I am trying to unravel the logic in this statement, and quite frankly there is none. It is an illogical statement. I received this nugget today as part of an email from Kagen for Congress asking for a donation ahead of the June 30 reporting deadline.
After Northeast Wisconsin voters rejected [one of] (sic) Dick Cheney’s most reliable rubber stamps in last fall’s election in favor of Dr. Kagen, the energetic Congressman has become one of the White House’s worst nightmares — an independent leader who insists on putting partnership ahead of partisanship.
Why would the White House, a bunch of Republicans, fear, consider a nightmare, a Democrat who is an “independent leader” who “insists on putting partnership ahead of partisanship”? Shouldn’t that be just what the White House wants? Isn’t that the definition of Ben Nelson from Nebraska, a Democratic US Senator who votes with the White House fairly often?
If Steve Kagen, Democratic House member were an “independent leader who insists on putting partnership ahead of partisanship,” wouldn’t that make him Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s worse nightmare, because she could not rely on him to toe the party line?
Moreover, in addition to being false on the logical front, it is also false on the factual front. Steve Kagen has voted the Democratic line 96.5 percent of the time in the 549 votes thus far in the House. The average House Democrat toes the party line 92.7% of the time. The average House member counting both parties votes the caucus’ suggestion 89.9% of the time.
You’ll recall how often Democrats and Jim Doyle slammed Mark Green as a “rubber stamp” for Prseident Bush by voting the party line just 90% of the time. Yet Kagen is voting it 97% of the time! But we’ve come to expect this from the Dems.
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Funny thing is 96.5% actually makes Kagen the most “free-thinking” of the State Democrats. Imagine that ranking if he wasn’t on the endangered species list.
One has to applaud Pelosi for keeping the team together as she has. Of course, she’s also made it a target-rich environment for 2008.
Finally, can Kagen for once do a fund-raising plea on his own accomplishments — few as they are — instead of invoking the left’s favorite bogeymen? The act’s getting old.
Dr. Kagen is all class. He is a fine representative for Wisconsin with comments like:
“Appreciate getting here almost on time. Our excuse in Oneida was, well, we’re on Injun time. They don’t tell time by the clock. Our excuse here is that I am a doctor and that we’re never on time.”
and…
“‘You recognize me? My name’s Dr. Multimillionaire and I kicked your ass.”
Jackass of the highest order.
Wait, Dick Cheney isn’t up for re-election next fall??
Brian-
We can only hope that the 22nd Amendment gets overturned. I’ll just cross my fingers for 4 more years
You seem confused. Rubber-stamping in and of itself has no inherent goodness or evil. It was Green blind allegiance to the man leading us in the wrong direction that was his error.
Thank god for the 22nd amendment!
It has saved us from a third Clinton term and WILL save us from a third Bush administration (not that he would have a snowballs chance in hell of winning another election).
Jake Creecy,
I second that!!!
Yeah, sounds mostly like rhetoric to promote Kagen. Just your average self-serving ra-ra.
Roger