congress
A handy guide to all Congress happenings on both sides of the aisle. Thank goodness for this political body that keeps Presidential power in check.
Bryan Watch
Bryan Watch: January Weeks 1 and 2 Back in the early 2000's, I kept a close watch on Congressman Paul Ryan’s voting record under the label “Ryan Watch.” It fell by the wayside once he became speaker. But now that Wisconsin’s First Congressional District has a new congressman, Bryan Steil, it seems like a good time to begin looking at Congress again.
By John Heckenlively7 years ago in The Swamp
Tricia Gives It to Her Congressman!
TNP co-host, Tricia Smith, asks her Congressman, Blaine Luetkemeyer, seemingly difficult questions in response to his newsletter lauding his and his party’s “accomplishments.” Read below and judge for yourself. Do YOU see that anything was accomplished? If not, there is one way to fix it. VOTE!
By The Disruptors7 years ago in The Swamp
Writing to a Government Official
Do you feel strongly about something going on in politics right now? (I'm sure your answer is, "Yes," like many other of the millions of Americans). Do you express your political beliefs/feelings to friends and family members? (I'm sure the answer is also, "Yes"). Instead of ranting to others, how about you write the politician him/her self? I'm sure you're thinking, "No, they already have enough stuff going on, they don't have time for me." I thought the same thing before I wrote to Illinois Senator, Tammy Duckworth. I've written to her twice and she has personally responded both times! I wrote about issues regarding human trafficking, a topic I feel very strongly about. The fact that she answered back, heard my voice, and promised to do something about it made my day. If you truly want to make a difference about something you really care about, I strongly encourage you to do the same!
By Ariadne Romanos8 years ago in The Swamp
Why I Want to Run for Office
I want to make a difference in the world. First I’m going to get onto the Work2Future board in San Jose, which meets on the 3rd Thursday of every month. I can get to this meeting, first thing. Second, I have to run for District 10, or my home district. I want to get more involved with District 10. This is the same reason I want to run for office in the California State Senate. I went to see the State Senate both in 8th grade for a class trip to Sacramento, and in junior college with student government. I can start off by becoming a City Commissioner appointed for three years. I can also become a District 10 volunteer. There is even a way to become a city volunteer.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in The Swamp
One Problem With the Constitution
Article 2 of the Constitution sets up the executive branch. In section 1 it specifically says “No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the same time of the adoption of this constitution, shall be illegible to the office of president…” This basically means that any person born in any country other than United States cannot run for president.
By aoirhg a;oeirhg;o8 years ago in The Swamp
The Challenge of Revising the Iran Nuclear Deal
On Thursday, October 12th, Zachary Cohen of CNN reported on fear of potential consequences of decertification of the Iran nuclear deal. He cited Jake Sullivan, a top foreign policy advisor to Hillary Clinton who helped negotiate the original nuclear deal in 2015, and Trita Parsi, President of the National Iranian American Council, as two particular doubters of President Trump's potential approach to the deal. Sullivan, when testifying before the House Foreign Relations Committee, said that President Trump risked leaving America with the sole responsibility for whatever happens, a scenario similar to what America faces with North Korea. In a statement to CNN, Parsi said "The risks are too great to allow Trump to open up a nuclear Pandora's box in the Middle East. Trump's national security team, and all serious thinkers in Congress, must block the President from a failed certification before it is too late."
By Michael McKeever8 years ago in The Swamp
Dear President Trump
President Trump, First, thank you for running and taking on the enormous undertaking of MAGA. Recently, as talk grew about the large Powerball jackpot, I began to think what could be done with that kind of jackpot... like many others for sure. As a former term limited legislator here in Montana, I have some experience on how difficult the legislative process can be to navigate. Getting comprehensive legislation passed... well Congress has proven lately that is nearly impossible. The dynamics are so complex and fluid that even the most desired public interests cannot be achieved. While I could point to many different failures and problems America faces, I think one need only look at our debt to realize congress is part of our problems.
By Daniel Fuchs8 years ago in The Swamp
We the People...
I don't give a shit how long its been or how far Black people (and others) have come since 1789. NO. FUCKING. BODY... should be allowed to hide behind freedom of speech to spew and express racial, religious, gender-based, and non-heterosexual hatred towards others. Hiding behind a 228-year old document? Cowards.
By Dre Joseph8 years ago in The Swamp
Draining the Swamp
In American society, there are some careers, which may be very lucrative that people just aren't able to do forever. Professional athletes, commercial airline pilots, supermodels, even artists in certain genres of music all have an unwritten shelf life policy in their hypothetical employee handbook that classifies their careers as stepping stones to assuming more senior levels in their individual industry.
By Victor Trammell8 years ago in The Swamp
Conflicts of the Father
As of 2017, conflict of interest rules apparently don’t apply legally to the Office of the President of the United States. Though, with that being said, it does not outrightly remove the issue from the slate entirely either. The concept exists not solely for the purpose of keeping an officeholder from profiting from his or her office: it exists to protect the rest of us from having that officeholder’s decisions influenced by his or her business interests, rather than by (in this case) the national interest. Someone with the business interests Trump has — unless he divests (which he seems unwilling to do: he’s been extremely opaque about his personal finances from the start) — is, essentially, operating on the honor system, and anyone who relies on that might well consider buying some swampland (or a casino) from Trump. (The idea that if someone is very rich, he is therefore incorruptible, relies on the notion that he is no longer interested in making money. Trump’s resistance to divestiture suggests that for him, this is not the case. Rather tellingly, the only entity Trump has pledged to dissolve to date is his nonprofit foundation.)
By Dre Joseph8 years ago in The Swamp
Political Leadership
Formerly, my articles discussed some legislation to help our nation as well as some history to alleviate the tension with our new president. Continuing on, what does it sum up to be? All of it is based upon leadership. We look to leadership during our busy schedules to tackle issues facing society. Although, we do not look to be led as sheep to the slaughter and treated like we are not the sovereign. Anyway, we hope in the elected to be leaders and manage, but also to serve. Being a servant is the purest and most definitive form of leadership and management. A leader helps by guiding, teaching, encouraging, uplifting, setting and following through on goals and visions of others like a mentor. If one thinks that being a big executive or top-line manager is superiority, that one is thinking in falsehood. In reality, they are servants to the stakeholders, the creditors. The nation.
By Dr. Brian Smithberger8 years ago in The Swamp
Trumpcare Dies in the Senate. Cause: Pre-Existing Conditions
In recent days and weeks, the debate over the future of Trumpcare in the media has generated a kind of Health Metaphor Full Employment Act. You’ve read the words: Trumpcare was On Life Support. It was in Critical Condition or Guarded Condition. It was hashtagged with #Emergency Room or it was Flatlining. Its declining fortunes dovetailed with the phrases available to describe it.
By Michael Eric Ross8 years ago in The Swamp
