August 23, 2009

WEEWEE

Just as we and other commentators on the political parade were scaling back during Congress’ summer vacation, President Barack Obama last week sashayed to an audience at the Democrat National Committee Headquarters to lay down a description of politics that will live forever:

“There is something about August, going into September, where everybody in Washington gets all weeweed up over some change in the landscape.  I don’t know what it is, but everyone should calm down.”

My trusty Webster defines “weewee” as a child’s term for discharge of urine.

What an entertaining example of our President’s vaunted command of language!

When White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was asked for a definition, he replied:

“Let’s do this in a way that is family-friendly.  I think ‘weeweed up’ is when people just get all nervous for no particular reason.  Bed-wetting probably is the more consumer-friendly term.”

FIXATED

Obama and his aides seem fixated on the definition.

David Plouffe, manager last year for Obama’s run for the presidency, describes the latest brouhaha as similar to those he heard then: “Hand-wringing and bed-wetting allies running for cover.”

The latest Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that Obama’s overall approval rating among liberals has gone from 94 percent at the 100-day mark of his presidency in April, to 83 percent today.  Fifteen percent now disapprove -- up from 1 percent in April.

An NBC News poll last week also shows the president’s approval rating among liberals dropping.  It went from 89 percent in an April NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll to 81 percent last week.  Disapproval hit double digits for the first time at 13 percent.

RISE OF BLUE DOGS

It is customary for newly elected presidents to have a 100-day honeymoon.  Thereafter, reality takes over.

Democrats today control both Houses of Congress by wide margins.  Thus, the so-called “Blue Dog” coalition of 52 moderate and conservative Democrats in the House of Representatives – where all money bills originate -- wield considerable power in shaping fiscal matters.

According to Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, Blue Dogs promote conservatism and accountability in money matters.

They formerly were recognized as Southern Democrat “Boll Weevils.” They played a critical role in the early 1980s by supporting President Ronald Reagan’s tax-cut plan to boost the failing economy.

BOLL WEEVILS

The Boll Weevils may be considered descendants of the “Dixicrats” and “States’ Rights” Democrats of the 1940’s through ‘60s. Former Texas Democrat Rep.  Pete Green is credited with coining the term– explaining that its members had been “choked blue" by extreme Democrats from the left!

They met regularly in the offices of Louisiana Representatives Billy Tauzin and Jimmy Hayes.  They explained: “A blue dog is our mascot because when dogs are not let into the house, they stay outside in the cold and turn blue.”

Tauzin and Hayes later switched to the Republican Party.

The Blue Dog Coalition was formed -- during the 104th Congress -- to give conservative Democrats a unified voice after the Democrats lost Congress in 1994.

BLUE DOGS TODAY

The 52-member Blue Dog Coalition continues active today.

Representative Stephanie H. Sandlin (South Dakota Democrat) -- and Blue Dog Co-Chair  -- stated on July 29:

“The Blue Dogs have been successful in ensuring the House will have time to assess the committee products on healthcare reform inasmuch as there will be no vote on the House floor before August recess.

“Blue Dogs believe fundamental reform of our health care system is needed to control rising health care costs, increase quality and value, and improve access to coverage and care.

“Comprehensive health care reform must be deficit-neutral and bend the cost-curve in the long run.  We also believe health care reform must preserve patient choice of provider and maintain competition within the market place.”

BORROWING TO PROSPERTY

While Congress scatters for summer recess, Mr. Obama chugs away at shaping the economy.

He asks for a quick infusion of $2 trillion  -- added to the $9 trillion we will have to borrow over the next decade to avoid a decline in health care and infrastructure improvements.

This, mind you, is on top of the $12 trillion for which we are already in debt – mostly to China.

On the track we are now hurtling, our children will have to learn to speak Chinese in order to survive.

By Lindsey Wilger Williams, retired newspaper publisher and syndicated columnist