Friday, July 28, 2017

Shock and Awe: "American Heroes Week"

When the POTUS is scheduled to speak to the Boy Scout Jamboree during the week his own administration has designated "American Heroes Week," you would expect an inspiring speech citing a variety of patriotic historical figures and lessons young people can draw from their examples. It did not go that way. Instead Donald Trump used raw language, talked about yacht parties, and encouraged his teenaged audience to boo Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.  Most found it unseemly. Many were shocked. That was how the week began.

 Then there was shock #2.


Some way to celebrate American heroes!

The blindsided Joint Chiefs and Pentagon, not to mention the rank and file, spent Wednesday and Thursday trying to untangle what those tweets were supposed to mean. Meanwhile, a great many Americans celebrated transgendered troops on the social nets. Protests are planned this weekend.

Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, the Senate was preparing for a vote-a-rama intended by the Republicans to repeal the ACA (Affordable Care Act) also known as "Obamacare." One by one the proposed Republican "bills" were defeated. The real action began late Thursday night with a defeated Democratic motion to move the bill to committee. When the last bill came up for a vote, it was after 1 a.m. EDT. This one, known as the "skinny repeal," was simply a hollow shell.

There was high drama on the Senate floor. Pence appeared and conferred with John McCain. Observers speculated about the conversations, body language, gestures as senators milled around on the floor. Shock and awe! In the end, three courageous Republicans voted against the bad bill. The Democrats voted against it in lock step.

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So thank you, John McCain, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski!  Thank you also, all the Democrats who voted against this potentially harmful bill. You are American heroes! You saved health insurance for millions.




Let's be clear on this too: none of this would have happened had it not been for the grassroots. Thank you, everyone who made phone calls, went to town halls, demonstrated at the Capitol and legislators' offices, sent emails, and signed petitions. Thank you to the Resistance! American heroes!



Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton congratulates President Barack Obama on the House vote to pass health care reform, prior to a meeting in the Situation Room of the White House, March 22, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)


"American Heroes Week" was full of surprises, some awesome, some shocking and confusing.

We lost a four-legged war hero this week too. See the touching story of USMC Corporal Jeff De Young and his  partner, Cena - a bomb sniffing dog.


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