I sometimes wonder if a clown car pulls up to the capitol each weekday and all the members of the house majority pile out.
Apparently not. It seems that about a dozen far-right Freedom Caucus buffoons have commissioned a car of their own.
Let the day at the circus begin. Because one car or two, a circus is exactly what they've turned the house of representatives into.
Exhibit one. An incident from just one month ago:
The back story:
The whole issue started to come to light at the end of 2022, when an international study showed that gas stoves emit pollutants that can damage our lungs and increase the risk of, and exacerbate, childhood asthma.
The Consumer Protection Safety Commission (enacted by congress in 1972 but run as an independent agency), admits to have been considering action, but clarifies that any regulations would only apply to new products.
Some states have banned the installation of gas stoves, but in new homes only. The CPSC has specifically stated that they are not "coming for anyone's gas stoves." When asked, a White House spokesperson stated that Biden does not support banning gas stoves.
Facts aside (as usual), the republicans went wild. Angry speeches included fiery rants the likes of: the dems want to take away your kitchens! They're coming for your stoves! Even your appliances aren't safe!
Children are dying at alarming rates due to gun violence, but . . . priorities. Fearful that the American people are on the brink of a severely limited edible future consisting of cold salads for dinner and no bake desserts, the House went right to work.
Jelled Strawberry Tarts
So . . .
The Consumer Protection Safety Commission is not the federal government and has suggested no bans. And the White House has specifically stated that the president is not in favor of a ban. But you can never be too careful when it comes to the protection of our children appliances. The house republicans drafted a bill.
The "Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act," would block the federal government from banning gas stoves.
Because our great country needs to protect the rights of trans citizens gas stoves to exist. And be free. What does that look like, anyway, free gas stoves? If they're not happy with their current situation, can they, like, consider employment elsewhere? Form a union? Demand days off, maybe?
Since the republicans control the house, you'd expect the bill to pass easily, right?
Not so fast. Remember that second clown car?
About a dozen republicans blocked the bill from advancing.
Why?
Just a week before, the house speaker entered into a deal with the President to raise the debt ceiling. As has always been done in the past, it was necessary to allow the United States to pay our bills, not default, not crash our economy, and not drastically lower our credit rating.
And for brokering that deal, the speaker had to be punished.
So they stopped the bill.
That would block the ban.
That wasn't happening anyway.
Send in the clowns? They're already here.
Jelled Strawberry Tarts
©www.BakingInATornado.com
1 box (3 oz) strawberry jello mix
4 strawberries
1 container (5.3 oz) strawberry yogurt
OPT: whipped cream and/or additional strawberries for serving
Directions:
*Dissolve the jello powder in 1 cup boiling water. Set aside.
*Dissolve the jello powder in 1 cup boiling water. Set aside.
*Core and chop 3 of the strawberries. Place in the bottom of the pie crusts. Add 1 TBSP of the jello to each, set aside the remaining jello and refrigerate the crusts for 20 minutes.
*Remove the crusts from the refrigerator. Whisk the yogurt into the reserved jello. Core, chop, and mix in the remaining strawberry.
*Pour evenly into the crusts and refrigerate again for at least 45 minutes.
*OPT: garnish with whipped cream and/or additional strawberries for serving.
*Sigh*. Whatever riles up their base.
ReplyDeleteEven if it's abject absurdity
DeleteI heard about the gas stoves, I didn’t understand and then it faded away. Now i know the rest of the story. Bring in the clowns. Donna.
ReplyDeleteA sad commentary on our government at "work," I'm afraid.
DeleteYeah. I suppose there might be a good side in that it raised awareness? We're using an electric hob more and our gas stove less, with an idea to replacing it in the not too distant future.
ReplyDeleteThere are far less idiotic ways to raise awareness, I'd think.
DeleteSigh. It is a clown car indeed, the entire bunch. I pray they keep shooting themselves in the foot before they're voted out.
ReplyDeleteThat would be great!
DeleteOnce if someone wanted to be a clown they would join the circus now they become a politician
ReplyDeleteSad, but true.
DeleteSadly, someone elected those clowns. And re-elected them, rinse and repeat. There are enough people out there who will swallow any story, and the rest of us suffer for it.
ReplyDeleteThe real problem is that the clowns seem to be growing in number and thriving.
DeleteIt just all makes my head hurt. Some of these clowns are scary, too.
ReplyDeleteYes, they seem to be making up their own rules on as little as a momentary whim.
DeleteGood gravy. The comedy just goes on...and on...
ReplyDeleteIt would be a whole lot funnier if it wasn't so terrifying.
DeleteI hadn't heard anything about the gas stove fiasco. There's an awful lot of people that love their gas stoves though and would fight to keep them no matter what.
ReplyDeleteBut the discussion isn't about keeping them, the discussion is about whether or not, as they are currently configured, they should be put into new builds.
DeleteI'd heard of the Pearl Clutching regarding such things the Far Right find NEED immediate action... such as the Gas Stoves debacle, Dr. Seuss Books, well, the Laundry List of Crazy is such that you just can't make that shit up, can you? The Conspiracy Theories and Alternative Reality are so far out there it would be humorous if it wasn't taken so deathly Serious by those aboard the Crazy Train and eating it all up like it is even remotely credible and Sane.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I thought they'd gone as low as they could, they got even crazier.
Delete