Mark Twain Says Congress is an Idiot

Special to FreeRepublic ^ | 10 August, 2007 | John Armor (Congressman Billybob)

[Congressman Billybob]

Thought y'all would like this one. Posting it early since I have grandpa duties on the weekend.

John / Billybob

[tennteacher]

Wise man, that Mark Twain.

[Revolting cat!]

Wise man, that Mark Twain.

If that's his real name.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.”

[pierstroll]

Amazing how Twain and Roger’s comments about politicians can be so timeless.

[MEGoody]

I’ve read a lot of quotes from Mark Twain lately - he seemed to have a disdain for almost everyone.

[JamesP81]

No man’s life, liberty, or property are secure while the Legislature is in session. And, apparently, neither is our history.

[Congressman Billybob]

You just quoted the Twain line that I was thinking of when I decided to write this column. I chose to leave all Twain quotes out of the article, so readers could have the pleasure of Googling “Twain” and “Congress” and seeing the quotes freshly.

John / Billybob

[AFreeBird]

[stephenjohnbanker]

I just googled Twain for the 80th time: )

Priceless American humorist.

[ThePythonicCow]

Instead of adding an exemption for the Delta Queen, how about removing the law mandating steel?

What the heck business is it of Congress whether or not a ship is wood or steel? I guess this law is allowed by the Commerce Clause or some such, but still ... such micro management of the details of our lives is the steady drip of death by socialism

If Congress only passed laws on matters it was empowered to legislate and that were essential federal mandates for our common security and well being, then we'd have a lot fewer laws, and maybe the powers that be behind the Congressional staffs would have a lot less ability to mess with the laws, by burying their doggie doo in a blizzard of petty legislation.

... on the other hand, that's probably a good part of the reason we have a bazillion laws ... it's easier to hide in a blizzard, and it empowers the Congressional staff and those lobbying them, because no mere mortal representative, much less ordinary citizen with other duties, can possibly keep track of even a few percent of the mountain of laws.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Thank you for sharing your article with us.

[Old Sarge]

The Queen's not the last one, Congressman...

[SkyDancer]

Mark Twain (alias Samuel Clemens) also called Congress: “That grand old benevolent national asylum for the helpless”.

[AuntB]

Amazing how Twain and Roger’s comments about politicians can be so timeless.

Some men are timeless. They are rare and few. Thanks for the article, I had heard nothing about this.

"Our constitution protects aliens, drunks and U.S. Senators." Will Rogers

[AuntB]

Mark Twain Ping!

[Congressman Billybob]

Thanks for the info. The two boats you provided links for are used for day excursions. The Delta Queen is the only one with cabins for overnight use. It’s the overnights in a “wooden” structure which requires an exemption from the 1966 Maritime Safety Act.

John / Billybob

[Old Sarge]

Well, learn something new each login! Thank you!

[stboz]

While we lived in Vicksburg, when the wind was right, we could hear the calliope on the Delta Queen 6-and-a-half miles away while she was tied up at the city dock.

[perfect stranger]

ping