Thanks to Alfredo over at the Dairy Queen for the heads up.

After watching the cynical self-congratulatory beer bust in the WH rose garden on Thursday, I found myself not just angry or disappointed; I was enraged.  The arrogant, taunting, narcissistic, boasting Cheeto-skinned parasite currently infesting Our House, along with virtually every gerrymandered-in weirdo and screwball in DC made me want to throw my shoe through the screen.

That rage came alive on Friday morning when, on Facebook, one of my conservative friends expressed frustration with Republicans voting to strip him of his healthcare because of his pre-existing condition. Immediately, one of his more conservative friends responded about how wonderful the new bill was and that it would “help many”.   Enough was enough; I launched on him, pointing out that the bill was rushed through the House without representatives reading it, it wasn’t scored by the CBO, and that early readings by the media were pointing out its legion of flaws, including re-introducing lifetime and annual caps, restoring exclusion of pre-existing conditions, slashing of Medicaid, slashing healthcare for special needs kids, etc., etc.  His defense?  Lying.  Not just spinning, outright lying.

He argued that they caps are not part of the bill when they are.  He argued that health savings accounts would cover the shortfalls (which is laughable; when’s the last time you saw someone pay a $300,000 chemotherapy bill with an HSA?); he argued that this bill was an actual effort to improve healthcare when, in fact, it was just a disguised tax cut.  When challenged, he said, “Well, the bill’s not finished.”  Not finished?  They already voted for it in the House!  They went to the WH and celebrated!

In fact, this last statement was the only thing that he had said that was true…it wasn’t finished.  It still must go to the Senate where it most certainly won’t survive, at least in its current form.  The defense of this bill is built on lies.  It has to, because math is math.  You cut a trillion dollars out of healthcare, and millions will suffer, and no lie justifying it can change that.  You place caps on coverage, people will die.  You exclude pre-existing conditions, people will die.  It’s like gravity; those truths are just there.

So, what was this all about?  That’s easy – it’s Kabuki.  It’s a glittery show for the base voters of this crowd in DC who waste a lot of oxygen trying to meet there demands of erasing President Obama’s name from history regardless of damage to millions of Americans.  I believe that Trump and conservatives in the House realize that the chance of actually repealing the ACA is slim, therefore the shameful display in the rose garden.  With any luck, this will be the only celebration they hold cheering on the deaths of millions of Americans.

I know this came up in the comment section last night, but I just wanna add my Hallelujah to the suggestion that Democrats hold town hall meetings in Republican districts to explain Trumpcare.

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) said “if it takes a Democrat” to explain House Republicans’ healthcare bill, he’s willing to do it.

“Maybe a Democrat ought to go into every district where a Republican who supported TrumpCare won’t hold a town hall meeting, and do it for them,” he said during an interview on MSNBC.

My CongressCon, Pete Olson (yeah, well, he’s never heard of you either), has announced that he’s will willing to hold small roundtable discussions in his local offices with 5 or 6 people.  However, you cannot have a small group with you and your friends.  Ole Pete has got to insure that at least two of his supporters are there – one who has read the bill and the other to stare you down while calling to Jesus to save your immoral soul.

You know how they say that politics is Hollywood for ugly people?  Yeah, well …

In Congress, Pete is rarely distinguishable from the furniture.  But he does whatever Phil Gramm and John Cornyn tell him to do and in exchange he gets a paycheck.

We need a damn Democrat to come here and shame this sucker.  Assuming, of course, that any Republican has an ounce of shame left.

Louie Gohmert gave an Almost Town Hall yesterday out in East Texas.  The problem was that he only invited his supporters or people who gave given him money in the past.  I suspect that he does not represent those who haven’t bought him.

So my friends in East Texas got themselves a Louie Gohmert piñata and held a party the same night.  This one involved money, too.  You paid $1 to have your picture taken with Louie.  Say hi to Betty.

All proceeds went to the Democratic Party.

As the Trump administration tightens it’s totalitarian grip on US government agencies, an order to turn all televisions to Fox Noise is being enforced.  Sorry, normal people, you must watch the Official Station of the Trump Administration.

Welcome to Trumpland in the 21st century.

Honey, you ain’t bringing Ole Dixie down.  Oh no, sir, you are not.  Today Texas became the 11th state to call for a convention of the states. Only 34 states are needed.

My favorite comment during the debate?

As a member of the House Select Committee on State and Federal Power and Responsibility, Rep. Larry Gonzales, R-Round Rock, who opposed the convention in the past, could have, in league with Democrats on the committee, scuttled the resolution.

Asked why he joined the majority in approving the resolution Thursday, he replied, “Just did.”

“Just did.”  The best damn reason for doing anything.

My second favorite?

[Democrat Chris] Turner also sought to add some mischief to the debate by offering an amendment that would expand the agenda for the convention to include an amendment that would “remove from office those officials and members found to have colluded with foreign governments.”

That followed a recitation by Turner of allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 campaign to help elect President Donald Trump.

Turner’s amendment was tabled on a 94-53 vote.

Which is kinda odd to defeat it considering that’s already in the Constitution.  Sedition is a twenty year prison sentence.

Thanks to everybody for the heads up.