Posted by At a July 4 celebration, freshman Congressman Bobby Bright (D – Montgomery) holds up a t-shirt with the words, “Fire Congress” this weekend. Politico has the story along with this key sentence, “Apparently, [his constituents] are pleased with the job he’s doing — just not the job that Congress as a whole is doing.”
That’s fairly universal, isn’t it? Most folks districts keep sending their own elected officials back, it’s the others that are the problem.
It’s a good bet that we will see this picture again come election time.
Reminds me of the time when someone got Karl Rove with a “Free Don Siegelman Banner.”
Related Articles:
Flag shirt.
Doofus. and Jinx, I bet 80% of the people in that district have some kind of flag clothing.
Sorry, had to voice my distaste of flag shirts (and BB’s penchant for wearing them) separate from my other musings.
Yes, that is par for the course for Congress, but it fades a bit when the whole country gets sick and tired of the GOP like they did in 2008.
However, the worst embodiment of “hate congress, love my congressman” is right here in Alabama with the Leislature. These jokers combined have consistently terrible approval ratings, but they keep getting the folks back home to reelect them.
Bright isn’t that bright, but he’s probably not going to do anything stupid enough to warrant an uprising from voters. But Alabama legistators have repeatedly shafted Alabama voters, yet we keep sending them back.
The greatest manifestation of this will be when Zeb Little is reelected after his third(?) DUI arrest.
Wamp, they probably have jean shorts too, but that don’t make it right.
Mr. Jinks,
The word for them is jorts. And actually, due to the 2nd District’s proximity to the University of Florida (the world capital of jorts) one would expect a higher percentage in the Wiregrass.
yeah – but at Univ. of Florida you have to wear your jorts with a sleeveless orange t-shirt and a gold chain. GO GATORS
and by the way – what an idiot to hold up that shirt and smile for a picture….
Doesn’t this just show that even the right wing tea party nuts actually like Bobby Bright pretty well? I thought Bright’s spin on this was pretty good.
To #8: No it shows that Bright has zero sense. Nothing to do with right wing or wing nuts or bingo or anything else. I would love to be in his office right now, oh the words he must be saying!
What a goof!
Do what Bright says, send him home
“Bright’s Spin”? – He pays that guy to think for him Hogwallop.
I must be missing something. I don’t see this as bad press for Bright. I think it plays right into the narrative he has been pitching since he first ran. I’d be interested, 2010 and Wamp, why you think this will play so bad for him.
Tell me, how does Roby score points with this at Bright’s expense? And, don’t say she spins it that Bright is “not so bright” by criticizing the lifers in congress, or that he is the “laughing stock at DC parties.” Folks in the wiregrass want somebody that will stand up to the entrenched interests in congress, not a DC socialite. CC, how did this play in Dothan?
Oh, yeah, this idiotic move will absolutely make Bright more marketable to potential donors. This makes him a joke, a punch line, and donors don’t like giving to jokes. His fundraising is pathetic and the t-shirt won’t help him.
This is what Bright got elected on. “Going against the grain” Sure…the normal politician might not do this but people don’t want your “say one thing, do another sleaze” in Washington these days. His play book is to be his own man, not a loyal to a party, not loyal to the body of congress, just loyal to the people that vote in his district.
13…. Are you sure it such and “idiotic move”? He got his name in ink agreeing with what a majority of his district already thinks…He might be in congress but coming off on the side of what most people think of his district which is “fire congress” now puts him on their side which means he will more than likely not get “fired” himself.
Smart move…might not be intentional, but smart non the less.
Information on flag etiquette, as prescribed by the U.S. Flag Code, can be found @ http://americanflags.org/index.flash.html. I don’t particularly care for clothing designed to resemble the US Flag, but the code says that a flag, not something that resembles a flag, should not be won as clothing, so his shirt is permissible under the code.
That said, I notice that whoever hung the flag that’s behind Bright hung it improperly since the code says the union should be on the left.
this is not smart. no politician that runs for re election wants a photograph out there telling you to fire them. Would it be smart if Obama was photographed holding a t-shirt saying “fire the president” Hardly….
Look what it says over Bright’s shoulder . . .just to the right of his head as you look at it . . .
Looks like it says “Surround ‘em and win ass”
2010, I’m not defending Bright, here, but I don’t think this plays in the Wiregrass the way most are making it out. Obama can’t where a shirt that says “fire the President” because HE IS THE PRESIDENT.
Bright is not Congress. He may be a member of Congress, but as his votes demonstrate, he is by no means accountable for the actions of Congress. That is how he can say with a straight face, “fire Congress, and hire more people like me.” And, I expect in the Wiregrass, that is exactly what they will do.
Say what you will, this guy has the political savy of a fox. He has never followed the pack and has a decade or more of doing things “his way” and winning races “that couldn’t be won.” Ask Emory Folmar! And in addition to that, folks trust him – -because he is real! His oppponents will probably have a tough time building that same level of trust.
“The vote” on comment 21: say what you will about Bright, but those who know him best are those in Montgomery. This very morning I heard on the Morris/Montiel Viewpoint talk radio program someone who should know whereof they speak say that Bright left Montgomery almost completely broke, when the city had enjoyed a surplus of several million dollars shortly before he left for Congress.
nice try, post 20. but give us a freakin’ break…
Bobby Bright’s success or failure in future elections really more to do with who Rebublicans run against him and how the district map changes than anything Bright himself does. It may be too late for the GOPers in 2010, but if by 2012 they find someone good and the district doesn’t change too much after redistricting, Bright could be beat.
Don, are you saying that Montgomery had a surplus shortly before Bright left for Congress, but a few months later, the city was completely broke? That doesn’t make a lot of sense, and I would be very interested in your explanation. I work with some folks who know a thing or two about the city budget and I have not heard anything like what you are describing. Please fill us in.
Don…Montgomery has one of the highest Standard and Poor’s credit rating among all Alabama cities and one of the highest for cities its size. They achieved this credit rating of “AAA” under Bright even after all the new development downtown (which the reports cites as one reason for the high rating). The only reason Montgomery is having financial trouble is because the entire WORLD is in the same boat. Don’t try to spin common sense facts.
If that does not kill your argument you need to research what the Standard and Poor’s rate their subjects on.
Is it Montgomery’s credit rating that was high under Bright or it’s Murder Rate.
Don, you do not need to believe all you hear on radio. When Bright took office there was NO surplus or rainy day funds. He created a solid rainy day fund in his nine years for tough times. He used the funds during the economic downturn the last couple of years in office to keep from raising taxes or letting people go. It is a good thing that he had the foresight to prepare for difficult times or the city would be in bad shape. It must not be too bad. Mayor Strange is buying new buildings (25 Washington Court) and talking about renovating city hall and the city auditorium. Montgomery was in sound financial shape when Bright left but these are tough days to be in.
A congressman admitting that Congress is messed up is a good thing.
I repeat: “I heard on the Morris/Montiel Viewpoint talk radio program someone who should know whereof they speak say that Bright left Montgomery almost completely broke, when the city had enjoyed a surplus of several million dollars shortly before he left for Congress.”
As stated, that was hearsay. I have no personal knowledge about this. Ask Dan Morris of the Morris/Montiel Viewpoint program.
I would not come on here and say I get my facts, hearsay, or even talking point from Viewpoint. I have never heard so many half truths and slanted views in my life. You can tell they say stuff for the ratings and to appeal to the same folks that lessen to Beck. Even to them it is all about the money and keeping the ratings.
LD – are you related to, or paid by Bobby Bright?
it is fine for bright to agree with the throw the bums out mentality – but the stupidity of taking a pic like that is beyond question….
2010, you still haven’t answered my question. How does that pic hurt Bright? Better yet, how does Roby, or anyone else for that matter, use it? If they criticize Bright for calling out the career pols, they create the pewrception that they are defending career pols. That position won’t win the GOP votes in the Wiregrass.
So back to the question, how is this bad for Bright? Somebody give me a rational answer, other than “it shows Bright is stupid.” You guys can do better than that; don’t grasp at straws.
Marshall…Just a guy that calls ‘em like I see ‘em. Bright comes off to me as one that does the same…which obviously I respect. The guys on Viewpoint sure don’t in my opinion.
It also makes me sick to my stomach when people spin stuff for personal gain.
For LD and others who may not yet understand what I posted in comments 23 and 31:
I did NOT say that Dan Morris knows anything. I said twice that “someone who should know whereof they speak say that Bright left Montgomery almost completely broke, when the city had enjoyed a surplus of several million dollars shortly before he left for Congress.”
“Should know” does not mean “knows”. Should know means that before Morris makes a statement like that over the airwaves he should know whereof he speaks or he may be opening himself up to a lawsuit.
If anyone doubts what Morris said on the air they should take it up with him or an attorney.
Baudrillard – it is stupid on its face. it needs no other explanation. If you can’t see that, you must be the one that encouraged him to take such a photo.
For Don and any others that want to truly make a difference with their opinion.
Find out the truth for yourself. Don’t create your opinion from “someone who should know” or someone that makes money / ratings off stirring stuff up.
The problem with the “general public” is they are so easily persuaded by “word or mouth” when anyone that truly cares about a vote or this country should always look into the issue and research the truth themselves.
It’s a sad day when posts resort to name-calling without any rationale or justification. “Bright is stupid because he takes stupid pictures, and those pictures are stupid because I said so. And, if you can’t see the stupidity, you must be stupid too.”
If your position, 2010, is that these pictures are stupid because Bright is a member of the very Congress he appears to support firing, I think that is a defensible position. It is a flawed position for the numerous reasons discussed above, but at least it is a position. If you want to cling to that position without addressing its flaws, feel free, but don’t criticize those of us who are trying to elevate the discussion above mere name-calling.
And, for the record, 2010, I haven’t attended any TEA parties, which is where this photo was taken.
I response to post #40, this picture was NOT taken at a TEA Party!!! It was taken at in Dothan, Alabama at the Family 4th Festival. I know. I was there when it was taken.
Oh, and the sign in the background is” We Surround Them Dothan/Wiregrass”, http://www.912dothan.com. I had it printed! (But, it really is funny with how BB is standing in front of the “Wire” part!)
I too was there with Mrs. Hughes. Congressman Bright thought it was funny and said he’d take it to Washington and show it around. We also gave him a bumper sticker-both items were paid for by the lady who took this photo. I don’t believe it hurts him myself. He can use it to illustrate a point….for instance if he is pushing a bill that he believes helps us “jort” wearing, inaccurate flag-hanging, flag shirt sporting goobs he could always say to his fellow representatives “see what the common people think of us? We need to help them” or “We need to listen to them instead of signing off on this bill we haven’t read just because Queen Pelosi has issued an edict”.
By the way the flags were stuck thru the grommets holding the banner. There was no good way to get them to hang correctly. This photo has been cropped down-it originally showed the whole banner and most of our canopy from our booth at this event.
I talked to BB along with other members of our group for 20+ minutes. I found him to be a good sport, friendly, and very informative. I especially liked hearing his mindset on cap & trade and why he voted as he did(against). It did irk me that he would have run as a Republican but they wanted to give him his talking points and him follow the program(to receive financial support). Instead they supported Jay Love-whom I could not vote for. BB is only the 2nd dem I’ve ever voted for except at the local level.
But what do I know I live in south Alabama…ya’ll. Shazam it must be neat to be as smart as you city folk.
I love the fact that my congressman is independent minded, free of constraints from his party and those darned liberals in Washington. They sure don’t hold those ol’ wiregrass values, sho nuff.
Oh wait- he votes with the Democrats 75% of the time. Hmmmm- oh well, thanks for all the pork Congressman. You’re really using my tax dollars well, or at the very least you don’t mind spending them. Well done with the “independent” thing and all that.
TJ,
75% is an incredibly low number, and you know that. From the Bham News: “Rep. Bobby Bright, D-Montgomery, has voted with the majority of fellow Democrats 52 percent of the time this year, the second lowest ‘party unity’ score among Democrats, according to an analysis by CQ of 475 House votes.”
http://blog.al.com/sweethome/2009/07/rep_bobby_bright_has_second_lo.html
Thomas Jefferson…..Where did you get the 75% from? Make it up?
I am glad you like having an “independent minded” congressman because at 52% that is exactly what you got.
This guy is obviously not as bright as his name would suggest. He voted for Nancy Pelosi to be speaker and the largest earmark omnibus bill the history of the U.S. and is a Democrat in a highly partisan republican district.
He is tied to Pelosi and Obama by votes and party, he’ll be gone this next cycle.
What dumb mistake to take a picture like that, if i was his opponent, it would get airtime on every commercial. I’m sure he’ll try to spin it though…
How about some first hand information so that you can stop the speculation and insults to these people. It’s amazing to me how many people assume things. The Dothan 912 group hosted a spot at the Houston County Fair, they were passing out literature and talking with folks about their views and inviting like minded people to join and get involved. I am a member of this group and meet with them periodically. They good, honest and concerned citizens, not the hill billies some of you try to make them out to be. Bobby Bright visited the fair and stopped by the booth and spoke with the members, who were also selling the T-shirts to raise funds and exercising their freedom of speech. He was asked to pose with the T-shirt and he obliged. I’m totally opposed to Bobby Bright as our Congressman (he’s not a Conservative), but I think he was just being polite to his constituents and demonstrating a sense of humor.
http://www.meetup.com/we-surround-them-dothan-wiregrass-912-group/
Most of the comments here are useless and meaningless jabber about inconsequential matters. Why put your energy and possible talents into more meaningful discussions? There are more important matters that require your energies.
Dear LD,
Bobby Bright does not agree with Dothan 912 or any of the Tea Party groups, nor most of his district. I’ve asked for a Missing Person’s report to be filed because we are likely to find him hiding in a hole in the ground just like Saddam Hussein was when he was captured. Bobby is a coward and refuses to voluntarily meet his constituents. He was forced into in Andalusia a few days ago, and has been SNEAKING around the state and Israel during the August break, intentionally avoiding concerned citizens. As one lady recently put it, he’s a yellow dog and I will add he’s not a blue dog conservative. He’s no Conservative by any measure. I challenge anyone who thinks he is.
I dont understand why we created a hype regarding Obama and we can see now what he has done.