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I Now Understand Political Emigration Threats
I generally roll my eyes when partisans of either stripe threaten to leave the country if a presidential election doesn’t go their way or a certain law gets passed. This, however, might get me to the point of a one-way plane ticket. From the Washington Times:
Just two weeks after Janet Napolitano announced her resignation as Secretary of Homeland Security, the Congressional Black Caucus has suggested Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Houston fill her spot.
A letter dated July 25 and signed by Rep. Marcia Fudge, Ohio Democrat and caucus chairwoman, urges President Obama to consider Miss Jackson Lee for the position, calling the Democrat a “voice of reason” that the agency could stand to gain, the Houston Chronicle reported.
This is the same “voice of reason,” you’ll recall, who suggested that George Zimmerman broke his own nose, contended that the Tea Party was basically the Klan without robes, doesn’t seem to know that Vietnam is a single country, and believes that we put astronauts on Mars. I have no problem with crazy. But crazy needs to know it’s crazy.
In case you’re wondering what kind of Secretary she would be, her management of her House office may be instructive. As noted by the Houston Chronicle:
An average of 53 percent — more than half — of Jackson Lee’s staff — leave her office every year … one year, all but six of 23 staffers left.
The people have spoken. They should get the Secretary of Homeland Security they deserve.
There are upsides: fabulous entertainment value, plenty of lawsuits, critical mass may be attained to eliminate DHS, and she would be out of Congress. And really, how much worse would DHS actually be under her stewardship?
YES! Critical mass to rid us of DHS is worth it.
Tabula Rasa includes some of those quotes over on the member feed.
Now, I understand that it is the duty of the congressional black caucus to promote as many liberal blacks as they possibly can… but their only justification, by virtue of their name and mission, is race (which, in any other context, might be referred to as racism). My more serious question is whether anyone in Washington actually listens to these guys and takes them seriously?
That’s a good point.
I know a guy who works for the department of ecology in WA. He was complaining about having to do a foia request that asked them to search through emails for keywords that might indicate targeting of conservative groups (note: this dude is very liberal). He looked at me and said “it’s a massive waste of time, and you’re paying for it.” To which I replied: “I’d rather have you doing that then what you think you’re supposed to be doing. It might be worth it to pay you guys full-time salaries to sit around doing nothing so we can eliminate the department of ecology altogether.”
As a pure cost-benefit analysis, I think paying her to make massive fools out of democrats (is that redundant?) might actually be worth it.
The problem with threatening to leave is finding somewhere better to go.
For Sec. Homeland Security maybe the someone could be nominated that the D’s like, but who would do less damage, like 12 year old Sasha Obama?
It’s over.
[Face plant on keyboard]
The Daily Caller did a piece on SJL in 2011 and she is quite a piece of work.
What! The congressman who was worried about an island tipping over if we stationed troops on it isn’t available?
An 85 IQ racist crooked scumball. Perfect. It’s a brave new world.
Idiocracy Mash-up
That was actually representative Hank Johnson.
I don’t know whether to howl, laugh, or weep bitterly…
In case you’re wondering what kind of Secretary she would be, her management of her House office may be instructive. As noted by the Houston Chronicle:
Also on the plus side, I understand it’s very difficult to lay off federal employees – perhaps her leadership might just shrink the DHS.
The only good thing about this, it gets her out of congress!
I’m 100% for this. Like others have mentioned, her radical positions will be an impediment to her overall success. She’ll probably get less accomplished than previous DHS Secretaries AND we’ll get a good laugh. It’s a win-win.
Nanda: Go through them one at a time and see which makes you feel better. I’d suggest laughter.
Think of the confirmation hearing. I’d pay money to see it.
Now, I understand that it is the duty of the congressional black caucus to promote as many liberal blacks as they possibly can… but their only justification, by virtue of their name and mission, is race (which, in any other context, might be referred to as racism).
It bears noting, too, that the monomaniacal focus on race substantially weakens their talent pool. The creation of minority-majority districts inevitably leads to the election of black candidates who lack wider appeal (Lee, Maxine Waters, John Conyers, Elijah Cummings, etc.). Ever notice that the vast majority of these folks never get out of the House?
Compare Tim Scott by contrast: he’s now a U.S. Senator (though, to be fair, he was appointed and has yet to face a statewide election — but he’ll probably be fine). In the House, he represented the South Carolina 1st, which is nearly 75% white. Recall too that Barack Obama ran for the (minority majority) Illinois 1st back in 2000 and lost in the primary. It’s doubtful that he could have faithfully represented the politics of that district and still have been a viable presidential candidate down the road.
If you read the Chronicle blog post, she apparently refers to herself as a queen and expects to be treated as such. Personally, I’ve always thought that we should give members of Congress one pot of money from which they have to budget for their offices and their own salaries. But then, I’m a sadist.
On the plus side, she would no longer represent me in Congress.
SJL is the Secretary we need right now. Not the one we deserve.
This is also the lunatic, as I recall, who supported TSA searches on Houston buses.
Sheila Jackson Lee is one of many reasons I have always told people I am from “just outside” Houston.
How does a congressperson need almost 30 staffmembers? Sheesh…