“United” States??? What A Joke!

Posted on by under Law and justice, Political commentary, Racism & Bigotry, Rants, Social commentary

Are you as sick and damn tired as I am of the constant criticism of members of the Republican Party toward anything and everything that wasn’t their own idea, of anything that promotes common sense and racial equality?  They claim to want unity, but then they act as if they are the only ones whose opinions or ideas have a shred of value.  Frankly, I’m sick of it, sick of the blatant racism, homophobia, and utter stupidity.  On Tuesday, Texas Governor Abbot announced that there would be no more mask mandate and that businesses in Texas could now re-open.  On Wednesday, Mississippi followed suit, eliminating all pandemic-related restrictions.

Both states will pay a heavy price for these decisions, for the pandemic is far from over, not even under control.  Abbott claimed he had consulted with doctors about his decision, but the doctors deny his claim and say it was the wrong decision.  There isn’t a shred of doubt that these two states will see a rise in the number of cases and deaths before the end of the month.  President Biden responded …

“I think it’s a big mistake. Look, I hope everybody’s realized by now, these masks make a difference. We are on the cusp of being able to fundamentally change the nature of this disease because of the way in which we’re able to get vaccines in people’s arms. The last thing — the last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking that in the meantime, everything’s fine, take off your mask, forget it.  It’s critical — critical, critical, critical — that they follow the science: Wash your hands, hot water, do it frequently. Wear a mask and stay socially distanced. And I know you all know that. I wish the heck some of our elected officials knew it.”

What he said was a hell of a lot nicer than what I said when I heard about Texas and Mississippi, but of course the damn fools on the right had to jump on what he said.  Senator Marco Rubio from Florida claimed Biden should seek “training on unconscious bias”.  WHAT BIAS, Marco?  Facts are facts!  It was neanderthal thinking … worse yet, it was lunacy.  And picking a fight over this is … or should be … beneath the dignity of elected lawmakers who have a job to do and don’t need to be wasting their time and our money nitpicking every word out of the president’s mouth!  Especially given that they supported the former guy who never uttered a sincere or kind word in 4 years!

But, there is an even more serious issue on which congressional republicans are determined to fight.  The issue is HR1, aka For the People Act, a bill that primarily deals with anti-corruption and voting reform.  The bill passed on Wednesday night in the House and now moves on to the Senate, where it faces an uphill battle, especially among … yep, you got it, Republicans.

HR1 is not actually a new bill … it was passed by the House in 2019, but like most every other bill during the reign of Mitch McConnell, it sat gathering dust as he refused to even open it for discussion.  A few of the key components of the bill are …

  • Instituting nonpartisan redistricting commissions to end partisan gerrymandering
  • Creating a national system for automatic voter registration
  • Putting in transparency requirements for political advertising

When the bill was first introduced back in 2019, it had broad public support.  It might have even passed in the Senate, had Mr. McConnell allowed it to see the light of day.  Today, the criticisms of the bill are infuriatingly false.  For example, a recent Facebook post claims the Act will “permanently destroy voting in America.”  My my my … what drama queens they are!  Actually, the Act would make it easier for people to vote by mail, which would benefit us all, but especially the poor and minorities who often have difficulty getting to the polling places in time.  It would require states to implement automatic and same-day voter registration.  In short … it would allow every eligible voter to vote!!!  What the Sam Hell is so hard to understand.

The Facebook post makes alarmist claims, such as that murderers will be allowed to vote, and broad generalizations suggesting that the bill will lead to regulation of freedom of speech. While the post doesn’t use the phrase “voter fraud”, it leaves readers with the misleading impression that the bill aims to weaken election security. The bill actually includes provisions to increase security through grants and cybersecurity improvements.

43 states currently have some 250+ bills on their dockets that would restrict voting rights, make it far more difficult for people, especially those who happen to not have white skin, to vote.  WHAT the hell is fair about that?  Oh, Black people are supposed to work hard, pay their taxes, but not be allowed a voice in how those taxes are spent?  And you call this liberty???

The crux of the matter is this:  The Republican Party is in the minority, is not particularly popular with people who use their brains to think instead of playing silly putty with them, and the only damn way they can win in some areas is if they can repress the vote.  So, they criticize, they lie, they cheat, and they steal!

Mike Pence, for whom I actually had a bit of empathy after his life was nearly taken and still he proceeded to do the right thing, certifying the electoral vote on January 6th, has written an opinion piece in The Signal, a far right-wing publication, where he claims …

“After an election marked by significant voting irregularities and numerous instances of officials setting aside state election law, I share the concerns of millions of Americans about the integrity of the 2020 election.”

WHOA … let’s stop right there for a minute!  After 60+ lawsuits where not a shred of evidence was provided to support the former guy’s claim of election fraud, this statement by Pence should have caused his nose to grow by at least an inch!

“Congressional districts would be redrawn by unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats. Illegal immigrants and law-abiding American citizens would receive equal representation in Congress. Felons would be able to vote the moment they set foot out of prison.”

Yeah … so … your point, Mikey, is what???  I don’t want elected bureaucrats drawing district maps … I want independent, non-partisan people drawing them so we don’t see maps that make no sense other than to cram minorities into as few districts as possible.  There is no such thing as an “illegal” immigrant!  If an immigrant is working and paying taxes in this country he/she ought to be able to have a voice.  And why do you think released felons ought not to be allowed to vote?  They are citizens.  They work and pay taxes once they are released.  WHY the hell do you think they ought not to have a say???  BIGOT!  Next, you can look for Pence, who is a blatant homophobe, to try to take away the LGBT community’s right to vote!

Okay, enough about what Mike Pence and the rest of the bigots in the Republican Party have to say, for my blood pressure is already somewhere up in the stratosphere. Does HR1 stand a snowball’s chance in hell of passing in the Senate?  The short answer is ‘no’, for in order to avoid a filibuster it would require a 60-vote majority … and it’s already obvious that not more than maybe one republican will vote for it.  There is a path … a very narrow path … if the senate democrats are committed enough to it, then they can partially amend Senate filibuster rules to allow democracy reform legislation like HR1 to advance on a simple majority vote and therefore potentially be able to pass on a party-line vote. That would be different from fully blowing up the filibuster, but it still could get pushback from Senate institutionalists even in the Democratic Party like Senator Joe Manchin, a staunch advocate of keeping the filibuster in place, though I have no idea why.

If HR1 fails, then the 43 states who are trying so hard to rob us of our voice in the government we support financially will likely succeed and this will no longer be a nation I can bear to live in.  If every single person, regardless of skin colour, ethnicity, gender identification, or religion cannot vote, then what’s the point in even holding elections?  Perhaps it’s time to admit that this is by no stretch of the imagination the “United” States?

42 thoughts on ““United” States??? What A Joke!”

  1. Blatant racism, homophobia, and utter stupidity. Rank hypocrisy, raging greed, and unprincipled stances. Outright lying and obstructionism. Failing to plan, planning to fail.

    These phrases summarize the current GOP. Being united as a country has strayed far from their thoughts. Of course, when a recent poll finds that Republicans view Democrats as ‘the enemy’, how can we be surprised? They were fed a steady Fox News diet, and as that caught on, pols embraced he same diet. Now that their ignorant, misguided bullshit has been fully exposed: they – the party, the politicians, and the rank and file, except for a few – are not interested in freedom, democracy, equality, or justice for any but themselves.

    Hugs, and cheers. M

    Liked by 1 person

    • I can’t help but wonder where this country will be 10-20 years from now, for the current divisions are untenable. There seems to be no middle ground on which the two sides can seek compromise and understanding, and history shows this cannot continue for long. It seems the Republicans’ end goal is to turn away from diversity, to create a white, evangelical, male-dominated nation where any who don’t look, speak, act, and believe like them are not welcome. I hope common sense prevails, but of late that hope is dimming.

      Hugs ‘n cheers to you Michael!

      Liked by 1 person

  2. I 100% agree with everything you say. I’m just gonna say this; j *illdennison*, we would get along SO well if we were friends. I mean like, this WHOLE article is legit a masterpiece of truths, and reality, and very accurate perspective views, every other thing that has to do with those words. It really is a beauty, this article, and I think that anybody who reads this article should be on this guys’ side, because he speaks true, and anybody who agrees with what I am saying, please, do reply to my comment.

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  3. Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
    “Are you as sick and damn tired as I am of the constant criticism of members of the Republican Party toward anything and everything that wasn’t their own idea, of anything that promotes common sense and racial equality? ” … I am beyond that!! I’m fed up and almost ready to ‘take my toys home and play by myself’!! Had it!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Beware the disappointment of the extremes of the political wings.
    In the UK the followers of Corbyn are re-inventing history blaming everyone in sight for Labour’s ineptitude in losing the 2019 election, except for Martyred Jeremy.
    The one advantage we have is that they are something of a minority (albeit a large one) within the party, never mind the country.
    It will need a raw-boned fire and brimstone thundering orator to stalk the USA preaching loud and long that Trump and the rest of the crew were the real traitors to the USA (gloves off and very dirty tactics….it’s the only way you win wars)

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hmmmm … the situation with Corbyn sounds somehow very familiar. I’ve not been keeping up with what’s going on in the rest of the world, so consumed by our own news I have been. I wonder if even your solution, the ‘raw-boned fire and brimstone thundering orator’ would work over here. People seem incapable of listening or believing any view that doesn’t mesh with the one they’ve been told to believe. They seem incapable of using their brains to think for themselves, to add 2+2 and come up with 4. I think TS has taken hold in this country. Sigh.

      Liked by 1 person

      • This is why you need a really fearsome orator. One who can soar and stand up to the heckling, tear apart the opposition and challenge the deluded to think again. For a start if they went for MAGA and Trump they would already have several tens of millions of supporters.
        As for the devotees of Corbyn:
        “He was stabbed in the back”
        “The media was against him”
        “The election in 2019 was stolen…..”
        “Take to the streets”
        Now does that sound familiar to you? Have you heard that sort of stuff before, somewhere?
        MAGA-Lite ( The best gift Boris Johnson could have hoped for)

        Liked by 1 person

        • Agreed … hmmmm … I know just the man for the job! Shall I book your flight over here for this week? Oh, and please bring Sheila with you … she and I can have a lovely chat over lunch while you whip these loons into shape!

          Oh yes, sounds 100% familiar … and disgusting. Sigh.

          Liked by 1 person

          • Thanks for the invitation Jill😃.
            It’s not me you need though. Whoever they are they must be American, ready to challenge those who threaten the unity of the USA. Regrettably still in this time they will need to be a white male, a fearless and combative defender of Women’s, Right, Racial Equality and uncaring of what Gender. Someone who challenges the perspective of those still on the Republican Right, to caste doubt into their minds and bring them over the fence.
            And raw-boned true believer in Unity. One who will finally demolish the hovels of ignorance and intolerance which some folk delude themselves into thinking are palaces.

            Liked by 1 person

            • Okay, you make a good point, but I’m really disappointed not to get to see you and Sheila! Wait! I’ve got an idea … you could come over and train the person we need! I’m a bit miffed, though I fully agree with you, that this person will need to have pale skin. DAMMIT … it’s time for the people of this nation to wake up and wipe the sleepy dust out of their eyes! All that aside … I don’t know of a person in this nation who is up to that task. We simply have none, or if we do, they aren’t stepping forward. What you’re describing is a white Malcolm X, and I’m not seeing any. Sigh.

              Liked by 1 person

  5. Jill, I think many of us are tired of the gamesmanship that is going on. Both sides do it, but for a long while the former Republican Party has embraced untruths and even conspiracies as talking points.

    I want to say to people like Senator Ted Cruz or Lindsey Graham, it is OK for us to disagree on policy issues, but you are a Senator of the United States of America. I expect you to tell the truth, nothing less. You do disservice to our country when you do not and abet others who do the same.

    Our problems are hard enough to solve when we deal with facts, but nigh impossible when Senators, Governors, Congress people just parrot BS, because someone told them they better.

    Keith

    Liked by 1 person

    • In the past … oh, say 20 years or so … it is mainly the right, the conservatives, that are playing the games with our lives. But these past four years … it’s like being on one of those carnival rides that spins you round and round until you’re so dizzy you can’t think straight.

      Yes, our problems need the cooperation of all our elected officials to resolve, and yet we are denied that. They play with our lives as if we were naught but pieces on a chessboard … and for this, we PAY them!!! Sigh.

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        • But of course! Did you see the Lindsey Graham interview with Jonathan Swan? I didn’t see it, but read a couple of articles about it and had to shake my head. Ol’ Lindsey wants to play both ends against the middle … hopefully someday the voters of South Carolina will wake up to his games and vote him out.

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  6. Thank you for sharing!!… there are many who depend on a “image” to promote their ideology… in the past it were easy to do but with today’s technology, one can run but cannot hide… 🙂

    That being said, there are elements of those that refer to themselves as Republicans (or like thinking), primarily the Conservatives, who have a closed minded ideology, and deny any opposing ideas or ideology… I suspect they would be happy to have a “democracy” similar to other conservative governments (Iran, China, North Korea, Myanmar, etc…).. 🙂

    “There is an African saying which is: Beware when a naked person offers you a shirt” (Maya Angelou)… 🙂

    Until we meet again..
    May your troubles be less
    Your blessings be more
    And nothing but happiness
    Come through your door
    (Irish Saying)

    Liked by 1 person

    • You are so right … there are far too many in this country whose ideology is a carryover from the 1950s or even earlier and who believe they are in the right. They would surely be happy if they could have such a government where they reign supreme and all others are beneath them.

      I really like that African saying … it makes so much sense!

      And thanks a million for the Irish Saying … you know I always love those!

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  7. Jill, you really had sympathy for Pence? If he had one ounce of backbone, he would have been on the phone with every GOP senator during the recent impeachment process, exhorting them to convict. This did not happen. Are you really surprised at his recent statements? He’s been a piece of soiled napkin for years & years.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Nope, I didn’t say sympathy … I said empathy. For once, Pence defied the former guy and was doing his duty, for which he was almost murdered. Yeah, I have empathy for that. I do not like Pence, I do not respect him, but nobody should die because they were doing the right thing.

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  8. To Rawgod: please define a ‘natural boundary’. If you mean something like a river or mountain range, that’s fine. But how many of those straight line state boundaries on most maps of the USA I’ve ever seen could seriously be described as natural? And to David: you shock me to the core by defining the difference of opinion about HR1 as being ‘minorities’ versus ‘white people’. I should not need to explain why that is shocking.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Natural boundaries for elections, to me, are sub-divisions , urban areas, or even streets as borders, preferably both sides of one street in one district, and both sides of the next street in another, all straight lines except where absolutely necessary, except for boundaries like rivers or railroad tracks or wide main drags where each side can be put in different districts.
      What I do not agree with are not straight lines that create confusing boundaries.
      Whatever you are using for size criteria, such as a certain size of the population, those within a district not being counted by race or economic condition. Those who live there are in, those who do not live there are out.
      Polling stations must be located all over a district so voters can get to a station by normal methods, and in doable time periods. There must be enough stations so there are not line-ups to vote at some stations and not enough voters to keep other stations busy.
      In our last election here in Alberta, anyone could vote at any polling station in Alberta, it did not have to be in one’s home riding. Having the voters list on computer, this created no problems, provincially. It might be a sight harder for a federal election in a very populous country like the USA, but it is not insurmountable. Adding unconditional mail-in ballots makes it easy for everyone who wants to vote to be able to vote. The votes are all directed to the home district of the voter. Yes, such a system could be abused, but surely American ingenuity is up to the task.

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  9. I think you hit on something, Jill, that even the Repuglies would be forced to vote against, and thus vote for the HR1. Anyone who pays taxes but is denied the vote, or in any way prevented from the ability to place their vote, must have the taxes they paid in their whole life returned to them, with interest!
    After all, pwy why should anyone who is not allowed to participate in the election process be forced to to not be able to participate. If you file a tax form, you are automatically registered to vote, even if you get all your tax installments returned to you. Tie the one directly to the others. And do, yes, do! make all district bounderies natural, ungerrymandered. I won’t add anything extraneous to this comment, for once.

    Liked by 2 people

    • I would love to see people get so fed up that they refuse to pay their taxes … start a tax revolution. Better yet, I’m in the mood to see a worker’s strike … see how long it takes the big corporations to beg Congress to pass that minimum wage law and HR1 so people will go back to making the useless garbage they manufacture! Sigh.

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      • A people’s uprising might work, but a lot of people wouldn’t suffer, and or die if that were to occur. No, the government should be leading the way on this. Take the initiative, and start refunding taxes for non-voters immediately.

        Liked by 1 person

          • Keep pecking away at them, Jill. Someone has to do it. They have way to much power for a party that in control of nothing at the federal level. Obviously no one saw this coming, and the Democratic Party is looking very weak, because of it.
            Remember I told you SiSi had nothing but black hair? Well, in the last few days a brry/silver patch is appearing undr her chin. And her hair has a definite tinge in sunlight. I call it brown.Gail calls it red, like apple red. I have never seen colours the way other people do.

            Liked by 1 person

            • I will, Jerry, but sometimes I admit I feel like just giving up … let them destroy our lives, I don’t care. But we both know I do care … it’s just sometimes too exhausting.

              Awwww … a grey/silver patch under her chin … how cute! When we had a black cat, the sun shining on his fur always gave it a reddish tint. I don’t see colours the same as everyone else, either …

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  11. I too expect to see an increase in deaths in those two States which is just what Texas needed after the big freeze there. It’s vital that HR1 passes if for no other reason than to confirm to the minorities that they have the same rights as white people and the support of their Government This bill mustn’t be forced out and buried again leaving minorities. without the right to vote in the Government of their choice.
    Cwtch

    Liked by 2 people

    • From what I’ve read, even a large number of Texans disagree with the governor’s decision, but like other republicans, he’s pandering to his base. My fingers are crossed for HR1, and if it doesn’t pass, I think we’re going to have to take action beyond simply writing letters to our elected representatives. I’d love to see a nationwide worker’s strike, or a tax revolution. Let’s hope the bill makes it through the Senate … let’s hope a couple of repugnant democratic senators remember to whom their loyalties are supposed to lie. Sigh.
      Cwtch

      Liked by 1 person

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