Each and every Member of Congress is up for re-election in 2010.
When we elect a Congressman, we, in GUNNER’S VIEW, should look at certain basic criteria before getting into the issues themselves. First, no Member should serve for more than 12 consecutive years. By taking root in Washington they’re no longer really working for their constituents, but instead they’re working for themselves. Second, no Member should serve beyond age 75. They lose mental acuity, health goes downhill, and they’re no longer what we want or need. Third, Members serving due to nepotism or cronyism need to be removed. Fourth, our politicians need to be above reproach. No scandal, no criminals, no perception of misdeeds or malfeasance. Fifth, no professional politicians. Sixth, they should have served the Nation in some thankless profession first (i.e. military, Peace Corps, VISTA, Public Health Service, Assistant District Attorney or Public Defender, cop, etc.)
I do not intend to discuss the issues addressed by these man and women, only how they fit in my basic criteria. Issues are something that you and you alone, need to decide on.
Now I know that finding someone who meets all of that criteria will be tough. But you know what, you’re the employer and you get what you pay for. If you’ll settle for second or third best than you deserve what you get. And, yes, I know there are exceptions to my rules, so go find those men and women and send them to Washington.
Here are the Members of Congress and how they fit under my rules:
Louisiana
Alexander, Rodney, R- 5th: Meets all of my criteria. Re-elect this man.
Boustany Jr., Charles W., D-7th: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this man
Cao, Joseph, R-2nd: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this man
Cassidy, William "Bill", R-6th: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this man
Fleming, John, R-4th: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this man
Melancon, Charlie, D-3rd: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this man
Scalise, Steve, R-1st: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this man
Maine
Michaud, Michael, D- 2nd: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this man. I’ve worked with Mike on the House Committee for Veteran Affairs. He’s one of the good guys.
Pingree, Chellie, D-1st: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this woman.
Massachusetts
Capuano, Michael E., D- 8th: Will have served 12 years at the end of this term. Although it hasn’t been consecutive, this seat was once held by his father. Nepotism. Do not re-elect this man.
Delahunt, William, D-10th: Will have served 14 years at the end of this term. Do not re-elect this man.
Frank, Barney, D- 4th: Will have served 30 years at the end of this term. In 1990, the House Ethics Committee recommended Frank be reprimanded because he "reflected discredit upon the House". Do not re-elect this man.
Lynch, Stephen F., D- 9th: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this man.
McGovern, James, D- 3rd: Will have served 14 years at the end of this term. Do not re-elect this man.
Markey, Ed, D- 7th: Will have served 35 years at the end of this term. Do not re-elect this man.
Neal, Richard E., D- 2nd: Will have served 22 years at the end of this term. Do not re-elect this man.
Olver, John, D-1st: Will have served 20 years at the end of this term. Will turn 75 during his next term. Do not re-elect this man.
Tierney, John, D- 6th: Will have served 14 years at the end of this term. Do not re-elect this man.
Tsongas, Niki, D- 5th: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this woman. Even though her late husband was a Congressman, there was a 10 year gap between his death and her election.
Maryland
Bartlett, Roscoe, R- 6th: Will have served 14 years at the end of this term. Already 82 years old. Do not re-elect this man.
Cummings, Elijah, D- 7th: Will have served 15 years at the end of this term. Do not re-elect this man.
Edwards, Donna F., D- 4th: Arrested April 27, 2009 outside the Sudan embassy during a protest against genocide in Darfur.The Representative and four other US Congressional Representatives were protesting the blocking of aid to victims. They were arrested after ignoring warnings issued by police maintaining a police line to protect the embassy in Washington D.C. We do not need our elected representatives to break the law. Do not re-elect this woman.
Hoyer, Steny H., D- 5th: Will have served 30 years at the end of this term. Do not re-elect this man.
Kratovil, Jr., Frank M., D- 1st: Meets all of my criteria. Re-elect this man. Prosecuter
Ruppersberger, Dutch, D- 2nd: Meets all of my criteria. Re-elect this man. Prosecuter
Sarbanes, John P., D- 3rd: My former Congressman. Nepotism. His Dad held the seat, then moved on to the Senate. Ben Cardin took the seat. When Sarbanes, Sr retired, Cardin took his Senate seat and Sarbanes, Jr. took the House seat. Do not re-elect this man.
Van Hollen, Chris, D- 8th: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this man.
Michigan
Camp, Dave, R- 4th: Will have served 20 years at the end of this term. Do not re-elect this man.
Conyers Jr., John, D-14th: Will have served 46 years at the end of this term. Is currently 80 years old. Married to Monica Conyers, who is currently President of the Detroit City Council and the subject of an ongoing FBI investigation into political corruption in the city. Do not re-elect this man.
Dingell, John D., D- 15th: Will have served 56 years at the end of this term. Is currently 80 years old. Nepotism. Replaced his father in the seat. Together they’ve held the seat for 78 consecutive years. Do not re-elect this man.
Ehlers, Vernon J., R- 3rd: Will have served 18 years at the end of this term. Do not re-elect this man.
Hoekstra, Pete, R- 2nd: Will have served 18 years at the end of this term. Do not re-elect this man.
Kildee, Dale, D- 5th: Will have served 34 years at the end of this term. Do not re-elect this man.
Kilpatrick, Carolyn, D-13th: Will have served 14 years at the end of this term. Her son, Kwame Malik Kilpatrick , was convicted of a number of felonies while serving as Mayor of Detroit. Do not re-elect this woman.
Levin, Sander, D- 12th: Will have served 28 years at the end of this term. Already 77 years old. Do not re-elect this man.
McCotter, Thaddeus, R-11th: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this man.
Miller, Candice, R-10th: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this woman.
Peters, Gary, D-9th: Meets all of my criteria. Re-elect this man. LCDR, CB, USNR. Persian Gulf Vet. Navy Achievement Medal
Rogers, Mike, R- 8th: Meets all of my criteria. Re-elect this man. US Army, 1985-89. FBI, 1989-94.
Schauer, Mark, D-7th: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this man.
Stupak, Bart, D-1st: Will have served 18 years at the end of this term. Do not re-elect this man.
Upton, Fred, R-6th: Will have served 18 years at the end of this term. Do not re-elect this man.
Minnesota
Bachmann, Michele, R-6th: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this woman.
Ellison, Keith, D-F-L-5th: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this man.
Kline, John, R-2nd: Meets all of my criteria. Re-elect this man. COL, USMC (RET)
McCollum, Betty, D-F-L-4th: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this woman.
Oberstar, James L., D-F-L- 8th: Will have served 36 years at the end of this term. Will be 75 before the end of this term. Do not re-elect this man.
Paulsen, Erik, R-3rd: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this man.
Peterson, Collin C., D-F-L-7th: Will have served 18 years at the end of this term. Do not re-elect this man.
Walz, Timothy J., D-F-L- 1st: Meets all of my criteria. Re-elect this man. CSM(R), NGUS
Mississippi
Childers, Travis, D-1st: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this man.
Harper, Gregg, R-3rd: Meets all of my criteria. Re-elect this man. Prosecuter
Taylor, Gene, D- 4th: Will have served 22 years at the end of this term. Do not re-elect this man.
Thompson, Bennie G., D-2nd: Will have served 22 years at the end of this term. Do not re-elect this man.
Missouri
Akin, Todd, R-2nd: Meets all of my criteria. Re-elect this man. Missouri National Guard
Blunt, Roy, R-7th: Will have served 14 years at the end of this term. Do not re-elect this man.
Carnahan, Russ, D-3rd: Nepotism abounds. Mr. Carnahan’s father was Governor of Missouri and Senator-elect when he died in a plane crash. His mother was a US Senator. His sister is Missouri Secretary of State. Do not re-elect this man.
Clay Jr., William "Lacy", D-1st: Nepotism. Took his father’s seat in the House. Do not re-elect this man.
Cleaver, Emanuel, D- 5th: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this man.
Emerson, Jo Ann, R-8th: Will have served 15 years at the end of this term. Do not re-elect this woman.
Graves, Sam, R-6th: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this man.
Luetkemeyer, Blaine, R-9th: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this man.
Skelton, Ike, D- 4th: Will have served 44 years at the end of this term. Already 77 years old. Do not re-elect this man.
Montana
Rehberg, Dennis, R-At-Large: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this man.
Nebraska
Fortenberry, Jeff, R-1st: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this man.
Smith, Adrian, R- 3rd: Meets all of my criteria except the 5th. Re-elect this man.
Terry, Lee, R- 2nd: Will have served 12 years at the end of this term. Do not re-elect this man.
In previous posts, I said that I would not comment on the issues, that I'd let you make your own decisions. They're still your decisions, but next spring I will repost everyone marked as "Re-elect" from all the Congressional and Senatorial re-election posts. At that time I will list where each of them stand on selected National issues. That will better serve your decision making process. Just keep in mind - no one should stay in office for more than 12 consecutive years.
God Bless you.
Gunner Sends
No comments:
Post a Comment