Dakota Beacon

So, President Obama chose, on the far fringe of the grass that is growing on the edge of the "fiscal cliff" to issue an Executive Order authorizing pay increases across the boards - substantial ones - to all federal employees.  If we listen to FOX News, we're all supposed to be absolutely scandalized and shocked at this "outrage" on the part of the demonstrably reckless and anti-American president.  

Please don't blame Obama for this.  Obama seems to be the only honest man in the whole story.  He told us before we all ran to the polls to give him the green light, that he was out to "frundamentally transform" our country.  He told us right up front that he was going to bankrupt the coal industry and that this would, inevitably, result in electrical rates/cost of energy "skyrocketing".  Those, folks, were his very own words.  We can't get off accusing him of "betraying" us.  The fault for this lies elsewhere than with Barack Obama.

He claims a "mandate" because he was, in fact, apparently indisputably, re-elected.  This, after a disastrous first term that saw the collapse of our economy, the evaporation of our dollar, the humiliation and shocking violation of our mission in Libya and the physical abuse and murder of our ambassador, who in addition to becoming a victim of rape and murder was, incidentally, discovered to be apparently, illegally,  running guns to insurgents in Syria.  We have numerous dead, no remorse at the White House and a Secretary of State who was in hiding until the story came out about "memory loss:", "blood clots", "digestive problems", "concussions" and the kitchen sink impeding her testimony before Congress to answer some questions about just what in hell was going on over there, including why our "guards" were Muslim Brotherhood people and why our own people were there without arms.  So, yeah, I guess his victory at the polls was pretty much our national endorsement.  No secret agendas there.  Everyone knew all of this before the November election.

But there was another mandate.  The people across the nation also elected members of Congress.  The membership in the House is a Republican majority.  If Obama has a mandate, so does Congress.  Now here's the pertinent thing.  When it comes to "demanding" budgets, that's not the President's portfolio.  When it comes to setting pay for federal employees, that's not  in his hand either.  He has no role to play in raising taxes, none at all.  His "Obamacare" is completely empty on its own.  It requires the financial commitment of Congress to have any effect at all.  Now, when it was passed, Congress was not in Republican control.  Since 2010, however, our House of Representatives - controlled by Republicans - has owned it all. 

When, yesterday, Obama announced in his edict, the raises for all these federal employees,  Tearful John should have immediately quashed that with the pronouncement that it would have absolutely no effect whatsoever in anyone's check unless and until Congress evaluated it, agreed on its merits and passed it.  Obama should have been told in no uncertain terms, and publicly, that he could stand on the balcony and issue proclamations  with the best of the Third World Hitlers until he was blue in the face, but at the end of the day, his crisply creased and well-tailored pants would remain gathered about his ankles.  Let him say any silly thing that comes to mind.  Except for the guy who produced The Innocence of Muslims, thereby instigating World War III in Benghazi, we still have our First Amendment Rights.  But, as Shakespeare observered in Henry IV, one can call voices from the vasty deep, but it's not as certain that they will answer.  So it should be with this president.  Let him propose whatever insane thing strikes his perverse fancy.  There is no reason on earth or under our law why Congress should even hear him out.   And yet . . . the ridiculous figure of John Boehner (who, under less dire circumstances would be comic), our "Speaker of the House" is on our television screens constantly, crying and worrying and when he's not there he and his little henchmen are behind the scenes in smoke-filled rooms, fingering "rebellious" Congressmen - that is to say, those who took their mandate from their constituents seriously - and banishing them to some sort of Congressional Siberian gulag.  They, not Obama, are seen by this pathetic "leadership" as the "enemy".  

If any of us is "outraged" or "shocked" at the abuse of our Constitution by this lawless president, please don't take out your anger on him.  After all he's only doing exactly what he promised, as described in his own literature and in his every public statement.  The liars are the leadership in Congress, so call your Congressman.  Take out your wrath on them if you have any.  Let's put the pressure on them to oust John Boehner and any who stand with him and Obama against the American people, or who at least haven't the starch to stand up to abuse of the law and stand on the firm foundation of our Constitution.  If we have Obamacare it is because Congress authorizes paying for it.  If we wait for Obama's "budget" it is because Congress has failed to do one of their own in fulfillment of their responsibilities under the law.  If Obama goes out on December 31, with no resolution to our nation's life-and-death financial crisis and "orders" pay increases for already over-paid, underworked, perk-laden fatcat government emloyees, already at a huge advantage over the rest of us, it is the direct and irrefutable fault of Congress - under the false leadership of Speaker John Boehner.  Congress has all the cards in its hands.  There is a Republican majority.  The House must agree to all appropriations or they simply do not issue.  Put the blame on Congress where it rests solidly, don't spin your wheels fuming and fussing at a man whom YOU elected, who is doing, unlike most Republicans, EXACTLY what he said he'd do.  If you don't want your guns grabbed, if you don't want federal employees back at the trough, if you are concerned about taxes or regulations, pick up the phone.  Dial Congress.