Now this week's big post and quick read will be about two of my favorite people: Mitch McConnell and Anthony Weiner. Now this one will be hard to write for me. Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE politics, public policy, and issues of governance, but these two are part of the reason that so many people are turned away from politics, but I WILL TRY MY BEST to state my case that these two are the exception, not the rule.
First we will start with good old Mitch! To keep it short, I don't really agree with Mr. McConnell on anything. I love going to UofL, but knowing that he is the "most accomplished" academic to ever come out of UofL makes me kinda queasy. But I think my biggest qualm with him came in 2010, when he stated that his number one political goal was to "make Barack Obama a one term President". Now, besides being outright disrespectful, this statement shows a serious lack of leadership from someone who is supposed to be the head guy in the Republican senate caucus. McConnell's number one goal wasn't to provide cheap healthcare for seniors, to develop Kentucky's economy, or improve national education standards; it was to defeat a political opponent who had handily won an election 2 years before. Now whether or not you agree with the President (not even I do 100% of the time), we look for our political leaders to work together on common ground issues that we all can agree on. Unfortunately it looked like Senator McConnell looked unwilling to work with this President from the start, and this statement was only the beginning of Senator McConnell's grand obstruction plans, which are still continuing today. In fact, McConnell has filibustered 420 bills in the Senate, including one of his own
Now along with his lack of leadership, I disagree strongly with Senator McConnell on several other issues. Let's start with economics. Starting back in the late 90s, the seeds of the 2008 economic crisis were sown when the Republican controlled Congress pushed for repeal of the Depression-era Glass-Steagall act that kept banks from investing on their own assets (in the case of 2008, risky mortgages that brought huge profits until the mortgages went under). Mr. McConnell was part of this deregulation of banks that let them grow so big. Fast forward ten years when the banks were going under and he voted to give the failing banks a tax payer bailout. However, when General Motors was going under, Mr. McConnell voted against a tax payer loan to keep America's 2nd largest employer going afloat (maybe because it would have stripped the UAW of thousands of members but that's for another day). This is a case where Mr. McConnell chose to put Wall Street ahead of Main Street. McConnell is also notorious for providing favors for campaign donors. He hands out legislative gifts to insurance companies, banks, and oil and gas companies. Alison Grimes kicked off her campaign this year with everyday Americans, McConnell kicked off his reelection campaign with lobbyist friends. Also, just out today, one Political Action Committee that supports Senator McConnell received a $100,000 donation....from a dead guy! Now of course his supporters say there was a computer glitch, but this story is just another suspicious view on McConnell's finance machine.
On social issues, we grow farther apart. In 2004, McConnell wanted to write discrimination against gays and lesbians into the Constitution with a Federal Marriage Amendment, making marriage between one man and one woman. He also voted against the Matthew Shephard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which makes Hate Crime posecution against LGBT people and racial minority groups easier. His shoddy civil rights record continues with his participation in the war against women. He voted against the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act both of which seek to end income inequality between men and women (women make 7 cents for every dollar that men make who do the same work). The routinely renewed Violence Against Women Act which funds programs against domestic violence such as the Center for Women and Families was rejected by McConnell.
It is this sort of do nothingness that has frustrated so many Kentuckians. Even many conservatives don't feel that he should be able to spend another 6 years in Washington. Only time will tell, but let's hope that the man who either wants to not do his job or take money for political favors will finally retire. Please search online for more of McConnell's votes at ontheissues.org and votesmart.org. I could go on for many more paragraphs, but these are the major objections I have with the Senator.
Now of course despicable politicians come in all shapes, sizes, and ideology. That's where we get to New York Mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner who I'm sure needs no introduction. The worst part about this story is that I liked him while he was in Congress before he started to make bad decisions that involved his namesake. Now that there are new allegations, I am only able to sit and ruminate on what exactly Weiner's actions mean. Now America is a very forgiving society when it comes to our celebrities. Whether or not you agree, I think that our celebrities/politicians need to hold themselves up to high standards since they are in the public eye. Also, when they do make bad decisions, they need to apologize in an honest and open manner. These apologies shouldn't be DEFENSIVE against reporters who ask why you send your junk to multiple women, your apology shouldn't come AFTER the Food Network drops your show, and your apology should be SINCERE, not scripted. Weiner is just another person who has made bad decisions, but when decision making is a key part in his job, should we REALLY give him a second chance?
Now along with his lack of leadership, I disagree strongly with Senator McConnell on several other issues. Let's start with economics. Starting back in the late 90s, the seeds of the 2008 economic crisis were sown when the Republican controlled Congress pushed for repeal of the Depression-era Glass-Steagall act that kept banks from investing on their own assets (in the case of 2008, risky mortgages that brought huge profits until the mortgages went under). Mr. McConnell was part of this deregulation of banks that let them grow so big. Fast forward ten years when the banks were going under and he voted to give the failing banks a tax payer bailout. However, when General Motors was going under, Mr. McConnell voted against a tax payer loan to keep America's 2nd largest employer going afloat (maybe because it would have stripped the UAW of thousands of members but that's for another day). This is a case where Mr. McConnell chose to put Wall Street ahead of Main Street. McConnell is also notorious for providing favors for campaign donors. He hands out legislative gifts to insurance companies, banks, and oil and gas companies. Alison Grimes kicked off her campaign this year with everyday Americans, McConnell kicked off his reelection campaign with lobbyist friends. Also, just out today, one Political Action Committee that supports Senator McConnell received a $100,000 donation....from a dead guy! Now of course his supporters say there was a computer glitch, but this story is just another suspicious view on McConnell's finance machine.
On social issues, we grow farther apart. In 2004, McConnell wanted to write discrimination against gays and lesbians into the Constitution with a Federal Marriage Amendment, making marriage between one man and one woman. He also voted against the Matthew Shephard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which makes Hate Crime posecution against LGBT people and racial minority groups easier. His shoddy civil rights record continues with his participation in the war against women. He voted against the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act both of which seek to end income inequality between men and women (women make 7 cents for every dollar that men make who do the same work). The routinely renewed Violence Against Women Act which funds programs against domestic violence such as the Center for Women and Families was rejected by McConnell.
It is this sort of do nothingness that has frustrated so many Kentuckians. Even many conservatives don't feel that he should be able to spend another 6 years in Washington. Only time will tell, but let's hope that the man who either wants to not do his job or take money for political favors will finally retire. Please search online for more of McConnell's votes at ontheissues.org and votesmart.org. I could go on for many more paragraphs, but these are the major objections I have with the Senator.
Now of course despicable politicians come in all shapes, sizes, and ideology. That's where we get to New York Mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner who I'm sure needs no introduction. The worst part about this story is that I liked him while he was in Congress before he started to make bad decisions that involved his namesake. Now that there are new allegations, I am only able to sit and ruminate on what exactly Weiner's actions mean. Now America is a very forgiving society when it comes to our celebrities. Whether or not you agree, I think that our celebrities/politicians need to hold themselves up to high standards since they are in the public eye. Also, when they do make bad decisions, they need to apologize in an honest and open manner. These apologies shouldn't be DEFENSIVE against reporters who ask why you send your junk to multiple women, your apology shouldn't come AFTER the Food Network drops your show, and your apology should be SINCERE, not scripted. Weiner is just another person who has made bad decisions, but when decision making is a key part in his job, should we REALLY give him a second chance?
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