It's not so much that the Democrats want to pick our leaders for us: it's that they want to pick our leaders apart so that they cannot lead.
If we foolishly abandon Tom DeLay, they will simply start the process of demolishing whomever we pick to replace him, just as they took down
Bob Livingston even before he could pick up Newt Gingrich's gavel.
p>As a former constituent (I have since moved into the 18th District and am currently misrepresented by Sheila Jackson-Lee), I've written to
Tom to encourage resistance, and I ask all of you out there to do likewise and to write to your GOP representatives to urge their continued
support for the Majority Leader. This includes those of you in Connecticut who are constituents of the questionable Rep. Shays: let's stop
helping the Democrats to destroy good people. br> -- Stephen Foulard br> Houston, Texas /p> p> All of a sudden the Democrats have become so
pious. My goodness -- they wouldn't think of doing anything remotely unethical. Tom DeLay is the only offender. What a bunch of hypocrites
showing up on the talk circuit these days. I think it's time the voters took back their country. We vote these clowns into office and they
get a huge salary (which they don't earn) with all the perks that go with it. I wonder how many of the hypocrites would pass an ethical
investigation. I for one am sick and tired of the accusations and petty partisan nonsense. If the Democrats want any respect they certainly
aren't showing it. They have a gaggle of "wannabes" out there who are so busy accusing and at the same time dismissing anything that smells
in their behavior. I think it's time we demand they all get investigated. It's a shame we have to have people like Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi,
Harry Reid and the like smearing our administration just because they lost two elections. That is exactly what it boils down to -- they lost
and they can't handle it like grownups. Let's see what they have done in their campaigns and see if they are as squeaky clean as they would
like us to believe. Also, I am fed up with the wimpy Republicans who can't take the heat and don't know which side of the fence to get off
on. br> -- Jane McNair br> Connecticut /p>
Sir, "...Elected officials are paid miserably and need to make ends meet in any legitimate way they can." Actually, if one looks at what
these ladies and gentlemen are paid, they are doing better than 95% of the American Public.
I know Washington, D.C., and its environs are expensive digs. But I have the same sympathy for these folks that I do for baseball players.
Both occupations were never intended to be permanent careers. Personally I would be in favor of a change of the rules in both houses.
Something along these lines:
A member may receive compensation from anyone deemed not illegal by the laws of the land, with the following proviso:
* A member must declare said compensation.
* Said compensation shall be paid to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and dispersed to the recipient.
* No member may vote on a bill that reflects the interests of any provider of said compensation.
* No member may hold a major or minor chairmanship position that affects the interests of the compensator(s).
* The OPM shall be the sole determinant of the compensation and its effects. Appeal will be by a 12 member panel selected from the general
population.
