Good article contributed to Dump Bachmann by Karl Bremer. It's all about how much time Bachmann has spent doing election war chest fund raising at parties (lots) versus how much she's actually done for the voters she's supposed to be representing in Washington (comparatively nothing.)
The number of parties that Bachmann has thrown and attended in D.C. is contrasted with the number of similar events organized by other Minnesota reps in Washington. Michele wins when it comes to the partying contest--probably because she hasn't ever spent the time necessary to produce significant legislation, and never spent any time on her district's economy.
Oddly enough, none of the Bachmann social events listed by Bremer seem to be for the benefit of veterans or our people in uniform. That's strange, because in the years since the outbreak of hostilities Bachmann claimed to have been a big fan of our men and women fighting overseas. But none of the parties listed seem to have been in their honor: instead they seem to "Washington insider" things featuring other Republican, lobbies like the NRA, etc.
Dan Burns caught this in the St. Cloud Times, in an interview that appeared dated February 14th:
Q: Name three bills or amendments that you have gotten passed that are the most beneficial to the people of the 6th Congressional District.
A: I was involved in a foster care amendment to support and encourage people in foster care. It is a very important issue. Sen. Mary Landrieu, (D-La.) and I are working on the Haiti situation. We are trying to put together initiatives so that children can actually go into homes and not stay in institutions their whole life. I was able to pass this resolution honoring people in foster care. I am in the deep minority in Congress and a fairly new freshman, so I don't have substantive bills that I have passed. I would love to. The very first bill I introduced was the Health Care Freedom of Choice Act.
In other words--nothing. Ever since she was elected to Congress, nothing for the Sixth District, which she's supposed to be representing. But wait, there's more...
(CONTINUED)
Michele Bachmann's held legislative office for nearly ten years--what are her legislative achievements?
What game-changing laws has she managed to draft and pass? What conservative reforms has she managed to implement, after ten years in the Minnesota and US legislatures?
If you can't say, don't feel bad. Michele can't say either. From the St. Cloud Times:
In an interview...that will appear in Sunday's St. Cloud Times... (Bachmann) acknowledged that she has few legislative accomplishments, saying she is in her second term and in the minority.
True--but after nearly ten years in two different legislatures--nothing of note at all? Nothing worth mentioning, even?
No surprise to Bachmann watchers, but perhaps a surprise to conservatives who look to her for hard work, leadership and results. Her career really has been "all about the demagoguery."
http://www.sctimes.com/article...
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Crazytown) is notorious for making inflammatory statements and pushing conspiracy theories. As for doing the actual work she was sent to St. Paul and Washington DC to do, she's just not that into it. It's not just that she has one of the worst attendance records in Congress, she doesn't do much of anything while she's there.
Granite City Crossing will open to vehicle traffic Thursday, when another slate of events is scheduled during the evening downtown. St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis said Monday that there is no set time for the bridge's opening and that it will open when the state Department of Transportation finishes the last of the remaining work.
"It's a very nice bridge," [truck driver Frank] Danzl said, after a walking trip over and back with Kleis, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann and local legislators. "I'm just glad (the construction) is over."
Dozens of politicians, local business leaders and interested residents huddled in a corner of the Best Western Kelly Inn parking lot for the dedication ceremony.
(St. Cloud Times)
This bridge is a classic example. After the I-35W bridge fell in Minneapolis, MNDOT examined all the bridges in the state. They closed this one.
Much has been said about Rep. Michele Bachmann on this blog in relation to her inability to do anything for her constituents. Maybe because she's absent so much. Maybe because she believes that political grandstanding is more important than looking after her constituents.
On the other hand, consider Rep. Keith Ellison. He's the complete opposite in so many ways. African-American. Honest. Muslim. Hard-working. Sane. Thoughtful. Everything Michele is not. He does the people's business in Washington, DC. Here's yet another example of Keith's good work:
Congressman Keith Ellison (D-Minneapolis) secured a $750,000 appropriation for the City of Minneapolis to build a new Emergency Operations Center in a bill approved by the House today. The funds were included in H.R. 2892, the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill for FY 2010.
The bill is expected to easily pass the Senate and will be signed into law by President Obama. The current Operations Center was used to coordinate the local, state, and federal emergency response to the August 2007 collapse of the Interstate 35W Bridge in Minneapolis.
"Thirteen people were killed and over 100 people were injured when the 35W Bridge collapsed two years ago," Ellison stated. "We now know that the rapid response of the region's first responders saved countless lives. One of the key lessons learned from the bridge collapse is that a well-organized emergency response with state of the art equipment can save lives," Ellison said.
"Minneapolis was able to respond so well to the catastrophe of the 35W Bridge collapse because we had invested in emergency preparedness training and technology. Even though our response to the collapse was considered excellent by all accounts, we know that maintaining our ability to respond to disasters requires ongoing preparation and investment. This federal funding for a new emergency operations center will help us to stay prepared and we are very thankful for Rep. Ellison's efforts to secure this appropriation," Minneapolis Mayor, RT Rybak stated.
(Ellison press release email)
Brian Falldin's challenge for a Republican to find one positive, tangible thing that Michele has gotten done for her district in DC still stands unanswered. Would Michele ever deliver something like this?
