Braunstein Speaks

‘Where Have All the Flowers Gone?’

In the 1960s they did it for peace, love, and justice—or so they said. Now the “love” generation, of which I am part of temporally, has grown up and is in power; so what are their motives now?

Last week, we had an election of historical significance. Although it was only a special election to fill a senatorial vacancy, its message sent seismic waves throughout the Democratic Party. Yet only a few days after the Republican rout in Massachusetts, the media and the unholy trinity (Harry, Nancy, and Barry) are pretending the whole thing never happened.

Like the cartoon detective Fearless Fosdick with a two-foot hole through his middle—“Merely a flesh wound”—the Democratic leadership is back to their healthcare agenda—louder this time, because obviously you were too stupid to understand it the last time they explained it to you.

Barack Obama’s reasons for this strange behavior are clear: The president is a life-long Communist whose agenda is the downfall of the United States. Regardless of where he was born, he was raised and educated in Indonesia, where his Muslim teachers inculcated the hatred of Western values and culture into the young boy.

By the time Barry Soetoro returned to the United States, he became Barack Obama. The troubled teenager, who was abandoned by his parents, groped for some meaning in his life throughout his high school years. Sponsors—whose identities are still secret—took care of his higher education, guiding him to be the rabid Marxist who thinks that his means are beyond the need of explanation to the lowly proletariat.

What then of Nancy and Harry? Surely they don’t believe in all that Communist crap? Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi’s husband have amassed huge personal fortunes. It has always been Democrats’ strategy, however, to play to the masses as “one of the common people.”

These people have careers to consider. While a tradesman in Boise, Idaho may think a salary of $174,000 to be a lot of money, remember that a congressman has to maintain two residences—one in his district, and another one in Washington (unless you are Boca Raton Representative Robert Wexler, and actually live in Maryland).

An incumbent politician of either party has but one Prime Directive: It comes before family, it comes before wealth; often it comes before life itself. The politician must stay in office no matter what the cost. Only a pol facing a humiliating defeat—like Democrat Martha Coakley losing to an unknown Republican in Massachusetts—will voluntarily not run, “To be closer to his family.”

The life of a congressman “retired” from politics isn’t so bad. While they lose that “finger-snap” that can instantly quiet an entire room, they earn—legally—many times their congressional salaries, and still get chauffeured around in limousines and attend the best parties.

Nonetheless, except for a handful of Democrats in the House and Senate who have already announced their retirement (like Chris Dodd) or have not yet seen the handwriting on the wall (Harry Reid) it seems like an awfully lot of Democrats are poised to charge, lemming-like, off the cliff of ObamaCare.

A note about Nancy Pelosi: She is untouchable. This San Francisco liberal has a husband who is so wealthy, that he bought her a House seat to get her out of his hair.

It’s easy charging off that cliff when you have a 24-karat gold-winged paraglider to ease your descent as those about you fall to their political deaths.

Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the flowers gone?
Girls have picked them every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn? – Pete Seeger © 1961

---