Advise and Consent

Good Morning Citizens:
      I was raised in Colorado by my Grandparents.  We knew little about the workings of the local, state or federal government beyond the obvious taxes you had to pay and services the government provided us, so when the movie Advise and Consent.played locally we went to see it and believed most of what we saw.
     Now, almost fifty years later, my thoughts about the Senate and the House are still influenced by that movie. I checked out the book and although I was warned it is somewhat dated, if you mentally edit in 24/7 TV and a Blackberry per senator, which I do, it makes for a good read.   (Full disclosure--I must tell you: I do not edit in MSNBC, Fox News or Rush--after all the book is not Science Fiction)
     The book and the Movie imply, if they don't outwardly state, a set of rules for our Legislature to run and act by.  I know I will be perceived by many, as naive, but those rules are still in place.  You don't say "You lie" to anyone in that august body without suffering consequences, most especially to The President in a formal setting like last Wednesday. They fuss with the prime minister in the UK during question time but he is the Head of Government not the Head of State.
     Let me give you an example and it was just a minor infringement:  Years ago Congressman Newt Gingrich was giving a "special orders" speech and demeaning democratic lawmakers.  What you saw on TV was a congressman waving his finger and scolding the opposition and no one opposing him.  You would think the rest of the body must agree. (Special Orders time is granted to all congressman usually when no one is around -before or after a session--in those days you couldn't tell the House was empty). The Speaker of the House "Tip" O Neal was furious with Gingrich for his manipulation of the TV coverage and later took to the well of the House to tell him so. When O Neal's language got personal "then" congressman Trent Lott called from the floor that O Neal's words "be taken down" and O Neal's words were gaveled down.  A severe punishment for any house member to suffer but it was proper.
What Joe Wilson did was far more serious and I wonder if "Race" did not play a part.
But we will discuss that at a future time.  I now must go read The Distinguished Senator from Montana's Health Care proposal.
Be Well Citizens
A Journeyman Citizen