Sartorial meltdown
Posted by Ron Coleman on July 25, 2007
Another reason for contempt of Congress: They’re slobs, coming onto the house floor in beach wear and athletic jerseys. How far we have fallen (hat tip for that link to this fascinating blog; check out this, too). It is the Victorian in me, I know, but I am comfortable with that.
Not with this, though. It is contemptible, but entirely appropriate considering the contempt they have not only for each other, but the people they represent. It is a parliament à la Lord of the Flies. How soon can we be rid of the lot of them?
UPDATE: The rump Administration insists that staffers cover theirs. And typically thorough thoughtfulness on the issue from Classical Values.
July 25, 2007 at 12:59 pm
“Contemptible?”
You do have chutzpah, Ron, I’ll give you that.
July 25, 2007 at 5:23 pm
You think?
July 26, 2007 at 6:25 am
That is sad. I agree with you Ron: I would prefer to see my elected officials dress in a moderately respectable nature. Just my two cents, for whatever they are worth.
July 26, 2007 at 8:12 am
This may not be contemptable but the disrespect this shows for the chamber and their constituents is astounding. This is the United States Congress, not some middle scholl debate practice. Unacceptable. We have slunk very low for this to be allowed.
And this has all happened in the past six months it seems.
July 26, 2007 at 8:43 am
Exactly what you would expect of third rate people. Nowadays who becomes a
politician? Surely not the best nor the brightest. Few of them would succeed
in the world outside of politics. Remember, it’s both parties against the
people.
July 26, 2007 at 8:44 am
the disrespect this shows for the chamber and their constituents is astounding.
And this during a week when the chief law enforcement officer tells the US Senate to go pound sand down a rathole.
I’m shocked but not surprised.
July 26, 2007 at 9:16 am
Ara, the issues are not related. There are plenty of threads on blogs about the executive privilege issue. This is not one of them.
July 26, 2007 at 9:23 am
And this during a week when the chief law enforcement officer tells the US Senate to go pound sand down a rathole. (most republicans I know cannot stand the AG either, but that’s not here nor there).
That right there, that attitude is the problem. A refusal to take responsibility because of some totally unrelated claim about a separate branch of government.
This congress has been the ugliest and more bittyer for over 150 years. The leadership has made what was a divided congress into one much more divided, cynical and unprofessional. Some people in congress do not love the United States, see patriotism as some sort of political stunt, and use all their efforts to complain about a lame duck administration. hundreds of investigations. Very low compromise on legislation. Senator Reid’s anger and refusal to give what he asked for and routinely got has united Republicans in a surprising way.
No professionalism, and no class. This is the Democrat’s congress, and nothing can change the fact that it is acting much worse under their watch. Sheila Jackson Lee has always been pretty ridiculous, but look at her. She’s got no respect for any of her peers who deserve some. And of course it would be tough to show any respect to such a bitter old hack.
July 26, 2007 at 9:34 am
Ara, the issues are not related. There are plenty of threads on blogs about the executive privilege issue. This is not one of them.
Of course you’re right. And I do read many of the blogs you allude to.
But at the same time, I’m shocked (but not surprised) at the number of blogs that not only ignore the-bank-heist-in-plain-daylight that is the Bush administration while simultaneously using words like “contemptible” and “disrespect” to describe…someone wearing a t-shirt in the House Chamber.
Like I said: Shocked, but not surprised.
July 26, 2007 at 9:51 am
Sue and I have always noticed that women have never known how to dress for Congress; one sees a sea of men dressed in sober blue, gray, black suits, along with women dressed in shockingly awful bright blues and reds - “Congresswoman colors” we call them. They must all get together and buy their suits at JC Penney sale racks in Texas.
Still, it’s better than the t-shirt. Wow.
July 26, 2007 at 9:52 am
Shorter Ara Rubyan: “A Congressman’s t-shirt doesn’t trash the Constitution; for that you need the Attorney General.”
July 26, 2007 at 10:02 am
Not only is she a slob, she is one of the more corrupt members of Congress. And her entire ideology is thoroughly against what has made America so great.
July 26, 2007 at 11:04 am
Ara, there is nothing in this post about the constitution.
To the extent you want me to talk about the issue with executive privilege, I am not that interested in it. It has been asserted by every President of each party to the extent they can get away with it. When the information sought is, as here, fundamentally a political fishing trip / show trial, I am not too exercised over it.
But there are great law professors, left, right, and center, who can write about this with much more insight on the topic than I can offer. So I defer to them. That doesn’t mean that therefore I may not comment on the fact that the Congress of the United States is in self-imposed decline in another area.
July 26, 2007 at 11:05 am
Wow! Tip O’neill is rolling in his grave.
I remember when O’Neill threatened to kick a member of Congress out of the house unless he put on his jacket back on. The offending Congressman complained that it was hot and Tip responded that the founding fathers had deliberated in Wigs and overcoats and that he wasn’t going to allow shirtsleeves on the House floor.
You think that Pelosi cares?
July 26, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Ara
So your pretty cool with one branch of government stepping on another branch as long as that branch is run by people you dont like? Is that about it? How does that relate to members of congress showing respect to the institution that is congress. Please explain in more detail. Thanks.
July 26, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Ron:
Someday, G-d willing, one of your children will ask you what you did, or thought, or wrote about, during these historic times. I hope you won’t disappoint them with your answer.
Buzz:
A Congressman wearing a t-shirt while making a speech in the House (or in the case of Rep. Miller, “a loose-fitting Hawaiian shirt, linen pants and slippers”
is not a violation of the US Constitution. The Attorney General lying to Congress, is.
July 26, 2007 at 12:40 pm
More melodrama, Ara. Don’t worry, I won’t disappoint them.
Ara, no one has suggested that being a slob in Congress is unconstitutional. Just contemptible.
This thread has nothing to do with your current obsession.
July 26, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Ara, as you’ve shown some potential in needlessly escalating conflict, may I suggest you ping Jessie Jackson or Al Sharpton for work? As they are professional grade scab-pickers, I’m certain they could put your contentious writing skills to some use.
July 26, 2007 at 6:58 pm
[...] Sartorial meltdown Another reason for contempt of Congress: They’re slobs, coming onto the house floor in beach wear and athletic […] [...]
July 27, 2007 at 6:29 am
Rob s
Sorry, dude, no scabs. I’m a union man!
p.s. As for Jackson and Sharpton, I’m not familiar with their work. I’ve got more of a taste for Michael Moore.
July 27, 2007 at 6:31 am
P.S. As for needlessly escalating conflict, what’s a blog for anyway?
July 29, 2007 at 7:11 pm
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