Waxing and Whining (review of Waxman's book)

National Review ^ | August 7, 2009 | Mark Hemingway

[reaganaut1]

Rep. Henry Waxman (D., Calif.) is about as able a legislator as exists in the current goat rodeo cum Democratic Congress, so if Waxman wrote a book explaining how Congress really works, it would be worth taking a look at.

And so it is that Waxman has just released The Waxman Report: How Congress Really Works, co-authored with The Atlantic’s Joshua Green. But the book has a serious truth-in-advertising problem: Explaining the behind-the-scenes machinations of Congress is far from the central purpose of the book. Indeed, Waxman is quite explicit about his true goal in writing it.

“Sadly, the view of government as a positive force that serves its people has all but vanished since I first ran for office,” he writes. “Today, disdain for government is so strong that it has given rise to the idea that Congress in particular cannot do much of anything right. This cynical outlook has been nurtured by a thirty-year-long crusade led by ideological conservatives to turn the American people against their elected officials by continually disparaging them and all that they do.” Waxman continues: “I wrote this book to explain how Congress really works and to give an idea of the many accomplishments that are routinely overlooked, misunderstood, or drowned out by partisan attacks.”

Waxman might as well replace the phrase “ideological conservatives” with “the bogeyman,” as it would make that statement just about as honest. A belief in limited government — which characterizes most conservatives — does not de facto make someone opposed to government. But what’s most offensive is that Waxman is busy looking under the bed for ideological conservatives when the real reason for Congress’s 18 percent approval rating is staring at him in the mirror.

[reaganaut1]

I've read that his muscling aside Dingell to become committee chairman and write cap-and-tax and health care bills has made it harder for Dems to write passable legislation.

[ScottinVA]

[Nathan Zachary]

"“Today, disdain for government is so strong that it has given rise to the idea that Congress in particular cannot do much of anything right. This cynical outlook has been nurtured by a thirty-year-long crusade led by ideological conservatives to turn the American people against their elected officials by continually disparaging them and all that they do.”

What a lying, POS you are waxman. Democrats and your traitorous media supporters are the ones who have spent the last 8 years, screaming to high heaven, creating groups like code pinko, Cindy Sheman, and dozens of others and attacking the government like rabid dogs, before that it was Bush Senior, then Regan.

In fact it's been 30 years of leftwing moonbat Democrats destroying the integrity of this nation, LIARS like John Kerry accusing our Veterans of war crimes, fabricating testimony from "veterans", who weren't even in the war.

How can you even look your lying self in the mirror after writing such BS just shows what a typical lowlife lying Democrat you are.

[IbJensen]

Only a few limousine liberals would buy a book about rats written by a rat.

[broken_arrow1]

Which one is Waxman (Q)

[gusopol3]

This cynical outlook has been nurtured by a thirty-year-long crusade led by ideological conservatives to turn the American people against their elected officials by continually disparaging them and all that they do.” Waxman continues

Even if you disregard Will Rogers comments of ninety years ago ( "America has only one native criminal class-- the US Congress"), Ralph Nader's bookWho Runs Congress? goes back to nearly 40 years ago. Why does he lie about everything?

[Zeppo]

The blood-sucking vampire...

[ETL]

Photoshop supplied by FReeper armymarinemom

FYI: You can watch many classic episodes of the Twilight Zone free online at this CBS link below. Unfortunately, they do not have that one available ('Nightmare at 20,000 Feet'), because it was from season 5 and they only have vids for the first 3.

Note that on each of the 3 'seasons pages' there are 2 pages of episodes listed (click the little arrow for the 2nd page):

http://www.cbs.com/classics/the_twilight_zone/

Photoshop supplied by FReeper armymarinemom

FYI: You can watch many classic episodes of the Twilight Zone free online at this CBS link below. Unfortunately, they do not have that one available ('Nightmare at 20,000 Feet'), because it was from season 5 and they only have vids for the first 3.

Note that on each of the 3 'seasons pages' there are 2 pages of episodes listed (click the little arrow for the 2nd page):

http://www.cbs.com/classics/the_twilight_zone/

[Venturer]

He wrote the book to make a buck. Dont buy it.

[Zakeet]

[avenir]

“...to turn the American people against their elected officials by continually disparaging them and all that they do”

Hey Waxman, quit doing wrong and We The People will quit riding your arse. Deal?

[SES1066]

How quickly we forget! Remember the 1960-70s battle cry, “Don’t trust anyone over 30?” How about, “Death to the Establishment?” Congressman Waxman, YOUR CORE SUPPORTERS were/are the original anti’s and now you blame us? More proof that California Politics breed very strange creatures.

[McBuff]

the real reason for Congress’s 18 percent approval rating is staring at him in the mirror.

[KC_Conspirator]

I love your post. I think it captures the appropriate righteous indignation that Waxman and liberals deserve.

[ScottinVA]