Let the deregulaton begin!
(click the piggy for Washington Post animation)
Tag: Congress
A soldier’s 10th deployment
Last night’s State of the Union proved Speaker Boehner really does need an intervention for his tanning bed use, VP Biden has now officially turned into your crazy old uncle, and the GOP has jumped the shark in choosing patriotic backdrops (notice the apples; pie anyone?) for their SOTU responses. But what continues to stick in my mind is the moment when President Obama introduces Army Sergeant 1st class Cory Remsburg. No, not because of the two minute standing ovation he received and the understandable emotional reaction people (and myself) had- but to this line in Obama’s introduction:
“A few months later, on his tenth deployment, Cory was nearly killed by a massive roadside bomb in Afghanistan.”
His 10th deployment. Think about that for a minute.
Plenty of news orgs are characterizing this as the SOTU high point, but I haven’t read any stories or heard any of the talkingheads this morning pointing out the outrageousness of a soldier on his 10th deployment and how it illustrates the constant state of war this country is in. Our politicians are great at waving flags and giving standing ovations for injured soldiers while ignoring what this does to a country and its people’s souls.
Look! Another extended recess for members of Congress!
Here’s a comparison of the House of Representatives schedules for 2013-2014. Looks amazingly alike in how many days they’ll be in recess, doesn’t it? 
24 billion dollars later…
The Senate and House finally passed a bill to raise the debt ceiling and re-open the government late last night. What an worthless waste of time and money these past two weeks have been.
A collection of animations about Congress and the government shutdown (click on each image):
GOP proposes to open parts of the government
We’re in day 2 of the Government Shutdown. The Republicans are trying to change the narrative from the fact they caused the shutdown over the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare), so they’re proposing to open parts of the governments to appeal to certain groups of voters. 
Back to work
Congress is returning today after their a 5 week recess (you had most of August off from your job, didn’t you?) to face the question of Syria. President Obama will also be making his case for airstrikes on six(!) networks today, followed by a Tuesday prime-time address from the White House.
Here’s what I thought in 2003 about Bush’s push for war in Iraq:
…and here’s what I think about Obama’s case for airstrikes in Syria.
Congress does it again- for the 40th time
One more post about Congress before they leave for their 5 week break. On Friday they voted for the 40th time to repeal the Affordable Care Act/Obamacare. You do know why they continue to schedule these votes, don’t you? Since the Senate is controlled by the Democrats the bill won’t get beyond the House but that doesn’t matter to Speaker Boehner. The reason for having all these votes is to allow new members of Congress to vote on repealing the health care law so they can talk about curbing big government spending when they start campaigning for re-election. Isn’t that great? You, the taxpayer pays for their time as well as keeping the Capitol open, the staff, security and whatever else it costs while Congress continues doing nothing.
Congress goes on 5 week recess
Well, guess what? Congress has yet again recessed for an extended break, this time for almost the entire month of August. Ezra Klein from the Washington Post writes in defense of this regular practice, saying that the fact Congress members go home to meet with their constituents isn’t the problem, but what they do while in session is. Fair enough, but I’m pretty sure they spend most of their time meeting with contributor$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
More Weiner
There’s something wrong when I, as a cartoonist, feel I shouldn’t comment on the latest Anthony Weiner scandal. The reason for this is because the so-called news media seems to think sexting is the most important story (and the royal baby) this morning rather than minor issues like what the NSA is up to or what Congress is doing to America (which is sort of what Weiner is doing).
IRS targeted tea party groups
As if the Benghazi story wasn’t enough to keep Congress in hearings until 2016, we have the Justice Department seizing AP phone records and the IRS targeting conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status. The targeting of any group or individual based on ideology is outrageous and goes against everything our First Amendment stands for. However, it would have been nice if the same people who are criticizing today would have been as vocal after 9-11 and during the Iraq War. I don’t remember Senator Mitch McConnell taking to the Senate floor to defend anti-war protesters or denounce then Attorney General John Ashcroft. I also don’t recall McConnell challenging former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer for what he said in response to Bill Maher’s comments about 9-11 or defending the Dixie Chicks when they were widely criticized for their comments about President Bush.
No sequester pain for Congress
Washington Post: Congress won’t face pay cut in sequester.
Do I need to add anything more?
Congress Clowns
President Obama to meet today with congressional leaders; Speaker Boehner calls the House back into session on Sunday. The fiscal cliff nonsense continues….