Still looking for the compassion in today’s conservatism

September 14, 2005

As if the victims of Hurricane Katrina didn’t have enough to worry about, sweeping changes to the nation’s bankruptcy laws are poised to make things even worse. Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), along with several other House Dems, introduced a measure last week to offer flexibility for victims of natural disasters in declaring bankruptcy.

Given the circumstances, it seems like a no-brainer. Sure, a similar measure was rejected while the bill was debated on the Hill earlier this year, but that was before we saw what happened to the Gulf Coast, right? This is clearly the kind of common-sense, compassionate measure that can generate bi-partisan support now, right?

Wrong.

The chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee said on Tuesday he had no intention of reopening a sweeping bankruptcy law passed by Congress earlier this year, despite proposals to exempt Hurricane Katrina victims from some of its provisions.

The new, more stringent bankruptcy law will not harm people left “down and out” by the storm, Wisconsin Republican Rep. James Sensenbrenner said.

He said he would not hold a hearing in his committee on a bill by the panel’s ranking Democrat, Michigan Rep. John Conyers, and 31 other Democrats who want to exempt Hurricane Katrina victims from parts of the new bankruptcy law. A chairman’s decision not to hold a hearing usually prevents a House bill form advancing.

Would it be rude to point out that Sensenbrenner is a multi-millionaire, thanks in part to a generous inheritance?

Senselessbrenner. What an SOB. If you’ll pardon me for saying so.

The Repubs are at it again – you’d think they’d be scrambling to distance themselves from Incurious George. But no…

Today:
The Senate, along party lines, killed H. Clinton’s amendment “To establish a congressional commission to examine the Federal, State, and local response to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina… and make immediate corrective measures to improve such responses in the future.”

The Senate, along party lines, killed B. Dorgan’s amendment “to establish a special committee of the Senate to investigate the awarding and carrying out of contracts to conduct activities in Afghanistan and Iraq and to fight the war on terrorism.”

Dorgan was the chair of the hearing with whistleblower Bunny Greenhouse, who, in the course of her job, objected to the awarding of no-bid contracts to Halliburton/KBR. Greenhouse was recently DEMOTED by the administration FOR DOING HER JOB.

We’ve got to get these people (Repugs) out of office!!!

  • Of course, Sensenbrenner likely is more than willing to push for elimination of the inheritance tax, but is unwilling to help out the hundreds of thousands of poor and middle class hurt by a natural disaster.

    Compassionate conservative, my arse!

  • See this just proves my point, I think that the phrase “Compassionate Conservative” is a complete oxymoron……I rest my case

  • From a purely real power standpoint, it makes sense. The banking and credit card industries contribute how many millions of dollars each year to Republican candidates – how much can a couple hundred thousand newly-impoverished Gulf Coast residents be counted on to cough up??

    And as far any political conseque – hey, look!! GAY MARRIAGE!!!

  • Andy, I like the way your mind works, even though I wish with all my heart that you were wrong!

    Sensenbrenner is just about the worst of the worst. And John Conyers is one of my personal heroes. The man is so consistently decent and is among those rare Democrats who’s not afraid to take a stand for something he believes in. How can anyone look at these two men and want to be part of the group to which Sensenbrenner belongs? I just don’t get it.

    Compassionate? Yeah, when it comes to embryos and stem cells and rich white people and Big Oil, Defense Contractors and the NRA. But try to convince them that 14-year-olds and the mentally disabled don’t belong on Death Row and they show their true colors. Try to get them to help working single moms afford daycare and health insurance, try to get them to raise the minimum wage…

    Scum-sucking, lying, worthless bastards!

  • The GOP and the democratic quislings who supported this obscentity can’t possibly endorse any adjustment of its terms without exposing its monstrously unjust terms to further review. With an inflamed electorate currently drawing a bead on the malfeasance of the Bushites, it would open a door all of the Bushite swine, on both sides of the aisle, are intent on keeping shut. Given that fact, their position makes eminent sense.

  • I doubt this is going to last. Because it’s not the poverty/welfare people that will need bankruptcy, as much as the middle-class and business owners. Even if their stuff is properly insured, they still have lost their revenue stream, but haven’t lost their bills.

    While the GOP only pays lip service to the middle-class and lower-upper-class, this is going to be a huge issue; and lip service isn’t going to be enough. It was a shame that they didn’t originally give an exemption to disaster victims, but I doubt they’ll be able to do that now…assuming that Democrats handle this issue properly.

  • Thanks for reminding me to put Senslessbrenner on the guillotine list. I’d forgotten all about that scumbag.

    Sacrebleu, this list is getting long!

  • SRY,

    I agree with your comments, but your description of the Rethugs is just a little bit off.

    You call them “Scum-sucking, lying, worthless bastards!”

    We all know them by their real names: “Lying.Fucking.Bastards.”

    Try to get it right, okay?

  • After seeing reports on the news this evening about the INSURANCE catastrophe to come, this whole bankruptcy issue may take on some very serious importance.

    Apparently, people whose homes were detroyed by the huge tidal surge will not be covered if they did not have flood insurance, even in areas that are not designated as flood zones by FEMA. It’s one thing if you lived in a designated flood zone but elected not to buy flood insurance (although most mortgage companies will require it). It’s another thing entirely when you’re not even in a designated flood zone, but your home gets washed away. The insurance companies are denying these claims, meaning homeowners are basically SOL.

    One guy was trying to show the insurance adjuster how it was the WIND that destroyed his home, which was pretty apparent from the bits of his roof scattered in the trees. But the adjuster claimed that it was the flood waters that damaged his home. Claim denied.

    This is going to get REALLY ugly if we continue to see insurance companies denying claims like this. And that new bankruptcy law will get even greater scrutiny.

  • what doctor biobrain said is more than likely true – it’s the middle class people whose businesses are underwater, whose homes are destroyed and who are living in hotels racking up credit card bills who are more likely to have to declare bankruptcy than the destitute – not that the rethugs give a damn about the latter. The former might have enough political pull to make a difference althoug against all the corporate money I wonder….

  • What do Sensenbrenner and the Tin Woodsman from the Wizard of Oz
    have in common? They both lack a heart. In the latter’s case it was an oversight of his maker. In the former’s case it never seemed to exist in the first place. Jimbo is also a lot like the Scarecrow in that he also lacks a brain. Only brainless and heartless people make comments like this.
    In fact, he also resembles the Cowardly Lion, for only a gutless wonder would subject storm victims to so cruel a fate.
    Maybe we could re-shoot the entire Wizard of Oz story with
    Dick Cheney as the Wicked Witch and George W. Bush as the
    Wizard (the proverbial man behind the curtain who we’re not supposed to know about).
    As for Karl Rove, well, he resembles one of those wicked flying monkeys
    (I beg the pardon of the evil flying monkeys since no once should be
    compared to the soul-less Karl Rove). I have no idea who should play the Dorothy part, maybe …. Denny Hastert!? You can just see the DVD
    cover for this extravaganza, can’ t you, with them all skipping cluelessly
    down the Yellow Brick Road to Conservative Nirvana. There’s got to be a place in all this for Grover Noraquist, maybe Toto?

  • Too bad the rethugs didn’t think of taking away the right to vote for those who declare bankruptcy.

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