Saturday, November 21, 2009
YOU LIE!
Several times I have been subjected to a currently running television commercial which tells me to call Senator Coburn and Senator Inhofe and thank them for their good work protecting seniors in Washington. It tells me how they are looking after my interests, and they are preventing harmful cuts in Medicare. If I were not so nauseated, I would jump to my feet and shout, “You lie! You lie!”
One always feels strong resentment at outright falsehoods told in a bold-face manner, just as if they were true. But further, one’s ire is aroused with the question provoked, “Who do these people think I am? They are insulting me! Do they think I am an imbecile? Do they think I am too dumb to know the truth? Do they really think they can get away with this without be called out?” That outrage is even more offensive than being told a bare-faced lie.
These are the same people who wanted to privatize Social Security. Remember?
Seniors are receiving no Social Security cost of living increase this year, although everyone is well aware that everything touched is costing more – with the temporary exception of gasoline (not our big item). In spite of all this, Medicare insurance premiums are going up $25 a month in January.
A bill to halt that $25 premium increase passed the House overwhelmingly. But Senator Coburn put a hold on the bill to keep it from even being considered by the Senate. Don’t ask me why the Senate has such a dumb rule that allows a single narrow-minded, stubborn Senator to thwart the will of the entire Congress, but they do.
Senator Coburn is taking advantage of that rule to block the consideration of the bill postponing any Medicare insurance premium increase in a year when retirees receive no COLA. Although it passed the House with bi-partisan support, Senator Coburn, in his infinite wisdom and sense of self-importance, is stopping this bill to help seniors.
This is the same Coburn they are now telling seniors to call and thank for taking care of our interests.
Senator Coburn, with his sense of omnipotence, has also taken it upon himself to block Senate consideration of an appropriation for Veterans’ health care. This is the same guy who voted to increase deficits to pay for the war in Iraq and the armaments to fight it, but he says the country cannot now afford to provide proper medical treatment for its returning soldiers because of deficits.
Oklahoma’s two senators have been consistently the butt of Capitol jokes, and our state constantly suffers that stigma of ridicule nationally. Why do we keep sending such people to Washington to represent us? Are we too ignorant to know what we have? Are we are just too partisan to care?
Senator Coburn is mixed in deeply with the “C-Street gang.” At first glance this appears to be just a bunch of congressmen sharing a very large rooming house with a common area. It is located very close to the Capitol. Then it appears that the basis of this rooming house association is that all are fundamentalist Christians. Then it emerges that this place is called a “church,” and so identified for tax purposes.
This “church” has had a book written about it. It is the center of several investigations by news media. It appears from reports that this “church” may be similar to a “cult.” It seems also to be something of a religious fraternity, similar to college -- except for grown people. It is also something of a “secret society.”
They are supposed to be a “brotherhood” of religious, mostly republican, senators and congressmen where they help solve one another’s problems – like getting one out of an adulterous scandal involving Mr. Coburn being the go-between in a payoff. (He first denied this, but later admitted it.) Republican congressional miscreants are counseled in secret in this house under a code of silence. It does not matter that such silence may conceal unethical, or even illegal, conduct in violation of House or Senate rules, as is said to be the case.
This “C-Street House” is part of much larger “church” or cult headed by mysterious figures and governed by mysterious rules. It has been alleged also to be a “political machine” composed of residents and non-residents as well, all ultra-conservative fundamentalists with an agenda. This group is said to have its own priorities. Their agenda is to advance their ideas and religious beliefs through Congress, not accountable to any other religious or secular body. It is said that this fraternal “loyalty” is to be above all others. If so, this is a bit scary.
“C-Street” has just this week lost its property tax-exempt status in Washington, D.C. The goings-on there and the conduct of its occupants, including Senator Coburn, are under investigation by Congress and by other federal authorities. There is inquiry being made as to the entity to which room “rents” were paid, and whether such amounts have been claimed as “contributions.”
Senator Coburn has been tainted by all this, regardless of any personal “do-gooder” intentions he may have had or how much he protests innocence. His “holier-than-thou” approach to government and politics, at the expense of such groups as seniors and veterans, will not work any longer. He dropped his crown.
Since he is no longer any better than the rest of us, he should quit “playing God” in the Senate and blocking legislation needed by millions. And, let’s get those false commercials off the air, so that I can rest from shouting to my television, “You lie! You lie!”
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
One always feels strong resentment at outright falsehoods told in a bold-face manner, just as if they were true. But further, one’s ire is aroused with the question provoked, “Who do these people think I am? They are insulting me! Do they think I am an imbecile? Do they think I am too dumb to know the truth? Do they really think they can get away with this without be called out?” That outrage is even more offensive than being told a bare-faced lie.
These are the same people who wanted to privatize Social Security. Remember?
Seniors are receiving no Social Security cost of living increase this year, although everyone is well aware that everything touched is costing more – with the temporary exception of gasoline (not our big item). In spite of all this, Medicare insurance premiums are going up $25 a month in January.
A bill to halt that $25 premium increase passed the House overwhelmingly. But Senator Coburn put a hold on the bill to keep it from even being considered by the Senate. Don’t ask me why the Senate has such a dumb rule that allows a single narrow-minded, stubborn Senator to thwart the will of the entire Congress, but they do.
Senator Coburn is taking advantage of that rule to block the consideration of the bill postponing any Medicare insurance premium increase in a year when retirees receive no COLA. Although it passed the House with bi-partisan support, Senator Coburn, in his infinite wisdom and sense of self-importance, is stopping this bill to help seniors.
This is the same Coburn they are now telling seniors to call and thank for taking care of our interests.
Senator Coburn, with his sense of omnipotence, has also taken it upon himself to block Senate consideration of an appropriation for Veterans’ health care. This is the same guy who voted to increase deficits to pay for the war in Iraq and the armaments to fight it, but he says the country cannot now afford to provide proper medical treatment for its returning soldiers because of deficits.
Oklahoma’s two senators have been consistently the butt of Capitol jokes, and our state constantly suffers that stigma of ridicule nationally. Why do we keep sending such people to Washington to represent us? Are we too ignorant to know what we have? Are we are just too partisan to care?
Senator Coburn is mixed in deeply with the “C-Street gang.” At first glance this appears to be just a bunch of congressmen sharing a very large rooming house with a common area. It is located very close to the Capitol. Then it appears that the basis of this rooming house association is that all are fundamentalist Christians. Then it emerges that this place is called a “church,” and so identified for tax purposes.
This “church” has had a book written about it. It is the center of several investigations by news media. It appears from reports that this “church” may be similar to a “cult.” It seems also to be something of a religious fraternity, similar to college -- except for grown people. It is also something of a “secret society.”
They are supposed to be a “brotherhood” of religious, mostly republican, senators and congressmen where they help solve one another’s problems – like getting one out of an adulterous scandal involving Mr. Coburn being the go-between in a payoff. (He first denied this, but later admitted it.) Republican congressional miscreants are counseled in secret in this house under a code of silence. It does not matter that such silence may conceal unethical, or even illegal, conduct in violation of House or Senate rules, as is said to be the case.
This “C-Street House” is part of much larger “church” or cult headed by mysterious figures and governed by mysterious rules. It has been alleged also to be a “political machine” composed of residents and non-residents as well, all ultra-conservative fundamentalists with an agenda. This group is said to have its own priorities. Their agenda is to advance their ideas and religious beliefs through Congress, not accountable to any other religious or secular body. It is said that this fraternal “loyalty” is to be above all others. If so, this is a bit scary.
“C-Street” has just this week lost its property tax-exempt status in Washington, D.C. The goings-on there and the conduct of its occupants, including Senator Coburn, are under investigation by Congress and by other federal authorities. There is inquiry being made as to the entity to which room “rents” were paid, and whether such amounts have been claimed as “contributions.”
Senator Coburn has been tainted by all this, regardless of any personal “do-gooder” intentions he may have had or how much he protests innocence. His “holier-than-thou” approach to government and politics, at the expense of such groups as seniors and veterans, will not work any longer. He dropped his crown.
Since he is no longer any better than the rest of us, he should quit “playing God” in the Senate and blocking legislation needed by millions. And, let’s get those false commercials off the air, so that I can rest from shouting to my television, “You lie! You lie!”
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
