republican

The House Serfdom Caucus

The House SERFdom Caucus logo (The Paragraph (CC BY-SA 3.0))

The House Freedom Caucus of the U.S. Congress has built a reputation for bullheaded pursuit of far-right policy, but not for pursuit of freedom, as its name would indicate. It has pushed federal government shutdown, caused the speaker of the House to quit, and scuttled the Republican bill to cut health care for not cutting enough. But, measured against the four freedoms once set down by President Franklin Roosevelt, the caucus seems more in pursuit of serfdom than freedom.

In his "Four Freedoms" speech, given eleven months before the nation's entry into World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt set down a standard of freedom:

In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.

The first is freedom of speech and expression – everywhere in the world.

The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way – everywhere in the world.

The third is freedom from want – which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants-everywhere in the world.

The fourth is freedom from fear – which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor–anywhere in the world.

Let's see how the caucus measures up to those four essential human freedoms.

36 Years Down the Republican Rabbit Hole

In "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," Lewis Carroll tells the story of Alice, a more-or-less average curious, rational child, who, on a dreamy summer day, chases a waistcoat-wearing white rabbit down a rabbit hole into a bizarre land. In this, and in a later book ("Through the Looking-Glass"), we find many strange characters producing many puzzling and irrational quotes. For instance, we have the giant talking egg, Humpty Dumpty:

When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.'

'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.'

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master—that's all.'

And we have the Queen of Hearts, who is quite quick to propose simple, brutal solutions:

[The King] called the Queen, who was passing at the moment, 'My dear! I wish you would have this cat removed!'
The Queen had only one way of settling all difficulties, great or small. 'Off with his head!' she said, without even looking round.

... and, when the Dormouse spoke out of turn in court:

'Collar that Dormouse,' the Queen shrieked out. 'Behead that Dormouse! Turn that Dormouse out of court! Suppress him! Pinch him! Off with his whiskers!'

An observer of American politics since 1980 or so, might well picture oneself as, like Alice, having gone down the rabbit-hole to find many strange Republicans, who, like the characters in Wonderland, issue puzzling and irrational quotes. Over the decades, here are just a few of the characters we have met, as we went down, down, down ...

Campaigning Like It's 1999

According to The Hill, "Clinton allies" are blaming Bernie Sanders for Hillary Clinton's poor performance in recent opinion polls. They complain that Sanders' continued attacks on Clinton and his failure "to begin bringing everyone together” hurts Hillary Clinton because it "... holds her back from controlling the narrative.” What I see are changes in the U.S.

Hillary can't win without major Republican support because she has tanked with Independents

Reuters tracking poll filtered for likely general election voters, independents only. Yellow is Sanders (58%). Red is Clinton (14%). Orange is Won't Vote (28%). Won't Vote has double the support that Clinton has.

Cartoon: Les Beastiables -- Presidential Candidate and Senator Marco Rubioceros!

Les Beastiables ("Les Bez"): Beasties say the darnedest things!

Today's Beastiable is Senator Marco Rubio. He has said several beastly things, yet is considered a front runner for the Republican nomination for President. Thus he has earned his turn as one of Les Beastiables.

Marco Rubio has an out-of-character aversion to marijuana; because of prison company donations?

NOTE FOR NEW READERS: This series features a new Les Beastiables cartoon here on caucus99percent every Friday afternoon/evening. We indulge in a little Franglish because the French are tres classy. But I digresse.

For serious source information, please join me below the break. Then you'll be able to "cleanse your palate" with a photo before you leave.

Cartoon: Les Beastiables -- Senator Ted Cruzmel, Presidential Candidate!

Les Beastiables ("Les Bez"): Beasties say the darnedest things!

Hey everybody! It's hump day Friday! Today's Beastiable is Senator Ted Cruz(mel). He has said and done beastly things for many years now, and so he has earned his turn as one of Les Beastiables.

Ted Cruzmel, Les Beastiables, Les Bez, Ted Cruz, Republican, Elections

NOTE FOR NEW READERS: This series features a new Les Beastiables cartoon every Wednesday about 1:45 PM Eastern. We indulge in a little Franglish because the French are tres classy. But I digresse.

For serious discussion of the issues, please join me below the break. Then you'll be able to "cleanse your palate" with a cute photo before you leave.

Les Beastiables Cartoon Friday: Presidential Candidate Mike Houndabee!

Les Beastiables ("Les Bez"): Beasties say the darnedest things!

Today's Beastiable is Presidential candidate Mike Houndabee. He has said a lot of narrow-minded things, but what he has said about marriage equality was beastly enough that he has earned his turn as one of Les Beastiables. Which I summarize thusly:

NOTE FOR NEW READERS: This series features a new Les Beastiables cartoon every Friday afternoon/evening here at caucus99percent. We indulge in a little Franglish because the French are tres classy. But I digresse.

For a short course in serious information, please join me below the break. As always, you'll be able to "cleanse your palate" with a cute photo before you leave.

Les Beastiables Cartoon Friday: Presidential Candidate Scott Weaselker!

Les Beastiables ("Les Bez"): Beasties say the darnedest things!

Today's Beastiable is Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who has now announced his candidacy for the Presidency. He has said many beastly things, as admirably reported by Daily Kos' esteemed Puddytat. Thus, now that he has announced, he has earned his turn as one of Les Beastiables.

Scott Weaselker Final.png

NOTE FOR NEW READERS: This series features a new Les Beastiables cartoon every Friday afternoon here at caucus99percent. We indulge in a little Franglish because the French are tres classy. But I digresse.

For serious source information, please join me below for the squirming of beasties on the hot seat. Then you'll be able to "cleanse your palate" with a cute photo before you leave.