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GOP aides say Republican Congressmen Pete Sessions (who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee) and Mike Fitzpatrick sent this letter to colleagues late today to apologize for not being sworn in to the 112th Congress, but later participating in votes. They were sworn in later.
Dear (colleague)
As Members of Congress, we have no greater honor than the opportunity to serve our country by representing our constituents in the House of Representatives. The solemn trust we are elected to uphold - codified by our Constitution and sustained through generations of sacrifice - is a privilege we cherish and hold in the utmost regard.As such, we are deeply committed to fulfilling our role in our constitutional democracy by
maintaining the integrity of the People's House. Our absence on the House floor during the oath of office ceremony for the 112th Congress - while not intentional - fell short of this standard by creating uncertainty regarding our standing in this body.While we immediately took steps to rectify the situation, we understand that our error allowed the integrity of this great legislative body's proceedings to be called into question. We regret that this incident adversely affected House proceedings and apologize for any individual inconvenience our actions may have caused.
Pete Sessions (TX-32)
Member of CongressMike Fitzpatrick (PA-08)
Member of Congress
Leave a Comment:
Talk about some screwed up priorities...
These two clowns were MORE deeply committed to raising cold hard $$$ instead of doing the 'People's' work that according to them they sent there to do!
2 days on the job and they're already 'snookering' the people that sent them there!
Like they didn't think anyone would notice! *wink wink*
Yeah well their Bud's will make it ALL go away..nothing to see here, wwalk away, don't look at the men behind the curtain./sarc
Feisty I am not surprised one bit at the actions of Session's to be fund raising on the House Property (A violation) and miss his own swearing in.
Feisty - I am giving up! This is getting more ridiculous by the minute. Haven't had time to post because this is the busiest time for me on the job. Plus now just found out that I have to have a "procedure" that is going to land me in the hospital for a couple of days and then 8 weeks out of the office.
If I had run for political office - I would have government run health care but as it stands Anthem Blue Cross has already reneged on one of my doctor bills - after raising my insurance twice this year.
I am sick and tired of the whining Republicans on this site too! Just giving up.
CynicL1 - If the coming weeks are any indication of the what we've witnessed this week!
President Barack Obama will be elected by a LANDSLIDE in 2012!
Right now the Independents are scratching their heads going WTF did we do?
Don't do it Elise - this is starting to get really good! lol
I can't tell you how sorry I am to hear about your predicament - being under the weather is never a 'good' thing and when you factor in fighting it out with the 'death panels' err... I mean insurance companies I feel your pain!
I'll drop you a note in private and we can chat!
In the meantime... would you join us for a nice cold one over at the Dew Drop Inn? I'm buying! ;o)
Feisty Redhead, The first thing out of my mouth was "W T F" You gotta be kidding. Talking about being caught red-handed. Pete and Mike, You know whats makes me feel sad. You 2 jack wagons. Can't wait to watch Saturday Nite Live. The gift just keep giving. Love it!!!!!
I wonder how many Republicans/TP will write that once again, the Liberal media is making more out of this than it is...
Those two buffoons actually voted without being Senators. Did they miss the reading of the Consitution out loud, too? No, they were there. When Congressmen-elect Pete Sessions and Mike Fitzpatrick participated in reading parts of the U.S. Constitution on the House floor, Speaker Boehner should have given them Article 6 which requires Members of Congress to be sworn in. Republicans have spent a lot of time over the past two days proselytizing about House rules, but they don't seem very keen on actually following the rules.
He didn't plan on being at one single most improtant session? One that actually gives you the right to vote?
Once again: the whole reading out loud of the Constitution was just a gimmick of the Republican Party.
CON-MEN, they are in the "Business" of political theater. They are the professional grifter class.
And inept con-men at that. Screwing up this badly on day 1 doesn't bode well for these knuckleheads.
"Dear voters;
We are stupid and self-centered, and we are sorry we screwed up. But as Dick Cheney once said- 'so?'. We thank you for your support.
Your pals, Peety and Mikey.
"Dear voters;
Peety and I were in the secret treehouse, and missed the swearing in. It's ok, though, because it was all about raising money. Throw away that other letter we sent, ok? We will do gooder next time. We will read the new-employee handbook, too, one day. We promise.
Thank you,
Your pals, Peety and Mikey"
You NAILED it DBO!
Another thing I've been wondering - they KNEW they hadn't been sworn in but went ahead and voted anyway?
Wouldn't you think they might said Pssstt... Johnny - 'we've got a problem'?
Eh... what AM I thinking... that would require some integrity!
Dear Voters; It's 5 here, and me and Peety is going out for beers. So, SCREW YOU, you bunch of losers! Your pals, Peety and Mikey.
Great end of week posts, DBO
Ah, Peety and Mikey - the New Nadir of American Politics.
Thanks to Peety and Mikey's opprobrium and the opportunity to wrap up the week which such fun and contempt,
Reminds me of the timeless truism:
Liberals and Slinkies, they're not really good for anything.......but they do bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Speaking of metaphors, and actual shameful behavior, did you hear the story about a couple of Dems:
Lt. Col. Patrick Collins (Ret.) and his ex-wife Linda lost their son, Sgt. Sean Collins, while serving our country in Afghanistan. Linda received a letter on condolence from the office of Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. She appreciated that Cantwell had taken time to acknowledge their son's sacrifice, but realized it was simply a form letter that some staffer had not even taken the time to proof read:
Sean, not Bryn.
Patrick Collins (Ret. Lt. Col.) called the White House and asked if President Obama could call his ex-wife, to talk about her son. He was told that Obama did not regularly make phone calls to the families of fallen soldiers.
Later he read the story about Obama's phone call to Jeffery Lurie praising Lurie for giving Vick, (a multi-millionaire, ex-con football player who killed and maimed dogs just for grins) a second chance.
But Obama couldn't even take his Blackberry on a smoke break, or take a few seconds while an aide tried to find one of his golf balls .......
This and a lot of the Obama military stuff like this really bothers me. But, what is the point, you guys don't get it - so I don't say much about this stuff.
Reading all the above posts brought it to mind. Yea ......
Liberals and Slinkies
It was only a matter of time until Bobble Head Bobby had enough 'liquid courage' to chime in!
Tip Bobby - You have a L O N G way to go before you'll ever be consequential enough to run with the adults in the room'.
But pleeze.. keep on trying... It is MOST entertaining! LMFAO!
And then there's Feisty....
What ever happened to mind over blather?
Are you done, or do I need to get in an azzmat suit.
bob,
Is there anyone besides paxalles that have run this story? So far I can't find any.
vwterry
The News Tribune / FOB Tacoma
Story was: Family of fallen soldier warmed by letter, stung by politicians
December 30, 2010
Looks like it was updated at 11 AM on Jan. 3 - Sen. Cantwell called to apologize so her office could release:
Talking about a witch hunt investigations. They don't look no further that their own party. I wanna see results. Now Dammit.
I'd say they should have apologized yesterday. Hard to explain attending a "swearing in" celebration and fundraiser before bothering with the swearing in ceremony. Wake up America, time to find some legislators who take their job seriously.
Rep. Sessions-
Not Sworn In????
Did you not hear the cry for priority #1 in the November Vote??
Do your job and show up!
What a waste of time and money, as you chase fund raising for yourself or your friend!
What a foolish act of disrespect!
You talk urgency, yet you do not act with urgency, your lack of responsibility and improperly missing proper actions TO SHOW UP, I would expect that from Obama, not one of the main conservative leaders of the Congress.
What arrogance, that is what we voted out in November.
Sorry you did not get the memo, or you just do not get it.
Your former employer AT&T/ Southwestern Bell would never have tolerated such an act, you were trained better.
Rep. Henserling and Rep. DeMint never would have pulled such a stunt. If you are going to run with the big dogs, act like one.
Your arrogant and selfish behavior is not the new program that started on the first day of this new Congress and you were AWOL, and not excusable!
Stop embarrassing us as a party, as a state, and as a district. I have voted for you every time, since I came back to Dallas in 1996.
You have enraged and rained on the excitement of our new day!
I wish I knew how to write a stronger complaint!
PeteLostPriority
Somebody needs a trash compactor.
bob-1805084
Somebody needs a trash compactor.
Yea, Peety and Mikey left the tea baggers holding the bag.
I hope this wakes up the zealous tea baggers; thank Peety and Mikey for transparency, lobbyist, and corrupt politicians.
Bev,
Somebody
needs
a
trash
compactor.
Get it - He was trashing Sessions and ..... ah, nevermind. Wasn't that good. (Although it was better than most of drive-by-observer-that-slings-crap-out-of-the-window's stuff.)
Any who.... bored and hadn't written a non-sequitur tea bagger in a few minutes?
yepper ats funny thar....1flew east n 1flew west....
Apologize all you want but I think you two represent who the republicans really are - self serving, money grabbing politicians who only care about lining their own pockets and having power. What a bunch of losers.
The show has just begun. The Teabaggers send their cream of the crop to Washington to take back America another 200 years. Let us pray. My prediction are: The party of NO will Implode, They will show the world that they don't have a clue of what they are doing, John Boehner will be the worst speaker of the house of all times, They will break ranks and vote with the dems. President Obama will be re-elected thanks to the party of incompentent.
The Bohner is leading the Boozing Dogmatists in a circus that is entertaining, but unfortunate for us they claim to represent. When they say "The American People", they mean lobbyists for the Big corporations and the Wealthy they got the huge tax break for recently. Hey! What about the ordinary people that want to believe you are talking about them? One day they will stop listening to what you say and watch what you do!
Paulist, excuse me. I'm sorry I'm having a John Boehner emotional moment. I need tissue please!!!!!!! I get sooo emotional when I speak about my patriotism to God, country, Bankers, Wall Street, Big Tobacco, BP, Big Pharma, Lobbyist, Insurance Companies" I CAN'T TAKE IT " I need some kleenex now Dammit.
seems like the Fr libs are doing more crying about this than they did about rangle. Guess fellow libs always have a place in their hearts for fellow believers. Just like parents and their kids... "My son/daughter wouldn't do that"
<sigh> guess we can't allow people to be human.
These two dips have not gotten the message. They should be taken to the woodshed, deprived of any committee assignments and told that if they didn't get their act together, they will face opponents in Republican primaries when they are up for reelection and will not be endorsed by the Republican party.
How stupid can you be? These two are examples of why government should be as small as possible. The larger it is, the more dips**ts there are to ruin our lives.
I'm wondering why Sessions and Fitzpatrick only wrote a letter of apology to their colleagues in the House. What about the American People? Don't they owe us apology, too? They disrespected us as much as the House body, probably more so.
And they were sworn in separately? Says who? Did anyone see it? Why should we take John Boehner's word for it? Sessions and Fitzpatrick aren't real Representatives until they can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were officially sworn in, on a real and authentic Bible, using all the right words. They shouldn't be able to vote or participate in committee sessions until then.
I just read that another Congressman says that Session's and Fitzpatrick's signatures are signed by auto-pen (a machine used for mass mailings that looks like their signature but is automated).
Alan
Where did you read that?
Priceless. I would normally join in the light banter here, but I truly am concerned over the consequences of the mid term elections. We have serious problems facing our country and globally and they require serious, intelligent people to roll their sleeves up and get to work.
The actions of Sessions and Fitzpatrick will be fun to watch tonight on SNL , but I think the reality of such foolish and unlawful (btw) behavior is a harbinger of things to come.
Just the time they are taking to try and repeal the health care reform act. Not because it is the right thing to do for the country, but because it supports the lies and fear they rode into office. Telling the same lies over and over does not make them factual. Just more waste of time. Disputing the CBO findings regarding the addition to the budget of some $280B does not make it go away, just more wasting of time. Well, there are also things called recall elections. Now may be the right time, before any more time is wasted that we cannot afford.
Marissa you are spot on!!!!!! There is no secret in Who, What & Why. A Zebra is a Zebra. Its in plain view
What happened was no misstake. This is a prelude of things to come. The party of no will fall like a deck of cards revealing their obstructionist views and their inabilities to legislate. Being so obsessed with syncronized talking points, fear monguerring, lies, campaign contribution violations with the blessing of the supreme court. Proves that there is no shame in their game. I know I'm going to get some flack behind this comment, But I'm glad they have the house of represenative. Now America and the world will see exactly what and who they are respresenting. Money and power minus regulations are their sole objections which will eventually be the down fall of America. And you wonder why we lags behind other countries. Wake up America. The world is eating out lunch right in our face. The republicans and their affiliates vowes to nullify everything that the Dems put in place that would help all people not just the chosen few. Now do that makes sense? This is what they said, the people has spoken by sending them to congress to screw up everything just because...Ok just send us all to hell in a hand basket That will fix everything. America are we that stupid? Are we....To the republican party: To much power can be your krytonite especially when it is tainted with alot of uncontrolable foreign matter with a explosive imploding outcome. Boooooom!!!!!!
Bubba
You talk about the Republicans posturing, using talking points, fear mongering and yet that is what you entire post is.
There were no illegal campaign contributions, SCOTUS made corporate donations legal. The law of the land, deal with it.
As the pass spending cuts, and budget proposals and propose tax reforms and business incentives, do you think that the Democrats will just say No!! If they do are they no better then you claim the Republicans were?
What say you?