Politicians suck
So congress passed the bailout bill today. And I’m just freaking pissed off.
Not because the bailout itself got passed – as I said previously, I don’t really understand the financial implications and am not really affected by the stock market. I’m pissed because it failed the first time and passed the second. I’m pissed because a bunch of congress – of both parties – voted it down the first time. The president wanted the bill to pass, the republican presidential candidate wanted he bill to pass, the democratic presidential candidate wanted the bill to pass… and still congress didn’t pass it. Okay, fine. So what did they do? Address the underlying issue? Try to bring in some plan to prevent it from happening again? No. They “sweetened the deal.” They added effing tax breaks into the bill… tax breaks for businesses. Tax breaks for the very people who caused this whole fucking mess in the first place. NOW it passes. The same bailout amount. The same terms.
I just want to say to them, you fucking selfish assholes. You drag your feet because you want something out of the deal? You hem and haw and aren’t sure about it, but you buy in because of tax breaks??
And, hello, combining giving out 700 billion AND extending tax breaks seems completely contra-indicated here. The United States is digging itself a financial hole like nothing ever seen before. The country is like a freaking 18 year old who just got his first credit card and thinks it’s free money. What the hell ever happened to balanced budgets? You know… the amount coming in must equal the amount going out. Or, hey, here’s an idea: let’s pay back some of this debt we’re in.
Oh I am just disgusted, I really am. I’m sure there is more to it than what I am seeing, what the common people are hearing, but my initial impression is just to be really quite disgusted.
And furthermore, why on earth don’t they have some financial advisors on TV explaining the situation and why the bailout is necessary? I keep hearing that it IS necessary, like I said by many of this country’s current leaders, but no one’s really explaining why.
On another topic, the debate last night. It was fun to watch. I was pleasantly surprized by both VP candidates. Sarah Palin was obviously very very well tutored in a short amount of time and she seemed to hold her own… I know most of the world was wondering if we’d see some sort of meltdown. And Biden, who was pretty much an unknown factor to me, impressed me quite a bit after he woke up and stopped being boring. My main complaint was Palin changing the topic several times (hello, that topic was already discussed, I’m interested to hear what you have to say about the current one) and her folksy twang. I know it is probably a very calculated thing from the campaign and a lot of people probably did respond to her “girl next door” type of attitude. But it pissed me off. A) pronounce words correctly, goddamnit (I’m not talking about accents here, I’m talking about mangling words like NUCLEAR) and B) try to sound intelligent and poised. She sort of managed to sound like she knew what she was talking about. But highly rehearsed. She was told what to say, and she said it well. I still have absolutely no faith that she actually understands the issues beyond the script. “I’m a soccer mom.” Ugh.
Financial crisis: can’t speak to that, still don’t quite get it even after having it explained to me eight hundred times by well-meaning friends and family members.
Debate: Palin irritates me no matter what she does, so I can’t say I’m one to judge fairly how she did in the debate. I think she did horribly, and I can’t believe Biden and Gwen didn’t call her out on avoiding questions. She doesn’t know what an “achilles heel” is, and that’s pathetic. But as I said, she could go over to Bangladesh and give a million bucks to every orphanage in the country, and I’d still find something wrong with her. I just don’t like the woman.
I know, I was surprized that no one called her on that too, especially the moderator.
I’m really interested in seeing how many of the incumbant rep seats up for election this term get re-elected. I’m almost to the point that if they are an incumbant I’m not going to re-elect their ass. :|
I agree wholeheartedly. I don’t find Sarah Palin charming at all. Honestly, and I know I’m being judgmental, but I think she should be at home taking care of her baby. How can a woman be the VP of the US and also raise her special needs baby? The answer is she can’t. This is not a 9 to 5 job. She can shove her soccer mom analogies up her you know what. That doesn’t impress me. (Probably since I’m a bitter infertile!)
Your description of the US as an 18 y/o with their first credit card is what I was thinking too. It just doesn’t make sound sense. Why can’t anyone see that?
When they tried to call her out on avoiding questions, she tried to pull the “you media elite might not like my answer, but the people crave that straight talk.” Yeah, I’d like some straight talk– way to give us the exact opposite. I don’t even mind her “country-ness,” calculated as it seems. It’s the winking and “I’m so adorable” bit that makes me nauseous.
Oh! And her “America is a country of exceptionism” bit, and yet the media goes batshit b/c she did a mediocre job of regurgitating what she memorized the last 3 weeks?!? Give me an effing break.
Ok, I’m done now. :lol:
Don’t ever expect Congress to do anything…they work the least amount of days per year than almost every other occupation (3 day weeks and 3 hour days at that). Think my husband said they work something like 65 days per year! CRAPOLA if you ask me!
Funny how you mentioned “nuclear”. I was practically screaming at the tv over that one. Irritating. I also get irritated with Obama for how he said “Taliban” and “Pakistan”- i just want to tell him, you went to a fucking muslim school in indonesia, pronounce it right damnit!
As for the deflection by Palin during the debate, that was their tactic. They knew she would not be able to answer every question so they gave her an “out” on those questions. Joe Biden imo was acting arrogant and wouldn’t even stand still. And since when does Obama not support gay marriage? Heard on tv today Obama say “I voted for gun rights”. Um…really?
Kate – Oh I loved that line. A country of exceptional soccer moms, apparently. She’s playing the “I’m the same as you, I’m a common person”… and then says this is a land of exceptionalness? Wow. If this is an example of how exceptional this country is, we’re screwed.
Bianne – Yeah, I’m really sad that Obama/Biden aren’t standing up for same-sex marriage. They support civil unions and giving same-sex unions the same legal rights… without the same name. IMO it’s to appease the swing voters and not appear too flaming liberal… they know they walk a thin line. Sigh. Apparently Hillary did support same-sex marriage, but she seems to be the only one.
it failed in the house and passed in the senate, so different people voting. and they did change some stuff.
this is kind of a good read, sorta. http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/01/news/economy/senate_rescuebill2/index.htm?cnn=yes
i didnt watch the debate, after seeing the russia fiasco and the snl spoofs, i figured it would be more painful than it was worth considering i know who i am voting for anyway.
Erin – The first time, the Senate passed the bill and the House rejected it. The second time the Senate passed the new bill and the House also passed it, making it legal. So same people. They changed stuff, and people reversed their votes.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95357697
Brianne – I don’t believe that Obama mispronounces Pakistan or Taliban. His pronunciation may sound affected, but it is not incorrect. I think that his education is exactly the reason that he uses these pronunciations.
Obama and Biden support gay rights. It’s my understanding that they believe marriage shouldn’t be recognized by the government at all. They would have the government only recognize civil unions between gay couples and straight couples, but give civil unions all the rights of marriages. That way churches are free to “marry” whom they please, and every pair of adults is afforded the same rights. It’s a form of separation of church and state.
“separation of church and state” is a phrase directed at financial support (funding). The government (state) does not fund religious organizations. That is to rule out any bias toward one particular religion.
I am still amazed at the lack of knowlege of others when it comes to civil rights in this country. Obama has repeatedly said he supports gay marriage (and the tax cuts that would accompany it like a NORMAL marriage). To his credit though, he has also repeatedly stated that he is not for gay marriage. Go him.
America is too racist to elect him anyways, I’m not worried about it.
I am amazed that the people who know the least always act like they know the most.