The Pot Just Called the Kettle Black, and a Pot; Or On President Bush's Attack on Congressional Democrats

So I was clicking around on the political pages and blogs when I ran across this piece on the CNN Political Ticker here:

"President Bush accused Democratic lawmakers on Saturday of being unable to live up to their duties, citing Congress’ inability to pass legislation to fund the federal government.
'Democrats are failing in their responsibility to make tough decisions and spend the people’s money wisely,” Bush said in his weekly radio address. “This moment is a test'
The White House has said the failure of a broad immigration overhaul was proof that Democratic-controlled Capitol Hill cannot take on major issues. 'We saw this with immigration, and we’re seeing it with some other issues where Congress is having an inability to take on major challenges,' said spokesman Tony Fratto...

With the Senate and House now in Democratic hands, this year’s bills are producing skirmishes with the White House that also are causing delays. Almost every domestic bill already has attracted a veto threat because it exceeds Bush’s proposed budget in certain areas.
All told, Democrats plan spending increases for annual agency budgets of about $23 billion above the White House budget request. Bush put it in terms of a five-year outlook, and said their budget plan would be $205 billion bigger than his over that period, and would include 'the largest tax increase in history' by allowing some of his tax cuts to expire as planned.
The president said Democrats are embracing “the failed tax-and-spend policies of the past,” and vowed to stand firm for fiscal restraint. Republican lawmakers have pledged to support him and sustain any vetoes.
'No nation has ever taxed and spent its way to prosperity,” Bush said. “And I have made it clear that I will veto any attempt to take America down this road.'"

Really George? Did you honestly say all of that? Democrats in Congress are the reason that your immigration bill died on the floor? Are you sure about that? Because I seem to recall conservatives all across the country railing that bill as a ridiculous piece of Amnesty - I heard one commentator title it "Shamnesty" - and they called up the army of right-wingers to take it behind the woodshed.

Now, it is true that there was opposition from very liberal Democrats and more moderate, heartland democrats like Senator Ben Nelson (NE), and it is true that not all Democrats in the Senate voted to bring cloture on the bill. But are you kidding me?

And accusing the Democratic Congress of being responsible for any missteps in this country right now is quite a leap. Granted, I am not pleased with the people I helped put in office. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are complete disasters, and I would love to never have to see or hear from them again. They and their old guard pals are talking reform with one hand while holding Congress in place with the other.

But you aren't making the situation much better, Mr. President. The American Research Group just finished an interesting little poll regarding the American people's mindset on you. The poll numbers state that 45% of all adults favor beginning impeachment proceedings on you, while 46% oppose the idea. When you look at voting adults only, that number shifts 46% in favor and 44% opposing. Thirteen percent of Republicans and a whopping 50% of independents favor it.

While I am not really on board for impeaching Bush - I don't think you can make a real case for it, and there is no way it gets through the Senate - maybe these numbers mean that the President should bite his tongue here for a few minutes. Most of the problems that he has laid at the feet of the Democrats really trace right back to him and the GOP.

Problems with spending and appropriations bills came about as a result of the Republicans in the 109th Congress refusing to make any real progress right before the election and then afterwards in their lame duck period. They sat on their hands and played politics over the interests of the American people, including the troops that they voted to put in Iraq. Oh, and it doesn't help domestic agenda matters when the President threatens to veto every bill Congress even ponders debating. How many vetoes did you use during a GOP majority? Oh yeah, two. Everything is clearly on the same footing. You aren't playing politics at all, Mr. President.

If you would like to see the man who is responsible for the War in Iraq, for 3,500 troop deaths, for the failure of immigration and Social Security reform, largely at fault for the continued growth of economic inequality in this country, responsible for the Supreme court taking 3 steps back towards sanctioned segregation, simply look in the mirror, Sir. You know the truth. You aren't as dumb as people think you are.