# Dammit, my representative is an idiot (Sam Johnson - TX Dist. 3) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 1, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097 "2004-07-01T19:53:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097/1 "2004-07-01T19:53:34Z")
It was bad enough when he jumped all over Representative John Murtha for a completely innocuous comment about the situation in Iraq. Murtha committed the gravest of sins, calling the war “unwinnable.” He was immediately branded unpatriotic by Johnson, who used the comment as his [issue of the moment.](http://www.samjohnson.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=3654) > [@](#): > > When I was in Vietnam as a P.O.W. we were scared to death that Washington would turn on us, politicize it, and end it without getting us out. > > They did get us out of Vietnam but they didn’t get all of our people out of Cambodia or Laos. > > And it was because of the peaceniks who didn’t believe we could win. > > We’ve got to support our troops. Our freedom. Our nation. > > Our liberty depends on it. > > God bless the United States. What did Murtha actually [say](http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/05/06/murtha.iraq/)? > [@](#): > > (T)he problems in Iraq are due to a “lack of planning” by Pentagon chiefs and “the direction has got be changed or it is unwinnable.” That doesn’t sound terribly unsupportive to me. In fact, it sounds like he’s saying we need to support them _more_. But you knew that, Sam. Didn’t you? And now he’s at it again, this time because Senator Tom Harkin from Iowa added a provision to a defense bill that would call for the Armed Forces Radio and Television Services provides more balanced programming. See, at the moment they’re playing Rush Limbaugh. The Democrats believe that as long as they’re playing a far far right personality, why not balance it out with someone from the left? You know, maybe someone who doesn’t think torture is a beautiful idea. Sounds like a fair idea to me. Not to Mr. Johnson though. What did he say when he found out the Democrats wanted to balance the broadcasting a little? [“Sounds a little like communism to me.”](http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040629-112921-3917r.htm) Nobody slap me on the back for a few minutes. My eyes have rolled back so far that I can’t see, and I don’t want 'em to stick like that. I decided that every time this idiot says something asinine I’m going to send twenty bucks to his opponent, so I hit the TDP’s website to find out who it is. _No Democrat filed._ Nooooooooooo!!! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097/2 "2004-07-01T19:59:04Z")
Why don’t \*you \* run against him, then? Seriously. A lot of people have entered politics just because they got mad enought at something or somebody. The Texas Democratic Party would, no doubt, be happy to have more of their slots filled with candidates who can at least present themselves respectably. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097/3 "2004-07-01T20:25:54Z")
It might be one of those throw-away districts. I learned about those on West Wing. They used Orange County California as their example. The DNC wouldn’t put any money behind anyone there because it was too hopeless. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097/4 "2004-07-01T20:26:59Z")
> [@Slacker](#): > > And now he’s at it again, this time because Senator Tom Harkin from Iowa added a provision to a defense bill that would call for the Armed Forces Radio and Television Services provides more balanced programming. > > See, at the moment they’re playing Rush Limbaugh. The Democrats believe that as long as they’re playing a far far right personality, why not balance it out with someone from the left? You know, maybe someone who doesn’t think torture is a beautiful idea. Sounds like a fair idea to me. This is actually a very interesting topic (and by “very interesting” I mean “something I know a small bit about”). The local independent paper here did their main article last week about a couple who, when the husband was in Iraq, the wife protested. A lot. Protested here, protested in France, protested where Bush traveled, etc., most with and through Military Families Speak Out. His job in Iraq was to set up and facilitate the Iraqi Media Network… screw it, here’s the link: [http://www.nuvo.net/archive/2004/06/23/speaking\_out.html](http://www.nuvo.net/archive/2004/06/23/speaking_out.html) The most poignant excerpt from the article/interview is below (for those who don’t want to click): > [@](#): > > DOUG: I was working on the Iraqi Media Network. The people I was working with before were very supportive. They wanted this thing up and going and I was basically given a free hand. > > Then the 82nd got there. Things changed. We went head-to-head. They wanted it to turn into their propaganda machine. They were going over there in convoys, bringing them stuff and saying, “You will put this on the air. You will play this.” We went at it tooth-and-nail. > > A general gave one speech. It was, like, 22 minutes long. At the time, we were only on six hours a day. They wanted it played four times a day — that’s one-third of their programming — over and over for a month. > > I gave my reporters three rules when I sent them out: Don’t ask for anybody’s death; don’t incite any riots; have everything you need to report the truth. I don’t care what you report on. If you’ve got truth, and you can support it, I don’t care what it is. I stuck to those three guidelines and let them go. > > I tried to make them as free as possible and the 82nd came in and turned them into a propaganda machine. Probably a lot of stuff that’s going on now is because people no longer trust the Network. > > Mr. Hammed, my general manager, was invited to interview the general of the 82nd Airborne. There’s a lieutenant colonel and a major in there going, “OK, you can ask these questions. You have to stick to these subjects. You can’t ask anything about this, this or this. Understand? Any questions?” Mr. Hammed raises his hand and goes, “You mean like Saddam Hussein used to give a press conference?” > > The look on the lieutenant colonel’s face — I had to leave the room. Mr. Hammed became our instant hero. I know it’s not Armed Forces Radio, but it’s close. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097/5 "2004-07-01T21:29:42Z")
> [@](#): > > They did get us out of Vietnam but they didn’t get all of our people out of Cambodia or Laos. That’s a curious thing to mention. Does Rep. Johnson still believe those murky legends about American POW’s still being held captive by our Indochinese foes? Anyway, this statement seems par for the course for a Texas Republican. I feel sorry for any Democrat (or rational person) who lives in this guy’s district but people like him do provide good fodder of some of Molly Ivin’s more entertaining columns. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097/6 "2004-07-01T21:55:24Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > Does Rep. Johnson still believe those murky legends about American POW’s still being held captive by our Indochinese foes? Bah. He probably thinks the Indochinese and the Muslims are working together to bring down Capitalism, Christianity, and Heterosexuals, and that everyone who doubts him should be sent to the salt mines. Or maybe he doesn’t. But he has no apparent ability with logical thought. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097/7 "2004-07-02T11:45:47Z")
Or not. He’s trying to [keep Rush Limbaugh](http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0629-06.htm) on armed forces radio. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097/8 "2004-07-02T16:07:51Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > It might be one of those throw-away districts. I learned about those on West Wing. They used Orange County California as their example. The DNC wouldn’t put any money behind anyone there because it was too hopeless. Oh, you mean that staunch Republican [Loretta Sanchez](http://www.lorettasanchez.house.gov/display2.cfm?id=8059&type=Home) (D - Orange County, Ca.)? OK, to be fair, the majority of OC’s districts have twice as many Republicans as Democrats, but they are fielding candidates in every district, and Sanchez originally won her district from “B-1 Bob” Dornan. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097/9 "2004-07-02T17:08:31Z")
Perhaps the Hon. Mr. Johnson would like to visit Rep. Murtha’s (and my) hometown of Johnstown, PA, to make a speech on this issue. I’m sure he’d get a warm reception.\* \*full disclosure: Congressman Jack is practically worshipped there, as there’s a general impression among his constituency that he’s very diligent about taking care of their interests; i.e. that he’s been pretty good at steering little tidbits of federal funding to the area, amongst other things. Also, I have friends who live on the same street as Murtha’s family. Every year there is a block party on that street, and the Rep. almost always shows up to mingle with the neighbors. That alone is enough to mean that Rep. Johnson is at risk of violent attack by an army of middle-aged housewives wielding lukewarm tuna-noodle casseroles. Plus, Murtha’s an ex-Marine Colonel and a Viet Nam vet, fer cryin’ out loud. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097/10 "2004-07-02T17:20:13Z")
> [@Nametag](#): > > Oh, you mean that staunch Republican [Loretta Sanchez](http://www.lorettasanchez.house.gov/display2.cfm?id=8059&type=Home) (D - Orange County, Ca.)? OK, to be fair, the majority of OC’s districts have twice as many Republicans as Democrats, but they are fielding candidates in every district, and Sanchez originally won her district from “B-1 Bob” Dornan. This doesn’t at all contradict what **Liberal** said. A very good friend of mine is running for Congress and against an entrenched GOP incumbent who has been around for many years. The DNC told him that he had to make certain fundraising and poll number goals before they would give him support. If they determined that the seat was truely in play, the sky would be the limit. By the way, Loretta Sanchez Brixey is in a district with a huge and recent immigrant Hispanic base. She suddenly found her roots and dropped her married name when she ran for election. She beat out Dornan who is a certified kook and as far Right as it is possible to be. Even the most forgiving of moderate Republicans couldn’t take him anymore. Haj ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2004, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097/11 "2004-07-02T17:27:07Z")
> [@Nametag](#): > > … and Sanchez originally won her district from “B-1 Bob” Dornan. And yet, some continue to doubt the existence of a just and loving God… ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097/12 "2004-07-03T01:11:20Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > And yet, some continue to doubt the existence of a just and loving God… I’ll start believing in God again just as soon as Santorum is voted out of office in Pennsylvania. Robin ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097/13 "2004-07-03T01:12:30Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > I’ll start believing in God again just as soon as Santorum is voted out of office in Pennsylvania. > > Robin No, Dave has not magically turned liberal. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097/14 "2004-07-03T03:15:24Z")
Sadly, the libraries are closed for the 4th of July weekend, so I can’t provide an exact example here, but this sort of statement is par for the course for Johnson. He’s stated stuff like this throughout his 13 years in Congress. And, for the record, his North Dallas district is one of the staunchest Reps seats in Texas. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097/15 "2004-07-03T05:33:54Z")
Texas republican=idiot. This is not rocket science here people. Remember Texas is the home of Tom “Bug killer” Delay. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097/16 "2004-07-03T10:13:30Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > No, Dave has not magically turned liberal. > > Robin Um, due respect to both of you whom I admire, but could you kindly get your shit together? At the top right is a welcome message spelling out who is logged in. I’m not asking you to be perfect, but y’all are doing this like four times a day lately. The PTB have extended those of us with one computer in a household the courtesy of allowing us to post. Yes, we fuck up from time to time _on rare occasions_. And you two used to do a lot better than you have recently. But sooner or later something bad is going to happen as a result of people not logging out their SO. And when it does, we might all lose our privileges. So why don’t you and Airman (or you and Robyn, depending on who you are) take a brief timeout to strategize how you can make a habit of checking the top right of the page before posting, or how you can make a habit of logging out when you’re done. Okay? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097/17 "2004-07-03T10:14:38Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > Texas republican=idiot. > > This is not rocket science here people. > > Remember Texas is the home of Tom “Bug killer” Delay. It is also the home of Ron Paul. Apparently, NC democrat = bigot. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097/18 "2004-07-03T12:19:53Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Um, due respect to both of you whom I admire, but could you kindly get your shit together? At the top right is a welcome message spelling out who is logged in. I’m not asking you to be perfect, but y’all are doing this like four times a day lately. The PTB have extended those of us with one computer in a household the courtesy of allowing us to post. Yes, we fuck up from time to time _on rare occasions_. And you two used to do a lot better than you have recently. But sooner or later something bad is going to happen as a result of people not logging out their SO. And when it does, we might all lose our privileges. So why don’t you and Airman (or you and Robyn, depending on who you are) take a brief timeout to strategize how you can make a habit of checking the top right of the page before posting, or how you can make a habit of logging out when you’re done. Okay? I understand the concept of “checking to see who’s logged in”. Last time I sat down, however, it was I who was checked in and didn’t know that Airman had logged in in the meantime. That said, we are working on getting our computer upgraded sufficiently so that we can load XP or at least figure out a way to get profiles on here so that we have our own copies of Explorer. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097/19 "2004-07-03T12:24:51Z")
A great idea! Thanks for taking that in the manner it was intended. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dammit-my-representative-is-an-idiot-sam-johnson-tx-dist-3/253097/20 "2004-07-03T14:54:07Z")
Simpler answer! Download Firefox. ([www.mozilla.org](http://www.mozilla.org)) and one of you can use it for the Dope, and the other can use IE. Admittedly, I feel sorry for whoever gets stuck still using IE, but that’s a personal opinion.