Last night I watched the classic movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington starring Jimmy Stewart and directed by Frank Capra. If you have not seen the movie, a senator dies and a new one needs to be appointed by the governor. The governor chooses Jefferson Smith, a man that leads a group of boys in an organization named the Boy Rangers. Through the organization, Smith teaches the boys how great our nation is, and he has a deep respect for our institutions of government. When he arrives in Washington, he writes a bill that would provide a camp for the Boy Rangers. The camp stands in the way of a dam project that had been proposed by the senior senator from the same state. The dam project would benefit a businessman in their home state named Jim Taylor. When Smith refuses to back down, Taylor sets out to ruin him. Threatened with expulsion from the US Senate, Smith uses a filibuster to buy time and save his name.
The film was made in 1939. Sponsored by the National Press Club, the movie premiered before the Senate and other viewers in Constitution Hall. Some of the Senators walked out during the screening. Politicians called the movie anti-American, Communistic, and a bill was proposed that would allow movie houses to not show films that were not in the best interest of the country. My how times have changed! Today a film with Communistic leanings would be praised and anti-American themes are the norm.
I drew several parallels between the character Jefferson Smith and myself. Several months ago I considered running for Sanford Bishop’s seat representing the 2nd District in the US Congress. Bishop runs as a Blue Dog or conservative Democrat. Recently though his votes have been very unconservative. I have written him many times urging him to vote against a bill, and each time he votes for the bill in question. One time he replied that he not only voted for the bill but he cosponsored it. What a kick in the teeth.
Many Republicans feel that Bishop is unbeatable so they do not earnestly try. Perhaps I am naïve, but I think that Bishop is certainly beatable. We live in one of the poorest districts in the nation, and it has been that way for many years. Bishop has been our representative in Congress for more than fifteen years. What has he done to improve the lives of the people in our district? He had more pork projects in the stimulus bill than other representatives from Georgia. That is great until you realize that the country does not have the money for these projects without begging for some from China and running the printing presses nonstop. No sir, Bishop is beatable, his voting record is poor, and his lack of viable opposition is frustrating.
I asked the 2nd District Chairman of the Republican Party how to run for the seat following the Tea Parties. He gave me a list of things to consider, and I did not hear much more from him since. He must have given my name out as a possible candidate to the various party chairs in the district because they started contacting me a week ago. One wanted me to attend one of their meetings to be sure I can talk the talk and represent well. He said that simply having Republican values is not enough. I replied that I have conservative values and at this time it does not appear those are the same as Republican values. I suspect that I have to work on being more politically correct if I want to serve in politics, but a politician I am not.
Like Jefferson Smith, I am a leader in a youth organization, but it is the Boy Scouts not the Boy Rangers. I teach the scouts patriotism and a respect for their flag and country. It is my duty to those boys that causes my reluctance to run. How would my time be better spent—shaping future citizens or trying to untangle the mess in Washington? My own children and family are the basis for all my decisions. Would I do better by my sons to continue to be with them as much as possible now or would I do better by trying to remove the yoke that Bishop and Obama have placed around their necks? These are the factors that run through my mind and why I have not made a decision.
Unlike Smith, I do realize that it is not all sunshine and lollipops under the capitol dome. I have heard tails of blackmail and hardball. Certainly there is someone that is at least as passionate about the issues as me that I can support. I hope that person makes his or her intentions known soon. I would like to work for a candidate and see the process from the inside. Anybody….anybody? Don’t throw me in that briar patch!
Wow, that is creep. I was posting on my blog about a similar topic; basically, that the LP could make many Georgia congressional races interesting next year. Rep. Bishop is an Eagle Scout and it is impossible to dislike him personally—I tried and it did not work. He has that whole Palin/Obama vibe going. For sake of full disclosure, I once worked in his office and I appreciate the opportunity but we must consider the power/influence void that would have been created if he became or becomes a White House cabinet member.
The problem with voters is that your district’s pork is my district’s investment or dare I say stimulus. Bishop is a scholar of the U.S. Constitution and firmly believes that representatives “represent” the wishes of the people and the people love that tough fiscal talk while flexing the minds until they consider their wish list as good federal spending..Rs and Ds. It’s like everyone talks physical fitness but who goes to the gym and actually eats right.
Hey, put it on the table and give the people choices…run for congress. I think strong candidates sharpen incumbents and a sharp Hillary elevated Obama skills. With redistricting looming, the 2nd District and 8th District candidates for 2010 could get favor from the mapmakers and Bishop might decide to take a cabinet position that really benefits our state. We do know that appropriators like Bishop are the cardinals of congress and the conservatives in Georgia are weary about bouncing him while he has the power of the checkbook..i.e. our military bases, vets, farmers. I could be wrong; I am just saying.
If you wanted to go, now could be the time because the list of possible candidates is long on both sides and some people have been toiling in the vineyards for years waiting for their turn. But, then again Obama did not wait and how did that work out for him. Anyone could be beaten if the right combination of factors converges at the right time. That would mean the Obama efforts are failing and I personally hope that is not the case but we must plan for anything. If Michael Steele asked me (I don’t know him) I would say draft Karen Kemp from Sylvester/Albany and the second district GOP chair is the person most similar to most area GOPers. A member of the General Assembly concede that the 2nd is a Democrat district but I think you never know. Kemp has that Obama/Palin/Bishop thing happening also but she is much smarter than Palin.
As a sidenote, Jimmy Stewart made that movie and It’s a Wonderful Life is still my favorite movie of all time…Color Purple is a close second. Eddie Murphy’s The Distinguished Gentleman is another well-made movie about congress; they made it while I worked on the Hill and used former staffers as advisors. As Zell Miller wrote in “A National Party No More,” money runs congress. Come to think about it, Miller needs to write an updated book…I better leave that alone.
The Libertarian Affect « Project Logic Ga
.-= Slyram´s last blog ..Young Cons rapping on Huckabee Show =-.
The problem with Libertarian candidates running for Congress is Georgia’s ballot access laws are draconian at best. They’re designed to keep out Socialists and Communists, but manage to keep out everyone who’s not Democrat or Republican. This makes it extremely difficult for us to have candidates for seats that we would actually have a much more realistic chance of winning. That’s why we’re hoping that John Monds can get 20% as a gubernatorial candidate…that’ll give us open access just like the Big Two get
Bill: I actually think that running against Bishop might not be a bad idea. The tides of public thought are shifting a bit away from government spending. More and more people are wanting fiscal responsibility from the government, so this might be a good time to make a move if you’re willing.
You and I were both speakers at the Albany Tea Party. You were definitely one of the best speakers there, so I think you’ve got what it takes to be a good candidate.
That said, you’re jumping into the deep end on something like this. A heck of a way to learn to swim, but it can be done. I’ll email you tonight with some random thoughts about any potential run if you’d like.
Slyram,
Thanks for the reply! I’ve heard that Karen Kemp might be interested, but she never answered an e-mail that I sent. I’ll try again. The 2nd District Chair has a business in Atlanta and a home in Cordele. He told me that he may be interested in running. I’d like to learn more about them before I throw my support. By the way, I’m an Eagle Scout too.
Take care man!
Sanford Bishop’s an Eagle Scout, Bill’s an Eagle Scout, I’m an Eagle Scout….we’re just eat up with Eagle Scouts around here.
That’s a good thing for this area actually
They just give those things out these day. LOL
I know far to many Scouts who wish they would…and I’m sure you do as well