The Angry White Guy

Should congress have term limits? I think so, to many of these congressman go to Washington get ingrained into the system and loose touch with the people they represent. How many congressmen/congresswomen show up in Washington with modest wealth and leave millionaires? How is this possible on the job that pays $174,000.00? Well lobbyist, PAC money, bribes, kickbacks, and envelopes stuck to the bottoms of tables, I guess.

In my opinion congress should be limited to no more than 12 years and we have members that have been there over 50 years, lets take a look at the longest serving congressman …

As of this writing March 14, 2009

1.) 56 years, 66 days – Robert Carlyle Byrd (D-WV)
2.) 53 years, 87 days – John Dingell (D-MI)
3.) 49 years, 201 days – Daniel Ken Inouye (D-HI)
4.) 46 years, 124 days – Edward Moore “Ted” Kennedy (D-MA)
5.) 44 years, 66 days – John Conyers (D-MI)
6.) 39 years, 343 days – Dave Obey (D-WI)
7.) 38 years, 66 days – Charles Bernard “Charlie” Rangel (D-NY)
8.) 38 years, 66 days – Charles William “Bill” Young (R-FL)
9.) 36 years, 66 days – William Thad Cochran (R-MS)
10.) 36 years, 66 days – Pete Stark (D-CA)
11.) 36 years, 4 days – Don Young (R-AK)

Source

Other that have been there to long …

22 Years – Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
26 Years – Harry Mason Reid (D-NV)
28 Years – Charles Ellis “Chuck” Schumer (D-NY)
28 Years – Arlen Specter (R-PA)
28 Years – Barnett “Barney” Frank (D-MA)
28 Years – Christopher John Dodd (D-CT)
30 Years – Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
12 Years – Susan Collins (R-ME)
18 Years – Maxine Waters (D-CA)
26 Years – Barbara Boxer (D-CA)

And this is the tiniest tip of the iceberg there is 535 members of congress (Currently 534) and if I had to take a shot at it, over 500 of them need to be ousted.

As for my own state the Commonwealth of Kentucky

Senate

25 Years – Mitch McConnell (R) [Mitch is a behind the scenes arm twister for the right.]
22 Years – Jim Bunning (R) [12 of which in the House - Jim is becoming a political liability, but he votes the right way.]

House of Representatives

14 Years – Dist 1 – Ed Whitfield (R) [Not looking good for this RINO he votes for pork and the GOP only 89.3% of the time this is the lowest of the KYGOP members.]
>1 Year – Dist 2 – Brett Guthrie (R) [To early to tell]
2 Years – Dist 3 – John Yarmuth (D) [Needs to go votes 100% with the 111th Democrat Party.]
4 Years – Dist 4 – Geoff Davis (R) [Stanch Conservative]
28 Years – Dist 5 – Harold Rogers (R)[Hal's been there a long time, he votes the right way but likes his pork.]
5 Years – Dist 6 – Ben Chandler (D) [Is generally a Blue Dog, but he endorsed Obama and vote 92% with party.]

So term limits … we need them! We need to keep fresh blood and fresh ideas in Washington, I don’t believe for a minute the the vast majority of this country is as far left as congress has become. Sure maybe California is, but not the heartland of this country, we currently have far to many left wing loons serving in Washington and far to many Republicans that seem to think the country is left, my own representative seems to forget far to often just who he works for with his pathetic 89.3% party voting record. Now I don’t expect anyone to maintain a 100 party line voting record, you should not agree with your party 100% of the time and I’d be concerned if you did. It really comes down to what you agree with and against in your party.

Term Limits, fresh blood and new ideas … really the best way to get this constitutional amendment is on a national ballot, congress will never vote for it, hell they can’t even deny themselves a raise when you’re strapped for cash. Do you think for a minute they’ll willingly limit their own power? Please!

I’m thinking 12 years, but maybe 8 is enough and no pension when they leave.

More read on this here …
US TERM LIMITS
Term Limits: The Only Way to Clean Up Congress

Tweet Buzz DIGG Facebook Ping Reddit Stumble

Related posts:

1. The Poster Child for term limits…
2. Congressional travel soars under Democrats
3. You might get 72 hours to read War and Peace. (Health Care Bill)
4. Congressional Staffers are clueless
5. The time for gentry is OVER!
6. The Angry Crystal ball of 2010
7. Obama’s bogus jobs and imaginary congressional districts
8. Let me explain something to congress
9. Former CongressmanTom Davis (R-VA) says you are unsophisticated.
10. Long-Term Debt ‘Unsustainable’ …. really?