Paul Ryan has learned nothing about compromise.

I’m feeling snarky after watching replays of Paul Ryan’s smug arrogant face complaining that Republicans want to get things done, but Obama just won’t work with them. As if!! I just need to make sure I’m following the logic being presented by Republicans in defense of why they are willing to let the country financially tank, because right now it seems to be a case of the childhood taunt, “Nah, nah, nah, nah, boo boo, stick your head in doo doo” and that can’t possibly be the position of the Republican members in Congress. Can it? Is it? We’re getting ready to find out.

To understand why this is so offensive to those of us who watch and pay attention, it’s necessary to go back to the very beginning of Obama’s first term. It was literally as he was being sworn in that the dysfunction by the Republican Party began to form. Paul Ryan was one of twelve US Congressmen (this was an all boys, all white club going on) who met the night of Obama’s first inauguration in 2009. This group met at an establishment in DC, plotting not only to oppose Obama at every turn, but to focus their attention on winning back the White House and both houses of Congress. There was no discussion about advancing the needs of the nation; only advancing their own limited agenda. And that’s exactly what they’ve done since.

Also in attendance were Rep. Eric Cantor and Sen. Jim DeMint, who happen to be two of the most vocal opponents to Obama’s legislative initiatives. That helps explain the reason House Speaker John Bohner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell cannot work with the White House to come to compromise. They reach an agreement, and The Dirty Dozen do what they can in Congress to shut it down. Not only has this group created dysfunction when working with the White House, but they have immobilized the US Congress. Pragmatic, reasonable, and rational recommendations are ignored by Republicans in order to further their own cause, with blatant disregard for the political, social, and economic fallout.

We had an election in November of 2012 in which Paul Ryan can only be described as a loser. He ran on the Republican ticket for Vice-President with Mitt Romney, and they failed to convince voters their direction was the right direction for the country to move. But that means nothing to men like Paul Ryan who are motivated by self interests and power. What I cannot understand, is how conspiring to work against President Obama is not tantamount to treason. To propose alternatives to his agenda is reasonable. It’s what’s expected from the two party system. What isn’t expected is a blanket of obstruction and inaction thrown over the efforts of those in Congress who want to do the job they were elected to do. They aren’t producing workable alternatives to Obama and the Democrats. They are simply doing nothing, and pointing fingers of blame while they are actively working against the best interests of this country. Treason?

Republicans, in the face of the looming sequestration and massive budget cuts coming next month in March, want to paint a picture of a president who is aloof, motivated by political posturing, and who has refused to work with them.  Their record, however, paints a much different picture. Think Progress identified the six most important bills blocked by Republicans in 2012.  Republicans voted against a minimum wage increase; campaign finance transparency; The Buffet Rule; The Employment Non-Discrimination Act; U.N. treaty to protect the equal rights of the disabled; and The Paycheck Fairness Act. Throw in voting during Obama’s first term against jobs bills, veterans’ benefits, the Violence Against Women Act (not even allowing the Senate passed bill to have a vote on the House floor), voting 33 times to overturn the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), 9/11 responders healthcare, delaying Hurricane Sandy relief, and well, you get it. If it was going to benefit an American they were having no part of it.

They’ve tolerated racist innuendo within the party, including he is an illegitimate president because he was not born here, and they’ve done little to stamp down outrageous rumors that simply are not true. And why would they? They’re more interested in looking down the road to the next election than in dealing with the problems of today in a real and constructive manner.

But Paul Ryan would lecture Barack Obama on being a leader and getting bills passed that the American people want passed, all the while ignoring the bad behavior of his party that got us into most of these messes needing attention. Republicans are doing all they can to undermine the POTUS, as well as the Democratic agenda. They are deaf to the concerns of their constituents, and they are blind to the damages being wrecked on the nation by them and their policies. When they ignore the will of the voters who said in November they didn’t want the Republican way of governing, they are indeed shouting “Nah, nah, nah, nah, boo boo, stick your head in doo doo!”  I guess my only response to that realization is “I’m rubber and you’re glue” and what’s sticking to them is very unpleasant, and unnecessary.

Just get on board, guys, and let’s take care of this country. It’s the least you can do after what you’ve already done.

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