Excellent work!

I’m not saying I disagree with your assessments of the 10 worst, but the fact that 9 are Republicans and one is a democrat is so biased and unfair. you couldn’t find anymore corrupt Dems!! C’mon!! I used to love this magazine when it was about music and I was young and naive. RS has turned into a bunch of liberal wackos pushing forward their agenda and who wouldn’t know the truth if it hit them in the face. I’m done with this RAG!

Hey disgusted, have you noticed how many Repubs have stepped down over scandals? It’s not RS’s fault that the right wing is dirtier than the left. As they say, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

What’s always amazed me is how cheaply these people can be bought…how a few thousand dollars is enough for them to do whatever the giver wants. When a medical company, or energy company, or bank, or insurance company reaps billions, you’d think one of these sleazeballs would say to them, “ahem, cough it up buddy.”

As a constituent of the man, i thank you for printing the REAL low-down on Hal Rogers. Unfortunately, the Democrats nominated a complete idiot with no chance of beating him. Some even want Rogers to run for governor next year! Can you please do a “10 Dumbest States” next and have Kentucky be number 1?

More than being liberal, I think RS, like most other non-newscorp publications, is worried that government censorship of media might be the next thing to appear on the radar, and since they’ve been so incredibly inept at taking the Republicans to task for their plethora of crimes, they’re scrambling to make up for it before they will no longer be able to.

can’t you leave room anywhere for Jim McDermott, the man who served as a flak for Saddam Hussein prior to the war? Other than Jefferson, are there no corrupt democrats?

hey disgusted, the fact that 9 out of 10 is a R- may just reflect something other than the bias of the messenger.

think about it.

There is a good reason why 9/10 of the Congressmen listed are Republicans. Political corruption refers to the abuse of power, and the Democrats have absolutely none to abuse.

this is a good piece…yet the positive things being done in government are often overlooked by rolling stone. is it the hunter thompson wanna be syndrom? matt isn’t hunter. matt ain’t got access. and matt can’t stay out of the story. all too often a diservice is done to the thoughtful reader, and from a market perspective…it may come to haunt you.

Patrick McHenry of North Carolina belongs on this list. A weasly, conniving con artist who, to paraphrase a memorable magazine profile, is the kind of 30-year-old who’s been waiting his whole life to be 40.

I too noticed that 9 of 10 were Repubs, I’m a Republican. But look at your argument, ignore that these guys are scumbags it’s just a left wing mag saying it. Who’s to say 11 – 20 aren’t Dems? This is part of the problem, even the people outside of the congressional frat party are using the us against them attitude. Throw all these fuckers out! And disgusted….since when has RS been JUST about the music?

Only a freaking retard would go to the OMGBIAS card before even trying to give a halfassed excuse of actual meat of the article.

Dear disgusted –

A) Please provide an example of another Democrat who should be on this list and why.

or,

B) Please explain defend the reasons why one of these 9 scumbags don’t belong on this list.

Typical neocon response. Attack the messinger for stating the facts about abuses in power. Ignore the fact that it’s true.
Notice none of the republicans can defend what was written, they can only attack RS for being ‘liberal’.

Pathetic.

I’m a Tulane senior in New Orleans, and while I’m about as liberal as they get, Bill Jefferson should probably be higher on that list.
It’s an absolute travesty what he has (and hasn’t) done for this city.

That said, some of you republicans need to stop with this BS about “equally corrupt”. I mean, just think about the Republicans who _can’t be on this list_ because they AREN’T CONGRESSMEN ANYMORE!

Duke Cunningham (R-CA), Bob Ney (R-OH) and Mark Foley (R-FL) have all QUIT because they’re so bad. Cunningham is in jail, Ney will be, and Foley should be.

And Republicans have the nerve to whine about the article not “being fair”. What about the America people? Is it “fair” to us that your party has harmed our nation?

Think about that before you whine about an article.

Nice Top 10 List, Tim Dickinson. No one should be surprised to see that in a list of 10 bad congressmen, Tim picks 9 Republicans. I guess the 1 Democrat was a desperate attempt to salvage ANY shred of journalistic integrity you might have had? Not quite enough. Tim, you are a two-bit, partisan hack.

Uh Huh: “hey disgusted, the fact that 9 out of 10 is a R- may just reflect something other than the bias of the messenger.”

Considering the messenger, Disgusting is right on. What’s ALWAYS reflected in Tim Dickinson’s articles is his wide-eyed adoration of the Democratic party, and his absolute hatred of the Republican party. He is completely transparent, and worthless as a political writer. Bring back that Dreyfus guy.

looks like the usual liberal trash coming out of a mag desperately trying to spike its failing circulation

Add Charles Taylor (R-NC) to the list as a stealth Worst Congressman. Multi-millionaire logger in charge of forestry oversight, owner of banks in the US and Russia, more than a sniff of Abramoff scandal about him… and a moralist who campaigns in the gutter.

Somewhere, Darrel Issa is breathing a sigh of relief.

If anyone doing any other job tried to work 3 months out of a year, they’d be FIRED in a heartbeat. I think the left is just as bad as the right-they just don’t have as much POWER to abuse! I can’t wait to vote the scumbags out!

The Repubes on this post need to get a clue in realism-absolute power and money corrupts and, the Republicans have made it their campaign logo…

Six years of Republican Rule, and twelve years of Congressional Rule and, Corruption has been the key word.

No wonder Clinton could not get legislation passed and, Mr. Bush and his Party of “Let Them Eat Cake” have helped theirselves to riches, power, arrogance, inept decisions, committees meeting behind close doors(sounds like the current “ethics” committee-Republican-led), cover-ups of Foley, DeLay, Hastart, and, the Fab “Ten” mentioned in RS…

The Republicans downplay “9/11 Committee” findings and, have secretive “closed door” meetings all the time-much legislation is passed in late or early morning “sessions” to avoid anyone who might voice objection…Sleazy!

When the arrogance, corruption and, failure to represent the American People become so blatant, it is time to Clean House and Senate(Vote New Blood In)…

“looks like the usual liberal trash coming out of a mag desperately trying to spike its failing circulation”

Ah, you gotta love the Modern American “Conservative.” Faced with evidence that their approach isn’t working, they fire back with unsupported assertions.

Seriously, you see that exact same kind of reaction every time the GOP is criticized. It’s as if these people have never heard of the concept of FACTS. They truly are faith-based; if they believe something, NO facts can cause them to reconsider their opinions. Also, no facts are required in their formulation of opinion. They believe it and that settles it. Sad and scary.

Well done.
And for all the rethuglicans and christian talibangelists that fear the truth…stuff it!
The sunlight of honesty probably does burn yer soul sucking vampiric skin.
Your piety covered corruption needs to be exposed for the entire country and world to see.
Please leave, the stench of your rotting souls is most offensive.

Good going, Matt! i can’t believe some of the comments on here though. If you don’t think this Congress/Administration is the WORST ever, and a special mix of fascists, nutters, and criminals, then I don’t know where you’ve been, except maybe being a Republican. While it’s true that corruption touches both Parties, this Repub. group has been far, far worse, and far, far more arrogant about it than ever before, as the article so clearly points out. The arrogance of the GOP congress matches that of the Exec. branch – the people be damned. In case you haven’t noticed, this country had a bloodless coup in 2000, Let’s call it what it is! Between the GOP Congress and the voting fixes, democracy is just about dead.

A much improved Taibbi article, almost as good as ‘Defense Contractors Gone Wild’ last month.

Did you get sober, Matt? You investigate better with a clear head. Or is someone ghostwriting?

Also, happy to see names being pinned with the blame. Some journalists are finally reverting to their traditional role.

And shocking that Jefferson could make his way onto the top ten when the article makes it clear that you’ve gotta have real theif pedigree to rob Congress when you’re shut out in the hallway.

Finding the Worst 10 Members of Congress….it’s a kind of ‘target rich environment’ as our beloved UN Ambassador is want to say….Hey what about Mike Ferguson (Embryo-Mike as his colleagues like to call him.(NJ-07)? Why isnt he on the list? Told a mother of a injured boy “your son will never ‘walk again” (Hey’s what’s up with that STEM CELL RESEARCH?). He hits on college girls when out drinking with the boys in DC.. (Hey Mike, can you say ‘Father of Three?’. So much for FERGUSON FAMILY VALUES.

Really nice research, but isn’t the US Congress what you would call a ‘target rich environment’? And what about Mike Ferguson (NJ-7th), Congressman-Embryo as he is known to his colleagues. He told a mother of a spine damaged son, that ‘ÿour son will never walk’, Nice job Mike, but this is the same Mike (Ferguson Family Values) Ferguson who has been reported (WP)to hit on college girls in DC bars when out drinking with the boys. Can we say ‘Father of Three’ Mike? Hey please include Mikey in the next round of idiots.

I’ve never been prouder to be Canadian. Thanks Rolling Stone!

disgusted – put up or shut up. Name the dems you think should be on the list and why AND state why you think the 9 turds described don’t deserve to be on the list.

If you can’t. then stop whining.

I think that everyone on the top 10 worst deserved to be there (although, really, it’s kind of a grab bag. Pick 10!). What troubles me is that the evidence against them (in this article) is too often quotes from Nancy Pelosi, who, I’m afraid, is also a candidate from this list.

Yes, the 10 listed are awful, but Nancy’s not a very credible source.

In fact, I can’t think of a single member of Congress that deserves another term in office (or the pension they’ve already given themselves).

Pelosi has a lot to answer for in the way of campaign contributions from the same corporate sponsors (Bechtel, Pfizer, Chevron, etc) that support Hastert, Sensenbrenner, and Stevens.

But I don’t think it’s very easy to wrap yourself in bribes and dodgy insider deals when, as the leader of the minority party, you’re shut out of the majority of the wheeling and dealing.

Pork is rampant, but it squeals loudest for the party-in-charge.

Calling this the worst congress ever implies that there was ever a congress that acted for the people.

Taibbi is generally awesome but here he’s at his absolute best. A terrific article. Keep up the good work!

Wow, 9 out of the top 10 are Republicans. I would have never guessed a “politically neutral” magazine like rolling stone would come up with that list. You folks at RS are so painfully biased anyone can see it. Not to mention the catchy titles like “Tancredo the Bigot’, and “Musgrave the Christian soldier”. It reminds me of something an angry 18 year old freshman would write about “the man”. RS, how will you feel when on the morning of November 8th the American people vote to keep these people in power?

Worst Congress ever, worst President ever.
It’s a matched set.

and you people compalin about fox news…what a double standard…i dont ever read political articles from this once storied magazine because they are so typical left wing beliefs…you dont even care about facts because it cant be that one side is always right, yet the only side this magazine ever comes out on is left…stick to what you know….MUSIC…stop trying to sway people toward your agendas…i hope it isnt workin!!!

I am completely serious when I say these guys need to be taken apart by an angry mob and their heads placed on pikes.

Further, if you voted for Bush in 04, you should have your voting rights revoked until you can at least pass a Civic Ethics class.

We in the blogosphere have known about these F@#ktards for a couple of years now. I think they all should go to freaking jail. But what is worse, is the lapdog media that is complicit in the corruption process. The largest single lobbying consortium is the American Broadcasters Association. They are the single largest group to enable the process of aiding and abbeting these criminals by just repeating their talking points and setting up the strawman wedge issues that divide our country. These corrupt congresscritters repay the bribes from the big brother media conglomerates by passing treasonous legislation like the Telecommunications Act of 1996. If we truly had an adversarial 4th Estate, the public would be informed, and these asshats wouldn’t be able to continually screw over the American People.

We shold all be thankful for RS, Jon Stewart and Stephan Colbert. Without them there would be no news available except Jon Benet and other sexually charged stories.

I hope the top 10 list is a joke.

Wow, so you could only come up with one Democrat to say something bad about?!? Fair and balanced as usual, I see… Maybe you should stick to what you do best and talk about music.

Rolling Stone has just fallen in step with all of the propaganda media that has taken over this country. This Top Ten List is merely someone taking whatever minimal knowledge they have and skewing it to make Republicans the picture of evil and all Democrats saints. If RS were to take a closer look at the Congress they would see that there are many more Democrats who are deserving of the “worst” and who should be included. Stick to writing about Music and Pop Culture Rolling Stone, leave those who know politics to discuss it instead of trying to influence your twenty-something readers to vote liberal instead of making informed choices based on the issues.

“We shold all be thankful for RS, Jon Stewart and Stephan Colbert. Without them there would be no news available”

Is this a joke? Those are entertainment shows, not news programs. No wonder this nation is becoming so stupid.

“I hope the top 10 list is a joke.”

Tim Dickinson as a political writer is a joke.

It’s funny to see conservatives whine about how few Democrats are in the top 10. Is that all you can think about? Where is your “moral” outrage at this corruption? You’ve been shoving your splintered moral and family values plank up the ass of every liberal you can find for over 20 years. Why can’t you apply the same “moral” standards to your leaders? Your party is holding the ball and in complete control of EVERYTHING. Quit making excuses and hold your own party accountable for their actions before you start pointing your fingers, you hypocrites.

It must have been difficult to limit it to ten.

And if the worst are repubs? Well, no surprise there. Conservatives are almost always bad human beings, and corruption comes naturally to them.

“Conservatives are almost always bad human beings, and corruption comes naturally to them.”

Wow, such stupidity…

Biased articles carry less weight with those people who can be influenced. Those who support this article would never vote conservative anyway.

disgusted, I think you probably didn’t read Rolling Stone much during the ’70s.

“The repubs run all three branches of government. Like the Soviet Union,”

Hey, moron, you are aware that we actually hold ELECTIONS, right?

What a tool…

This is the most liberally biased and untruthful article I have ever read. Democrats are socialists. So were Nazi’s and communists.

The only good government is self government.

Andy…
you’re not convincing anyone.
get back to work.

Despite all this outrageous conduct being exposed regularly,
the nation will awaken on November 8th to see the same old ultra-Right vermin still in the majority of Congress who will continue their War on the Middle Class, War on Dissent, and War on the Courts. Thanks to voter ignorance at the polls we’ll continue to witness bigger and better tax cuts for the Plutocrats to allow the creation of good jobs…overseas.

To those spouses working two jobs each and barely making it, just hang on and keep those taxes paid, wave that flag, and remember to vote Republican as God wants you to do for the good of the Country. Please don’t decry those corporate-paid trips for their rightwinger flunkies in Congress, because the poor souls are deserving of a well-earned break from their toils for the privileged few at world-class resorts. Just remember that the more you contribute to lessen the burden of plutocrat tax liability, the better your life will be for it.

Rolling Stone should stick to music, because politics is something it clearly knows nothing about. The Republican Party certainly does not hold a 90% majority, yet there’s only one Democrat on RS’s “10 Worst” list? Is this not the most biased magazine currently in circulation? RS writers and editors are a bunch of left wing lunatics. This is a despicable article.

Nazi’s were Socialists? Did you ever take a history class? Fascism is on the EXTREME RIGHT of the political Spectrum my freind…as far away from Socialism as it gets. Jesus…it’s now wonder the republicans win…this guy couldn’t even find Iraq on a map let alone find Germany.

Common Sense, that O’Reily comment was obviously a bad, bad joke. You really have to stretch to think he was serious about that…

Anyway, a white Democratic congressman called a black Republican candidate’s political views “slavish” towards the party. I guess that’s proof that all Democrats are racist, right???

your answers
A) Please provide an example of another Democrat who should be on this list and why.

=> Bill Clinton, need I say more?

or,

B) Please explain defend the reasons why one of these 9 scumbags don’t belong on this list. => did you read my paragraph? I started with this “I’m not saying I disagree with your assessments of the 10 worst,”

Bill Clinton was a member of Congress?

I just find it ridiculous and not surprising at all that there is such a slanted and biased view in Rolling Stone. It would be really interesting if this magazine, which last time I checked was supposed to be a music and entertainment magazine, would occasionally print something that would offer an opposing viewpoint. The simple fact alone that of the 10 worst congressmen list 9 are republican demonstrates how far the politcal writers of this magazine have their heads up the left’s ass. That and the fact that one of their main political correspondents is a Kennedy. No wonder I stopped reading Rolling Stone a couple of years ago.

Can’t we get a special mention for Frist and Santorum??

Rachel,

Republicans have stepped down because of scandle because they are forced to by the Media, The Left, and by their own party.

As opposed to the Democrats who always get a pass from the Media, The Left, and their own party.

Hypocriy? Just a little!

Is this what American voter resort to? Name calling and what not while over looking the frightful fact that our government is almost the equivalent of a mafia crime family doing shakedowns for favorable decisions. We are facing what I like to call the “Tucker Effect.” This is best explained by Preston Tucker’s 1948 (ironically the same years as the “Do-nothing” congress) quote “When the day comes that anyone can bend our country’s laws and lawmakers to serve selfish, competitive ends, that day democratic government dies.” America that day probably came long before Tucker ever said it. Yet want are most of the comments on the article about? How it’s one sided, how more Democrats should be on the list and whatever else these so could “educated voters” think is “important.” It doesn’t seem to bother anyone that the “Tucker Effect” is taking place right in front of our eyes. With only two parties having any chance of getting shot at an office and neither one concerned with what “the People” want, need and deserve we are destine to continue this cycle. God Bless America!

I liked the top ten list, however, there is room for plenty more. How about Nancy Pelosi, Barbra Boxer, Diane Feinstein, Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy, Chucky Schumer. . .this is going to take awhile. Maybe you should have a list of the best members of Congress instead. That would be a very short list with the only one even coming close to being on it Ron Paul, congressman from Texas. All of the others should be serving life without parole in Leavenworth.

I see a lot of broad, general attacks here on anyone daring to be of a Liberal bent–anyone concerned more with the dignity of the common man/woman than with the self-serving greed of members of the self-anointed Bush League, who slink through the halls of our government leaving their noxious slime trail. I don’t see anyone much arguing with the detail comprising the relatively-brief accounts of the “10 Worst Members of Congress” who were presented–or with the lengthy, well-documented article about our worst-ever Congress. And why do some, at the slightest opportunity still continue to bash Bill Clinton, who’s been out of office since the 2000 elections–and never served in Congress?

if i gave you 30 names – i could find 30 guilty. if i gave you 300 names – i could find 300 guilty. but, it’s not them that we should shame, but us. if we, the people, really care about the ugliness at hand, we need to go into the streets and demand campaign finance reform. these idiots in congress and the senate and upward are only doing what anyone else would do under the same circumstances – take it and run. if we, americans, want to change it, then we, americans, must revolt!

As a card carrying democrat, I think Cynthia McKinnie should have made the list.
She disgraced our party; she assaulted a police officer; she offered a non-apology apology for said assault.
That is the antithesis of leadership in my opinion.

“I see a lot of broad, general attacks here on anyone daring to be of a Liberal bent–anyone concerned more with the dignity of the common man/woman than with the self-serving greed of members of the self-anointed Bush League, who slink through the halls of our government leaving their noxious slime trail”

LOL!!!

Democrats = Angels
Republicans = Devils

Spare us the melodrama. Grow a brain. If you think its really that black and white, do us all a favor and don’t have kids. We have enough problems…

OMG this is the dumbest article I have ever read. 10 worst and only 1 is a Dem. Not a word ab. McKinney. I’m not a Rep. but if I ever need a reason why I don’t subscribe your mag I’ll just re-read this article.

I used to get bummed because I’m like a nobody in nowhereland but then I read your article and I realize it has nothing to do with actual talent or inteligence.

oh and that guy that said nazi had nothing to do with socialism. google National SOCIALISM. Not only are your writers idiots but your readers are too.

Q.
Why do Republicans get SO EXICTED about screwing a room filled with twenty nine year olds?
A.
There’s 20 of them!
Gross Old Perverts!

Notice how the Republicans here can only whine about “bias” instead of taking responsibility for cleaning up their own nest? Why do virtually no commenters say something like “Yes, there guys are a disgrace, we are ashamed of them”? I think that kind of complete lack of responsibility is exactly the point of the article.

Conservatives are devil practicioners.

Whether there are nine, ten, or eleven republicans versus one democrat is irrelevant. The point is, despite having the best political system in the world, there is something deeply wrong in the American life. But we speak of these issues purely in adversarial terms, as if everything is a sport, where someone must win and someone must lose. We seem to forget that this, supposedly, is the “United” States of America. However, we tend to analyze issues ad nauseam, pitting one sophistic predication against another, when the real underlining forces that gives life to our socio-political corruptions goes right under our radar.
A renown historian recently pointed out that American history reads like a fairy tale. Therefore, what is it that we think we know? How can the body- politic even begin to solve problems concerning government, when the very paradigms we base our logic and operate by is designed to obscure truth, keeping the masses in a state of having to choose between two sides of the same lie!

RS sux | 10/19/2006, 1:18 pm EST

This is the most liberally biased and untruthful article I have ever read. Democrats are socialists. So were Nazi’s and communists.

‘RS Sux’, You really should get an education before you spout off your ignorant mouth. Nazi’s were NOT socialists.

Republicans should all be strung up by their balls. Fucking assholes.

i love seeing knuckle-drag-licans complain about the liberal bias in this article. they seem to forget a very important difference between democrats and mouth-breath-licans. democrats don’t spend their days and nights telling us they are holier than thou. democrats don’t don’t spend their days and nights telling us they are morally superior to everyone else. pervert-licans are the ones who constantly tell us they are morally better and have higher ethical standards than democrats. it isn’t bias that kiddie-did-licans seem more corrupt these days. they only seem more corrupt because they have spent years telling us that they are above corruption.

Wow, this article was a real eye opener. I used to think most politicians were corrupt, but now I see it’s only the Republican ones. Thank you Rolling Stone for printing the 100% unbiased truth. Obviously the one Democrat mentioned is just some sort of anomaly. I am going to run out and vote Democrat from now on.

It’s getting very “old” hearing Repubes rag on Pelosi….

Look at what you have leading your Repube Pack-Hastert—No one is scarier than that!

That guy needs one Big investigation-it will take lots of time to check him out(He knew what was going on with the pages-and wonder what other “Congressmen” are in “The Group” that likes to pay special “attention” to sixteen year olds…

Not much scumier than that!

As usual Mr Taibbi excellent work. THis article is still not your best work that one was the article about Bernie Sanders, that one should be a must read for every person in this country, but this article is a nice follow up to that one.

As for all the bias claims being thrown around and all the garbage being spewed about how RS should stick to music, you all need to check the RS politicl writing history, they have had some of the best writing for them on both sides of the aisle, Hunter S Thompson and PJ O Rourke shared this space and Taibbi is carrying the torch very well.

Wow, listen to the whiny repubs………….The kings of political hackery and underhanded, devious do whatever to get elected shenanigans. I will say this though, it’s good to hear it. I remember well back in the early nineties the first time I heard Rush Limbaugh’s show on the radio, and how he was tapping into the frustration of many American voters who felt betrayed and alinated by the system. I warned many of my friends that the Repubs were about to start organizing. They all thought the repubs might “gain a couple of seats” but never take congress! Then in ‘94……………….
Now, I see these righties complaining about Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Netroots, the “liberal” media, etc……….You sound just like us in 94 righties. Your finger is pointing in every direction except the one that’s guilty; your party. To quote Dylan: “Oh the times they are a changin.”

Any list of the worst Congressmen that doesn’t include Maxine Waters, Cynthia McKinney & Shelia Jackson Lee, The 3 Racist Stooges, is a fraud.

I read a comment here to the effect that RS: “last time I checked was supposed to be a music and entertainment magazine”. In fact RS is a culture mag, political culture is culture, and it is high time that the media in general stopped ignoring great stories on the assumption that only “entertainment” is of interest. That sort of thinking on the part of readers and publishers alike is how we find ourselves in the situation described in these articles in the first place-we have not been paying attention or fulfilling our responsibilities as a democratic people because we are too busy consuming “entertainment” in a myopic stupor. RS has a far longer history of serious political reporting than light entertainment reporting. Hats off to RS for getting a spine again and publishing Taibbi’s excellent article(s).

I notice that, while these days there is a new revelation of corruption or scandal associated with republican politicians almost daily, repubs in these posts are non-specific in their finger-pointing at dems. That is because their party, the party of personal entitlement and social darwinism, having gained nearly absolute power and in the complete absence of moral courage, no longer has anywhere to go but DOWN. Now if only the dems could pull their thumbs out…

Blah, blah, blah,blah. It’s time we kicked them ALL out. Democrats and Republicans. No one in either party has the welfare of our country at heart. I’ve been around a long time. I used to vote democrat. I had to give that up. Too many pigs at the trough. Then I started to vote republican. Damn, now I have to give that up too. I’m voting for Kinky for governor!!

I don’t recall anyone suggesting every single Republican is a devil and all Democrats are angels . . . but I do like a fairly-recent comment by Charles Barkley (former NBA star): “I used to be a Republican, before they lost their minds.” Meanwhile, I see that die-hard paranoid Bush Leaguers are responding not with factually-detailed alternatives or additions to the published “10 worst congressman”–so much as they are joining their big-time-operator brothers to continue the GOP’s ongoing campaign to make the label “liberal” something unsavory–although the word carries way more dignity than “conservative.” There’s a real misnomer for you, “conservative.” The only thing being conserved these days is the bank accounts of the obscenely rich . . . certainly not the environment, the well-being of the average citizen, individual rights or the U. S. Constitution. Basically, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” are going down the old rat-hole these days.

This author immediately loses all credibility. He and the small minded ‘haters’ on the left are so blinded by their abhorrence of this President that if a light bulb burns out in Nebraska, somehow GWBush is to blame. Come on, please provide me a more thoughtful analysis. I have no data so support or deny the performance Congress versus others in the past. I would be interested to listen to an insightful argument about their ineptitude, but when you say its Karl Roves fault, I simply turn the page.

Thank you for the article, RS, regarding the all out destruction of our so-called democracy.

Some of us get it, and sadly most do not. It’s not about “party” – it’s about “country.” When you care more about your party then you do your country, then you fail to meet the challenge of what it takes (let alone means) to be a patriot!

We should all be outraged at the absolute abuse of power! But no, let us play party politics. How sad. How truly sad!

It appears and I suggest that most who criticize your article haven’t even bothered to read the article, let alone the facts; instead, they have chosen to shoot the messenger. Unfortunately, this is how low we’ve sunk these days. I can’t help but ask if this is what our servicemen fought for. Thank God they take their collective oath to defend the Constitution more seriously than our politicians – let alone the American constituancy!

This article isn’t a matter of party bias – it is a reporter doing what we desparately lack – informing us of the painfully obvious abuse of power that permiates what used to be OUR HOUSE. P.J. O’Rourke (no shrinking violet as writers go) got it right when he wrote the book, “A Parliment of Whores” and you just offer your readers more proof of the obvious.

I suggest that if the democrats were in power and you discovered similiar abuses, you would be just as willing to point out the abuse and violations of their oath.

So when will we stop making excuses and start treating our democracy like it matters? When will we stop viewing the discraceful actions of those who are supposed to represent us with a blind eye because our team is better than your team – an us vs. them ignorance. What a disgrace!

It is an obvious lack of both intellect and integrity (which is painfully lacking in many of your respondents) that threatens our democracy. And what saddens me most is that most are too selfish to give a damn. So selfish and intellectually dishonest that they can’t see the forest through the trees. And we wonder why our representatives fail to represent.

All Americans should be outraged and should demand the immediate expulsion of these violators. That would send a loud and clear message to our future “representatives” that this abuse and nonsense will not be tolorated! But sadly, we lack the character to act responsibly. After all, it’s easier to turn a blind eye and blame the other guy.

I see the not-so-distant future now: “The Death of the American Democracy” will be a best seller, but we’ll be too busy trying to protect what little we have and won’t have the time to read it.

Shame on all of U.S.!

I couldn’t make it past page 3. This author is so jaded … how can you possibly believe anyhting that’s in here? The personal attacks were inconscionable. Whenever you read something, please consider the source. The Internet is a big place. You can always find an opinion that matches yours. Doesn’t mean its right or true, though.

I do believe that this Congress was horrible. Please, though, Mr. Taibbi tell me some facts an leave the details about how Sensenbrenner is an ever-sweating, fat-fingered beast out of the analysis.

I think this article is probably accurate, but very poorly referenced. While I would like to use this information in my own political discussions, it would be poor form to quote a Rolling Stone article as a source, with no other attributions.

Come on, you guys can do better than this.

Excellent work indeed. a great review of the sanitarium known as the house of representatives. it’s time to abandon this two party system that gives us corrupt fat cats instead of concerned public servants. fuck republicans, and fuck the pussy democrats. i’m voting for the green party, and i’m not kidding.

I’d make Pombo an entry with CA – 4 John Doolittle. They are equally corrupt and equally endangered. I’d remind all the right wing whackos out there that this is just the worst of the worst. 10-20 would still be 9 to 1 Republican. These people are destroying this nation, subverting the constitution and attempting to establish a fascist dictatorship. If you don’t understand the term fascist look it up. Among other things it’s corporate control of the economy and the government, militant nationalism and racism and unbridled militarism. Ready for another war? This time is will be Iran. In 1994 the Rebublicans issued their contract on America and have been in total control of all branches of government for almost six years now. We are saddled with the most corrupt and stupidest bunch of “leaders” since the founding of the republic. November 7th is the most important election in my lifetime and I am almost 60. If this bunch of morons are allowed to remain in power then this country will have inalterably entered the dark ages and who knows when we’ll be able to get out of it. Vote democratic as if your life and livilihood depended on it because it just might.

Hey, wow, I wonder why Rolling Stone is publishing this article. Oh wait, midterm elections are coming up! Not much time left to indoctrinate your readers who have no clue about politics.

Seriously, that’s the only type of person who could be swayed by ultra-bias crap like this. When you use phrases like “Mr. Bigotry” and “Bin-Laden’s best friend” to describe members of Congress, you only end up preaching to the choir. At least the major news outlets are a bit more clever in slanting their stories a certain way.

And the one Democrat on the list, the one caught on tape taking bribes, isn’t even number 1. PLEASE. It’s precisely because of thinking like this that the majority of Americans can not connect with the Democratic party (although to be fair, this is out there compared even to most Democrats). I’m not saying Bush is great or that the Republicans have done a great job in Congress, but I would like it if everyone on both sides of the political spectrum could approach important issues with an emphasis on the facts and the intracicies of both sides’ points of view with out resorting to name-calling or the chanting of some mindless slogan.

The apologists can shout as much as they want and even scapegoat RS as much as they want, but it still doesn’t change the FACT that these representatives have violated the trust and should be removed from office.

And for those who don’t get it and justify the unethical actions of these representatives, they prove themselves as nothing less than traitors to our democracy and our Republic, no matter which party one supports. It really is that simple!

So when does character matter? Does it ever matter anymore? By justifying and excusing this obvious abuse of power, you’re screwing the American democracy and our children’s future.
That’s inexcusable!

Worst president Worst Congress, Best exaggeration.

I have read much of the blog on this. To save you some time most of it is just people fighting party vs. party with the standard name calling etc. The best posts and most pertinent post of the last three days was made by Gary. It was good enough to post again. Put your close minded biases aside and open your eyes to the corruption at hand in OUR government. I will now turn it over to Gary.

“Thank you for the article, RS, regarding the all out destruction of our so-called democracy.

Some of us get it, and sadly most do not. It’s not about “party” – it’s about “country.” When you care more about your party then you do your country, then you fail to meet the challenge of what it takes (let alone means) to be a patriot!

We should all be outraged at the absolute abuse of power! But no, let us play party politics. How sad. How truly sad!

It appears and I suggest that most who criticize your article haven’t even bothered to read the article, let alone the facts; instead, they have chosen to shoot the messenger. Unfortunately, this is how low we’ve sunk these days. I can’t help but ask if this is what our servicemen fought for. Thank God they take their collective oath to defend the Constitution more seriously than our politicians – let alone the American constituancy!

This article isn’t a matter of party bias – it is a reporter doing what we desparately lack – informing us of the painfully obvious abuse of power that permiates what used to be OUR HOUSE. P.J. O’Rourke (no shrinking violet as writers go) got it right when he wrote the book, “A Parliment of Whores” and you just offer your readers more proof of the obvious.

I suggest that if the democrats were in power and you discovered similiar abuses, you would be just as willing to point out the abuse and violations of their oath.

So when will we stop making excuses and start treating our democracy like it matters? When will we stop viewing the discraceful actions of those who are supposed to represent us with a blind eye because our team is better than your team – an us vs. them ignorance. What a disgrace!

It is an obvious lack of both intellect and integrity (which is painfully lacking in many of your respondents) that threatens our democracy. And what saddens me most is that most are too selfish to give a damn. So selfish and intellectually dishonest that they can’t see the forest through the trees. And we wonder why our representatives fail to represent.

All Americans should be outraged and should demand the immediate expulsion of these violators. That would send a loud and clear message to our future “representatives” that this abuse and nonsense will not be tolorated! But sadly, we lack the character to act responsibly. After all, it’s easier to turn a blind eye and blame the other guy.

I see the not-so-distant future now: “The Death of the American Democracy” will be a best seller, but we’ll be too busy trying to protect what little we have and won’t have the time to read it.

Shame on all of U.S.!”

Where’s my Congressman? John Tierny of Massachusetts. If ever there was a communist, empty suit, this is it. Just because he’s a Democrat doesn’t mean he’s any good. This guy is totally useless as far as getting anything done for either the nation or his district. To me that is a disgrace.

Gary, Michael, MN T,

Good work. For most of the rest, shame on you. It’s high time all recognize that if there are any problems, and I think clear heads would agree that there are, then WE are the cause. I’m unsure who said it or the exact words, but we all know, “…we get the government we deserve.” And a second, AWFUL, ‘quote,’ is the Fram filter ad, “You can pay me now or you can pay me later.” Well boys and girls, if we leave our democracy in the hands of the amoral greedy, we WILL get the government we deserve and we WILL pay, sadly, now AND later.

Forget party, throw out every single incumbent. Send a message. Believe me, the ones kicked out will NOT be in bread lines next month. They’ve already seen to that. If we do not, then whose fault is it if this house of cards collapses?

After I recived this issue of RS I immediately threw away the magazine. cancelled my subscription on the spot.

It’s always a relief when ANY form of national media tackles the truth about these troubling times and troublesome leaders, thank you thank you thank you. I’ll sleep better tonight just knowing this issue of RS is out there, message in a bottle.
But never take your eye off the Basic Fact of this administration, which entered with one main agenda. And it was All About The $$$.
This administration took office(s) to loot the financial resources of the richest nation on Earth. Period. And they did. The oil-for-blood war, the puppet presidency, the Rabid Religious Right (RRR) agenda, the anti-Constitutional Patriot Act, etc. etc. were/are all contrived smokescreens or vehicles for the pillaging of the public weath of this country. And it’s too damn late to do much about it. The surplus is gone, the revenues of the last 6 years are gone, and frankly, the national revenues of the next 40 or 50 years are gone, vanished into corporate and private hands.
We’ve been raped, people. They have ripped off a national treasury and pulled off a heist beyond any glutton’s wettest dream. And our future tax dollars still bleed away, pouring between our thighs as the assault continues and continues and continues.
They live and rule like there will be no accountability. Why is that? Scarier than the last six years is what these now ultra-rich, unscrupulous political louts with their overstocked secret redoubts in Montana and Alaska and their Armageddon-armored souls have planned for the next two years.

I have just finished reading Matt Taibbi’s article “The Worst Congress Ever” (RS1012). His opinion of the Republican regime is dead right. Republicans have blatantly ignored the will of the people for years and are shameless about the sacrifices they are willing to make on our behalf just to keep themselves in power. That’s their real religion : Personal Power At Any Cost. It’s a shame most Americans are just starting to notice because the members of the Republican Cabal are more dangerous to America than any terrorists we will ever face. The President may be incompetent, but he is subject to a term limit. Congressmen are not. Thank you, RS Editors, for not censoring Matt’s language as this is the first National Affairs story I’ve read in years and finished without tears.

Shamelessly,
Fran Doty
Tulsa, OK

If you don’t worship the “dear leader” and his corrupt, unconstitutional and criminal minions then you’re a “liberal wacko pushing forward their agenda.” Corruption, abuse of power and outright treason? Who cares! Praise Jaysis!

I am NOT shocked by the names on this list…just a little surprised that Sen. Conrad Burns from Montana didn’t make the list! Another scumbag, Abramoff-fund-receiving, doesn’t live in the State of Montana CROOK!!

Please…tell me the American people won’t be sooooooo stupid in our next elections!!!

I agree with the previous poster. I’m a Democrat-leaning moderate who was naturally appalled by the profiles of your 10 worst Congress-people, but considering that nine are Republicans, doesn’t that make this publication and those reading it and taking it in no different than the Rush and Hannity and their idealogical listeners?

The Republican-led Congress deserves scorn for its failure to be either Congressional or truly concerned with the future of the GOP. In a democracy, such scorn is manifested by voters voting a Congressional majority out of power (assuming gerrymandering and dirty tricks relating to voting technology or vote-counting allow such a thing–our founding fathers could not have anticipated either phenomenon.) The founders of our republic expected the Executive to be interested in defending the powers of the Executive Branch. George W. Bush has met that expectation militantly and radically. The founders expected Congress to be interested in defending the powers of the Legislative Branch. But this Congress has signed-off on every Executive Branch attempt to expand powers, directly weaken Congress’ powers, or both.
What is more, Republicans in Congress systematically furthered the Administration’s misrepresentations about the situation of Iraq after the intelligence and military assessments–which Democrats pointed to and were called treasonous for doing so (!)–began to come out that proved the Administration wrong. Doing so is an abdication of not only Congress’ congressional authority but their responsibility as Republicans to look out for their party’s future and serve as a check, reformist impulse, or “devil’s advocate” in order to keep administration excesses from hurting the GOP as a whole. Prudent Republicans (very rare among high-level state and federal office-holders at this point in US history) did understand earlier on that the Bush Administration was shooting itself in the foot by denying the reality of the situation in Iraq. But, they were not heard, in large part because they are not among the GOP members of Congress, and also because the media never heard their voices. So, they began to be heard, somewhat ironically, via the less shrill segments of the anti-war “blogosphere” and more moderate or progressive alternative media outlets. It seems to me, however, that that changed in late-ish September when The New York Times broke the story of the April Nat’l Intelligence Estimate in which all 16 federal spy agencies articulated their damming consensus view that the longer we’re in Iraq, the great the threat of terrorism becomes.

This GOP-led Congress has, therefore, been neither effective as a CONGRESS or as a REPUBLICAN MAJORITY. They represent a sort of Bizarro World representation of what a Congressional Majority should be:
*Blindingly pro-Executive Branch and
*Blindingly pro-Bush
When they should have been
*Stalwartly Congressional
and
*Able and willing to help shape what it would mean to be partisan, instead of ceding that right–like a bunch of lazy bums, frankly–to the Bush-Rove political machine.
Bill Clinton and Al Gore in 1988 famously declared of the GOP, “It is time for them to go.” We were not attempting then to correct the horrible missteps of what is essentially, or at least should be, a Cold War-like global struggle against radical jihadist Islam–the stakes were, quite frankly, not as high then. Given the current situation: our crushing debt, skyrocketing drug and healthcare costs, the jihadist threat, fossil fuel over-dependence, and horrid weakening of the Legislative Branch, and the rise of irrational religiousity and anti-science thinking/lying, our current situation is dire indeed, and the motto needs to be: IT IS PAST TIME FOR THEM TO GO!

I knew from the sneaky addition of the liability exemption for vaccine manufacturers late at night to various bills that Congress has sold out the American people. I’m angry and disgusted. Are there no honest people left?
People who complain of the articles republican bashing slant need to be reminded who’s currently in control of Congress. It’s not the minority making the decisions. The democrats may be just as bad, hopefully we’ll find out soon. I think having one party in control of both branches of goverment is a big mistake. I’m also thinking this two party system needs to go.

Matt NAILED IT. PERIOD.

None of the nay-sayers are even attempting to dispute anything said in this article. It’s mindless whining about “a bunch of liberal wackos” because actually dealing with the truth of our failed government is too much for them.

Either Fox is paying bloggers by the word or America really will collapse under the shitstain of it’s own in-bred idiocy.

list is fine except for dick pombo. the Endangered Species Act is crap legislation.

Nine Republicans and one democrat from Rolling Stone. Man, what an absolute shocker. Where’s John Kerry? You liberals have practically crucified him after pretending you liked him for so long before finally admitting you only just hated GW.

Listen, I’m not a big fan of a lot of the Republicans on your list. Hastert isn’t my favorite, and Rogers and Young aren’t helping much. But come on, this isn’t “Worst Congressmen List”, this is a “Worst Congressmen If You Happen To Be A Pro-Amnesty, Pro-Condom Distribution/Anti-Abstinence, Global Warming-Believing, Anti-Christian Liberal List”. You know I’m right.

I now have seen the worse that human nature has to offer to an American political system. If you have the money to bribe the greedy 109th congress, you probably like them. If you are an idiot or watch fox news all day, you probably think they are a not too bad. However, if you can think for yourself, you know this 109th congress to a self serving, lying and incapable cartel of rubber stamping thieves.

Thank you RS for publishing this work. Let’s kick the whores out of office in November.

Wow, one token democrat, and I’m sure it pained you to no end to include it. Once again, your partisan garbage knows no bounds. Thinks for being as predictable as James Traficant’s never-ending bad hair day!

What??? Only 10??? Come on RS, I can think of about 90 more that should be added to the list.
And the voting mess in Ohio continues: I registered to vote as did my mother along with an absentee ballot and no surprise, the Franklin Cty. Bd. of Elections stated they didn’t get it in time even though they sent an absentee ballot to my mother. Of course that was rejected and now we have to cast provisional votes.
Where, oh where, is there a politician who will stand up to this corruption? But more importantly, where are the voters to dump these criminals? Sorry, I forgot, in Ohio our votes won’t be counted.

hey dpr: John Kerry is a Senator, you dumbass. And anyone who thinks that a list has to include five Republicans and five Democrats to be objective really just fundamentally doesn’t understand the concept of objectivity.

Rolling stones sucks, dpr, disgusted and every other post put up by the same shitheel dude saying the same boring shit over and over, just stop. For the love of god. Stop.

We get your point. You are a dyed-in-the-wool, have no soul, die by the sword republican. You will follow hitler to his bunker and suck down the cyanide with the whole corrupt fucking lot of them. Say it once, and move onto another subject.

Spam will always suck, and I believe that is as bipartisan a message as there ever was…

First of all, Congress is made of the House and Senate. That makes 535 members eligible for this list with only one Dem making the bottom 10?

Of course it’s biased and that’s why I canceled my subscription a few years ago after being a long time subscriber. This used to be a music magazine but it morphed into a left wing propaganda/the sky is falling/we failed history class in high school publication.

I’m so sick of this magazine trying to more “in” with the music scene by hating all republicans. It’s so cliched, i’m sick of music magazines and even musicians who are uber liberal just because that’s the general consensus for big musicians right now. Come on, 9/10 being Republicans is offensively biased and I’m an Independent. I’m getting sick of this magazine because of crap like this.

I find this thread very amusing especially after seeing Hal Holbrook doing his one man Mark Twain show last weekend. If you posters you think this is new and different then you are wrong. All I can say is that the more things change the more they stay the same. I suggest all of you go back and read some of Mr. Clemens more thoughtful essays of American political life 150 years ago. Here are a few quotes for you to chew on….

“Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.” –Mark Twain: A Biography

“It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.”

“Even in these days, when people growl so much and the newspapers are so out of patience, there is still a very respectable minority of honest men in Congress.” –The Gilded Age

NUFF SAID

So it’s biased that the “Ten WORST” list includes only one Democrat? How funny. I guess it proves Stephen Colbert was correct when he said, “Reality has a well known liberal bias.” Grow up and deal with the real world already!

And for those of you who insist that this article has caused you to cancel your RS subscription, a piece of advice – When you bury your head in the sand, your dumb ass is still exposed.

It’s b/c Rolling Stone has an agenda and extreme bias that we’ve canceled the subscription. There are plenty of other places to get differing opinions to base your own upon.

FYI…Comedy Central is not the only place to get your news. Just b/c it’s witty doesn’t mean it’s accurate.

Exactly what moron didn’t know that the history of rock is rooted and symbiotic with the progressive movement. What did you think, a magazine with the name “Rolling Stone” is edited by Rupert Murdoch? The day any great art form is created by the conservative movement (or a conservative individual) will be the day pigs take wing………

Maybe the Colbert quote goes over your head. Reality, liberal or otherwise, is STILL reality!

If the top 10 list had an equal number of Democrats inserted in some dim-witted effort to fulfil today’s perverted concept of objective reporting, then yes, Rolling Stone would be promoting a deceptive agenda. Maybe a more obvious example might help you (and others) get a grip on this.

You see, Litterbugs and Murderers both break the law, but reporting these crimes as EQUALLY PROBLEMATIC is not objective, it’s ABSURD for God’s sake!

Apparently, The Rolling Stone “agenda” must be to present legitimate information backed up with detailed, useful and well researched facts. They certainly DO exhibit an “extreme bias.” An extreme bias for truth and relevance. Bravo RS!

Wow. A lot of people pissed off because of this “bias” idea. . .

Okay, okay. I probably would have added one or two Democrats to that list, but the fact is, most of the skunks in Washington right now are Republicans. That’s what happens when you have such a massive turnover of Congress 12 years ago and fail to follow up on all but two or three of your promises (thank you, Clinton! That wasn’t sarcasm!)

But let’s get real, here. Thus far, Dems are going to probably take over the House for the simple fact that their party doesn’t contain the majority of these slimeballs. That’s the same reason the Republicans took over the House in ‘94, and look where that got us. Dems need to forkin’ present us with an agenda with a slogan, a point-by-point outline, and an inspirational tone before the election. Then they need to actually follow up on it, especially after ‘08. Not only will they make life better for the vast majority of us, but they will win the election with ideas, not just with this “Not Bush” bullshit. Don’t become your enemies, Dems.

Nice Cover.

Is this Rolling Stone or Newsweek?

Rockstars on the cover, Leftist Political Bias Articles inside would be prefered.

Exactly, just b/c someone has differing views doesn’t make them a bad member of Congress or society for that matter. Actually, that’s what makes our system of government work. Casting aside anything you don’t believe in as nonsense and antiquated is not the answer.

No Democrats have been accused of any crimes right? Not if you read Rolling Stone for the politics. They have #6 listed as Mr. Bigotry. Never mind that Democratic Senator Robert Byrd (WV) used to be in the KKK. Calling someone a bigot b/c they want don’t want to open our borders to anyone shows up at our doorstep is not bigotry.

There are too many half-truths and half-stories in this magazine to take seriously and too many of you are buying into it.

E,

Your analysis might have some merit if the representatives actually did spend time with their constituents.

They don’t. At least they don’t spend time with constituents unless they are trying to get re-elected or the constituent is a multi-billion dollar corporation or CEO thereof.

That goes for both sides of the aisle.

Please remove all of them from Congress.
First use a broom, then followed by Clorox Bleach.
Followed by NEEDED jail time to “straigten” their behavior for greed!
You republicans have “RAPED” the American public long enough!
Most Sincerely
Mother of US Special Forces Soldier
d-green
green
range rs
seals

Thank You Rolling Stones for speaking the TRUTH of these criminals!

There is no truth to your article. Truth. Do you even know what that means? Or are you completely blinded by your venemous hatred for republicans that you have convinced yourself that truthful and responsible reporting is merely an option and not a requirement? If you are going to undertake the responsibility of “educating” our electorate, then please have the decency (and integrity) to educate your readers in a fair and balanced manner. Your slanderous and hateful survey reads like it came straight out of the Democratic Party’s national talking points. If nothing else, at least have the courage to be honest with your readers and let them know that you have an agenda – an agenda that 50% of this country completely opposes.

Ah the congress is controlled by the GOP. They are the majority. It’s also a top ten list so guess what if the Republicans are responislbe for the worst congress in record they would have the majority of the top spots of badness right?

Tell me why is it in scandals over the past fifty years Republicans are always always the vast majority of those who admit they are guilty?

Abramoff never gave any money to Democrats. 99% of bribes in congress are always accepted by Republicans. Republican sex scandals are always far more numerous far more nasty then any Democratic sex scandal which is always blown out of proportion by the Republicans.

Sorry Republicans if you are being honest would take all ten positions out of top ten list of Congress and Senate representatives who should be imprisoned for violations of the law.

I have read much of the blog on this. To save you some time most of it is just people fighting party vs. party with the standard name calling etc. The best posts and most pertinent post of the last three days was made by Gary. It was good enough to post again. Put your close minded biases aside and open your eyes to the corruption at hand in OUR government. I will now turn it over to Gary.

“Thank you for the article, RS, regarding the all out destruction of our so-called democracy.

Some of us get it, and sadly most do not. It’s not about “party” – it’s about “country.” When you care more about your party then you do your country, then you fail to meet the challenge of what it takes (let alone means) to be a patriot!

We should all be outraged at the absolute abuse of power! But no, let us play party politics. How sad. How truly sad!

It appears and I suggest that most who criticize your article haven’t even bothered to read the article, let alone the facts; instead, they have chosen to shoot the messenger. Unfortunately, this is how low we’ve sunk these days. I can’t help but ask if this is what our servicemen have fought and died for. Thank God they take their collective oath to defend the Constitution more seriously than our politicians – let alone the American constituancy!

This article isn’t a matter of party bias – it is a reporter doing what we desparately lack – informing us of the painfully obvious abuse of power that permiates what used to be OUR HOUSE. P.J. O’Rourke (no shrinking violet as writers go) got it right when he wrote the book, “A Parliment of Whores” and you just offer your readers more proof of the obvious.

I suggest that if the democrats were in power and you discovered similiar abuses, you would be just as willing to point out the abuse and violations of their oath.

So when will we stop making excuses and start treating our democracy like it matters? When will we stop viewing the discraceful actions of those who are supposed to represent us with a blind eye because our team is better than your team – an us vs. them ignorance. What a disgrace!

It is an obvious lack of both intellect and integrity (which is painfully lacking in many of your respondents) that threatens our democracy. And what saddens me most is that most are too selfish to give a damn. So selfish and intellectually dishonest that they can’t see the forest through the trees. And we wonder why our representatives fail to represent.

All Americans should be outraged and should demand the immediate expulsion of these violators. That would send a loud and clear message to our future “representatives” that this abuse and nonsense will not be tolorated! But sadly, we lack the character to act responsibly. After all, it’s easier to turn a blind eye and blame the other guy.

I see the not-so-distant future now: “The Death of the American Democracy” will be a best seller, but we’ll all be too busy trying to protect what little we have and won’t have the time to read it.

Shame on all of U.S.!”

Seeing as how you need to push your liberal, leftist agenda, should we assume that your decision to leave Harry Reid (corrupt land deal) or Alcee Hastings (impeached as a federal judge for bribery) off your list was merely an oversight?

And to the poster who claims that republicans only get elected because the American public is uneducated — do you have a clue? It is the Democratic party who benefits from uneducated voters – the Democrats are the arrogant party of “we know how to take care of you better than you do”. Is it just a coincidence that cities (where there tend to be higher percentages of uneducated Americans) like Washington, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Cleveland have been controlled by the Democrats for years? Yet by any honest account, our American cities are a total disaster. Give us 4 years to clean up the cities — it is not like we could do any worse than the Democrats.

Now that they control the ballot count, we will never be able to get rid of them. We deserve the government that we elected. Now there is no way back. The country was always concerned about foreign attack and overthrow, but it seems we let the Republicans do it to us willingly. Facsism will come to this country wrapped in the Flag and carrying a cross.

I have noticed several comments on this list about media bias and propaganda. The general accusation has been “This is stupid RS ur BIAS.” Well, I think the real shocker is that we had to get this information from Rolling Stone. Sure it may be biased in that one learns this information WHICH IS FACT and is dissuede from voting Republican. But look at the facts, those implicated really did those things. The Two-Bridge deal in Alaska did happen, some of these people are blatant racists, these people launder money and privately invest it and these is proof AND ITS UTTERLY OUTRAGEOUS. Lots of this proof has been televised but nobody reports it! ABC, CBS, NBC, and Newscorp (Fox) never touch these stories and THAT IS REAL BIAS. It’s picking and choosing what to investigate based on what they’ll make at the end of the day. In the past that has involved focusing on sex scandals, celebrities, other TV shows, and CELEBRITIES. If news organizations began doing in depth reporting on issues that actually mattered instead of wasting their resources on complete gossipy garbage people might know things that mattered. I find it extremely refreshing that a magazine which is traditionally fixated on celebrities and breasts is turning a corner and doing important invastigative journalism and introducing it within the phere of the POP. Bravo.

This list is way too small, and the party affiliation needn’t be displayed. They’re bad people… period.

Hey DC if the Dems have messed up the cities so bad, how come the red states lead the nation in violent crime, divorce, illegitimacy and incarceration? How come New York is now THE safest big city in America? You think maybe there’s something to that Evolution stuff they teach there? Son, complaining about how pissed you are doesn’t make your points anymore valid — the cities have problems, sure, but so does the rest of the country. The bottom line for me is, this congress rubber stamped a pointless fucking war which killed my brother-in-law and orphaned his son for no reason at all. If you really believe so highly in your party, I suggest you enlist. Until then, keep quiet. Because It’s The War Stupid. It’s the Stupid Fucking War.

So what do we do on Nov 8th when we wake up to find nothing’s changed? Wasn’t a lot of this already pretty clear at the last election?

No, seriously, what do we do? The gerrymandering in my neck of the woods all but assures my vote means nothing. If your vote still means something, please use it.

JS — No one (Republican or Democrat) is happy about the death toll in Iraq. If you want to end the war, then use your vote. You had the chance in 2004 and it didn’t work. The majority of Americans didn’t agree with you. But turning this year’s election into a referendum on the war (read: the President) – and voting out members of Congress who are Republican and voted for the war, but not Democrats who voted for the war, is hypocrisy at its worst.

Take, for example, the piece on Curt Weldon. The “facts” set forth in the article have been presented in a manner to create the impression that he is corrupt. Yet, when he voluntarily went to the House Ethics Committee and asked it to review these allegations, the Committee looked at the allegations and cleared him of any wrongdoing. The article fails to mention that point.

If you are upset with your eleceted officials, by all means, dissent with your vote. But try to keep some perspective.

Democrats have scandals too!
Top 10 Democrat Sex Scandals in Congress
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Human Events

10. Sen. Daniel Inouye. The 82-year-old Hawaii Democrat was accused in the 1990s by numerous women of sexual harassment. Democrats cast doubt on the allegations and the Senate Ethics Committee dropped its investigation.

9. Former Rep. Gus Savage. The Illinois Democrat was accused of fondling a Peace Corps volunteer in 1989 while on a trip to Africa. The House Ethics Committee decided against disciplinary action in 1990.

8. Rep. Barney Frank. The outspoken Massachusetts Democrat hired a male prostitute who ran a prostitution service from Frank’s residence in the 1980s. Only two Democrats in the House of Representatives voted to censure him in 1990.

7. Former Sen. Brock Adams. The late Washington Democrat was forced to stop campaigning after numerous accusations of drugging, assault and rape, the first surfacing in 1988.

6. Former Rep. Fred Richmond. This New York Democrat was arrested in 1978 for soliciting sex from a 16-year-old. He remained in Congress and won re-election—before eventually resigning in 1982 after pleading guilty to tax evasion and drug possession.

5. Former Rep. John Young. The late Texas Democrat increased the salary of a staffer after she gave in to his sexual advances. The congressman won re-election in 1976 but lost two years later.

4. Former Rep. Wayne Hays. The late Ohio Democrat hired an unqualified secretary reportedly for sexual acts. Although he resigned from Congress, the Democratic House leadership stalled in removing him from the Administration Committee in 1976.

3. Former Rep. Gerry Studds. He was censured for sexual relationship with underage male page in 1983. Massachusetts voters returned him to office for six more terms.

2. Former Rep. Mel Reynolds. The Illinois Democrat was convicted of 12 counts of sexual assault with a 16-year-old. (NOT just illicit e-mails) Bill Clinton pardoned him before leaving office.

1. Sen. Teddy Kennedy. Ever hear of Chapaquidic? The man was married got drunk and let a woman drown! Later in life the Massachusetts senator testified in defense of nephew accused of rape, invoking his family history to win over the jury in 1991.

WE can go back and forth over who is the worst, what would anyone expect from Rolling Stone but to lean left? Get over the scandals and party affiliation BS THEY BOTH SUCK- we need to elect on what the person will do to protect us. Whether you believe in the war or better border protection or better surveilence or all of the above or none of the above. VOTE on that not the party.

It’s amazing how many hypocrtical Republicans read Rolling Stone

typical thanks for showing how onesided RS is. stick to music. It is the only thing you have and real reason to talk about. Your not looking out for me with that ridicules Dem. propaganda piece on scandal in congress

Wow, what a load of propaganda… you should be ashamed of yourselves. This sort of one-sided liberal BS is simply annoying. Rather than debate the issues, let’s villify the Republicans, the only group serious about national security! You want to talk about corrupt? Look at the Democrats actually encouraging illegal immigrants to vote, or selling out this country to islamofascists. I stop subscribing to Rolling Stone a long time ago, because you weren’t relevant as it was to music, and you’re just as worthless when it comes to politics.

After reading your article, I find myself again thinking that the United States is too large a country for a strictly two party political system. I have witnessed coalition governments-that are in the “Sunshine”-and the general population takes a very active role in participating in the political process. Their system has a greater accountability to it’s citizens-and the opportunity for graft is significantly diminished.

WE are simply to big for a “night-and-day” political system. As the old saying goes “To the victors go the spoils”.

if you don’t like he wbsite why are you on it?

5 companies own the media in America and if we keep this congress and the internet bill comes before them we wont be blogging anymore or much else on the internet.OUR superhighway will be going to the highest bidder.Dont leave this for somebody else to do.VOTE!

becesteve notice how all the ones are former and occured long ago. Why even mention them?

Daniel Inouye funny how far more Republicans got the same accusations that had far more substance yet the Republicans didn’t investigate.

Tell me why are all the top Republican scandals oocuring this year? Why are 99% of those involved still in power?

Tell me why is Abramoff been giving a desk by the FBI? In case you don’t know when someone in a prison is considered to have been giving a desk by the FBI it means they are squealing so much on other crooks the FBI consideres the guy to be an agent for law enforcement.

Abramoff gave money to only Republicans to help Republicans. All the scandals that could get rid of over a dozen Congressman and Senators guess what each and every one of them is a Republican.

Are politicians corrupt? Yes. Are all of them corrupt? Hopefully not. But please don’t insult my intelligence my trying to tell me that nine of the ten “worst” politicians are Republicans. That’s about as subtle as the “simple Park Ave. matron” who was trying to entice homeless people to vote in exchange for cigarettes on election day in 2000. What’s it going to be RS? “News that is fit to print”, or “News that we feel is fit to print?”

Hey, hey, ho, ho, both parties have got to go.
The article may have been biased but the GOP – the party of morals – has proven that it is not. Each party is good about pointing out the abuse of power of the other. But they rarely do anything about it. They only build on each other’s mess and govt gets more out of control.
Our govt is no longer the Republic of limited scope it was designed to be. It does so much that it does nothing very well. And everything is political and swings with the party in control. Meanwhile both parties are varied flavors of socialism that are controlled or influenced by: Business, Banks, PACs, thinktanks/foundations, party platforms, militarists, etc.
The result is tyranny – the people pay for their own oppression. Unfortunately the only tool we the people have is to vote the bums out. But can we put good people in?

I like your views on music much better than your political writings…..
Even in the beginnings of America, Congress was only good for posturing, late and over-investigations with no results except confusion and party oriented bickering….Even George Washington warned of this in his farewell speech..(I wonder, have you read this RS writers??)…
Yep, stick to the music…everybody likes music…that’s why I have like RS for so many years….don’t make me change my ways……

Our troops around the world is fighting many different kind of wars. Other countries benefit from American soldiers vow to serve this country. It is a shame that more Americans that never make a sacrifice for this country could not even bother to vote. If it is too late for some of you to register you could be of service by volunteering. Americans can show they care about this country by taking some action and getting involved. My view on this article only verifies that we as Americans don’t get involved in what matters. Other generations before us served this country and made a difference and we are standing by watching a two party system slowly destroying it. Again, get involved. VOTE

Below you will find a post that I find to be ignorant. Please read.

the Democrats are the arrogant party of “we know how to take care of you better than you do”. Is it just a coincidence that cities (where there tend to be higher percentages of uneducated Americans) like Washington, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Cleveland have been controlled by the Democrats for years?

The cities mentioned by this person do have high levels of under educated people living in them. So does the rest of the country. Regardless of who is in control in Washington education levels will remain the same. Our government wants to keep the public ignorant. It is much easier to control ignorant sheep with fear.

I am ashamed to call the U.S a democracy. How in the world can we expect to assist another country in creating a democracy if ours is so corrupt that they cannot see past their own pockets? How can we lead by example if our example is the current administration?
Stay the course… Oh, oops we are not using that term anymore. What is the new Rhetoric? Oh they havent come up with that yet. The new way to encourage the ignorant masses of the poor to get behind them. Most likely it will be some really catchy BS line, mabey they will dress him in a costume and fly him in on a battle ship. Oh they already did that and proclaimed we had won the war. Strange that just this month 94 of our brothers and sisters have been slain in the war we supposedly won.
This congress and this administration is about the poorest excuse for a government I have ever seen. Republicans do not like this artical becuase it pulls the sheeps clothing off of the wolf and exposes him for what he really is.
I am not saying that Democrats are less corrupt but what is going on in Washington right now is a disgrace and Republicans are controlling it.

Republicans and their bosses, the Corporations, are to blame for what is going on in this country, but one just can’t stop there. The blame can largely be put upon those blind religious fanatics who fell under the enchanted flute of religion, and voted for these individuals, they put them in power, so half the country is also to blame for what is going on since day one when this administration took over in 2001. And I am not mentioning how this guy got into power(Florida).

Anyone know where I can get a copy of the article including its citations? Points made in the article are interesting and probablt correct. However, a copy of the citations would help to determine how these conclusions were made.

This article does seem to be skewed towards republicans although, there are more R’s than D’s so, it may make sense. However, I don’t think corruption, sleaze, greed and poor judgement are confied to one party. Both sides of the aisle pretty much suck to the same degree. And, speaking about Sucking. The real truth is, THEY ALL SUCK FUCK and must be removed. NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THEM HAS ANY INTEREST ME, YOU, YOUR NEIGHBOR…. Us citizens who they are supposed to seve are dead last on thier TO-DO list. Their efforts are concentrated on one thig, and that is to get re-elected. You think any one of them, Republican or Democrat, gives half a rats fukcing ass about you or me or the problems at hand?

We need to eliminate the way these corrugated fucking assholes are chosen. Have you noticed that 95% of them are lawyers? That pretty much explains the sleazy, dirt bag greedy part. However, we can now see how totally fucked up a country is when it is run by lawyers. Just look around.

We need to find a way to get normal people into Congress. Normal people who know what it is like to work and live in the real world, and maybe have them only serve once. Like a real long jury duty. This way, they don’t have to be loyal to this company, that ethnic group, or whatever. They can make the RIGHT decision and not worry about making decisions that benefit those who paid for them to get into office.

Remember, Remember, the Fifth of November.

War against the rich!!

Violence now! Because it works.

Talk goes nowhere.

1. The “mighty American empire” that has destroyed the lives of millions around the world, just during my lifetime.

2. The current gang of thugs running the Empire, known as “Republicans” and “Democrats” are doing their best to turn the Empire “into a debt-laden, despotic backwater”.

3. After the Empire has self-destructed, it will no longer be capable of death and destruction.

4. So what’s the problem??

When Americans again understand that running the country is not supposed to be like a college football game – i.e. “us vs. them” and “all hail my alma mater”, then perhaps there will be hope in the future of this Great Experiment.

When Americans decide that [D]Jefferson’s $100k bribes and [R]Cunningham’s $2M bribes are equally unacceptable, then perhaps this great country can prosper again.

Great changes are required. Public financing of elections, where an eloquent, intelligent candidate can speak to the hearts and minds of citizens and who does not have to spend 3/4 of their time making calls to corporate executives begging for money in exchange for favors is a *start*.

An educated electorate, who understands that sometimes a comparison *is* a 90/10 proposition, that absolute power corrupts absolutely, and that “just because you saw it on TV, does not mean it is true” would be a great second step.

A President who backs up the words “I’m a uniter, not a divider” with actions and diplomacy instead of ideology and rhetoric would be helpful – do *you* feel more united today? How about that whole “I don’t believe America should be in the nation-building business” comment? Does ring true for you, now that you’ve seen the last six years? Iraq? Afghanistan?

“9/11 Changed Everything” – yep, it cracked the door even wider for the Revelationists to believe that the End of the World is Nigh, and it apparently allowed some people’s racist, hateful, and reactionary natures to come to the forefront, ignore the common good, and terrorize ordinary Americans with color codes and duct tape and rabid foam-at-the-mouth zealots on the radio and TV. Considering that “Tough on Terror” majority running the country (hopefully of rjust one more week, unless Diebold votes for all of us again), tell me why we still have non-US companies running our ports and we still don’t check 50%, much less 80 or 90% of our incoming port container traffic?

Trying to convince ANYONE that RS was EVER just “all about the music” means that you’ve NEVER read an issue cover to cover. Go look up the term ‘intellectually dishonest’. Or, go back to putting your fingers in your ears and chanting “la-la-la-la-la”. That’ll take care of it, and keep your hands off your keyboards.

Surprise! Rolling Stone writes an article bashing the GOP and 9/10 of its “worst congressman” are in the GOP. On November 8th, when the GOP’s get-out-the-vote machine once again shatters the dreams of the “entitled to power” lefties, what will poor little old Rolling Stone do?

These b*st*rds need their assets seized. They need to pay back every damned penny of the taxpayers’ money that they have stolen & squandered.

Then, they need to be publicly flayed, disemboweled & hung in a nice long line in front of the steps of the Capital as a reminder of what can happen to crooks like them. (Ok, that’s probably a bit much. Life in prison- a BAD prison, would be fine)

Once that’s taken care of, the American people need to start over from scratch, going by the original US Constitution.

Thank you Rolling Stones for this wonderful article. Though previous to reading this article I already had similar misgivings, it comforts me to know that we still have media in the States that is not afraid to point out the problems in our country. A lot of the angst that is felt by fellow citizens is felt in silence, while much of what the mass media spews forth are “scare tactic” news to get us to buy more duct tape, or more reality shows, how to save money (puh-lease), or how not to get fat (the goldfish species also don’t know how to stop eating), keep your muffin tops (the flab that hangs out above your low hanging jeans) under your shirt, and your whale’s tale (attention eager thongs) in your pants and other such denegrating compositions.

I appreciate you vocalizing the problems shared by all of us in this country and hopefully inform those who are still ignorant of the issues we are facing.

Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. No truer words were ever spoken. The American people have been the victims of the most scandalous government in history.
This congress and especially the repubs have shown the rest of the world as well as America they care only for their own enrichment and their wealthy and corporate elite. Thus regime and their toadies have taken our nation to the brink of disaster, politically, socially, economically, and morally.
Our nation is approaching a facist,police state with a drunken frat boy wannabe dictator at the helm of a ship heading towards the rocks.
As Benjamin Franklin said,”We gave you a republic, if you can keep it”.Apparantly not.
Our Constitution is no longer the law of the land. It has been replaced by the patriot act and the MCA. We are now face to face with a despot who believes in his own lies and delusions, that he and he alone is the decider and that he has the power to decide who is and who isn’t a good American.
Shame on us all for allowing such things to happen to this nation.
We will be paying for it for generations to come, if we make it that far.

Yes, it’s about time Rolling Stone said something, and I agree the Worst Congress Ever…but Rolling Stone is to blame for this, as are most of you, Americans…why do you let this happen? why do you care more about Dancing With The Stars than you do the thievery and corruptness of your government?

Why has taken so long for the media to say or do anything in regards to keeping the Bush Administration held accountable?

Yes, the Worst Congress Ever but it is also all your fault…each one of you and the media…

As a Democrat of 40 years, or former Democrat as of last week…I would have to say that you are about half right. The other half is what is wrong with the Democratic party and may very well cost them this election that was handed to them on a silver platter.

There’s two issues that concern the American people this election. The war in Iraq and the influx of illegal aliens destroying our social economic structure.

Until the Democrats address this last most important issue…they will lose Middle Class Workers votes. The Middle Class is being sold down the river
by this nauseating politically correct attitude coming from the far Left pandering to the concerns of those other than citizens of this country.

Although, I abhor the Republicans…I hope the Democrats get burned for their betrayal of the American people.

That’s why I voted out Incumbents of both Parties for Reform Candidates!

Here’s a novel idea.
How about charges of treason for all those motherfuckers that fail to uphold their sworn (under oath) duty to defend the constitution against all enemies??
Oh yeah, the constitution is no more. How silly of me!

worst congress?
yea i guess having less taxes and a good economy with an increase in jobs is real bad for America.

its probably better to have higher taxes and let the terrorist do whatever they want

psycokain ever hear of the surplus? It was elimanted by the Bush and the Republican congress. The nation’s debt is out of control due to them and the US is borrowing huge amounts of money from China. Also far more jobs have been lost then created. In fact a single year of Clinton created more jobs then four years of Bush.

People are paying more for basic services due to the tax cuts for the Rich which put more burden on the middle class and the poor.

Tax cuts are in fact one of the worst things you can do in an economy since there is always a hidden cost that the tax cutters don’t mention.

The rich and business pay less taxes but don’t pump any profits back into the economy. Instead the middle class and poor pay big.

Bother to do some research the economy is in fact terrible shape compared to the Clinton era.

Hey TooTiredToFight — go back to sleep. You don’t have a clue about these issues. You are simply reading from the DNC’s (inaccurate) talking points.

Tax cuts. You think that they only benefit the rich at the expense of the middle class. You are wrong. Why don’t you say what you really mean: the rich should be punished for having lots of money. Top it off with a comment that socialism is making a comeback and go on your way. If you are interested in facts, how about this one — the top 10% of Americans pay 66% of all federal income taxes. Hmmm…the richest among us pay two-thirds of all taxes. Those bastards! Of course, you could complain that the Bush tax cuts have really helped them out — before the tax cuts they were responsible for 67% of all federal income taxes.

Jobs. Since the Bush tax cuts in 2003, the American economy has generated 6.6 million new jobs. Given your (expected but unfortunate) allegiance to Bill Clinton, I would expect you to long for the days when our national defense secrets were sold to the Chinese and Sandy Berger was stuffing classified documents in his pants. But don’t lie about the facts — unemployment is at a historical low of 4.6%.

Rather than blithering about what you think are facts — i.e., “the rich and business pay less in taxes than the middle class” get your facts straight. Don’t be a typical Democrat who can only complain about problems but provides no IDEAS about how to solve them. You want one thing and one thing only — to point the finger at George Bush and blame him for all the problems in your life. I feel sorry for you.

Do you even know how they get the unemployment rate? It’s notoriously innacurate since anybody works even one hour a week is considered employed.

Also anyones unemployment benefits who have run out is not considered unemployed. The unemployment rate also counts those who are looking for work not those who don’t have employment even though they could work.

Also Bush’s job figures don’t count the 22 months before August 2003 in which there were actually losses in the number of jobs.

Monthly job rate growth is 50% lower since August 2003. So about 160,000 jobs a month since August 2003. When Clinton was in office close to 240,000 new jobs a month were created.

Also since August 2003 the real wage earned by people is lower. People are earning less money for the same amount of work.

Bother to do some research even Republican ecomonic experts will tell you that tax cuts are often disastrous and don’t create more jobs at all. In fact research shows that tax cuts cause more people to fall into poverty. Since essential services are cut.

Also the tax cuts just make the wealthy more wealthy. Sorry idiots Bush is a disaster to the economy.

For the idiot that brought up national security tell me why do numerous intelligence agencies say that Bush has made terrorism worse that the Nation’s security is in it’s worse shape ever due to the Bush admin’s actions?

North Korea got all it’s nuclear stuff from guess what Reagen and Bush admin’s. Same with Iran.

In June 2003, the Bush administration had claimed that the president’s tax cut policy would create more than five million jobs by the end of 2004. Thing is only 2.6 million jobs were actually created. That is 1.6 million less than what would have been expected without any special economic stimulus.

So tax cuts reduced the number of jobs instead of creating more. Historically tax cuts have been a disaster for the economy.

To understand how and why Congress is so corrupt and polarized, all you have to do is read these posts and see all the denial, name calling, hate. The right hates the left and the left hates the right and the people in the middle flip and flop back and forth depending on the issue, depending on the day. Facts mean nothing, the Constitution means nothing, all that seems to matter is that your or my “team” wins. Not serious like it should be. Our country IS a house divided. We all know what Lincoln said about a house divided. It cannot stand.

TooTired — You have convinced me that you are right!!

I am one of those top 10% who pays 66% of all federal taxes, and I don’t think I’m giving enough away. I’d like to start sending my paychecks directly to the federal government. You Dems will know (or at least think you know) how to spend it better than I can.

Your stats on the impact of tax cuts are wrong. I’m was an economics major and would be willing to explain it to you, but it won’t change anything. You will still be singing the same old DNC tune.

As for national security, I like how you completely ignored my facts and changed the topic to North Korea and Iran. Actually, Clinton had more to do with North Korea expanding its nuclear program than anyone — he simply sat on his hands while North Korea developed its program. As for China, a bi-partisan congressional committee (5 R’s and 4 D’s) unanimously concluded that Clinton’s sale of US security secrets had, in fact, damaged our national security.

Finally, as for your comment that Bush has made us less secure, let me begin by saying I don’t like what is going on in Iraq either. The difference between us is that I don’t think that Iraq has created more terrorists, I think it has exposed more terrorists. You think that if we left (or never went there in the first place) we would be safer. I disagree. The same people who are terrorizing Iraq would simply be directing their terror somewhere else. I would rather fight them in Iraq then in the US. You would rather cut and run, pull the covers over your head, and hope that the world magically will turn into a peaceful place. It is idealistic, but completely unrealistic.

I’m against liberal ‘whackos’ and republican ‘whackos’ alike. Frankly, I hope that everyone everywhere votes out their current incumbent. Why? Read between the lines. The Dems are letting you down too, you liberal hippies! The article didn’t say “Only republicans are working 3 days a week”. It said all of them. Those mean ol’ Republicans are staying up late after Dems go to bed and passing things? Well, you lazy assed Democrats, if you’ve been whining about it for 6 years and haven’t decided to be there M-F, as late as is needed until that gavel strikes end of day, as your taxpayer I ask why not?

You make $165,000, give or take, it says. Fair. Do you know what me and everyone of my acquaintance would do for that much money?? If there is no responsibility to the feelings and ideals of ALL your constituents as well as your party, then why are you not loyal to your paycheck? An honest politician stays bought. I don’t think any of them are honest.

Social conscience and social contracts are indeed lost concepts with this current bunch. But I believe that the 2 party system is inherently flawed. They have come to resemble each other.

So what’s my armchair solution? Vote. Go now and vote over your lunch hour, all of you whiners. Vote for what you believe in. There’s always something to vote NO about, if you can’t find anything to support. Don’t take part in the dumbification and apathy of America.

My vote means nothing, you say? Mathematically its pointless to turn off reality tv to go face reality? Well, did you buy a lottery ticket? Your odds increased astronomically between not buying one and buying one in terms of winning. Still damned small, but at least its no longer impossible.

A Flawed Socialist

I love how these articles bring all the “experts” out of the woodwork. And then, it’s the liberals vs the conservatives. Now, what does that remind you of? Clearly, we’re doomed.

I think I’ve got it figured out…

At worse, a politician = an uneducated used car salesman.

At best, a politician = a well educated used car salesman.

(No wait, that would be a lawyer. Ah, what’s the difference…)

Either way, the American citizens = lambs to the slaughter.

look at that cover, rs1012, each piece an expression of greed, incompetence, lust and power. its snowing money, but the male perv chasing the male child is not even aware. where’s the paparazzi’s camera to record it all for us to peruse at our leisure ? oh right, this is a reality, no pictures allowed.

Gee, 9 out of 10 of the worst have an R by their name, and the one D is safe for re-election. Is there an agenda at work here? Lefty editor doesn’t want to hurt Dem’s chances to win control. I can find plenty of pork & corruption on the left side of the asile, editor.

The problem is that there are people who so fear the Democraps that they can’t see the realities of the Repugnicans. It’s just fear and hate that prevents clear thinking.

Personally, I hate both parties equally, neither represents me nor almost every person I’ve ever talked to about politics.

It is time to break these two political monopolies. They have become far to self-serving and are actually the number one cause of why America is doomed.

Of course it will never happen. Both sides know that the worst thing that can happen is they have to wait their turn for the pendulum to swing back to their side, which it always will. Why ruin a good thing? Why? Because you are ruining America the way you dorks are running it now.

Attention joeseppie:

Hey Dumbass-This article is from october. If there was anything about the ACLU story in this article, then Rolling Stone would have to have been Psychic. Also, it would be a bit odd to throw that story into an article about congress. Lastly, Sensenbrenner is a loser and the biggest embarrasment to Wisconsin since McCarthy. FU to F. James!

disgusted.
“I’m not saying I disagree with your assessments of the 10 worst, but the fact that 9 are Republicans and one is a democrat is so biased and unfair. you couldn’t find anymore corrupt Dems!! C’mon!! I used to love this magazine when it was about music and I was young and naive. RS has turned into a bunch of liberal wackos pushing forward their agenda and who wouldn’t know the truth if it hit them in the face. I’m done with this RAG!” Disgusted-You are a moron. I don’t think that RS had much political coverage in it’s first few issues, but within about a year of the the debut, they were running regular political stories. So, I assume that you are looking for RS to return to it’s November 1967 roots? Is that right? Also, you were reading the magazine from Nov 1967-Now and you just figured out that they don’t focus exclusively on music?

Ok. Yes of course. Minko.

lost angry liberals. too bad

I don’t know about the other congressmen but what is so bad about Tancredo simply wanting to enforce our laws? ~2,000 illegal Hispanics cross the border every day – how is this not an invasion? No civilization in the history of the world has ever undergone such demographic change (without war and it’s subsequent replacement) so what are we doing to ourselves? Someone please explain this me?

Excellent list! I have the distinct “privlege” of living near two of the people on this list, plus, I am represented by another woman who should be on it. I live in Cheyenne, WY, a hop skip and jump from the districts represented by Musgrave and Tancredo. My congrassperson, I’m ashamed to say, is one Barbra Cubin. Since narrowly beating a Democrat last election, she has missed almost 50% of her votes in 2007- the highest of any LIVING congressperson. She is a bigoted, rascist, evil person, and its a wonder we couldn’t get her out. Cubin is the only representative for the entire state, so the entire state of Wyoming has no representation in the House. Luckily, she is retiring in 2008 and we will probably have a Democrat to replace her.

Very Nice! Thanks!

posted by psykopain 10/31/2006, 8:33 pm EST: “i guess having less taxes and a good economy with an increase in jobs is real bad for America.”

Wow. You must be feeling pretty stupid about now, huh…???

Dumbass.

how bout Dennis Hatsart? This dishonest ,thieving little lying , money grabbing(tax payers money) fellow should be in the hoose-cow for life. He’s a crook and should be investigated for his crimes against the taxpayors. BUT, who we got that is honest skrew you to look into this mess where the thieves hong out???Huh????

how bout Dennis Hatsart? This dishonest ,thieving little lying , money grabbing(tax payers money) fellow should be in the hoose-cow for life. He’s a crook and should be investigated for his crimes against the taxpayors. BUT, who we got that is honest skrew you to look into this mess where the thieves hong out???Huh????

how bout Dennis Hatsart? This dishonest ,thieving little lying , money grabbing(tax payers money) fellow should be in the hoose-cow for life. He’s a crook and should be investigated for his crimes against the taxpayors. BUT, who we got that is honest skrew you to look into this mess where the thieves hong out???Huh????

how bout Dennis Hatsart? This dishonest ,thieving little lying , money grabbing(tax payers money) fellow should be in the hoose-cow for life. He’s a crook and should be investigated for his crimes against the taxpayors. BUT, who we got that is honest skrew you to look into this mess where the thieves hong out???Huh????

how bout Dennis Hatsart? This dishonest ,thieving little lying , money grabbing(tax payers money) fellow should be in the hoose-cow for life. He’s a crook and should be investigated for his crimes against the taxpayors. BUT, who we got that is honest skrew you to look into this mess where the thieves hong out???Huh????

how bout Dennis Hatsart? This dishonest ,thieving little lying , money grabbing(tax payers money) fellow should be in the hoose-cow for life. He’s a crook and should be investigated for his crimes against the taxpayors. BUT, who we got that is honest skrew you to look into this mess where the thieves hong out???Huh????

how bout Dennis Hatsart? This dishonest ,thieving little lying , money grabbing(tax payers money) fellow should be in the hoose-cow for life. He’s a crook and should be investigated for his crimes against the taxpayors. BUT, who we got that is honest skrew you to look into this mess where the thieves hong out???Huh????

If the top 10% of the poeple
have 90% of the wealth,shouldn’t they be paying the equivalent of 90% of the taxes?It’s not how many people, it’s where the money is.
That’s why a flat tax rate is
always rejected, as it would truly
level the field and everyone would
be paying the same.

That was nice. Thank you for sharing this one.