Thursday, September 29, 2005
"In private meetings last week, GOP leaders sharply criticized rank-and-file Republicans for taking issue with the surge in spending...
"'This leadership group is so out of touch, it's unbelievable,' said one House lawmaker, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid inflaming leaders further."
- Jonathan Weisman, Washington Post
They dragged Congressman Mike Pence into a dark room. They closed the door and attacked him repeatedly without mercy...
And why did they see fit to strong-arm this conservative champion?
Because Congressman Pence had the gall to suggest that the federal government should control its spending and cut hundred of billions of dollars of "pork" from the federal budget.
And who are the "they" I refer to?
None other than our Republican leaders in Congress: Speaker Dennis Hastert, Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Ways & Means Chairman Bill Thomas and Transportation Chairman Don Young, among others.
Seriously, Congressman Pence's trip to the woodshed was so severe that columnist Robert Novak noted that when offered a seat at a subsequent meeting, Pence "explained that he would be more comfortable standing because House Speaker Dennis Hastert had just tanned his hide."
Feeling betrayed yet.
If you are a conservative, you voted for less government and better fiscal responsibility, and the Republican leaders promised you'd get it. But all they've given us is more out-of-control federal spending. And taxpayers like you and me and our children and our children's children are stuck footing the bill.
In some ways Congressman Pence, (may I note that the highway bills he and other congress critters were willing to forego were also unconstitutional) should be applauded, not taken to the woodshed for trying to keep the promise that the rest of the Republican leaders broke.
So what to do?
Well you can write your representative and tell them what you think; most of them know my mind already and consider me a nut case which is probably true. But I am a nut case with some power.
About a thousand a day read this site's news and comments. Not bad for a nut case.
So what for the rest of us to do you ask. Continue to write your Congress critter. Keep up with the bills that are on the State floors and the floors of Washington. Read the Constitution of the United States.... several times.... Read your state Constitution... at least once. Then Read the Federalist Papers... a difficult read.... but worth it.
When something comes up that you think is wrong, discuss it with close friends. Stand your ground and write your critter again. But remember to write your critter when they do something right too. It's good to let them know what you think.