Norm Coleman's first year: Marked by Loyalty

[dflprincess]

Not that this story tells us anything we didn't know. I just decided if I had to put up with it on the front page of my paper this morning I'd spread it around. Misery loves company. You may want to have your stomach distress bags handy.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4300752.html

<snip>
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In his first year in the U.S. Senate, Norm Coleman backed President Bush 98 percent of the time, supporting the war in Iraq and voting to cut taxes, overhaul Medicare and ban a type of late-term abortion.

While the Minnesota Republican rarely strayed from the White House agenda in 2003, he got off to a fast start in his new job, obtaining rare clout for a rookie. His performance earned him high marks from conservative groups. But some of Coleman's actions created resentment.

"None of this stuff is easy," said Coleman. "I mean, you're never going to make everybody happy, but you gotta do what's right in your heart."

For Coleman, that usually meant backing Bush, who asked Coleman to run for the Senate and campaigned vigorously for the former St. Paul mayor. Only eight Republican senators provided stronger backing to Bush, the study found.

"I didn't come to the Senate to play a big part in a debating society," said Coleman. "I walk away with a very good feeling about what we accomplished in 2003."
<snip>

He also talks about how Wellstone's supporters are still hurt, they're hard to win over, that the emotional reaction to his loss makes it "hard to bridge the gap". Apparently, the way he votes has nothing to do with how we react to him.

:puke:

[Lone Pawn]

1. I cannot believe

I can't believe how we went from having a truly inpirational man in office--the kind of man who, when politics seemed as vile and rancid as it hadn't been since Reconstruction, could restore your faith in the goodness of man--to a hollow grinning suit who only voted the way Bush wanted him to. Even his anti-RIAA stand (the only decent thing he did) ended with him backing down and saying a pack of empty promises ('Oh, we'll try not to sue grannies and 12-yr-olds any more') were a complete reversal of its previously 'offensive' tactics.

[Deja Q]

2. Don't forget what he said the day after the election when he won:

Star Tribune, page A17. Nov __ 2002:

"I thank God for this opportunity."

He was a vile man before, but that comment of his blew my top right off and it hasn't come back on since. I loathe that lizard with every fiber of my being.

[kskiska]

13. Didn't he also boast that * now owed him big time?

For the favor he did by running, I guess. Whatever happened to that?

[peacebuzzard]

3. Coleman is the creepiest ass in congress.....

and looks like a pervert.

[Granite]

5. Don't forget Santorum

He's gotta be a close second for "creepiest ass in congress."

Coleman is beyond vile.

[Nobody]

4. I saw that article in today's paper and thought about Wellstone

Paul Wellstone said at one of the debates that he was going to Washington DC to be a watchdog for the little guy who can't afford lobbyists.

Norm Coleman seems to believe that the job of a senator is to be a rubber stamping Bush butt buddy. I wonder what he's going to do when we boot Bush out of office.

[Skittles]

6. A TRUE BUSH WHORE

SHAMEFUL FOLLOWING WELLSTONE

[rumguy]

7. I miss Wellstone, it is a shame that this double-talker now

hold his seat...it's such a shame. I was living in MN when Wellstone's plane went down. I vividly remember the shock and sadness at his death. It's something I'll never forget.

[Deja Q]

9. Two of my coworkers were happy yet sad that Ted Kennedy wasn't

on board at the time.

I should have filed with the union against them, they were pretty vile...

[rumguy]

10. what kind of work do you do?

that's a pretty sick thing to say in public on such a day.

[leesa]

12. What on earth is wrong with Americans. They are really disgusting me

with all their selfishness and greed...all cloaked in religious ferver, of course. What vile human beings these are.

[jpgray]

8. Coleman is a dumb spear-carrier through and through (nt)

[goobergunch]

11. /KICKBAN #SENATE Coleman

That guy makes me throw up and tends to make me throw something at whatever screen he is appearing on.

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