My impassioned 72-year-old Twitter pal, who goes by the name 42bkdodgr, would like to share his feelings about the incessant and very destructive games the GOP plays while at our country’s expense. I am more than happy to oblige.

But first, a personal note from 42bkdodgr:

Many of you may wonder why I chose to use the “ 72 year old friend” as the introduction to my Special Comments. I selected the moniker so readers could see that from my age and life experiences I give a different perspective to the issues of today.

Now for his Special Comment:

End The Game Playing

For the past couple of weeks I’ve been angry and depressed from what I have seen taking place since the  mid-term election. It’s not that the Democrats are no longer the majority party in the House, or that they have lost several seats in the Senate that has upset me, it’s been the Republicans reaction to the election.

The Republicans feel they have a mandate from the American people that will allow them to repeal all of Obama’s major accomplishments during his first two years in office, such as Health Care Reform and Financial Reform.

They are wrong and they know it, as such bills can’t be repealed because of Obama’s veto power.  Instead of stating the good points in both bills and areas where they can be improved, all their rancor and ranting is increasing hate and fear and further dividing our country.

So what has me angry, and I believe also many Americans, is the political gamesmanship our politicians have been playing in the last few years, and I truly believe the American public wants to see it end.

Since the election, the Republican leadership in the House seems more interested in doing a series of investigations ( witch hunts) of the Obama administration on such issues as HCR, Financial Reform, Joe Sestak ” job offer”, or proposing to shut down the government rather than  offering ideas on how to resolve the country’s economic woes (except for their mantra of tax cuts for corporations and the rich).

So when I read and hear what the Republicans intend to do in the House and the Senate, it greatly upsets me as I see more games playing and nothing meaningful happening in Congress in the next two years to move this country forward.

I believe American public– I know I am– is tired of:

* no bipartisanship between Republicans and Democrats

* seeing one Senator, like Senator Kyl, holding up the vote on the START Treaty, or Senator Bunning preventing a vote on extending Unemployment Insurance earlier this year.

* Senate rules requiring 60 yea votes before a bill can be moved out of committee and brought to the floor for debate.

* seeing riders being added to bills that are unrelated to the main bill, that could effect the passage of an important bill. I call it the ” got you” riders.

I believe the public would like to see each bill stand on its own merits, and if there is disagreement by either political party regarding the passage of a bill, let them filibuster. This way we can return to the policy of majority vote rules. Let the American public see what their representatives really support and stand for on each bill.

This country can’t afford to have our politicians continue to play their political games and expect this country to move forward in the 21st century.

Many thanks again for another thorough, relevant piece, 42bkdodgr. You often say what many of us are thinking and feeling, and we thank you for your unique perspective.