Saturday, March 20, 2010

Low Friends In High Places

California has now joined a number of other states in hosting Congress Crooks whose votes are being bought by sweetheart deals. But in California's case, it won't even benefit the whole state, or even a large part of it. I want you to know the names of the two political whores who will likely be voting in favor of the bill after receiving a pathetic bribe.

The two California Democrats who represent agricultural areas in California's San Joaquin Valley are Dennis Cardoza and Jim Costa. These two pathetic excuses for elected representatives aren't just political whores. They're cheap political whores. They were allegedly among the "undecided" votes, supposedly leaning "no" on the health care bill. They've even been called "conservative Democrats" (which I consider to be a factual impossibility). The bribe they've been offered is utterly incomprehensible, and the damage it will do is incalculable. Unlike the more famous Gator-Aid, Cornhusker Kickback, the Louisiana Purchase and Dakota Deal, this bribe won't even help the citizens of their districts, let alone the state that is in desperate economic distress.

A little background on why this is such a reprehensible move on the part of these two fools. Since 1992, there has been an incremental attack on California agriculture by the liberals and their beloved Environmental Protection Agency. Each move by the EPA crippled the farmers and farm-workers just a little more with each new initiative and each new obscure and/or worthless animal or plant that needed "protection." The farmers in the San Joaquin (Central) Valley worked the most productive land in America, which by careful garnering of resources and creation of immense water projects begun at the start of the 20th Century turned a vast desert into America's food basket. But a recent EPA suit dealt what may be the final blow.

In order to protect a fish species that was dying out anyway and serves no known purpose in the scheme of macro-ecology, the abundant water available to feed the farmlands in the Central Valley was effectively shut off entirely. This past year alone, rain levels (and obviously water availability) were at 129% of average. Yet the starving and thirsting Central Valley gets not a drop. Shut down those pumps. Close those valves. Dry up those streams and channels. All in the name of protecting the Delta smelt. For those of you who may not be familiar with this travesty, here's a link that will give you the details: Meet The Fish That Conquered California.

Remembering the fact that the water needed to slake the thirst of the Central Valley has already been nearly 100% cut off to protect a lousy fish, what did these two amateur goodfellas get for their votes? A temporary 25% increase in the amount of water allowable in their districts only. The expression "a piss in the Pacific Ocean" comes quickly to mind. Or maybe "a teaspoon of water to put out the Chicago fire." These two cheap dates sold out their votes for a trickle of water that wouldn't do much more than water a few lawns.

In theirs and surrounding districts, the unemployment rate is between 20% and 40%. Bankruptcies are being filed at a rate to rival that of the Great Depression. The Central Valley is beginning to look like the midwest during the dustbowl of the 30s. And nature has nothing to do with it this time. It took eco-zealots to block the water that is the lifeblood of the Central Valley farms.

How much effect will the actions of these mental midgets have? One courageous Republican in an adjoining district, Devin Nunes, called them out. "They are getting a 25% temporary increase in water for their districts in exchange for 100% yes vote on the health care bill." An influx of water that is grossly inadequate for the purpose of getting the farms back in business and the food being moved all over the world in exchange for a socialist, statist national health care scheme that will bankrupt America, destroy our medical community, and make California even worse off.

Normally, the U. S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation would announce any changes in allocations of water on March 22. That doesn't mean there would have been any increased allocation, just that if there were, that would be the date to do so. But for some strange reason known only to God, the two losers, and Senators Feinstein and Boxer, March 17 seemed like a good time to get ahead of the curve. The foursome (God chose not to participate) announced the brilliant move together, just in time for the two to sell out their constituents and switch to yes votes for the Sunday showdown.

If these two political prostitutes had gotten a 90% permanent increase in the water allocations for the entire Central Valley, it would still have been extortion. But at least I could have understood that they might believe such an increase helped a huge portion of Californians more than the health care bill damaged America. But this! It's like selling your children so you can buy that used black and white television at the pawnshop. Junkies sell their bodies for more than this to get a quick fix.

Like most of you, I will be watching the train-wreck on Sunday. If these two clowns vote against the health care bill, I will sincerely apologize and commend their courage in the face of immense pressure from Washington D.C. But if they vote in favor, they will have earned the utter contempt of the majority of Californians. There is quite literally no reason for them to vote in favor of the bill they formerly questioned except for the political bribe. Thousands upon thousands of Californians who count on their representatives to save them from the predatory EPA will be asked to believe that it was so important to get a piddling 25% temporary increase in water allocation that these morons voted to destroy American health care while doing nothing to fix California's problems. At least UFO hunter Dennis Kucinich got a ride on Air Force One in exchange for his principles. They may also have offered Dear Dennis the name of a tailor so he could get rid of that hideous mud-colored polyester suit and gigantic green tie he was wearing when he announced his sellout.

Any Californian (or any American, for that matter) who finds this to be a contemptible sellout can call the offices of the two miscreants. Cardoza's phone number is (209)383-4455. Costa's number is (559) 495-1620.

33 comments:

Tam said...

My fingers are already bleeding from dialing congress-fiends. Time to put on the band-aids and get to it again!

BevfromNYC said...

LawHawk, I am on a train about 45 minutes outside DC and the closer I get the madder I get. I will be sure to shout their names loud and clear. Pigs...

Boehner has called for a roll call vote. He sent a letter to Pelosi stating that if they are going to vote the American people had the right to see their Reps' faces when they voted. We'll see...

Tennessee Jed said...

Ah Hawk, they are not going to vote against, who are we kidding? I only hope the voters from their districts give them a good swift kick in the nuts (electorially speaking, of course) come re-election.

patti said...

this is the first time since my father's and grandmother's death that i feel the need to chain-smoke and drink like a sailor on leave, first in the morning (note: i have never smoked or drank like a sailor on leave, but they both did. upon their deaths, i felt certain i was channeling their spirits. they must have needed one last drag and shot.)

it p[pisses me off that washington is putting us in this position of unprecedented push-back. but here we are, and i don't think i have it in me to excuse myself from the fight. too much is on the line.

patti said...

* p[pisses = REALLY PISSED!

Joel Farnham said...

LawHawk,

I had heard that they had sold their vote. I wish I was wrong.

What gets me is one hand of the wing-nuts gets to use what another hand has withheld.

I despise any one who excuses any eco-nut by saying they have their heart in the right place. That is an utter enabling lie.

I am angry and tired. It is too bad that California's follies couldn't be contained just to the boarders of your state, but it does. Food prices will increase just because der Fuehrer wants it so. This is sick and degrading.

patti said...

bev: i am checking constantly to see your man-in-the-field updates. god speed.

Writer X said...

LawHawk, these guys are complete pond-scum. Hopefully their constituents will send them into the unemployment line when they're up for re-election. Thanks for the phone numbers.

Unknown said...

Tam: Keep the faith. Eventually, the bleeding stops, and you develop callouses. That which does not destroy us makes us strong!

Unknown said...

Bev: I envy you. I wish I lived closer to the source. Give 'em a "Pigs Out!" for me. Boehner is doing the right thing, but I don't think the cowards will have the guts to come out of their hidey-holes unless the rules absolutely require it.

Unknown said...

Tennessee: It's the lawyer in me. I have to err on the side of caution, but truthfully, I don't believe in the tooth fairy either.

Unknown said...

Patti: I know I haven't been this angry and this energized since my radical days during the Civil Rights era. The future of what America is and should be is on the line in the next few days and weeks. We can't relent, and there's no substitute for victory.

Unknown said...

Joel: I don't know if you caught it, but on that earlier post, I acknowledged that you're the one who first tipped me off to these lowlives. After you commented, I started doing the lookups, and sure enough, you were right--in spades.

I guess one hand washes the other, except in the Central Valley, there's not enough water to wash off this dirt.

Unknown said...

WriterX: I have no doubt these two have written their own political death warrants. What really got my blood up is that the damage they will do will be even more devastating for California than for the U.S. in general. If this abomination of a socialized medicine bill passes, we have a lot we can do to reverse the damage. It may be too late for thousands of California farmers and farm-workers.

How is this all playing in Arizona?

Unknown said...

Bev: I assume you're checking in with us by wireless. Please keep us updated whenever you can. We're counting on you as our "inside man."

Unknown said...

LawHawk. Part of me says they won't pull this off, and part of me almost hopes they do. If we can stop it, we win. If they succeed, we still win, but it will take longer and there will be a lot of bodies strewn in the wake (figuratively speaking, of course). The two sons without fathers that you singled out will be among those bodies.

Unknown said...

CalFed: Come November, those two will sleep with the fishes--the Delta smelt, that is.

Writer X said...

LawHawk,

Harry Mitchell is still playing coy on his vote but we all know he'll vote yes on healthcare. The other so-called moderate Dems have already indicated they'll be voting yes. Most people here are angry at the bill and the process. It's corruption on full display.

AndrewPrice said...

Lawhawk, Nice article! Not only whores, but cheap whores! LOL!

I was very happy to hear the Republicans stand up yesterday (Orin Hatch and Jim Coburn) and announce that they will not allow the bribes that have been offered to make it through the Senate. Appointments will be blocked and pork filibustered. Excellent! Of course, this one can't be stopped as this is an administrative matter. But still, I like the way the Republicans are going.

Unknown said...

WriterX: I had a feeling that might be the case. Except for McCain, I think your state house-cleaning will be more successful in November than ours, but I'm cautiously optimistic for both states. Go, Hayworth!

Unknown said...

Andrew: All that's missing from the two Congresswhores is the smeared blood-red lipstick, and who knows what they look like when they're not out lying to the public?

I too was happy to see the old warhorses from the Republican caucus announcing that this is just the first big battle of an ongoing political war. Hatch was always a little too friendly with Ted Kennedy to suit me, but I think he has really heard the voice of the people, and his years of experience in the Senate will undoubtedly serve us well over the course of the next few battles against progressive socialism. He's even a real lawyer, but I won't hold that against him. LOL

AndrewPrice said...

I agree completely about Hatch. He was very good when he was in conservative mode, but he was also too friendly with Kennedy to ever be truly effective. Hopefully, he, like the rests, finally realize that these Democrats are not acting in good faith.

As for knowing what your Congressmen look like in the morning. . . I can't imagine anything worse than waking up anywhere near Pelosi. **shudder**

Unknown said...

Andrew: Until this vote, I think most of us opposed the progressives, but had very little idea just how far they would go to undermine all the rules of a civilized republic to get what they want. Hatch woke up, and he will probably be invaluable in the battles to come. I suppose there is such a thing as an honorable Democrat, and we'll know how many when we see the final vote. But it's time to wake up to the fact that the Democratic leadership and its progressive wing are nothing more than street thugs in nice clothes. You don't fight thugs by the Marquis of Queensbury rules. The future of the Republic is at stake, and it's time for the velvet glove to come off.

I'm guessing that Pelosi in the morning looks pretty much like Pelosi in the evening--she's like plaster. And anybody who can stand being near her needs to be plastered.

HamiltonsGhost said...

Lawhawk--We can't say this hasn't been interesting. Obama's cousin speaks out against the health care bill at the D.C. rally while AARP follows the Democrats over the cliff by supporting it.

Unknown said...

HamiltonsGhost: AARP has been a tool of the Democratic Party for some time now, and is bleeding membership as fast as its progressive masters. Their "insurance programs" have received favored treatment, but not nearly enough to make up for supporting a bill that will be devastating for most of its potential membership. For an organization that purports to stand for the rights of seniors and retired persons who have involuntarily paid into a system Obama is about to cripple, AARP seems to be standing with people who have never paid a dime into the system and who are years away from being members of the age group AARP so poorly serves.

Unknown said...

The House Rules Committee has just announced that "deem and pass" is a dead issue. I don't have confirmation on that, but if true, it's certainly not because of any sudden attack of ethics on the Democratic side. It's more likely that they are sure they have the votes they need to do it by actual vote. When Rules Committee Chairman Henry Waxman votes against deem and pass, it's not a good sign. I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, so I hope nobody out there is thinking of shooting the message-bearer.

In direct relation to this post, the other Democrat vote against deem and pass came from Dennis Cardoza of California. I guess he figured he needed some cover for his actual upcoming vote in favor of Obamapelosicare. I hope he drowns in that 25% temporary increased allocation of water that bought his vote.

Joel Farnham said...

LawHawk,

It also could mean that someone finally got through to the Democrat leaders that any deem and pass legislation will be challenged on constitutional grounds and there is a good possibility it would be nullified.

It also means that they have to pass the Senate version and take total credit for it. Which also means that come November the Republicans are in.

patti said...

law: it is confirmed. deem and pass is a no go. a straight up/down vote will be held tomorrow.

patti said...

and yes, it most possibly means they have the votes, but god is bigger than any of this. he has dealt with harder hearts than this. prayer is all we have left. they haven't voted yet.

Unknown said...

Joel: We'll probably never know the true motivation, but yours makes perfect sense in the real world. The trouble is that the progressive Democrats don't live in the real world. I agree with Andrew (in an earlier post) that the Supreme Court would have some nasty things to say, but would ultimately not interfere in what it considers to be a political/procedural matter. But if they have the votes, they don't have to test the waters.

Either way, I have no doubt that the conclusion you drew in your second paragraph is right on the money. With or without deem and pass, the Democrats are becoming an endangered species. Now all that's left is to wonder if the EPA can out-muscle the voters and all three branches of the federal government by declaring Democrats to be protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Unknown said...

Patti: Thanks. It is indeed confirmed.

Not to make light of it, but Pharaoh let Moses's people go, then hardened his heart once again and pursued the Israelites. Of course, we all know how that turned out for Pharaoh. This bill may be the Democrats' Red Sea (a Biblically-correct color). What would be really interesting is if the House, against all current odds, didn't pass the bill. I wonder if they would try to find some parliamentary maneuver to revivify deem and pass. I put nothing past these people.

StanH said...

As far as the two Congresswhores, the Lord Barry giveth, and taketh away! These two are fools, or there’s more there-there. Look for future employment opportunities for the two sluts after their firing in November. You know my thoughts about the Delta Smelt, or baitfish as it’s known in the South.

I know it’s a Southern thing, but if you’ve read the Uncle Remus Story of “Briar Rabbit” …please don’t throw me in the briar patch!” it seem the appropriate context for healthcare. We must look at this as an opportunity (briar-patch) and use the dark reality as a club to beat the left about the face and shoulders. This is what I expected when Barry was elected, and I blame McCain and the Republican Party, for playing patty cake for not revealing exactly what a radical asshole Barry is.

I thought healthcare was going too pass back in August so the fact that we held them off this long, is exciting to me. There is the very real possibility to vanquish ‘60s radicalism once and for all. If we can keep our focus, and with this bastard in the White House, no worries there…we’re gonna slaughter the dems in November, no pun intended. Orin Hatch can be effective, if he doesn’t straddle the fence?

Unknown said...

StanH: On top of all that, the Republican leadership has already made it clear that anyone who votes for this bill in exchange for a big job later in the administration cannot hide, they know who they are, and they will make sure the jobs are not available to those who were bribed. For once, I think I believe them.

God help these two rats if they think they're moving up. Particularly if they think they'll get a job at the EPA.

As long as we keep the pressure on, even the normally over-accommodating Republicans will also keep the pressure on. They know that for the immediate future, their jobs are also on the line. No more deals. Lindsey Graham seems to be the only one who isn't getting the message.

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