Today is the anniversary of the Watergate burglary, the day the word “gate” took on a whole new meaning.
I was just commenting on this the other day after I attended “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He coined the phrase “AssFest 2010″ to commemorate Obama’s pledge to kick some ass in the BP oil spill fiasco. But my first thought was,
“Where’s the gate?”
There have been some great gates over the years. Perhaps it’s a sign of age, but I’d enjoy a look back at some of my favorites. Shall we?
- Billygate — President Jimmy Carter’s brother Billy — the one with his own beer — represented the Libyan government as a foreign agent. That’s okay, Billy. We liked to forget you were an American, too.
- Camillagate — A taped conversation of the then illicit relationship between Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles was leaked. (They’re married now, so it’s all good.)
- Fajitagate – I just heard about this one Tuesday in a cab in Modesto, CA. Three off-duty San Francisco policeman arrested two men carrying bags of steak fajitas mistaken for drugs. The chief of police was eventually fired (and the fajitas were eaten).
- Nannygate — Rob Lowe’s nanny sues him for sexual harrassment. Rob Lowe sues her right back, and nothing comes of it. You can’t mess with Rob Lowe. He’s that good-looking.
You’ll notice the original Watergate didn’t make my list. It never will. The hearing coverage preempted the afternoon soaps for weeks.
That kinda thing really scars a kid.
Some party
Happy Birthday, 14th Amendment.
Or that’s what some lawmakers contend.
Assistant Minority Leader Rep. James Clyburn said that if Congress doesn’t agree on a long-term deal by the deadline, President Obama should sign an executive order raising the debt ceiling — a move justified by the section of the 14th Amendment that reads “the validity of the public debt … shall not be questioned.”
Some constitutional scholars don’t agree. It didn’t sound like the President did either during a town hall Friday at the University of Maryland. And the Treasury Department holds firm that only Congress has the legal authority to extend the U.S. borrowing authority.
Hear that, Congress?
Stop trying to pass the buck. That 143-year old bill isn’t going to let you do nothing, and then later point the finger at the audacity and legality of a Presidential executive order.
Do your jobs. Make it work.
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Posted in Commentary, Education, History, Life, News, Politics
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