Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Rules of Decorum in the US Congress Re-released


Picture it: It's 2005, and both the Iraqi and Afghani wars have been waging for some time. President George W. Bush is in the middle of his State of the Union address, and Congressman Dennis Kucinich shouts out, "You're a liar!" The room erupts with boos and hissess. For days afterward, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and the entirety of FOX "News" talk about little else. There are calls for the Congressman to not only apologize to the President, to his state, to the Congress and to the American people, but he is shamed into retiring in disgrace.

No, it didn't happen. But imagine if it had. It hasn't been so long that any public person, politician or celebrity bold enough to speak out negatively against the President was castigated and pilloried for it. They were unpatriotic, un-American, treasonous. One of the Dixie Chicks dared say that she was "embarrassed" that the President was from Texas, and is still blacklisted them from many people's record collections. Groups like Code Pink regularly would disrupt (as far as they could) President Bush's speeches and appearances. But they had to be super sneaky to even get into the venues, and their activities were not championed by the mainstream media.

Cut to 2009. We have a charismatic, good looking (black) Democratic President. Predictably, the right wing has nitpicked and railed against every. Little. Thing. We expected that. But we didn't expect the lunacy. The frothing anger over vaguely defined issues. The tenacious pit bull-like grip on even disproven talking points. People taking guns to political (even Presidential) events, when just a few years earlier, a T-shirt could get you ejected. What the hell is going on?

So, last week, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) yells out "You lie!" in the middle of President Obama's address to Congress. It was a breach of decorum, and was if not unprecedented, at least exceedingly rare. So, Congress has dusted off its rules of decorum to helpfully remind other so-inclined House members of what they can and cannot do. Fairly prudent, I'd say.

Right-wing World doesn't see it that way, of course. As usual, they've done their best to miss the point entirely. Lacking reading comprehension skills, they seem to be of the impression that this is a new list of rules, prompted by Wilson's outburst. And they are now claiming Wilson as a hero, someone finally speaking the truth in Washington! Never mind that the "lie" Wilson was accusing Obama of was not a lie. Never mind that Wilson did breach the rules. You watch, this guy is going to be on short-lists for at least Vice President next time around.

[Excerpt]

House guidelines for Presidential put-downs

House Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY) has released a helpful, updated primer for members regarding their conduct on the floor and in committees.
Especially useful: The section on how to properly insult the executive branch in the in the chamber.


"Disgrace" and "nitwits" -- okay.

"Liar" or "sexual misconduct" -- ixnay. . .

Read more at: Politico

And if you dare, read what Right-wing World has to say at: FreeRepublic

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