Posted by Congressional Aid on September 25, 2008 at 8:13 am · Filed under House legislation, Personalities
Yesterday, Representative Candice S. Miller of Michigan said that she was not inclined to listen to her constituents, who are overwhelmingly in opposition to the $700,000,000,000.00 corporate giveaway emerging in Washington. “I appreciate all of the input that I’m getting from my constituents, but I’m just not reacting to that — I can’t until I understand it better and feel comfortable with my vote. And I’m not sure how I’m going to be voting yet.”
If you live in Candice Miller’s district, you might want to know that.
Posted by Congressional Aid on September 19, 2008 at 4:12 pm · Filed under House campaigns, Personalities
A staffer with the Bob Lord for Congress campaign sent me a communication today suggesting that I might want to write a little something about how that kooky John Shadegg fella pronounces the word nuclear “nookyular”… just like George W. Bush!
I have to admit, it is kind of funny, at least in a juvenile student council race sort of way. But you know, I think I wouldn’t mind so much if John Shadegg said “nookyular” just like George W. Bush, so long as…
… he didn’t support an unnecessary, deadly and costly war in Iraq, just like George W. Bush
… he didn’t oppose a woman’s right to control her own body, just like George W. Bush
… he didn’t support the erection of a massive unwarranted surveillance network, just like George W. Bush
… he didn’t have the annoying tendency of characterizing American military adventures as holy wars, just like George W. Bush
… he didn’t bust the budget with unnecessary military spending on outlandish weapons systems that even the military said it didn’t want, just like George W. Bush
… he didn’t cut benefits for the soldiers he sent overseas to be shot at and bombed, just like George W. Bush
… he didn’t try to argue that global warming is a hoax, ignoring the clear research findings on the subject just like George W. Bush
If John Shadegg hadn’t worked so hard with George W. Bush to send this country barreling in the wrong direction, I wouldn’t really mind how he pronounced the word “nuclear.” Heck, if he had paid enough attention to science, the budget, our veterans, and the actual available intelligence on international affairs, he could add entirely new vowels to our language and I wouldn’t bat an eyelash.
John Shadegg’s pronunciation is forgivable. His policies are a disaster.
Posted by Congressional Aid on September 11, 2008 at 12:25 pm · Filed under House campaigns, campaign gear
Rahm Emanuel, the current occupant of the Illinois 5th District congressional seat, has spent his time in Congress looking out for the interests of corporations and undercutting the constitutional freedoms of citizens. Alan Augustson, mounting a challenge through the Green Party, offers a people-first, pro-freedom, anti-torture platform that a progressive can support with confidence.
If you live in the 5th District of Illinois, show your support for the Augustson campaign with a Free Augustson for Congress Yard Sign.
Rhode Island Anti-Bush Bumper Sticker
Posted by Congressional Aid on August 14, 2008 at 11:11 am · Filed under House campaigns, Personalities
Arizona Republican congressman John Shadegg recently declared that “Congress can be so boring.” Before that, he had a hard time deciding whether he actually wanted to run for re-election to the U.S. Congress.
Well, now he’s having a hard time deciding whether he wants to even talk about the issues before his district. Democrat Bob Lord challenged John Shadegg to a series of substantive debates more than two weeks ago. A campaign insider tells me today that John Shadegg hasn’t bothered to respond. Is John Shadegg having a hard time deciding whether he wants to debate the issues, or is just he having a hard time deciding whether to write his response in the present, past or future tense? Write a letter to John Shadegg at P.O. Box 45444, Phoenix, AZ 85064, and ask him whether he intends to debate his opponent. Be ready to wait a long time for a response.
Posted by Congressional Aid on August 5, 2008 at 2:24 pm · Filed under All Articles
Poor, poor John Shadegg.
 The Arizona Republican admits that to him the Congress is “so boring,” even as he runs for yet another term of office. It’s a little sad watching him, like the little kid in fuzzy jammies who has stayed up a little too long at mom and dad’s party and is starting to get a little cranky. Help wee John before he falls into a tantrum. Send a nice, soft blankie to P.O. Box 45444, Phoenix, AZ 85064.
Posted by Congressional Aid on July 29, 2008 at 9:20 pm · Filed under Personalities, Power Plays
Apparently, pharmacists dominated personal contributions to Arkansas Representative Marion Berry’s campaign with simultaneous bundling associated with at least one PAC. These contributions came while Marion Berry was shepherding legislation through Congress of financial benefit to pharmacists.
Democratic Radio Address by Rep. Marion Berry, March 2006:
Today’s seniors helped this country through the Depression, fought two wars, and turned America into the greatest nation in the world. They do not deserve to be treated like second-tier citizens by their own government, and be made victims of backroom deals by pharmaceutical and insurance lobbyists.
Every American deserves the best health care we can provide. We do not have to accept a failed benefit and we do not have to tolerate a culture of corruption or leaders who are afraid to admit their mistakes.
Tom Allen for Senate Campaign Pin
Posted by Congressional Aid on July 26, 2008 at 2:22 pm · Filed under House campaigns
When I read that Vermont Congressman Peter Welch would be facing a general election challenge from Thomas Hermann because of Welch’s failure as a progressive in Congress, I have to admit I blanched. It had been my impression that Peter Welch was a progressive. Had I misjudged Peter Welch?
A consultation of Welch’s Congressional record shows a commitment to progressive legislative action that, while not perfect, seems pretty darned good. Welch voted against the Protect America Act, against the FISA Amendments Act, against the insertion of religious instruction into Head Start programs, and for an increase in the minimum wage. Welch voted against cockfighting, for the opening of presidential records, for shareholder oversight of fatcat CEO “golden parachute” deals, and for the restriction of emissions from oily ocean barges. Welch has cosponsored legislation to cast light on the Bush administration’s shadowy wartime contracting, repeal multiple aspects of the draconian Military Commissions Act, and reaffirm the right of women to control their own bodies.
But Thomas Hermann is running with the Vermont Progressive Party for Congress because in his view Peter Welch could have done better. According to Hermann and his supporters, Welch hasn’t supported impeachment of George W. Bush and has not provided enough leadership in opposition to the war in Iraq.
There’s no Republican challenger against Peter Welch for Vermont’s congressional seat this year. This means that in the Vermont congressional campaign, the most active discussions will be on the left side of the spectrum. It’s a different conversation than you can expect elsewhere in the country this year. It may be a refreshing conversation.
Posted by Congressional Aid on July 24, 2008 at 1:05 pm · Filed under House campaigns, House legislation, Power Plays
My, my. What a coincidence.
On June 9, 2008, Florida Congressman Tim Mahoney received a campaign contribution from AT&T’s federal political action committee.
On June 20, 2008, Tim Mahoney voted for the FISA Amendments Act, a bill that gives AT&T retroactive immunity for breaking the law by violating its customers’ privacy.
On June 27, 2008, Tim Mahoney received another two campaign contributions from AT&T’s federal political action committee.
Just a coincidence, I’m sure.
Posted by Congressional Aid on June 24, 2008 at 4:44 pm · Filed under House campaigns, House legislation
In Illinois’ 5th Congressional District, Rahm Emanuel is running for re-election as a member of the Democratic Party. But Rep. Emanuel has a problem — a constitution problem. You see, on June 20 2008, Emanuel violated his Oath of Office in he solemnly swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America and protect it from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Rep. Emanuel violated that oath when he voted for H.R. 6304, a bill that shreds the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. H.R. 6304 gives the stamp of law to warrantless wiretapping, electronic surveillance and even physical searching of foreigners and American citizens alike. Sure, a judge can object under the provisions of H.R. 6304. But the president’s Attorney General can determine that for the public safety the information gathered unconstitutionally by the president can be used anyway — and only the Attorney General can determine whether the Attorney General has been right to do so. What a kangaroo process! What a derangement of the power of American government. What an endangerment of American civil liberty.
Rahm Emanuel supported all this when he voted YES to H.R. 6304. So why should you support Rahm Emanuel?
You don’t have to — Alan Augustson is running as a Green Party candidate for Congress, and he opposes legislation like the FISA Amendments Act. To turn this country back in the right direction, consider giving Alan Augustson your time, energy, and your vote in November of 2008.
Dave Obey for Congress Bumper Sticker
Posted by Congressional Aid on June 23, 2008 at 10:18 am · Filed under House legislation, Power Plays
The Congress is supposed to be a deliberative body, but deliberation was nowhere in sight on Friday, June 20. On that day, only 15 minutes were given to members of the House of Representatives to identify problems with H.R. 6304, the bill that unconstitutionally nullifies core provisions of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. Considering that the bill had been introduced to the House only 24 hours before, there was hardly enough time for members of the House to read the bill, making matters bad enough. But over and over, those who voiced dissent against H.R. 6304 were interrupted before they could finish their very brief remarks.
Consider the remarks of Representative Rush Holt of New Jersey, or at least as much of his remarks as he was able to spurt out before being shoved aside:
Unfortunately, the negotiators who brought this to the floor bought into the flawed assumptions of the Bush administration that because we live in a dangerous world, we must now redefine the Fourth Amendment and thus the fundamental relationship between the government and its people.
If this bill becomes law it will perhaps be the only lasting legacy of the Bush-Cheney administration’s overhaul of national security policy: a congressionally-blessed distortion of congressional checks and balances. It permits massive warrantless surveillance in the absence of any standard for defining how communications of innocent Americans will be protected — A fishing expedition approach to intelligence that we know will not make Americans more safe.
Its court review provisions are weak and narrowly defined. Now, I know some of those who negotiated this bill say some court review is better than no court review; that’s only true if the judge’s hands aren’t tied in the court review process. They are in this bill. There’s a fundamental American principle that those who search, seize, intercept and detain should not be the ones who decide who are the bad guys….
I imagine that Rep. Holt would have concluded by saying something like:
But this bill does just that. H.R. 6304 removes from the judiciary the ability to review the Attorney General’s determination of cause to search and seize the electronic communications and physical property of foreigners and citizens alike. If this bill passes, the Attorney General will determine whether the Attorney General’s determination is correct. It is Kafkaesque in its circular bureaucratic logic. It is a slap in the face to the principle of checks and balances. It is an invitation to the abuse of power. And that is why I intend to vote against this bill.
I imagine that, but in actuality I have no idea how Rep. Holt intended to finish, because Rep. Holt was not allowed to even complete his thought. Instead, he was interrupted by a supporter of H.R. 6304 who spoke:
Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California…
This was an instance of serious disrespect to Rush Holt, to the integrity of the Congress, and to the American concept of deliberative democracy. But more than that, it was an indication that those who shoved H.R. 6304 through the Congress were trying to keep something about the bill hidden and unspoken. Read the bill to find what a majority of Congress tried to hide.
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