congress
A handy guide to all Congress happenings on both sides of the aisle. Thank goodness for this political body that keeps Presidential power in check.
Arrested for Wanting to Live?
Last Thursday I logged on to Facebook and was shocked to see videos of Capitol Police forcibly removing disabled protestors from the hallway in front of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's office. It was appalling to see how the protestors, who were exercising their constitutional right, were being treated. One of my friends was among those forcibly removed from their wheelchairs and carried out. With her hands zip-tied behind her back, she was later put back in her chair so she could be loaded into a police bus and taken away to be officially arrested and processed. Thankfully she is alright. The recently aired Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, released June 22, will treat approximately 75 million Americans with that same level of care and compassion regardless of age, race, gender, or ability.
Erin VallelyPublished 7 years ago in The SwampWhy Can Democrats Take Heart After Losing Four Special Congressional Elections in a Row?
Much has been made of the Democratic loss in the special House election held for Georgia's 6th District near Atlanta. It has been the most expensive campaign for a U.S. House seat in, like, forever; upwards of $50 million US. The reason so much was spent (most from sources outside of GA) is that Jon Ossoff, the Democratic candidate, was not supposed to have a chance of winning this district; no Democrat has for the last 40 years. Further, this district has produced two of the most conservative legislators that Congress has seen, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Rep. Tom Price (now charged with dismantling the Affordable Care Act a.k.a Obamacare) as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Trump administration. Yet win it he almost did in the guerrilla primary in a field of 16+ candidates with 48.1% of the vote. (If he had received 50.001%, he would have won in the 1st round.) The closest runner-up, Karen Handel, a conservative out of the Price mold, received just 19.8%.
Scott BelfordPublished 7 years ago in The SwampPuerto Rico: Statehood or Independence?
Recently, I had the pleasure of talking to Julio Ricardo Varela, a Puerto Rican political journalist and advocate of a shared agreement approach to the future of the place of his birth and upbringing.
Michael BlairPublished 7 years ago in The SwampThe Republican Party Has a Mitch McConnell Problem
Mitch McConnell had a choice: he could let the house healthcare bill die in the senate, or he could craft his own. There was no chance the disastrous house bill could pass the upper chamber. GOP senators declared it dead on arrival.
Joshua GuessPublished 7 years ago in The SwampThe End of the US Constitution
Reading that title what first comes to mind? Do you think I am anti-American? Do you immediately assume I am a rebelling millennial? Do you assume I don't know any better? Or perhaps you are intrigued? You have come across something you have thought about, but never dreamed of speaking aloud?
Brian ParedesPublished 7 years ago in The SwampDear President Trump, Think About Your Family
Dear Mr. Trump, In the last couple of months since you took over as President of the US, you have diminished more than just your own name, but rather, your entire family’s name too. Melania and you are in the midst of a very complicated and unusual relationship and it is believed by some that you don’t even care for each other (Is Melania really just in it for the money and fame?). Recently, you tried to grab Melania’s hand after leaving the airplane on your Middle East trip & she nudged your hand away and gave you a dirty look. Also, your daughter, Ivanka has been severely scrutinized by the media mostly because of your wrongdoings. As President, you must start to think about your family before you bring them all down. I write this letter to you, Mr. President to challenge you to change your values, integrity, and approach for the country and for your own family.
David LasherPublished 7 years ago in The SwampDear Donald
Being Canadian, I may have many views that are different from yours. In fact, I am sure I have many views different from many Americans. However, we have many views which are the same...
Beth GibbonsPublished 7 years ago in The SwampTwo Sides of the Same Manure
With the events of the last year or so, America has seemingly been boiled down to just two sides that absolutely hate each other. There is no room to work together or get anything done as long as there is a two party system and our founding fathers knew this when they formed America. Yet what happened to their ideals and hopes for this country? The entire scheme has been reduced to two completely separate sides that get at each others' throats whenever possible over whatever possible. It's no wonder anything can be accomplished in this nation when the only people in power (no matter who is president) don’t actually represent the public. This system has been divided for so long that every single person that was in the middle can only vote for the person they ever so slightly disagree with less.
Timothy ZawodnyPublished 7 years ago in The SwampJames Comey Versus Rod Rosenstein on Firing, Not Donald Trump
James Comey, formerly Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is a person sequentially loathed and loved, criticized and praised, a person who both Republicans and Democrats have severely criticized. A cat with at least nine lives it seems.
Guillermo CalvoPublished 7 years ago in The SwampWhy We Should Wait For The "I" Word
It's an interesting time in our country's history. The partisan politics of the Obama years are slowly slipping away, with a new focus on the two parties finally coming together for the good of the country. Except for in one very volatile issue: Impeachment. Some Republicans are calling for Trump to be tried, convicted, and removed from office. Meanwhile Democrats are a little less willing to throw around the "I" word.
Edward AndersonPublished 7 years ago in The SwampTruman's Blunder and the World Today
In all of recorded history of the United States one instance stands out that still to this day has complicated international relations almost to the point of igniting another World War. Lessons learned in today's history books too many times omit the whole story behind actual events that have occurred. It is this Memorial Day that we remember the sacrifices that our military makes to keep our freedom alive. In that light there is no better time to bring to the world's attention that some 66 years ago President Truman made one of the most historical mistakes that continues to cause reverberations through-out the world.
Dr. WilliamsPublished 7 years ago in The SwampThe Debt Of A Nation
The history of this nation is being written in the annals of debt that has become almost to insurmountable. There have been two critical factors that have derailed the sovereignty and stability of the United States. In all our recorded history of over 200 years this nation has seen only small periods where our armed forces were not engaged in some conflict or another somewhere around the globe. From the time of John F. Kennedy's death all the way up to today the national debt has continued to climb. There are two important factors as to why this nation still can't grasp the concept of elimination of our now catastrophic national debt. A nation at war and a nation that relies on the creation of money by privately owned banks like the Federal Reserve Board are the most ruthless ingredients to incur massive debt.
Dr. WilliamsPublished 7 years ago in The Swamp