lowest pay raise given since 1973.  Sometimes it is the thought that counts.  I think the DNC can count out the military vote in 2012.
  6. I think Iran will be the cause the first nuclear weapon to be used since WWII. 
  7. As long as Hamas and the rest of those murdering terrorist Islamofascists hold control in Gaza, the only people who will give a shit about the Palestinians are U.N. delegates when the cameras are on.  Where’s their telethon?  I hear they need to raise cash to replace those rockets that they randomly fire over civilian cities in Israel.   Along those same lines how come the wall on the Israel boarder with Gaza is “inhumane” but the one with Egypt is not?
  8. Ford took NOT ONE CENT from a taxpayer bailout.  And their reward?  Record profits this year and they cornered the market share.  SUCK IT SOCIALISTS!  Free market wins again.
  9. The whole “Blame Bush” thing is sooooo 2009. 
  10. I’m waiting to see which aspect of America the President deems evil, greedy, corrupt or “the problem” next. 
  11. The Brown election in Massachusetts has given me hours of pleasure.  Not for what you think (DNC supermajority loss), but because it gave a reminder to every member of Congress that none of them are entitled to their seats and can be voted out by the lowely pissed off common man.  
  12. I have now added the global warming die-hards to the same category as Birthers and the folks who deny we ever landed on the moon.
  13. I have to get back to posting more Hotties and fast.
  14. We can pull out of Iraq as soon as logistically possible.   I think the Iraqis can take it from here.  It will be messy, but in the end I think they can pull it off now.  I didn’t think that in 2006, but hell things do change for the better some times.
  15. I’m going to buy a new assault rifle this month.  I hear every time someone does George Soros gets a 24 hour migraine.  Maybe I’ll buy two.
  16. Any day now China is going use their stack of IOUs and call in a marker forcing us to change our Taiwan “One China” policy.  Under threat of an absolute U.S. collapse Taiwan loses.   That’s going to suck for Taiwan.
  17. Who the hell is running MSNBC and still keeps their job?
  18. I don’t think anyone really  has any idea what the hell the Supreme Court ruling on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission was about, or means.  All I can figure out after reading the decision is that it doesn’t have shit to do with foreign governments buying American elections.  I think Obama pulled that out of his ass as that is still very much illegal.
  19. President Obama’s decision to cancel NASA’s manned exploration program is:  odd, confusing, weird, dumb, crushing to dreams of aspiring scientists and engineers across the country, inane, short sided, idiotic and a just plain “WTF?!” sort of deal.  Another shot to the head of the American dream.  Makes me sad and mumble under my breath.   Decades flushed down the toilet.
  20. The Detroit Lions will go 8 and 8 next season.  There I said it out loud.  You can now call the nice men in the white coats for me………………….

Well I feel much better now Freaks.  Thanks.

-The POTR

Meet America’s newest MEGA Union Organizer – Uncle Sam

Posted in Politics with tags , , , , on 14 January 2010 by The Pissed Off Tree Rat

     Now this shocked me.  No easy task there as I’ve bar hopped through most of Asia.  In the wake of the whole Congressional bribe for votes with Nebraska they’ve done it again.  This time it’s not even slick.  What am I talking about you ask?  Why the latest deal on the health care Cadillac Tax of course.   The Unions went to the president and threw down the gauntlet.  Kill it or we’ll get you voted out was the gist of the two-hour meeting between the Union reps and the White House.  President Obama buckled, well sort of.  We’re going to get the tax the Unions didn’t want but…………… State and local workers and union members are exempted until 2017.   You will note that the tax goes into effect for the unions not only AFTER Obama’s second run for the Presidency, but AFTER his designated successor’s 1st run for the big boy seat.  Keeping the Union voters happy for a Democratic dynasty run before they get screwed with a mega overnight tax hike.  O.K. now that’s all basic political shenanigans, but what I find amazing is that they actually are going to push a bill that legislates (i.e. MAKES IT A LAW) that a non-union worker with the same health plan as his union coworker has to pay a tax to subsidise his coworker who doesn’t.  Only because the guy next to him has a Union membership card and he refuses to join a union himself.  Same job, same insurance?  Join the Union or PAY THE MAN HIS CADILLAC TAX!  I just don’t get it.  I don’t care what your political party is, that can’t make sense to an any average American.

The Stages of Love Part I and II

Posted in Politics, Videos with tags , , , , , , , on 10 January 2010 by The Pissed Off Tree Rat

For your political music video enjoyment.  As I sure as Hell can’t give offer any NFL Playoff game predictions worth a damn!

Pssst….. I’ll let you in on a secret

Posted in Politics with tags , , on 4 January 2010 by The Pissed Off Tree Rat

Chris Matthews seems to think that something is “afoot” with Dick Cheney’s comments on Obama.  There is Chris, there really is.  And guess what,  I know what it is.  As part of the vast right-wing-conspiracy they filled me in when they showed me the secret handshake.

Don’t tell anyone but the secret is:  Dick Cheney really does NOT like President Obama and is ideologically opposed to his policies.  The master scheme he’s running with is that as a private citizen he is free to say whatever he wants now and the press can choose to publicise or ignore it.  DIABOLICAL! 

Remember now, it’s a secret.  Shhhhhhh.

The United States sends a message to Al Qaeda

Posted in Politics with tags , , , , on 3 January 2010 by The Pissed Off Tree Rat

Unfortunately the message is “We surrender”. 

After the President told us how the “alleged” terrorist that was “not part of an organized threat” that made an “attempt” at an “alleged” terrorist act on Christmas day over Detroit how do we respond?  With fear and an international display of cowardice.   We start closing our Embassies.

Kind of hard to fight a war on terror with your head in the sand.

(CNN) – The United States and Britain announced Sunday they have closed their embassies in Yemen because of security concerns.

A U.S. news release cited ongoing threats by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to attack American interests in Yemen.

 Embarrassed anyone?  I sure as hell am.

Sen. Dodd (D-Conn) – Time for you to face a hearing

Posted in Politics with tags , , , , , on 29 December 2009 by The Pissed Off Tree Rat

     Congress just loves to drag Americans in front of their elevated dias to chastise them for everything trivial at their oft childish whims.  Just look at Rep. Joe Barton (R) of Texas and the inane BCS Bowl hearings as a perfect example at wasteful, and abusive, use of power.  What I want to know is when do THEY get dragged in front of God and country to answer for their reckless and irresponsible behavior actions?  We should begin with Senator Chris Dodd.  These hearings are generally a waste of hot air, but since we lack the public pillory I think a good, publicly televised, verbal ass whipping is in order here.

From the Washington Examiner:

Back in July, Senator Chris Dodd, D-Conn., proposed an amendment reducing aviation security appropriations by $4.5 million in favor of firefighter grants — a notoriously inneffective program. In fact, the money was specifically “for screening operations and the amount for explosives detection systems.” The amendment was also sponsored by Sen. Lieberman, D-Conn., and Sen. Carper, D-Del., but Dodd deserves to be singled out here because the firefighters union is a pet constituency of his. In 2007 he campaigned all through Iowa with the firefighters union. It was one of the few distinguishable features of Dodd’s ill-fated presidential bid.

The text of the amendment is below: Read more »

Could it be? Is it so? A Republican that a Conservative could get behind in 2012?

Posted in Politics with tags , on 17 December 2009 by The Pissed Off Tree Rat

It may be a bit premature, but I’m starting to really like what Allen West has to say.  Sure he’s running for Florida’s 22nd District in 2010, but it never hurts to look ahead.  More research needed, but I’ll add him to my “maybe list” for now.