No. of Recommendations: 2
Do they have to be saints? No, you can't get into the Ruling Class without dabbling in the gray area....and once you are there, well, you either have to play the game somewhat, OR you are seduced into it.
Do I have to agree with them on anything? Nope. This writer never has expected 100% PURITY --that is for the Sheeple.
I'll probably forget a few but man, back when I cared and followed stuff, these were some of the Senators I really liked, and miss today although I know- the American electorate, and their Government, is beneath these men and women. I dunno, I wanted to remember what it was like to feel good about having a country. Nostalgic tonight. In no order..... yeah yeah the partisans and Google-Link Jockeys can always find something. Tell them to go look in the mirror while the debt clock website is in the mirror, lol.
Senator Joe Lieberman (D)
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Decency. Humor. "Viva Chutzpah!" he'd say.
Once at a Dem Debate, Stephanopolous said (paraphrasing) "Senator, people say you are too nice to run for President" and Lieberman says in his answer "Well first George, I wanna come over there and strangle you!" - damn it was perfect.
Senator Bob Smith (R)
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One of the new non establishment ones. He wasn't into selling out America on trade and this is back when Dems AND Republicans were shouting "protectionism!" at me on trade ----until things changed, giggle. Of course, the Establishment got him. President Bush and Karl Rove saw to it that kiddo Sununu got the seat.
Senator David Boren Senior (D)
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YEAH.
Had some thoughtful things on Government Reform. Worked with Ross Perot on some ideas. Thoughtful Senator he was.
Senator Paul Simon (D)
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Geeky bow-tie looking guy.
Fiscal realist. Helped write a book with Ross Perot on the dollar crisis, deficits, debts, protecting Social Security
Senator Chuck Hagel (R)
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one of the FEW Senators from both parties who did *not* become an Israeli Mule. Was skeptical about Iraq War - when many of us including this writer fell for the American flag graphics and fell under NeoCon Spell - totally abdicating PaleoConservative skepticism on interventionist foreign wars. Good thing about the TMF right - we aren't expected to be a monolithic bunch so my friends respect my point of view - I equally respect theirs. I merely ask you to look back....see how the NeoCon war gave us Obama -- and see how Bill Kristol and others trash us every chance they get.....other than when they want political capital for Israel.
Yes, I called him Chuck Bagel:) A few NeoCons went nuts and they knew what I meant.
Senator Inhofe
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Spoke to us Perotistas and Reform Party people.
Was anti-NAFTA before it was a cool thing on both sides.
Was a stalwart on not letting the Climate Change thing gut America unfairly. I'm glad that many Senators of BOTH parties thwarted things like Kyoto.
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. (R)
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I gave a little salute to her sign a few months when I was at the Convention Center named after her. ( 'business trip' expense - need to make sure I'm a low income American.)
On a personal note- while I was intact, Senator Hutchison really went to bat for handfuls of small business families in the 2009-2010 days. I won't expand - but back in those days I was at the table for cool stuff and man, she was amazing.
ALSO, after Gulf War 1.... Papa Bush didn't do SQUAT about Gulf War Syndrome. Bill Clinton not much better. Ross Perot, and Senator Kay Bailey really blitzed this thing for the vets and Senator Hutchison was a catalyst at getting the government to recognize this problem and offer help.
Congressman Dick Gephardt (D)
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True story. Sunday morning I'm at a McDonald's in a suburb of Wash DC and I see him and his wife. He's dog tired he was basically sleep walking. I lower my window and nicely say "Hello Congressman"....he of course goes right into politician mode with "good morning"....but then we walks up, puts his hands on my car and says "you have a great car here".....so I get out, he sits in my car and we talk about it a moment and I tell him that as a kid from Michigan, I appreciate now many of his votes on things like NAFTA. It all lasted a few mins but in my mind, shit, it was like a weeklong love fest lol.
Congressman James Traficant (D)
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BEAM ME UP SCOTTY! He'd shout on the floor. A great one on sovereignty - - something both sides used to be averse to back in the day, but now both sides are *starting* to value it. YEAH he got busted. YEAH - - he got busted for stuff that some other elected officials do. I could care less. If his aide is helping him with chores and he's taking money for this and that..... tell all the Ruling Class folk who have MILLIONS and all sorts of China and Saudi and Iran money running thru their families and libraries to give it back first. If anyone is interested, YouTube this guy - he's a hoot!
Congressman John Kasich (R)
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I know he's a bit of a hothead. And frankly in person - without cameras he can be less than approachable. But man he knew the budget stuff well and he was an effective and popular governor who WON OHIO when the Republican ticket LOST OHIO. I would've loved to see more from him - but this era is just not for him to advance.
Senator John McCain (R)
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Liberals used him. Loved him ONLY when he bucked the GOP or Bush. Loved him ONLY when he "defended Obama" but when McCain was the nominee the Left - savaged him. And frankly - I was opposite him on issues of trade, sovereignty, and interventionist wars.
BUT, he did help save ObamaCare. Something without which I would NOT have health insurance today. So for that, I had to include him.
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D)
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She might still be there, I don't even know anymore.
To cal her 'effective' is a stretch because it's hard to fight an Establishment that was bought off on the "free trade" stuff. But she fought the good fight for her constituents at least.
SAM NUNN (D)
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GREAT mind on matters of Intelligence and National Security.
PAT MOYNIHAN (D)
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GOSH what a vestige of an era gone by - one of a Senate that certainly disagreed----but was a Senate that was thoughtful and collegial.
RACISTS should read what Moynihan wrote about Black America. And learn a thing or two. As an aside - Tim Russert worked for him. Miss him too.
SENATOR BOB KERRY (D) SENATOR PAUL TSONGAS (D) SENATOR WARREN RUDMAN (R)
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On issues of fiscal sanity, and being willing to propose tough love both on taxes AND spending.
SENATOR FRITZ HOLLINGS (D)
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NAFTA and TRADE. And what a personality in the Senate he was.
CONGRESSMAN DAN ROSTENCOWSKI (D)
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Corrupt? Ok. But the Ways and Means Chairman knew his stuff so well. Right after the Gulf War, and Papa Bush was at 91% IN POLLS....it was Rosty who privately told the President "sir, if you don't have a domestic agenda soon, you will lose the election". Due to scandals, he was kicked out in a wave election. The next day he goes on a local Chicago morning news show......and the anchor looks up and says, are you my new intern? Holy Shit- the ex Chairman of Ways and Means is standing there playing along! The anchor says "go get my coffee" -- - -and he DOES IT with fine humor. "DANNY ROSTY!!!!! is how he answered the phone. Some of us who sorta-kinda- were in the periphery of the Cook County Dem Corrupt Machine used to hear that occasionally.
SENATOR BOB DOLE (R)
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UGH. Mr Establishment. Not my thing. BUT - decency. 1996 debates he said "President Clinton is my opponent, NOT my enemy". He called him "PRESIDENT" Clinton - not that Mister-shit that I hear more and more. He was there to make deals. TIDBIT 1996: I'm fuzzy on exacts but when President Clinton's Mom passed during the reelection campaign, it came to Dole's attention that he was running attack ads on Bill Clinton during those mourning days. At a White House event, he WENT to President Clinton, apologized, and the two talked about their Moms. Christ I get choked up just writing about it.
ALSO - the 1996 debates - love love the body language between him and Clinton. They actually liked each other and the handshakes were warm, and close. As was post debate chit chat between the two Men. In this closing statement at one debate, Bob Dole gave his "web homepage" address out lol I laughed my ass off.
(Yes, 1992 1996 2000 2004 I've seen the debates in entirety many many times, and recently. especially 1992)
I'm sure there's more but these are who comes to mind on the spot now, no Google needed. LOL for the longest time, I easily knew all 100 Senators, their party, and a few relevant facts about each one.
Today? I think I can name oh , 10-15 out of 100.
Anyhow, miss you guys. But -- like I said, I have a feeling you got out when the going was good.
There was a country. There was an America. Truly, there used to be.
AND JERRY MATTHERS......AS, THE BEAVER.
