No Why?

NOTE: This is part one on what I plan on being a two or three part series on Politics in America.  It isn’t meant to be a slam on one party in particular; it’s meant to be a slam on all of them.

Also, I’m willing to have a serious conversation with anyone who disagrees with me; after all, that’s healthy.  However, if all you’re gonna do is slam me and insult me and my intelligence, then don’t bother.

I got a problem.

There are people out there who say they’re acting in the best interest of the country; that they’re working on making this a better place for the future of America.  Whereas this is a very admirable and amicable stance, it’s not entirely the truth.

You see, the Republican Party, also known as the Grand Old Party, also known as the GOP, has had an alarming trend as of late.  It seems that every word that comes out of their mouth is “no”.  Oddly enough, this isn’t in opposition to things they don’t believe in; I can understand that.  No…this is in opposition to EVERYTHING!  What’s worse is it’s sometimes in opposition to things they were for in the first place!  I imagine this being a typical conversation:

Republican: I want to do tax breaks.

President: Okay, let’s do tax breaks.

Republican: No.

President: Why not?  You just said you wanted to do tax breaks.

Republican: No, I didn’t.  I don’t want to do tax breaks, so no.

Substitute “tax breaks” with health care, offshore drilling, clean energy, nuclear energy or something along those lines, and the results would be the same.  At this rate, the GOP might as well change their name to TPON: The Party of No.  It’s almost as if they criticize openly and heartily until they hear what they want.  Then, they say no and criticize that.

Not only that, but they’re notorious flip-floppers as well.  Sure, John Kerry flip-flopped quite often, but their flip-flopping happens at an alarming rate.  Take Joe Lieberman, for example.  Now, I know what you’re thinking…”Joe Lieberman is an Independent!”  Yeah, well so was John McCain, and we see how well that worked out for him.

Anyway, let’s take good ol’ Joe for example.  At one point, he was all for a public option.  Then, he suddenly wasn’t.  At one point, he was all for a single payer option.  Then, suddenly he wasn’t.  Lieberman has changed his mind on so many things so many times, I’m surprised his head hasn’t imploded.  In my opinion, Senator Lieberman needs to make up his mind; he needs to take a side and stick with it.  Well, actually…he doesn’t have to do that.  It seems like he’s done that already.

Now, I also mentioned John McCain earlier.  Let me go on record as saying I respect Senator McCain.  As a fellow Navy man, I can respect what he went through, and I have the utmost respect for him surviving as a POW in Vietnam.  That being said, you are not above reproach.  For example, you said that people should listen to the generals on the ground and that if they want a policy changed, we should do it.  Well, Admiral Mullen said we should repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”  Now, you’re blatantly against it.  Really?  Please, Senator; pick a side.

In recent history, the GOP is mostly in favor of big business while virtually eschewing the middle class.  Big businesses have patently gotten massive tax breaks and cuts in hopes of stimulating the economy, whereas the middle class has gotten the short shrift.  Tell me…on what universe does that make sense?  Whatever universe that is, I don’t want to live there.  I think if you do tax breaks, you should do them across the board.  There is no reason for big business to get tax breaks and the middle class should have to foot the bill.

I should get in touch with Senator Shelby and let him know how I feel about this.  I think I’d be wasting my time, though; after all, I already know the answer I’d get.