Friday, September 10, 2010

Committees of the 112th Congress

If the Republicans control the House.

Energy and Commerce Comm. Chair Joe Barton (R-TX) "I think it is a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown, in this case a $20 billion shakedown...so I apologize [to BP]. (Funded by energy industry; Global warming is a benefit to mankind)

Oversight and Government Reform Comm. Chair Darrell Issa (R-CA) "It's very clear that allegation is one that everyone from Arlen Spector to Dick Morris has said is in fact a crime, and could be impeachable." (re: "illegal" job offer to Joe Sestak - wants to impeach Pres. Obama)

Appropriations Comm. Chair Jerry Lewis(R-CA) Most corrupt member of Congress, under Federal investigation.

Budget Comm. Chair Paul Ryan(R-WI) Author of "Roadmap for America's Future" which most Republicans are afraid to publically support. Privatize SS, Medicare & Medicaid.

Judiciary Comm. Chair Lamar Smith (R-TX) Impeach President Obama; illegal immigrants are same as terrorists; change 14th ammendment.

Select Comm. on Energy Independence and Global Warming Chair Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) Voted against creating this committee; "There's increasing evidence of scientific fascism that's going on." (re: climate change)

Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Chair Rob Bishop (R-UT) Green jobs "are as real as the Jolly Green Giant: it is a great ad concept, but it doesn't exist.

Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Chair Louie Gohmert (R-TX) "Anchor babies" of illegal immigrants will "come back in 25 years" and "blow us up".

Judiciary subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law Chair Steve King Build big electric border fence; Deport a liberal for every legalized undocumented immigrant; identify immigrants by what kind of shoes they are wearing.

Financial Service Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology Chair Ron Paul (R-TX) Abolish Federal Reserve; Return to gold standard; We went to war in Iraq because Saddam priced his oil in euros.

One question: what is in the water in Texas?

Sunday, September 05, 2010

Success in Iraq!

The Iraq War is over. Well, not really. There is still plenty of sectarian violence. But we have a stable democratic government. Not really. A government has not really been formed since the last election and the government is corrupt. At least we are bringing our troops home. Nope, 50,000 American troops remain in Iraq.
We've made Iraq more secure without Sadam. Not in my opinion. I'm still waiting for the majority Shia in Iraq to join forces with the majority Shia in Iran. And forgot the cost of the war in dollars (all borrowed), estimated to be 3 trillion. We were told the war would cost 50-60 billion dollars and Iraqi oil would pay for it. Thousands of Americans lost their lives, tens of thousands of Americans were wounded, and tens of thousands of Iraqis were killed(at least). For this kind of success?