I can drive 55. Can a Congress of Nuts do the same?

Two important dates are fast approaching: Thursday, the 28th of October and Tuesday, Nov. 2.

The latter date is probably more recognizable to, at least, some Americans as it is when the mid-term general elections will be held across the country. All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, slightly more than one-third of the Senate and about the same number of state and territorial gubernatorial seats of the nation will be voted upon.

The former date is the “double nickel.” It is the “*I can drive 55 day.” It is “Five from 60 Day.” It is my 55th birthday.

*A play on Sammy Hagar’s 1984 hit “I Can’t Drive 55.” Back when the speed limit was still 55. Jeez, seems so long ago.

I was writing this blog when I turned 50. It only felt a little strange. But the truth be known, turning 55 feels a lot strange. It means I’m getting on up there but I’m not quite there yet. Of course, my birthday has its perks. First a trip to Galveston this weekend to meet with a friend I’ve not seen in many a year. It should prove to be very interesting, and hopefully very fun. I am really excited about going. Next, as I have mentioned here before, my 55th birthday gets the ball rolling on my very small but meaningful retirement which actually begins Nov. 1. Finally, the best I can remember, I am already into my tenth year without tobacco.

It was a week before my birthday that I actually quit. I remember I went camping by myself back then for a few days in the Angelina National Forest. At some point during that trip I listened to the Gee Dubya and Spotted Owl Gore debate on my truck radio. I supported Gore but, like Gee Dubya’s annoying habit, I too like to give some people nicknames. As I recall the two of them droned on and on and on.

Getting back to the general election, it seems that we will probably have a Republican majority in the House and perhaps more GOPers in the Senate but perhaps one still held by the Democrats. Some of those elected may prove to be the nuts I have railed against before, people like Joe Miller of Alaska, Rand Paul of Kentucky, plus another round of Michelle Bachmann of Outer Space. I single out Miller and Paul because they bring a disturbing new trend to contemporary politics, that of thuggery. I mentioned recently that Miller’s “security” roughed up and handcuffed a reporter who was trying to ask the candidate a question. And last evening, some fairly good-sized male supporters of Paul, wrestled a young 110-pound woman to the ground and stomped on her head outside of a television studio where Paul was to debate Democratic opponent Jack Conway. The 23-year-old woman who was assaulted, Lauren Lizbeth Valle, is an activist with the liberal group MoveOn.org. Valle was wanting a picture with Paul while she displayed a sign that indicated Paul is a tool of big business. MoveOn.org officials said Valle suffered a concussion. The man who stepped on the woman’s head, Tim Profitt, told the Associated Press that a video taken of the incident was at a bad angle and that the incident looked worse than it  really did.

Yes, the camera puts what 10-15 pounds on you? It also makes you look like you are stomping on someone’s head.

Perhaps some of these wingnuts who may be elected will have henchmen who accompany them to Washington. My guess would be they won’t.  Instead the new senators, if elected, will likely gain all the manners necessary for them to begin making a big cash haul from megabusiness lobbyists and from huge organizations like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce who will likely give the rookie politicians their marching orders. Sure, the candidates talk tough, and can push a 20-year-old featherweights to the ground and give her head a stomp, but when all those big, supersized, unbelievably huge amounts of cash start rolling in, some of the new senators or congressmen will be just like some of the old legislators. I am not saying Miller or Paul would do this, but even the craziest bastards in the crowd can be tamed into a marching kitten by big money.

Likewise, the supporters of the extremists could just as easily end up greatly disappointed just as some of the far left have become with President Barack “The Kenyan Kid” Obama. Politicians will promise you the Sun, Moon and perhaps even Mercury, Venus and Mars when they are running for office. But as is often the case, either they are either deluding themselves and their supporters or are intentionally deluding their consituency.

I can always hope things will be different. Perhaps a divided government will prove just what this young, old nation needs right now. But I seriously doubt that will happen. Hopefully the most extreme will  not even come close to getting their way under Speaker of the House John “Boner” Boehner. Also, here is hoping the nutjobs don’t want to shut down the government. That would not be good for a lot of folks including some I know very well. In reality, a divided government is about the best to ask for right now. Even if through some remarkable circumstances the Democrats were able to maintain a majority in both Houses, Congress could very well remain as impotent and frustrating as it is now.

I feel I still, personally, have a lot to look forward to while achieving the big double-nickle. Just as there is hope for me, perhaps hope exists for our Congress and the nuts that get elected to it.

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