"I just can't get anything done anymore. Gridlock is killing me. I first won re-election in November 2002 as a Democrat, thought the party sucked so I changed parties and ran as a Republican and helped President Bush continue his great Iraq War, which also ran up the debt, and now Congress can't get anything done. It's killing me."
Looks like Rep. Rodney Alexander (R-LA) is throwing in the towel for being Congressman in Louisiana's 5th Congressional District for another two years or so:
http://www.usatoday.com/...
Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-La., a six-term lawmaker first elected as a Democrat, announced Tuesday that he will not run for re-election, citing the inability of Congress to get things done.
"Rather than producing tangible solutions to better this nation, partisan posturing has created a legislative standstill, Alexander said. "Unfortunately, I do not foresee this environment to change anytime soon. I have decided not to seek re-election, so that another may put forth ideas on how to break through the gridlock and bring about positive change for our country."
Interesting that Rodney Alexander things there should be positive change in the U.S. because he himself contributed to the very problem that caused at least part of the reason why Congress is in such a gridlock now in the first place: The U.S. debt.
Yes, Congressman Alexander is a fine gentleman indeed. Originally a Democrat (by name most likely), he switched parties to become a Republican in 2004 and as a result, continued to provide no real checks & balances responsibility or oversight on the Iraq War, which on the record has been the greatest contributor to the U.S. debt and deficit facing the U.S. today.
Look at his amazing record on the Iraq War:
http://votesmart.org/...
http://www.issues2000.org/...
Voted NO on redeploying US troops out of Iraq starting in 90 days. (May 2007)
Voted YES on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date. (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on approving removal of Saddam & valiant service of US troops. (Mar 2004)
Voted YES on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Apr 2003)
Voted YES on Requiring Reports from the Defense Department to Congress Regarding Withdrawal from Iraq (Oct 2007)
Voted YES on Defense Department FY2007 Appropriations Bill (June 2006)
Voted YES on Defense Department FY2006 Appropriations Bill (June 2005)
Voted YES on Defense Department FY2005 Appropriations Bill (June 2004)
Voted YES on Defense Department FY2004 Appropriations Bill (Nov 2003)
Voted NO on Iraq War Policy Resolution (which opposed President Bush's decision to to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq) (Feb 2007)
Voted NO on Mandatory Troop Rest Periods Between Deployments to Iraq (Aug 2007)
And here's Congressman Alexander's superb record on civil rights and social issues:
http://votesmart.org/...
http://www.issues2000.org/...
Voted YES on making the PATRIOT Act permanent. (Dec 2005)
Voted YES on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. (Sep 2004)
Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation. (Nov 2007)
Voted YES on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman. (Jul 2006)
Voted NO on four weeks of paid parental leave for federal employees. (Jun 2009)
Voted YES on requiring photo ID for voting in federal elections. (Sep 2006)
Loosen restrictions on interstate gun purchases. (Oct 2011)
Voted YES on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts. (Apr 2011)
Voted YES to repeal Obamacare (Jan 2011)
Voted NO on Unemployment Benefits Extension (April 2010)
Voted NO on Unemployment Benefits Extension and Tax Law Amendments (May 2010)
Voted NO on Unemployment Benefits Extension (July 2010)
Voted NO on Extension of Certain Unemployment Benefits (Nov 2010)
Ahh and the biggest telling thing of all: Congressman Alexander voted YES on terminating funding for National Public Radio (March 2011)
http://www.issues2000.org/...
Democrats however have been quick to point out Congressman Alexander's decision to retire as a sign of what's gone wrong with Congress:
http://www.usatoday.com/...
Democrats jumped at Alexander's announcement Tuesday as evidence that the House of representatives has been mismanaged under GOP leadership. "This Republican Congress has become so partisan, dysfunctional and paralyzed that even some Republicans are calling it quits," said Emily Bittner, spokeswoman for the House Democratic campaign operation.
It seems though that now-retiring Congressman Alexander's district in Louisiana isn't one that will likely be targeted by Democrats since it appears to be deep red:
http://www.politico.com/...
His 5th District seat is almost certain to remain in Republican hands. Mitt Romney won 61 percent of the vote there in November.
Indeed, Politico is correct. However, the Louisiana Democratic Party has an uphill battle to climb anyway considering in 2012, out of all the five GOP-occupied districts, only Louisiana's 1st Congressional District had a Democratic challenger to an incumbent Republican Congressman. That challenger to Congressman Steve Scalise, Vinny Mendoza, got only 21% of the votes.
Rodney Alexander himself had a Republican challenger (assuming one of those opportunistic Tea Party candidates) by the name of Ron Ceasar but that guy got no more than 14% of the vote in the general election. Yes, general election in which Alexander was not challenged at all by a Democratic candidate.
http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/...
Here's an example of Congressman Alexander's hypocrisy. He talks about wasteful spending in this speech to a Louisiana Tea Party event (Alexander is a member of the Tea Party Caucus):
How very interesting that Alexander decides to retire and gets so frustrated over what's going on in Congress yet at the same time he serves on the Congressional Caucus founded and chaired by one of the biggest obstructionists and nuts out there, Michelle Bachmann.
Congressman Alexander, you're one heck of a guy!
Now if you want to fight to get more Democratic candidates running against incumbent Republican Congressman in Louisiana (even though it's a red state), here's the following contact information:
Louisiana Democratic Party
Website: http://louisianademocrats.org/
(225) 336-4155 Office
(225) 336-0046 Fax
E-mail: info@lademo.org
Mailing Address: Louisiana Democratic Party
PO Box 4385
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Physical Address: Louisiana Democratic Party
701 Government Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802