Freshmen members of Congress used to keep their mouths shut

[bluestateguy]

I'm a little old-fashioned when it comes to Congress.

In the old days, before Newt Gingrich's troublemakers, rarely would freshmen even speak on the floor. They deferred to their party leaders and committee chairs, and they did not act as rabble rousers and troublemakers. They knew their place.

Jean Schmidt needs to learn her place. Until evidence, and I mean hard evidence surfaces to prove otherwise, I will remain convinced that she was acting on her own in saying what she said (though she may have given voice to what a lot of Republicans wanted to say).

I did student government for 3 years in high school, and I can remember that freshmen were supposed to keep quiet.

Congress used to be that way too.

We need to go back to that.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. Looks like there was a reason for that, huh?

[katinmn]

2. Paul Wellstone ruffled feathers as a freshman senator

Oh no. I hope they don't start comparing Schmidt to Wellstone now.

[bluestateguy]

3. And look how much more productice he was in his second term?

Of course, a freshman senator with 5 years experience, isn't really the same thing as a House member with three months experience either. Senators are also more likely to have had political experience. Wellstone did not, and indeed, he got more done once he settled into the Senate a little bit more.

Notice that Hillary Clinton was surprisingly restrained for the first, I'd say 3 years of her tenure in the Senate, even though NY politicians are usually real camera hounds.

[FreedomAngel82]

9. Oh yes

I'm surprised. I think Hillary probably wanted to be taken more seriously and work with people instead of being attacked all the time and be seen as "having an agenda" or whatever. You still don't hear too much out of her today.

[tocqueville]

4. very strange idea of democracy and freedom of expression

if you are elected, it's because you represent people and thus speak to express your ideas. There are newcomers of all ages. You make a fool of yourself, then you take the heat, the boos and take the blame. You speak well and express reasonable views, you get applauses and cheers...

And there are sure both "experienced" Republicans and Dems presenting a lot of BS when they speak...

BTW it is the same in ALL countries with a legislative assembly...

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. It's great to see someone like Schmidt make a fool of herself.

It draws the hatemongers out into the center of the arena for all America to see.

[FreedomAngel82]

6. I think with her case

It was a mix of both. She probably had the speech already (you could tell she practiced it before hand) and they used her so they could go "see? She's new! She didn't know what she was doing!" If you go back and watch the video it all happened really fast. After her comments some republican guy got up and said something to her (who knows what except them and maybe others around) and than she gave her fake ass apology and asked for her remarks to be removed. When the guy residing asked for any objections a democrat guy said "I object!" but he was ignored and the guy didn't last two seconds before banging that gavel. It was all planned. Remember: EVERYTHING they do is planned. It's all about campaigning to them.

[Ilsa]

7. I don't mind that she spoke her piece. I do mind the terrible

attack she made on another member of Congress "relaying", endorsing, and announcing this vicious assault. I don't have a problem with her representing her constituents, even though I can't stand her and a majority of those people in her district. I do hope she shuts her nasty pie hole for awhile or someone might shut it for her.

[FreedomAngel82]

11. Either that or at least

shows some respect for people and stops playing partisan politics. I do think that newbies should be allowed to represent who they do and their intrest's. I just think it's so rude though to make a speech like she did whether she was new or not.

[seabeyond]

8. i am not for anyone keeping mouth shut. but, each are responsible

for what they say when they do open their mouth.

but i dont want anyone ot be told to be quiet. we might get some freshman in 2006 and i want them to speak out loud and clear.

[HeeBGBz]

10. Yep, let em speak their mind

If they put their foot in their mouth like Schmidt did, so be it.

[jedr]

14. I'm with you ,but;

Karma has away of coming around, Ms. Schmidt may have got her brownie points with the Bushies, but she is going to have to live with that comment the rest of her life.. " Ya' did a heck of a Job Brownie" don't be surprised that your the target of vet groups all over this country.:evilgrin:

[Lindsay]

12. If freshmen should be seen and not heard, we'd have

missed out on hearing Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who's one of the smarter members of Congress.

Schmidt is just another winger buffoon.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

13. That is true. She is one great freshman member of congress...

However, she was a legislator in Florida for years... it's not like this is her first time doing "something like this."

She's great- where can we find more like her!?!?