I’m not a member of any organized political party…

July 5, 2006

It’s been about three weeks since congressional Democrats unveiled their election-year agenda — “New Direction for America” — but unfortunately, some of the caucus didn’t get the memo.

Asked Thursday to comment on their agenda, a half-dozen House Democrats remained fuzzy on the particulars.

“The new model, etc., etc?” faltered Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas).

“I haven’t even looked at it,” admitted Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.). “I’m not very good at talking points.”

“I like mine better,” Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) declared while looking over a list of the Democrats’ six priorities as if it were the first time he’d seen it.

For a party that sometimes has a little trouble with discipline, this isn’t what I was hoping to see.

For what it’s worth, one Dem lawmaker told The Hill that, when the party’s lucky, about half of the caucus will show up for regular caucus meetings, when agenda items like the “New Direction” platform are discussed in detail. The result is a group of lawmakers who don’t even recognize their party’s agenda items for the election cycle.

What’s that old Will Rogers joke? “I’m not a member of any organized political party; I’m a Democrat.”

Three examples of out of touch jaskass Congressional Democrats;one from Texas, one from Tennessee, and one from Mississippi. It must not mention Jesus enough to garner the support of the Southern Democrats.

  • Yeah, that Will Rogers line used to be a hell of a lot funnier. Here are a few other things that used to be a hell of a lot funnier, before the GOP took over:

    * MASH reruns. Less amusing now that Frank Burns is running the country.

    * The witch scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Uncomfortably close to how science is being taught these days.

    * Duck Soup. The jubiliance of the “Freedonia’s Going To War” production number is much less satirical than it was when I first discovered the movie.

    There are other things, of course, but you get the idea…

  • Three examples of out of touch jaskass Congressional Democrats;one from Texas, one from Tennessee, and one from Mississippi.

    Now to be fair the full article also quotes Rep. Mike Thompson and Rep. Adam Schiff, both of California, and both seem to be equally out-of-touch jackasses.

    On the other hand, the party’s lucky if only half of the caucus shows up for meetings? That’s pathetic. No wonder the Democrats are looking at permanent minority status. They seem to be embracing it.

  • In defense of my Representative in Congress, Re. Gene Taylor (D- MS), he’s right. As a victim of Katrina himself, like all too many of his constituients (including me and all of my neighbors), the national agenda of the national Democratic Party is a bit too far removed from our everyday reality to be of much interest for the time being.

    New Direction for America

    Also, Gene is a Blue Dog Democrat from a heavily republican district . Additionally, although I disagree with his opposition to a woman’s right to choose, Gene’s views on the issue conform to both the vast majority of the voters in his district and to his own religious convictions and personal views.

    I rather applaud Gene’s principled stand on issues even where he and I disagree. His integrity and honesty are beyond reproach. The Democratic Party is strengthened by his presence in it and south Mississippi is better off for his representation.

    • Comments are closed.