Last year, I wrote a lot about CA-02 and my brother Jeff Morris's efforts to unseat Wally Herger, the bumbling and ineffectualRepresentative of this large, sparsely-populated Congressional district. Alas, despite the national hunger for change, the people of CA-02 opted for (gasp!) more of the same, sending Wally back to his 23rd year of so-called "service" to the people of CA-02.
Since then, Jeff Morris has been staying involved, working hard on projects that will make a difference for the people of CA-02. Think: sustainable local economies, local energy production, cooperation among local communities to address large regional challenges. All good stuff.
Meanwhile, Wally Herger has managed to make his way to the national stage ... in a manner of speaking. Yesterday, he was selected as Keith Olbermann's Worst Person in the World.
YAY, TEAM!
Others here have diaried about Herger's Redding, CA, town hall meeting last week, in which he responded to a man who proclaimed himself a "proud right-wing terrorist" by saying "Amen, god bless you. There is a great American."
Ah, Wally. It's a shame that you can't blame the ensuing outrageon those nasty bloggers. Looks like the big-time media thinks you're off your rocker, too.
Many of us have been saying (and sayingand saying), that Wally Herger is a pathetic excuse for a Congressman. By the end of this segment (good stuff starts around 2:25), Keith agrees, telling dear Wally:
You're not entitled to serve as Redding's dogcatcher, let alone in the House of Representatives!
Oh, SNAP!! Let's just revisit the scolding again, shall we?
You're a US Congressman, damn it! You're bound by oath to uphold the Constitution! [snip] You have to tell him to shut the hell up!
Oh yes, indeed. Um, CA-02? Are you listening?
Not to be outdone, Chris Matthews got in on the action (good stuff at 1:24)...
This is the dangerous edge at which these people, including some elected officials, are now dancing. We've been here before. Words lead to actions, words create the national mood, the mood creates a license, people take that license and use it.
By all means, let's applaud using the word "terrorist" as a political badge of honor. Because y'know, nothing threatens democracy like a little health care reform! But toting guns to presidential appearances and proclaiming oneself a "terrorist" for the right-wing cause? Well, that kind of stuff can only help democracy -- right, boys? Yee-haw.
Ahem. May I offer for your perusal the work of another right-wing terrorist?
I took this photo from my old office in early October, 2001. Pardon the grainy quality. The window was covered in ash. And other things we all tried not to think about. Back then, waaaaay back in the old days, calling oneself a terrorist -- even in jest -- wasn't something that would bring blessings raining down upon one's head from a US Congressman. An indictment, perhaps. Guantanamo, perhaps. But "God bless you?" Not likely. It certainly wasn't the kind of act that would make a US Congressman call one a "great American." No-sir-ee. Back then, "terrorist" was considered a Very. Bad. Word.
But I guess times change. I must not be keeping up with the news ... Anyway, as I was saying, way to go, Wally. Attaboy. High five!
And "Bravo!" to all the "more of the same, please" folks in CA-02. Yay for you! You're clearly getting the representation you asked for.
(And next time? People? Can we puh-lease vote this guy out of office?)