Saturday, July 30, 2005

Whatever turns you on, I guess

F. Jim Sensenbrenner is one weird duck. The Wall Street Journal reports:

Last-Minute Deals Put CAFTA Over the Top

“The 217-215 tally officially recorded at 12:03 yesterday morning ended months of arm-twisting, wheedling, deal-cutting, pleading for party unity and chiding to put the national good ahead of parochial interests, all to push the Central American Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA, through the House of Representatives. In the days leading up to the pivotal vote, administration officials joined the lobbying, at times granting personal favors or indulging personal pique.

How else to explain the pact with Wisconsin Republican James Sensenbrenner? While other lawmakers leveraged the looming vote for highway money, fund-raising commitments from party elders or side deals to protect textile producers, Mr. Sensenbrenner made an unusual request: a chance to gripe at Thomas Donohue, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.”[Wall Street Journal, 7/29/2005]
No word on what he wanted to chew on the Chamber about.

1 Comments:

At 1:46 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

You are puzzled by this maneuver?

If some Wisconsin GOP Legislator had demanded a gripe session (with leadership weight) with WMC, you would probably call him/her courageous for taking on the evil business interests.

Actually, I am glad (and proud) that he did not demand a side of pork for his vote. Pork free - how refreshing.

 

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