The jokes are gonna write themselves:

Limbaugh could be a partial owner of the Rams

…Charley Casserly of CBS reports that, of the three groups that submitted bids to buy the St. Louis Rams, one group includes Dave Checketts and [Rush] Limbaugh….

Over two weeks ago I called Ike Skelton’s office (and Claire McCaskill’s office) to ask about co-sponsoring a resolution condemning Rush Limbaugh for the remarks about the military he had made on his radio show.

Yesterday I received a letter on the subject from Ike Skelton.

October 16, 2007

Dear…

Thank you for contacting me to share your views regarding recent, distasteful rhetoric questioning the patriotism of members of America’s armed forces. I appreciate hearing from you.

As the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, I am disappointed when anyone questions the patriotism of those who serve or who have served in our country’s military. The vast majority of these individuals are good, decent people. They are dedicated public servants, and they and their families sacrifice a great deal for the American people.

In my view, hateful political attacks – whether against an outstanding general like David Petraeus, against distinguished veterans like Senators John Kerry and Max Cleland, or against any other current or former military member – do a disservice to our national discussion regarding the best way forward in Iraq. They serve to cloud the real objective, which is to strategically redeploy most U.S. troops from Iraq and to force that nation’s bewildered policymakers to take the reins of their own nation.

Clearly, emotions among the American people are running high. In Missouri and elsewhere, there is a great deal of discomfort about how the war has been executed and about the best path forward in Iraq. As this important policy debate continues in our country, it is my hope that we can focus on the objective and refrain from using hateful or demeaning rhetoric to describe those who serve or who have served in uniform.

Again, thank you for getting in touch with me. With best regards, I remain

Very truly yours,
s/Ike
IKE SKELTON
Member of Congress

IS:ed

Congressman Mark Udall (D-Colorado) introduced a resolution calling for the the condemnation of Rush Limbaugh for the disparaging remarks he recently made about individuals in the military during a broadcast on his radio show. [Mark Udall is the son of the legendary Morris King Udall, who represented the district in Southern Arizona where I grew up].

So, I thought to myself, as a constituent I should call Claire McCaskill’s and Ike Skelton’s offices in Washington and ask my representatives if they would be co-sponsoring a resolution condemning Limbaugh for his remarks (Representative Udall’s or something similar).

I dialed the number for Claire McCaskill’s office in Washington. An individual answered the phone, identifying our senator’s office. I explained I was a constituent calling from Warrensburg. I asked, given Senator McCaskill’s vote on the Move On resolution in the Senate, if she was planning to co-sponsor a resolution condemning Rush Limbaugh for the remarks about the military he had made on his radio show. The individual seemed somewhat taken aback. The temperature of my phone dropped a few degrees. Icy. The aide stated that my suggestion to Senator McCaskill would be passed on – and then asked for my zip code. End of conversation.

I then called Ike Skelton’s office and asked the same question with the same prelude. The temperature of my phone did not change. The aide explained that the Move On vote in the House was attached to a larger bill in a procedural move – to vote down the amendment would have meant voting down the entire bill.

I pointed out that there was nothing new about these types of [republican] attacks. Senator Cleland had been smeared in Georgia. Representative Murtha had been attacked. John Kerry had been attacked. No one in Congress introduced resolutions.

In that this [the Move On resolution] had passed, to be consistent, Congress now needed to address this issue every time it happens. I pointed out that it was ridiculous for Congress to do so, but once they started along that path, they needed to follow it.

To be consistent.

I pointed out that Move On had taken out one ad in a newspaper. Rush Limbaugh broadcast everywhere on radio, including Armed Forces Radio, for goodness sake. The aide answered, “I see your point.” He took my name and address and said he would pass my suggestion to Ike. I thanked the individual and the conversation ended on a pleasant note. 

There’s so much other pressing business, and yet the far right wingnut cable talking heads and the rnc’s Mighty Wurlitzer have managed to make Congress jump through another hoop.

These phone conversations took place with aides in Washington offices, not directly with Claire McCaskill or Ike Skelton. Conversations with a representative’s aides do not necessarily reflect the tone or attitude of the office holder.

Though, the attitude of the aide can be an indication of the trends in constituent phone calls.