Congress is a Hall of Shame !!!! How can any of the members claim they are for the people ?

Now they want to raise gas tax ??? We are told to conserve and when the

Those in Congress can not give us what they do not have. Someone once said “democracy requires wisdom and virtue: it stands or falls with the truths it embodies and promotes.” America is losing her affection for virtue — particularly the subtle virtues needed for democracy such as selflessness, a desire for truth, a willingness to work, a keen sense of justice and fair play, respect for marriage and the family, and reverence for God — she is losing hold of her own democratic ideal. And one cannot give what one does not have.

True democracy is surely a worthy attainment. And we should never forget that countless souls have fought and died to keep it from perishing. But at the moment, we sorely underestimate how much it demands in the currency of moral virtue, and how easily it can dissipate when it is taken for granted.

Democracy is a living thing, and as such, must be continuously nourished and vigorously exercised. America’s first concern, in the realm of politics, then, is the health of its own democracy. And moral virtue is the lifeblood of that health.

We need new blood in Congress…We need new blood in our politicians; rather we should be looking for statesmens instead?

Is there any way that the American people can impeach the congress? Maybe we could fire the whole mess of them, after all they are supposed to be working for us.
What do we have to do to get their attention? They have not tried to run the government in any way that resembles how the American people feels or wants it run.
I am an Independent that is so disgusted with all in D.C. and both candidates that are running for President that I don’t think my vote will count at all.
I AM GOING TO VOTE FOR BENJAMIN FRANKLIN!
H e may be dead but he could accomplish as much as this do nothing congress that we have.

Allie
Orange TX

Socialism seems to be coming in the back door: Rep Watters wants to “nationalize” the oil industry…the first run on a CA bank brought a possible banking industry bailout (government owned)…airlines and pharmaceutical houses next….by the way, whatever happened to “synthetic” aviation fuel and plasma cars?

My favorite quote by Daniel Flynn: “Capitalism works for people who WORK,
socialism works for those who don’t work.” how true.

Hey David fromLA

Who do you think has had control of the house for the past couple years ? The Dems. have! The President can’t do anything without the approval of the house. So don’t blame the “BushCorp.”

Ok, we have all just trampled on ourselves here… $700 billion in wealth transfer just willingly going to oil per year– thanks middle east. We buy all sorts of cheap stuff made in china from Corporate american shops that add to the trade deficit and jobs transfers… I am not surprised this economy is in the toilet as all our money and jobs are going out of country… There will be a revolution, but not from within. All that money going abroad has to come back to the economy for it to be worth anything. Guess what? You’ll be free to vote, but everything will be owned by foreign interests. We are fast becoming economic slaves to other contries and we all sit on the sidelines looking for that job instead of owning it. This election brought to you by OPEC. The financial institutions crumbling offer a foriegn takeover of the country. Renters insurance, auto insurance, etc., etc., etc. brought to you by OPEC. Glad you could rent from OPEC. People we are being taken over economically and we are standing like sheep. I am not saying oil countries have taken over already, but $700 billion a year coming back has to be spent somewhere to be worth anything.

Can’t wait for the garbage trucks to pull in front of the White House on Jan. 20 and get the garbage out of the white house

Meaningful Revolution is what this Country needs!! Lets start with Congress THEIR TIME HAS COME!!!!!!! Let’ts start with NANCY PELOSI she along with DEMOCRAT ROBERT WEXLER FROM FLORIDA AND TAMMY BALDWIN FROM WISCONSIN ALSO A DEMOCRAT WANT TO EMPEACH PRESIDENT BUSH!! OK LETS START WITH THESE THREE FIRST!!!! THEN LET’S GO ALL THE WAY DOWN THE LINE AND CLEAN HOUSE!!! HOW DO WE GET ALL THIS INFORMATION TO WASHINGTON AND CONGRESS SINCE FOX WILL NOT PUT THIS ON THE AIR.????????????????????????????? WHAT ABOUT IT FOX, DO YOUR NATION A FAVOR YOU SAY YOUR LOOKING OUT FOR US———– HOW ABOUT IT WILL YOU LET THE VOICES OF THE NATION BE HEARD??????????? THERE IS ENOUGH OUT CRY ON THIS BLOG , HOW WE THE PEOPLE FEEL SO LET IT BE KNOWN!!!!!!!!!!!! WE WILL SEE WHAT SIDE YOU ARE ON. I HOPE IT IS OURS!!!!!!

It is easy to see. The president is showing no leadership and is afraid to let anything that democrats propose pass and republicans refuse to let anything that the president vetoes be over ridden. This is the cause of the stalemate. Republicans think that by bringing down Congress to the level of the president that they will be awarded in the fall.

All that will happen is that republicans will not gain a majority again for the next 50 years. I know that many of you don’t realize that democrats controlled one or both chambers of congress for 40 years before republicans gained control and then showed massive incompetence that lead to losing control 12 years later and blame for most of our problems.

I think that it is funny that anyone thinks that democrats will pay a price. Not one prediction says that democrats won’t control both chambers of congress and the white house in the fall.

If republicans were smart, they would pray that congress starts doing better and they could somehow get credit for making it happen.

To think that republicans can stand in support of president bush who has the lowest approval rating of any president in history (for the longest period in history) can somehow turn that into votes in the fall is ridiculous.

BTW… the approval rating of 535 people means nothing if no one is willing to vote out their OWN congressman. It is stupid to complain about elected officials that you don’t get to vote for (kennedy, reid, pelosi). It is not their job to make you happy. If you are not willing to vote your OWN representatve out of office for the “do nothing congress”, you are the biggest part of the problem.

There is a few things President Bush does that I do not agree with but I voted for him and think he is a honest man and the one thing is He loves America. Some of the elected official I do not really believe they do.The President cannot do very much by himself except reap the hate and blame. He did not go to war alone but where are the others that was for the war just lying about what they personally knew and did.I would vote for George W. Bush today if he was running.

The ratings appear to indicate Congress is even less popular than Bush but they are misleading. The righty nut jobs love to say; “look, look, Bush is not as bad as Congress!” What a pitiful defense of the great incompetent one. Not as bad as Hitler maybe, or Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, etc. Even the left will agree, and then the righties say; “see?” There is plenty to dislike about Congress and very few will defend there non-performance fro the people. But let’s not forget that they were controlled by the Republicans until last year and obstructed since. The Republicans now have themselves in a position where no one likes what they are doing and not doing. Topping it all is what has been the uncontested worst administration in American history. Bush will become an adjective for unsurpassed incompetence, not just for amateurism.

IMPEACH CONGRESS………………We the voters and taxpayers of the United States of America have the right to recall our ELECTED officials. Since we are their bosses, pay their salaries, and put them in their position, we have the right to recall them.

I have said for a long time we need to force term limits on our congress members. No more than 12 years spent in Washington, divided however they wish to divide the time. Six years as Congressmen/women and six as Senators or 12 years in either house.

Our country was founded on the principle of citizen lawmakers who met for a brief time and went back home to live under the laws they passed. It was not a full-time position with all the staff and committees we have now.

One good way to put more money into our coffers is to mandate Congress meet only a set number of days as some states do and pay them only for that time.

Another good thing we could do this year is vote them all out and start all over, but we seem to love our rascals while wanting to get rid of the other peoples’ rascals.

The republican$ and Democrat$ are just manipulated by money and the lobbies we need to prohibit lobbying. The congress calls the same thing that lobbies do in foreign countries “BRIBING” but here they call it lobbying.
I want to make them responsible but I can neither you - so I don’t know what to do. They make the laws to protect themselves of any persecution - electing others will be the same problem. So what to do, we can not fire them. Elect another one even one with good intention will be corrupted in no time see all the ones just elected in the last 4 years we have one even running for president that have a government salary and now he has millions. How?, he has even made more than some that had years there.

So what to do Can we do anything Just Yesterday the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi is calling to use our reserves to reduce the price of oil. What about the dependency of foreign oil? Any Country security measures here? We need to reduce the depency of oil and more important our dependency of foreign oil ASAP. But again she is just reacting against the WH demands of congress and not for the well been of the country, and she is not alone ALL the congress is responsible - but that is OK they are more concern on the lobbies paid vacations next month. - No sense of urgency of decency. after all they are congressman.

What to do?

Bobd42, the utter contempt of the congress for the taxpayers also fits well .start with that piece of slime, sleezie harry, no amendment takin reid, his counterpart in the house and you have two of the biggest, lyingest, sneakyest, no doingest gasbags in the house and senate. durbin who whines all the time and shows charts of the filibusters, but doesn’t honestly say they brought them on by putting a lot of unrelated sttuff in the bill. they will be blaming G.W. for everytime they screw something else up. they lie like hell about china, they’ve been buying property for years,and emerging as a world power. devaluing our dollar andthe politicians do not have the guts to anything about it. it seems like our do nothing congress is getting in on al gores scam on the ground floor so they can get richer quicklyer. i’verambled long enough. my proof readre is off 2day/

We really shouldn’t be surprised by this. The historical life expectancy for Democracies and Republics is about 200 years. We have existed for a bit over 200 years. Democracies and Republics fall after they have rotted from within by turning their backs on the ethics, values and principles that made them great. We are doing just that at an accelerating rate. Failed Democracies usually ended up becoming dictatorships while some splintered into a gaggle of competing warlords.

I really think that dictatorship and tyrannical rule is the norm for humanity. Historically it is true strongmen, warlords, kings, etc., ruled by far and away the majority of societies. Those few with the unlimited ambition and lust for power and wealth gathered up all that they could until something like 5% of the people controlled 95% of the wealth. They lived in luxury while the masses starved. The US is simply headed down the historic path. We are going to give up our capitalism and freedom for government handouts and fear of the fiction of human induced global warming. If we don’t stop it, we deserve what we get, to have thrown away the noblest experiment in human history.

We might make it yet, though after some very hard years under Dem total rule. After all, the Founding Fathers didn’t expect the country to last 20 year.

tammy has hit the mark washington is broke the senate, the house a complete cluster f….. lets vote the whole bunch out… lets clean house…

Actually, I predict that within, say, 5 years, this problem will be solved. Because some Islamic terrorist will detonate a dirty bomb outside the US Capitol Bldg and turn most of our congressmen into flakes of ash.

The victims, ironically, will be many who said warnings of just such a tragedy were “fear-mongering” and “over-reactions.” And that the explicit threats of our destruction, that we hear daily from Islamo-Fascists, are “just rhetoric.”

In fact, if a few unbelievably brave Americans hadn’t crashed a jet into a field in Pennsylvania, it probably would have happened on September 11, 2001.

This country is committing suicide. Assisted suicide really. Assisted by more-than-happy-to-oblige Islamic terrorists.

I’m afraid it is too late to bring about any serious, meaningful change to the way our congress is being run. It is time for a revolution. Yes, some will chuckle when they read that last statement, but so be it.

The time has come for American’s to re-take their country back just as they took it from the domination of English rule. When the English rule became unbearable, the citizens stood up and revolted.

That is exactly what needs to be done now. No, I’m not advocating violent behavior. But I am advocating meaningful revolution which could include the ardent efforts of recalling elected officials, interfering peaceably in government affairs, attending and vocalizing in open government meetings. What ever it takes to let elected officials know that the game is over… their time has come.

If that doesn’t work, there’s always Plan B.

Thar’s what we get for voting for attorneys as politicians. Enough with this group of ego centric do nothings.
Every attorney wants his/her name on a bill for their ego. Dilitantes!!! Fire them all!!!!!!!!!!!

DO NOT VOTE for an attorney for anything in politics. They all suck!!!!!

Our government runs on MONEY ($$$$) –yes, that stuff. If every taxpayer stopped sending in their income taxes, stopped buying anything except vital needs, we could stop them in their tracks !! And it may come to that..perhaps the sooner the better…God Bless our country and it’s good people. And hear this, all you who use pollitical offices for nothing but your own greed: The day is coming……and soon !!!!

It is no longer a democracy, George W proved it and Congress is laughing all the way to the bank. The American people love despots and kings, and they vote them in continually. The same promises year after year, the same idiots being voted in year after year.

One day the average American will wake up and say where is my freedom, where are my rights, who is my Representative and where is he or she?

And last but not least the average American will wonder where his or her money is, for they won’t have any while Congress are having hearings on the importance of jock straps in professional sports while the US Treasury is trying to plug the hemorrhaging from the greenback levee.

Saying a “do-nothing” congress is too nice for them. We need to start saying it’s a DESTRUCTIVE and ANTI-AMERICA congress.

At least, they should step aside and let capitalism with free market and free enterprises to prosper America. Let start voting them out of the office. Campaign for pay cut, benefit reduction, lobby-free. How about “recall” the whole congress. Pelosi doesn’t even know how much gas price cost and Harry said oil makes us sick. How about make them pay for their own per diem so they know the pain that average Americans are feeling.

Too bad that the third party(ies) offer bunch of same old clowns.

How many democrats need to be deleted to get drill here, drill now passed?

Well said, 9% is pretty much the end of the line.

And as a former resident of Dallas, TX - we thought that goofy John Wiley Price had crawled under a rock several years ago. Everything is a racist plot to him - and he keeps getting re-elected.

Nice column and don’t forget that the low ratings also stem from outlandish earmarks with no valid purpose other than to buy votes, $$ stored in the freezer, sweetheart mortgage deals from banks they regulate, and multiple apartments at rates below the prevailing rate.

Feeding at the public trough…..

The republicans are selling our country out from underneath us and the democrats are giving it away….

Term limits… BAN lobbyists.

DON’T REPLACE ANY OF THEM UNTIL WE
1) REDUCE THE SALARIES TO $100,000. PER YEAR AND
2) DECREASE THE RETIREMENT BENEFITS (THEY HAVE GIVEN THEMSELVES) TO COMPARE TO MILITARY RETIREMENT BENEFITS.

WHEN THE CONGRESS IS IN SESSION, THEY CONTINUE TO CREATE UNREASONABLE LAWS. DICTATE THAT THEY WILL ONLY BE IN SESSION TWO MONTHS OUT OF A YEAR = FEWER LAWS. MORE ACCESS BY THE PEOPLE SO THEY ARE FORCED TO BE NEAR THEIR CONSTITUENTS WHO CAN THEN (HOPEFULLY) STRAIGHTENED THEM OUT!

This commentary is about old news. Since the overhaul of the Congress by voters in 2006 nothing has improved, rather gotten worse. Republicans spent themselves out of re-election but what will happen with the Congress and Senate now that both are run by Democrats? Nothing. The main stream media will see to that and the people who scrambled to the polls to throw out Republicans and usher in their savior party will sit on their hands and do nothing, but what should be done is throw the Dems out.

The Dems only purpose is to get their way or do nothing, and that is what has happened for two years. Either through direct control of both houses or a number sufficient to stop any bill they disagree with, has brought us to the point we now find ourselves…worse off than the last oil crises in the 70’s because the Dems have blocked every attempt to open up the drilling ability of domestic oil fields, or through Clinton’s veto of a plan to do so, the Dems had sufficient numbers to prevent an over-ride of that veto.

The entire economy is now threatened, not by anything Bush has done, but what the Dems have prevented, and the media will continue to do all it can to get Dems re-elected when they should be thrown out. But the people are the ones who vote, and if they don’t wake up, then I hope gas goes to $15/gallon and the whole economy collapses. Maybe then the dullards who vote will pay attention to who is accountable. And no, it isn’t oil speculators or the oil companies, but for now that will be the excuse for voting Dem.

Hurray for you Tammy. The democrats said they wanted to make changes—shame on them.

And even with that abysmal record, we’re going to promote one of those failures to President.

Well written Ms. Bruce and Ed W..

And “to throw off such government”, a possible way.
G.O.O.O.H. Get Out Of Our House has a very detailed plan that has term limits required by any members signing a contract. We make so much of our independence, but keep ourselves chained
to these two parties!

And why has no one in the media stepped up to make a difference? Why do we only get to select from the Democrats or Republicans? Why is there no head to head comparison of Ralph Nader, Bob Barr, Obama & McCain?

I agree wholeheartily with the article. The problem that I see is that our media, mainly , ABC/NBC/CBS/CNN/MSNBC and such rags as Washington Post and NY Times have effectively become the Joseph Goebbels-like propaganda wing of the Democrat party.

We barely saw any mention or traction of stories regarding the CountryWide VIP loans, success in Iraq, the total flip-flopping of Obama, the ’special’ vehicle lease program in the house that allowed a congress woman that DEFAULTED on several mortgages to lease a vehicle, (paid for by us), on a 2007 tricked up Lincoln for $1,300 per month. Or William Jefferson, (D) from Louisana with the cold hard cash. We hear nothing when Nancy Pelosi talked in April 24, 2006 of the ‘common sense’ plan to reduce gas prices. And since the Democrats took over, gas WAS at $2.58 per gallon. Now? And the list goes on and on and on.

Back in 2006 this cabal of media kept harping the Democrat line regarding the Republicans, as the most corrupt congress, yada, yada, yada.

Now with a 9% rating, what to we hear? Crickets chirping.

Join me in making sure you start using the line, ‘Joseph Goebbels-like Propaganda wing of the Democrat party’ when describing our media.

Thank god for FoxNews!

Corruption is not the exclusive domain of the Republicans. The Democrats were turned out in ‘94 for similar reasons. “Contract with America” highlighted the reasons. Looks like they need to be again.

Term limits is not the best idea. Voting isn’t necessarily an effective term limit. ThHe power of incumbency makes many races non-competitive.

I advocate an enforcable “None of The Above” (NOTA). If NOTA wins and election, it reverts to a 90 day run-off. Each party puts up a new slate of candidates and away you go.

Positives:
If you have a good representative, you can keep him
There would be some old guard left to maintain some order and memory
IF you have a bum, and he is good at incumbency, you have a tool to throw him out

Negatives:
The fast turn may yield a new loser, but you had one already
Fast reaction make not keep the electorate informed
Parties have to have a bench to pull from at a moments notice

I seldom leave comments anywhere but this reminds me of a “Pogo” cartoon from years ago. One of the characters said, “We have met the enemy and he is us.” When only half or so of all eligible voters vote and probably half of those have neither researched their candidates or issues, (A WAG on my part but I suspect it to be close), what do we expect? It is our responsibility to change what we can change.

Our Congress, both houses, gets reelected at a rate that the old Soviet Politburo would have envied. We as citizens have not been firing our representatives when they need to be fired. I take partial responsibility but have made a major effort to research all local, state and federal campaigns the past twenty years to find out if my representatives represent my position.

I contact them and ask for explanations of positions and the full body of or at least references where I can look up certain laws. Responses vary all over the place. The poor responses don’t receive my vote in the next election. I want the full text of the bills and not some lopsided summary. I may deceive myself but think I can make up my own mind as to whether or not I support something. The BS I got when I asked exactly what was covered in the Cuban embargo is a case in point.

State and local positions are often poorly paid. Some states pay their legislators $10,000 a year or less. The legislative sessions may be for two or three months but what honest person who doesn’t have independent means can make a living? I long lived in a state that paid its governor (who later became President) $35,000 a year as well as a house.

I lived and worked in that state and made $60,000 a year at the time without the hassle of running for election every two years. I had zero interest in becoming governor. I was a competent manager and lived comfortably in those days (some years ago). Much of the system is set up with salaries so only those who are of independent means or who plan to supplement their income through graft can get by. This may sound like heresy but I think we ought to pay managers enough to live. We also ought to jail them when their hands are found in the public purse. The last I heard, a congressman was paid around $160,000 a year. Almost all have to maintain two residences. It may have changed some since then and if so, I stand corrected.

A good engineer or business manager of a medium sized business can make that much and not have to run for his job every other year or maintain two homes or travel many miles to work unless he/she chooses to do so. People wonder why so few engineers and credentialed scientists go into politics. Follow the money. If a person is honest, it is easier to work in industry and make an honest living than be a Congressman. I always chose to pay family bills and do it honestly and that is why I never got into politics. I am not smart enough to be a successful crook.

I suggest we admit that we are responsible for this. We live in a republic and have the voting franchise. We can use it well or otherwise. Another suggestion is that we each examine the votes as well as the substance of the bills voted upon by our representatives and exercise our own judgment rather than relying upon slogans or campaign materials.

in response to the people who suggest we get what we get because we voted them in and that it is as simple as just voting them out. they cannot be serious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! do they really think that there is 1 honest politician out there to vote for that would be any different. they are all lazy crooks and i unfortunatelly have just about given up on even voting anymore.

How can we get an amendment to the constitution restricting Congress from serving consecutive terms? Then we might get these “responsible stewards” to DO their job.

I whole heartedly agree with your comments. I regularly send emails, etc., to my elected representatives. I consistently get the same stock, “memeographed”, replies. I may not be the sharpest crayon in the box, but I have managed to rear, feed, clothe, and house myself, my wife, and my four children for the last forty three years, so I must not be totally ignorent (sp). We have some problems that the “government” does not want to address honestly.

It is always amusing how Tammy tries to blame the Democrats for everything. Gas prices have doubled since “the Democrats took control?” Puh-leeze! First of all, that isn’t true. Second of all, oil prices have nearly quadrupled since BushCorp. was gifted the Presidency by corrupt Florida politicians and the Supremes. Oil was about $40 a barrel in 2001. Now it’s pushing $150. Blaming the Dems is ridiculous.

My fellow Americans….Everyone here is correct. The system has been hi-jacked by special interest groups and the like. The Democrats and Republicans should be ashamed but will they be, No! They lose all sense of moral compass once they are elected, because they are only concerned with…how to keep the job, hose over the other folks, and make themselves wealthy.
Not only do they vote on their own pay raises, we the people cant do anything about it!!!! Why, because they made sure they put a provision in the law that says only THEY can raise or lower their pay. Not you or I!!! They also NEVER have to pay Social Security or MEDICARE again. How nice! While the rest of us get hosed. I never liked Nancy Pelosi, but she is very bad. And she is 3rd in line for the Presidency, Oh my God!
Robin Williams movie had it right….”Politicians are like diapers. They should be changed often and for the same reason.” Amen!

I agree with what Ms Bruce wrote. Now for the hard part:

When we complain about these yahoos in Congress, when we scream about incompetence, arrogance, lack of shame on their part, when 91% of us feel that Congress is a cesspool, and, even more importantly, when we scream for term limits, just remember this: there already is a term limit in place!

It’s called voting. And when the majority of people in any given state or district continues to vote in these clowns, well, then, the public has spoken. And gets exactly what it deserves.

A last thought…a quote from that peculiar little document we all claim lays out the ground work for this great nation - The Declaration of Independence:

“…Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security….”

Very well said this is truly a worthless Congress.

Be careful with the wisecracks about “eating cake” lest the government see fit to institute a cake-eating tax. Sounds facetious and silly? Read the Congressional Record…

I completely agree with Betty on Congress getting raises. Who gets to vote on their own raise! Congress works for us, we the people should be able to control their pay raises. That right there would solve much of our problems.

Way to go, Ms. Bruce! You hit the hammer on the head. 535 men and women elected by the districts and states each represent and what happens to them? They get enamored with the “power” they have. However, many of them forget why they are there? It is not to run our lives, but to make sure our lives are not bogged down with unnecessary regulations. The fat lady has not sung yet on this Congress, but please get the orchestra together and have them warm up.

These guys get two hundred fifty thousand per year as pay. They even get that pay AFTER they retire. Thats right full pay, and full benefits. Then they only work when they feel like it!! I’d love to know how many average hours per week.
I know if I only had a 9% approval rating with my boss, I’d have been fired long ago. These guys are stealing from us and getting away with it. It’s time for pitchforks and torches…..Term limits now. Isn’t there anytjing in our constitution that allows us to impeach congress???

Is it Possible that “We The People” can impeach Congress? I would like to see the impeachment process on Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Patrick Leahy, John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, Barbra Boxer, Diane Feinstein, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain to start as soon as possible.

This is a test. This is a test. Testing Fox News fairness. I am a mature, liberal, thoughtful Democrat. I often do not agree with the position Fox News takes. Fox News has refused to post my comments in the past for unknown reasons. So here goes—–testing, testing, testing—<<<

LOL…”Thoughtful liberal”??? That’s an oxymoron.

Everyone is born a liberal. Those that learn how to think become conservatives. (And I can prove it!)

I think they all should be fired!! They’ve been in power for way too long and GREED has taken over.
All they care about it how they can make themselves more richer while the American people struggle to make ends meet. Do you think they really care people are starving to death and more people are loosing there homes? I think its a SHAME

It is not just the Congress. It is difficult to comprehend the ignorance of the of the Dallas, Texas, County Commissioners who thought another member had made a racist remark when he used a black hole in space as an analogy. The pathetic ignoramuses then said that the use of the terms “angel food” and “devils food” and “black sheep” also had racists conotations. These are the calibre people the Democrats elect to public office. Before long it is going to be too embarrassing for any half way intelligent person to seek public office.

To check the facts
In all of 2005 there were no gas prices over $3.00 There were a couple of periods we got close to it but not over it. And in AUG 2006 the congress was DEM controled for 8 months. So using your own facts MS. Bruce was correct.

Here is your sign

America deserves the collective idiocy of those in Congress. Despite the complete lack of anything resembling common sense from either chamber, despite the single-digit approval ratings, 99% of these morons will be re-elected in November. Until people rise up and say enough of the pandering and self-promotion that these losers are famous for, it will be business as usual in DC.

I’m all for putting someone is “middle class” in congress. But I see 2 problems:

1) how are they going to get elected? elections require money, a lot of it?
2) aren’t they upper class after they get elected?

PERHAPS IF EVERY OTHER CONGRESSMAN WERE TAKEN OUT & SHOT THE REST MIGHT START TO DO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

this is for the comment by Ken Menzies

No offense, but your comment just seems pretty delusional if you really think because of the corrupted problems we are having in congress and senate is because of the REPUBLICANS? Just like a true Democrat. All rhetoric and no sollutions. The only thing the Democrats have tried to do about the gas prices is RAISE TAXES? Seems that is the only solution the the democrats have nowadays, raise taxes and hope it works.

They refuse to WORK with the republicans and come up with a sollutions, but like you, all they do is talk a BUNCH OF RHETORIC and no sollution then blame everybody and their grandmother. I also blame the REPUBLICANS. All they’ve done is jack up the federal deficit. If you want to see how big corruption on both sides is, take a look at our federal deficit. That will show you how big corruption in Washington is. I’m with Doug Clifton all the way.

This is a test. This is a test. Testing Fox News fairness. I am a mature, liberal, thoughtful Democrat. I often do not agree with the position Fox News takes. Fox News has refused to post my comments in the past for unknown reasons. So here goes—–testing, testing, testing—

Have any of you folks ever heard of the Get Out Of Our House party - or is it a movement??

Read more at: http://www.goooh.com/

Or, if that seems too (whatever) for ya, how about simply voting “Contrarian”.

That is, vote against every incumbent on the ballot wherever you are. Or vote against every Federal incumbent if ya think your state and city, county, school board or whichever are doing OK. Or vote against every incumbent _except_ anyone you truly think is doing a good job. In other words simply create a vote of no confidence on your own ballot and encourage anyone you speak with to do the same.

In cases where there is no opposing candidate - simply don’t mark the ballot in that race. There is no requirement to vote in all contests.

Whatever you do, DO NOT vote a straight party ticket, with a single keystroke or however that’s done wherever you vote. Or, if you truly believe, after careful thought, that all of the candidates belonging to one party are the best for our society - then vote your conscience and do the straight party thing.

My key ideas here are to consider simply turning out all the rascals even at the consequence of “throwing out the baby with the bathwater”. Or, don’t go QUITE that far. But however you vote, THINK about the “Do-Nothing” legislatures we seem to have and the sense of power and entitlement the bureaucrats you encounter at the local, state and Federal agencies you have dealings with. Think about how powerless you feel When you deal with even a low-level bureaucrat, The cop writing you a warning ticket, the clerk at the courthouse, and so on. Vote contrarian.

Term Limits only transfer the power to the people behind the scenes.. all the staffers and civil servants.

You think your govt is hard to influence now… just wait till every Congressman is a novice and has to rely upon a team of consultants… do you really think that will improve things?

You want a better government? Run better candidates.

Ms Tammy Bruce, what a great article, you hit it right on! i find your article written perfectly in every way.
now how do we, get pelosi reid fienstien, and boxer out of office, how do we get them to resign?
we need to do something to save our country, how do we do it?

[...] Cary Wesberry • July 10, 2008 From Tammy Bruce writing at FoxNews.com: Everyone in Washington, Republican and Democrat alike, should be extremely concerned with the fact [...]

Let them eat cake? Give them time and they’ll pass a law *against* eating cake. We can’t keep on eating whatever we want and expect other countries to be OK with that.

Second attempt at posting (first comment apparently too angry - this one toned down, too worked up):

RIGHT ON!!! I couldn’t have said it better Tammy Bruce! I for one am ready to go to Washington with a trailer load of tar and feathers and finally let the uncaring, self-serving politicians know how the rest of America feels! I say run every one of them out of town in disgrace on a rail! Most of these same elitist know nothings are the same ones that further the continuance of legislation that permits them (i.e. the federal government and their minority special interest backers) more and more opportunities to micro-manage our very existence. So much for the republican democracy vision of America’s Founders - our government today is on route to the special interest/elitist driven socialist paradise that our ancestors so venomously despised. I am ready for a modern day revolution - one to restructure the relations between the individual, the states and the federal government back to what the Founders originally intended. Our society has become too soft, “politically correct” and out-of-touch with both the obvious and subtle workings of government. This is something the elitist know nothings in power today recognize - DON’T think for a moment that they do not. My grandfather or great-grandfather’s generation would have marched on Washington long before now over the disgraceful activities that the fed’s are engage in and have been engaging in for the last few decades. My generation and that of my parents have no spine - the dumbing-down activities of various promoting forces (read a majority of “special interests” here) that have influenced governments at all levels and all facets of society over decades have worked exceedingly well. I grew up around farming and realize that farm animals exist, give to their owners and say nothing during the process. To be blunt, we have been “trained” to be cash cows for milking by politicians and big business. We exist and are milked by paying ever more in increased taxation or by increased costs for the necessities of life (food, gas, education, housing). Government has lost focus on original intentions - to be a protector of the “common good” so that the individual could go about the business of enjoying life/liberty and pursuing happiness. An example: a ever growing taxation rate that goes to supporting pork-barrel type projects that can hardly be seen to promote the “common good” or increase happiness but only benefit a minority of the population. I have to figure out how to change things - I owe it to my three year old children. A wise man once said something to the effect of “All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to say nothing”. Let’s stop giving our politicians our implicit acceptance of their activities by our unwillingness to give them a proper and swift rebuke. I’m fighting mad!! I’m ready to shake my fist in the face of each of my elected officials and give them more if necessary unless they change their ways. Let us wake up and finally straighten these morons out.

I really like the idea of having real people get involved in Congress! Just envision if you will, a Congress where people are required to serve for a term, (i.e. “drafted” to work a term in office). I suspect folks who really don’t want the job, but serve their term out of a sense of responsibility and/or patriotic duty would do a much better job than some self gratifying career politician. It might be a bit chaotic at first(?), but I bet it would work! You would certainly get your fair share of knuckleheads (hmmmmm), but you might get a group in office who would work together for the country, not for pet special interests, pork barrel projects, or for their specific party over the needs of the nation. (At least most of the folks would know how to balance a checkbook!) Nobody would be in office long enough to begin to feel the job was an entitlement. I know, I know, I’m dreaming, but ……..

I also like the idea about making Congress telecommute. Just think of the savings! No limos, no drivers, no gas expense cards, no need to spend a fortune daily on power lunches, (compliments of the American public). Just think, it would drive the lobbyists crazy! Great idea!

Just think of this. After 8 years of BO and the liberal Dems, we won’t have to worry about anything. We won’t have any money, the stock market will be in the toilet, we will all have health care, free transportation all over the country, free food and there will be no worries at all. With all the proposals that BO has, we won’t have to worry about anything at all.

Pick me; Pick me. It’s kind of scary. This article brought to mind a phrase in the Declaration of Independence. “That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness”. Nobody’s happy; so what’s next? W