Everyday Now Opposite Day; The Past Remains in the Future

Recently, I have been watching the shenanigans being pulled by Republicans at both the federal and state levels of government. The hypocrisy is nothing new, either for them or their political polar opposites. It seems, though, that the Republicans have declared permanent Opposite Day in America.

First they want discussions about healthcare reform to be televised and then they don't. First they decry the Dem healthcare plan because it has a public option and doesn't just "reform" the current healthcare system and then, when shown that the plan does not have the latter and "does" the former, they say they still don't support it. Obama cuts taxes like Republicans want and they say he doesn't. They say Obama is too soft on terrorism because he gives suspected terrorists due process, something George W. Bush did...but Bush was right and he is wrong. They say he is a socialist because of TARP (Bush's plan) and the buyout of the auto companies (Bush was pushing for this on his way out). The stimulus funds, according to the Republicans, are bad economics and harmful to Americans but there they are, smiling with those giant checks like the idea was theirs. Facts, even when placed under Republican noses, seem not to bother them or affect their worldview.

A friend of mine once said that people should define themselves by what they are for rather than what they are against. I agree. The Republicans currently define themselves as "Against Obama," even when going along with him is in their favor. And this put me in mind of a song Groucho sang in "Horse Feathers." As "Just Wait Till I Get Through with It" was George W. Bush's, "I'm Against It" belongs to the Republicans. Enjoy.



As for the past remaining in the future, I have just some lyrics to print. As M.A.S.H. was set during the Korean War but was really about Vietnam, this song was written about WWII but was really about Vietnam. Now, it seems it's about Iraq/Afghanistan. I bet Pete Seeger wishes his songs were outdated:

It was back in nineteen forty-two,
I was a member of a good platoon.
We were on maneuvers in-a Loozianna,
One night by the light of the moon.
The captain told us to ford a river,
That's how it all begun.
We were -- knee deep in the Big Muddy,
But the big fool said to push on.

The Sergeant said, "Sir, are you sure,
This is the best way back to the base?"
"Sergeant, go on! I forded this river
'Bout a mile above this place.
It'll be a little soggy but just keep slogging.
We'll soon be on dry ground."
We were -- waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.

The Sergeant said, "Sir, with all this equipment
No man will be able to swim."
"Sergeant, don't be a Nervous Nellie,"
The Captain said to him.
"All we need is a little determination;
Men, follow me, I'll lead on."
We were -- neck deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.

All at once, the moon clouded over,
We heard a gurgling cry.
A few seconds later, the captain's helmet
Was all that floated by.
The Sergeant said, "Turn around men!
I'm in charge from now on."
And we just made it out of the Big Muddy
With the captain dead and gone.

We stripped and dived and found his body
Stuck in the old quicksand.
I guess he didn't know that the water was deeper
Than the place he'd once before been.
Another stream had joined the Big Muddy
'Bout a half mile from where we'd gone.
We were lucky to escape from the Big Muddy
When the big fool said to push on.

Well, I'm not going to point any moral;
I'll leave that for yourself
Maybe you're still walking, you're still talking
You'd like to keep your health.
But every time I read the papers
That old feeling comes on;
We're -- waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.

Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep! Neck deep! Soon even a
Tall man'll be over his head, we're
Waist deep in the Big Muddy!
And the big fool says to push on!