Is civility disappearing totally from government?

Has this financial crisis created an atmosphere so unhealthy that we now have the Speaker of the House referring to Republicans as “unpatriotic” for their not attending a scheduled meeting?

Perhaps she should have conferred with Senator Dodd prior to uttering those words:

More from the House GOP offices:

Well, we didn’t go to yesterday’s meeting because they didn’t invite us. Dodd even said on NBC nightly news last night that they just forgot.
It’s pretty infuriating.

[emphasis-mine]

Interesting that the Democrats were so anxious to pin the failure of the original deal on the financial bail out on the Republicans and John McCain when it appears it was their own Presidential candidate who inflicted the damage at the White House meeting:

…..This according to Bob Schieffer of CBS.[emphasis-mine]

Paulson called Lindsey Grahamnesty and said, “Look, I need the House Republicans. I need Republicans on this. We can’t get anywhere without them. You’ve gotta call McCain. He’s the only one that can do it.” So that’s why McCain goes to Washington, and they end up having a four o’clock meeting at the White House yesterday. They all think they’re going into a negotiating session. The president, in order to let everybody be heard, deferred to various Democrats, and every one of the Democrats — Pelosi, Reid, Dodd, and Frank — declined to speak and deferred to Obama. So Obama became the official Democrat spokesman in the meeting. This was to hype Obama’s leadership and presidential aura and so forth. What happened next, the first thing out of Obama’s mouth — Paulson is in the meeting — is he starts ripping the House Republican proposal and asks Paulson what he thinks of it.

This led Boehner and the other Republicans in there to think they have been sandbagged. We found out this morning that Obama had no clue — because he was in transit doing other things, he had no clue — what the House Republican position was. What happened was that on the way to the meeting sometime during the day, Obama’s staff received an e-mail from Treasury Department employees who work for Paulson detailing the House Republican plan. So when the Democrats deferred to Obama, he launched into that. He had no clue what it was. That’s why he asked Paulson for his comments. I don’t know what Paulson said, but this is what led to the fireworks. This is what led to everything breaking down in there. This is why Dingy Harry walked out, ’cause it didn’t work.

[All references to Senators by other than their proper title are those of Rush Limbaugh]

Remember it was the Democrats who insisted the insertion of presidential politics was not helpful in this debate yet they allowed their candidate to speak on their behalf.

If this is indeed what transpired, then not only did the Democrats stretch the truth at the completion of the meeting, but it was extremely disrespectful to the President of the United States.

What egos these Senators and Congresspersons must have to place themselves and their politics above the Executive and the country which it serves.

If memory serves, both McCain and Obama are Senators first candidates second and they should be in Washington in their official capacity as such in an attempt to move this process forward, not garner political points.

There is plenty of blame to go around in this financial mess but deliberately falsifying facts (on either side of the aisle) and calling members of the opposing party “unpatriotic” serves no purpose and the effects will no doubt be long lasting.

*For those who would like to read the thoughts of an international auditor in the insurance industry regarding this crisis check out the piece at the link. Quite an interesting and enlightening read.

I was both surprised and saddened today by the news that General Pace will be replaced as the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Surprised because less than a week ago I had read that Secretary Gates was planning to nominate this fine Marine for another 2 year term. Saddened because after reading this it all became crystal clear.

Switching course, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Friday he has recommended Adm. Mike Mullen, currently chief of naval operations, to replace Gen. Peter Pace as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Gates said he had originally intended to seek another two-year term for Pace, but concluded that would have resulted in a divisive Senate confirmation focusing on the Iraq War.

“It would be a backward looking and very contentious process,” Gates said at a Pentagon news conference.

Pace has been either chairman or vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs for the past six years—a period that covers the Iraq war.

But Gates said that after consulting with senators in both parties, he had concluded that “the focus of his conformation process would have been on the past and not on the future.”

If this is the real reason for the Secretary’s decision, I find it weak and indefensible. Take a look at the distinguished military record of this Marine and tell me what Senator or Congressman if properly doing their job would challenge his credentials. Does the Secretary believe just because the person sitting in the chair at the hearings will have a new name, that the grandstanding and questions will be all that different?

I have only briefly read on the General’s proposed replacement, Admiral Mike Mullen. His bio shows him to be a very capable officer in the US Navy with adequate experience. Congratulations and wishes for success would be offered if he is confirmed as the new Joint Chiefs of Staff but for me, it will be laced with a bit of disdain, not for the Admiral but for those who once again based their decision on the unwillingness to take on Congress.

Happened upon this after writing the original post but it reaffirms all that is said above.

In all honesty, I must say Congressman John Murtha has grown too big for his pants since the last election.

Murtha is known for his fondness of earmarks, particularly in his district.

When, during a meeting of the powerful appropriations subcommittee on military spending, which Mr. Murtha chairs, Republican Congressman Mike Rogers of Michigan tried unsuccessfully to strike an earmark (pork) from an intelligence bill, Congressman Murtha didn’t take too kindly to it.

In fact, he walked over to the Republican side of the House of Representatives and this exchange occurred:

During a series of House votes Thursday, Murtha walked to the chamber’s Republican side to confront Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., a 43-year-old former FBI agent. Earlier this month, Rogers had tried unsuccessfully to strike a Murtha earmark from an intelligence spending bill. The item would restore $23 million for the National Drug Intelligence Center, a facility in Murtha’s Pennsylvania district that some Republicans say is unneeded.

According to Rogers’ account, which Murtha did not dispute, the Democrat angrily told Rogers he should never seek earmarks of his own because “you’re not going to get any, now or forever.”

“This was clearly designed to try to intimidate me,” Rogers said in an interview Friday. “He said it loud enough for other people to hear.”

House rules prohibit lawmakers from placing conditions on earmarks or targeted tax benefits that are based on another member’s votes. [Rules are made to be broken or changed. ED]

Murtha’s office, asked for response Friday, issued a three-sentence statement: “The committee and staff give every Democrat and Republican the same consideration. We have extensive hearings and every request is given careful consideration. We will continue to do just that.”

I’ll make a bet with anyone that Murtha will not be reprimanded by the House and another one that Congressman Rogers’ requests for earmarks will be given consideration and then voted down.

That’s just an educated guess based on how acrimonious this Congress has become.