Those Incredible Republicans

Republicans can be pretty amazing in the things they try to convince Americans are for the best. They can put forth the most outrageous ideas and justifications, and do it with a straight face. They're either the best liars in the country, or they're completely devoid of any common sense or shame. Just look at some of the things they want us to believe now:

Let's start with a Texas Republican -- Rep. Ron Paul. This nut has decided that the Constitution is applicable only when he and other Republicans want it to be. Paul told a crowd of home-schoolers a few days ago that it is not only legal, but also constitutional for states to nullify federal laws they don't like. He said, "The chances of us getting things changed around soon through the legislative process is not all the good. And that is why I am a strong endorser of the nullification movement, that states like this should just nullify these laws. And in principle, nullification is proper and moral and constitutional, which I believe it is. . ."

Either Paul was just telling the right-wing crowd what they wanted to hear (a distinct possibility since Republicans don't seem to mind lying at all) or he has never actually read the Constitution. Or maybe he thinks only parts of it actually apply when he can't get what he wants. Article VI of the United States Constitution clearly states that ". . .the Laws of the United States. . .shall be the supreme Law of the Land." This is not ambiguous. It has been settled law for a very long time that federal law trumps state law -- even federal laws that Republicans don't like.

Then we have Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty, both of whom want to be the Republican presidential nominee. Their bright idea is to give the filthy rich corporations a "tax holiday". It's not bad enough that these same corporations hide tons of money out of the country to avoid paying the taxes they owe on it, but now these Republicans want to allow these tax-dodgers to bring the money back home without paying any taxes on it. They are trying to claim the corporate bigwigs will use the money to create new jobs. What a ridiculous assertion!

I say that because this has already been tried once. George Bush fell for this con back in 2004 and gave the corporations their tax holiday. They brought millions back, without paying any taxes on it, and stuck it in the bank accounts of management and owners -- without creating a single job. Then they started shipping their new profits overseas to avoid paying taxes on it (sure in the knowledge that they could bring it back tax-free in the future with another tax holiday). Now they want to pull the same con again, and Republicans are all for it (because they know some of it will wind up in their campaign funds).

Next, we have Republican Rep. Sean Duffy (Wisconsin) who seems to be running for "whiner of the year". When one of his constituents asked what his salary was and if he was willing to take a 5% pay cut, Duffy responded that he only made $174,000 and drove a "used minivan". When the man pointed out that was three times the salary his family had to live on (and also three times the national average for workers), Duffy whined that "I have more debt than you. . .I don't live high off the hog."

Now it is no one's fault that Duffy ran up a lot of debt except his own, and if he wants to drive a used minivan that is also his concern. Most Americans would be thrilled to earn what Duffy does (especially with the government benefits it comes with). Duffy's protestations are absurd, and with all the cuts the Republicans want regular Americans to endure, he should be happy to take a piddly 5% pay cut.

And it's not just the national Republican politicians trying to put something over on the public. In the recent Wisconsin mess the Republicans kept telling Wisconsin residents that ending collective bargaining for state employees was necessary to balance the state budget. It was just an effort to save money in this time of recession. That was a lie.

And State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, a Republican, let the cat out of the bag in a fundraising letter he sent to Republican voters. I guess he didn't think any of those voters would let the truth out. In the letter he said admitted (even bragged) that the real reason was to "break the power of unions like WEAC and AFSCME once and for all." That's no surprise to workers. They knew that was all the Republicans wanted. It balancing the budget was important then they wouldn't have given their rich corporate buddies a tax break at the same time.

And then there are greed-mongers like former Texas State Rep. David Swinford of Amarillo. This Republican abruptly resigned his seat last August so he could spend some quality time with his family. At least that's what he said at the time. But now we know the real reason he resigned before his term was complete -- he needed the time to line up some clients before the new legislative session opened. That "quality time" with his family is now being spend back in Austin working as a lobbyist for several companies. It is expected he will make from $200,000 to $300,000 this year from his lobbying efforts, trading on his ties with other legislators.

It should be illegal for lawmakers to immediately become lobbyists and turn their public service into a moneymaking venture. There should be a waiting period before they can become lobbyists. A bill to create such a waiting period has been introduced, but it has no chance of passage in the Republican-dominated legislature. Those Republicans don't want to kill their own chances of getting rich off their public service in the future.

We must always remember that with Republican politicians it's always about the money, and they don't mind lying to you or telling you what you want to hear to finally cash in. That's why they favor the rich and the corporations over ordinary Americans -- because that's where the money is (and they will always protect their own path to that money). It's just the way they are.