Comments on: America's 10 Dumbest Congressmen

America's 10 Dumbest Congressmen

Saucy Intruder — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 09:33:50 -0800

America's 10 Dumbest Congressmen. How dumb are they? Bill Frist isn't even on the list.

By: SansPoint

SansPoint — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 09:44:07 -0800

What? No Ted "Series of tubes" Stevens?

By: Postroad

Postroad — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 09:46:35 -0800

sorry, but Boxer needs reconsideration. May mangle language from time to time in a novel, but a quick look at legislation yields: http://boxer.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=230450 http://www.boxer.senate.gov/ and try this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Boxer for a record! wish others in the senate offered up this much! She mangles language yet is listed among ten dumbest CongressMEN

By: rzklkng

rzklkng — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 09:49:14 -0800

Yes, they are dumb as rocks, but what's their home state approval ratings (as of 9/26, Senate Only)?

By: Saucy Intruder

Saucy Intruder — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 09:52:36 -0800

Honestly, I think they needed to throw in a few token Democrats. Not that the Dems are brilliant or anything, but they are at least generally literate.

By: destro

destro — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 09:58:25 -0800

Boxer is a limousine liberal running a few gallons short of a full tank. After convening a Democratic press event at a gas station to publicize high oil prices and accuse Bush and Cheney of being too cozy with the oil industry, California's junior senator "hopped into a waiting Chrysler (18 MPG)," noted the Washington Post, "even though her Senate office was only a block away." That's their complaint against Barbara Boxer?? And Frist doesn't make the list? Maybe this is why I don't read Radar magazine.

By: smackfu

smackfu — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 09:58:43 -0800

Those are some unflattering photos.

By: jason's_planet

jason's_planet — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:01:52 -0800

"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself. " --Mark Twain

By: doctor_negative

doctor_negative — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:02:23 -0800

Yeah, I'll take Boxer over Hillary any day, well spoken or not. I get a lot of email from her office and most of it doesn't suck, and it isn't just pandering for donations (are you listening John Kerry and the DNC?).

By: docgonzo

docgonzo — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:09:54 -0800

Buttfucking.

By: MrMoonPie

MrMoonPie — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:13:52 -0800

Wow--I don't think I'd seen Katherine Harris on video before. I mean, her politics have always made me suspect that she's stupid, but, wow, her interviews really confirm the suspicion.

By: mondo dentro

mondo dentro — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:16:32 -0800

The list is plausible, I guess--except for Boxer. You may dislike, distain, or even hate her (I'm a lefty and I'm pretty luke-warm about her myself)--but she's not DUMB. I suspect we're dealing with a pansy-ass writer who's boss made forced them to be "balanced". On preview: turns out Mr. (that's right) Holly Martins is an "Occasional Wonkette Operative". Hmmm. Wonder if he'll be writing a snarky value-free hipster article about the 10 dumbest pundettes any time soon...

By: odinsdream

odinsdream — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:18:10 -0800

Um... Frist isn't a congressman, he's a senator.

By: If I Had An Anus

If I Had An Anus — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:19:01 -0800

I think they've confused Boxer with Hastert.

By: odinsdream

odinsdream — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:21:33 -0800

Nevermind, I'm a moron.

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:27:24 -0800

And Rick "man on dog" Santorum doesn't make the list?

By: hermitosis

hermitosis — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:27:52 -0800

Wow. Four out of ten were women. Hard to ignore that, considering that currently the gender ratio of Congress is 85% male and 15% female.

By: jimmythefish

jimmythefish — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:31:57 -0800

ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL Rep. Patrick Kennedy is no roads scholar. There's nothing I hate more than stupid illiterate fucks calling other people morons.

By: zsazsa

zsazsa — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:37:35 -0800

jimmythefish, did you not get the pun or something? Rhodes? Roads? He crashed his car? Ha ha?

By: davelog

davelog — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:37:37 -0800

What's funniest (or saddest, depending on your sense of humor) is that the congress is so full of fuckups that many worthy people were forced off the list because it'd just be too damn long.

By: matthewr

matthewr — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:38:17 -0800

Uh, jimmythefish, think the joke may have passed you by...

By: sohcahtoa

sohcahtoa — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:39:04 -0800

What's the problem with that, jimmythefish?

By: Pressed Rat

Pressed Rat — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:42:03 -0800

I have no problem with any of this other than, as davelog says, we need the unabridged version.

By: found missing

found missing — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:43:51 -0800

There's nothing I hate more than stupid illiterate fucks calling other people morons. The award committee has met and (envelope please...) jimmythefish wins for ironic comment of the day!

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:45:57 -0800

jimmythefish for Congress!

By: quin

quin — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:47:22 -0800

"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself. " --Mark Twain Damn you jason's_planet, I wanted to post that. Well played sir, well played. Ok, so we are all agreed that Congresscritters are dumb. Why do we keep putting them in office? Why aren't there any erudite MeFites gracing those lofty seats? Damn it people, we have the power to make the world a better place! [And as an added bonus, once we hold Congress, we can send some pork Matt's way to shore up the servers.]

By: crunchland

crunchland — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:48:09 -0800

unabridged version.

By: Ethereal Bligh

Ethereal Bligh — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:52:13 -0800

"This May, the tow-headed son of the ruddy senior senator from Massachusetts plowed his car into a barrier—and himself into infamy—while under the spell of an Ambien-fueled hallucination." This bugs me because both myself and my girlfriend had Ambien-induced blackouts six years ago. In fact, many people have reported the same thing. I feel that Kennedy got a bum deal about this whole thing. And, yeah, the list is extremely disproportionate with regard to women. Seems like an example of simple sexism to me.

By: sklero

sklero — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 10:55:15 -0800

crunchland wins.

By: jayder

jayder — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:14:59 -0800

This is my favorite excerpt from that article: The scene: Fairbanks, Alaska, 1994. Congressman Don Young, already in office for 20 years, is on the stump preaching the virtues of Newt Gingrich's Republican revolution to a group of high school students. Just look at all the wasteful things the federal government does with taxpayers' money, he tells them. The National Endowment for the Arts, for example, funds art involving "people doing offensive things ... things that are absolutely ridiculous." One student asks, "Like what?" "Buttfucking," replies the great scourge of obscenity and instructor of youth.

By: Vindaloo

Vindaloo — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:15:38 -0800

I think jimmythefish was referring to the fact that it's "Rhodes Scholar" and not "roads scholar". My 2 cents.

By: spicynuts

spicynuts — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:18:21 -0800

Let's see, a list of dumb people from a magazine that has managed what, THREE issues in four years and who's main champion is Gawker? Delicious.

By: spicynuts

spicynuts — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:19:00 -0800

And since I used who's instead of whose I'll accept that I'm a wanker, but not as big a one as Maer Roshan.

By: matthewr

matthewr — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:20:06 -0800

Vindaloo: Yeah, that's what zsazsa and the original writer of the caption thought...

By: found missing

found missing — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:21:13 -0800

I think jimmythefish was referring to the fact that it's "Rhodes Scholar" and not "roads scholar". *shoots himself*

By: Ethereal Bligh

Ethereal Bligh — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:21:52 -0800

Yes, Vindaloo, and the point is that it's quite likely that Radar intentionally spelled it roads as an allusion and pun referring to Kennedy's road accident. Which they featured prominently in their commentary. By the way, my charge of sexism should in no way be construed as a complaint against their inclusion of Katherine Harris. She richly deserves being #1 on their list. Her exploits serve up such rich daily dishes of schadenfreude that I, like many others, am very sorry to see her go.

By: daq

daq — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:25:50 -0800

Honestly, if you look at what it takes to become a Congresscritter, it's not suprising that most of them rate rather low on the "smarties" scale. For the most part they are not in office for more than their "name" and "face" value, or even thier "background" as trained PR reps with "respectable" standing in society. They are figureheads for organizational teams, usually staffers, who are the workhorses and brains behind them, and for the most part, the ones who do all the actual bill writing and heavy footwork. The actual elected representative is simple the CEO of a political "company". The Congresscritters are handed thier lines and appear in public to stump for whatever legislation they are handed. The ones who hold the power over them are their press secretaries and staffers who schedule meetings with heads of industry and lobbyist organizations. All the Congresscritter does is gladhand those they meet, smile and make like they understand whoever they are talking with at the moment is saying. Some (note, I say some, which can mean as few as 2 and as many as all but one, but thus my vagueness can be excused as this is a personal theory and not a researched opinion, just an observation and veiwing of politics from a cynical and disillusioned perspective, plus I've been watching way too many interviews with elected officials and they all seem to have lost a lot of their ability to communicate beyond smiling and shaking hands, or repeating preformed opinions in as round about a manner as possible. Now back to your regularly scheduled blither) show signs of having spent at least some time actually researching their issues or stances, and a few even seem to be in on the whole law writing process, though many do not hold law degrees or any specialized training in the language of writing coherent law, thus they are reliant upon their staffers who do have law degrees and/or formalized training in the vagaries of written law (being able to word laws to sound impressive and functional, yet being as effective as toilet paper at serving any useful function in addressing the problems they are designed to resolve). I've had too much coffee this morning and my brain is spilling out onto my keyboard. But maybe someone with a political "science" background can tell me how totally wrong I am and that elected officials are super-smart awesome people who can write laws and negotiate issues while smiling and shaking hands and kissing babies and going to charity fundraisers and political fundraising events and lobbyist outings and all the committee sessions and stuff. Though, if that were the case I think maybe we wouldn't have legislation like the Patriot Act and the Military Renditions bill currently cleared through both houses. But maybe I'm just bitter.

By: bob sarabia

bob sarabia — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:29:34 -0800

Ethereal Bligh: "This bugs me because both myself and my girlfriend had Ambien-induced blackouts six years ago. In fact, many people have reported the same thing. I feel that Kennedy got a bum deal about this whole thing." I think he finally admitted that he was drunk at the time. That could just be some Michelle Malkin bs though, I can't remember where I saw it.

By: dobbs

dobbs — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:29:56 -0800

Before clicking the link I thought, "I wonder what number Harris is?" I win! (And I wasn't even aware of any of the points they brought up.) Sad that, as a Canadian, I even know who these idiots are.

By: jimmythefish

jimmythefish — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:30:42 -0800

Yeah my bad...I scanned it quickly and that was the first thing that popped out at me, whereupon I dismissed it as a piece-of-shit article (which it is).

By: gompa

gompa — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:33:15 -0800

Wait a minute. So Kennedy wasn't a civil engineering student at any point? Well, now that list makes no kinda sense.

By: docgonzo

docgonzo — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:41:06 -0800

Sad that, as a Canadian, I even know who these idiots are. Sadder still we cannot be all that superior given the dull knives that sit in the House of Commons and Senate. Joe Volpe, Stockwell Day, Rona Ambrose, John Baird, Pierette Venne, Darrell Stinson, Myron Thompson, Tom Wappel, Hedy Fry, Lawrence McAuley, Nina Grewal -- c'mon down!

By: found missing

found missing — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:47:56 -0800

This somehow reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend the first time GW Bush was running for president. My friend said, I'd never vote for him—he's too much like me. I want a president who is smarter than me.

By: afu

afu — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:52:47 -0800

I never took Frist to be stupid, more just a power hungry asshole. What has he done that could be called stupid?

By: gompa

gompa — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:57:41 -0800

Ah, Rona Ambrose: The Rebecca Eckler of Canadian politics. Been wanting to use that line somewhere for awhile.

By: COBRA!

COBRA! — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 12:04:56 -0800

By the way, my charge of sexism should in no way be construed as a complaint against their inclusion of Katherine Harris. She richly deserves being #1 on their list. Her exploits serve up such rich daily dishes of schadenfreude that I, like many others, am very sorry to see her go. You may be in luck. There's a 50-50 chance that Minnesota will be serving up a fine replacement in Michelle Bachman, who would generate as many cringes as Harris if she only got the exposure...

By: whir

whir — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 12:05:37 -0800

Picking up on odinsdream's point, "...such flagrant obtuseness might have ensured the senator a place on our annual list of America's Dumbest Congressmen" is not the brightest sentence in the box either.

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 12:14:35 -0800

Senators are technically "congresspersons". There are two houses of Congress - the house of representatives and the Senate. However, in the common parlance, "congressman/woman" is a label that is most commonly applied to US representatives. I believe the editors at Radar are using the term "congressman" to refer to US Reps and Senators, as it makes for a punchier headline. *end smug*

By: clevershark

clevershark — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 12:23:07 -0800

jimmythefish writes "There's nothing I hate more than stupid illiterate fucks calling other people morons." It's a pun. Look into it. You might want to consult someone about that humorectomy you apparently received too.

By: mr_roboto

mr_roboto — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 12:23:49 -0800

afu writes "I never took Frist to be stupid, more just a power hungry asshole. What has he done that could be called stupid?" I think some people might interpret the Schiavo videodiagnosis as stupid, but I think that was more a case of crass opportunism.

By: snarkywench

snarkywench — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 12:24:46 -0800

"The Iraqi's perception is that we're all powerful," Schmidt wrote in a recent newsletter, offering her thumbnail portrait of the noble savages. "We watch them from space with technology they cannot even imagine ... They know we can do anything." Dear Lord, is this for real?

By: clevershark

clevershark — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 12:29:49 -0800

Ethereal Bligh writes "This bugs me because both myself and my girlfriend had Ambien-induced blackouts six years ago. In fact, many people have reported the same thing. I feel that Kennedy got a bum deal about this whole thing." Funny, the same thing happened to me, when I had ONE drink after taking Ambien at home. Apparently I participated in a few chats on IM while being completely unconscious of it. I had to check my "Sent" folder the next day just to be sure I hadn't sent any rude emails to anyone. OTOH Kennedy's handling of the whole affair -- post-act -- seems to indicate that there was a lot more to the story than he claimed.

By: George_Spiggott

George_Spiggott — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 12:33:04 -0800

Yeah, they're dumb as a box of rocks. But I wonder how the ratio of dumb-as-fuck congressmen compares with the ratio of spectactularly way-to-miss-the-point-genius comments in this thread. Dumb, yes. Unrepresentative? You tell me.

By: found missing

found missing — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 12:33:32 -0800

clevershark: that horse you kicked? Yes, it's dead.

By: clevershark

clevershark — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 12:34:19 -0800

docgonzo writes "Sadder still we cannot be all that superior given the dull knives that sit in the House of Commons and Senate." No kidding. In a sheer stupidity contest I'd confidently bet on Myron Thompson against anyone on that list.

By: clevershark

clevershark — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 12:36:49 -0800

found missing writes "that horse you kicked? Yes, it's dead." Yeah, I should have read a little further before pressing the point...

By: jonp72

jonp72 — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 12:48:26 -0800

What about Senator Tom "Lesbianism is so rampant in Southeast Oklahoma that they won't let two girls go to the bathroom together." Coburn

By: Pacheco

Pacheco — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 13:01:12 -0800

"Her skirt was very short, and Josh found himself mesmerized by her perfectly shaped, silken legs with kneecaps that reminded him of golden apples—he couldn't remember having been captivated by kneecaps before—and her lustrous thighs." Sorry, but that alone makes Boxer worthy of inclusion.

By: Bugbread

Bugbread — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 13:05:01 -0800

Mister_A : "Senators are technically 'congresspersons'. There are two houses of Congress - the house of representatives and the Senate." That's how I always thought it was used conventionally, as well. We have the Senate, and the House of Representatives. Together they form mighty robot Congress. Since apparently "congressperson" or "congressman" is used to refer to representatives, what word do we use to refer to someone who is one or the other?

By: snoktruix

snoktruix — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 13:08:06 -0800

Jeez, this is like fucking Jane to satisfy Henrietta.

By: George_Spiggott

George_Spiggott — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 13:10:39 -0800

de Tocqueville, Democracy in America:

On entering the House of Representatives at Washington, one is struck by the vulgar demeanor of that great assembly. Often there is not a distinguished man in the whole number. Its members are almost all obscure individuals, whose names bring no associations to mind. They are mostly village lawyers, men in trade, or even persons belonging to the lower classes of society. In a country in which education is very general, it is said that the representatives of the people do not always know how to write correctly. At a few yards' distance is the door of the Senate, which contains within a small space a large proportion of the celebrated men of America. Scarcely an individual is to be seen in it who has not had an active and illustrious career: the Senate is composed of eloquent advocates, distinguished generals, wise magistrates, and statesmen of note, whose arguments would do honor to the most remarkable parliamentary debates of Europe.

At the time he wrote this only the House of Representatives was directly elected; Senators were chosen by their state legislatures. Which may help explain why today, the second paragraph describes both houses and the first describes neither.

By: snoktruix

snoktruix — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 13:11:01 -0800

It's also like drinking a backhoe through a straw, but the reason escapes me for the moment.

By: George_Spiggott

George_Spiggott — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 13:11:51 -0800

Really must preview a little better that last should read, "the first paragraph describes both houses and the second describes neither".

By: WhipSmart

WhipSmart — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 13:18:14 -0800

It was Ted Stevens (R-AK) that pushed for the "Bridge to Nowhere", not Donald Young... This and the fact that Ted Stevens isn't on this list and Barbara Boxer is, makes this article seem poorly researched

By: smackfu

smackfu — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 13:29:00 -0800

Pushing for pork for your district doesn't make you stupid. It doesn't even make you a bad representative, technically.

By: WhipSmart

WhipSmart — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 13:36:36 -0800

smackfu, it you're referring to Ted Stevens pushing for pork in his district, that's not the only reason the man should be #2 on this list (the current #1 is the right choice)

By: Smedleyman

Smedleyman — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 14:31:19 -0800

How many Congresman it take to screw up a lightbulb? Three! Wait a minute, I told it wrong. Here, I'm startin' over: How come it takes three Congressmen to screw up a lightbulb? 'Cause they're so darn stupid! heh heh heh.

By: Falconetti

Falconetti — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 14:55:47 -0800

This and the fact that Ted Stevens isn't on this list and Barbara Boxer is, makes this article seem poorly researched Yeah, the special complicated algorithms that math PhDs come up with for humorous throw-away pieces in gossip mags needs to be more finely-tuned.

By: crunchland

crunchland — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:09:41 -0800

what word do we use to refer to someone who is one or the other? "Corrupt."

By: Peach

Peach — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:10:10 -0800

And Rick "man on dog" Santorum doesn't make the list?

He's not stupid, he's a sanctimonious evil tool.

By: WhipSmart

WhipSmart — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:23:01 -0800

Falconetti, I don't know which is stranger, the fact you thought my comment was a serious observation of the article's journalistic integrity, or the fact you took the time to make a snarky comment about it... It boggles the mind...

By: Pacheco

Pacheco — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:33:14 -0800

Metafilter: blurring the line between serious observation and snarky comment one thread at a time.

By: tkchrist

tkchrist — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:34:19 -0800

Don't feel too smug. ALL of these guys, by the end of their terms if not already, will be million or BILLIONaires. "Serving" in Congress is a guarantee of a serious "lifestyle" upgrade. They can even be FELONS and get bank. Even goddamned dentists have to be more ethical and put in more dues than a Congress person. Seems to me we gotta be a great deal dumber. We hire these clowns, pay them what ever they ask and then let them live like fucking Generalissimo's of a Banana Republic for the rest of their lives. If WE were the smart ones there would be firing squads forming in the Mall as we speak.

By: Falconetti

Falconetti — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:35:11 -0800

What... There is nothing to betray that your comment was a joke and its sentiments have been echoed seriously in other comments... If it was supposed to be a joke, then you need to be funnier... Is ending every sentence in an ellipsis also a special joke I don't get...

By: jonmc

jonmc — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:45:20 -0800

Bunning's a dope, but he pitched a perfect game, so I can't hate him completely. (I also used to work with his nephew, who was a really nice left-wing vegetarian librarian, who treasured the 1976 Big Red Machine baseball Uncle Jim got him.

By: Bugbread

Bugbread — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 16:04:11 -0800

bugbread : "Since apparently 'congressperson' or 'congressman' is used to refer to representatives, what word do we use to refer to someone who is one or the other?" crunchland : "'Corrupt.'" Well, yes, but I'm looking for an actual answer, not a clever retort. Anyone?

By: DenOfSizer

DenOfSizer — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 16:06:02 -0800

What has [Frist] done that could be called stupid? Um, howbout diagnose a brain-dead patient that wasn't his over videotape?

By: Navelgazer

Navelgazer — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 16:26:02 -0800

Bugbread, it's congressmen (or congresspersons, though until aout thirty years ago we were all sharp enough to recognize a masculine plural to be uninversal, and suffixes such as "-ette" to be truly sexist, but I digress. Representatives are regularly reffered to as congressmen becaus it simply rolls of the tongue better, and is technically true, but congressmen serves as an all-purpose term for any member of congress, which encompasses both Representatives and Senators. I too, was surprised to not find Stevens or Coburn on the list, but I guess they didn't want to load it up with too many Alaskans or Okies. As for the exclusion of Santorum, there's a difference between dumb and grotesque. Obviously Boxer doesn't deserve to be on there, and women are overrepresented (in the list, not in congress by a long shot) but I've gotta say, if Pirro had managed to stay in the NY senate race and defeat Clinton, we'd have another woman on that list in no time at all. And for the record, my congresswoman (Nydia Velaxquez, D-NY) is actually pretty spectacular.

By: Navelgazer

Navelgazer — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 16:26:27 -0800

Velazquez. I apologize.

By: quite unimportant

quite unimportant — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 16:29:40 -0800

Bunning's a dope, but he pitched a perfect game, so I can't hate him completely. It is god damned frightening to think how many times that exact thought probably went through a Kentuckian brain while in the voting booth.

By: crunchland

crunchland — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 16:37:43 -0800

Well, yes, but I'm looking for an actual answer, not a clever retort. Anyone? I think the news organizations routinely fall back on "lawmaker," or "legislator."

By: Bugbread

Bugbread — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 16:40:27 -0800

Navelgazer: I may have phrased my question poorly. Setting aside whether it's correct or incorrect, a lot of people seem to dislike using "congressman/person" to refer to both Senators and Reps. I was curious what their usage is. So I guess the better phrasing would be, "If you don't use congressman/person to refer to both Senators and Representatives, what term do you use to refer to them both?"

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 16:41:22 -0800

i don't get it ... don't stupid americans deserve representation in congress, too?

By: Bugbread

Bugbread — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 16:41:24 -0800

crunchland : "I think the news organizations routinely fall back on 'lawmaker,' or 'legislator.'" Ah, whoops, shoulda previewed. Now that you mention it, I have heard "lawmaker" and "legislator" used that way quite a bit. Thanks.

By: Kwine

Kwine — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 17:14:24 -0800

don't stupid americans deserve representation in congress, too? Um...LOLZ ITS RODES SCHOLAR, MORANS!! Vote Kwine in 08!

By: Smedleyman

Smedleyman — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 17:16:36 -0800

Navelgazer: Senatorette is kinda cute. But I'd rather go with Representatrix or legislatrix there sugar tits. (But I further digress.) Hastert is from my state. We in Illinois prefer the greater of two evils to the lesser of two stupids.

By: Optimus Chyme

Optimus Chyme — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 17:25:42 -0800

First of all, Hayworth should be number one, as he is not only our dumbest congressperson, he may actually be the dumbest motherfucker on the planet. I once lived in his district and hoo boy, what a fucking nightmare.

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 18:34:34 -0800

Um...LOLZ ITS RODES SCHOLAR, MORANS!! I'M IN UR CONGRES, MAKIN UR LAWZ!!

By: MrMoonPie

MrMoonPie — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 18:42:22 -0800

Since apparently "congressperson" or "congressman" is used to refer to representatives, what word do we use to refer to someone who is one or the other?

My job requires me to make such references many times a day, so I believe I can state with some authority that the preferred term is "Member of Congress."

By: MrMoonPie

MrMoonPie — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 18:43:34 -0800

Or maybe I just like saying member.

By: jonmc

jonmc — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 18:52:09 -0800

It is god damned frightening to think how many times that exact thought probably went through a Kentuckian brain while in the voting booth. I didn't say I'd vote for him, but as a baseball fan, he gets mad props.

By: homunculus

homunculus — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 19:10:58 -0800

No Curt Weldon?

By: davy

davy — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 19:18:45 -0800

Suppose I decided to run for Congress. Are there any Mefites who'd back me and help run my campaign?

By: pyramid termite

pyramid termite — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 20:42:10 -0800

Are there any Mefites who'd back me and help run my campaign? no, but there's a lot who'll gladly give your opposition certain juicy quotes of late ...

By: Bugbread

Bugbread — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 09:29:19 -0800

MrMoonPie : "My job requires me to make such references many times a day, so I believe I can state with some authority that the preferred term is 'Member of Congress.'" Thanks.

By: zoinks

zoinks — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 14:47:46 -0800

I'M IN UR... Christ I am so sick of this meme, but enjoyed this particular instance. Sounds like Foley, perhaps.

By: homunculus

homunculus — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 12:26:28 -0800

The Worst Congress Ever