Would you want to be a member of Congress? Some of them say the job sucks.
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Pity our poor Congress.
With many members of Congress calling it quits this year - some say it's because the job just sucks.
Politico reports that lawmakers young and old are leaving public service for the private sector because "the thrill is gone."
They say it's just too hard to get things done with the gridlock in Washington.
Republican Senator Olympia Snowe made a splash with news of her retirement - highlighting the "dysfunction and political polarization" of the Senate.
Democratic Congressman Barney Frank has said he was frustrated because the public no longer tolerates deal making.
Retiring four-term Oklahoma Democrat Congressman Dan Boren tells Politico, "I'm used to being a player. You want to get things done for your constituents. If you can't ever become speaker or a committee chairman, why are you doing it?"
For some lifers the job just isn't as prestigious as it used to be - plus these days nobody likes them much.
They can't earmark money for constituents, they need to maintain residences in two cities, fundraising is a headache, and a lot of perks have disappeared thanks to ethics rules. Awww…
Oh - and their pay has been frozen for 3 years - at $174,000.
Not quite a hardship for millions of Americans dealing with extended high unemployment, soaring gas prices and plummeting home values.
Want more?
Other lawmakers cite the constant media presence in the era of blogs, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. They worry about having any little thing they do or say splashed on the Internet.
Here’s my question to you: Would you want to be a member of Congress? Some of them say the job sucks.
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Why is Mitt Romney so popular with senior citizens?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
While Mitt Romney may have issues with conservatives, independents and the South, there's at least one group, beside the very rich, that loves him: senior citizens.
Michelle Cottle writes for The Daily Beast about Romney's surge among seniors:
"The bulk of the American electorate may not consider mittens scintillating, but the 65-plus set clearly finds him pretty darn charming."
Exit polls from Super Tuesday show voters 65 and older were among Romney's staunchest supporters. In the crucial state of Ohio, he beat Rick Santorum in this age group by 15-points. Even in Tennessee, where Romney lost, he still won seniors.
Seniors were also key to Romney's earlier victories in Michigan, Nevada and Florida - and they were the only age group he won in Iowa.
Looking beyond the national nightmare of the Republican primaries, senior voters are the only age group where Romney outpolls President Obama.
Experts say the old folks like Romney because he focuses on things they care about - like the economy.
Also, they like the fact that Romney is generally more moderate in a field that keeps moving further to the right.
Even some of Romney's more awkward moments - like singing "America the Beautiful" - play well to the plus-65 crowd. Perhaps some of them couldn't hear it.
If he's going to be the next president, he has to pick up broader support among other voting blocs.
But remember this: on election day, seniors vote - maybe more than any other group. Gives them something to do that day.
Here’s my question to you: Why is Mitt Romney so popular with senior citizens?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Recent Comments