Congressman Bill Sali, Idaho's Resident Idiot

Somehow, some way, Bill Sali gets to represent Idaho's 1st district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but his tenure in the Idaho State House and the political makeup of the state got him in the seat two years ago. Sali has made many blunders, provoking ire from all directions. His latest outburst however, is just downright loony.

From ThinkProgress:

Rep. Bill Sali (R-ID), who is participating in the GOP’s ongoing “Drill Now” energy stunt, has a unique idea about how to bring down gas prices: extracting oil from trees. In a meeting in his Capitol Hill office, Sali reportedly told a candidate for Idaho’s House of Representatives, Byron Yankey, that there “‘could be up to 40 barrels of oil‘ in a single tree.” Yankey wrote on his campaign blog:

Congressman Sali informed us that a solution to the high price of gasoline was to make petroleum from “all those trees in our forests.” … He continued by saying there “could be up to 40 barrels of oil” in a single tree.[...]

Sali is apparently confusing cellulosic ethanol with oil, so let’s review the differences for the representative:

– Cellulosic ethanol is a renewable fuel “derived from the stalks and stems of plants.” Sali voted against cellulosic ethanol tax credits.

– Oil is a nonrenewable fuel found in the ground. Sali received $35,000 in campaign contributions from oil and gas companies since January 2007.

Sali is a confused man, but judging his campaign coffers, his motivations are crystal clear. Though maybe he would rather clear-cut the trees and extract possible oil shale. Whatever it takes to please the oil lobbyists, Bill Sali is game.

Speeding In a Bathroom Stall

Senator Craig's story keeps growing legs and I couldn't be happier. Him and his lawyer won't shut up about the incident and Republicans are furious. The outbursts from the Craig camp in the last couple of days has been nothing short of hilarious. His kids came out to defend dear old dad, then he left a voicemail at a wrong number talking about how he'll come out of all of this because Arlen Specter wants to support him. Now his lawyer is comparing all of this to a little traffic offense. It just gets better and better.

From RawStory:

Comparing Sen. Larry Craig's arrested in a public restroom sex sting to a "traffic offense," the Idaho Republican's lawyer says his client should stay in the Senate and fight ethics charges against him.

"It seems to me that we ought to seek to have the committee dismiss this outright, given the fact that this arises not from his official duties but from his private conduct," Craig's attorney, Stan Brand, said on the Today Show Wednesday, noting that the Senate previously sought to expel only members involved in treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

"If the Senate of the United States is going to begin taking up every traffic offense and petty offense committed by senators in their private capacity ... I think the Senate needs to go full time session to deal with those alone," he said.

Stan Brand has a lot of chutzpah to compare this to a traffic offense. Soliciting sex in a men's room is hardly the same as being pulled over for speeding or running a red light. If the two were the same....I could be in a lot of trouble (thank god I don't drive anymore...).

Stan just wants to get his client out of being investigated by the Ethics Committee. Well he can forget about that. His crime is unbecoming for a Senator and he should expect to have his conduct fully examined. The time for covering up for bad behavior needs to come to an end. It isn't about his sexual preference (even though he must be very confused about that), it concerns the trust of his constituents and the respect for the Senate.

Craig Keeps Chugging

You would have thought that a guilty plea, condemnation from fellow Republican Senators and a public intention to resign from government would have sealed the fate of Larry Craig. One of the most virulent anti-gay crusaders was caught being gay (not a crime of course) and showed yet another example of hypocrisy in Republica-land. He obviously hated himself so much, he had to bash people who's sexual orientation was different from most Americans, but the same as his. Yet to this day, he claims he is not gay....though he is less believable than a muppet. Well now he is reconsidering his resignation, and the story goes on.

From RawStory:

Sen. Larry Craig, who originally resigned from his Senate post after his arrest in a Minnesota airport sex sting, is reconsidering his decision, his spokesman said Tuesday evening.

"We're still preparing as if Senator Craig will resign Sept. 30, but the outcome of the legal case in Minnesota and the ethics investigation will have an impact on whether we're able to stay in the fight - and stay in the Senate," said Sidney Smith, Craig's Idaho spokesman.

Dan Whiting, Craig's spokesmen in Washington, said that the senator was expected to spend the week in Idaho as the Senate votes on spending bills for veterans and other programs this week. Whiting "did not rule out Craig's returning to Washington before the end of the month."

I know there is a large horse community in Idaho...you would think a life-long resident would know when to stop beating one and give up.

Creepy Craig

I have paid a bit of attention to the story involving Senator (or soon to be ex-Senator) Craig from Idaho. When you plead guilty to trying to commit forced sexual acts in a men's room in the airport....you are not becoming of a Senator. It really is that easy. He is trying to play stupid about what he confessed to...but no one is buying it. Democrats are letting Republicans take care of this sick puppy. And once he is out of the Senate, the authorities can take care of the rest.

Why is that these cases are almost always involving Republicans? Of course it isn't every Republican in office, but....it just makes me wonder.

Bill Sali Hates America

Congressman Sali (R-ID) is well known as a racist bigot for some time now, even before he became a member of the House of Representatives. Well if you thought the big city might bring some decency to that hideous mouth of yours, guess again. The already tainted Congress just got a little uglier.

From some people that love Bill Sali:

"We have not only a Hindu prayer being offered in the Senate, we have a Muslim member of the House of Representatives now, Keith Ellison from Minnesota. Those are changes -- and they are not what was envisioned by the Founding Fathers," asserts Sali.

Sali says America was built on Christian principles that were derived from scripture. He also says the only way the United States has been allowed to exist in a world that is so hostile to Christian principles is through "the protective hand of God."

"You know, the Lord can cause the rain to fall on the just and the unjust alike," says the Idaho Republican.

According to Congressman Sali, the only way the U.S. can continue to survive is under that protective hand of God. He states when a Hindu prayer is offered, "that's a different god" and that it "creates problems for the longevity of this country."

Who is Bill Sali to know what the founding fathers envisioned. Sali's hate and vengeance towards people who pray differently is a sad representation of a small minority of Americans. The founding fathers envisioned freedom of religion due to the persecutions that were suffered back in Europe. It would be terribly hypocritical to proclaim that freedom as a difference from the monarchs in Europe and then not practice what you preach.

Sali should be censured and kicked out of Congress for that type of talk. There is no place for hate in our nation's legislature and it needs to swept out ASAP.