Doug Tudor, 22 Year Navy Vet: Bush Regime Has Sunk The Ship Of State, Why Would We Let Them Take Command Of The Lifeboats?

... and the rest of us lost

Florida is turning out a new breed clear-eyed populists. Last night Orlando Democrat Alan Grayson looked at what the failed and crooked corporate "leaders" and their allies in the Bush Regime were demanding and his response was a well-reasoned "String 'em up!." This morning I heard from Polk County congressional candidate Doug Tudor who is running against one of the primary forces behind the avalanche of bought-and-paid-for anti-regulatory mania, Adam Putnam. I'll let Doug speak for himself, since he's apparently put a lot more thought into this than Putnam, who is galavanting around Nantucket with other multimillionaires and masters of the Universe this weekend, or most members of Congress:

Here’s what I think I understand about the proposed legislation being considered by the House and the Senate. It will give the Secretary of the Treasury authority to purchase mortgage-related assets up to $700 Billion.   Additionally, the debt ceiling will be raised to $11.3 trillion. The Secretary’s only requirement is that he makes a report to Congress every six months.
 
In military terms, we should ask Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (WTF)?
 
WTF, since George W. Bush and his Republican accomplices, including 98.7% Putnam, have sunk the ship of state, why would we let them take command of the lifeboats?
 
WTF, since we have yet to see George Bush and his Republican accomplices make a single correct and rational executive decision in eight years, why is the Democratic leadership of the House and the Senate caving in and chiming in on a bipartisan solution?
 
WTF, where is the single Democratic leader who is ready to raise the BS flag? Where is the single person of power who is ready to apologize?
 
I guess an aspiring congressman is supposed to have a more politically correct vocabulary, but this is absolute bullshit!
 
It is bullshit that once again the taxpayer is going to get stiffed, while multimillionaire CEO’s strap on their golden parachutes.
 
It is bullshit that guys like Adam Putnam can stand in front of news cameras, spout a bunch of lies, and have the news anchor “thank you for joining us, Congressman.”
 
It is bullshit that we have troops in the field, and our elected representatives are tripping over themselves to figure out how to keep bankers from losing their banks.
 
If I had any hair left, I would be pulling it out. Instead, I am going to wake up tomorrow and start over yet again. I am going to knock on doors, make phone calls, and talk to anyone who will listen. I am going to do my best to explain the failures of our federal government and make the case that we the people deserve better. I am going to tell folks about my experience, my education, and my values. I am going to … take back my country.

And although Adam Putnam is all for the taxpayers picking up the tab on the bad management-- even paying for the executives' golden parachutes-- wiser heads in Congress agree with Doug's assessment. Yesterday Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) told his constituents "Major action to help rescue our economy is certainly necessary, but what disappoints me about this proposal is that it's all Wall Street and no Main Street. We can't ignore the millions of Americans who may lose their homes, and there must be accountability to protect the taxpayers. It is both unfair and unwise to throw a lifeline to banks that were irresponsible without so much as offering a hand to homeowners and some real limits on risks for the taxpayers." We should help Doug, not just because he deserves it-- but for our own good!


UPDATE: AND IT LOOKS LIKE STOLLER HAS BEEN TALKING TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO THINK LIKE DOUG

Matt has apost over at Open Left that includes this from one of the best-- if not the best-- member of Congress (who has asked him to keep her name out of it for now):

Paulsen and congressional Republicans, or the few that will actually vote for this (most will be unwilling to take responsibility for the consequences of their policies), have said that there can't be any "add ons," or addition provisions. Fuck that. I don't really want to trigger a world wide depression (that's not hyperbole, that's a distinct possibility), but I'm not voting for a blank check for $700 billion for those mother fuckers.

Nancy said she wanted to include the second "stimulus" package that the Bush Administration and congressional Republicans have blocked. I don't want to trade a $700 billion dollar giveaway to the most unsympathetic human beings on the planet for a few fucking bridges. I want reforms of the industry, and I want it to be as punitive as possible.

Henry Waxman has suggested corporate government reforms, including CEO compensation, as the price for this. Some members have publicly suggested allowing modification of mortgages in bankruptcy, and the House Judiciary Committee staff is also very interested in that. That's a real possibility.

We may strip out all the gives to industry in the predatory mortgage lending bill that the House passed last November, which hasn't budged in the Senate, and include that in the bill. There are other ideas on the table but they are going to be tough to work out before next week.
 
I also find myself drawn to provisions that would serve no useful purpose except to insult the industry, like requiring the CEOs, CFOs and the chair of the board of any entity that sells mortgage related securities to the Treasury Department to certify that they have completed an approved course in credit counseling. That is now required of consumers filing bankruptcy to make sure they feel properly humiliated for being head over heels in debt, although most lost control of their finances because of a serious illness in the family. That would just be petty and childish, and completely in character for me.

I'm open to other ideas, and I am looking for volunteers who want to hold the sons of bitches so I can beat the crap out of them.

This is the appropriate response from any member of Congress who should rightfully expect support from American voters.