Sunday, October 20, 2013

To: Senator John McCain

        Senator John McCain says that the actions of House Republicans causing the government shutdown is one of the most “shameful chapters he’s seen” in all his years in congress.  Mr. McCain, I am ashamed to say that I campaigned for you for president and supported you in your run for the senate.  I am ashamed.
         First of all, the government has shut down 17 times since 1976 when budgeting processes allowed it to happen, and you have worked through 9 of them.  The government shut down every year when Ronald Reagan was president.  How were they resolved?  President Reagan refused to inflict pain on the American people, so he negotiated and compromised. 
         It was not the Republicans but President Obama and the Democrats who shut down the government because they refuse to negotiate, refuse to compromise.  Republicans offered proposal after proposal and each one was either rejected or ignored. 
         First they offered a budget that funded everything except Obamacare.  Rejected.  
          Second, they offered a budget that funded everything but proposed to delay Obamacare for a year and repeal the malevolent medical device tax.  Rejected.
          Third, they proposed a budget that funded everything, but delayed Obamacare’s individual mandate for just one year and required the president, the vice president, political appointees, and all members of Congress and their staffs to enroll in Obamacare’s health-care exchanges with no employer contribution.  Rejected. 
          Fourth, the House tried passing small appropriations bills to keep specific portions of the government running.  Ignored.  Obama demands they restore all government funding without conditions.  
           Republicans proposed keeping the sequester cuts in place, but giving departments of government the flexibility to apply those cuts in ways least harmful to services.  Democrats said no.  Sequester cuts must be applied across the board in ways that inflict the most pain on the American people.
           Democrats insist on an all or nothing approach despite the fact that in every government shutdown in the past, spending gap measures have always been passed to protect important services.
           Senator McCain, I am embarrassed that you demonize those of us in These United states who insist on a fiscally responsible government.  Blame President Obama.  He is so inept he hasn’t been able to get a budget passed in 5 years, even during those years when Democrats controlled  both houses.  Blame Democrats who criminally refuse to face the mind boggling realities of a 17 trillion debt coupled with 90 trillion dollars in future unfunded liabilities. 
           Obama and the Democrats have opted to simply ignore the doom and gloom.  Harry Reed refuses to bring even President Obama’s proposed budgets to the floor of the senate for a vote, and he and goes home grinning because he has manipulated the press, and you, into blaming Conservative Republicans. “They've shut down the government over an ideological crusade.”  God forbid we should have legislators who put principle before power.

               Senator McCain, I love you.  I respect you.  But I regret to say that you have, for 33 years, sacrificed principle for power.  God forbid we lose every election, but at least Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio and Mike Lee and David Vitter, Jeff Sessions, Pat Roberts, Jim Risch, Rand Paul, James M. Inhofe and Mike Enzi will rest in peace, knowing they fought the good fight.

1 comment:

  1. Sarah Palin made me reconsider my outburst. Still he should have worked with Cruz rather than call his efforts shameful.

    “I consider Senator John McCain an American hero and a friend. He fights to remind our President that the federal government’s first priority must be strong defense of our homeland, and, like Congressman Johnson, he fights against big-spending colleagues who don’t prioritize for our military’s needs. … During this time of dangerous lawlessness in the executive branch, those who agree on stopping the intended transformation of our country had better unite to fight. So at this time, it's perplexing to see Senator McCain’s good efforts to uncover the Obama agenda being ignored and perhaps even hindered now by those wanting to censure the Arizona Senator. Despite our differences on some other issues, there is no questioning Senator McCain’s dedication to national security in spite of the White House’s agenda.” – Sarah Palin

    Governor Sarah Palin’s full Facebook post:

    On this day in 1973 the Paris Peace Accords were signed. Although controversial, this treaty resulted in the release of our American POWs in Vietnam. Among them was John McCain. Our courageous POWs had endured unimaginable punishment at the hands of enemy captors in their sacrificial service to country. Our appreciation for them cannot be adequately articulated.

    So many of these vets and POWs have continued to serve our country in private life. They’re still fighting for America and showing their love of country in all they do. Some like Congressman Sam Johnson of Texas and Senator John McCain serve us in the halls of Congress today.

    I consider Senator John McCain an American hero and a friend. He fights to remind our President that the federal government’s first priority must be strong defense of our homeland, and, like Congressman Johnson, he fights against big-spending colleagues who don’t prioritize for our military’s needs. Upon the Senator’s shoulders he’s carried part of our message of opposition to today’s “fundamental transformation” of America directly to the problem: President Obama and Harry Reid’s far left agenda.

    I appreciate Senator McCain's steadfastness in demanding truth in the White House’s Benghazi cover-up. Because of his persistence we WILL get that truth, and then more eyes will be open to see how dangerous an Obama-led retreating America is in this volatile world.

    It goes without saying we don’t all agree on all political issues. For instance, I shall keep pushing to open ANWR, I oppose letting illegal aliens cut in line and receive American benefits via “immigration reform,” and I oppose any Congressional action that allows President Obama to incur more U.S. debt. During this time of dangerous lawlessness in the executive branch, those who agree on stopping the intended transformation of our country had better unite to fight. So at this time, it's perplexing to see Senator McCain’s good efforts to uncover the Obama agenda being ignored and perhaps even hindered now by those wanting to censure the Arizona Senator. Despite our differences on some other issues, there is no questioning Senator McCain’s dedication to national security in spite of the White House’s agenda.

    We live in a time of diminishing virtues because of societal influence towards total self-centeredness. This is unfortunate and makes raising families, conducting business, and governing that much more challenging. I know how important the virtue of loyalty is because in politics it’s pretty much nonexistent. I stand on that most important virtue and answer those asking today: “Yes, I am proud to have been asked to run with him in 2008, and he is my friend.”

    One more thing, if you've met his beautiful mother you know where he gets his tenacity. Roberta McCain is one tough Mama Grizzly.

    – Sarah Palin

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