And now from the "Are you f*cking kidding me??" department...

[Blue Belle]

I give you:

S.RES.157
Title: A resolution congratulating Carrie Underwood for winning the "American Idol" television program and thanking her for being a positive role model.
Sponsor: Sen Coburn, Tom (introduced 5/26/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 5/26/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Because the Senate doesn't have any better shit to do than pass a motion that congratulates the winner of a national talent show...

I'd like to be the first to Congratulate Senators Coburn and Inhofe for this colossal suckage of time and tax dollars.

Next up in the Senate, the official motion to congratulate the winner of the Thomas Guide Geography Bee. Thanks a load for actually giving a shit where the town Sudbury is located in Canada...



:rant:

[paula777]

1. Please tell me this is a joke. This cannot be real.

[Blue Belle]

14. It is real...

http://www.congress.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d109:11:./temp/~bss6hRl::

for your viewing pleasure...

[NV Whino]

23. It is definitely real

If you want to be further appalled, go to thomas.loc.gov/ and take a look at the bills introduced by all the congress critters duringn a session. In my opinion about 60% of them (if not more) are frivolous.

[triguy46]

2. He must have taken a break from his STD lecture series

he's been doing. But this is great. Let it not be said that Tom Coburn has not introduced any legislation. This is a start for the small person from Muskogee. What a leader! What a visionary!! Would you let this man deliver your baby (as long as you can have it on Saturday when he's home, its how he stays "in touch" with his constituency. They rest of the time he practice proctology.

[Roxy66]

3. Are you kidding me?

Thats what we are paying for.....holy sh*t!!!!

[Bozita]

4. If there were a filibuster going on, this wouldn't have happened

[triguy46]

5. You sound familiar with these two...

You in OK too?

[Blue Belle]

30. Nope...

I was just cruising the Senate site to see how everyone voted on the Bolton Cloture motion and spotted this lovely piece of IMPORTANT legislation...

I'm not familiar with these Senators, but I just have a hunch on where their priorities lye.

Now, if I hear another work from a Republican on how Liberals waste government time, my head is going to explode!!!

:(

[triguy46]

34. They are the true bottom feeders

among the senate. Inhofe is an outcast even among the gop. Coburn is just freakin nuts.

[dogday]

6. Why don't we just elect our President by how good he can sing?

That would solve everyone's problems....

[NoPasaran]

10. Let the eagle SOOOOOOOOOAAAARRRRRR!!!!

Like it's never done beforrrrrrrrrrre!!!!

[dogday]

31. Ha Ha Ha John Ashcroft for President

Sing it John

[rockedthevoteinMA]

74. LOL!!

:applause:

[rniel]

12. I'd bet 90% approval on that idea

for sure. I don't see how that cannot pass in the senate.

[demgurl]

7. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the greatest country on earth!

This makes me proud to be an American, how about all of you?

[Just Me]

8. (((ugh)))

Pitiful.

[rniel]

9. A fake congratulations for a fake t.v. show

I'll have to fake interest.

[AlCzervik]

11. hmm, maybe coburn wants to entice her for an office visit

you know he does enjoy sterilizing woman.

[FreedomAngel82]

13. What the hell?!

Is this a freakin joke?!

[tex-wyo-dem]

15. Ah, yes...

Must keep the commoners in the coliseum happy and distracted with the show so that they don't know what their government is really up to.

American Idol, M. Jackson trial, runaway bride, etc., etc., etc., etc....are what really matter anyway, right?

[katinmn]

16. Now if the judiciary committee picks it up I'll be pissed.

[Inland]

25. Do all pop music issues go to judiciary, or just ones with voting? nt

[katinmn]

33. No, Judiciary gets pop. Country&Western goes to Ethics. n/t

[Blue Belle]

36. Nice!

:rofl:

[0rganism]

17. Time for a filibuster! (j/k)

Seriously, tho, if I were a senator I'd just add a comment for the record that even considering bullshit like this is a significant waste of taxpayer money and abstain from voting.

[FreedomAngel82]

18. If I was a Senator

I wouldn't even bother showing up if that ridiculous bill showed up infront of me. What bullshit. What about all the "missing" money from Iraq? What about all the other illegal dealings with Halliburton? What about the fraud of 2004's election? What about the downing street memo?!?!?! This is what Congress is doing these days?! No freakin wonder they have a low grading!

[WI Independent]

27. if you were a senator...

you would be introducing your own equally useless bill congratulating someone from your home state... They all do it, go search the Congressional records.

Another example from yeterday:

Recognizing the South Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company on the occasion of its 50th anniversary and saluting the outstanding service of the Company to the people of South Carolina.
Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe (introduced 5/26/2005) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: House Financial Services
Latest Major Action: 5/26/2005 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

[Blue Belle]

38. And yet another example from the busy OK Senators...

From Inhofe this time:

S.RES.159
Title: A resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association and its members vital contribution to the oil and gas industry of the United States.
Sponsor: Sen Inhofe, James M. (introduced 5/26/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 5/26/2005 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

[NoPasaran]

41. Honestly, this is what the consent calender is for

No one really has to spend any real time on these things, they get passed and the Senate moves on to other things.

Now, if the Dems were to withdraw their consent from innocuous bullshit like this and require that these things actually be read, debated, and voted on, that would bring the Senate to a halt... and as I understand it this is what they were theatening to do while Kitty Killer was threatening to go nookuler.

[Blue Belle]

42. They don't spend anytime as far as debating goes....

But there's still the paper shuffling and bureaucratic channels that these meaningless resolutions still travel through - and I'm guessing those channels still cost the tax payers money.

My question is why do we have to have this bullshit stymieing our legislative time? Is it really so important that Oklahoma get recognized for pumping oil?? That The American Idol winner get her official senate props?? I'd be willing to bet that the American Idol winner doesn't even know who her Senate reps are... and would prefer an endorsement from Pepsi over that of Coburn and Inhofe.

[LynneSin]

19. Rumor has it that Colburn is going to buy her new breasts...

..since silicone breasts make a woman so much healthier

:sarcasm:

(BTW, check out the conservative idiots - he made it for just that reason!)

[merh]

20. Smoke & mirrors

Watch what this hand is doing, ignore the other hand!

[Al-CIAda]

43. LMAO -nt

[SalmonChantedEvening]

21. I hope it passes!

Then we find out she slept with Paula too.

:evilgrin:

[LynneSin]

22. BTW - this is done all the time in the house & senate by both parties

when a person or team from your home state does something really really big, the senator/representive from that state will make an opening comment on the floor to congratulate them. I think one of the Delaware guys did that a few years ago when the local little league team won the Little League World Series.

This is a congress traditional.

[Lerkfish]

45. yup. my name was mentioned in the state house once

I got a certificate and all. its just constituent PR...pretty normal stuff. bizarre, but normal.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

24. jesus h christ!!!

[Bozita]

26. How about a resolution condemning frivolous legislation?

[Old and In the Way]

28. Next Up: the Bill to make Apple Pie, America's dessert

Hey, maybe Faux can start a new reality series - Survivor / US Congress

Republican's vs. Democrats....we can phone in our vote on who to kick out.

[Cleita]

29. Shouldn't the Judiciary committe be looking into impeachment

for BushCo? They have more evidence than they would ever need to do so.

[SiouxJ]

32. did they do this for any of the past winners?

Did the overweight African American guy get this? Or just the blond haired, blue eyed teenage girl?

[FreedomAngel82]

37. Not that I know of

Just this girl. :eyes: He must have a secret crush.

[SiouxJ]

39. You mean they didn't do it for the last girl

who won too? I'm shocked! Oh yeah, she was black. I guess she can't be a good role model. :sarcasm:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

35. nominated for "Top 10 Idiots of the Week"

[LynneSin]

58. No - because then you'd have to nominate all of Congress

This is something that has been going on forever and it's just standard practice for all senators & representatives, regardless of party, to have a chance to recognize someone from their home state who has done something outstanding. The whole process only takes a few minutes but it's part of the whole congressional process and is kinda nice if you've done something significant. This is no different than when Kerry/Kennedy recognized the Boston Red Sox or New England Patriots as World Series champs.

Personally, it's kinda of a nice process provided that it's not done too much. I'm not an American Idol fan but it was not unexpected that the senators from her home state recognize her.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

62. aaah i got it...thanks

[LynneSin]

68. No problem - it seems corny

but it's one of those good will things that Congress does from time to time to suck up to their constituents. From what I gather, if you get a mention - then you get a nice certificate saying you were honored on that day for whatever it was that got your name mentioned in the first place.

It's not like they spend all day debating on this. Usually someone makes the request and everyone unanimously agrees to it - no roll call vote

[ElsewheresDaughter]

63. aaah i got it...thanks

[toddaa]

40. Global warming, peak oil, flu pandemic, the deficit, and Medicare

I guess they've fixed all those problems and have a little free time on their hands.

[smonahan]

44. This happens all the time

There's nothing unusual at all about this. Things like this occur every day in the Senate from both parties. Here's one from Sarbanes.

S.RES.233
Title: A resolution congratulating the University of Maryland Terrapins for winning the 2002 NCAA National Basketball Championship.
Sponsor: Sen Sarbanes, Paul S. (introduced 4/9/2002) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 4/9/2002 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

There's a lot you can trash Coburn for, but this isn't one of them, unless you want to trash every person who's ever been a Senator.

[Blue Belle]

48. Welcome to the DU...

But trashing the Coburn wasn't the point - just a lucky hapenstance.

My frustration is with the fact that these bullshit resolutions perpetuate - from both sides - wasting time and money. As toddaa points out in a previous post, we have more pressing problems in this country than making sure the NCAA Basketball Champion is officially recognized by the Senate for their game well played.

[Gloria]

46. She is a native of OK; a "compassionate Baptist" (or something) &

now lives in Arizona.

My "newspaper" told me all this today in an "in depth" report on her find character.

She's also useful to praise for political points....

[LibInternationalist]

47. Filibuster!

Seriously, who cares -- this happens all the time.

[flvegan]

49. Well, it is a FOX show, isn't it? Get it now?

[triguy46]

50. I was in the airport in Tulsa yesterday

when her extended family got off a Southwest flight from Phoenix. Every portly one of them was squealing and hooting as if they now had indoor plumbing. Actually, they should all be able to have indoor plumbing now.

[Blue Belle]

51. Let's just hope...

that it isn't this poor girl's responsibility to feed them....

[hugo_from_TN]

52. It's called buying votes

This is a time honored tradition politicians have used since the beginning of time to curry favor with their constituency in the never-ending quest to buy votes.

"Well this new guy looks pretty good, but Congressman Bigbutt did pass that bill a few years ago congratulating Aunt Mabel on her award winning rhubarb pie. I guess I'll vote to keep him in office."

[im10ashus]

53. The link from up above was no good

Any help?

[Blue Belle]

55. Which link?

Sometimes the Senate links will stop after time.

[im10ashus]

56. From Blue Belle

In post #14

[Blue Belle]

59. Here ya go:

http://www.congress.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d109:11:./temp/~bssKXNA::

Like I said in my previous post, these links are only good for a short amount of time. If it still doesn't work, go to Senate.gov, go to legislation and records, last major action, then look for S.RES.157...

It's there, I promise.

:)

[im10ashus]

70. That's unfreaking believable.

Wasting our time in the Senate, per usual. Thanks for the link.

[Bouncy Ball]

54. This is nothing new.

Read the Congressional Record some time (when you can't sleep). You'll find all kinds of weird little stuff in there all the time.

Pretty SOP for Congress. Seriously.

[lastliberalintexas]

57. So much better than the Black unwed mother

who won last time. We all know she couldn't have been a good role model. :eyes:

That's what this resolution really says, if you can read through the republican code. Yes, I know that they all do this. I'm not criticizing him for the resolution, only for the wording of it- "thanking her for being a positive role model."


I hate that I don't know the name of the lady who won last time, but I don't watch the show. But earlier in the week I heard a story on NPR concerning American Idol and people complaining about the song she sang- something about being an unwed mother and giving support to others in the same circumstance. Because, you know, support isn't what they deserve, ostracization is.

[peacebaby3]

60. Her name is Fantasia Barrino. She's from N. or S. Carolina. n/t

[LostinVA]

67. High Point, NC (right by Greensboro) n/t

[Fire Walk With Me]

61. They're hoping the glory will rub off on them and bring them up a notch

For a bunch of non-leaders to latch onto the popular in hopes that they'll be associated with the popular... Nixon shaking Elvis' hand...

"They drape themselves with furs and diamonds in hopes that no one will notice what they are."

[progressivebydesign]

64. Hey! More people voted that night than in our last Election!!!

Perhaps WE'RE the ones who have it wrong! Maybe next election should actually be a sing-off!!!

[Straight Shooter]

65. "colossal suckage" ... Wow, you have a way with words, Blue Belle.

:rofl:

[lonestarnot]

66. Oh this is not for fucking real!

[LynneSin]

69. EVERYONE THIS IS NORMAL STUFF FOR CONGRESS!!!! STOP COMPLAINING

Congress does this all the time - there is a vote but it's vocal only - no roll call vote. Everyone on the floor just agrees and it's done.

It's actually a really nice honor to get this recognition and it's done all the time for winners of major contest, sporting events and other extraordinary things. Even democrats do it.

[Pacifist Patriot]

73. Just because it's normal doesn't mean it isn't silly.

[Telly Savalas]

71. For those of you complaining that this wastes time...

Do you really want a Senate with a GOP majority spending all of their time concentrating on setting policy in important issues? I'd much rather see these people showing their support of American Idol contestants than pulling goofy neocon shit like privatizing the EPA or authorizing the use of force against Portugal or whatever.

[Blue Belle]

76. When they privitize the EPA...

they do it in the back rooms... and then introduce the bill at 3:00 in the morning. During the daylight hours though - that's when they march out this crap.

[Pacifist Patriot]

72. Hey, I've been to Sudbury!

Oh wait, that was Sutton.

Just kidding. I know exactly how you feel. I HATE this kind of stuff. Ridiculous, wasteful and pandering.

[Dan-W]

77. Ha! I *have* been to Sudbury. Nickel capital of Canada! n/t

[Parche]

75. idiots

I believe it, remember French toast and fries changing to freedom everything

Some in congress are whackos