Thursday, September 5, 2013

Barack O'Claus

Thank you, Mr. President, for the early Christmas present!  As someone who had come to the reluctant conclusion that Congress was a failed institution that needed to be "repealed and replaced," it was refreshing to witness the behavior of our Elected Children -- after you tossed Syrian question to them.  They actually acted like adults, imagine that?

Watching the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee take testimony was absolutely refreshing!  With a few comical exceptions, they treated each other with respect.  They asked thoughtful questions.  They listened to the witnesses and even listened to each other.  They behaved as one would expect from the "world's greatest deliberative body" as the Senate was called long ago.

I guess the difference during that hearing was that there was no preexisting partisan position to follow. The senators were wrestling with what was right for the country, not what would assure their reelection efforts -- by fending off a primary competitor.

Thank you, Mr. President, for reminding me of how great our Congress used to be . . . and could be again, if we could just un-gerrymander political districts so that they elect centrists, instead of extreme "true believers."

And, that would be sooooooo good for the stock market . . .