I got an email from Chris Cannon’s campaign today. In it he says, “While I have represented the Third District for several years, I firmly believe I must earn your support anew with each election.” I wonder if he thought that one through first. Of course it’s true: he’s had to convince us anew every two years.
And earlier today I was listening to Glenn Beck (man, I love listening to him). He was talking about how stupid we are, always electing the same people to represent us in Washington, as if somehow things are going to be different this time.
I was reminded of Einstein’s definition of insanity, i.e. repeatedly doing the same thing, but expecting a different result. Are we collectively insane? Why do we send the same people back time after time, only for them to give us excuses for why they couldn’t change something. It wouldn’t have to be a lot–just something…anything!
So instead we get Chris Cannon telling us that insanity would be voting him out of office at the pinnacle of his power and influence. I’m saying that insanity is keeping people in power when they have reached the pinnacle of power and influence. That’s why we don’t have constitutionally mandated term limits. We are supposed to use the elections box to enforce the unwritten term limits, which is determined when those people have amassed too much power.
The Constitution is all about checks on, and balances of, power. If we are not using our vote to remove those who have been there too long, we are becoming insane. We are asking for someone to stay in office and continue to give us things we want at the expense of the rest. It’s got to stop!
We need a change. I’m not talking about Barak Obama’s change for change’s sake. I’m talking real change; the kind of change where things happen that make life better. For the last umpteen years, Congress has been working hard to make sure our lives become more and more miserable. You can thank the Liberal Democrats for that. And you can thank the weak-kneed Republicans for not putting a stop to it when they had the chance.
We could have been drilling in ANWR by now, and selling the gas to other countries for a hefty profit. We could have been drilling off the continental shelf by now, and telling Saudi Arabia and other producing nations, “No thanks! We don’t need your oil…We have plenty of our own.” We could still be paying under $2.00/gallon for gas. But Congress apparently believes that we should be paying record prices for gas, that we ought to be miserable.
It’s time to stick it to them. Throw all the bums out and lock the doors behind them. If they cannot come to an agreement where we get unfettered access to the natural energy resources in our own backyard, if they cannot agree on using the cleanest, must efficient source of power available today (that’s nuclear power), then it’s time to throw them all out and put new ones in.
The Environmental Special Interests are running Congress now, and it’s time to take it back. The Declaration of Independence says we can; Sanity and Duty say we must. Tell Chris Cannon we’re not buying it this time; were sending him home. Send Jason Chaffetz to Congress.
I totally agree. Mr. Cannon has not ‘earned” my vote, but Jason sure has. It’s time to put someone in who’s NOT in the “inner circle” in Washington DC, but someone with the guts to stand by his principles – and his constituents.
You know, I really couldn’t have said it any better myself! Excellent post.
I think a lot of people are looking at this the wrong way. They think that just because Representative Cannon is a “nice guy” that he should be re-elected.
While I can agree with HALF of that statement, I have to disagree with the other half. Chris certainly does seem to be a nice guy and a gentleman, but he’s started to believe his own publicity. He seems to think that he knows what’s best for us and he refuses to listen to the people back home.
We MUST do something about the illegal crisis and Chris seems to be a major part of the problem rather than a part of the solution.
I was disappointed when i saw that Chris received an award from MALDEF, and in his acceptance speech claimed that in Utah we don’t distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants.
We do, don’t we?
I really wanted Cannon to go, but after the way his campaign staffers treated me at the convention it made me realize he REALLY has to go!
Finally a call for change that doesn’t make me want to puke! Jason Chaffetz is just the change we need.
For me it is as simple as looking at Cannon’s campaign donations on the FEC website. The overwhelming majority of dollars donated are from out of state PACs. No one in the district is donating to the man. This is Washington money to keep a predictable old school Washington Congressman in office. He has been detached from Utah for much too long. He has stopped listening. He is arrogant enough to believe that he knows better than his consituents. He is not the first Congressman to do so and he won’t be the last. Perhaps they all get there at some point. But, in my opinion, this is the first sign that a guy should pack it up and go home. Let’s allow someone who has lived in Utah over the past four years go back to Washington and tell them what we want. Finally, I am afraid that the Cannon machine will make the Primary election all about the money. If we, as an electorate, will take the time to listen we will hear the clear and convincing difference between old and new.
The entire congress needs a change. The GOP needs to return to the Reagans and Goldwaters. Getting rid of cannon and putting Chaffetz can be our part in that effort.
Are there worse Congressmen than Chris Cannon? Yes. Is Mr. Cannon better than Jason Chaffetz? No. When Mr. Cannon held to the party line, enjoying being the majority, he didn’t rock the boat one bit. I’m sorry, but when I watch my party abandon me and don’t see my Congressman do anything to stop it, it is time for him to go. Jason has it on issues and guts, we need a check on government not a yes man.
Amen to all of the above! Thank you all for standing up for principle! I think there is hope for our nation yet!
Jason is more clear on the issues, more willing to state his position very clearly, and is raising money from among actual constituents — he is careful about spending campaign money — which I believe will translate into being careful about spending the money I pay in taxes! If you haven’t checked him out, go to his website. Just “google” Jason Chaffetz, and you will find it easily.
Lets get beyond the smoke and mirrors, the distortions of the opponent because you are weak on the issues and results. We don’t need more of that! We need straight talk to straight questions, integrity and responsibility. We need Jason representing Utah!