Wolves, Bullies and the People (a Special Saturday Edition)

On Saturday morning while watching Fox and Friends, I heard co-host Tucker Carlson use the analogy that essentially the Federal government was “on strike” against the the American people, because of the government shutdown. Essentially, friends, he is right.

The Democrats, led by the Majority Leader and the President, have decided to act like spoiled children who don’t like the way the Republicans are playing. The Republicans have offered several different plans to try and resolve the pending issues regarding the budget battle, and the Democrats  have said no to each proposal. It seems that the Democrats don’t know how to play nice in the sandbox.

I’m not saying that the Republican plans are perfect; by no means can one say that about any piece of legislation. But in a divided government, as we have presently,  compromise and negotiation should be key elements to get the people’s business done.

As I recall, Senator Obama campaigned on the promise that he would work with the Congress to make certain the government would function as it should. During his first two years, he essentially kept this promise. But it was easy because the Democrats controlled both houses.

The mark of a true leader is to be able to work with his or her adversaries through difficult issues. It seems that President Obama has forgotten his 2008 promises, and instead has taken the position to be the bully in the schoolyard. That position, while serving his own self-importance, won’t get anything done.

And who suffers? That’s right, the people do. By shuttering the government in the most visible ways possible, the people cannot go to see our great monuments, parks and other treasures because the gates are locked. But, if you think about it, it costs money to print signs, erect barricades and place guards all around them, just to prevent us from enjoying the objects we built.

In 1995, President Clinton showed the people that he was a true leader during the last shutdown. He offered compromise upon compromise for 12 days, while the bully in the yard, Speaker Newt Gingrich, picked up his toys and kicked the sand into Mr Clinton’s face. In the end, leadership prevailed, and he handily won re-election the following year.

This time, there is no consequence to President Obama’s refusal to negotiate with the Republicans. He cannot face the wrath of the voters again. But, for the Democrats in the Senate, this is not the case. 2014 is about 13 months away, and like 1995 and 1996, they won’t escape the stupidity of their actions.

It behooves both parties to stop this childish nonsense to play the game of oneupmanship at the expense of the people. Because the people have long memories when they have been scorned.

By the way, this shutdown does not only affect places on US soil. It also affects our distant memorials like the cemeteries in Normandy, Okinawa, South Korea, Anzio and other foreign sites. People have spent their hard-earned money for airfare and travel to visit the graves of their loved ones. And when they get there, they will be denied access. That is just cruel.

So, Members of Congress and Mr Obama, keep acting like petulant children. It will come back to bite you during the next election cycle. You will have only yourselves to blame with the result.

We are no longer the sheep being led to slaughter; we are the wolves in sheep’s clothing licking our chops to devour you. You’ve been warned.