I am so fed up with politicians who are so CLUELESS.
After reading the latest on the California Legislature's budget maneuverings -- Democrats pass a budget that Republicans say is illegal, governor vows not to sign it, and that's it, we're going home for Christmas -- I'm ready to disband the entire bunch, recall them, vote them out, whatever it takes to get some new people in there who actually give a damn about solving our state's problems.
But wait -- the oblivious politician syndrome doesn't end there. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, in his first public remarks since being busted last week on suspicion of trying to SELL Obama's Senate seat, said he was not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing, and he intends to stay on the job:
"I intend to fight this thing every step of the way," said Blagojevich, speaking at a news conference. "I will fight, I will fight, I will fight until I take my last breath. I did nothing wrong. I'm not going to quit a job the people hired me to do because of false accusations and a political lynch mob."
If the Legislators are doing a crummy job, then why did every single incumbent get rehired by the voters? They were even asked about this just a month ago. It's not like the budget crisis just materialized last week.
If voters were really disappointed with the performance of their legislators, they would vote against them.
That sounds good but there are slim pickins out there. Lately people have been voting for the lessor of the evils no good candidates; although, I agree leaving them in there is the problem.
You seem to be letting the Governor off the hook a bit too easily. The budget that the Democrats sent to his desk wasn't perfect, but it may be about the best we can get considering the Legislative GOP's head-in-the-sand intransigence. The Governor only has a veto power over the budget proposals, which is essentially the same power the Legislative Republicans have, since they don't have the votes to enact their own proposal (which may be why their last proposal seemed more about making political points than actually ending the deadlock).
But both the Governor and the GOP Legislators are using their veto power (or de facto veto power) to try to force the Democrats to enact non-budget legislation that they would never otherwise be able to get. It's about the functional equivalent of holding the State hostage until one or the other gets their way.
The Governor's latest actions in particular seriously disappoint me. He claims to be interested in "economic stimulus," but even if his whole "stimulus" package was adopted, it probably wouldn't be enough to undo the economic damage his veto will cause - in halted and delayed construction projects, laid-off construction workers, liability for delay damages to the state, school districts and other local agencies, etc. In the end, it may be only the lawyers who benefit from this.
If only the GOP would relent so the Dems could tax us into oblivion then we could all become wards of the state.This state is toast.Thanks Dems and their supporters...you win!
wake up america this about rich not poor it is not about gas,war,terrist,drugs,fda,dea,police ect. this pay back on poor people they taken every thing from us but we keep voting why?. are
we so stupid not to belive in the constution of america we the people for the people by the people . social security is the new welfare and no body cares .am i the only one this christmas that will have no food on the table and my christmas tree will have no presents .our new christmas song should be dashing through the bail outs and taxes are on the ways .and on to homless and no food on our tables soup lines are coming and sprit is gone but have merry merry christmas . because poor people will not be there. so wait for your new leader he's on his way if you remember john f kenndy he's back but in the new way . just remember you voted for chanage it is coming but you will have to pay .
have a merry merry christmas . i there for will not because i have nothing and the oven will be the same . if some has any sprit please help this is no joke having nothing is no way to spend christmas .i can not pay my rent or bills and all i have is my pride . email if you can help or call 559-229-2301 some thing small is better than nothing this is a cry for help not a scam iam a real person that has nothing .god bless .
Lisa Maria,
The post from Robert Winchester is disturbing. There is anger there and a plea for help.
It would be impossible to know for sure if the plea is real, and having the telephone number there only adds to the mystery.
Never known the Fresno Bee to let a post like this through and do not want to ignore anyone who truly will not have a Christmas. Pray tell how you would handle this plea??
Bubby aka.MOI...I understand your dilemma.RW obviously has access to a computer and services but the Bee needs to do some due diligence on this one.
Lisa Maria Boyles; I, too, am disturbed by the robert winchester post. I am extremely sensitive to the written word. Winchester's poverty plea, in all probability, is disingenuous.
".i can not pay my rent or bills and all i have is my pride ..."
I believe that truly proud person would not have gone public with the plight. But what is more important is that the writer in all probabilityn is younger, avant-garde and white collar. Just look at the spelling of first person singular... and in my (far more than)educated guess , the following paragraph is the nucleus of the post. It is the quintessence of a political statement.
"so wait for your new leader he's on his way if you remember john f kenndy he's back but in the new way . just remember you voted for chanage it is coming but you will have to pay"
And I am certain that relief for his poverty (if real) shall come forth.
Robert I wish you a very Merry Christmas and hope you will receive the greatest gift of all. You have life and even if it is not the life you wish you still have it so cherish that what you do have. God Bless and he is the greatest gift of all and he will provide if you believe in him. This is my political statement and he can bring change.