Do you follow what’s happening in our federal government? If so, this week you probably saw Kathleen Sibelius, Secretary of Health & Human Services, blithely announce that her Healthcare.Gov website was working perfectly and that not only would everyone be able to afford the Affordable Care Act but also that there would be no job losses in any segment of the American economy as a result of its implementation. As a voter who pays attention you probably also saw Jason Furman, Chair of the President’s Council on Economic Advisors explain that no economists, anywhere, were of the opinion that a nearly 40% increase in the Minimum Wage to $10.10 per hour would have any adverse impact on existing jobs or job growth in America. You may also have heard Jay Carney, the President’s Press Secretary, assert from the podium of the White House briefing room that Democrats will gladly run on the benefits that have been bestowed on citizens by Obamacare. What’s more, Carney doubled down by predicting that voters would overwhelmingly sweep those Democrats back into office – further validating the environment of sweetness and light which has been established and fostered by the current Administration.
I saw all that and much more of the same. It left me with the conclusion that our federal government’s public relations machine has suddenly chosen a new icon and guru to whom all team members will adhere when speaking to the people. Who might that be, you ask? Edward R. Morrow? Walter Cronkite? Steven Colbert? No, folks it is even better than that. Our government has adopted the example of Muhammad Saeed al-
Sahhaf.
You probably know him better as Baghdad Bob.
Remember the opening hours of the Iraq war in 2003, when the US Army’s 3rd Division wrapped up all Iraqi defenses just about as fast as their armored vehicles could travel? Baghdad Bob was the English speaking spokesman of the Saddam Hussein regime who insisted in florid terms that the invaders were being crushed and that America would suffer a counterattack on its own soil within days. My favorite Baghdad Bob presser was held on the roof of his office building – because power had been interdicted by US Forces so there was no light indoors for the cameras. Undeterred by this minor inconvenience, Bob stood on the roof with his back to the city square in front of his Ministry building and solemnly intoned the impending doom of all American Forces at the hands of a bloodthirsty and irresistible Iraqi Military.
I say this was my favorite of all his diatribes to the press because of what happened just as he got to high dudgeon on his topic, complete with images of pulverized bones and a river of blood. At that moment an M1-A1 Abrams Tank of the 3rd the square below, measuring firing lines by swinging its turret across the field of view. When this illegally parked vehicle was pointed out to Bob he earned his place in the Broadcasting Hall of Fame by shouting, See! They are Falling into our Trap, As we Speak!
Before Baghdad Bob’s performance that day all we had to compare to the current Administration was Frank Morgan’s portrayal of the Wizard of Oz in the 1939 Hollywood classic. Remember when he was revealed and quickly shouted, “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain?”
The current Administration in Washington, DC, has violated the KISS Rule of government. Keep It Simple, Stupid. Recovering from Recession has been done many times by our government. All these new guys had to do was follow the Reagan playbook from 1981-82, or the Eisenhower plan from 1958-59, or even Warren G Harding’s non-response to the Crash of 1920-21.
But no. This Administration was moved to add mountains of costly regulations to an already laden overhead line in the budget of every American business. These guys had to conjure up an enormous re-definition of healthcare in America, and they had to do so in such a hurry that they were oblivious to the multitude of contradictions they therefore enshrined in statute. They chose to remain aloof to all entreaties from Congress that there be a coordinated approach to governance and (wait for it) a separation of powers as defined by the US Constitution.
So where is Jim Langevin in all this?
Rhode Island’s 7 term incumbent in its 2nd to help matters. He hasn’t done nothing at all. He did cast the deciding vote to pass the Affordable Care Act. Beyond that destructive swipe at the pocketbooks and wallets
of his Constituents it seems that Representative Langevin is perfectly satisfied with the proceedings. Apparently he also buys in to the descriptions of these proceedings made by the acolytes of Baghdad Bob who manage the Administration’s spin cycle.
Well I’ve done something about it, trying to help matters in my own way. I’ve become so infuriated by government for government’s sake that I got up off my butt and began a campaign for that very seat in Congress. If you smell the oppressive aroma of BS emanating from our nation’s capital then I’m asking for your support. Your Representative in the US House needs to be a voice that the Administration will hear,
at least at some level. You haven’t actually sent a deaf mute to Congress these last 14 years, it just seems that way. Well I’ve got a full throated voice and, with your support, I mean to go there and use it on your behalf.
Rhue Reis
Candidate for Congress - RI CD-2
www.reis4congress.com
E-Mail: rhue@reis4congress.com
I saw all that and much more of the same. It left me with the conclusion that our federal government’s public relations machine has suddenly chosen a new icon and guru to whom all team members will adhere when speaking to the people. Who might that be, you ask? Edward R. Morrow? Walter Cronkite? Steven Colbert? No, folks it is even better than that. Our government has adopted the example of Muhammad Saeed al-
Sahhaf.
You probably know him better as Baghdad Bob.
Remember the opening hours of the Iraq war in 2003, when the US Army’s 3rd Division wrapped up all Iraqi defenses just about as fast as their armored vehicles could travel? Baghdad Bob was the English speaking spokesman of the Saddam Hussein regime who insisted in florid terms that the invaders were being crushed and that America would suffer a counterattack on its own soil within days. My favorite Baghdad Bob presser was held on the roof of his office building – because power had been interdicted by US Forces so there was no light indoors for the cameras. Undeterred by this minor inconvenience, Bob stood on the roof with his back to the city square in front of his Ministry building and solemnly intoned the impending doom of all American Forces at the hands of a bloodthirsty and irresistible Iraqi Military.
I say this was my favorite of all his diatribes to the press because of what happened just as he got to high dudgeon on his topic, complete with images of pulverized bones and a river of blood. At that moment an M1-A1 Abrams Tank of the 3rd the square below, measuring firing lines by swinging its turret across the field of view. When this illegally parked vehicle was pointed out to Bob he earned his place in the Broadcasting Hall of Fame by shouting, See! They are Falling into our Trap, As we Speak!
Before Baghdad Bob’s performance that day all we had to compare to the current Administration was Frank Morgan’s portrayal of the Wizard of Oz in the 1939 Hollywood classic. Remember when he was revealed and quickly shouted, “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain?”
The current Administration in Washington, DC, has violated the KISS Rule of government. Keep It Simple, Stupid. Recovering from Recession has been done many times by our government. All these new guys had to do was follow the Reagan playbook from 1981-82, or the Eisenhower plan from 1958-59, or even Warren G Harding’s non-response to the Crash of 1920-21.
But no. This Administration was moved to add mountains of costly regulations to an already laden overhead line in the budget of every American business. These guys had to conjure up an enormous re-definition of healthcare in America, and they had to do so in such a hurry that they were oblivious to the multitude of contradictions they therefore enshrined in statute. They chose to remain aloof to all entreaties from Congress that there be a coordinated approach to governance and (wait for it) a separation of powers as defined by the US Constitution.
So where is Jim Langevin in all this?
Rhode Island’s 7 term incumbent in its 2nd to help matters. He hasn’t done nothing at all. He did cast the deciding vote to pass the Affordable Care Act. Beyond that destructive swipe at the pocketbooks and wallets
of his Constituents it seems that Representative Langevin is perfectly satisfied with the proceedings. Apparently he also buys in to the descriptions of these proceedings made by the acolytes of Baghdad Bob who manage the Administration’s spin cycle.
Well I’ve done something about it, trying to help matters in my own way. I’ve become so infuriated by government for government’s sake that I got up off my butt and began a campaign for that very seat in Congress. If you smell the oppressive aroma of BS emanating from our nation’s capital then I’m asking for your support. Your Representative in the US House needs to be a voice that the Administration will hear,
at least at some level. You haven’t actually sent a deaf mute to Congress these last 14 years, it just seems that way. Well I’ve got a full throated voice and, with your support, I mean to go there and use it on your behalf.
Rhue Reis
Candidate for Congress - RI CD-2
www.reis4congress.com
E-Mail: rhue@reis4congress.com
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