POST MIDTERM ELECTIONS 2014 The Winter of Our discontent?

Thank goodness its over, the 2014 midterm elections! It seemed the tv/internet/radio/magazine and newspaper campaign ads filled with propaganda would never come to an end. But one WOULD think with that constant barrage (most expensive election in HISTORY) we’d have seen higher voter turnout. Perhaps folks were just TOO fed up, figure whats the point, my vote counts for nothing, its all rigged anyways? Which it is! Think Citizens United, Dark Money, super pacs! Its certainly no longer our grandfathers (or parents!) election process. AND add to that Republicans (highly successful) efforts to suppress the vote, their gerrymandering and redistricting. With all that I suppose it should come as no surprise the Party responsible for the worst financial crises since the crash of Wall Street in 1929, the biggest HEIST ever of the American taxpayer (the Bailout), 9/11/01 and the attack on the Twin Towers (yes they knew it was coming), which opportuned the lead in to an endless war in the Mideast (yes it was/IS all about the Oil)is now back in power. Because my friend it IS all about the money. And when one has buying power enough to purchase the highest court in the land, well its game over.

I COULD go on but whats the point, the results are in, it is what it is. And if you’re politically aware, even remotely, and know how our Legislative and Executive Branches work, how and why the Republicans were able to stall or block any and all progressive Bills that could have moved the country forward in areas of employment, equal pay for women, minimum wage, infrastructure, the environment, you would NOT have voted Republican (even IF you were a registered Republican which even we were until 2008). You would be as stupefied as I am at how short the memory of most americans seems to be, and how gullible or ill informed they HAVE to be. What is it they say, “people get the government they deserve”

ANYways, I am of course disappointed and concerned, but basically I guess we shall see what the GOP plan is to move the country forward. NOT that Obama has not HAD great successes in doing JUST THAT that since the Republicans nearly destroyed the country entirely in 2006/7. In short we have a president who’s:
• Created over 10 million jobs.
• Authorized the successful killing of Osama bin Ladin.
• Saved the American auto industry.
• Presided over record stock levels.
• Reduced the deficit by $1 trillion.
• Set a record for consecutive months of job growth in our nation’s history.
• Passed landmark health care reform that’s provided millions of Americans with health care.

- See more at: http://www.forwardprogressives.com/dear-democratic-party-make-mistake-republicans-didnt-win-lost/#sthash.ZGdatOIK.9CqDbNjC.dpuf

All THAT said, I must admit I have been disappointed in this Presidents actions, or should I say, 'non-actions, in one particular, and personal, arena, that of sentencing and prison reform, his ”unpardonable” lack of using his executive power to Pardon, to grant clemency. President Obama has pardoned, granted clemency to, the fewest prisoners/ex felons, in Presidencial history. Yet his platform included sentencing and justice reform. We voted for Obama in 2008 partly because of that platform, as well as because of the desperate need for a change in the status quo … the country was imploding after 8 years of the Bush Administration! Recent efforts by AG Eric Holder, fueled by activist groups nationwide, are promising (USSC sentencing reforms only just went into effect this week) but unfortunately just as he has ‘stepped up’, he is stepping down (he has announced he’ll be vacating his post).

For now the country can just ‘settle in’ for a long winter, possibly to become known as 'the winter of our discontent'??? Actually two more winters, knowing full well with a lame duck president there will not be much happening in the halls of Congress. And lord only knows what awaits us when the GOP takes the reins fully. Sadly I believe it won’t benefit we the former middle class, that medicare and social security and the ACA will be high on the 'hit list', and lord help those with lesser status, the poor and disenfranchised in this country, but I’m sure the very wealthy and powerful 1% are partying like its 1999!