It all sounds so good until you realize that it includes new drilling rights for oil and gas (and fracking) in the Arctic and the Gulf, all contrary to good policy on the climate and Biden's own promises to not allow more drilling. It even allows Manchin to sell more dirty coal. Now how is that protecting the planet? More sound and fury signifying little. You simply can't have it both ways.
A functioning democracy requires two sides engaged in debate. An exchange of ideas. And we had that (more or less)- until the Republican party completely abandoned any pretense of governing or actually pursuing policies of any kind. Their current "ideal" is to "WIN elections". Period. Seriously, that's all they care about now.
POTUS is boxing well, working the ropes to allow Republicans to hang themselves on the slack. This Roevember turnout should retain & IMPROVE Senate and House members for We The People voting by Democrats for the good of all.
Why are Republicans placing politics above the welfare of this country and planet? How did they reach this level of idealogical bankruptcy? Voters should be angry at the shrugging of their duty.
Your analysis of the issues facing our country and the entire planet and the reprehensible lack of any sense of responsibility on the part of Congressional Republicans on climate change is spot on! Mother Earth IS screaming in floods, droughts, extreme heat, acidic oceans, tornadoes and freak storms. Those who voted "Nay" on this bill should be made to account. Your term, "Congress of Conscience" stuck a deep chord. That is what is so lacking now, unbearably so. Our politicians have no sense of conscience or compassion -- only greed, ambition, and self-serving tactics.
Surely one of your best and most important articles!
It’s unfathomable how every Republican, en masse, refused to do what their oath of office demands- faithfully execute their duties to legislate on behalf of the citizens. Instead, they’ve adopted a blind us vs them mentality to oppose virtually anything proposed by Democrats with the express purpose of defeating any effort regardless of how it benefits society. Or the Earth. It’s a total dereliction of duty and has invalidated Republicans as a viable political party. They are now simply a mindless roadblock to progress or improvement of governance at a time when leadership should be the goal for Americans and humanity as a whole. Democrats are the only elected officials working for America today or the foreseeable future.
They simply must be replaced as an American political party. I care about continued human existence on this planet: for me, for my family, for all people.
Since bad language is allowable here now, see Randy Rainbow's parody, "Lock Him Up Yesterday," YouTube, 8-18: "Does it really take the FBI to verify he tends to lie?" Paul McCartney said that he isn't good at writing protest songs. But see how he is great at writing a protest song in unintentional collaboration with Randy Rainbow, who transforms "Yesterday" into a show tune. People who disapprove of bad language should skip this January 6th hearing offering.
Of course we like our politicians to be countable for the stances they take one way or another, but I’ve found over the years that from what I already know or have heard that when we don’t vote in a private vote situation everything changes. This is at all levels of government and such things as voting for strikes etc. People who I have known who would have voted a certain way didn’t because it was a show of hands or stand up vote. So I wonder if votes were taken with ballots instead would it always be along the party line or would common sense prevail.
the scary thing is that the general public may just not see this for the fly on the food table(current increased costs caused by slot of things) and allow big wins for the do nothing republicans in both houses and as a result the heroic work of president biden and all the DEMOCRATS in congress WITHOUT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN will be lost. i hope that the message can get out to the voters that this a vote for the continuation of our rule of law constitutional democracy. we need to get the word out some way that a republican win will not reduce costs or improve the climate or make schools better ever because there is not a republican plan other than to reduce the social net work of medicare and ahc and the republican desire to lower big $ taxes again. tell everyone you know and some you don’t to vote blue to save our country and our rights and freedoms. inflation reduction will come as long as congress is able to act. with a republican congress everything stops.
Very eloquent and completely correct Dan, except for the "Mother Earth Screaming" line in the concluding paragraph. Mother Earth is just exhibiting what we have already done. She doesn't care how she looks after our demise is completed. She'll still be here; we won't!
I suggest to the writers of article in NYT, Aug 16, 2022, especially Dr. Charles Harvey, that the BFD is not a waste of money but a first step. If he wants more, maybe he and his expert ilk can help us defeat Manchin and Sinema so that Dems can take the bribe money out of the equation.
It all sounds so good until you realize that it includes new drilling rights for oil and gas (and fracking) in the Arctic and the Gulf, all contrary to good policy on the climate and Biden's own promises to not allow more drilling. It even allows Manchin to sell more dirty coal. Now how is that protecting the planet? More sound and fury signifying little. You simply can't have it both ways.
A functioning democracy requires two sides engaged in debate. An exchange of ideas. And we had that (more or less)- until the Republican party completely abandoned any pretense of governing or actually pursuing policies of any kind. Their current "ideal" is to "WIN elections". Period. Seriously, that's all they care about now.
POTUS is boxing well, working the ropes to allow Republicans to hang themselves on the slack. This Roevember turnout should retain & IMPROVE Senate and House members for We The People voting by Democrats for the good of all.
Why are Republicans placing politics above the welfare of this country and planet? How did they reach this level of idealogical bankruptcy? Voters should be angry at the shrugging of their duty.
At least a small wound in climate change. Not for me but the FUTURE of the world.
Your analysis of the issues facing our country and the entire planet and the reprehensible lack of any sense of responsibility on the part of Congressional Republicans on climate change is spot on! Mother Earth IS screaming in floods, droughts, extreme heat, acidic oceans, tornadoes and freak storms. Those who voted "Nay" on this bill should be made to account. Your term, "Congress of Conscience" stuck a deep chord. That is what is so lacking now, unbearably so. Our politicians have no sense of conscience or compassion -- only greed, ambition, and self-serving tactics.
Surely one of your best and most important articles!
It’s unfathomable how every Republican, en masse, refused to do what their oath of office demands- faithfully execute their duties to legislate on behalf of the citizens. Instead, they’ve adopted a blind us vs them mentality to oppose virtually anything proposed by Democrats with the express purpose of defeating any effort regardless of how it benefits society. Or the Earth. It’s a total dereliction of duty and has invalidated Republicans as a viable political party. They are now simply a mindless roadblock to progress or improvement of governance at a time when leadership should be the goal for Americans and humanity as a whole. Democrats are the only elected officials working for America today or the foreseeable future.
Always brilliant and articulate, Dan Rather captures my sentiments perfectly in this thought piece
They simply must be replaced as an American political party. I care about continued human existence on this planet: for me, for my family, for all people.
Since bad language is allowable here now, see Randy Rainbow's parody, "Lock Him Up Yesterday," YouTube, 8-18: "Does it really take the FBI to verify he tends to lie?" Paul McCartney said that he isn't good at writing protest songs. But see how he is great at writing a protest song in unintentional collaboration with Randy Rainbow, who transforms "Yesterday" into a show tune. People who disapprove of bad language should skip this January 6th hearing offering.
Thank goodness, it is a Big Deal!
Of course we like our politicians to be countable for the stances they take one way or another, but I’ve found over the years that from what I already know or have heard that when we don’t vote in a private vote situation everything changes. This is at all levels of government and such things as voting for strikes etc. People who I have known who would have voted a certain way didn’t because it was a show of hands or stand up vote. So I wonder if votes were taken with ballots instead would it always be along the party line or would common sense prevail.
Brian Lauder
the scary thing is that the general public may just not see this for the fly on the food table(current increased costs caused by slot of things) and allow big wins for the do nothing republicans in both houses and as a result the heroic work of president biden and all the DEMOCRATS in congress WITHOUT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN will be lost. i hope that the message can get out to the voters that this a vote for the continuation of our rule of law constitutional democracy. we need to get the word out some way that a republican win will not reduce costs or improve the climate or make schools better ever because there is not a republican plan other than to reduce the social net work of medicare and ahc and the republican desire to lower big $ taxes again. tell everyone you know and some you don’t to vote blue to save our country and our rights and freedoms. inflation reduction will come as long as congress is able to act. with a republican congress everything stops.
“so is the future of planet Earth. Perhaps even more so. “
that is why we have to vote like it is our our own physical flesh and bones ass on the line. ( use of the word “a—) to meet you at “BFD.” Ha!
Very eloquent and completely correct Dan, except for the "Mother Earth Screaming" line in the concluding paragraph. Mother Earth is just exhibiting what we have already done. She doesn't care how she looks after our demise is completed. She'll still be here; we won't!
I suggest to the writers of article in NYT, Aug 16, 2022, especially Dr. Charles Harvey, that the BFD is not a waste of money but a first step. If he wants more, maybe he and his expert ilk can help us defeat Manchin and Sinema so that Dems can take the bribe money out of the equation.