The Audacity of Nope

I find myself increasingly irate these days, every time I hear Rep. John Boehner and company talking about how deeply concerned they are about the debt load we'll be leaving for future generations.

It's not the concern itself that makes me angry, it's the johnny-come-lately quality of their schtick.

For where was this deep concern about the burden to future generations when they were rubber-stamping the billion dollar a day war in Iraq?

And where was this deep concern when they were rubber-stamping huge tax cuts for the very wealthiest citizens of our country?

And where was this deep concern as they consistently pushed an ethic and program of de-regulation, policies which created and exacerbated the climate conducive for our current crisis to develop?

I don't think I'd be quite as mad if there was a genuine mea culpa attached to these concerns, you know, an authentic "Gosh, we've really made a mess of things these last 8 years. . .sorry about that. We were wrong, maybe it's time to try some new tactics."

But I'm not hearing anything close to that. All I'm hearing is this newfound "deep concern" coupled with proposals to keep on doing what we've been doing the last 8 years (isn't that a definition of insanity - doing the same thing but expecting different results?), and a refusal to work with people who are actually trying to get us out of this mess. . .so pardon me if I find their stated attitude a little unconvincing and insincere.

Stephen Colbert, God bless him, had fantastic commentary on all this in last night's "The Word" (from which I nabbed the title of this post). True to his persona, he lauded Boehner and company for taking a stand and turning the Economic Stimulus bill into a symoblic, not merely substantive, vote. He then challenged them to take their defiance a step further, and "put no money where your mouth is" - that is, refuse to accept any of the stimulus money for your own district - likening such action to a hunger strike. It was beautiful, if you didn't see it, go find it on the Comedy Central site, it's worth watching.


On a totally different note, an update from the deer incident last night: turns out Peg's car did lose the passenger side mirror, which she did not realize until she was running errands this morning. But that's the extent of the damage. I'm thinking our furry friend is not too bad off after the experience, either, because there was no body or blood or skin or any sign of our collision when I drove by the spot on the way to church this morning. Hopefully next time the deer will look both ways before stepping into the street!