Amtrak supporter Elijah Cummings – From Mike
Didn’t he represent Baltimore which is a major stop on the NEC? Just like Biden being from Wilmington, Delaware…another stop on the NEC. Why is it a big surprise he supported Amtrak? Amtrak employees would be constituents in each location, no doubt.
I am actually happy Baltimore will see a change in their Congressional Representative finally. I am not a big fan of Congressional seats for life. Nobody should be. Most of the time it leads to the occupant becomming complacent and uncompetitive.
No way anyone that holds that seat will be anything but a big Amtrak supporter–just like all the the other Reps who represent a major city on the NEC. Doesn’t matter who or what the party.
CMStPnP brought up a very good point, although not train related.
The last time I watched a “State Of The Union” address and the cameras panned over the assembly I wasn’t sure if I was looking at the Congress or a nursing home.
“Complacent and uncompetative?” More like they get the attitude they’ve been “Appointed, anointed, and their (ahem) doesn’t stink.” ANY of them.
Right on!
It is common knowledge that all Representatives and Senators, except those I helped elect, are morons and idiots.
Would now be the right time for elections to be changed so that you vote for all the Representatives and Senators that DO NOT represent your area? That way you can vote the morons and idiots out of office.
[/sarcasm]
Well that’s a good point Balt, and it’s been made before by others in different venues, i.e. “Well, MY congressman/senator is OK, but all the others are worthless!”
Well, I don’t buy into that myself. ALL should be turned over at a regular basis.
“Don’t plan on being there until they carry you out on a stretcher! YOU sir, (or madam) are eventually going to come back out here and live with the legislation you did (or didn’t) pass just like the rest of us mere mortals! See how you like it!”
You see, there’s something compelling and attractive about that area “Inside the Beltway” that most seem to fall victim to. Whether it’s the power, the recognition, the idea that they belong to an exclusive club, or whatever, it seems that most who get into that club NEVER want to leave. Even the Washington press corps seem to fall victim to it and ignore the fact there’s a whole lot of country out there beyond the DC enclave. (Ever watch those “Talking Head” shows and see how “clubby” some the pressies are with the politicians?) See where I’m going here? I’m sure you do.
I don’t know what the answer is, other than a voting public that knows enough to look beyond the headlines and diligently keeps themselves informed.
By the way, want to see a long-term congressman or senator have a panic attack? Two words, "Primary challenge!
Personal note here. Last election our two-term congressman was voted out and a challenger from another party voted in. I didn’t vote for the challenger, but I didn’t throw a fit over it. OK, people want someone else. Fine with me. That’s how it’s supposed to be.
That’s my usual line…
Of course, there’s the line from “Charlie Wilson’s War,” (based on a true story), “You’re main accomplishment is four terms in office has been getting re-elected three times.” Maybe it was three terms and twice - regardless…
Charlie Wilson went on to have 12 terms, didn’t he?
Dunno - never checked.
One of the problems with term limits is that there are no term limits for the lobbyists, who would wind up being much more experienced than the legislators. do you really want that??
Fortunately, it would take a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on the House of Representatives and the Senate.
They can always say “No” to the lobbyists. Some do, some don’t, some will, some won’t.
Lobbyists aren’t magical all-powerful creatures, they’re people who persuade by various means. I won’t go into those means as we’re getting a bit beyond the scope of the original post. Suffice to say if a congressman or a senator goes out, another one comes in, and the lobbyists have to start all over again.
And it goes without saying the lobbyists aren’t on the House or Senate floor voting.
Don’t forget, the president is term-limited. It hasn’t hurt the office at all.
Old saying, “The graveyards are full of ‘indispensable’ men.”
Yep. Currently, 33 Senators and 77 Representitives are at least 70 years old.
From Mike :
Excerpt from Progressive Railroading
https://www.progressiverailroading.com/people/news/ASLRRA-Cummings-understood-rail-industrys-importance--58871
Chuck Baker, president of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), said Cummings’ career was characterized by doing the right thing.
Except for being in Congress - I resemble that.
Excerpt from Reuters
Jawauna Greene, a former Cummings staffer, took the train from New York on Wednesday night to pay her respects.
She said she first met Cummings 24 years ago when he was working in a small law firm. She was pregnant, her Marine Corps husband was deployed and she needed to supplement the family’s income.
Cummings hired her on the spot, said Greene, who later worked as a scheduler in his congressional office.
“He was always helping neighbors, paying people’s bills out of his own pocket when he barely had money,” she said.
Excerpt from Teamsters Rail Conference press release May 17, 2007
https://www.bmwe.org/news/2007/05172007_trff.pdf
Hundreds of Amtrak workers rallied today at Amtrak’s headquarters at Union Station, expressing frustration about working without a union contract for eight years with no negotiations on the horizon…
“We have to say to our Republican colleagues, ‘Get Your Hands Off Amtrak,’” said Rep. Elijah Cummings, (D-MD). “You, the workers who keep this railroad running, have been deprived of what you are rightfully due. We are doing everything in our power to preserve Amtrak.”
https://teamster.org/content/teamster-history-visual-timeline
As one who is over 80, I resemble that and while age can add wisdom, it also can slow one down. Mr. Cummings was not slowing down in my opinion. And he was doing a good job on the committee he chaired. And I thought the original post’s excerpt of his Mr. Gunn’s interrogation was very well done. THe administration is still trying to destroy Amtak as Mr Gunn testified. think if we loose it, we will wish we had not. And we won’t be able to we won’t be able to build a new national passenger railroad system. This I think is bad for the country.
Remember - Cummings was not yet 70!
That’s been the case since Day One. Amtrak was supposed to fail, but has somehow managed to hang on…