Clem McSpadden Quotes
I was in session through the winter and announced rodeos in the summer… There’s an amazing correlation ... in that there’s bull in each profession.
Clem McSpadden, 1925-, U. S. Congressman (Democrat, OK), Rodeo Announcer, Explanation of how he kept his “regular” job while serving in Congress, ~1972
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
Afghan and Pakistan share a long border of difficult terrain and have had formal and informal relationships for centuries. There is suspicion on both sides and insults to the other have been part of the culture for years.
While this is a common complaint in the American political dialogue at the beginning of the 21st century, it is interesting that this was the conclusion of a foreign political scholar studying that period—one who was generally a great admirer of America.
The 113th Congress, the most unproductive in history was hyperpolarized with some members not at all interested in anything their opponents had to say.
That Congress was the worst in U. S. History. They passed fewer laws than any other and spent most of their time raising money and slandering the other party on the media.
1st Marquis of Peña Plata
John Purroy Mitchell, 1879–1918, was an abject failure as a mayor. He only lasted one term and almost had a popular revolution against him. He had no ability to connect with the average voter and cared little for any but the upper classes, many of whom lived on 5th Avenue. 1st Avenue in contrast was full of overcrowded slums and the poorest people in the city. His repugnance for common people was ironic because he was the grandson of the great Irish nationalist, John Mitchel, 1815-1874, Irish Journalist & Founder of United Irishman and Founder of The Irish Confederation. He was one of the great heroes of the common people who was jailed in Australia by the English. He escaped and came to New York City.
The 113th Congress was the worst Congress in history in terms of hyperpartisanship, lack of comity, and ability to pass legislation. They passed less than 100 bills whereas a normal modern Congress passes 7 or 8 times that number. No Congress in history could only agree on less than 100 bills. The polls had Congressional approval down to single digits.
That particular Congress was the worst in American history in terms of passing legislation. Mainly there was philosophical gridlock between conservatives and liberals and worse between Tea Party Conservatives and mainstream conservatives. The Iraqi legislature was gridlocked religiously between Sunni and Shiite Muslims.
This was his perception of the change in Parliament in the 64 years he was in that body. Bribery, for example, was then commonplace for American and British legislators. By the 21st century the money spent by the rich and corporations to by legislative outcomes was many times as great but had been covered over by the fig leaf of campaign and party contributions.
Clem Rogers McSpadden was an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional District from 1973 to 1975. Prior to his election to the U.S. House, McSpadden was a member of the Oklahoma Senate between 1954 and 1972. He was the grandnephew of Oklahoma comedian and actor Will Rogers.
