The GOP House's Opening Act: Making a Statement -- Or Making a Mockery?

Source: Time

Two months after a sweeping victory in the midterm elections, Republicans officially reclaim the House of Representatives on Wednesday. But before the new majority party begins the business of governing - which they don't even really get down to until the end of the month - they will take the opportunity to savor their triumph and make a statement with a good dose of Washington political theater.

At about noon, the House clerk will call the chamber to order. After reciting a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, the members will elect Rep. John Boehner as Speaker. The Ohioan will be presented by his predecessor, outgoing Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi, before swearing in the largest GOP freshman class in more than a half-century. http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/10questions/0,30255,1827605,00.html">(See photos of Nancy Pelosi's career.)

Then the festivities begin in earnest. Later in the afternoon, the GOP will introduce the Rules of the 112th Congress, a package of relatively radical provisions the party says will help reform the House budget process, ferret out waste and heighten transparency. (To the latter end, Republicans plan to live-stream the opening day's events over Facebook.) On Thursday morning, in a ceremony led by Rep. Bob Goodlatte of Virginia, House Republicans - and Democrats who accept an invitation to participate - will read aloud all 4,543 words of the Constitution, the text many of its members made the centerpiece of their fall campaigns. Then, on Friday, the GOP will punctuate a momentous week by opening floor debate on the repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Barring delay, House Republicans will repeal the outgoing Democratic Congress's signature legislative accomplishment on Jan. 12, just a week after regaining control of the lower chamber.

Showcasing their fealty to the Constitution and fulfilling seminal campaign trail promises are elements of the continuing courtship of Tea Party activists who propelled Republicans back to power - and with whom the GOP remains on probation. "We know very clearly that that election was a repudiation of what had gone on in this town," Eric Cantor, the incoming Majority Leader, told reporters on Tuesday, echoing the solemn sense of humility that Boehner and other Congressional Republicans have taken pains to project in recent months. "It wasn't necessarily an election about us."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/08599204080500

You know, massive wealth inequality, homelessness, America's working poor, 20% unemployment, wages that haven't kept up with the cost of living since 1973, out of control Pentasewer spending, those two unwinnable conflicts, how we're going to pay for your rich handler's tax cuts, the endless lobbyists, the fact that your party has no workable solutions to solve our economic problems, the National Debt (over 70% of which was rung up by YOUR party's leaders, may I remind thou), the deficit, our crap free trade agreements, the environment, corporate corruption, unbridled capitalism, melding of church and state, loss of civil rights, Guantanamo not closing, how your wealthy handlers are going to finally prove Trickle Down economics works after 30 years of FAILURE, theatrical Whitewatering undermining American governing, Clinton-era stonewalling, etc.

I don't know, were we going to get to THOSE any time soon or are you guys just going to continue to play with your pee-pees?

You'll see this sort of mental masturbation until 2012. By then, the voting public will have become sick and tired of the House's theatrics, their non-productivity and their fiddling while the rest of the country burns. Democrats will then have a chance (somehow though, we may snatch defeat from the jaws of victory) to retake the House, provided we are smart enough to realize the opportunity. Count on it.