Note to Freshmen: the trouble with Washington politics is POLITICS. You'll find this out quickly.

[Atman]

These freshman fools think they're going in to "shake things up." Then they learn their office is in a janitor's closet in the basement -- unless they're willing to sign on to Rep. Schmoe's bill seeking a million dollars for a knitting needle museum in Iowa. They find they're not on the guest list to the big cocktail party with the President because they didn't back Rep. Jackwagon's bill to increase funding for carpet fiber research. Unless they play along with the old entrenched douchebags like Mitch McConnell and John Boehner (and, to be fair, Dem leaders, too), they find they're totally powerless. They not only can't "shake things up," they can't even get a meeting with their leaders. They're not on any committees. They're total 100% nobodies, whose only role becomes voting for all the bullshit the entrenched ones put to the floor. It's called "POLITICS." Using your power/position to advance your goal. When you have no power or position, "shaking things up" is virtually impossible in Washington.

It won't change without a fundamental change in the entire system, which, face it, ain't gonna happen. Hey Mr. Freshman...are YOU going to be the guy who stands up and says you want to get rid of Congressional health care, franking privileges, private underground subways, etc? You gonna do it? Go for it...and enjoy your two years in the janitor's closet eating take-out while your colleagues enjoy the "good life" that is Inside Washington.

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[SpiralHawk]

1. Can you give us directions to the Knitting Needle museum?

What a fantabulous idea. I -- like most Americans -- can't wait to visit...

[superduperfarleft]

2. You got it.

I was reading about that dumb ox Runyan this morning whining about all the reading he has to do, and I thought the exact same thing. Quite a few of these teabaggers are going to find out that they're in WAY over their pretty little heads.