What the hell is going on in the legislatures these days?
From Congress regulating your toilet flow, to backdoor provisions (proposed by a "Conservative" no less) allowing ILLEGAL searches of your premises without even serving a warrant, it seems that the Leglislative branch is completely contemptuous of the Constitution and the American people. This has gone far enough! WTF are these a-holes thinking?
Have we let these people go so far that they think they can get away with anything? What's the deal with these people (who's job it is to serve the people and who swear an oath to uphold the Constitution) taking it upon themselves to decide what parts of the Constitution are "relevant" and saying crap like "We don't need to have folks recite things that have no legitimacy in time and space" in reference to the freakin' Declaration of Independence!!!!!
http://www.thefiringline.com:8080/forums/showthread.php?threadid=27697
THIS is the next step toward tyranny guys. When the Legislative branch (state and fed) gets so full of itself that they decide the people are too stupid and careless to even have the where-with-all to have an opinion, we're headed toward RULE OF MEN rather than RULE OF LAW (may already be there for that matter). It's not a small point either. Think I'm kidding? Read the article below from www.worldnetdaily.com
I know we mostly have ourselves to blame, collectively. We vote our pocketbooks over our conscience. The union wants you to vote Democrat, but you don't want to, but what the hell, its good for the union so its good for you, right? Slickness sells in politics. We value image over substance. A POS like Clinton can get record breaking approval ratings even while he's screwing this country over.
Still, we call, we write, we harass and we confront these nitwits and STILL they sell us out, again and again, in violation of their oath of office, in violation of the Constitution, in violation of EVERYTHING THIS COUNTRY STANDS FOR. That's the definition of contempt and I'm sick of it.
This didn't start out as a pitch for third parties, but we all need to join them. The duopoly of the Republicrats is going to destroy this country. So long as there's no real challenge to "the party" nothing will change. And since both parties have a vested interest in keeping the playing field tilted toward the big party interests (don't want any of those Libertarians making waves, and God forbid someone from the Constitution Party gets a vote in Congress), NOTHING WILL CHANGE WHILE THEY HOLD THE KEYS TO POWER!
Nobody, and I mean nobody, is going to initiate serious reform if it means cutting thier party's power. Its literally cutting thier own throat. They'll placate us with reform proposals, initiatives, etc, but none of that stuff is ever going to get out of commitee and they know it.
I quit the Republicans and will never go back. G.W. does NOT have my vote. A vote for Harry Browne is NOT a vote for Gore, its a vote for Browne.
F*&% these bastards, I'VE HAD ENOUGH!!!!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Contempt of congress
Tennessee legislators lash out
at tax-protesting constituents
By Patrick Poole
© 2000 WorldNetDaily.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Civility on the part of public
servants seems to be wearing thin in Tennessee, as
legislators, under pressure from Gov. Don Sundquist to
pass a state income tax, clash with voters who have
shown themselves to be overwhelmingly opposed to the
measure.
As WorldNetDaily reported recently, Tennessee
legislators have been under a constant barrage of phone
calls, e-mails and catcalls in the hallways of the state
Capitol since a bill that would have implemented an
income tax appeared on the verge of passing two weeks
ago. Tennessee is one of nine states without a state
income tax.
But to many Tennesseans, the most disturbing aspect to
the tax battle has been the overt contempt shown them
by some legislators for having made their voices heard in
regards to the state budget process.
One such incident, reported last week in the
Murfreesboro Daily News Journal, involved one the of
the leading pro-income-tax legislators, Rep. Mary Ann
Eckles.
According to the news report, Eckles was approached
during a legislative recess by tax protestors David and
Sandra Brunner, who said they had brought their children
to the tax rally for its educational value. When the
Brunners asked Eckles to vote against the proposed tax
increase, the legislator became agitated and stated, "The
people of my district are all for the income tax."
But when the Brunners stated that they lived in her district
and that they and many of their friends and co-workers
were against the state income tax, Eckles angrily replied,
"The people of my district don't know what they need.
They haven't studied it like I have."
Eckles did not respond to requests by WorldNetDaily
for comment for this story.
In response to Eckles' comments, Sandra Brunner stated
that it's hard for legislators to believe that citizens can
have intelligent thoughts of their own.
"It seems to be OK when we blindly accept their take on
all issues, but then they blame the most outspoken and
visible individuals, like talk radio, for 'leading us astray' if
anyone differs from their viewpoint," she said.
Republicans are also reacting with dismay at the huge
numbers of constituents contacting their representatives
through the new democratic medium -- e-mail.
During a House floor session last Tuesday, Rep. Bob
Patton derided the efforts of those expressing their
opinions on the income-tax issue.
"All those e-mails we get, I just wipe them off. I don't
read them. I'd like them to know they are wasting their
time," he said.
Legislative contempt is nothing new for Tennesseans,
who have seen three attempts to pass a state income tax
in the past 14 months. During a special legislative session
dedicated to the income tax issue last November, Rep.
Tommy Head, one of the leading state budget
negotiators, told an audience gathered for an income tax
debate sponsored by a local talk radio station that
decisions on important state matters shouldn't be left to
the people, but rather to legislators.
"We don't need a referendum to make our decisions.
We're the ones who are supposed to be educated and
know about the issues," Head said.
The phenomenon isn't exclusive to just to House
members either. After a constituent contacted Sen. Steve
Cohen during last year's budget battle, Cohen replied
with a message left on the constituent's answering
machine inviting him to call back.
Thinking that the call had been disconnected, Cohen
turned to an aide and called his constituent an "S.O.B."
and complained that the constituent had used an 800
number that allowed him to connect to legislators' offices
toll-free.
Ironically, Cohen was the Senate sponsor of the
legislation authorizing the toll-free line to the state Capitol
to increase accessibility to legislators.
However, the constituent's answering machine was still
recording and captured Cohen's comments, a tape of
which was passed off to a local Memphis radio station.
When confronted by reporters about his derogatory
comments, Cohen replied, "I felt no need to encourage
additional comments from this particular person."
The income tax is not the only issue to have generated
legislative ire over the past year. After several state
legislators were caught by a Nashville TV station's hidden
camera accepting a free golf trip to the Gulf Coast last
year courtesy of a state contractor, Jack Morgan sent a
critical e-mail to his representative, Rep. Paul Phelan, one
of the offending legislators.
Nothing could have prepared Morgan for Phelan's
blistering response.
"Dear whatever your name is, I was on the plane with
Ron Cooper (the state contractor). Ron and I have been
friends for 11 years. I've been in the House for seven,
you do the math, imbecile," Phelan wrote.
After letting loose a string of obscenities, Phelan said,
"Why don't you put your name on the ballot since you're
so high and mighty. Thank you for reminding me why it is
important to run for re-election to keep our state out of
the hands of people like you."
He concluded his e-mail by saying, "My level of
education allows me to tolerate idiots like you."
However, it was Phelan who was soon getting an
education in e-mail technology from Morgan when
Phelan's e-mail was forwarded to hundreds of
newspapers, radio and TV stations all across the state.
After the Associated Press reprinted the letter in its
entirety on its news wire, Phelan was forced to apologize.
In accepting Phelan's apology, Morgan cautioned state
legislators to remember that they were not elected to
represent their own interests, but rather those of voters.
"I would never have talked to him in such a manner. They
work for us. We don't work for them. A few of the
fellows down there in Nashville need to keep that in
mind," he said.
But as Tennessee's tax battle winds to a close, relief
seems to be in sight for legislators.
Both houses passed a slimmed-down version of
Sundquist's proposed $18.2 billion budget on Thursday
without any tax increases. Because the measure doesn't
include the state income tax, Sundquist has threatened to
veto it. But unlike most states, a mere 51 percent
majority in both houses is needed to override the
governor's veto.
Legislators have to act before July 1, the end of the
state's fiscal year, to prevent a government shutdown.
Consequently, final action on the state budget is expected
by the end of the week, but that won't prevent another
tax protest organized by Nashville talk radio stations
scheduled for later today at the state Capitol.
Only after the conclusion of the legislative session are
legislators, who face election primaries in August,
allowed to begin their reelection campaigns. All House
members and half of the Senate are up for reelection this
year. Rather than face voters, several prominent
pro-income tax legislators have announced they will not
be running again, and many other legislative income-tax
supporters have attracted formidable opposition in
November.
From Congress regulating your toilet flow, to backdoor provisions (proposed by a "Conservative" no less) allowing ILLEGAL searches of your premises without even serving a warrant, it seems that the Leglislative branch is completely contemptuous of the Constitution and the American people. This has gone far enough! WTF are these a-holes thinking?
Have we let these people go so far that they think they can get away with anything? What's the deal with these people (who's job it is to serve the people and who swear an oath to uphold the Constitution) taking it upon themselves to decide what parts of the Constitution are "relevant" and saying crap like "We don't need to have folks recite things that have no legitimacy in time and space" in reference to the freakin' Declaration of Independence!!!!!
http://www.thefiringline.com:8080/forums/showthread.php?threadid=27697
THIS is the next step toward tyranny guys. When the Legislative branch (state and fed) gets so full of itself that they decide the people are too stupid and careless to even have the where-with-all to have an opinion, we're headed toward RULE OF MEN rather than RULE OF LAW (may already be there for that matter). It's not a small point either. Think I'm kidding? Read the article below from www.worldnetdaily.com
I know we mostly have ourselves to blame, collectively. We vote our pocketbooks over our conscience. The union wants you to vote Democrat, but you don't want to, but what the hell, its good for the union so its good for you, right? Slickness sells in politics. We value image over substance. A POS like Clinton can get record breaking approval ratings even while he's screwing this country over.
Still, we call, we write, we harass and we confront these nitwits and STILL they sell us out, again and again, in violation of their oath of office, in violation of the Constitution, in violation of EVERYTHING THIS COUNTRY STANDS FOR. That's the definition of contempt and I'm sick of it.
This didn't start out as a pitch for third parties, but we all need to join them. The duopoly of the Republicrats is going to destroy this country. So long as there's no real challenge to "the party" nothing will change. And since both parties have a vested interest in keeping the playing field tilted toward the big party interests (don't want any of those Libertarians making waves, and God forbid someone from the Constitution Party gets a vote in Congress), NOTHING WILL CHANGE WHILE THEY HOLD THE KEYS TO POWER!
Nobody, and I mean nobody, is going to initiate serious reform if it means cutting thier party's power. Its literally cutting thier own throat. They'll placate us with reform proposals, initiatives, etc, but none of that stuff is ever going to get out of commitee and they know it.
I quit the Republicans and will never go back. G.W. does NOT have my vote. A vote for Harry Browne is NOT a vote for Gore, its a vote for Browne.
F*&% these bastards, I'VE HAD ENOUGH!!!!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Contempt of congress
Tennessee legislators lash out
at tax-protesting constituents
By Patrick Poole
© 2000 WorldNetDaily.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Civility on the part of public
servants seems to be wearing thin in Tennessee, as
legislators, under pressure from Gov. Don Sundquist to
pass a state income tax, clash with voters who have
shown themselves to be overwhelmingly opposed to the
measure.
As WorldNetDaily reported recently, Tennessee
legislators have been under a constant barrage of phone
calls, e-mails and catcalls in the hallways of the state
Capitol since a bill that would have implemented an
income tax appeared on the verge of passing two weeks
ago. Tennessee is one of nine states without a state
income tax.
But to many Tennesseans, the most disturbing aspect to
the tax battle has been the overt contempt shown them
by some legislators for having made their voices heard in
regards to the state budget process.
One such incident, reported last week in the
Murfreesboro Daily News Journal, involved one the of
the leading pro-income-tax legislators, Rep. Mary Ann
Eckles.
According to the news report, Eckles was approached
during a legislative recess by tax protestors David and
Sandra Brunner, who said they had brought their children
to the tax rally for its educational value. When the
Brunners asked Eckles to vote against the proposed tax
increase, the legislator became agitated and stated, "The
people of my district are all for the income tax."
But when the Brunners stated that they lived in her district
and that they and many of their friends and co-workers
were against the state income tax, Eckles angrily replied,
"The people of my district don't know what they need.
They haven't studied it like I have."
Eckles did not respond to requests by WorldNetDaily
for comment for this story.
In response to Eckles' comments, Sandra Brunner stated
that it's hard for legislators to believe that citizens can
have intelligent thoughts of their own.
"It seems to be OK when we blindly accept their take on
all issues, but then they blame the most outspoken and
visible individuals, like talk radio, for 'leading us astray' if
anyone differs from their viewpoint," she said.
Republicans are also reacting with dismay at the huge
numbers of constituents contacting their representatives
through the new democratic medium -- e-mail.
During a House floor session last Tuesday, Rep. Bob
Patton derided the efforts of those expressing their
opinions on the income-tax issue.
"All those e-mails we get, I just wipe them off. I don't
read them. I'd like them to know they are wasting their
time," he said.
Legislative contempt is nothing new for Tennesseans,
who have seen three attempts to pass a state income tax
in the past 14 months. During a special legislative session
dedicated to the income tax issue last November, Rep.
Tommy Head, one of the leading state budget
negotiators, told an audience gathered for an income tax
debate sponsored by a local talk radio station that
decisions on important state matters shouldn't be left to
the people, but rather to legislators.
"We don't need a referendum to make our decisions.
We're the ones who are supposed to be educated and
know about the issues," Head said.
The phenomenon isn't exclusive to just to House
members either. After a constituent contacted Sen. Steve
Cohen during last year's budget battle, Cohen replied
with a message left on the constituent's answering
machine inviting him to call back.
Thinking that the call had been disconnected, Cohen
turned to an aide and called his constituent an "S.O.B."
and complained that the constituent had used an 800
number that allowed him to connect to legislators' offices
toll-free.
Ironically, Cohen was the Senate sponsor of the
legislation authorizing the toll-free line to the state Capitol
to increase accessibility to legislators.
However, the constituent's answering machine was still
recording and captured Cohen's comments, a tape of
which was passed off to a local Memphis radio station.
When confronted by reporters about his derogatory
comments, Cohen replied, "I felt no need to encourage
additional comments from this particular person."
The income tax is not the only issue to have generated
legislative ire over the past year. After several state
legislators were caught by a Nashville TV station's hidden
camera accepting a free golf trip to the Gulf Coast last
year courtesy of a state contractor, Jack Morgan sent a
critical e-mail to his representative, Rep. Paul Phelan, one
of the offending legislators.
Nothing could have prepared Morgan for Phelan's
blistering response.
"Dear whatever your name is, I was on the plane with
Ron Cooper (the state contractor). Ron and I have been
friends for 11 years. I've been in the House for seven,
you do the math, imbecile," Phelan wrote.
After letting loose a string of obscenities, Phelan said,
"Why don't you put your name on the ballot since you're
so high and mighty. Thank you for reminding me why it is
important to run for re-election to keep our state out of
the hands of people like you."
He concluded his e-mail by saying, "My level of
education allows me to tolerate idiots like you."
However, it was Phelan who was soon getting an
education in e-mail technology from Morgan when
Phelan's e-mail was forwarded to hundreds of
newspapers, radio and TV stations all across the state.
After the Associated Press reprinted the letter in its
entirety on its news wire, Phelan was forced to apologize.
In accepting Phelan's apology, Morgan cautioned state
legislators to remember that they were not elected to
represent their own interests, but rather those of voters.
"I would never have talked to him in such a manner. They
work for us. We don't work for them. A few of the
fellows down there in Nashville need to keep that in
mind," he said.
But as Tennessee's tax battle winds to a close, relief
seems to be in sight for legislators.
Both houses passed a slimmed-down version of
Sundquist's proposed $18.2 billion budget on Thursday
without any tax increases. Because the measure doesn't
include the state income tax, Sundquist has threatened to
veto it. But unlike most states, a mere 51 percent
majority in both houses is needed to override the
governor's veto.
Legislators have to act before July 1, the end of the
state's fiscal year, to prevent a government shutdown.
Consequently, final action on the state budget is expected
by the end of the week, but that won't prevent another
tax protest organized by Nashville talk radio stations
scheduled for later today at the state Capitol.
Only after the conclusion of the legislative session are
legislators, who face election primaries in August,
allowed to begin their reelection campaigns. All House
members and half of the Senate are up for reelection this
year. Rather than face voters, several prominent
pro-income tax legislators have announced they will not
be running again, and many other legislative income-tax
supporters have attracted formidable opposition in
November.