One word: Not too good.
Okay, that’s three words. But it describes that whole “Ask A Congressman” thing.
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL/3) held a town hall in Phenix City last week, and I asked you to submit questions for me to ask. Only, he wouldn’t take your questions.
While the crowd wasn’t huge, locals had some questions. So, when it was all done, I asked if he had time for some questions from blog readers. Since most of you live outside his district, he declined to take them, beginning to say that his town hall was for the 3rd district. He was polite, but that’s what the answer was. Almost. He didn’t get through it, because someone else interrupted him mid-sentence to shake his hand. So, I didn’t get to remind him that … I live in the 3rd district!
He was up against a timeline, having a scheduled meeting with county officials across town.
His press secretary asked me to send the questions her way. However, there hasn’t been a response.
But, that doesn’t mean he didn’t answer some of the questions. Sort of.
Let’s ignore the silly questions for a minute — Mike Rogers isn’t Thaddeus McCotter and IMAO isn’t Red Eye, after all — and focus on serious questions.
Some asked, about repealing Obamacare. As it turns out, in his remarks, Rep. Rogers did address that. He said the new GOP Congress will try, but he thinks the effort will fail:
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Let’s assume best case scenario, both houses flip. “You’re gonna repeal all this stuff that’s been done in the last two years?”
Well, we’re gonna try, but it, everybody in this room knows that, let’s say, for example, that we put a bill on the floor to repeal the health care reform bill, and we pass it through both chambers. Do you think the president’s gonna sign that new law? No, he’s gonna veto it.
Well, the fact is it takes a two-thirds vote to override a veto. So I want people to have realistic expectations about what can be done, uh, over the next two years.
Best thing is we can stop, we can put the brakes on the spending, because the Congress controls the budget. That’s the best thing that can happen.
There were questions about spending, which he also addressed in those same remarks. Remember that whole “we can put the brakes on the spending” comment?
So, while he didn’t answer questions — heck, he didn’t even let me ask them — he did address the top two topics asked on the blog or sent to me in email.
No, I’m not happy he didn’t take the questions. But, seriously, would you take questions from you? I didn’t think so.
And, despite my displeasure, it’s not like I’m gonna campaign or vote for the guy who’s running against him. I don’t even know who that guy is. I think it’s a guy. Doesn’t matter.
I’m voting for Rogers in November. Again. I voted for him in 2008. And 2006. And 2004. And 2002 (when he first ran for Congress).
Heh, we always knew you lived in Mr. Rogers neighborhood. Well, he must be earning your votes so far so here’s hoping he gets behind or leads in the spending battles to come. Tell him we will show up with salad forks and torches if he fails because we will all be kinda hungry and askeered of the dark.
You’re a good man Basil. Me, I’m an angry bitter fishwife with an axe I’d like to grind somewhere particularly painful to a politician. Like their ego, their pompous attitudes their elitism.
In our district the morons in the big cities voted in the RINO to run for Senate. I can’t vote for him. I won’t vote for his opponent, but I won’t vote for the man who stood by and did nothing while this area and state’s jobs were being stolen. The other guy stood up, the other guy went public, the other guy held the government feet to the fire. That’s why the idiots voted him out I guess. People having jobs means less welfare, which means less gratitude for social programs, which means less votes, which means more power and we all know that this who public service thing has very little to do with actual service and more to do with power.
Liberal Democrats, moderate Republicans in this state are the same animal.
Good luck with your guy though, I hope he does you proud.
Two words. Term limits! And that should go for all from the president down. All should only be able to serve 2 consecutive 4 year terms then they are out and let someone else have a chance. If they happen to be great they can run again after a 4 year absence and then again they can only serve 2 consecutive terms then its a 4 year break. Its time we get these career politicians out of there as they have lost the idea of what the REAL world is like.
The good news this fall is that the Democrats are going to be punished. The bad news is that they will be replaced by big spending RINO Republicans who love ObamaCare because it adds Power to Washington and that is what politics is all about! The Republicans suck as bad as the Democrats so don’t expect any changes when they take over. Just different morons doing the same moronic stuff!
I am convinced most republicans have a good gelding session before entering politcal office.Not all, but most.
Funny, democrats run on a platform of “We’re going to end tax cuts” then end tax cuts. Democrats run on a platform of “We’re going to lose the war” then make sure we lose the war. Republicans can’t even make a convincing statement that they’re going to do something good that 80 percent of America wants, like defunding Obamacare? Weak.
Ummmm…. Obama is 2 years out from re-election. They could overturn it around the election and if he vetoes it either 1) try for a 2/3 vote if the numbers are there or 2)repeal again when a non Dem is voted into office and won’t veto.
Son of Bob, I’m with you.
Maybe he was in a hurry to get to country’s bbq. They were gonna let him sit in the giant rocking chair.
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