I am old enough to remember when the halls of Congress when a larger percentage of its members were smart, witty, and passionate (without anger) about their roles.
When coming of age in NYC, names from the Midwest were known to we neophyte political enthusiasts: Charlie Halleck (R-IN) was the Minority Leader, not unexpec…
I am old enough to remember when the halls of Congress when a larger percentage of its members were smart, witty, and passionate (without anger) about their roles.
When coming of age in NYC, names from the Midwest were known to we neophyte political enthusiasts: Charlie Halleck (R-IN) was the Minority Leader, not unexpectedly a strong opponent of the liberal social proposals of Democratic Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson.
Yet, he supported the Vietnam War (as did most pols), but voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1968, as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (right for all citizens to vote in federal elections) and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Along with Senator Everett Dirksen (R-IL), he was the face of the Republican Party in most of the 1960s, and both these men were important consciences of the Republican Party.
One the other side of the aisle was Gene McCarthy (R-MN) and Bobby Kennedy, who had no issue in standing up to their party's president, Lyndon Johnson, regarding the VN War. Many other Dems were vocal in their opposition to the war.
While coalitions had to be cobbled together to pass legislation, there was not a lock-step with in the parties. The Republicans were saddled with the Northeast "Liberal" Republicans, like Prescott Bush (R-CT), father and grandfather of two conservatives presidents.
The Dems had the racist Southern Dems, who readily flowed to the racist calling of Lee Atwater & Roger Stone to the conservative Nixon/Reagan philosophy of the 1970s/1980s.
We are now saddled with witless incompetents who are skeezing for the camera with no concept of the reason for the House of Representatives even exists.
I am glad that I am 72 years old and will die within the next 20 years...Even the Roman Empire expired at the hands of the battle hardened hordes from Germania...the U.S. will do it from within.
RE: Spineless Pols
I am old enough to remember when the halls of Congress when a larger percentage of its members were smart, witty, and passionate (without anger) about their roles.
When coming of age in NYC, names from the Midwest were known to we neophyte political enthusiasts: Charlie Halleck (R-IN) was the Minority Leader, not unexpectedly a strong opponent of the liberal social proposals of Democratic Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson.
Yet, he supported the Vietnam War (as did most pols), but voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1968, as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (right for all citizens to vote in federal elections) and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Along with Senator Everett Dirksen (R-IL), he was the face of the Republican Party in most of the 1960s, and both these men were important consciences of the Republican Party.
One the other side of the aisle was Gene McCarthy (R-MN) and Bobby Kennedy, who had no issue in standing up to their party's president, Lyndon Johnson, regarding the VN War. Many other Dems were vocal in their opposition to the war.
While coalitions had to be cobbled together to pass legislation, there was not a lock-step with in the parties. The Republicans were saddled with the Northeast "Liberal" Republicans, like Prescott Bush (R-CT), father and grandfather of two conservatives presidents.
The Dems had the racist Southern Dems, who readily flowed to the racist calling of Lee Atwater & Roger Stone to the conservative Nixon/Reagan philosophy of the 1970s/1980s.
We are now saddled with witless incompetents who are skeezing for the camera with no concept of the reason for the House of Representatives even exists.
I am glad that I am 72 years old and will die within the next 20 years...Even the Roman Empire expired at the hands of the battle hardened hordes from Germania...the U.S. will do it from within.