Posted by
thekeenobserver on Friday, June 19, 2009 7:43:47 PM
As the old saying goes: "There's NO easy way to get rich"...er wait a minute-- did we forget something?
What about serving in Congress? Has there ever been a situation when somebody had to give up Congress, because they couldn’t make a living at it?
In all the world, there are only 535 or so posts that have no definite job description, no requirement to show up everyday, where you have the weekends (and much of the summer) off; plus all positions are part time.
There is no boss standing over you: There are no daily deadlines. You are paid handsomely; you receive full benefits, retire on a princely pension-- and while in office, you can earn as much as you want "on the side."
Best of all, you can NEVER be fired.
Now compare that to the present lot of today's average American:
Americans everywhere have lost their jobs-- forced to lower their standard of living. Many middle-class families are eating like peasants: less meat, more potatoes; more beans 'n franks, more mac 'n cheese; less hamburger-- no steak.
People have terminated cable TV; they have all but eliminated theaters and eating out.
But what if we terminated our out-of-control Congress? What then? The nation would prosper as never before!
Congress has their limos; their privately-chartered jet flights, and their private Senate AND House restaurants. They vote themselves pay raises. They vacation on the Riviera, travel to all the great resorts and golf courses of the world-- all on "official business."
Their arrogant self-righteousness is rooted in our tarnished voting tradition-- the incumbent "re-election factor." They serve until their "expiration" date; 'till death do they part!
But instead of re-electing these rogues in 2010, for once, Americans should react in righteous indignation, and say "ENOUGH...we're not gonna take it anymore!"
Abe Lincoln once said, "Integrity is doing the right thing when nobody’s looking;"
Hence, we shall proceed to review the top ten examples in Congress: people that-- throughout their terms-- have exhibited shining examples of integrity, and have gone far out of their way to serve both their country and constituents.
EXAMPLE# 1-- Diane Feinstein:
Last October, Feinstein introduced legislation to route TAXPAYER money to the FDIC, which then awarded her husband's real estate firm a lucrative (25 million) contract to sell foreclosed properties at inflated commission rates much higher than industry norms.
But isn't the FDIC supposed to operate from money it raises from bank-paid insurance payments, and not direct federal tax dollars?
Feinstein offered "to help" the FDIC stem the rise in foreclosures by making sure that Richard Ellis Properties-- a commercial real estate firm led by her husband -- won the "competitive bidding, and then harvested the bounty created by Feinstein's generous assistance in the matter.
But California's people will eventually come to their senses, and re-elect her in a landslide.
EXAMPLE #2 -- Richard Durbin:
This honest, upstanding Illinois Democrat has been quite the visionary: On Sept. 19, 2008, he cashed out $42,700 in mutual-fund shares, and quickly sold off another $73,000 during the rest of September. Then, all of a sudden, the stock market collapsed.
But instead of an obvious insider trading charge, Durban --being a Democrat-- has "immunity". Nothing will be done. He will keep his perks and power, just as Barney Frank did after lying to George Bush in 2005 about the condition of Fannie Mae.
About 60% of the Illinois electorate voted for Durbin in the last election. Now, with this on the record, he'll probably reach 75% in the next election.
EXAMPLE #3 -- Nancy Pelosi:
Ever since she ascended as House Speaker, she has effectively made offshore oil production "illegal". After Democrats took over Congress in Jan. '07, the price of gasoline has nearly doubled-- right where she wants to keep it-- anywhere between 3 to 5 dollars per gallon.
Interestingly, in May, 2007, she invested $100,000 in T. Boone Pickens’ Clean Energy Fuels IPO (initial public stock offering) But is this not a flagrant conflict of interest for Madam Speaker? Should she be allowed to own stock in a company which will benefit from legislation she controls?
But given her lofty Congressional position, someday she will have to answer for it-- in the afterlife.
EXAMPLE #4 -- Max Baucus:
Baucus, a "moderate" Democrat, secretly killed a provision in the stimulus bill that would have safeguarded AMERICAN jobs. The powerful Montana Senator stymied the E-Verify Law that removes illegal aliens from the workplace; no doubt profiting from a nice, tidy campaign contribution from La Razza-- a pro-immigrant activist group.
Baucus now is going full throttle to change the US health care system into a (socialized) Canadian version, and has forbade any democrat connected to the medical industry from contact with Republicans.
Considering the way he's trying to intimidate lobbyists who'd like to hear what the GOP caucus has to say, you can almost SMELL the totalitarianism of this radical leftist.
EXAMPLE #5-- Charles Schumer:
As a congressman serving in the House, Schumer was censured by the Ethics Committee for having used his taxpayer-paid office staff to collect political campaign contributions.
For the last 3 years, he's been the Senate's numero-uno anti-driller. He's quite fine with the $60 billion we send OPEC every month, and the $3-4-gallon price his N.Y.City constituents pay for gasoline. He is also author to the oxymoronic, "we cant drill our way out" defeatist mantra.
Gee, could Schumer be getting anything under the table from the environmental lobby toward his re-election campaign? Nah, not an ethical fellow like Schumer; he's above ALL reproach.
EXAMPLE #6 -- Henry Waxman:
Waxman's clean air bill will suck so much disposable income from the average American household (estimated between $1800- 3000 annually) that our consumer-driven economy may all but collapse under his final death blow. Say goodbye to your sports car, your "work" truck; and your SUV. The Waxman Bill will eventually legislate them out of existence, much like the EPA did to Detroit 's flourishing muscle car industry in the early 70's.
Waxman is yet another that feasts at the environmental lobby's campaign contribution trough.
EXAMPLE # 7-- Barney Frank (aka Barney Fwank)
Mr. Fwank's repeated claims (since 2003) that Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac "are doing okay" should be enough to have him thrown off the House Banking Committee. He was against any oversight for these institutions--his efforts at social engineering-- and shielded these GSE"s (Govenmentt Sponsored Entities) from all regulation.
Frank's idea for 'affordable housing' led to the near-collapse of the worldwide economy and the current U.S. recession. He should be in jail.
Example # 8-- Harry Reid:
In summer of '06 Reid pulled off a secret Las Vegas land deal in which he pocketed a cool $1.1 million for sale of property he hadn't personally owned for years. Once exposed, Mr. Reid then amended his financial disclosure forms, claiming (duh) "he'd forgotten about it."
Over the last four years, Reid also used his influence to help a developer-- Nevada super-lobbyist Harvey Whittemore-- clear legal obstacles from a Vegas suburb (Coyote Springs) and develop part of the site for free, receiving tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Whittemore.
The contributions not only went to Reid's Senate campaigns, but also to his "leadership fund" to help bankroll the campaigns of Democratic colleagues. Rather nifty eh? Ole dirty Harry will undoutedly ride again in his homestate (Nevada) to win another hallmark victory in 2010.
EXAMPLE #9-- Senator Chris Dodd:
Everyone knows about the 4.75% loan Mr. Dodd got from Countrywide, saving him $77,000 interest on his mortgage; but then Dodd bought an Irish estate for a full cost of about $200,000 using "assistance" from a man who had Dodd's "ear" in the Senate.
Although the property was worth much more, Dodd covered it by listing the value on his senate tax form as $100,000. Once exposed, Dodd (in a mere coincidence) had the property "appraised" at 600k; but surprise: it's actually worth close to a million.
Dodd -- who also managed to protect his all campaign contributors at AIG -- claims it was "never about money." But money is all Dodd ever thinks of. He could care less about his constituents in Connecticutt.
EXAMPLE #10-- Ex-Senator Joe Biden:
A recent Google Earth photograph reveals that the lakeside "Joe Biden Compound" in Greenville , Delaware has at least 4 houses, swimming pool, tennis courts, and various other "swank" amenities.
But a review of Biden's 2005, 2006, and 2007 income tax returns indicates he only listed a total net worth of about $470,000. Biden also reported he has no home note, suggesting ALL of his home/homes are paid for.
How does a person-- who has never made much more than $150,000 per year-- amass properties in amounts at least 10 times (or more) of what he reports to the Senate? Interestingly, this certainly didn't seem to impede Biden's nomination as Vice President
Americans should take note: These egotistical, greedy, self-absorbed aristocrats operate as though they're completely above the law; and in a sense- as democrats-- they actually are. And as long-serving incumbents, they no longer seem to answer to (nor fear) anyone.
This is all a mockery to what Lincoln wrote about in his Gettysburgh address; he spoke of government OF the people, BY the people, and FOR the people.
We should require that every newly-elected legislator MEMORIZE Mr. Lincoln 's historic, two-minute speech before they can be sworn in; it's obvious that these lawless lawmakers have totally forgotten why they were elected.
Congress must be reminded that they're in Washington to serve the the public-- not lord over the country.