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Subscribe to RSSA hearing on drilling in the Alaskan wildlife refuge went haywire when Alaska Rep. Don Young traded insults with Rice University historian Douglas Brinkley. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
From NBC News and msnbc.com:
Heated discussions are commonplace on Capitol Hill, but it's rare form for a witness and a legislator to have at it.
But it happened on Friday when Alaska Republican Rep. Don Young sparred (intensely) with historian Douglas Brinkley at a hearing of the House Natural Resources Committee.
Brinkley recently authored "The Quiet World: Saving Alaska's Wilderness Kingdom," and was offering his opinions on the effects of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
But Young called the hearing an "an exercise in futility," and likened the testimony to "garbage." Then, he called Brinkley "Dr. Rice," confusing him with the university where he teaches.
And that's when the fireworks began (note the expression on the face of the aide sitting behind Young).
"Rice is a university ... I know you went to Yuba College and you couldn't graduate," snapped Brinkley.
Young retorted, “I'll call you anything I want to call you when you sit in that chair. You just be quiet.”
"You don't own me! I pay your salary," Brinkley replied. "I work for the private sector, you work for the taxpayers."
Later in hearing, Young took the opportunity to zing back at Brinkley, saying, "We’ve heard from environmentalists, and I understand their beliefs, but they don’t know what they’re talking about."
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Watch the clip with the sound off. The blonde kid going bug-eyed over her gasbag boss being slapped down is priceless.
more congressional witness need to speak up to these arrogant asses
The government is out of control. The government serves the people. The people don't serve the government.
Don Young....yet another typical arrogant GOP denier of scientific fact. If anyone is a "gasbag" in this story it is Young.
The Emperor has no clothes.
Note: I do not support either corrupt political party. Vote out the incumbents, for true term limits.
No
Honestly, I thank you for giving me credit for: vote out the incumbents, but it's not mine alone. Also, as much as I would like to have the voice of change at my command, I'm just a flea biting ankles. As are most Americans.
Note: I do not support either corrupt political party. Vote out the incumbents, for true term limits.
master link ---- what do you do when you have an incumbent that's good for your district? vote them out and put in a disaster?
Hmm... congressional approval at 9%
Let me know when you find one
Note: I do not support either corrupt political party. Vote out the incumbents, for true term limits.
This just proved at least one environmentalist is WAY smarter than a congressman.
These politicians are already unpopular. When they become insulting (Chris Christie - it's none of your business, Newt Gingrich - take a bath and get a job) they aren't doing themselves any favors.
The 9% approval rate is for the accomplishments of this congress. When a small number of ideologues can stop anything from happening by just standing in the way it is the responsibility of those who put them there to remove them. Vote out the obstructionists.
A jury of their peers will neverfind any of them guilty, a jury of citizens might have a chance.
That "vote out the incumbents" thinking brought in a slew of absolutely useless Teabag Republicans in 2010 and a whole bunch of buyer's remorse on the part of voters. Be careful what you ask for - you just might get it.
Masterlink: "We tried voting out incumbents and putting in unqualified idiots" yeah, like the one in the White House.
As far as Congress' approval rate...it was only at 13% when Pelosi ("must pass the bill in order to see what's in the bill") was in charge.
You libs keep complaining about a "do nothing" Congress...let's see, the House has passed over 20 different job creation/economic stimulus bills while the Senate, led by the Dumocrat Harry Reid, has passed something like 2! Obama needs to whine about his own party...and lastly, the Repub-controlled House in the only body to pass a frickin' federal budget in over 2 yrs. Obama couldn't even get one passed when he had control of both the House and the Senate.
You guys need to stop listening to Ed Schultz and Rachel Maddow...it's burning out your brain!!!
Master Link - while I certainly agree that both parties shoulder equal blame and share your frustration abouyt our corrupt politicians I believe voting incumbents out and term limits is fixing the symptom and not the problem.
The problem is simply us, we are dysfunctional. If we voted a whole new crew into Congress it will be a matter of a few days and they would look like the old crew. Think about it, the liberals vote in who they want, the independents vote who they want and the conservatives do the same, the respective representatives will represent their constituents and not the country. So since we are so divided as a people so will our representatives.
Fix us and you will by default fix our government.
We'll stop listening to Maddow and Shultz when you guys stop listening to Limbaugh and O'Reilly.
This exchange immediately brought to mind the genuinely mean-spirited, condescending authoritarians in the Catholic school system who thought they were above treating people decently. That's what happens when you give an a**hole a little authority.
I find many of the personal attack comments small minded. Both parties are worng for maintaining their un-moving stance to everything. In my view, debt is bad period, taxes are to allow the government to operate only what the government is created to do...infrastructure, military, etc. Our country is becoming far to socialistic and this is not sustainable. I suspect that many in this trail of comments would prefer that we return to the tax rates of the past where the highest was 90%...wouldn't that encourage people to start businesses??? Let the Bush era, Obama renewed, tax cust expire (it is a tax increase but...) and then reduce by the same amount our spending as a start. We have serious issues in this country, but no one is willing to do the really hard work. In fact American's who are currently out of work will not perform the labor of what the migrant workers are performing and are far too lazy to actually work. There are jobs to be done but we are not willing to exert the effort...we will follow this issue down the rabbit hole and it is the fault of the parties and the citizens for not having high expectations of ourselves, each other, and our government to do rather than to expect handouts.
We've become a sad, weak lot and we are reaping our "efforts".
Brinkley, Bring fruit or tomatoes next time! Eggs work well too! Then, I want to see the aide's face!
Young is a prime example of how arrogant these self-righteous blow-hards that are elected to serve the public have become. They think they are our rulers and that the voter is to kowtow to them like servants. Young should be thrown out of office on his a**. Because that is exactly how he acted, like an a**hole.
Actually they are illegally in the positions they are currently occupying because they did not keep the required Oath until they left office. Plus:
I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because the Congress created that problem. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party. What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. The Speaker of the House is the leader of the majority party. The Speaker and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted - by present facts - of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.
If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ, it’s because they want them in IRAQ
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish;
To lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject;
To regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.
Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power.
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.
Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees...
We should remove all of them out of office and clean up their mess!
Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.
Give it a rest: The "GOVERNMENT" isn't out of control, but some of its employees certainly are. There are many fine employees of us (and we are the government, after all), but there are the arrogant a**holes like Congressman Young who seem to forget that. Thank god, he's old enough, he can't be with us much longer. Or perhaps Alaskans will get some sense and retire this old j**ka**.
And he's so damn ugly, to boot.
@Knine: It boils down to "What do I need to do to keep my job, and if means screwing the rest of the population, including my constituents, so be it."
Master Link: Voting out all incumbents is akin to throwing out all babies with the bathwater. Knowing our representatives, their positions, their votes, and their contributors is OUR jobs as voters, not simply kneejerk voting out of all incumbents without bothering to find out if we are also throwing out the good ones. If we constantly elect new ones, throwing out old ones whether they've done a good job or not, then we get stuck with a bunch of newbies who haven't learned their way to the restrooms yet.
C'mon ... THINK.
Wake up Now ... go to school, take a course in U.S. Government and U.S. History, then you can spew around all the bombast you want.
Treason? What treason are you talking about?
Well I'm amazed at the reaction to vote out the incumbents has had. There have been alot of thoughtful posts. I wonder how many of us would still have a job if we had even a 70% approval rating? The other part of my statement is I do not support either corrupt political party. Some have circled around that issue, but the idea our government is corrupt is so ingrained in our view of our leaders, we don't even react anymore.
I honestly don't believe that I can start a movement by posting here, if vote out the incumbent becomes a nationwide movement, I will probably have a heart attack! I've been using that statement with my posts just as a way of protest, and never expected anyone to even pay attention. Respectfully, Thank you very much.
Seriously now, are there enough people reading my posts to start a National movement to Vote Out the Incumbent? I will keep using this statement with my posts, and I will keep on voting out the incumbent, as the pitiful form of protest it is.
If vote out the incumbent has any real effect, and voters actually start to reset our government, my best hope would be as Thomas Jefferson said;
I thought maybe today I'll start a New movement read on:
Note: I do not support either corrupt political party. Enact tax-payer funded political campaigns.
Master Link is right. They aren't doing the job we pay them to do. So we should do what any good employer would do. Fire the current batch and hire new ones.
Right On! Doc, you are my hero.
MR. Young.....stick your head in the tundra, after the Caribou pass through.
You, Congressman, are part of the main problem we have in our Nation's Capital......elected "elite" representatives who could care less about the people they represent and only care about "POWER" as was evidenced by Mr. Arrogant telling Mr. Brinkley to "SHUT UP".
Arrogant to say the least.
If I were the Chairperson of this committee, Mr. Arrogant and his "staff" would immediately be shown the EXIT door.
As I've posted so many times in the past 15 months, join the Popular Amendment Movement and help promote the petitions for the Election/Campaign Finance Reform constitutional amendment and the Term Limits constitutional amendment. These two petitions make use of the OTHER option the constitution offers for getting amendments passed......constitutional conventions. If we can get at least 3/4 of the states to call for such conventions and pass these two amendments, they will become part of the US Constitution. Go to www.faircampaignreform.us to get involved. That is the movement you should have joined before you started to post your Note:, Master Link.
JDW??? Please for the sake of argument provide any "job creating bill" the house has passed?????? The only thing I have seen passed were of the cultural type.. like abortion, gay marriage, etc... last I checked... stopping abortion doesn't create jobs....
Well shoot, and just when my New movement was starting to take off. That's just my luck a day late and 3.7 trillion short (the estimated 2012 budget).
Well introducing my New, New movement,
Note: I do not support either corrupt political party. Free the press from corrupt corporate control.
I am glad this happened and I applaud the audacity of the witness. I also don't see it as a republican or democrat issue, since BOTH democrats and republicans share the arrogance mantle equally in these sorts of things. Remember when Barbara Boxer (I believe) teed off on the general when he respectfully called her "maam" during a hearing, insisting that he call her "senator". The same arrogance, just different party. These lawmakers desperately need to realize that they are employees of the taxpayers. They love to use the term, "public servant" but in reality they see it quite the other way around. THe public exists to serve them!
I am sorry but while one cannot completely disagree that both Parties have their foibles, to compare the arrogant IGNORANCE of GOP Politicians in cases like this to like this Babara Boxer wanting to be addressed in a respectful way by anther Government employee is ridiculous.
Doug Brinkley is one of the most respected voices in Environmental History and this flat earther moron is taking shots at him what a scumbag.
I agree with Mr. Brinkley. It's time our "Representatives" start acting as such. Mr. Young's attitude is reprehensible. Members of Congress take note...this is why America's disapproval of All of you is at an all time high.
Bruce your conclusion is RIGHT ON TARGET. Public servants my A**
When a general (or most men) call a woman maam, it is a sign of deep respect. Her not overlooking that was simply an attempt on her part to make him look small and to grandstand her importance. Sorry, but Barbara was as wrong as the republican lawmaker in this story. She should have had more respect for the military than she showed. She was flat out wrong.
Thank God that there are still people who are trying to save our planet.
Those that do not care about plundering our earth for profit are not thinking about the fact that Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Pluto and Neptune cannot sustain Human Life. Yet, they do not care and they do not want to hear about this fact.
I am not sure why Senator Young's female aide seemed so shocked to hear Mr. Brinkley tell the truth.
@ those of you who condemn Don Young as an arrogant Circle A:
Yes, he is.
Meanwhile, spare a thought to recall his election in 1973, chiefly by Republicans, with considerable support from voters who wanted him to bring home the political bacon for Alaska. Since then, he has made a living doing that. Don's aim has been to squeeze Uncle Sam in Congress and spread your tax dollars to his friends and supporters in Alaska. He has done that, and he has been rewarded in each election cycle by Alaskan voters who are happy to soak up his Federal money. FWIW, I am an Alaska voter, and I loathe Don Young and the elephant he rode in on, so to speak.
Anyway, as some of you contemplate the fact that Congress currently has an approval rating of 9%, spare a thought for the fact that many incumbents stay in Washington by carving up Federal tax revenues and sending them home. Thus, some of your contempt for Congress should be self-inflicted. No wonder the Don Youngs of the world act like arrogant a$$holes; they know their constituents will keep them in power no matter what they do or say.
American democracy in the 21st century. What a shame.
Just to sidestep the usual partisan bickering that is above this post, does anyone notice that this incident happened early in the week and MSNBC is trying to throw this story away with the "Friday Trash?"
I wonder why? GE have interests in ANWR? Hmmm.
As for Young, he is, and has been, and embarrassment to his state for many years. Maybe Alaska should consider a recall. He has a reputation that precedes him into this incident. I don't really care which party a bad politician is in: he should be removed. Chris Dodd is a fine example. He, along with people from both sides of the aisle, are the reason our gas is so expensive, and it started back in the '90s. Lieberman is another that should be kicked right out. I can't help it that the worst congresspeople seem to be conservatives, but I let their behavior speak for itself.
Dr. Brinkley is a renowned historian and environmentalist at Rice University, one of the most renowned institutions of higher learning in the world. Congressman young has been a congressman in Washington since 1973. He is on video claiming that the British Petroleum spill in the gulf of Mexico was NOT an environmental disaster, among other assanine statements on the record. Take a look at the below and you be the judge as to who you would want as your father, brother, husband, friend, or colleague!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Brinkley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Young
Sadly, for some the choice will be diffficult!
I don't think that was the case. I think she had seldom, if ever, been witness to an abusive encounter such as this, and it was new for her. She may have been thinking she was going to witness a fistfight, and wanted to be sure where the nearest exit was.
Try that on the cop next time you get pulled over.
Bruce,
I simply disagree.
First we have no background as to the relationship the General and the Senator had in the past. It would not be surprising to most of us the a General had shown disrespect to the Senator in the past. As many Generals are simply Politicians in uniform and many tend to run on the obnoxious side in private!
Second this GOP idiot was more than attacking the Professor he was attacking his scientific data and conclusions. These right wing anti-science nut-jobs use their political positions to stifle debate and that is a whole other level of wrong in my book!
Even the NBC reporter had to admit that its pretty rare to see someone talk that way to a member of Congress. I guess it can only be someone from the self righteous educational establishment who would be that disrespectful.
Mr Brinkley should save it for those impressionable minds he routinely corrupts with his personal ideology.
Leave it to Bruce to defend his ilk!!!
Vic,
So Congressman should be able to belittle speakers with no chance of someone returning fire. Please the GOP wind bag had it coming!
Further Dr. Brinkley's "Personal Ideology" is backed by years of RESEARCH and STUDY! I know the right in this country really hate the educated but with out us we would be nothing more than the Banana Republic they seem to want to turn the USA into!
Bravo! Douglas Brinkley, your my hero. We need more people to realize that those clowns on Capital Hill are supposed to work for us. They deserve the contempt the American people hold them in.
Congress has forgotten that they are employees. It's time to impose term limits on any POS that has been in Congress 10+ years. This will eliminate the leadership, Boehner, Pelosi, Reid and McConnell, along with Cantor and Hoyer.
Our Congressman has been lying and stealing for 10 years, time to hit the trail cow pattie.
I think Mr. Brinkley is absolutely correct, I would love to know where to send him a thank you.
Sorry Jake, term limits will do squat, see my post above. Power corrupts and it only takes a few days for the new folks in congress to figure out where the real money comes form. Fix us and Congress will be fixed by default ... a dysfunctional government for a dysfunctional people.
"Power corrupts and it only takes a few days for the new folks in congress to figure out where the real money comes form."
But by removing them because they are no longer legally in the position they currently occupy because they did NOT keep the required oath until they leave that position would make a huge difference to their replacements.
Especially if we have them arrested, held, then prosecuted (after we replace the judicial branch). I truly believe that we would see a change fro awhile until they started to feel safe at working against our Country, Our Constitution, and the American people again. But I think we could change many things within OUR government before that happens.
Hang the 545 from lamp posts and replace them. Repeat as necessary until we get a group that will quit spending more than we have. Do the same with the bureaucrats who rule by regulation, until the shackles of overbearing government are lifted from our necks. Jefferson said we are best governed when we are least governed. That should be tattooed on the foreheads of everyone who wishes to work in government.
Thank you, Douglas Brinkley, for putting this real turkey in his place. Next I expect to see "Occupy our TeaParty Congress" to bring a solid focus on the real turkeys in our GOP run legislature.
God bless Douglas Brinkley! He's right, he pays Don Young's salary, not the other way around. If Young is smart, which he doesn't appear to be, he'd listen to what Brinkley has to say. Afterall, he is an historian.
Curious to know if MSNBC would have reported this exchange if a Tea Partier would have told Charlie Rangel the same thing.
I agree with the sentiment 100%. We pay elected officials salaries and benefits . We pay the salaries and benefits of their staff ( which far exceed those of the private sector). We pay the salaries and benefits of the millions of government employees at all levels(municipal, county, state, federal). Many of these employees are benefits of patronage, nepotism, having the right connections, and being a dues paying member of a favored labor union.
Democrats and Republicans, Conservatives and Liberals unite. We all need to demand accountability, competency, and payment of market based wages and benefits to our elected officials, staff, and all government workers. This change alone could do wonders for the deficit.
I have said for years that if 8 years are sufficient for the President of the United States it ought to be enough for every other elected federal official. I don't think the Founding Fathers ever foresaw its Congressional members having a virtual lifetime sinecure. Eight and out - and federal election funding only, no personal, family, corporate, PAC or superPAC money allowed.
So instead of listening to someone who studies the environment for a living, you turn to oil executives for the 'real effect' on the environment. Seriously, who the hell will admit to voting this type of loon into office?
Gary420, Did this incident make Fox News? Or Rush Limbaugh's radio program? Or Glen Beck TV show or radio program?
Harris is a moron. A Nazi moron. Listen to me Harris, you worthless pice of garbage: I demand you step down. You are nothing but an ignorant piece of excrement, a debt to society.
What do you have to do in order to wash out of Yuba College, anyways??
Hate to break your bubbles you all! But I have some very disappointing news.
MSNBC news cut off the rest of the exchange. Why? Because Rep. Young SERIOUSLY HUMILIATES your hero Brinkley in a very most embarrassing way. Everything from displaying Mr. Brinkley's never visiting and testing the sites in Alaska himself to displaying Mr. Brinkley's total credentials (which were shown to be very inadequate). Lets just say your hero isn't a hero at all..
You can see the total exchange that MSNBC purposely cut off here. PLEASE WATCH!!!! YOUR HERO WAS SHAMED!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTUH_zYsu1o
But please by all means, please send cards to Mr Brinkley. I'm sure after he cried on the plane on the way back to Rice he would need some self esteem raised somehow....
THE GYPSY STRIKES AGAIN!!
gypsy moron: You don't get the message, don't you? The message is not whether Harris was a patronizing SOB (Which he is BTW). The message is that we will not sit down and let those clowns in congress bribed by the corporations to patronize the US taxpayer. If you're a condescending arse kisser it's up to you...
term limits is not the solution by itself, but it is part, we need to overcome the laws the two farcical parties have enacted to maintain their stranglehold on power or we will get nowhere because they are neither one about elevating the standard of living of average americans
Yea Right,
Per your request in post #2.2, Dr. Brinkley's mailing address is:
Rice University, History Dept., P.O. Box 1892, Houston, TX. 77251-1892
Good Luck!
You people are all a bunch of dreamers. The whole rotten mess in DC is so deeply entrenched that there's really only one way you're going to get change, and that is by the barrel of a gun. And since the government controls the military and the security apparatus, that ain't gonna happen any time soon.
America, you made this mess, good luck getting out of it.
Hey, GYPSY: Have you seen the whole video? Have you seen the part where Brinkley says that there are those who love their communities and those who care about the money and then your beloved representative walked out of the room??? GO figure...
JUSTICE FOR ALL 2038290 STRIKES AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Olberman showed the part of the video where Young ran away.
"The Gypsy makes a fool of himself again!"
Let's face it the salary of Alaskan Republican Rep. Don Young is but a drop in the barrel to how much he will make from the oil corporations who will reward his treachery handsomely. Rep. Don Young is not really as much of a public servant as a corporate puppet who is fulfilling his most important ideology; what's in it for me.
This idiot is an embarrassment to anyone who went to Yuba.
Even though I probably disagree with the environmentalist on some of the things he probably believes in, I am on his side in this situation. These congressmen need to be cut down a few levels and understand just who the bosses really are (the taxpayers). I think they seem to lose sight of that fact.
It is rare for me to agree with MSNBC posters or environmentalists. How ever in this case, 100% agree with the statement, " I pay your salary".
This Congressman doesn't deserve to be in the US Congress. His discourtesy and disrespect is inexcusable.
Vote out all encumbents. Congress has become an entitlement program we can no longer afford.
Thank you, yes I pay your salary so do your job or you will be fired. We can find honest hardworking Americans who would love your position and work hard to keep it and America running in the Black not the red.
Wake Up - and replace it with what? .... a new crew consisting of liberal, independent, conservative and TP representatives? Just what do you think that new crew will do representing the intrest of their constitutients? .... answer same ole same ole. The problem is us.
"Wake Up - and replace it with what? .... a new crew consisting of liberal, independent, conservative and TP representatives? Just what do you think that new crew will do representing the intrest of their constitutients? .... answer same ole same ole. The problem is us."
If we fire them, prosecute them the problem is NO longer us. We will have stood up and stopped allowing corruption and started working against it, even prosecuting those involved, those who in the past were also involved in this destruction of our country, Constitution, our way of life by domestic enemies.
That will make a big difference because the replacements realize WE WILL HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
Don't you agree that is a big difference? That is a huge change in us; and a huge change in what we allow to happen to us, to our country, to our Constitution, to our freedoms.
I don't truly believe it is politicians that are the problem, it is POLITICAL PARTIES. Often times when voters go to the polls, they don't look at WHO the candidate is, they just vote Democrap or Repukeakin. A wise man once said "political conglomerates (parties) serve only to divide, what we have fought and bled for to unite. The government of the people is not the political interests of a few, but the many who aspire to be great."
Pretty wise words from our Country's Founder. I think if you do away with political parties, it will somewhat force people into looking at the motivations, the integrity, and the agenda of who they vote for. When a business HIRES an employee, the employer doesn't ask "Political Party?" They interview, they get to know something about that prospective employee. WE FAIL as a country because we are TOO LAZY to bother to get to know what moron we are hiring to run our business.
I am a registered Republican, and I can tell you, this Congressman sickens me, as do MOST OF EM. I don't vote party, I vote based on who I think can do a good job. Unfortunately, there aren't any names on the ballots these days that are worth the paper that ballot is printed on. Greed is what runs the country today, and these legislators will not legislate against themselves. I am far from a tea bagger endorser, as I believe they have their heads up their rectums just as much as the politicians. Power corrupts, it's true, but that corruption would be a little less prevailant if there was no such thing as campaign financing, and people got to know who they are voting for.
Will, that is why I like Nevada's NONE OF THE ABOVE and the USVI's NO VOTE options on their ballots. Tell all of these greedy politicians they don't deserve your vote, but at least exercise your right to do so. If your state doesn't include either of those options write it in. Better yet, see my post above and join the Popular Amendment Movement. Here is the text of the Election/Campaign Finance Reform amendment and the Term Limit amendment for those too lazy to download them from the link:
Petition for US Constitutional Amendment For Election Reform
We, the undersigned US citizens, duly registered voters in our respective states/territories, do hereby petition for our state to approve the following amendment to the United States Constitution by the method noted below.
Election Reform:
1. Abolish the Electoral College (Repeal Amendment 12)
2. ONE NATIONAL primary date to be held on the Tuesday eight (8) weeks prior to the General Election day for Congressional offices and for the President. Candidate petitions must be filed with the local/state elections boards 60 days prior to the Primary Election date. Federal election petitions shall be uniform in every state and shall include a “contract with the voters” that spells out clearly what that candidate stands for on all issues that they may have to address in elected office. They shall be held accountable in court for breach of that contract if elected and any/all terms are not met.
3. NO campaigning allowed for any elective federal office more than 60 days prior to the National Primary Date.
4. NO campaign contribution shall be donated to any candidate of more than $200 from an individual or $500 maximum from a family (spouses/children living in the same household.) No donations shall be made to a candidate more than sixty days prior to the primary date. No candidate shall contribute from their own funds more than 60% of the total donations from other private individuals.
5. NO campaign contribution from any PAC, corporation, union, non-profit organization, special interest group, etc. shall be allowed for any elected federal office.
6. NO third party campaigning (separate PAC ads, corporate ads, etc.) for/against any candidate shall be allowed at any time during or before the election season.
7. NO party conventions shall be held to select the presidential candidates. The selection must be done at the ballot box in the primary election.
8. The One Man/One Vote Supreme Court ruling shall be enforced by this Amendment, namely that NO federal candidate selection shall be by any means other than the ballot box on Primary/General Election Dates.
9. National Party Organizations shall NOT raise money for or donate to specific candidates of their party prior to the dates outlined above.
10. PAC’s shall NOT be granted tax-exempt status by the IRS, and any non-profit organization who uses their funding for political purposes shall lose their tax-exempt status.
11. All lobbyists shall be outlawed from influencing Congress at all times.
This amendment shall be approved ONLY by State Constitutional Conventions to be called within 90 days of this petition being submmitted to a state’s Secretary of State. A minimum of 25% of the registered voters in each state shall be required to further this petition to the respective Secretary of State.
Name Signature State Address
Note Article 2 and the conditions imposed on every candidate for any federal office. If every candidate had to file such a contract with the voters, it would help to educate the voting public on the candidates' positions, as well as hold those candidates to those positions. Of course, the main drawback to that contract is that it really limits the ability for compromise in either house of Congress or between branches of government. It would be interesting to see a candidate file a contract that states clearly that he/she will compromise on any issue that comes before them for the betterment of the entire citizenry of this country.
Petition for US Constitutional Amendment For Congressional Term Limits
We, the undersigned US citizens, duly registered voters in our respective states/territories, do hereby petition for our state to approve the following amendment to the United States Constitution by the method noted below.
Term Limits for Congress:
1. Representatives to Congress shall serve no more than two two-year terms in the House.
2. Senators shall be elected to no more than two six year terms in the Senate.
3. No elected official shall serve more than six terms in office in any combined elected offices (House/Senate/Presidency.)
This amendment shall be approved ONLY by State Constitutional Conventions to be called within 90 days of this petition being submmitted to a state’s Secretary of State. A minimum of 25% of the registered voters in each state shall be required to further this petition to the respective Secretary of State.
Name Signature State Address
When I helped to draft this amendment, we were trying to determine a way to make that six term limit include any elected office, but we couldn't figure a way to do that. What we would need is for each state to also pass a state constitutional amendment that would limit state elected terms to six terms total for any state/county/local combination, then add that to the federal limit. That would help to reduce to some extent these career politicians, but not enough.
@anti trust proponent,
while some of your ideas are interesting and have merit IMO, your candidate's contract would lead to the same thing that exists now: elected officials who think they have a contract with or a mandate from their electorate and refuse to compromise, and wind up getting nothing done. And a contract that says he/she will compromise for the betterment of the entire citizenry of this country has a drawback because the "entire citizenry" is never going to agree on what is for their betterment.
What your "amendment" doesn't address is that the problems lie not only with elected officials but also with us. The electorate nowadays seems to want every single issue resolved their own way. You only have to look at these boards to see that people seem unwilling to compromise on what they think is best. In addition, the majority of Americans don't vote so the majority lives with the decisions made by the minority.
IMO, we do have a system for term limits -- they're called elections. If an elected official's constituency are happy with that person's service, why should they be deprived of the right to re-elect that person however many times they choose? I don't want my choices taken away because others choose not to vote. So I'm offering some amendments to your amendment:
1. Voter registration and voting in all national elections is mandatory for all voting-eligible US citizens.
2. Every tax payer will contribute $5 annually via their tax returns to fund election campaigns. All viable candidates will be allotted their campaign funds from this pool. No other fund-raising, from public, private, PAC, corporate, national or local political committee, or other source is permitted in order to give all candidates an equal opportunity to reach their electorate. Candidates are termed viable if they submit certified petitions signed by at least 30% of their electorate.
4. Elected officials can be recalled for non-satisfactory performance. A recall vote is not necessary; recalls can be triggered by a petition signed by 66% of the eligible voters. All petition signatures must be certified.
5. Redistricting will be done on the current schedule but will be the responsibility of a committee of statisticians and cartographers from both the academic and private sectors to ensure that no political party is allowed to gerrymander new districts.
I'm sick of how arrogant "public" officials have become (and I'm using public in quotes since it seems they've lost all touch with their public) -- Mr. Young is a prime example. But I'm also sick of the rest of us complaining without taking our share of the blame. Publicly-funded elections and mandatory voting make us put our money and our votes where our mouths are.
I agree a Constitutional amendment is necessary, but I think that list is too long and too detailed, which makes it unfit for the Constitution itself, which is broad in its scope and language and subject matter.
How about one simple one: We affirm that the Constitutional rights of this document and law are naturally and exclusively meant for human persons. We explicitly state that "we the people" refers to human people as individual single persons and explicitly exclude from person-hood any entity which is not a single human being.
This would clear the road for campaign finance reform and end the outright buying of our government by corporations and lobbyists. McCain-Feingold would have solved most of the current issues, but the US Supreme Court rendered a now infamous opinion that corporations are "people" and are entitled to free speech rights - hence they buy our legislature.
I have an idea to deal with every politician; NO PLEDGES PERIOD!!!!!! I mean, the Tea Party idiots signed the anti-tax pledge, what would have happened if the Democrats signed an anti-spending cut pledge? The supercommittee would have failed before it even began. I say anybody who signs an unethical pledge barring them from doing ANYTHING that will help this country, including COMPROMISE.
HEY CONGRESS, HAPPY THANKSGIVING. FOR MANY OF YOU, IT SHALL BE YOUR LAST!!!!!! :)
Obama Biden 2012 (optional)
America 2012 (mandatory)
vote out all democrats and republicans, put some real people in there and see what happens
...yeah that look... I remember it from last night... AWESOME!
This guy is my hero! Priceless!
My hero, too! ;)
Douglas Brinkley you're my hero! Who the hell does Don Young think he is? Vote him out.
Hate to break your bubbles you all! But I have some very disappointing news.
MSNBC news cut off the rest of the exchange. Why? Because Rep. Young SERIOUSLY HUMILIATES your hero Brinkley in a very most embarrassing way. Everything from displaying Mr. Brinkley's never visiting and testing the sites in Alaska himself to displaying Mr. Brinkley's total credentials (which were shown to be very inadequate). Lets just say your hero isn't a hero at all..
You can see the total exchange that MSNBC purposely cut off here. PLEASE WATCH!!!! YOUR HERO WAS SHAMED!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTUH_zYsu1o
But please by all means, please send cards to Mr Brinkley. I'm sure after he cried on the plane on the way back to Rice he would need some self esteem raised somehow....
THE GYPSY STRIKES AGAIN!!
I see. You mean once this dunce of a congressman enforced a gag order on a private citizen he launched into GOP generated hate campaign rhetoric? Reminds me of our Iowa embarassment Steve King.
Isn't 6.3 the EXACT same posting as 2.13, 11.1, and 24.1? I smell troll sweat, folks. Repetitious posting is a classic sign....
First of all he doesnt work for the private sector ....if rice gets any money from the goverment even 1 cent he doesnt work in the private sector. Hes just another lib with his green agenda wich is killing the economy and have you libs ever seen Anwar Alaske its a desert nothing out there but little rocks as far as the eye can see. Also senater Young should have held him contempt and fined or jailed him.
Kevin, the U.S. Congressman is not a senator. There are two branches of the legislature, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the U.S. Senate. Congressman Young is in the House of Representatives. There, you're no longer ignorant. Now, on to the subject at hand, Congressman Young did not apologize for calling Douglas Brinkley by the wrong name. Instead, Young displayed a his arrogant oaf nature by saying “I'll call you anything I want to call you when you sit in that chair. You just be quiet.” Mr. McNeil, would you like to be addressed like this by a man whose salary YOU are paying? Simple Yes or No, Mr. McNeil. Or should I call you Sally?
@Kevin mcneil - are you for real or what?? Learn how government works before firing up the flame thrower. Green economy killing the economy.....no, it's those of your ilk parroting the Limbaugh line that is ruining this economy and the country in the process.
Kevin, are you saying that you think the environment should be sacrificed for the sake of the economy? When the environment is so polluted that there is no clean water or even clean air; what then?
Kevin,
Testing testing...
Please name one way that the green movement is wrecking the economy...just one.
Word Salad
Yummy Yummy
Word Salad
Yummy Yummy
If anyone who gets a cent from the government is not the private sector, then nobody is in the private sector. Did you pay the r and d the government did on internet infrastructure before you posted? Did you pay for the entire cost of your education? Did you claim 0 tax deductions this year? Did you stop at a red light today, or get your mail?
kevin Mcneil and you are just a tea party clown who knee jerk supports extremest
you should use you name to wimp.
Kevin, people like to rant when they don't take ownership of their comments, making them irrelevant.
For those of you that want to be relevant, go to and change your name.
http://www.newsvine.com/_nv/cms/info/contact
From what I can see, Kevin's first language must not be English.
Extremest ....lol...... you LIB clowns elected one and didnt even know it .....lol
If Obama was any more "extremist," he'd be Chairman of the RNC.
You're so smart. JK
@kevin: Sorry to burst your bubble kid (ok, I'm not really), but I'm a conservative Republican and you need to do some serious self education about government, taxes, the private sector and conservatism in general. Also, when you are beat in a fight, the gentlemanly thing to do is either acknowledge you are wrong or simply be quiet. Pick one, cause son, you are wrong.
It's true. Young eats at the public trough. Who the heck does he think he is to tell a witness to sit and be quiet? What a creep. We also pay for his health insurance and his pension. I hope he doesn't last long.
Another righty that flunked out of the same school as the senator it would appear. Kudos to Mr Brinkley from Rice.
Hate to break your bubbles you all! But I have some very disappointing news.
MSNBC news cut off the rest of the exchange. Why? Because Rep. Young SERIOUSLY HUMILIATES your hero Brinkley in a very most embarrassing way. Everything from displaying Mr. Brinkley's never visiting and testing the sites in Alaska himself to displaying Mr. Brinkley's total credentials (which were shown to be very inadequate). Lets just say your hero isn't a hero at all..
You can see the total exchange that MSNBC purposely cut off here. PLEASE WATCH!!!! YOUR HERO WAS SHAMED!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTUH_zYsu1o
But please by all means, please send cards to Mr Brinkley. I'm sure after he cried on the plane on the way back to Rice he would need some self esteem raised somehow....
THE GYPSY STRIKES AGAIN!!
Gypsy... have you seen the whole video??? THE GYPSY GOT IT WRONG... AGAIN!!!
the nerve of him to even question senator young. the nerve of him! not.
Congressman. read the story moron.
Mark-What would you expect from "mrpotatohead"?
wow...welcome to the WWF.
Brinkley is a sore loser. He longs for the day when he was 'prince Brinkley' and was a 'guest' on all of the liberal Sunday TV shows. He and that Goodman woman (she takes much of her writings from other authors without attribution) are trying to rewrite history and give it their political view which of course is cockeyed, fallacious and downright wrong.
But Doris (Goodman) and our good old "Dougie” believe they are among the anointed in the world and deserve to have their pabulum, their grist, their putrefaction accepted as if it were from 'on high'.
Go away Dougie and Doris go away, your ten minutes of fame are long used.
And what the hell is Dougie doing 'testifying' in a Congressional hearing anyway? He is a loser and possibly a prevaricator. But that is just one man's opinion, MINE.
Brinkley is not a sore loser. He was insulted by an unapologetic arrogant oaf of a Congressman who called him "Dr. Rice". Common decency, Josh, says that if you call someone John instead of Josh, you apologize for it. You do not respond by saying “I'll call you anything I want to call you when you sit in that chair. You just be quiet.” Congressman Young may be a Republican, but even moreso, he is an ass. Josh, if you wish to defend asses, stay on the trail of Congressman Young, because he appears to be the biggest ass on Capitol Hill. His arrogance is inexcusable.
Josh:
I think you are not seeing the forest for the trees...the subject matter is irrelevant. For any public servant to treat those that pay their salary with such indifference should be grounds for expulsion...immediate.
This makes me sick---who the f*ck do they think they are, Royalty? We got rid of that nonsense a long time ago, remember?
balertwine-atm ---- i don't think josh has a clue as to the significance of what happened. as to balertwine..... i've used up an awful lot of that.
Congrats, Mr. Potatohead! Few understand my name. Most think it's some sort of wine. Balert Wine. Ha!!!
Bailer twine? So what?
Obviously none of you 'critics' have read my remarks or even had someone read them to you. They have been about the useless Congress we are paying for today. For months I have advocated that WE THE PEOPLE throw these 535 plus jack assess out of their offices. Peacefully of course. Then put them in prison. Not jail... prison.
They have done nothing but erode the basic premise of our Nation. They have allowed the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and various Supreme Court decisions to be trampled on ignored and totally and have abandoned their sworn duties. That alone is enough to charge them with treason and subject to the punishments provided for by law about treasonous acts.
There is the Cry Baby Boehner, who is THIRD in line for the Presidency if anything should keep the President and Vice President from fulfilling their duties. He is not as bad as Pelosi would have been YET he is emotional.
I don't want emotion in the decisions necessary to operate this Nation. I do want passion yes. Not emotion.
So I have been proposing for months that WE THE PEOPLE throw these hangers on out and jail the criminals among them.
I have also provided a list of those who deserve, In my opinion, prison time.
Wake up people the world does not revolve around this blog. Wiser minds are at work on behalf of this Nation... time to join them.
And the cutesee binder/bailer twine crap is so flaming juvenile it is unbelievable that you clods even think it applies to this serious topic.!!!
So congressman Young thinks HE knows MORE about the environment then an Environmentalist? ? LMAO
Because HE -- Young -- is short-sighted, stupid, and an Ostrich with his head stuck in the sand as a deny-er And therefore refuses to believe anything anyone tells him and his ilk that they DONT WANT to hear?
INDIE actually even in your ignorant comment you demonstrate more knowledge than Brinkley.
Of course he is not really an environmentalist. He is a 'chameleon'... you know... one who changes his exterior skin to conceal who and what he is from others?
Well Brinkley is variously an 'environmentalist', a 'historian', a 'political analyst' and whatever else is selling that day.
So he has succeeded in horns waggling you and a whole bunch of 'useful idiots’ who buy his books.
Why is this 'hanger on' even called to testify in Congress let alone a fleas convention?
Josh:
see posts 14.1 and 14.2
Josh feels that Mr. Brinkley wears too many hats. Of course, Josh probably feels walking and chewing gum is real hard too.
Like Obama knowing more about how to run an economy than businessleaders and economists; like Obama knowing more about how to prosecute a war than military leaders! Bottomline...all liberals are a-holes!!!!!
lol leave it to an immature right wing liberal hating child to resort to playground tactics. Really I mean if you have nothing intelligent to add to a discussion, do you seriously think coming in and calling all liberals a-holes lends credence to your case, cause, or party? You right and left wingers are like sports fans, so caught up in living out your fantasy of power vicariously through politicians because either you are too lazy to run yourself, or have too many skeletons in your closet, that you are blind to reality. Reality check, ALL politicians are idiots, it is a prerequisite to applying for the job. BOTH parties are corrupt beyond repair. It is the entire system that is broke, and until we move to occupy government rather than banks (smokescreen folks) we are simply spinning our wheels and going nowhere.
JDW, When has President Obama sais he knows more than anyone. Just because you don't agree with his decisions does not mean he thinks he knows better or more. I think he listens to all sides and them decides for himself---just like a true leader should.
The United States government is not a business!!!! Therefore should not be run like a business!!! A business' only objective is to make a profit. The governments objective is not to make money nor should it be.
I believe Obama has been more successful in the wars that he inherited (Killing Osama bin Laden and other terrorists) as well as limited involvement in Libya (no boots on the ground) that Bush was (starting 2 wars).
JDW-4349718, you are suspended for a day for violating rule # 1 of the Code of Honor.
This obvious truth has not been recognized by the public. That truth is this: the Congress is filled with people 'elected' by the 'people'. And the people pool is filled with criminals. losers. opportunists, liars, cheats, frauds and worse.
So what are the chances that an honest, patriotic individual will ever be elected to any Congressional Office?
Well maybe slim to none? Yup that is it slim to none. But then who in the Congress today is a valid, useful and Patriotic official? Ten, twenty ? Throw them all out. Shorten the session. Require them to submit to drug testing. Make them show their financials before and after. TERM LIMITS folks, term limits.
McCain is an example of why term limits are valid. So is Reid, Pelosi, McConnell, Schumer, Frank.. shall I go on ? Naah all of them have been there far too long. Throw them all out and start with drug and financial tests and then term limits . Wow what a country we could become in just four years.
josh ---- you must think you are something really special. i've never heard of the average american referred to as criminal, losers, opportunists,liars, cheats,frauds and worse. do you have some kind of title or something? maybe you consider yourself royalty? in my book you are an over-bloated egotist.
LMAO! Please Google who Douglas Brinkley is and then do the same with Josh Brogan
Can you find anything or is it all into a fictitious name??
Josh, do you understand what a "Domestic Enemy" of the USA is?
"Domestic enemies pursue legislation, programs against the powers of the US Constitution. They work on destroying and weakening the Rights of the People guaranteed by the Constitution. Plus they create laws, amendments, etc that goes against the restraint on the three branches of our government by the Constitution".
Do you realize that the three branches of our government, the Military, all Law Enforcement, all Heads of the States, all federal employees are required to take an Oath to support and defend the Constitution and not an individual leader, ruler, office, or entity to get into the Office or Position they want.
They must keep that Oath until they leave office or position they currently occupy to be able to stay in that position.
If they do not keep that Oath, they make themselves Domestic Enemies of the USA and they no longer meet the legal requirements for them to stay in that position or office and must be replaced.
Bernie Sanders is one of the only ones worth keeping. Before anyone bashes him, listen to him.
eagless..........What's your point............don't you know how to do a Google search? I had no trouble finding Brinkley and his background is very impressive BTW
KNINE sure don't need a 'lecture' from you about anything. As your comment gives you away as potential fool. Have you ever seen a politician such as Eric Holder answer or better yet speak but not answer a question? Probably not.. or maybe you are so slow witted that you have listened and never understood. Maybe if you have you did not understand the exchange?
As for Dougie he has been a ultra-liberal for many years and has been able to disguise his leftist leanings until now. Fictitious name ? What could that be pray tell.
Potatohead hahahahhahaaaa! your 'handle' says it all, that’s it. Also clearly shows you are incapable of reasoning. Too bad you have such an affliction.
For those who are so far left that your travels are completely in circles there is this. Instead of regurgitating the old familiar sonnets of liberalism and using potty words and leveling insults to readers and posters with your ignorance and bravado on display without addressing the issue go ahead; because by doing that sort of literary shuffle you may realize how ridiculous your attempt at intelligent comments are?
When you have nothing of substance to say you always, and I mean always, resort to character assassination and leave the facts or truths out of your responses and thinking.
Best wishes of course. And remember this: Dougie and Doris have been 'outed' as possible frauds, plagiarists among other claims by many journalists with impeccable credentials. But for goodness sakes don't let facts interrupt your blithering. tossing around words which start with 'f' and end with ‘ing’.
Young is typical GOPers ignorant who can't comprehend the complicated issues.
Hey Republicans you can only take one pledge?
So which is it? Grover Norquist or The United States of America?
Thank you, sir, for reminding a member of Congress that he works for and is paid by, the taxpayers.
From the same state that brought us Ted Stevens and Sarah Palin. Apparently Cong. Young wasn't raised with many manners or sense of decency. And what are the chances that the voters of the great state of Alaska would send him packing? Nil. He has an "R" behind his name and all that it takes to get elected there.
GOP never admits to their mistakes, just ignores it and moves on. Of course if a Democrat had said that, it would be everywhere for a long time until he/she resignes.
Brinkley must not have received the memo that that the entire GOP and some Dem Congress Critters are his plutocratic masters. Young is a corporatist thug who would prefer that we citizens bow to him and big money backers. Many thanks to Mr. Brinkley for not bowing to the arrogant blowhard from Alaska.
Memo to Alaska: stop sending retards to Washington like Young, Palin & Stevens.
LOL. An Alaskan reading MSNBC?? That'll be the day.
I have to point out that Palin, thankfully, has never served in Washington. Or do you mean Seattle?
All this becuase the tree huggers are so concerned about the arctic wild life. Fact: the amount of land that is being requested in ANWR is the equivalent of 1 postage stamp placed on a foot ball field. Fact: the carabou herds in ANWR have increased in size due to the fact that the pipeline generates heat that keeps the great numbers of the young from dying of hypothermia in the Winter. Fact - we are dependent on nations that hate our guts to supply us with oil to run out county.
Wake up America.
whether all of your listed "facts" are facts or not does not change the fact that this story is about a rude and condescending Republican member of the US House of Representatives.
canon,
Pls don't use your silly arguments to make your point on enviromentalist issues that you don't know a thing about!
NONE of the wildlife has EVER needed HUMAN intervention or HELP to succeed! In fact, our very BEST policy would be to LEAVE THEM ALONE and not to do anything for (or against) them!
I agree we need to wake up, and quit burning oil. However at the present there is not an economically viable replacement.
Fact - all the oil that could be produced in ANWR is just a drop in the bucket compared with the oil that the United States and the world uses. The projected total production from ANWR would be between 0.4 and 1.2 percent of total world oil consumption in 2030. Consequently, ANWR oil production is not projected to have a large impact on world oil prices.
ANWR isn't worth developing right now and will provide no real benefit to the country as a whole.
Like Obama :) Come on already, the partisan bickering is exactly what these corrupt pols from BOTH SIDES want us to do, so we don't focus on them.
If you support the Dems, and attack the Repubs, or vica versa: YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM!!!
They both suck. They both have sold us out. One side does this, the other side does that, but no matter what they do, we get screwed and have to pay the bill.
Suckers! Once the Teaparty and Occupy movement got taken over by extremists, neither had a chance to do anything. Only when WE THE PEOPLE do something without political partisanship, will change occur. The middle, moderates need to rise up and kick the whacko extremists from both sides to the curb.
PS: I am against the drilling, and this particular Congressman should be the first to meet the curb. The professor is absolutely right, who is the representative, and who is the represented??? And I don't care if he's GOP or DNC. That isn't the point!!!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Just a bit of info. ANWR has been a point of contention for too long. In the early 70's, at the height of the Cold War and the Vietnamese war, it was leaked that ANWR was a strategic resource and will not be developed. The reason being that everyone knew that someday the oil would run out and war would be the tool of choice to keep the supply flowing. At that time, when everyone else ran out of fuel to run their military machine, we would open ANWR and use it to fuel our tanks, planes, and jeeps to make sure we stayed the Top Dog.
KUDOS to Douglas Brinkley! Thank You!
Hate to break your bubbles you all! But I have some very disappointing news.
MSNBC news cut off the rest of the exchange. Why? Because Rep. Young SERIOUSLY HUMILIATES your hero Brinkley in a very most embarrassing way. Everything from displaying Mr. Brinkley's never visiting and testing the sites in Alaska himself to displaying Mr. Brinkley's total credentials (which were shown to be very inadequate). Lets just say your hero isn't a hero at all..
You can see the total exchange that MSNBC purposely cut off here. PLEASE WATCH!!!! YOUR HERO WAS SHAMED!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTUH_zYsu1o
But please by all means, please send cards to Mr Brinkley. I'm sure after he cried on the plane on the way back to Rice he would need some self esteem raised somehow....
THE GYPSY STRIKES AGAIN!!
Yep Kudos Mr. Brinkley!!! make that dude realize that he's getting a paycheck because somebody in Alaska voted for him.