RADAR: America's Dumbest Congressmen

[whometense]

The new Radar Online is so much fun.
http://www.radaronline.com/features/2006/10/americas_dumbest_congressmen_a_radar_special_report.php

Radar ranks the 10 biggest fools on the Hill
By Holly Martins

Congress, as any CSPAN viewer can attest, has never been a bastion of intelligence. As far back as two centuries ago, Samuel Johnson was demeaning the nation's legislators as a "circus of rogues and fools." But when it comes to sheer stupidity, the men and women of the 109th have distinguished themselves as a breed apart.

Despite a notoriously compliant president and Republican majorities in both houses, they've spent over 600 days in session without conducting a shred of productive business, which is not to say they've just sat around. As the war in Iraq raged out of control, they futilely postured over an unconstitutional flag-burning amendment that was clearly destined to go up in flames. They rallied around the brain-dead Terry Schiavo after the Senate majority leader, watching her on television, claimed to detect signs of life. And their hijinks culminated this month with l'affaire Mark Foley, which raised the question of just who a guy needs to blow on the Hill to get the attention of the brain-dead House leadership.

But in a notably dumb year, perhaps the dumbest move came from Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell, who sponsored a bill seeking $20 million in taxpayer money for a party to celebrate America's victory in Iraq. Not long ago such flagrant obtuseness might have ensured the senator a place on our annual list of America's Dumbest Congressmen. Alas, given this year's stiff competition, he didn't even make runner-up...

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1. Bonus article (MH, this one's for you!)

http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2006/10/weldon-to-reporters-espionage-anyone.php

The Weldon Beat: Deep Cover at the DOD

Curt Weldon (R-PA) is all about helping people. Currently under federal investigation for aiding his daughter's efforts to score million-dollar contracts from Russian energy companies, the vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee is also known to help reporters—most recently by inviting them to work undercover in his congressional office.

Last month, sources say the congressman offered a number of lucky journos what he pitched as the ultimate insider's view of his crusade against Able Danger, the FBI "data-mining" op that Weldon says identified Mohamed Atta but failed to nab him before 9/11. In exchange for discretion, we're told, Weldon would allow them to pose as his aides so that they could sit in on meetings with Department of Defense officials and witness their stonewalling firsthand. Because what's a few national security secrets between friends, right?

"It's one thing to dig and be sneaky—he was asking reporters to lie to the DoD," says a D.C. insider with knowledge of Weldon's e-mails. "Like everything his office does, it was inept, boneheaded, and crazy."

While communications from Weldon's office typically tout awards, achievements, and sundry ribbon-cuttings, his offer to let friendly reporters play spy was apparently unprecedented.

"He really is sort of a nutjob who believes that Able Danger is the biggest scandal since Watergate, and no one is buying it," the D.C. insider says.

To the source's knowledge, no reporters took Weldon up on his offer.

Meanwhile, Weldon insists he, his associates, and his daughter have done no wrong, and has questioned the timing of the raids, which relate to events that happened two-and-a-half years ago and come just three weeks before an election.

Weldon's spokesman was unavailable for comment.

Previous article here: http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2006/10/paybacks-a-bitch-for-weldon.php

[MH1]

14. Oh, thank you

that's a great article.

You'd think Sestak would have an easy time of it, with his great resume and the steady spew of (factual) ugliness about Weldon. But, they make republicans with very, very thick skulls in this area. Sigh.

[beachmom]

2. Barbara Boxer and Patrick Kennedy made the list, too, though

What do you think of that?

[whometense]

3. Is Barbara Boxer really dumb?

She never struck me that way.

Patrick Kennedy? I don't know if he's stupid - he has made some stupid choices, though.

[TayTay]

4. Ahm, let's just say this is not the first publication to note that

and leave it at that. Ahm, I like both of them, but Mensa membership is not in their future.

[Mass]

6. She has said some pretty stupid things along the years. However,

her heart is at the right place, as is Kennedy's.

[Mass]

5. They missed Santorum.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2421354&mesg_id=2421354

(and Allen, of course) : with his ham sandwiches.

[whometense]

7. good point.

They'd both be in my personal top ten.

I imagine they stuck Boxer and Kennedy in there so it would look more balanced. The weight of congressional stupidity leans heavily in the direction of the GOP. Facts are biased. ;-)

[karynnj]

8. How did they miss Sessions?

I have yet to hear a sensible comment from him.

[Mass]

9. I find him very sensible - Wrong headed, but he does not deliver the

type of stupidities we hear from some. This is why I am not surprised that Babs and Patrick Kennedy are in the list. I have heard her say her share of stupid things (while being right on the issue) and Patrick Kennedy never struck me as bright.

[nam78_two]

10. Agree with the list except for Boxer

ummm that book does sound...errr... strange

[whometense]

11. for ginny, if you're reading this

Rolling Stone has its own list of the 10 Worst congressmen:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/12054520/the_10_worst_congressmen

Guess who's number two?

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/12054520/the_10_worst_congressmen/2

2. THE DICTATOR
JAMES SENSENBRENNER JR. (R-WIS.)

No politician better embodies the zealotry of the 109th Congress than Sensenbrenner, chairman of the powerful House Judiciary Committee. His solution to hot-button issues is always the same: Lock 'em up. Sensenbrenner has proposed legislation that would turn 12 million undocumented immigrants into felons, subject any adult selling a joint to a teenager to at least ten years in prison, and incarcerate college kids for failing to narc on their hallmates. He also wants to prosecute anyone who utters an obscenity on the air. Big fines just aren't tough enough for indecent broadcasts: As Sensenbrenner told a group of cable executives last year, "I'd prefer using the criminal process rather than the regulatory process."

In addition to his assault on free speech, Sensenbrenner has also played a major role in curtailing civil liberties. He was the lead House sponsor of the Patriot Act, which gives the government broad powers to spy on Americans. Although the measure was intended to stop terrorists, Sensenbrenner insists it should also be used in routine criminal cases.

Sensenbrenner's iron-fisted rule of the judiciary committee was on nationwide display last year during a televised debate over reauthorization of the Patriot Act. When Democrats began discussing the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo, the chairman abruptly ended the meeting and cut off their microphones. When Democrats refused to leave the room, Sensenbrenner's staff pulled the plug on C-Span and turned out the lights. As The Daily Show host Jon Stewart put it, "He literally took his gavel and went home."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called Sensenbrenner's abuse of power "disgraceful." But Democrats should take heart: The GOP chairman is an equal-opportunity bully. "He treats us all equally," says Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.). "He treats us all like dogs."

Sensenbrenner, whose $10 million fortune stems from his great-grandfather's invention of the Kotex sanitary napkin, won $250,000 in the lottery in 1997. He also enjoys the perks of office: No congressman has racked up more frequent-flier miles on junkets sponsored by corporate lobbyists. While he was enjoying the good life last year, Sensenbrenner took time out to make life tougher on working families, winning approval for a bill that makes it harder for Americans overwhelmed by debt to declare bankruptcy. The congressman refused to consider an exemption from the bill's restrictions for victims of Hurricane Katrina -- and even voted against the aid package designed to help them recover from the disaster.

TIM DICKINSON

[ProSense]

12. How about Senators:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2891492&mesg_id=2891492

[WildEyedLiberal]

13. LOL - I just posted a thread about that

Great minds, and all that...

Edit: Wow, the headline was so sensational, I didn't even notice you were the OP. Nice find!!!