Democrats Save the Clown Caucus (again)

Last evening the House passed a Continuing Resolution to keep the government functioning through March. Almost all Democrats voted yea, saving the U.S. from a government shutdown over the holidays and saving Republicans from their pitiful selves. Ben Cline did the right thing this time voting for the CR.

The mess erupted a couple days ago when shadow president Elon Musk objected to a bipartisan CR. He was then joined by President-in-waiting Donald Trump and that negotiated deal collapsed. Musk (and Trump) notably demanded an increase in the debt ceiling now rather than in mid 2025 when Republicans will have control of the White House along with the House and Senate. That demand was NOT included in the CR that passed setting up an interesting and bitter intra-party fight next year. Chaos averted for Christmas but it isn’t gone for long!

The CR that passed did cut a small amount of dollars from the budget… not budget busting items but very real programs that help the American people. All of this to appease Elon. A few examples (from Bryan Tyler Cohen):

• GABRIELLA MILLER KIDS FIRST RESEARCH ACT 2.0, which provides funding for pediatric cancer research.

• The GIVE KIDS A CHANCE ACT, to provide studies of new cancer drugs

• ACCELERATING ACCESS TO CARE ACT to streamline out-of-state treatment for medically complex kids

• SUPPORT ACT promoting Opioid recovery and treatment

• PANDEMIC AND ALL HAZARDS PREPAREDNESS ACT

• Restrictions on Pharmacy Benefit Managers, who often overcharge patients

Some Republicans (like Bobblehead Ben) will boast of the dollars saved, but in reality the savings is small and the hurt is real. This is foreshadowing the mess we are in for the future… an eccentric billionaire able to control a weak minded (actual) president while corralling a herd of House cats.

We have gotten the government we deserve… chaos theory 101.

Bobblehead Bob and the Clown Caucus

House Speaker Mike Johnson just got punked by the incoming president and his chaos crony, Elon. Give Johnson some credit… he tried to keep the government’s Christmas lights on by working across the isle with a continuing resolution funding the government through early spring. He’d been juggling his clown caucus, which includes the Valley’s own Bobblehead Ben Cline.

Enter President Musk… oh I mean Trump… oh I’m not sure who I mean anymore. They tanked the bipartisan plan that Johnson had juggled over the past weeks and insisted on a new CR that included, among other atrocities, a demand for extending the debit limit. Perhaps this should give all of us pause that, in spite of musk’s and Ramaswamy’s DOGE, the incoming administration will run up the federal debt. Oh yes, the twin sons of different mothers, will try to cut programs that mean much to Shenandoah Valley residents… farm aid, Social Security, Medicare, etc… and call it savings, but their giveaways to the  top tier and their cronies will more than offset any savings. I predict the deficit/debt will soar!

What will The “budget hawk” Bobblehead Ben do? Nothing because when it comes time to stand on principle against Trump, Ben is a chicken hawk. 

Trump and the little devils sitting (shitting) on his shoulders have no plans for fiscal austerity or responsible governance. They offer only chaos, shutdowns, retribution. And Bobblehead Ben concurs.