It's 2009 and Congressman Jack Kingston is Still an Embarrassment to Bulldog Nation
It was petty and small two years ago and it’s petty and small today.
Here’s a really simple rule, whether you’re a Georgia Republican, a Texas Republican, or an Illinois Democrat. If you have a Washington, D.C., mailing address by virtue of having won an election, butt out of college football! I don’t care whether you’re a liberal or a conservative, if you work for the government and you start talking about college football, you’re going to say or do something colossally stupid!
(My thanks go out to Senator Blutarsky for calling my attention to this nonsense.)
Go ‘Dawgs!
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Let me put on my football hat for a minute
Anytime something goes against the Gators, I’m for it.
(Rationally, I must agree that our Representatives have better things to do, but it’s hard to be mad at someone for hatin’ on the Gators.)
Rarely do I disagree with you Kyle, but let’s look on the bright side of this situation. Kingston didn’t submit the resolution, and to my knowledge he hasn’t submitted any resolution like that. Secondly, at least we know he was present to vote! I’m sure the folks in the Sav’h district would have been more bothered by his absence than his refusal to congratulate the Gators.
The way I see it is that he’s been there for both of the votes, and he’s voted the way I would have for both of them. If we ask anything of our elected officials, at the minimum it is that they show up for their sessions and the votes that take place there.
On the other hand ...
This could be viewed as a commentary by Kingston on what a waste of time this whole resolution was in the first place. He was there for the vote, and he can vote however he chooses. I likely would have done the same thing.
His was not a comment on government waste
Blutarsky had a link to the article where Kingston basically said that he would never vote to officially recognize a rival school, especially the hated gators lying just south of his district, for any of their accomplishments. Personally, I think he’s just voting with his heart and representing the veiwpoint of the majority of his constituency as he should do in all votes in representative government. I say Huzzah to the man! And its not like he initiated the matter, it was introduced and brought before the house for a vote, he simply did his job and voted.
What is more indicative of the job he is doing is the fact that he is pushing hard for Buy American provisions in the new Economic Bailout package and pushing for the new E-verify system used in the employment contracts to ensure that the labor used in rebuilding infrastructure projects under the proposed acts will actually fall into american hands where it can be recirculated throughout OUR economy. I think we should give Jack a bye here, although as a whole Washington needs to butt out of CFB.
by dawgdayafternoon on Jan 25, 2009 11:32 AM EST reply actions
My take
The resolution was meaningless, as Acts of Congress go. I realize such things are customary, and I have no problem with the resolution’s passing (assuming it didn’t take significant time and resources away from actual government business). That Kingston chose to vote against it is fine by me. It is part of what makes college football fun. As far as I’m concerned, that vote can be stashed in the same category as the discrepancy between the “official” records of the Tech and UGA series or the fact that UF elects not to count their first game against UGA: meaningless in any substantive way, but meaningful expressions of what the rivalries are.
As long as
he did not WASTE the time of our supposed legislators by introducing such a stupid bill, I have no problem with him voting against it. It’s not like they need another accolade anyway…
I will buy..
Kingston a beer should we ever meet. Wait, make that 2.. I’ll get him one for Kyle as well.
This reminds me why I went into blogging instead of politics:
1. Clearly, my views upon this subject diverge from those of my natural constituency, so my ability to obtain and retain elected office is highly doubtful.
2. I place considerable emphasis upon thoughtful, civil, reasonable discourse of the sort evidenced in this comment thread, in which six different people expressed disagreement with me in a calm, rational, reflective manner without accusing anyone of being evil, stupid, or less than genuinely American. Unfortunately, you don’t get a lot of that in politics, but, fortunately, I have the privilege of enjoying quite a lot of that here. Nice job, everyone.
Go 'Dawgs!
You struck a Nerve, sir
Hey Kyle, just a heads-up that my sister is Jack’s legislative assistant in DC. Your post has made the rounds up there inside the beltway. She’s offered to make an introduction to Rep. Kingston if you’d like, heck maybe he’d do an interview with you. You’ll find he is one of the funniest people you’ll ever meet, Damn Good Dawg too. Send me an email if you want to take her up on it.
If you take that offer...
… you might (or, possibly, might not) want to mention to him that you’re a Phi Kappa alum. That could spark some interesting conversation, since Mr. Kingston is an alum of your rival society.
I am an alum of that society, as well, and had the opportunity to spend some time chatting with him when he attended the annual anniversary meeting several years ago. He’s a very down-to-earth guy, very smart and personable, and came across to me as a great representative for his district.
I don’t have any strong feelings one way or the other on this issue, however. I can see how the negative vote could be construed as poor sportsmanship… but, then again, I would probably have voted the same way had I been in his shoes. (There’s an equally likely chance I would have merely voted “present,” but I can’t imagine that I would have voted affirmative.)
by vineyarddawg on Jan 26, 2009 1:24 PM EST up reply actions
Proud Supporter
I am a proud supporter of Jack.
I’m sure that we could clip a quote from here and there and make anyone look like a sleeze ball. If you look at his entire body of work, you will surely see that he is a very classy guy that truly is a DGD! He hardly EVER misses a vote in Congress, and listens to what the people he represents have to say. I think that you should cut him some slack.
(and I would love to read/hear you do an interview with him about this topic.)
cookin and smilin
by cookin and smilin on Jan 26, 2009 12:39 PM EST reply actions
Thanks, vineyarddawg
I believe I was told once that Congressman Kingston was an alumnus of the literary society other than the one to which I belong (I thank you for the courtesy of not calling it by name, by the way), but I had forgotten that fact until you mentioned it.
In any case, cookin and smilin, you may get your wish. I just sent an e-mail to CheapSeats1 with the questions I composed on my lunch break and I will publish without editing or alteration whatever responses I receive.
Go 'Dawgs!
I'm sure...
the questions will be thought provoking, and prove worthy of the Congressman’s time…
I’m likewise certain that the rebuttal will prove the Congressman to be a quick witted – good sport, and possibly encourage you to rethink your opinion of him…
In others words, I can’t wait to read it!
cookin and smilin
by cookin and smilin on Jan 26, 2009 2:17 PM EST reply actions
You are a fine American Kyle
I look forward to reading how Rep. Kingston answers your questions. They are excellent queries.
When you woke up this morning, did you think your lunch would be spent writing questions for a nine-term US House Representative?
Kingston
Rep. Kingston certainly seems personable enough, based on his appearances on television. I’m most familiar with his work on Real Time with Bill Maher.
Yeah, seems like a decent guy, especially for a Republican.
Keep Congress Distracted
I’ve said this before…. the idea the Congress should stay out of football doesn’t hold for me. I can’t think of one good thing the Congress ever does… with the economic problems I wish they stayed involved in “pointless” things like sports. Let them screw something up that doesn’t matter.
Does anyone really believe the government has the answer for the economy?

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