Democrats Crudely Roll Over for Scratchings
Did that work? My puns are more and more belabored these days. You can blame The Wire (and Violeta, the addict who got me hooked), which has eaten the better part of my vaycay thus far.
Anyway, in the above metaphor (if we’re generous enough to call it that) oil companies and Republicans are doing the scratching and the Democrats, as always, are exposing their bellies, wagging faintly.
House Dems capitulated on the off-shore drilling ban yesterday - ending a 25-year moratorium on drilling in US coastal waters.
Faced with a promised veto from Bush on their 50-mile plan, Democrats said, “Oh well then, I guess we give up.”
How many seats in Congress must we win before we start using the power we have? Would a 430-5 majority do it? Or would the Dems still find themselves quivering in terror before the Republican “we’ll-say-something-mean/untrue-about-you” machine?
I get it - Republicans are better at spin, and would leave the Dems holding the bag for $4 gasoline in an election year.
But what is the point of power if you’re not going to use it?
I’m not talking about corruption; I’m talking about the people electing you to office for a reason. In 2006, American voters looked around and thought, ‘Well, that is some bullshit.” And then we turn around and give them the same old bullshit. Now with false promises of lowered gas prices!
Seriously, I’ve been watching way too much of The Wire. I’ve got harmonica riffs stuck in my head, and I’m feeling just overly sassy about damn near everything.
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