Last night, just after the clock struck 12, House Republicans voted to push us one step closer to a government shutdown. This time, all but two of the House GOP members voting for a new bill that would only keep the government open if the Senate and President Obama agree to a one year delay in the implementation of Obamacare—something Senator Harry Reid and President Obama have already made clear is a non starter.
So now, tick… tick… tick—with every passing minute we are getting closer to 12:01am Tuesday and the first U.S. government shutdown since the mid-1990s. How on earth did we get here?
Who’s up for a little story time?
Gather ’round, #nerdland.
I’ve a story to tell.
About how Congress is running the country.
For they have not done it well.
Once upon a time
Not long ago
A change came fast
Where it used to be slow
The people chose a new leader
In their Capitol town
And he was unlike the others
Where those others had failed
To restore the people to health
In the times when they ailed.
But alas, the leaders’ triumph
Was but a short while
For the people grew weary
With the Democrat’s style.
More jobs! More money!
The people did cry
Though the blame was on W.,
They didn’t care why.
The people were hungry
For something new in Twenty-Ten
So when Republicans came knocking
Saying, come into our House!
And make things all right!
We see nothing but darkness!
Please show us the light!
So the people’s wish was granted
But little did they know
Republicans would come into their House
Replaced with a man
With a penchant for crying
“We will work for the people!”
He said with a tear
“We will correct the course!
There is nothing to fear!”
Alas, he would not be able
To practice what he preached
For he would lose his ability
To keep his minions on a leash.
Those Tea Party members
They were here to stay
Shouting “Who cares what you want!
We WILL have our way!”
“The black man in the White House
So when he says yes
We will always say no!”
We will hijack your government!
We will shut it all down!
Nothing will get accomplished
In your Capitol town!
Those minions ran wild!
When they were let loose
They took hold of the wheel
Dragging their party’s caboose.
But the people had grown weary
Of the the political games
They wanted something new
Not more of the same.
Kick them out of the House!
Then change all the locks!
Give my party back control!
Said their President Barack.
Only by then
It was already too late
The people let the GOP in again
Now they must suffer their fate.
So back to the brink
They dragged the country once more
But it was only the beginning
Of what was in store.
Because the people had lost control
Of the government, for and by them
And now the inmates in the crazy House
Were running the asylum.
Though Obama’s plan won the favor
Of the highest court in the land
The GOP hated Obamacare
For they did not care for Obama the man.
And so, we the people
Must helplessly watch
Our government near shutdown
With each tick of the clock
Paying our nation’s bills
Had always happened on time
But “This,” said the minions
“Is where we draw the line”
If it means punishing the people
Then suffer they will!
For we must remain in power
Upon this Capitol Hill.
As for the leader of the GOP?
Well, he never really led
Boehner lost all his power
To a Senator named Ted
Who talked and talked
And talked through the night
And laughed and smiled
While the GOP, they did fight
Except they agreed
When the fighting was done
They would not budge an inch
Not one single one!
Their preposterous plan
The Senate could not abide
And so the people were dragged along
On their Congress’s wild ride
Though their leaders had closed the government
Once many years before
17 years later
The people knew not what was in store
So this is where I pause my story
Dear #nerdland friends,
For there is still a day to stop this madness
This is not quite the end!
Maybe Congress will surprise us!
Maybe they will act faster
Then they have in the past
And avert this disaster
Which of them might save us?
I know not who is able
Perhaps we will find the answer
When I turn to my table.
So stick around #nerdland!
There’s so much at stake!
And we’re going to talk all about it.
Right after this break.
Watch the discussion that ensued now on MHPshow.com! (Sorry, no rhyme for that.)
Melissa Harris-Perry