The bottom line of what you get in November...this red head in charge.

I guess in all of life there are bottom lines, it is a term very easily used. But this is our bottom line in November, it will be the price we pay for not getting some power back in Congress.

This is the continued face of the Republican Party. This guy is Congressman Adam H. Putnam. He represents the 12th Congressional District of Florida. Now in his third term, he is Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee and serves on the powerful House Rules Committee and the Budget Committee. He is 32 years old.

He is a Bush loyalist, he is of the newest breed of Young Republicans who firmly believe if you are rich you deserve it. And God help you if you are poor, because he feels that you most definitely deserve that. No excuses for illness, no excuses for all. Just no excuses. There is nothing this guy despises more than the programs like Social Security, Medicare, and god help us all that program called Medicaid gets his greatest contempt.

He has the adoration of all the county newspapers. Here is an example.

He may have to wait before running for governor because his country needs him

There is one problem with his running for governor on schedule Mr Rufty says….he has become way too important in congress at age 31.

But his swift rise in Congress may now have placed him beyond a mere state Cabinet post, and a run for governor could be much farther in the future than originally thought.
“Why would he want to step down in status?” asked a congressional aide who has followed the careers of several members of Congress. “He is on the way up the ladder over there (the Capitol) and he is more powerful and can do more right now in this city.”

He met with Ralph Reed and my state legislator, John Stargel, in churches in this area….for rallies against John Kerry. I found this at a friend’s blog from 2004. Nice guys, really nice guys. Stargel is the one whose office I called, pleading for him not to keep the University of Florida from providing health care to domestic partners. I got a sermon from his aide about their views on gays, and was told abortion was murder. I was sick inside. Read this from the blog called Interstate Jamming.
Rallying in churches

—Speaking of so-called compassionate conservatises…what a laugh! Ralph Reed, the above-mentioned Mel Martinez, and 12th District Congressman/Bush lapdog Adam Putnam were all present and accounted for Friday evening at a Republican rally held at Grove Park Christian Church in Lakeland. All the usual verses were sung, and State Representative John Stargel offered what was described as “a lengthy prayer”, by which time I can only guess that even the Heavenely Father was almost snoring.

He is 5th in the Republican chain of command, and I know from experience he is as soulless and uncaring as those above him. He simply does not care. He is on or in charge of some of the most powerful committees in Congress. I know C-Span junkies have seen him in action.

Someone here the other day said that my advocating changing the party instead of leaving it was grounded partly in fear. Sadly I think that person may be right. This guy scares me, and unless we take the House back….he is it.

No Limits to Putnam’s Prospects

Recently appointed to the powerful House Rules Committee by House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Putnam’s status in Congress is growing at the same time Republican strategists in Florida are predicting Putnam will have more options back in the Sunshine State.

“He could look at anything — governor or U.S. senator — and I don’t think it would be too soon in 2006,” said Charles E. Canady of Lakeland, the venerable campaign specialist. “Age? He has removed that question time and again, and I don’t think it is an issue. It would be if he did not have the experience that he has now, but he is well ahead of many people who are much older.”

You really need to read this article from a usually pretty sensible paper. You need to read the utter adoration so many throughout Central Florida have for him. Then take time to watch him in action on C-Span while they are ramrodding through legislation.

This is what you get in November. I guess you could call it the price of idealism. I hate to say that, because I am in my soul an idealist.

But I will do what I have to do to keep him from rising higher in the ranks.

6 Comments

maryb2004 on February 19, 2006 at 5:25 pm

I like your idea of showcasing current members of Congress who are harming Americans and need to be defeated.

Here are the two Republicans I’d like to get rid of in Missouri.

First, Todd Aiken who wanted to use the necessity of giving aid to Hurricane Katrina victims as an excuse to cut the “non-defense budget” or, in other words, social programs. Alternet uses him as an example to compare and contrast Democrats.

Naturally, both parties approved the emergency supplemental spending bill by a wide margin. But while several dozen conservative legislators led by Todd Aiken, R-Mo., were trying to push an amendment that would mandate cutting the non-defense budget by 2.5% across the board, Democrats were also proposing comprehensive, long-term aid to the stricken areas for housing, keeping kids in school and healthcare.

The second is Missouri Senator Jim Talent.

Talent, who is often referred to as a “rising conservative star.” Here’s his record on Medicaid cuts in 2005:

Jim Talent voted repeatedly in support of cuts to federal Medicaid funding and failed to speak out in opposition to the massive Medicaid cuts pushed by Missouri Governor Matt Blunt. Instead of standing up to his Congressional Republican leadership or to the newly sworn-in governor of Missouri, Jim Talent:
*    Broke Pledge to Fight Medicaid Cuts. In March 2005, Talent wrote in a Letter to the Editor that he would “continue to support increased federal funding for this critical program.” [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Letter to the Editor, 3/21/05]
*    Voted for Final Budget Resolution with Massive Medicaid Cuts. In December 2005, Talent voted for a budget resolution that cut $7 billion from Medicaid over the next five years. [Roll Call #363, 12/21/05]
*    Refused to Support Legislation Protecting Medicaid Cuts. In March 2005, Talent voted against the Smith Amendment that would have protected Medicaid from all proposed cuts. [Roll Call #58, 3/17/05]
*    Slammed by Post-Dispatch for Medicaid Vote. The Post-Dispatch editorial board slammed Talent’s decision to vote against protecting Medicaid: “One would have thought that Missouri’s Sens. Christopher S. `Kit’ Bond and Jim Talent would have joined the effort, in light of the Medicaid crisis in Missouri. But both stuck to the hard GOP line of cutting taxes on the rich while cutting health care for the poor.” [St. Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial, 3/20/05]

The Republicans control both houses of Congress. They control policy for the whole country. I can only do my little part to take that power away from them. I can work hard to get rid of both of these men. I’d like to replace them with true progressives but, let’s face it, this is Missouri. We’re not that progressive. So I have to work with what I have.

I can only hope that other people in other states are working as hard as I am to get rid of their cold-hearted Republican congressmen and Senators so that the Republicans will no longer be the majority party.

And if that happens, THEN I intend to exert as much pressure as I possibly can on the people that I helped elect to enact legislation to, first, undo the tremendous damage that the Republicans have done to the health and welfare of this country, and, second, to go further and enact true progressive policies.

floridagal on February 19, 2006 at 5:46 pm

But I don’t think anything I say or you say matters now. I am quite sure I am considered an establishment stooge, and not considered very intelligent. People here talk about people who support changing the party as if we are an alien type of person.

It is becoming a defensive thing. I think that is happening on both sides of the aisle here now.

Apparently this red head is the outcome some here want. I think it is meant to teach the Democrats a lesson. I can’t wait to see the lesson we learn if this bunch retains power in November.

So for a while, since I feel like I have to defend myself for being a Democrat…I will take a break, heal some bruises, get used to the fact that I am considered something not so bright and not so good. Why? Because I see the dangers in the divides.

Your post is nice. Thanks. I am not very nice when I am defending who I am and how much I do. Time for a break.
- maryb2004 on February 19, 2006 at 5:53 pm
  
  Hey, you’ve done an amazing job speaking for what you believe in. I think this diary reminds us that all politics is local and we have to work for change in our own back yard. It is very frustrating because there is a limit to what we can do nationally everyone else is working in their back yard too.
- Street Kid on February 19, 2006 at 9:48 pm
  
  Because I see the dangers in the divides.
  
  And others, myself included, see more dangers in politics as usual.
- shirlstars on February 19, 2006 at 11:33 pm
  
  I don’t think you or your views are alien. I felt the same way for the past 45 years and have worked as hard as I have been able to effect changes locally and everywhere else I could. I have voted for what turned out to be some real stinkers over those years, and have continued to do the same things you are doing. I admire your dogged determination. Mine has run to the end of its energy. I hate hypocracy and I don’t care in what political party it rears its ugly head, I hate it.
  
  Any Democrat that shows me he stands for something and will continue to stand for something, will get my vote and support. The rest of them can stand over there in the corner with the republicans where they beong.
  
  This system is just NOT working for me. That doesn’t mean you are wrong to do what you see is the right thing to do. . .neither am I.
  - Street Kid on February 20, 2006 at 12:09 am
    
    Just because the systemis more responsive to one person’s needs, does not mean that it is responsive to everyone. And that is the case w/many who are dissatisfied and seek an alternative.

maryb2004 on February 19, 2006 at 5:25 pm

I like your idea of showcasing current members of Congress who are harming Americans and need to be defeated.

Here are the two Republicans I’d like to get rid of in Missouri.

First, Todd Aiken who wanted to use the necessity of giving aid to Hurricane Katrina victims as an excuse to cut the “non-defense budget” or, in other words, social programs. Alternet uses him as an example to compare and contrast Democrats.

Naturally, both parties approved the emergency supplemental spending bill by a wide margin. But while several dozen conservative legislators led by Todd Aiken, R-Mo., were trying to push an amendment that would mandate cutting the non-defense budget by 2.5% across the board, Democrats were also proposing comprehensive, long-term aid to the stricken areas for housing, keeping kids in school and healthcare.

The second is Missouri Senator Jim Talent.

Talent, who is often referred to as a “rising conservative star.” Here’s his record on Medicaid cuts in 2005:

Jim Talent voted repeatedly in support of cuts to federal Medicaid funding and failed to speak out in opposition to the massive Medicaid cuts pushed by Missouri Governor Matt Blunt. Instead of standing up to his Congressional Republican leadership or to the newly sworn-in governor of Missouri, Jim Talent:
*    Broke Pledge to Fight Medicaid Cuts. In March 2005, Talent wrote in a Letter to the Editor that he would “continue to support increased federal funding for this critical program.” [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Letter to the Editor, 3/21/05]
*    Voted for Final Budget Resolution with Massive Medicaid Cuts. In December 2005, Talent voted for a budget resolution that cut $7 billion from Medicaid over the next five years. [Roll Call #363, 12/21/05]
*    Refused to Support Legislation Protecting Medicaid Cuts. In March 2005, Talent voted against the Smith Amendment that would have protected Medicaid from all proposed cuts. [Roll Call #58, 3/17/05]
*    Slammed by Post-Dispatch for Medicaid Vote. The Post-Dispatch editorial board slammed Talent’s decision to vote against protecting Medicaid: “One would have thought that Missouri’s Sens. Christopher S. `Kit’ Bond and Jim Talent would have joined the effort, in light of the Medicaid crisis in Missouri. But both stuck to the hard GOP line of cutting taxes on the rich while cutting health care for the poor.” [St. Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial, 3/20/05]

The Republicans control both houses of Congress. They control policy for the whole country. I can only do my little part to take that power away from them. I can work hard to get rid of both of these men. I’d like to replace them with true progressives but, let’s face it, this is Missouri. We’re not that progressive. So I have to work with what I have.

I can only hope that other people in other states are working as hard as I am to get rid of their cold-hearted Republican congressmen and Senators so that the Republicans will no longer be the majority party.

And if that happens, THEN I intend to exert as much pressure as I possibly can on the people that I helped elect to enact legislation to, first, undo the tremendous damage that the Republicans have done to the health and welfare of this country, and, second, to go further and enact true progressive policies.
- floridagal on February 19, 2006 at 5:46 pm
  
  But I don’t think anything I say or you say matters now. I am quite sure I am considered an establishment stooge, and not considered very intelligent. People here talk about people who support changing the party as if we are an alien type of person.
  
  It is becoming a defensive thing. I think that is happening on both sides of the aisle here now.
  
  Apparently this red head is the outcome some here want. I think it is meant to teach the Democrats a lesson. I can’t wait to see the lesson we learn if this bunch retains power in November.
  
  So for a while, since I feel like I have to defend myself for being a Democrat…I will take a break, heal some bruises, get used to the fact that I am considered something not so bright and not so good. Why? Because I see the dangers in the divides.
  
  Your post is nice. Thanks. I am not very nice when I am defending who I am and how much I do. Time for a break.
  - maryb2004 on February 19, 2006 at 5:53 pm
    
    Hey, you’ve done an amazing job speaking for what you believe in. I think this diary reminds us that all politics is local and we have to work for change in our own back yard. It is very frustrating because there is a limit to what we can do nationally everyone else is working in their back yard too.
  - Street Kid on February 19, 2006 at 9:48 pm
    
    Because I see the dangers in the divides.
    
    And others, myself included, see more dangers in politics as usual.
  - shirlstars on February 19, 2006 at 11:33 pm
    
    I don’t think you or your views are alien. I felt the same way for the past 45 years and have worked as hard as I have been able to effect changes locally and everywhere else I could. I have voted for what turned out to be some real stinkers over those years, and have continued to do the same things you are doing. I admire your dogged determination. Mine has run to the end of its energy. I hate hypocracy and I don’t care in what political party it rears its ugly head, I hate it.
    
    Any Democrat that shows me he stands for something and will continue to stand for something, will get my vote and support. The rest of them can stand over there in the corner with the republicans where they beong.
    
    This system is just NOT working for me. That doesn’t mean you are wrong to do what you see is the right thing to do. . .neither am I.
    - Street Kid on February 20, 2006 at 12:09 am
      
      Just because the systemis more responsive to one person’s needs, does not mean that it is responsive to everyone. And that is the case w/many who are dissatisfied and seek an alternative.

The bottom line of what you get in November…this red head in charge.

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floridagal

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