Oops, that's my number (Senator Vitter)[MULTI-MERGED] (1 Viewer)

[TPS]

There's actually plenty more beef I could shell out including a couple of positive amendments from last week which really could have helped our troops and war on terror policy. And while that was directed to MLU, I'm going to have to ahead and state that despite what you have otherwise indicated, your contempt is partisan. Because it goes like this - I've posted several times in threads where I believe you were involved (though not directly to you) to those hanging from Bobby Jindal's jockstrap and others who claim to support Senator Vitter (both are gentlemen who I have voted for) without looking it up, what have either of those guys done? It turns out, not much. In Jindal's case, it's about hype and hope. Because not only has he had completely undistinguished rookie and sophomore terms in the U.S. House, he got lapped by Charlie Melancon who spent his rookie year in the minority party.

In Mary's case, there is a lot of beef out there and some votes I happen to disagree with. Aligning herself with the McCain moderates allowed several Bush judges (including Supreme Court Jusitices Alito and Roberts) to get votes. It doesn't matter how she voted because they were going to win anyway. She defeated her own party's efforts to stymie and filabuster (sp?) those and other judicial nominees.

Additionally, she is very well thought of on the Armed Services Committee. She helped engineer Federal City for the remants of the commisary (no matter what ultimately happens because it's a state and federal issue). Let's don't forget, she's only in her second term. And unlike Sentor Vitter, after all of a year and a half, she certainly hasn't been making headlines the wrong way.

And this is where you're completely off base:

Good grief, take a look at what that old fogey Robert Byrd brings to West Virginia of all places. I would love to see even a modest portion of that investment come to Louisiana, who unfortunately happens to share bottom five status with West Virginia is a lot of unfortunate categories.

Senator Byrd HAS SENIORITY. Our last Senator with a shot at some clout, John Breaux, sold out to K Street. Byrd has been in there forever. That's the way things work and how I initially introduced Mary into this entire debate. The only way you get anything (outside of natural disaster of the magnitude we faced) is by tenure. That's the way the game is played. It's explained directly on the home page of the U.S. Senate for you or anyone else who like to know how it all works. You have to move up, and the only way you move up is by getting reelected. We may like or dislike that system, but it's the only one we've got. And Senator Vitter isn't helping our cause. Mary isn't known for the wrong reasons. If you say her voice isn't given any weight, maybe you could expound on that. But then again, she's been working her way up.

Also, in case you didn't know, MLU has been a fierce Landrieu critic. He's met her and generally can't stand her. But he realizes the value of the royalty bills, and I think he also understands the value of tenure.



TPS

 

[MLU]

Wow. Can't express an opinion you don't like. Who died and made you king, as my momma would say.

P.S. As I said, other than the royalty bill, where's the beef?

Why do you exclude the royalty bill? That's something that people have been working towards since the Truman Administration.

That's like saying, "Sure Bilichick is a good football coach, but what has he done outside of those Superbowls?"

 

[champ76]

Here is a listing of the bills Sen. Landrieu has sponsored that have passed in the present Congress:
S.RES.143 : A resolution honoring Coach Eddie G. Robinson.
S.RES.183 : A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Charter Schools Week, April 30, 2007, through May 4, 2007.
S.AMDT.975 to S.761 To require the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Director of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education, to provide grants to States to assist the States in establishing or expanding programs to enhance the quality of science education in elementary schools with respect to conventional and emerging energy sources and uses.
S.AMDT.1004 to S.1082 To require the Food and Drug Administration to permit the sale of baby turtles as pets so long as the seller uses proven methods to effectively treat salmonella.

She has co-sponsored many more bills, most of which are resolutions such as this one:

S.RES.243 : A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Clean Beaches Week and the considerable value of beaches and their role in American culture.

She was one of 41 co-sponsors of the bill to raise the minimum wage, which passed and was signed into law. One or two other measures she co-sponsored also passed.

Her record in the 109th Congress was not much different.

That she doesn't have much seniority? I agree. That she has marginalized herself with the Democratic leadership by occasionally taking an opposite stand? I agree. As MLU stated, Katrina legitimized the need for the offshore royalty bill. A bill pushed by Louisiana Senators and representatives of both parties for years finally passed. The "beef" I am looking for is what she has done for the State, and there is not much to show for it. My point is, Mary is no Russell Long, she is no Hale Boggs, and if she's the best we've got, God help us.

 

[champ76]

Why do you exclude the royalty bill? That's something that people have been working towards since the Truman Administration.

That's like saying, "Sure Bilichick is a good football coach, but what has he done outside of those Superbowls?"

I exclude the royalty bill, MLU, because it was a bill whose time had come because of Katrina. Landrieu was in the right place at the right time. Does she get credit for that? Of course, but I am looking for other things. Part of my frustration has been watching decades of Louisiana Senators go to Washington with precious little to show for the State. They all seem to get nice jobs on K Street after retirement, though. The Saints is the last new thing I can point a finger at that one of our Senators had a direct hand in bringing, that's of great economic consequence to the State.

 

[MLU]

I exclude the royalty bill, MLU, because it was a bill whose time had come because of Katrina. Landrieu was in the right place at the right time. Does she get credit for that? Of course, but I am looking for other things. Part of my frustration has been watching decades of Louisiana Senators go to Washington with precious little to show for the State. They all seem to get nice jobs on K Street after retirement, though. The Saints is the last new thing I can point a finger at that one of our Senators had a direct hand in bringing, that's of great economic consequence to the State.

Only irresponsible legislation gets passed when it's not needed. I'm actually quite proud that our Senators don't bloat the Nat'l budget with unnecessary pork.

S.AMDT.1004 to S.1082 To require the Food and Drug Administration to permit the sale of baby turtles as pets so long as the seller uses proven methods to effectively treat salmonella.

What's wrong with this? We have many turtle farmers in this state who will benefit from the sale of turtles directly to consumers in the US as opposed to shipping them out of the country.

As for the rest, every political figure authors such meaningless legislation, even Robert Byrd who you hold in such high esteem...

S.J.RES.11 : A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to clarify that the Constitution neither prohibits voluntary prayer nor requires prayer in schools.
S.RES.39 : A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate on the need for approval by the Congress before any offensive military action by the United States against another nation.

I am curious as to why you left off the following bills by Mary, though:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:5:./temp/~bdH5dQ::|/bss/d110query.html|

S.29 : A bill to clarify the tax treatment of certain payments made to homeowners by the Louisiana Recovery Authority and the Mississippi Development Authority.
S.253 : A bill to permit the cancellation of certain loans under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, and for other purposes.
S.293 : A bill to extend the period in which States may spend funds from the additional allotments provided to States under the Social Services Block Grant program for necessary expenses related to the consequences of Hurricane Katrina and other hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico
S.311 : A bill to amend the Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption, and for other purposes.
S.384 : A bill to provide pay protection for members of the Reserve and the National Guard, and for other purposes.
S.538 : A bill to reduce income tax withholding deposits to reflect a FICA payroll tax credit for certain employers located in specified portions of the GO Zone, and for other purposes.
S.AMDT.456 to S.4 To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to include levees in the list of critical infrastructure sectors.
S.AMDT.776 to H.R.1591 To provide funds to recruit and retain teachers, principals, and other school leader to areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita.

I really like how she threw the Mississippi Development Authority in there. You will see that it has no co-sponsors and that's very telling. We have a Senator who is all class and despite the mud-slinging in Washington, rises above the partisanship to do what's right.

Not to mention that she was only early lists as a potential VP for Kerry. I doubt you'll be seeing any other LA pol on such a list anytime soon.

If you're not slinking away to a corner by now, you should be soon...

 

[champ76]

I am curious as to why you left off the following bills by Mary, though:
I really like how she threw the Mississippi Development Authority in there. You will see that it has no co-sponsors and that's very telling. We have a Senator who is all class and despite the mud-slinging in Washington, rises above the partisanship to do what's right....

Those items were referred to committee and there is no indication they ever became law, according to the Library of Congress search engine.

Not to mention that she was only early lists as a potential VP for Kerry. I doubt you'll be seeing any other LA pol on such a list anytime soon....

That and a buck will get you a Coke

If you're not slinking away to a corner by now, you should be soon...

Not me, my friend, but you could hope.

 

[MLU]

Those items were referred to committee and there is no indication they ever became law, according to the Library of Congress search engine.

And your point is?????

Look, when someone better comes along, you be sure to let me know. Until then, Mary building tenure is by far this state's best bet...

 

[TPS]

I'm behind on the posts and need to catch up, but there's one thing I've got to call you on. It wasn't right place at the right time. It was a battle against the Ranking Democrat on the committee who is philosophically opposed to royalty sharing (Bingaman sp?) and the fact that she basically cut off any conversations with Domenici throughout the entire summer. It got pretty tense. She played the game and won. And therefore, Louisiana won. And you can hate all you want and say it's "Katrina", but where was Vitter, Jindal and the rest?

Also, you have to look at co-sponsorships and political pairings that may not be reflected in the bill sections. Believe me, she's working her way up, and hopefully she'll get another 6 year term to continue the upward movement for the state. Like I said and what initiated the conversation, she's the only hope we have.



TPS

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

And you can hate all you want and say it's "Katrina", but where was Vitter, Jindal and the rest?

- I think we all know where Vitter was...