2009 - A group of ultra-conservative, anti-tax, anti-regulation, and anti-liberalism billionaires decide to join forces and institute a new political movement. Taking advantage of a faltering economy, a huge real estate bust (from which they profited) and wide-spread uncertainty, they secretly concocted the Tea Bagger Party.
Free busing, free food, and free entertainment caused a number of Tea Party events to be fairly well attended, by politically illiterate, fat, old, white people wearing stupid hats and carrying imbecilic signs. As the true goals of the organizers began to filter up, much like a leaking septic tank, attendance fell. Unfortunately, during the wave of anger and fear, especially after the illegal election of a Kenyan Muslim terrorist as president, too many TeaBuggered morons were elected to office and continue to wreck havoc on the nation, the economy, and the general welfare of America's citizens.
2013 - John Boehner woke up, burped, peed, then peered deeply into a mirror, recognizing his hung-over image, blurry eyes and all. He was reminded of the opening scene in Hitchhiker's Guide and was about to say "Yellow" when he remembered that it was a liberal book. Then it hit him. He realized fully and completely just how much damage the TeaBuggerer movement had caused. Not just to his leadership, but to the nation at large. He grabbed his cell, and placed one conference call. Paul Ryan, Nancy Pelosi, Patty Murray, and Harry Reid. He thought about adding that Kentucky snake, but realized it would do no good. The call was short, sweet, and disarming. Given the subject matter, he was sure that they would keep quiet as he plotted the timing and the wording of his statement.
FROM THE CHURCH OF INEFFABLE STUPIDITY:
Chronic Affluenza. Acute Affluenza. The Rule of Law.
Texas again proved that America has the best legal system that money can buy. For a price Ugarte, for a price. Watch for the judge to resign rom the bench, only to find an an extremely cushy job in the private sector. Judgments like hers aren't born out of creative lawyering. No, they are purchased in ways that the money trail will be almost invisible. One thing is certain. Her financial future is assured, even if her time on the bench is ended prematurely.
The pity is that Chronic Affluenza is not limited to Texas or Texans. First, let's properly define this term:
Affluenza - A disease caused by having unfettered access to almost unlimited wealth, creating the self-image that one is above the law, and that no problem exists that can not be solved by the proper application of greenbacks. It manifests itself in various ways, including the idea that one is invincible, that one's ideas are far superior to everyone else's ( despite all facts to the contrary), and that society's laws and rules don't apply to them.
The Koch Brothers are another example of Chronic Affluenza sufferers, as well as several other underwriters of the original Tea Party. Dick the Cheney is another walking, stalking example, as is one of his daughters. I was tempted to add Ted Nugent to the list, but in reality, all he is is an ineffably stupid and creepy asshole.
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There is a new scandal brewing in Chicago. Another Olde School Democrat. Another Congresscritter of color about to be forced out of office for fraud.
Here are the facts, as reported in today's Suntimes. 13 years ago, Congresscritter Bobby Rush (the former Black Panther) received $1,000,000 (from SBC, now ATT) and a promise from congress for about $175,000 more. It was intended to build a technology center, bringing computers, the intertubes, and even teh Google to his impoverished district. Bobby Rush created a corporation called Rebirth which purchased a rundown 100 year old vacant building. It was the recipient of the charitable gifts, and quite likely received an addition $500,000 over several years for the building of the tech center.
An architect was hired to design the re-use of the abandoned building, and a small amount of work was done. Still, there was no accounting, no record keeping and no financial controls. The architect admits to receiving $70,000, while having unpaid bills of $31,000.
Eventually Rebirth sold the building to a church group called the Beloved Family Wellnes Center - a christian church group owned and operated by - - - -
(OK. hold your horses. Hold on to your hats. Light em if you got em. You KNOW what is coming next. You can see the writing on the walls. After all, this is Chicago. So, let's start the drum roll, get those spotlights lit and directed to center stooge, and open the curtains)
a christian church group owned and operated by
BOBBY RUSH!
Rush gets a million and a half bucks for a corporation he created and owned, to buy a building and turn it into a tech center, which never gets built, which in turn sells the semi-repaired building to a church group run by Rush. And people here say there is no waste in government.
Given our recent spat of arrests, trials and convictions of Illinois pols, it is nice that even congress is getting into the act. Jesse Jackson, Mel Reynolds, now Bobby Rush? True, there is no pending criminal action. There are no convictions in RebirthGate, but the whole situation stinks.
If we don't keep our own side of the aisle clean, it would be hypocritical of us to point fingers at the far more numerous crimes committed by GO P members.
By the way, Rebirth corporation shut down in 2010. Beloved was incorporated in 2005. Here is the link to a riveting Chicago Suntimes story.