Thursday, June 11, 2015

Don't let McConnell fool you about his record on supporting military

Reposted, since McConnell seems to think we are foolish enough to forget his record. 

Update: The fact that President Obama had to sign an executive order to get the mental health access our veterans need is proof that the Republican Party does not care about veterans.

Dear Senator McConnell,

My cousin joined a Facebook Group this morning called Let’s find 1 million people who actually SUPPORT our Veterans. (Isn’t it cool how Facebook enables us to watch what our friends and family do and it isn’t even considered stalking). I didn’t click on the group because I’m often disappointed to discover that people say they support troops and/or veterans when, in fact, the only support they show is lip service possibly with a little flag waving on the side. Instead of setting myself up to be disappointed, I decided I would actually do something in my cousin's honor.

I’ve protested wars. I’ve written to people who served when my protesting didn’t do much good. I’ve had Fort Knox soldiers over for meals, and I’ve written to politicians (I’m sure you must remember my letters) asking that they not send our young people to war unless absolutely necessary. In the past, I tracked down many homeless vets to give them food, pocket change, gloves, etc, and I wrote about them – even created a homeless group on Gather where we could collect stories and articles about them all in one place. I’m sad to say that I couldn’t afford to personally send the equipment they didn’t have the first few years of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars – but you can believe I would have sent it if I had had the money. I’ve even stared into the frightened or dead eyes of young men who came home changed forever, and tried my best to console them.

Since you represent me, and your votes in the Senate are ultimately the most I can offer troops and veterans, I decided to check out what I have really done--via you--for them. I’m not real pleased with what I found. I have the comfort of knowing that I voted for your opponents but, alas, that didn’t really do the troops much good.

You voted to send troops into Iraq under false pretenses and have yet –at least that I can find—to apologize for that. Please direct me to those apologies if I missed them because I sure would like to be wrong about this.

In 2004, you countered an amendment that Senator Ted Kennedy proposed asking that Bush submit reports to Congress on the strategy in Iraq. Opponents (mostly Democrats, of course) thought your amendment was not strong enough because it failed to require an estimate of troops needed in the future. I’m still confused by your position on this. For those who want to support the troops, will you ever explain why you didn’t think planning ahead was important?

In 2007, you seemed (at least to me) to only muddy the waters when you and Harry Reid tried to come to some sort of agreement regarding how to debate nonbinding resolutions regarding the surge. If I understand correctly, you pretended this had to be done quickly but then wanted each of the three resolutions to require sixty votes to pass. In the end, you and Reid couldn’t come to an agreement and Republicans blocked that bill (sounds familiar, huh?) and you played it off like it wasn’t important. It came up again, without much debate, and you guys filibustered, holding Harry Reid hostage to a promise that the Senate would continue to fund, without further debate, a war started on lies. Sigh. In all honesty, this feels more like supporting the people who wanted the war than it does like supporting the troops.

And then, in 2007, you pulled what looks like bullying tactics to me by threatening to block a Democratic effort to include a date for troop withdrawal in the Iraq spending bill and then said something akin to, “Oh, never mind, my buddy will veto anyway.” Again, sending those kids into a war based on lies and then refusing to fund them if the funding included a plan to get them out of a war they should never have been sent to in the first place does not seem like support to me.
Since I’m no expert, I checked to see how experts rated you. Here are the results:
2007-2008 In 2007-2008 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Senator McConnell a grade of B.

2006 Senator McConnell supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 60 percent in 2006.

2006 In 2006 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Senator McConnell a grade of D.

2006 Senator McConnell sponsored or co-sponsored 0 percent of the legislation favored by the The Retired Enlisted Association in 2006.

2005 Senator McConnell supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 33 percent in 2005.

2004 Senator McConnell supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 0 percent in 2004.

2004 Senator McConnell supported the interests of the The Retired Enlisted Association 0 percent in 2004.

2003-2004 Senator McConnell supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 50 percent in 2003-2004.

2003 Senator McConnell supported the interests of the The American Legion 100 percent in 2003.

2001 Senator McConnell supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 76 percent in 2001.

1999 Senator McConnell supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 33 percent in 1999.

1997-1998 Senator McConnell supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 0 percent in 1997-1998.

1989-1990 On the votes that the Vietnam Veterans of America considered to be the most important in 1989-1990 , Senator McConnell voted their preferred position 50 percent of the time.

I have one statement about this list, and one question. If this were my report card, I would have been grounded, and not very proud to claim it. My question – how’d you manage to get on the good side of The American Legion?

Did you really say, “Nobody is happy about losing lives, but remember, these are not draftees, these are full-time professional soldiers”? To whom were you referring? The kids who joined because they couldn’t afford college? The ones who volunteered because they were told they’d be next on the list anyway but would get a bonus if they went ahead and volunteered, only to be sent home days short of the time required to get that bonus and then sent back out weeks later? Surely, not the ones who joined before they knew they would have to serve under Commander in Thief Bush, who would send them into a senseless war? Please, tell me you meant the Blackwater guys.

Filibuster. I know it’s a sore topic these days but I have to bring it up. TWICE you filibustered Senator Webb’s amendments to restore proper troop rotation and rest between tours? Seriously? Nope. There is no way I can consider this supporting the troops.

My cousin has the biggest heart you’d ever hope to encounter and breaking it by telling her just exactly how she supports the troops through you is going to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Worse even, I think she might have voted for you.

Senator Mitch McConnell repeatedly refused to provide any responses to citizens on the issues through the 2008 Political Courage Test when asked to do so by national leaders of the political parties, prominent members of the media, Project Vote Smart President Richard Kimball, and Project Vote Smart staff. What is the political courage test?

Disappointed,

Me

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

McConnell’s To Do List


McConnell:

 

It's been a while. Because the rest of the world has done such a good job of pointing and laughing at how terribly you have handled your leadership position, and have pretty much flooded the internet with negative articles about you, I didn't think it was necessary to post anything original to this blog. 

After annoying my friends and family with my obsession over who continues to read this blog even though I seldom post anything new, I decided I owed it to those readers to post something new. I'm also hoping that some of them will respond because the curiosity is killing me. Many days in the last few months, the audience stats showed there were more readers outside the United States than inside and the google search words baffle me. I thought they were probably looking to see where you stand on the Iran deal or TPP but it seems most of them still want details about your personal life. 

Anyway, you seem totally lost in your leadership position, which should surprise no one since you've been totally lost for decades. In the spirit of Derby – my favorite holiday – I want to be nice for a change. I know how much you hate the words agenda and ally, so I offer this TO DO list to assist you with the tedious chores of educating and reigning in (or at least earning a little like from) your disgruntled MINIONS.

 

  1. The first amendment is supposed to protect us from liars, not protect lies and liars. Your party has a huge problem with this. On second thought, maybe they are following their leader. You might want to give this some serious consideration because, unbelievable as it might have seemed only a few months ago when you were campaigning on lies, all signs point toward the strong possibility that even your brain dead base are getting sick of your lies.
  2. Shoot. Can't pass up this opportunity. Since I mentioned the first amendment on #1, and this is #2 – you guys don't understand this one either.
  3. We've discussed this before but it's worth mentioning again since the people you are supposed to be leading just don't get it. Words, logic, and honesty matter. You guys look so ridiculous when you refuse to accept responsibility for horrendously unethical, illegal, dishonest actions that you have been caught doing – on video, on tape, in writing, red-handed, no doubt, and then you turn around and try to demonize Hillary Clinton over what you think, maybe, in some small way, might be misconstrued as an appearance of something that could possibly have been shady to a person just waking from a coma. Really. Ridiculous.
  4. Cheaters never win. I guess you have realized this. Totally, since November. My advice as far as 'to do' on this is that you just give up the whole idea that you are a winner and try to do your job.
  5. You need to lead your non-followers away from silly talk about a war on religion. I know, it's nearly impossible for them to think that the left has something on them (there really IS a war on women, and it can be verified in hours, money, and votes that your party has wasted trying to harm women. But, there is no war on religion. (remember, lies, logic, ridiculous – not working for you)

     
If you get these done, I'll be happy to provide more. Might even be happy enough to call it a Honey Do list in that case.

 

Sandy

Monday, April 20, 2015

Keep it to yourselves, McConnell and Paul fans (and anyone else who supports Republicans)

Sandy Knauer: Keep it to yourselves, McConnell and Paul fans: Through no fault of my own, I am stuck with Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, two of the most despicable, dishonest, delusional, demonic Senat...

Thursday, April 2, 2015

President Obama announces Iran nuke deal reached









Despite your obstruction and acts of treason, McConnell, President Obama succeeds in making the world a safer place, as well as accomplishing more than you and your entire party combined will in your lifetimes. Must suck to be you.

 John Boehner and Mitch McConnell Approval Ratings Plummet As Republicans Sink To New Lows

Sunday, March 15, 2015

McConnell Promises to Continue Being a Total Ass

should have been the headline. Instead, they used, McConnell Threatens to Delay Lynch Nomination Over Human Trafficking Bill.

"A bipartisan bill aimed at aiding victims of human trafficking is in peril now that Democrats have learned it contains an anti-choice provision to restrict funding for abortion. Democratic lawmakers say they were not aware of the abortion-related language and have accused Republicans of sneaking it in"

Newsflash, asshat, you don't get to pretend you are the victim when you are the leader of the hypocrites who whine about pork and then shove pork into every bill they get their hands on. That is disgusting and dishonest.

Nice try, though. I'm sure the brain dead fools who still support you are sufficiently gullible and ignorant to overlook your hypocrisy.

 

Sen. Mitch McConnell defends GOP letter to Iran was "highly appropriate"...







WTF, you despicable, dishonest, old coot. Do you honestly think this bunch of flap-jaw will convince a single sane person that the party that you are supposed to be leading didn't commit crimes and endanger this country? If so, you're supider than I thought.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

President Obama Mocks Sen. Mitch McConnell for Trying to Take Credit for Economic Growth

 More proof that McConnell is a sociopath and the people (Republican voters and people who don't bother to vote) who put him in office must have some serious mental problems of their own.



McConnell might not have a heart, a conscience, or the ability to be embarrassed but he does have more gall than I thought possible.





President Obama Mocks Sen. Mitch McConnell for Trying to Take Credit for Economic Growth

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Know what might suck worse than having McConnell for a Senator?

Being McConnell.

Imagine if you had spent six years doing everything you possibly could to make President Obama's job and life miserable, and then, you realized your life's ambition of being Majority Leader, and had to face the music with President Obama in 'No more fucks to give' mode. Oh, how that would suck - possibly worse than having McConnell for a Senator. Maybe.

I am not at all embarrassed to admit that I get shamefully gleeful when I read articles like Mitch McConnell Begs President Obama To Reconsider His Planned Keystone XL Veto, and imagine how miserable the ornery old obstructionist fool must be at times like this.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell campaigned on forcing the president to bend to the will of Republicans, but it is the Kentucky senator who is now on bended knee asking Obama to reconsider his promise to veto the Keystone XL bill.
This should come as no surprise to him, or to anyone who paid the least bit of attention to his campaign. Like everything else he has said or done in the last couple of decades, this campaign was nothing but self-serving lies. He said and did whatever he thought he would impress low-information voters who had not paid attention and would not know enough to call him out or to hold him responsible later. And he used dirty money to run dirty ads - nonstop - to spread his lies.

Unfortunately, his supporters are as clueless today as they were then, and will suck up and blame President Obama (and his allies, as McConnell likes to call sane people, as though we aren't proud to be allies to the President.) Now that I think about it, being a McConnell supporter probably sucks worse than having McConnell for a Senator, too. Imagine having to make it through life with lots of fucks to give and not a single clue.

On the Senate floor, McConnell said: The Keystone Jobs bill is just common sense. 
That's not true. By definition, common sense means good sense and sound judgment in practical matters. People with good sense and sound judgment know this is not a jobs bill. It is a get-richer scheme for McConnell and his owners, who care nothing about this country or its citizens. But, nice try, McConnell. Saying words makes you appear to have something going on in that head.


That’s why this bipartisan legislation already passed the Senate with support from both parties. That’s why labor unions support it. That’s why the American people support it.Americans know that construction of this infrastructure project would pump billions into the economy and support thousands of good jobs.
 There he goes again, pretending he speaks for everyone when that is far from the truth. Sure, there might be a few Democrats and a union member or two who hate Americans as much as he does but they are not the majority. THE American people don't support a single thing McConnell stands for. A few clueless people do. This would pump billions into the pockets of his owners. Just once, it would be nice for him to speak the truth. Or even get somewhere close to a little bit true. 
They also know that America could achieve this with, as the President’s own State Department has indicated, minimal environmental impact.
Well, that's not exactly what they said. They said it would likely not dramatically affect global greenhouse gas emissions. But that's not the only concern. McConnell knows this but don't expect him to ever come clean about that.

Again, I wish McConnell sleepless nights, ulcers, and a conscience that will kick in one day and torment him the rest of his days. Carrying his guilt surely does suck worse than being his victim.










Sunday, February 8, 2015

McConnell, Leader of People Who Scream and Soil Themselves?

David Ferguson, writer for Raw Story, had me at: 



Conservatives greeted this assertion with their usual unflappable calm
and equanimity, which is to say, of course, that they pretty much all
started screaming and soiling themselves at once.
 


There is no more perfect description for the Republican reaction to President Obama's brave, honest, and very necessary words during his address to the 2015 National Prayer Breakfast.

“Lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other
place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition committed
terrible deeds in the name of Christ,” said the president. “Slavery and
Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ.”
You can read the rest of his excellent article here: 



Think Islamists are the only religious terrorists? Meet some famous killers for Christ

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

CONGRATS, McConnell, You've Outdone Yourself!



I am disappointed in myself for being surprised to find CONGRATS as new choice on McConnell’s drop-down topic list. Yes, it really is in all caps, to honor his supporters, most of whom type in all caps, abuse punctuation, and couldn’t pass third-grade logic or sentence structure. How could I not have expected the egotistical hotdog to add this?

Since topic is mandatory, I chose CONGRATS and used You've outdone yourself! in the also mandatory subject line. I probably should have used all caps and added a dozen more exclamation points but I was busy trying to imagine the form-letter response this topic/subject combination will generate.




The body of my letter (that will probably go unread)

Senator:

Your comments about President Obama needing to learn to work with you because you were elected might be one of the most embarrassing comments you've made so far this year. You, Senator, need to work with the President that WE elected, two times.

Please, stop embarrassing us with illogical, dishonest, silly statements like that.

 Wondering why you ask for things you aren't willing to give,

Sandy