Blog: A View from Left Field- The Fly in the Ointment

Partisan politics has been around since the origin of our nation.  The Jeffersonian Democrats of old took President Washington’s Federalists to task for pandering to the aristocracy.  The Whigs thought Andrew Jackson a crude bore; yet he helped save the country by winning the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812.  President Buchanan stood by while slavery festered beneath the skin of our nation, then President Lincoln took charge and saved the day.

President McKinley sought to build an American Empire by challenging Spain’s dominion in Cuba and the Pacific.  President Wilson flip-flopped over entering World War One, while President Roosevelt saved a suffering humanity by entering World War Two.

Through it all, Congress debated the pros and cons of the headline issues of the day.  Discussions got heated at times, but somehow, decisions were finally made…the good, the bad and the ugly.  Recently a new strategy has surfaced in Washington and it’s bringing the country to the brink of disaster.  Whatever you call it, by design it’s indecision, and it’s been elevated to an art form.  Add in the flavor of acrimonious discourse and you have all the ingredients of government by paralysis. When tracking down the source of this recipe for disaster, seek out none other than Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Republican from Kentucky. 

When new dictionaries come out later this year, look up obstructionist.  I’m sure Mitch’s inimitable picture will be there, deeply etched with sarcasm.  He must sleep on a bed of thorns each night because he is the most caustic congressional leader in recent memory.  His disruptive nature and antagonistic comments make obtaining a consensus on any topic a near impossibility.  Every other day we are either going over a financial cliff, facing economic gridlock, or losing hard won entitlements because Mitch McConnell answers to a higher calling, corporate gangsters and manipulative ”banksters.” 

How he gets re-elected time and again when he consistently votes against the interests of 98% of the American people, is a mystery beyond comprehension.  For years, Senator McConnell has shepherded over a group of do nothing Republicans that could get as much done staying at home as going to work.  Our country is on lockdown and Mitch McConnell has the key.

Mitch, it’s time to wake up and get to work.  These days, our country needs a lot of help and you are one of the main men who can fix it.  Forget those other guys, start working for us.  Stop being the fly in the ointment!