With the much under-reported partial federal government “shut-down” being eclipsed by the battle over The Wall by President Trump, who is aggravating the republican swamp-dwellers by actually keeping his campaign promise, compared to recalcitrant democrats claiming that the entire concept is “immoral”, what passes for an unbiased press is hoping that you’ll pay more attention to the shinny object (aka The Wall debate) rather than what is really happening in America.
There are a couple of stories making the rounds, that taken individually, might not pique everyone’s interest for very long, but taken collectively should be sounding alarm bells at the highest levels of what passes for leadership in the Michigan Republican Party.
Especially considering who was the actual cause behind it.
You just gotta appreciate that there are some good guys out there.
Michigan’s 1st district representative Jack Bergman is not afraid to hold fast on the principles of security for our borders. But he recognizes the hypocrisy of collecting a paycheck when even a small minority of a few federal workers may be without (temporarily).
Today, Congressman Bergman announced that he will give all pay accrued during the government shutdown to local charities in the First Congressional District. This follows his co-sponsorship of legislation to prohibit Members of Congress from receiving compensation during a government shutdown.
“One of the main priorities of Congress is to fund the federal government and prioritize our national security, yet Democrats are refusing to come to the negotiating table to do just that. I support President Trump in this fight for border security because there is no greater responsibility than protecting the American people,” said Congressman Bergman.
“As negotiations continue, I’ll be donating my salary to local charity organizations in Michigan’s First District. If Congress fails to do its job resulting in a shutdown, then we should forfeit our pay as well. American citizens sent us to Washington to solve problems, not cause them. If we can’t do that, we don’t deserve to get paid.”
I’ve got to admit, I was more than a little underwhelmed at last night’s speech.
A quick check of what is available on the speech easily corroborates the MSM spin-machine rushing into action to provide cover for their own side.
Obviously video from C-Span nor The White House itself was readily available.
Nothing really new was actually said, and that’s the problem (more on that in a bit).
Pres. Trump reiterated his position, albeit in an un-Trump-like fashion (very measured and scripted).
Team d, who looked more like two p.o.’d parents ready to scold their teenager for coming home after curfew, were just dripping with emotion of how NOT having the American Government performing non-essential functions (which just begs the question of why we are even paying for them in the first place), can be quickly and easily remedied if only Pres. Trump would acquiesce.
Sorry, scooter! Pres. Trump already did that multiple times already via Beavis & Butt-Head (aka Lyin’ Ryan & Squish McConnell).
IMHO, Pres. Trump went about it the wrong way. He used words, when imagery would’ve been far more effective.
Below is a very small sampling of what I mean (just wait for Chuck’s comment in the clip below):
Actions from the “friendly & peaceful migrants” from just last week.
Actions from the “friendly & peaceful migrants” from just last month.
People make resolutions (which they‘ll most likely break before February 1st).
Another session of Congress prepares to ramp up in the midst of a government “shutdown”.
The democrats give President Trump more posturing and obstructionism because…well, illegal aliens (and Americans on the public dole) matter significantly more to them than the safety of the people who actually put them in office in the first place.
Newly elected Michigan Congressman demonstrates high level of class.
Silence will be all we hear from those afflicted with TDS (Trum Derangement Syndrome) on this.
Michigan seriously went to the dogs in November. Those who speak harshly of Trump’s demeanor should probably now just shut up. Unless of course, they are finally willing to engage the ever increasing insanity of the left. From the Daily wire is a reminder of why certain people have no business representing anyone:
On Thursday night, her first night as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, new Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib spoke to a crowd of supporters and decided to personify the famous statement of Michelle Obama that Democrats go high when the GOP goes low, saying of President Trump, “We’re gonna go in there and we’re gonna impeach the mother***er.”
This speaks well of those who elected her, yes?
“Boring” is not the adjective we should be using to describe the next several years I suspect. “Respectful” may be too much to hope for as well.
Truthfully, I wonder if Rick Snyder couldn’t have replaced Senator Whitmer on the Capitol steps that day 6 plus years ago.
Yeah that was a boot to the backside of the guy who really needed to go, but it’s not getting any better. For those of you with a strong constitution, rewind and play all of the video linked above. It’s obviously family friendly because it has kids in it holding signs, right?
Gretchen Whitmer is hardly friendly to the patriarchal designs of safety for the family however. While promoting theV-J-J day nonsense in that video, she at the same time has been speaking to weakening the protections afforded to us by the authorities protecting our borders and removing gang elements.
Ice Ice baby.
Probably not well thought out, her parting comment in this video speaks volumes if she intends to act upon it given that the job is now hers. Accountability to one’s words are the hallmark of the up and coming XX Democrat activist, yes?
Somehow, there is a disconnect with the XX movement and the very ‘patriarchal’ nature of SE Michigan immigration however. The V-J-J day exercise seems to run in conflict with the practices of such favored ‘immigrant’ communities that practice FGM.
Arguably, the forced mutilation of XX children is tantamount to kidnapping and torture, and should be considered under federal statute period. However liberal judges are now a dime a dozen, and while supported by wing nut lefty XX’ers cannot support the V-J-J position that “my V-J-J is my own.”
Regional 'payoffs' still ignore proper role of government.
Cronyism is now everywhere.
I have written at the beginning of Snyder’s terms that he was the guy who essentially brought the neu-cronyism to Michigan. He invented the current form, and served as its first overlord. Money spent in ways that used to invite constitutional challenges, now routinely passes through the sieve of Lansing into favored projects and could be expected to always get the blessing of the governor.
I doubt the new governor will do anything but enhance it’s reach as she attempts to cajole lawmakers from the ‘other side’ to embrace her sure-to-be bizarre mechanizations that raise the cost of government further. Sadly, it is a Republican legislature that continues to make this kind of thing happen:
$10M In Sports Funding Coming: Is Indoor Traverse City Sports Complex Next?
By Beth Milligan | Dec. 29, 2018
$10 million in state funding is headed to northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula to create a regional sports commission – an initiative that dovetails with an effort by Traverse City Tourism to explore opening a year-round indoor sports complex in Traverse City.
Governor Rick Snyder signed off Friday on two supplemental spending bills totaling $1.3 billion for numerous projects throughout the state, including road upgrades, contamination clean-up, and education initiatives. The bills – approved earlier this month by state lawmakers – also include funding for community projects throughout Michigan, including $10 million to establish the Northern Michigan Regional Tourism and Sports Fund and to create a Great Lakes Sports Commission.
…
… Traverse City Tourism hired a consulting firm earlier this year to conduct a feasibility study on whether there is a need for such a facility in the area, how much it would cost to construct, and if it would be financially sustainable. The firm’s results are expected in January. But Traverse City Tourism President/CEO Trevor Tkach says preliminary findings “prove there is enough demand to run a cash-positive business if the facility gets built.”
Maybe “cash positive” means profit? Maybe, maybe not.
Do unicorns exist? Is Christmas magic real? I say yes, definitely on the latter, but not so sure on the former. Until now… I now believe in policy unicorns, i.e., an extraordinarily rare and good event almost unheard of in politics and policy. Michigan policymakers can pull off a trifecta-of-a-policy-unicorn – fund essential programs, promote economic growth, and not raise taxes. Outgoing Gov. Rick Snyder can prove that policy unicorns are real by signing legislation legalizing online gaming in the Wolverine State.
Last week, the State Senate by a strong bipartisan vote approved a plan that would enable Michigan to join a growing roster of states that have legalized online gaming. The bill will create jobs and economic opportunity for thousands of Michigan residents.
Lame duck session is one of the most fascinating and illuminating times within our government. It is a period when all pretenses of our democracy are jettisoned and a mad cash grab takes place as term-limited legislators secure employment and other benefits in smoke-filled backrooms with lobbyists. It rips off the facade and exposes government for the cruel, soulless machine that it truly is.
Few watched the late-night session that went past 3AM last week when the worst bills were being rammed down our throats. I tuned in to watch the after-hours con job the next day on the Michigan Legislature website as I was sleeping at the time. The fact that the proceedings took place in the dead of night begs the following questions: What are the optics of using the midnight hour to push the lousiest bills forward? What does someone who is less politically inclined think of Republicans after the media reports on these shenanigans? And is it any wonder why we took it on the chin during last month’s mid-term elections?
(10)Nuh Uh.
(0)
