The End of Government

I am not cynical about the Tea Party.  I don't think they care about their political future.  I don't think they worry about donor opinion, the well being of their constituents, or the idea of compromise.  They are driven by an extreme ideology, and care about nothing else.  To them, the sequester was a victory.  Shutting down the government is an honorable aim, and causing a default just another day at the office.

I am cynical about the main stream Republicans.  I think they'll cave to the extremist wing of the party out of fear that they'll be primaryed and lose their office.  In the end, the public may blame the Tea Party, but historians will blame John Boehner's cowardly refusal to stand for principal over political expediency.  That's a hell of a thing to be remembered for.

Someone should remind Mr. Boehner that the Speakership is a constitutional office and not a political one.  It's his duty to be a statesman rather than a party hack.

The Dumps

Christopher Dorner was in the navy, was dismissed, and went on a murder spree.  Aaron Alexis was in the navy, was dismissed, and went on a murder spree.  Is the military dumping, rather than treating it's mentally ill members?  If so, I wish they'd be a little more responsible and think about the consequences of their actions.  And by the way, it's not just the possibility of a man with a gun, and the training to use it effectively.  It's also about the homeless veteran, domestic violence, and self medication that results in alcoholism and drug addiction.

Speaking of bat shit crazy, NRA nutter Wayne LaPierre is at it again.  The mantra of the gun crowd is that bad guys with guns are stopped by good guys with guns.  The Washington Navy Yard was crawling with armed good guys,  two of whom were shot by Mr. Alexis, their guns added to his collection.  So what was crazy Wayne's response?  Not enough good guys with guns.  I can't believe that people actually take that guy seriously.