Sorry to disagree w/some of this--I think Massie brings up the very same issues I have had with Johnson. The very first thing Johnson did was send more money to Ukraine. WTF? And then he supported spying on Americans, especially when that authority has been abused against conservatives. IDK if anyone better than Johnson exists but I wish more reps would call out Johnson like Massie does. I agree w/you regarding bonuses to his staff but then again, how much does his staff make vs. other congressional staff? If he paid bonus to stay competitive, then why cut off his own nose to spite his face?
This is not the time to pick a fight with the President; he has democrats who will do that. IF you want to have that fight in 6 mo. or when Johnson makes a hash of things, fine. But please not now and certainly not before Trump is even in office.
As for Massie, no other Rep. in Kentucky offered bonuses. Nor did most others. One cannot be taken seriously about being a budget hawk if one does not practice fiscal restraint with their own budget. I will just point out that no other government employee receives a bonus. A cash award for excellence maybe but not a bonus just for doing your job.
Never forget that Congress was intended to live by compromise. I do I like the fact that we are funding the Ukraine war or the Patriot Act? Absolutely not. But do I want to let the dems score a political point when I don't need to? Nope.
There is a time for this fight but not today and not for the next 20 days and 12 hours.
Still, we need people like Massie. The greatest fault of progressivism, and it has a multitude of grave faults, is that every progressive is expected to go along. Just go along. Have no thoughts of their own.
Let's not be like that. Trump plays politics. he has to. Johnson plays politics. He has to. Well, Massie has to play politics. There is no easy answer to the Middle East. The US government has done as much to make things worse there than to make them better. Massie wants us out of there. I see his point, even if I don't wholeheartedly agree. I have similar sentiments about Ukraine.
My basic view is that we need a lot more Massies. We are in the messes we are in as a direct result of people going along. That never ends well.
My basic view is that IF Massie is going to call out ANYONE for overspending then I expect that he willnot spend one red cent more than required to operate his office. Staff bonuses are not included in that.
It's an irrelevant thing in this case. What is relevant is that he brought pork to his "friends", has a history of anti-semetic votes, accused President Trump of being responsible for J6 DESPITE all evidence to the contrary, and now is obstructing the President-elect's agenda by grandstanding.
I have no issue with Johnson and he clearly listens to Trump. As long has he continues to do that I'm a happy camper.
Keep this in mind: Massie is a self-proclaimed budget buster who now stands in the way of a President-elects program that does just that. In fact he even charged Musk and Ramaswamy with the task of reducing government size and spending. How does Thomas explain that?
I'll leave it at that. There's something about Massie that I like. Washington needs a lot more contrarians. But that doesn't automatically mean Massie has good judgment.
Sorry to disagree w/some of this--I think Massie brings up the very same issues I have had with Johnson. The very first thing Johnson did was send more money to Ukraine. WTF? And then he supported spying on Americans, especially when that authority has been abused against conservatives. IDK if anyone better than Johnson exists but I wish more reps would call out Johnson like Massie does. I agree w/you regarding bonuses to his staff but then again, how much does his staff make vs. other congressional staff? If he paid bonus to stay competitive, then why cut off his own nose to spite his face?
This is not the time to pick a fight with the President; he has democrats who will do that. IF you want to have that fight in 6 mo. or when Johnson makes a hash of things, fine. But please not now and certainly not before Trump is even in office.
As for Massie, no other Rep. in Kentucky offered bonuses. Nor did most others. One cannot be taken seriously about being a budget hawk if one does not practice fiscal restraint with their own budget. I will just point out that no other government employee receives a bonus. A cash award for excellence maybe but not a bonus just for doing your job.
Never forget that Congress was intended to live by compromise. I do I like the fact that we are funding the Ukraine war or the Patriot Act? Absolutely not. But do I want to let the dems score a political point when I don't need to? Nope.
There is a time for this fight but not today and not for the next 20 days and 12 hours.
Still, we need people like Massie. The greatest fault of progressivism, and it has a multitude of grave faults, is that every progressive is expected to go along. Just go along. Have no thoughts of their own.
Let's not be like that. Trump plays politics. he has to. Johnson plays politics. He has to. Well, Massie has to play politics. There is no easy answer to the Middle East. The US government has done as much to make things worse there than to make them better. Massie wants us out of there. I see his point, even if I don't wholeheartedly agree. I have similar sentiments about Ukraine.
My basic view is that we need a lot more Massies. We are in the messes we are in as a direct result of people going along. That never ends well.
My basic view is that IF Massie is going to call out ANYONE for overspending then I expect that he willnot spend one red cent more than required to operate his office. Staff bonuses are not included in that.
I got your point the first time. I don't disagree. But I'd have to guess he spent no more than any other congressmen, perhaps less.
Here's just an honest question: How much pork has Massie brought back to Kentucky? And is that good thing or a bad thing?
"Pork" to his/my District? Not a penny that I'm aware of.
OK, now the second part of my question: Is that a good or a bad thing?
It's an irrelevant thing in this case. What is relevant is that he brought pork to his "friends", has a history of anti-semetic votes, accused President Trump of being responsible for J6 DESPITE all evidence to the contrary, and now is obstructing the President-elect's agenda by grandstanding.
I have no issue with Johnson and he clearly listens to Trump. As long has he continues to do that I'm a happy camper.
Keep this in mind: Massie is a self-proclaimed budget buster who now stands in the way of a President-elects program that does just that. In fact he even charged Musk and Ramaswamy with the task of reducing government size and spending. How does Thomas explain that?
I'll leave it at that. There's something about Massie that I like. Washington needs a lot more contrarians. But that doesn't automatically mean Massie has good judgment.