These two men are the “poster children” for what’s really wrong with Congress and American Politics

You only need to look at their recently announced retirements – Bayh’s came yesterday and Moore’s was back in November 2009 - in order to divine that something is seriously amiss. 

They are NOT Liberal Democrats.  These are both very mainstream Centrists, at times even leaning a bit to the Conservative side.  Moreover, it is highly unlikely either one of them would have lost their seats in the next election cycle.  They were both very popular – especially with independents and Republican moderates – and they both have huge campaign war chests.

So why quit?

Evan Bayh’s stated reasons given at the press conference for his retirement announcement yesterday speaks volumes:

“There is too much partisanship and not enough progress — too much narrow ideology and not enough practical problem-solving,” he said yesterday. “Even at a time of enormous challenge, the peoples’ business is not being done.”

And although Dennis Moore has not stated the same sentiments publicly – and I have known Dennis for a number of years – I have a very strong visceral instinct that such is the case.  If so, we are witnessing the disappearance of the political Centrists/Moderates, and an even greater polarization of the political spectrum. 

Moreover, the inexplicable hatred of President Obama by the Right Wing - and blanket criticism of everything he does (or does not do) – defies logic and reason.  Because of this insane hatred and the incendiary punditry, we are now treading down a very dangerous pathway;  it does not bode well for the future of our country, or the security of this nation.

Are you listening America?

Levi Johnston - the father of Bristol Palin’s baby – contends that his “ex-mother-in-law”, Sarah Palin, would say ”where is my retarded baby”.  Sarah and Todd Palin have a “special needs” child, and Sarah Palin denies that she ever referred to her baby that way.  Frankly, I can see Sarah Palin saying something like that “tongue-in-cheek” (in jest).  Having a sense of humor about these things is normal human behavior (as in the heading of this post).

Nevertheless, I digress.

For decades now in the United States, minorities and their advocates – most of which are Liberals – have long protested the use of certain derogatory terms as socially unacceptable.  The most common example are racial slurs like the “N” word.  This drive to “scrub” the English language of these terms was labeled as “political correctness” – a concept that references the agenda to create a social sensitivity to members of our society who are not part of mainstream America.  Conservatives have routinely criticized “political correctness” as liberal nonsense, and ironically, Rush Limbaugh referred to “liberal activists” as retards .  Now you want to talk about the pot calling the kettle black.  Moerover, where was Sarah Palin’s outrage regarding on his political incorrectness?

Recent reports have surfaced stating that Rahm Emmanuel, President Obama’s White House Chief of Staff, was addressing a group of Liberal Democrat politicians last summer regarding their intended strategy to use “attack ads” against Conservative Democrats, and referred to them as “Fxxking retarded“.  Now Sarah Palin has said that Emanuel should be fired.

I guess the irony of a “kike using ”politically incorrect” language while addressing a group of liberals is lost on Palin.

P.S.  For those of you who are offended by my use of a politically incorrect term, you too are missing my point. 

The tentacles of power reach as deeply into this Administration and Congress as they have with any of their predecessors (if you do not believe it, read this article). 

Health Care Reform will be just another act of diluted legislative sausage-making, wherein they can all declare victory while their constituents are left wondering why there was so much fuss over so little substantive action.  The polarized distinctions between Democrats and Republicans, Liberals and Conservatives, are just fabricated drama for the Beltway politicos, P.R. hacks, media, and the likes of Limbaugh and Beck, all who line their already deep pockets by stirring more fear and loathing in an easily manipulated public.

These Foxes are not the real threat to the occupants of the chicken coop.  To the contrary.  The chickens are so busy pecking at the ground looking for a kernel of corn or two to feed their hunger for a little truth, while simultaneously focusing on these untrustworthy creatures, that they forgot it is the master that will likely be dining again on them tonite. 

If you keep your eye on the foxes, you will never see the freshly- sharpened axe that is about to fall on your neck.