In Part I of this series I strongly asserted that the voting records of Texas Republican lawmakers, both in Austin and Washington, have demonstrated their collective dismissive and egregious disregard regard for their average Texas constituents. I argued that this group of sorry excuses for leaders are motivated by greed and greed alone. In Part II I disclosed the cozy relationships John Cornyn shares with his donors in big oil, insurance, banking and super lobbyists such as Jack Abramoff. Part III ( http://www.texaskaos.com/showD... went a step further in attempting to unveil the potential sellout for bucks where our national security is concerned by a super global lobbyist Texan, Stephen Payne. Texas Republicans George W. Bush, Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn are deeply in love with Stephen Payne's money and influence.
Senator Cornyn's willing and relentless obedience to the Bush Administration and to his big moneyed corporate masters have dealt a lethal blow to some very basic, everyday needs and interests of hard working Texans and our families. Issues critical for the health, educational and/or financial well-being of our troops, veterans, consumers with regard to energy costs, first time home buyers, homeowners who struggle to hold on to their homes, college students, children, elderly patients and the doctors who treat them, have been systemically, if not criminally neglected by John Cornyn.
Following is John Cornyn's unprincipled record of desertion from his obligation, as an elected U.S. lawmaker, to serve the people he has sworn to represent.
It is all about the money folks. And big money at that.
Part III unveils the relationship between and Senator John Cornyn, Stephen Payne, and Jack Abramoff. It will also provide a link to a source that will inform voters as to the players who donate the big bucks to Senator Cornyn.
In Part I I made the claim that Republican lawmakers, especially those in Texas, are motivated by greed and greed alone. We learned in Part II in this diary series that this is particularly true of Texas Republican and fat cat super global lobbyist Stephen Payne. That man would sell out the national security of our country to any deep-pocketed thug for profit alone. For all we know Payne has already pimped out our safety and we are in far more danger now than we were just prior to 9/11.
So, if Stephen Payne is a potential treasonous traitor, if not a potentially tactic terrorist enabler, why do our Texas Republican politicians love him so much?
The guy is a frequent visitor to Crawford where his relationship with W. is so cozy the two men will clear brush together (one of W.'s favorite past times as well as another ritual of escapism.) Payne served as Vice Chair for U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's campaigns in 2000 and 2006. He has also donated to Senator John Cornyn's campaign.
One must remember the old saying "Birds of a feather will flock together."
I have a serious problem with the abject and appalling under performance of U.S. Senator John Cornyn and his failure to stand up for the interests and needs of his constituents, i.e. we the voters. John Cornyn's voting history clearly demonstrates that he neither cares nor is he concerned about serving those is supposed to represent in Washington, D.C.
A brief overview of John Cornyn's recent voting record gives us a glimpse into the ideology that drives our U.S. Senator.
John Cornyn has voted with President Bush at least 97% of the time, despite the President's approval ratings that range from 23-30%.
John Cornyn will predictably vote for legislation that is favorable to corporate and special interests. Both of our U.S. Senators will unfailingly vote against any legislation that ensures any kinds of oversight or regulation of corporations and special interests, even if oversight means protecting the interests of the people of Texas.
John Cornyn consistently votes against legislation that will do anything to improve the quality of Texans' lives whether it is an increase in the minimum wage, a cleaner environment, or affordable heath care insurance, both of which would yield a far healthier population here. Nor is John Cornyn interested in any bill that would ease the financial burdens born by the middle, working classes and the economically disadvantaged. He voted against SCHIP, the G.I. Bill and he voted against The Medicare Bill the first time. U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Lt. Col. Rick Noriega and the Texas Medical Association had to shame the Senator into supporting Medicare on its second go around. Cornyn had a change of heart only because he is up for re-election.
(We have a chance to give Junior John his pink slip this November. Let's make the most of it. - promoted by boadicea)
Why? Because we deserve far better. It is as simple as that, folks. Our lives are a lot worse now than they were prior to 2000. Those who are better off today are those who reside in the upper 1-2% income brackets. Ninety-eight to ninety-nine percent of us have been left behind.
Tragically, too many of us have lost our lives or loved ones because of an unnecessary and immoral war. And far too many young women and men have been seriously maimed for life, thanks to poor planning and substandard military equipment in Iraq. And intolerably, when our soldiers return home, the Bush Administration has routinely turned its back on veterans who need care. True to Republican form, John Cornyn voted against the recent Veterans' Benefits bill.
Shame on John Cornyn.
Some of us have lost our homes thanks to an unregulated banking industry filled with greedy and free-for-all sharks. Far too many Americans have lost jobs thanks to unfettered outsourcing and unforgivably, too many died unnecessarily during Hurricane Katrina thanks to FEMA mismanagement and deliberate and cynical Republican ineptitude. 42% of Americans are now uninsured. Texas boasts the highest number of uninsured residents and yet Senator John Cornyn voted against the SCHIP Bill that would have eased the burdened for economically disadvantaged children here.
(You sure you wanna try the "transparency argument, Junior John? - promoted by boadicea)
(Cross posted on The Burnt Orange Report.)
Now why would our distinguished junior Senator from the great state of Texas want to examine the military records of the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Lt. Col. Rick Noriega?
For what purpose?
I think we all can guess at the reason. Let's put it this way. Cornyn dodged the Vietnam War when he could have served in the military, but he instead actively sought a way out. Lt. Col. Noriega, on the other hand, enlisted in the National Guard in the 1980's in response to the Iranian hostage crisis. He later served in Afghanistan as a result of 9/11 and the war on terror.
But this is an election year and it obviously has dawned on Cornyn that he had chosen to shirk his walk while Lt. Col. Noriega has walked his. And so now we have a threatened and scared Republican Senator who will fabricate smear for the sole purpose of saving his own scared and sorry derriere.
All so he can expand his executive power. Senator Cornyn is a willing accomplice in this effort and he bears responsibility in the weakened state of our national security.
(Cross-posted on Texas Kaos and The Burnt Orange Report)
Shortly after posting a piece I had written previously entitled 'Senator Cornyn Stands By His Man on FISA" in which I criticized the Senator for supporting W.'s illegal warrantless wiretapping bill, I read a newspaper article written by Richard A. Clarke about Bush's destructive use of fear mongering. The former counterterrorism Czar reveals the ramifications for our national security by Bush's use of this mechanism and his political gaming with FISA and other legislation that impacts our national security
From the article I learned how W.'s political shenanigans with FISA are far more destructive and dangerous than I had initially envisioned. W.'s use of fear mongering on issues surrounding our national security are weakening us. And Senator John Cornyn and many other lawmakers are guilty of enabling W. in continuing in this appalling and irresponsible fashion.
G.W. Bush may be at a 34% or lower approval rating and yet our U.S. Senator John Cornyn continues to stand by the loser man time after time. W. has been under a 50% rating now for longer than any U.S. President including Richard Nixon, but oh well, why would clueless Cornyn care? And now our Senator is serving once again as a rubber stamp for W. in supporting the illegal warrantless wiretapping bill.
As is typical with the Republican Party, Cornyn plays the fear card on Islamic terrorists in order to justify his fascistic stand on FISA. You know, Senator, Rudy Boy spent millions of dollars and a boatload of weeks in Florida trying to scare the devil out of retired voters there about Islamic terrorism.
The Senator may be unaware of the fact that Rudy Boy was run out of Florida on a rail with his tail tucked tightly between his legs. Now the cowardly fool is clinging like a leach to McCain's coattails. I guess he scared himself. No one is buying the fear mongering anymore, dudes. Not even those you think you can scare the most. It would be far more compassionate and productive for you bullies to use your millions to support the healthcare benefits for poor children rather than terrify the elderly and retirees.
Earlier this week, Vince Leibowitz mentioned an article written on Texas Insider in which Senator Cornyn made clear his stand on FISA.
Secondly, there is far too much Sleaze Gate going on within the GOP, especially with the conservative family values and gay bashing wing of the party. I am afraid to turn my TV on because there's far too much lewd porn on the nightly news. What are our children to think?
Now we the American people know when a conservative politician starts bleating about family values and gay marriage, men and boys should avoid public men's rooms, especially those in airports and parks. Brothel Madams should put out a boatload of help wanted ads. Pages and interns in DC need to flee home straightaway and mothers of little ones might want to pack a porta potty in the back of their cars.
