The Extreminator

Senator Chuck Schumer - D, NY
"The Extreminator"

Remember that song, "Chuck E's In Love" by Rickie Lee Jones?  In case you've forgotten, there's a YouTube video at the end of this post which will bring it all back to you.  If you don't want to read any political goofiness, you probably will want to jump straight there and bypass the next several paragraphs.   

Before we get to 'Chuck E' however, I need to vent a bit about a phone call between Chuck Schumer - D, NY, Barbara Boxer - D, CA, Tom Carper - D, DE, Ben Cardin - D, MD, and Richard Blumenthal, - D, CT earlier today. 

Senator Schumer mistakenly thought that reporters were going to join the call 'later' - so before the reporters were to show up, he took a few moments to brief the troops. 

Unfortunately for Mr. Schumer, one, or more, reporters were already on the call and they had their recorders ON.  [Heh, heh, heh, couldn't happen to a nicer guy...]

So what did reporters hear?

Senator Schumer was heard briefing other Democrat Senate Leaders on how to blame a government shut down on John Boehner - R, and the TEA Party in general. 

Here's some of the conversation: 

"The main thrust is basically that we want to negotiate and we want to come up with a compromise but the Tea Party is pulling Boehner too far over to the right and so far over that there is no more fruitful negotiations," Schumer said on the call. "The only way we can avoid a shutdown is for Boehner to come up with a reasonable compromise and not just listen to what the Tea Party wants."

Senator Schumer is preparing talking points for a shut down of the government, knowing that his Democratic members of the Senate can make it 'happen'.  And they'll be laying it at the feet of Boehner and the TEA Party freshmen in the House. 

But I thought no one wanted a shut down?  Well, almost no one (in public) - but there are a few...
...

From ABC News: 
For months, Democrats have been accusing Republicans of pushing Congress toward a government shutdown that could be catastrophic for the economy.

But now one prominent Democrat says a government shutdown would be "the best thing in the world" for his party.

Howard Dean "You Gotta Fight For Your Right To Be Stoooooopid!"

"From a partisan point of view, I think it would be the best thing in the world to have a shutdown," Sen. Howard Dean said Tuesday at a National Journal Insider Conference's panel.

That's because, Dean said, Republicans would be blamed for it.

"If I was head of DNC, I would be quietly rooting for it," Dean said. "I know who's going to get blamed. We've been down this road before."

Privately, many Democrats have been saying the same thing, but by putting it in such inelegant political terms, Dean's words make it harder for Democrats to argue that it is Republicans who are to blame if the current budget impasse leads to a government shutdown.

"Heeeeeeeeeeyaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!"  (Sorry, I added this, but it's still a classic)
...

Just so you know I'm not making this up, here's the actual recording of Mr. Schumer briefing his troops and also Mr. Dean outlining his personal 'Strategery for Success' in 2012:


I don't hear many Republicans talking about shutting down the government despite the coverage TV and online, but it's very telling when Democrats are 'plotting' to do so in public AND in private.

Makes you wonder whose side their on, doesn't it?  Who are they looking out for? 

Oh, and one more thing:  You know all these folks running around spouting off about how "Republicans want to shut down the Government?"  How come when the Democrats held the House, the Senate, and the White House, they never fulfilled their Constitutionally mandated responsibility of creating a Budget for FY 2011?

After all, it should have been completed prior to: October 1, 2010. 

That's the problem with kicking the can down the street - it stops somewhere and then someone else has to deal with it.  Hopefully it's an adult, and NOT a guy like either Chuck Schumer or Howard Dean.

Well, that's it for now, it's late and I'm tired.

Before I go, in honor of Chuck Schumer, a little "Chuck E's In Love" (with himself): 


Simply amazing...  Rickie Lee Jones is simply amazing. 

Chuck Schumer...  Well, he is what he is.