From the Other Side of the Edge….
Spineless Checks, …Too Few Balances, …No Leaders, …Forgotten Hope
By Joe Facinoli

Has there ever been a time, in our country’s long history, when our national political scene was so devoid of even a smidgeon of leadership ??

On both sides of the aisle, …and everywhere in between ?

Thank God for this past month’s Supreme Court decisions, maybe they can start the restoration of sanity, if not leadership, in our nation’s capital.

But the good Justices are only the “judgers” of the policy, practice, and law, of the other two branches of our government, …and not the implementers, nor the architects.

No, that is left to the “Do-Nothing, Say Anything (as long as it’s contrary to the other party)” Congress, currently seated, …the well-deserved possessors of the lowest approval rating in decades, …and to the “Worst President since WWII”, according to the recent Quinnipiac University poll of registered voters.

Even the college students surveyed, thought that this President was doing the worst job since 1945!! They even thought him to be worse than “W” Bush, …and even Nixon !!!

Whoa! College kids can be led around by the nose by almost anyone (see: Timothy Leary, Jack Kerouac, and Stokely Carmichael, if you’re not convinced of that), …so what does that say here??

In an era known more for its incredibly bitter partisanship, among all elected leaders and officials, …than for any guidance, direction by governance, or even basic management skills, …this nation is more rudderless, and leaderless, than at any time since prior to the Great Depression.

Even then, Herbert Hoover was better qualified, and came to office with more experience, and a broader resume, than any of our latest three attempts at electing a true leader to the Presidency.

And we know how that one turned out, back in the ‘20s. Ol’ “Double-H” may have had some chops, but he was clueless when it came to using them.

Sound familiar?

There’s an old adage (which I just made up), that says …any time you start comparing leaders, muchless Presidents, to Herbert Hoover, …then the conversation is just about over, and you’ve made your point.

Can’t quite ever get the smell off, …once you’ve touched that pile.

The Legislative Branch of our government is hopelessly, even childishly divided.

And has devolved, sadly, into a spiteful and dangerous place, where philosophy, agenda, greed, and the inflexible rhetoric of their “talking points”, has become far more important than anything that would be for the greater good, for the country as a whole.

The Senate, led by Harry Reid (a Democrat), and the House, led by John Boehner (a Republican), have simply become laughing stocks. Laughing, that is, when they’re not making us cry.

Or terrifying us, not only with their inactivity, but worse, when they do act, with the nonsense they create, and then allow to happen, …against all common sense.

While the President, who thinks of the Constitution as his own personal “baby wipe”, or door mat, depending on the depth of his audacity at a given moment, and if he ever thinks of it at all, …moves about like a spiteful child himself, confused as to why anyone would ever question anything that might pop into his adolescent mind.

Well, …the Supreme Court just “bitch-slapped” him, and his bunch, back to reality (somewhat) last week, on a number of his oversteps, …so at least there’s that.

But already, he’s back at it again, with his threatening, overblown “bully pulpit” attempts to get his way. His whiny, recent Rose Garden half-tantrum, directed at the GOP in the House, over their non-actions regarding HIS immigration agenda (not theirs), was just more of the same.

You can stomp your feet, Mr. President, and wave your arms, and point accusing fingers, all day, and every day, …but the Constitution is very clear, on what you can and can’t do, when Congress doesn’t act to your liking.

Take our founding document out from under your feet, once in a while, Sir, …or even off the changing table, now and then.

It’s very instructive, …but it’s not child’s play, nor is it for the faint of heart.

Even though he has unfailing ideas about what he wants, and the direction he wants to go, …the man has no earthly idea how to get there, nor what’s involved in compromise, or negotiation, give and take, or working with a “loyal” opposition, to accomplish any of that.

But to be fair, …neither do they.

And that’s our problem right there. Nobody at the switch.

They should all find a good history book, and turn to the chapters that tell them about Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson, and Ronald Reagan (two Dems and a Republican, just for the record, and btw).

Whether you liked any of them, or not, …these men all knew how to get things done, and how to push things through a hostile Congress.

Sure there was arm-twisting, and back room deals, and money probably changed hands, …but the important decisions were made, and the vital initiatives were passed, …and the country was stronger for it.

And at the end of the day, both sides got most of what they wanted, the nation won, and without all the irreparable “bloodshed” that goes along with nearly every word uttered by a modern day politician.

There are very few of the “Checks and Balances” today, which the Constitution calls for, even demands, between the Executive and Legislative branches, because there is no respect for the other individuals, nor for the opposite party/philosophy, and no desire to move forward, …by anyone.

Every difference of opinion is a major conflict, with words and actions said and done in ways that can’t be retreated from, nor negotiated against.

And every opposing view is an impassable, un-crossable chasm. Sorry, they say, but those on the “other” side, will just have to find a way to get across, or nothing will happen.

Because no one ever tries to build a bridge, …not only to solve any current problems, …but which might actually be used for future dealings, or “crossings”.

No one out there, at the front, anywhere, …with that much forethought, or vision. And when there is, for a brief moment or two, it’s not communicated well enough, and then doesn’t get done.

It’s all “…my way, or NO way, and you better like it”. High school debate teams don’t even try that method, …because it doesn’t work.

Once in a while, though, someone does show promise, with a flashy couple moments of fireworks, …only to fall back into the pit, a victim of their own inexperience, or inability to faithfully communicate, or their inflexible conceit and stupidity.

What to do??

We need to elect people with courage, who are unselfishly committed to the people who voted them in, …and who have real life experience in solving problems, and with managing important, even critical, issues.

No more career politicians!! Yes, term limits would certainly be helpful, but WE should be the term limiters.

If someone doesn’t get things done, then get them out,… and the very next time up!!

And when the President does something wrong, stupid, or clearly un-Constitutional, then the opposing party needs to take him to task, even to impeachment, if necessary, and they need to stand their ground, and man their guns, until it’s done.

But most importantly, all parties needs to think of the PEOPLE first, and not their own pockets, nor their next re-election campaigns.

I know, I know, …good luck with all of that, …right?

Well, maybe one man’s opinion, …can turn a few more.

Here’s hoping. Because, …if not…………

Joe Facinoli
--Joe can be reached at: joefacinoli@gmail.com
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© Copyright 2014, Joe Facinoli