Where to Point the Finger

OK, let me first say that I'm really not setting out on this blog to rag on all the Republican Presidential candidates. No really, stop laughing now. I'm not. But did you see Michele Bachmann's interview with Anne Curry on Wednesday's Today Show? If not, please take a moment to watch.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41521818

Let me see if I get this right. Congress didn't pass the payroll tax bill before today because President Obama wasn't "willing to engage in the process." Really?! Congress couldn't do their job because the President wasn't there, standing over them, holding there little hands, and making sure they did? Seriously, Ms. Bachmann, you expect me to fall for that one?

Since when has it ever been the President's job to make Congress do their work? If I remember my civics lessons correctly, and I'm sure I do, both houses of Congress must generate a bill. Each house must pass their respective bills. If there are differences, then they are supposed to work out those differences. Once the differences are worked out, the final bill is voted on by both houses. If it passes, it goes on to the President for signing or vetoing.

See? No where in that description (which I actually got from a website) does it say the President goes to Congress and gets involved with a bill while its being worked on. His job is to either approve or veto the final version. If he vetoes, Congress gets another chance to pass it by a 2/3 majority vote. The President isn't supposed to write a bill or tell Congress what to put into a bill. Not his job!

Got it, Ms. Bachmann? I realize you're too busy campaigning to be doing your real job right now, but for heaven's sake don't assume I'm so stupid that I won't know when you're pointing your blame finger at entirely the wrong person. I understand its really, really hard when asked a question to point that finger back at yourself and say, "I'm the one to blame. Me and all the other members of Congress who left town instead of passing a bill that would help millions of Americans. We're the ones to blame for this."

And I suppose its all somewhat pointless now, as both the House and the Senate approved it by unanimous consent. Essentially, this is just a procedural trick since most of the folks in Congress had already left for the holidays. Maybe I'm just becoming cynical in my old age, but I can't help but believe the Republicans had this all planned out. Let most of the folks go home, then we pass this thing using the unanimous consent method, and that way those who weren't here can later say, "Hey, I never voted for it. I didn't cave in." Yeah, guess I'm just jaded. I watched the video of the proceedings today. It took them just a little over 1 minute to go through the complete process. And we couldn't have done this days ago? Really?!

Aww, well. So it goes. Happy Holidays, members of Congress. In a few days you get to come back and start the pointless bickering all over again. And that's what makes you today's dog pile!