b. traven
This last week Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader, showed real outrage in a CNN interview that Attorney General Jeff Sessions lied about not having any Russian contacts while serving as a so-called ‘surrogate’ in the Trump campaign. I was astounded that she showed more emotion about Session’s ‘lapse’ of memory than I have seen from her on any of the many issues that have slipped through the hands of the Democrats over the years.
What now seems like a lifetime ago, back during the Obama administration, James Clapper, at the time Director of National Intelligence, lied to Congress about mass surveillance of our citizenry, and not a single Democratic Congressperson stood up to suggest that Clapper resign. Ironically, Clapper, alongside James Comey of the FBI, has also denied wiretapping citizen Trump, before last year’s election.
From my personal vantage point, I find the illegal invasion of privacy by the Government of equal, if not greater, importance than Sessions’ dalliance with the Russians. Privacy is a clear-cut Constitutional issue, whereas the foreign policy is a political issue.
I cannot help thinking that Pelosi hyperventilating about Session’s lapsed memory was partially fueled by the desire to bring down Sessions in order to weaken his master. Or that the Democrats are so hyped on keeping Russian perfidy in the limelight because, purportedly, it was the Russian state that released the information that the Clinton campaign conspired to cheat Bernie Sanders during the primary.
Our country is ruled by liars and hypocrites from both parties. Trump and his minions unabashedly put forward Sessions as a legitimate candidate for head of the DOJ, whereas ten years ago the Republicans uncharacteristically joined the Democrats in rejecting him for a federal judgeship. Like most of Trump’s other candidates for his cabinet, he is a man with limited understanding of the role of government, while being hell-bent on destroying the government departments they have been selected for.
If Trump ends up quitting or is impeached, I don’t think we will find Pence much different. We certainly could expect to find Nancy Pelosi again ready to compromise with the Republicans as she did in the eight previous years.
The Contrary Perspective 
Good point, traven. Too much hypocrisy — and too much cynicism as well. What we lack is democracy — and especially the humility that should come with public service.
Eleven years ago in 2006, the American people, disgusted beyond words with Deputy Dubya Bush’s twin debacle “wars” in Afghanistan and Iraq, voted the Democratic party back into control of the U.S. Congress with only one goal in mind: namely, so that they would do what another Democrat-controlled Congress did in 1975 when it (1) cut off all funding for America’s disastrous War on Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos) and (2) drove the discredited and criminal President Richard Nixon from office. So what did the American people get for voting the Democratic party into power this time around? Why, they got the country’s first ever female Speaker of the House, otherwise known immediately as:
Nancy the Negotiator
Nancy the Negotiator
Gives up first; surrenders later;
Takes her cards from off the table,
Then recites her loser fable:
“We don’t have the votes we need,”
Nancy says, in tones that bleed:
“Mean Republicans will whine
If we do not toe their line.”
Nancy bows to George and Dick
While her skinny ass they kick;
Writes them checks both blank and rubber,
Then proceeds to lamely blubber:
“We don’t like what Dubya’s doing.
Still, we quite enjoy the screwing.
Masochism’s what we offer,
Helping crooks to loot the coffer”
“Sure, the squandered blood and treasure
Goes to those we will not measure.
Still, we promise you’ll adore us
If you mark your ballot for us.”
“Choices you don’t have assail you,
Leaving only us who fail you.
Nonetheless, we’ve gotten fatter.
Why, then, should we think you matter?”
Michael Murry, “The Misfortune Teller,” Copyright © 2007
Over a decade later and still we see nothing of any consequence coming from the now-minority (and getting more minor every election) “leader” of the now-defunct Democratic Party in Congress. I don’t write much poetry about the American political scene these days because it seems that I already did. A long time ago. But if this stupid and lame “the Russians made us desert the working-class and anti-war base of our own party dreaming of Republican votes” thing doesn’t sell in Peoria, Illinois — and I don’t think it will — Nancy and You-Know-Her may just yet earn a repeat posting of my many old poems about them another decade from now. Modern medicine may just keep them alive that long. Just look at Dick Cheney if you don’t believe in heart transplants for those rich enough to afford them.
Speaking of political hypocrisy as full-frontal chutzpah (a.k.a., unmitigated gall) as related to the “Vladimir Putin did a Vulcan Mind-Meld on Us Helpless Americans” hysteria du jour, check out:
Democrats Now Demonize the Same Russia Policies that Obama Long Championed, by Glenn Greenwald, the Intercept (March 6 2017).
What he said…
The “deep state” Is under the bed within both parties. Greenwald’s article is excellent. We need a high powered ‘fumigator’ to get rid of the infestation.keeping us in a perpetual state of war and disaster. Any body got an idea? .
Obama, in the wake of the eruption of the stuff-and-nonsense now being called “Russiagate,” declared that a POTUS “never” orders wiretaps. A truly mealymouthed evasion of the issues! What he meant, of course, was POTUS doesn’t get personally involved. [A highly dubious claim anyway. Are we to believe that, with his official Enemies List, Nixon never personally ordered surveillance and harassment of specific individuals?] On Obama’s watch, we were essentially ALL put under surveillance via mass collection of phone, email, etc. communications. We’re told there are now 17 Federal agencies involved in surveillance (a polite euphemism for espionage) at home and abroad. In theory, they choose their targets independently of the president. Basically, we mere peon citizens should not believe a word ANY President of the United States utters in regard to these matters. And Jeff Sessions, the man who probably keeps his Klan robe within arm’s reach at all times? I suggest we not believe a word he says on any topic. If he told me today is Monday, March 6, 2017 I would have to seek independent verification of the statement! If Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi are now “the leading lights” of the Democratic Party, that organization’s future looks dismal indeed.
Here’s an excellent essay pinning the tail on the donkey of our woes. Chris Hedges does a fine job.
http://www.nationofchange.org/2017/03/07/donald-trumps-greatest-allies-liberal-elites/