Dems Sell Well

Posted on October 5, 2022 by thependulumswings staff

“This is a direct threat to our very democracy.”

Have you heard that before and again and again? How could you have not heard that over-hyperventilated accusation?

Our civil servant friends from the left have perfected its delivery with the tone, tenor, and repetitiveness that they are very skilled at doing in marketing their message.

Have you ever wondered aloud what exactly this vague and veiled threat to our democracy is? Maybe it comes down to what your definition of “is” is.

Is it avowed socialists like Bernie Sanders wanting control? Is it three or five avowed socialists running for office this midterm? Is it China or Ukraine or both compromising the Biden family? Is it America turning away from oil and gas to make us weaker and weaker before it’s time to do so? Is it an open border that welcomes good people and bad people and fentanyl? Is it spending trillions that we don’t have which turned into wicked inflation?

Is it none of the above? Maybe it’s none of the above when it comes to the November 8th midterms.

For now, it’s the constant war on Trump, trumped-up charges or not(in our best Kamala voice). After all, he would not allow for a peaceful transfer of power. And it’s voting rights whether you’re a citizen or not and have a voter ID or not.

And, heaven forbid we forget, it’s also climate change which also doubles as the greatest existential threat as well.

It’s MAGA. It’s more Trump. Trump. TRUMP.

Why is it the above? It’s because the Dems said it so and the media trumpets (we had to) it over and again. Dems sell, sell, sell.

But, don’t take our word for it. The American Association of Retired People (AARP) just released the results of its new poll of America’s 50+ crowd. And they honed it down further to 50 years and older women.

What’s on their minds? The top three concerns for them with five weeks to decide who to vote for are 1) voting rights, 2) threats to democracy, and 3) inflation.

Voting rights? This group has been voting freely for 32 years or more.

And, “threats to democracy” finished ahead of the worst “inflation” in 40 years. Perception is reality.

They were also asked what would benefit them the most. The number one answer, you ask. They are looking for protection from Social Security cuts. Social Security has been borrowed and stolen from repeatedly. But, it hasn’t been cut, ever. Ever. This year’s cost of living increase to SS checks will be the biggest percentage-wise since 1978. Worry not, or worry a lot apparently.

The AARP “She’s the Difference” poll finds that 51 percent of likely women voters age 50 and older have not made up their minds for whom they will cast their ballots in November.

How many voters is that altogether? Americans over 50 represented 1/3rd of voters in 2018 and 2020. Half or more are women. So, it’s about 1/6th of all voters or 17% of the nation’s total. That is Yuge as one used to say.

So, if you’re expecting a red wave this November, maybe not. If you’re expecting to hold on to the House as Nancy Pelosi droned on about Sunday, maybe not.

But, if you’re over 50 and identify as a female one party sent you an invitation.

The other is a bunch of old fuddy-duddies.

Business as Usual

Posted on January 16, 2020January 16, 2020 by thependulumswings staff

It seems like business as usual for the great folks that run Washington DC. In just the last 72 hours a lot of news (perhaps some fake) has emanated from a district some call “The Swamp.”

Donald J Trump was on the stump in Milwaukee, WI on Tuesday night trumpeting his latest accomplishments. He even spoke to rescinding some of those silly energy efficient laws that his predecessor put into law. One in particular would provide a greater volume of water pouring out of the shower head to help him wash his hair. “But how about the shower? I have this beautiful head of hair. I need a lot of work. You go into the shower…drip, drip, drip. I call the guy and ask ‘is there something wrong with this?’ He says ‘no sir, it’s just a restrictor.'”

On another stage just one state over, the Iowa Democratic Presidential Debate droned on for two hours on Tuesday night. When it was over the group that encourages inclusiveness, acceptance, and tolerance had a little tiff. CNN mics captured the following exchange. “What?” Sanders replied. “I think you called me a liar on national TV,” she said again. “You know, let’s not do it right now. If you want to have that discussion, we’ll have that discussion,” Sanders responded. Warren replied: “Anytime.” That appeared to have irked Sanders who then said: “You called me a liar. “He added: “You told me — all right, let’s not do it now.” This all started after Sanders denied during the debate that he ever told Warren that he didn’t think that a woman could win in 2020. Could Warren be misremembering the event like her heritage, her firing during pregnancy, or her father’s non janitorial occupation? Nah.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch Nancy Pelosi and her seven or so of her impeachment managers signed the articles of impeachment last evening. Before the first witness in the process ever testified she said that she was very prayerful and that this is a very somber time for our country. She also spoke to the urgency due to the threat that our president posed to our country. Last evening, after a four week delay in delivering the articles, she was all smiles and handing out commemorate pens to the signers prior to their orchestrated walk down the halls of Congress for the delayed handoff.

And finally, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) called for the recusal of four Democrat presidential candidates from the impeachment process on Wednesday after Speaker Nancy Pelosi signed the articles. She stated in part, “these four Democrats, Senators Bennet, Klobuchar, Sanders, and Warren, cannot sit in judgment of the very President they seek to replace. To participate in this trial would be a failure of the oath they took to be an ‘impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws.’

Her words “failure of the oath they took” ring so loudly and often in Washington DC these days that it’s not surprising that you hear them even while under the thick, dirty, boggy water that fills what is known as “The Swamp.” At least the president has given us more fresh water out of the shower heads to rinse off.

Carry on.

Ridiculous

Posted on December 18, 2019 by thependulumswings staff

Yesterday in the hallowed halls of the U.S. Congress Madame Speaker Nancy Pelosi was asked to comment on the six page letter sent to her by the 45th President of the United States Donald J. Trump.

“No comment,” she said while walking hurriedly to her next meeting. “It’s ridiculous,” she continued. Trump’s letter was a head strong opinion of all that he felt is wrong with the Impeachment process. “I haven’t read it, ” she continued, “we’ve been very busy today.”

We wonder. She said that she had no comment. But, she did call it ridiculous. That sounds like a comment. She said that she hadn’t read it. But, she did call it ridiculous. How would she know that it was if she hadn’t read it? Ridiculous, that is.

Last night the House Rules Committee was working well into the evening(earning the people’s business) to determine the exact proceedings for today’s full House hearing prior to two separate votes. At 10PM or so EST they decided that there would be six hours of hearings on the most important vote any of them will make in their lifetimes. Six hours for 435 representatives equates to 50 seconds per member. It sounds like many, many will only actually have time to say “yea” or “nay.”

At least they concluded their meeting with finality in their decisions. Late last week Jerry Nadler, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, decided to suspend that committee’s meeting as the evening had grown too late. It was nearly the same 10PM. He reconvened in the AM for the world to see the adoption of the two Articles of Impeachment. Grandstanding. Or, perhaps Jerry needed a late night snack. Ridiculous.

Meanwhile, yesterday the FISA Court in a rare public expression, came out in a strongly worded opinion against the FBI’s now exposed abuse and likely criminal behavior in obtaining warrants to surveil the Trump Campaign to begin with. Ridiculous.

The Johnny on the Spot FBI wanted everyone to know that they were going to quickly make changes. “As [FBI Director Christopher Wray] has stated, the inspector general’s report describes conduct by certain FBI employees that is unacceptable and unrepresentative of the FBI as an institution,” the bureau responded in a statement Tuesday night. “The director has ordered more than 40 corrective steps to address the report’s recommendations, including some improvements beyond those recommended by the IG.”

A quick THREE years later it’s time to change. And, more than 40 corrective steps were ordered! So, illegally obtained warrants designed to surveil for possible illegal activity provided all the cover needed to continue the FBI’s illegal surveillance. Got it. Ridiculous.

Wall St seems totally unfazed. Since the Impeachment Inquiry was formalized just seven weeks ago in the House the Dow is up 6%, the S&P 8%, and the NASDAQ 10%. They know that this is going absolutely nowhere. Perhaps we should impeach more Presidents.

All of which brings us to today. The full House will convene, and after six hours of burning the retreads off of tires that long ago should have been retired, they will vote almost 100% down party lines. The Democrats will say “yea” more times than the Republicans can say “nay.” Then the “yea’s” will have it, and presto, Trump will be impeached. Is it even possible for two power hungry sides to see things, or at least pretend to see things, so clearly differently? Ridiculous.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is preparing for the possibility of a January month long Senate Impeachment Trial(circus). Though just yesterday he hinted at an immediate dismissal vote after the Impeachment Articles are formally entered onto the Senate floor.

Hopefully he won’t be too busy to read the articles while walking in front of all of his staff members down the hallowed halls like the Madame Speaker was yesterday. If so, he’ll likely have “no comment,” just like Pelosi did, or did not. Ridiculous.

Keep hope alive!

And the Pendulum Swung

Posted on March 12, 2019March 12, 2019 by thependulumswings staff

Sixth grade science teaches us that a pendulum can only swing so far in one direction. It’s momentum is slowed, then eventually halted, by its center of gravity and gravity itself. That wise professor Nancy Pelosi gave several freshman Democrats a refresher course in just how that pendulum “thing” works yesterday.

Just six weeks or so after hugs and smiles and poses for group pictures had the Democrat freshman representatives positively giddy about a progressive future without greenhouse gasses and that gas-bag Donald Trump guy able to get in the way, Nancy became the center of gravity. And, suddenly the swing to the left met gravity.

Alexandria Octavio Cortez (AOC) has The Green New Deal and dozens of other far left newbies had the pitchforks and lanterns. The hunt for green October and the head (figuratively) of Donald Trump was on.

Nancy cleared her throat and in her best Lee Corso voice, pencil in hand, said “not so fast my friends on the left.” That’s right. It took a left coast, left leaning liberal to slow the roast. She said, “I’m not for impeachment. Impeachment is so divisive to the country that unless there’s something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan, I don’t think we should go down that path, because it divides the country. And he’s just not worth it.” And just like that the old guard put the new guard in place all the while taking a cheap shot at The Donald.

And just like that the old guard put the new guard in place in 2014. Then it was John Boehner, who took the gavel from Nancy, and Mitch McConnell who relegated the Tea Party incoming revolution to the last row of the Senate and House floors. Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and a band of brothers had the music momentum stopped. These upstarts had gone just far enough. Rhinos forever! And just like that the darn center of gravity, like Father Time, remained undefeated. The pendulum headed back towards the middle.

So, where to from here? AOC and her nearly 60 new Democrat friends feel empowered by the progressive wave that retook the house. Surely they can push the Green New Deal. Cost might be a problem though. Estimates to actually act on its merits range from 40 trillion to nearly 100 trillion, or between 8 and 25 times the yearly ~~federal revenues~~ tax dollars received.

The cost of a Chick-fil-A meal is far less than that. Sarah Palin left an aforementioned Tea Party rally in 2013 and proudly bought a couple of no. 1 value meals. It made international headlines as a show of support for the conservative christian right led Tea Party and the conservative christian right leadership of Chick-fil-A. The restaurant chain was under fire then because they closed (and still do) on Sundays. Heathens demand that the right give them the right to chicken seven days a week.

Support came to the left led Green New Deal yesterday when noted nutritionist, right coast NY Mayor Bill de Blasio proudly announced that soon NY public school lunches would enact, drum roll please, “meatless Mondays.” Surely this will be a great first step in reducing those pesky emissions all the while helping our young eat healthier. Government sure knows how to look out for its tired and its poor who know no better.

Perhaps the long running,successful, cow survival campaign by ChickFilA is now dated. In place of “Eat Mor Chikin” sparing cows it could be “Eat Mor Letus.” You would save (not kill) two animals with one slogan. PETA would be so proud.

Speaking of “Letus,” let us pray that sanity returns soon.

Or, it returns at least before the cows come home.