Brodie and Snow Bella, A Peaceful Moment
This morning I decided to give my ten month old Australian Shepherd, Brodie, a shower. Giving Brodie a shower is not an easy task as he just hates it. I tricked him and picked him up and put him in the bathroom and quickly shut the door. I felt victorious at this accomplishment. I know he felt tricked but I had won! After I was done and dried him off with a couple of towels I let Brodie loose and he went hog wild running around the house. I took a shower myself and went back out to see Brodie only to find him contently licking his paws and happy as can be. Now you’re probably wondering what the point of all of this is but I am getting to it. When I thought about Brodie another thought came to my mind. I thought Congress is just like Brodie, my puppy!
Now you’re probably wondering what on earth I could be referring to so I’ll get right to it. When you have a new puppy, it is all cute and wonderful. There’s nothing that puppy could do that is going to really irritate you because you know it’s a puppy and it’s oh so cute. A new congress is pretty much like a new puppy. I remember when we were all very hopeful about the new congress that came in with President Obama. Many of us decided to give them some leeway as we knew they had to figure things out and get used to the job.
There are other ways that congress is like a new puppy as well. Puppies are pretty destructive. They go on search and destroy missions where they might eat your shoes, bras, remote controls, you know, anything plastic. Congress goes on these same missions trying to decide how they can tinker with some of our favorite government programs like public education, Social Security, and Medicare. You name it, they’ll find a way to chew it up and make it worse.
Puppies are pretty unmanageable just like congress. When Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid try to assert themselves and take control, they usually find out how hard it is to tame that little beast especially when he might have just peed on your leg. Sometimes you love the congressman’s unruly moments like Representative Alan Grayson when he pissed on the Republican’s collective leg.
It’s okay as long as it’s their leg and not mine. He was such a stubborn little puppy when some Republicans asked him to apologize for his outburst the previous day. Here is his response to that, ever the cute little frisky puppy!
Senator Reid couldn’t even get the senate to work on an energy bill. He can’t get those unruly puppies to pass even a weak energy bill. http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/08/07/even_facing_an_emergency_the_gop_fizzles_on_energy/
They just won’t listen to him much, like your puppy when he is distracted by something outside and you’re calling him back!
Congress also seems to have to be nurtured just like a puppy. They need lots of perks from lobbyist to keep them contented. They need lots of money and pats on the back from their constituents to keep them in office. They also seem to like to run in packs and play with the “big dogs”. You know those people that hold so much power and wealth. Those puppies love to be entertained so they hang out with Hollywood hounds as well. They really need a special amount of care much more than you and I do as they are quite temperamental just like a puppy. While middle class household pay has stayed stagnant, congressional pay just gets better and better. http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/payandperqs.htm
If you read through the link closely you will discover the untold perks available though staffing and pension as well. This puppy is getting the royal treatment.
Sometimes when you are expecting your puppy to be up to something because it’s too quiet in the house, you only discover that your puppy is dog tired and sleeping. Congress has those days too when you think they are up to something and they end up doing much of nothing. I felt like this during the whole health care debate. It seemed like a lot of fuss and much ado over nothing. They’re bark was much bigger than their bite on that one. Many of us out here that are more progressive were expecting so much more from this puppy than what we got!
This puppy called “Congress” never met a defense bill they didn’t like. Just like my puppy dog they are always willing to go to battle for some stupid idea they sink their teeth into. My puppy dog battles with the cat, which is hilarious, because she is smarter and quicker than him in many ways. Snow Bella, my cat, actually loves Brodie. They’re crazy about each other just like the special relationship the Department of Defense has with Congress. Much like Snow Bella, the D.O.D. always gets their way and Congress ever the stupid puppy pays for it! The one left out of this puppy and cat game is the American people. Congress gives us those puppy dog eyes and we fall for it every time.
I know it’s tough to say, “No!” to a puppy as I have had to do it many times and it’s not an easy task with my puppy dog, Brodie. He looks so cute and innocent most of the time! Congress can look that way too. However, it’s time we tamed this puppy called “Congress” before they get so out of control that they destroy some of our favorite things. This puppy called “Congress” is going to be a two year old pretty soon, so it’s time for them to grow up. They may have a rude awakening come November when some of us decide to turn this puppy back into the pound and try out a new puppy. I’m ever hopeful that all of us working together can teach this puppy dog some new tricks. I continue to email and call my representative and senators eagerly waiting for them to jump at my command. It hasn’t worked too well so far but I am determined to get some results so I will keep on training this puppy and hoping for the best! I encourage all of you to join me to put the pressure on Congress. The only way I think we are ever going to get a different result is to keep in “training” mode. I don’t feel I can let up for a minute with Brodie because as soon as I do there goes another pair of new shoes. With Congress it is the same way. We must be diligent with our training. We must let Congress know who the boss is and who is paying their bills! Our collective forces have to be much greater than his pack animal mentality. They may be running with the pack of power and money but we are running with a pack of potential voters. Without us there is no other pack for Congress to run to, so let’s take control of this beast and show him who is boss!
