About Me
- Name: Nick W.
- Location: Wisconsin, United States
Libertarian observations from within the Ivory Tower by an archivist, librarian and researcher.
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libertarian_librarian@hotmail.com
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A university is just a group of buildings gathered around a library. ~Shelby Foote
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Throw the Bums OUT!
As near as I can discern, there are about 20 U.S. Senators that aren't complete dickheads. But there are a few, and Mojo makes a good point-- just knee-jerk voting out everybody may not be the best answer. Though I do think if every single incumbent lost, it would send an awfully powerful message to the politicos.
But Tom Coburn can definitely stay. The fact that his legislation, redirecting $453 million for bridges in Alaska that benefit about 20,000 people to rebuilding the Gulf Coast where the money would benefit hundreds of thousands, was shot down by a huge margin is a disgrace. An absolute disgrace. So, I give a pass to:
Coburn (R-OK), Allard (R-CO), Allen (R-VA), Bayh (D-IN), Burr (R-NC), Conrad (D-ND), DeMint (R-SC), DeWine (R-OH), Feingold (D-WI), Graham (R-SC), Kyl (R-AZ), Landrieu (D-LA), Sessions (R-AL), Sununu (R-NH), and Vitter (R-LA).
Plus these senators that voted in favor of Coburn's other anti-pork bill (also defeated): Ensign (R-NV), Hagel (R-NE), McCain (R-AZ), and Talent (R-MO).
That's 19. Out of 100. Less than 20% of our senators were willing to cut nearly a half billion dollars worth of pure pork spending and redirect that money to the hurrican ravaged gulf coast. Nineteen. They can stay, if you want them too-- hell, even though I disagree with Russ Feingold on many issues, I am proud to have he's from Wisconsin right now. He did the right thing. Wisconsin's other senator, multi-millonaire Herb Kohl, apparently believes that building bridges in Alaska is more important than rebuilding them in Louisiana. Kohl needs to go.
I am disappointed that Joe Lieberman did not support the amendment. I generally like Joe, and had he been the Democratic candidate in '04, I probably would've voted for him. But he must go. Clinton, Kennedy, Obama, Kerry, Frist, Lott, and Specter all voted in favor of pork and against aiding the devastated gulf coast.
They must go.
All of them. Without exception and regardless of whether you agree with them on their "principles." Clearly they have demonstrated they don't have any. I mean, Kos was behind this bill, and stated on his blog that "I fully expect no Democrat would vote against this sensible amendment." I count 38 democrats that voted against the bill.
Redstate.org was behind this bill and stated on their blog that "Friends, this is as easy a call as I've ever seen. If Republicans aren't willing to step back from this idiocy in Alaska to fund the needs in Louisiana - they don't deserve anything more than a snicker next time they try to describe themselves as the party of limited government." 44 Republicans did not support the bill.
THROW THE BUMS OUT!!!
Heck-- we don't even have to vote blowhard, piece of crap Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens out, just take him at his word next time. Before the vote, Stevens blustered and postured in favor of saving all of Alaska's huge lard haul and made the following statement:
What a jackass.
He must go. If no one else goes, Stevens must go.
If any of you know anyone, anyone at all, who lives in Alaska, you must urge them to vote Stevens out of office.
But Tom Coburn can definitely stay. The fact that his legislation, redirecting $453 million for bridges in Alaska that benefit about 20,000 people to rebuilding the Gulf Coast where the money would benefit hundreds of thousands, was shot down by a huge margin is a disgrace. An absolute disgrace. So, I give a pass to:
Coburn (R-OK), Allard (R-CO), Allen (R-VA), Bayh (D-IN), Burr (R-NC), Conrad (D-ND), DeMint (R-SC), DeWine (R-OH), Feingold (D-WI), Graham (R-SC), Kyl (R-AZ), Landrieu (D-LA), Sessions (R-AL), Sununu (R-NH), and Vitter (R-LA).
Plus these senators that voted in favor of Coburn's other anti-pork bill (also defeated): Ensign (R-NV), Hagel (R-NE), McCain (R-AZ), and Talent (R-MO).
That's 19. Out of 100. Less than 20% of our senators were willing to cut nearly a half billion dollars worth of pure pork spending and redirect that money to the hurrican ravaged gulf coast. Nineteen. They can stay, if you want them too-- hell, even though I disagree with Russ Feingold on many issues, I am proud to have he's from Wisconsin right now. He did the right thing. Wisconsin's other senator, multi-millonaire Herb Kohl, apparently believes that building bridges in Alaska is more important than rebuilding them in Louisiana. Kohl needs to go.
I am disappointed that Joe Lieberman did not support the amendment. I generally like Joe, and had he been the Democratic candidate in '04, I probably would've voted for him. But he must go. Clinton, Kennedy, Obama, Kerry, Frist, Lott, and Specter all voted in favor of pork and against aiding the devastated gulf coast.
They must go.
All of them. Without exception and regardless of whether you agree with them on their "principles." Clearly they have demonstrated they don't have any. I mean, Kos was behind this bill, and stated on his blog that "I fully expect no Democrat would vote against this sensible amendment." I count 38 democrats that voted against the bill.
Redstate.org was behind this bill and stated on their blog that "Friends, this is as easy a call as I've ever seen. If Republicans aren't willing to step back from this idiocy in Alaska to fund the needs in Louisiana - they don't deserve anything more than a snicker next time they try to describe themselves as the party of limited government." 44 Republicans did not support the bill.
THROW THE BUMS OUT!!!
Heck-- we don't even have to vote blowhard, piece of crap Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens out, just take him at his word next time. Before the vote, Stevens blustered and postured in favor of saving all of Alaska's huge lard haul and made the following statement:
"I don't kid people," Stevens roared. "If the Senate decides to discriminate against our state . . . I will resign from this body."Which, to me, is a win-win. Redirect the money where it is actually NEEDED and get this overbearing, egotistical, selfish, bloated, bully out of the U.S. Senate.
What a jackass.
He must go. If no one else goes, Stevens must go.
If any of you know anyone, anyone at all, who lives in Alaska, you must urge them to vote Stevens out of office.
Comments:
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Anyone can also contribute to the campaign of a senator's opponent. That is what happened in South Dakota with the Thune/Daschle race. Many people from outside of South Dakota supported Thune with donations in a successful attempt (albeit a close one) to get Daschle out of the Senate.
Most members of Congress will ignore correspondence from those outside of their district or state, but threatening to contribute to a future opponent's campaign if they don't start to toe-the-line on spending may make them pay attention. It's another perfectly viable option.
Well, it is a viable option until the next time Congress votes themselves a pay raise and tacks on an amendment to prohibit out-of-state campaign contributions from individuals. But until then, threaten to support anyone who opposes them if they don't stop with the pork.
Most members of Congress will ignore correspondence from those outside of their district or state, but threatening to contribute to a future opponent's campaign if they don't start to toe-the-line on spending may make them pay attention. It's another perfectly viable option.
Well, it is a viable option until the next time Congress votes themselves a pay raise and tacks on an amendment to prohibit out-of-state campaign contributions from individuals. But until then, threaten to support anyone who opposes them if they don't stop with the pork.
# posted by 
: 12:40 PM
: 12:40 PM
The "Fiscal Watch Team" (Senators John Ensign (R-NV), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Jim DeMint (R-SC), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John McCain (R-AZ), and John Sununu (R-NH)) have a six point plan to return to fiscal responsibility:
1. Reduce Non-Defense Discretionary Spending by Five Percent Across the Board
2. Delay the Medicare Drug Entitlement for Two Years
3. Accelerate the Medicare Part B Means Test
4. Rescind All Highway Bill Pork Projects
5. Freeze Salaries for Members of Congress and Federal Civilian Employees for One Year
6. Create a Government Waste Commission
More information is available here.
1. Reduce Non-Defense Discretionary Spending by Five Percent Across the Board
2. Delay the Medicare Drug Entitlement for Two Years
3. Accelerate the Medicare Part B Means Test
4. Rescind All Highway Bill Pork Projects
5. Freeze Salaries for Members of Congress and Federal Civilian Employees for One Year
6. Create a Government Waste Commission
More information is available here.
# posted by : 10:16 PM
: 10:16 PM
This is from the President's speech yesterday to the Economic Club of Washington, D.C.
"Earlier this year I submitted the most disciplined proposal for non-security discretionary spending since Ronald Reagan was in the White House. My budget proposed an actual cut in spending on non-security discretionary spending. Congress needs to make that cut real. I'm open to a further across-the-board spending cuts, as well. My budget has proposed vital reforms in mandatory spending that will save the taxpayers $187 billion over the next decade, part of our plan to cut our deficit in half by 2009.
[. . .]
"I met with the leader of the House and the Senate today, and we're working on a plan for pushing significant reductions in mandatory and discretionary spending. Both Houses are on progress -- making progress toward cuts that will show the American people we're capable of being wise about the money, and at the same time, meet our priorities. I encourage Congress to push the envelope when it comes to cutting spending."
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"Earlier this year I submitted the most disciplined proposal for non-security discretionary spending since Ronald Reagan was in the White House. My budget proposed an actual cut in spending on non-security discretionary spending. Congress needs to make that cut real. I'm open to a further across-the-board spending cuts, as well. My budget has proposed vital reforms in mandatory spending that will save the taxpayers $187 billion over the next decade, part of our plan to cut our deficit in half by 2009.
[. . .]
"I met with the leader of the House and the Senate today, and we're working on a plan for pushing significant reductions in mandatory and discretionary spending. Both Houses are on progress -- making progress toward cuts that will show the American people we're capable of being wise about the money, and at the same time, meet our priorities. I encourage Congress to push the envelope when it comes to cutting spending."
# posted by : 9:29 AM
: 9:29 AM<< Home
