Posted by Frank James at 9:17 am CDT
Not to be outdone by Rep. Rahm Emanuel's (D-Ill.) poetic attack on House Republicans, Republican National Congressional Committee communications director Carl Forti offers a response in limerick form.
I actually received his response yesterday but didn't see it in my email inbox until this morning. Sorry, Carl.
"Steny" refers to Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) who as minority whip holds the second-highest post in the House Democratic leadership. Hoyer is known for his open door to K Street lobbyists, K St. being shorthand in the nation's capital for the lobbyists community in town.
For those who haven't been following Chicago's 'Hired Truck" scandal, the limerick alludes to it and the fact that Emanuel, Mayor Richard M. Daley and other Chicago politicians received campaign help from Chicago city workers won job promotions and bonuses by working in or otherwise supporting the politicians' campaigns. Daley and Emanuel have said they were unaware of those activities.
"Mollohan" would be Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-W.V.) who recently said he would leave the House Ethics Committee after his own ethics came to be questioned following reports of his financial affairs.
I assume the "lady from the West Coast" refers to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca.) but I'm not sure what the pillaging relates to. I'll have to put in a call to Carl.
Here's the Republican limerick, addressed to Emanuel:
April 27, 2006
Chairman Emanuel:
My curiosity was piqued today when I saw you on C-SPAN delivering a poem, and though I admit I was disappointed your presentation was not accompanied by an interpretive dance, I found your display quite inspiring nonetheless.
In fact, we were moved to dust off the parchment and give some poetry a try ourselves. We hope you appreciate our efforts at wit and prose.
Best wishes,
Carl Forti
Culture of Hypocrisy, A Limerick
There once was a man named Steny,
He shook down K Street for every penny.
Rahm hired a truck,
So he could go press his luck,
Stunning hypocrites, there were so many.
They returned to the Hill with little plunder,
Their lefty hearts gone and torn asunder.
Then it came like a flash,
'Mollohan's got the cash!'
Back on the road again, rolling like thunder.
They picked up a lady from the west coast,
Pillaging her members she loved the most.
But Steny felt like a bandit,
Until hardly he could stand it.
House Democrats, once again, were pure toast.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
Comments
No surprises here: that's just as unfunny as you'd expect a Republican to be. Not that Rahm's was much better, but a lot of us Democrats think he's far too beholden to corporate money and tired conventional wisdom himself.
Posted by: Chicago Jason | April 28, 2006 11:54 AM
The GOP is obviously more involved with lobbyists more than ever for the simple fact that they own the congress and senate. Dem's can't get anything done so why would a lobbyist and even talk to them? So I really don't understand how the Republican party can even be serious with this. They're kneck deep in the Abramoff scandal, their top dog just stepped down a month ago and their approval ratings are the worst they've ever been, but like true Repub's, perception is reality and things are just peachy.
And take into consideration that the republican party touts themselves as "pro business," I just think you're all naive if you don't think most GOP candidates govern for their lobbyists and not their constituants. The past 6 years are a clear indication of that.
Now I'm not naive to think that Dem's don't do the same thing. I know they do..... But we all know it's not nearly as saturated as it is within the GOP.
Posted by: G | April 28, 2006 12:47 PM
Well,
since we have started down this slippery slope here’s a little rewrite of ‘Strange Brew’ by Cream. (Disraeli Gears, 1967)
My apologies to Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and E. Clapton. Enjoy!
Bush brew, kills what’s inside of you
He’s the Prez of us in electric red
If he has his way we may all end up dead
Boo-Hoo,,, now what ya gonna do
Bush Brew, Y2K did it to you
On a vote in the middle of a right wing spree
He whipped Al’s butt, that’s the way it must be
Although,,, Gore really won the score
Bush brew, stir up the right wing stew
Bush and Cheney even Tom DeLay,
They will teach us all how the big boys play
Dems lose,,, reduced to clowns and booze
Bush brew, he didn’t give Kerry a clue
Mephistophoeles, aka Karl Rove
On his advise into Iraq we dove
Hey now,,, Redux: Apocalypse Now
It hurts, his name must really be Kurtz
Bush brew, kills what’s inside of you
Posted by: C. Morris | April 28, 2006 5:14 PM
Hey this is a great poem, sounds like some something Jesse Jackson wrote. Cliff
Posted by: cliff zeider | April 30, 2006 9:30 AM