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Bill Sali vs. the United Nations
Submitted by Kevin Richert on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 10:05am.
On May 6, Rep. Bill Sali quietly joined the get-the-U.S.-out-of-the-U.N. crowd.
The Idaho Republican signed onto a bill, HR 1146, requiring the president to "terminate all participation by the United States in the United Nations, and any organ, specialized agency, commission, or other formally affiliated body of the United Nations." Its sponsor: Ron Paul, the darling of an insurgent wing of the Idaho Republican Party.
Whether this was an overture to the Paul supporters is the stuff of political speculation. "This is just a routine function of our office," Sali spokesman Wayne Hoffman says.
But the cosponsorship of the bill again puts Sali on the extreme fringe of a 435-member House, with predictable rhetoric to match. Hoffman cites a litany of complaints sure to play wonderfully with the anti-U.N. folks. Ridden by scandals such as the oil-for-food fiasco, and rife with overpaid and unaccountable bureaucrats, the U.N. presses an agenda counter to the U.S. Constitution, and uses American taxpayer dollars to do it.
We could have seen this coming. In the 2006 election, Sali labeled the U.N. an "incompetent and at times corrupt organization," but stopped short of saying the U.S. should cut off funding. Last spring, Sali opposed a bill providing $12 million a year to a U.N. torture victims fund.
This may represent a political evolution, but Sali is backing a bill going nowhere. Paul introduced his "American Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2007" 17 months ago, and Sali is one of only four co-sponsors. Hoffman concedes the bill won't get a hearing in a Democrat-controlled House — not that I suspect a GOP-led House would give it a hearing either. So why sign on? Says Hoffman: "The point is to draw attention to what is a corrupt, mismanaged boondoggle of an organization."
I'm struck by the timing. Sali signed with this legislation precisely three weeks before a GOP primary that saw Paul draw a startling 24 percent of the presidential vote. Paul supporters also had an influence on other GOP primary races.
I can't say Sali made a high-profile pitch to the Paul people. He put out no press release about the anti-U.N. bill, which is no surprise, since Sali is a sponsor or co-sponsor of 336 bills. He sent out no mailing on the issue, Hoffman said. I learned Sali signed on to the anti-U.N. bill the other day, when Meridian blogger Joel Kennedy mentioned it.
In closing, let's connect a few dots. The Paul Republicans are making their presence felt in the Idaho GOP. They certainly had a hand in replacing state GOP chairman Kirk Sullivan with Norm Semanko, a change Sali supported. Staking out common cause against the U.N. will further cement Sali's standing with the Paul Republicans — but it will be intriguing to see how it plays with the mainstream GOP.
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Sali the Fool
Sali is nothing more than a blowhard who has done nothing more than support and propose fringe legislation/ideas that may put his name in papers but does absolutely nothing to help the average Idahoan. Of course he's made a career out of doing that, and is the perfect example of the vote "R" at all costs mentality in Idaho, no matter how damaging or foolish that may be.
By the way, the Bush
By the way, the Bush administration has done a fabulous job at making the rest of the world hate us, so furthering alientating ourselves from the world community is probably a bad idea. But when has that ever stopped Sali?
No name calling.
You'll hurt somebodies feelings. Lawyers, polticians, load the bus & hit the waves. Take a few defenders of the two party joke along for the ride. That should should bring a teacher out to correct us. You want, want, want, clipping, ouch. No procreation for that poor boy. No hatie in the house. I wonder why he hasn't scolded you for name calling, he will.
"No hatie in the house"
That's right. Gentlemen remove it from their head when they enter a house.
I'm not sure why or how that is relevent to a post about Rep. Sali and the U.N. but I guess it's a good reminder.
SALI way to go
Thank you SALI for your bravery in standing up to the United Nations. Thank you for protecting the sovereignty of the United States. We need more of you in office. I don't care if you're Republican, Democrate, Liberterian, Independent, etc. Mr. Sali you clearly have a grasp of what's at stake.
As for RiverCity. What's so "damaging and foolish" about getting us OUT of the UNITED NATIONS?!? And, there's no conspiracy for a "New World Order" as Gary Hart mentioned. Right?
Seriously, specifically, why would you want the US to be involved with the United Nations? -Formed and paid for by the Rockefeller family by the way... "The 18-acre site was donated to the United Nations by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. This skyscraper was the first major International Style building to be constructed in New York. The UN Headquarters site is officially international territory, not part of the United States - making New York the only state with a hole in it."
I didn't realize
that Bill Sali was quite this out there. He's good for Idaho Republicans in only one respect; the rest of the bunch look like moderates simply for being mildly rational.
None Of Rep. Paul's Bills Get Passed
Kevin, you're correct that GOP-controlled Congresses haven't given Rep. Paul's anti-UN bill any love... it died in the last 5 Congresses, likely without ever getting even a committee hearing. Of interest, all of Rep. Paul's bills from this Congress are sitting around; I don't think any of them have even gotten a hearing. It seems to me that Rep. Paul's supporters would rather be "right" than effective, and it's OK with me if they keep throwing good money after bad rather than using it for something that might actually work.
Anything to see his name in print
Sali, your time in this state has come and gone. Just step away from politics, it's not your bag. Bye now, and don't let the screen door hit you on your way out. Also, PAY YOUR BILLS, do you think the USA is your bank? Pay up and shut up until the election.
Way To Go Bill!
Yet another reason most Idahoans will overwhelmingly vote for him in Nov. It is about time people get on board with protecting American sovernity.
I'm not sure what you mean
I'm not sure what you mean by that statement. The United States, which is the most powerful member of the UN and contributes by far more money than any other country, achieves more influence through it's membership than it would by "going it alone". We would lose a lot of power and influence by pulling out of the UN. And since when has the United States ever let the UN get in the way of what it really wants to do anyway? Afterall, we went ahead and invaded Iraq after the UN said not to and declared that an "unlawful invasion".
"protecting American sovernity"
How can you protect it if you can't even spell it? How does an Idahoan overwhelmingly vote? Has Sali ever received an overwhelming vote?
If The U.S. would have gone into Iraq under a U.N. banner we would have had legitimacy in the eyes of the Iraqi people, our allies, the surrounding Muslim states, and which would have given us an even chance to solicit the myriad allies in combating violent religious extremists instead of creating a breeding ground for more terrorists. But the ideologically driven attitudes shown by you and your ilk demonstrate that you will overlook practical solutions. You undervalued what the UN could have supplied and we've all paid the price by your failure. If anything Sali/Bush supporters have shown is that they lack all credibility in foreign policy.
Who cares if it's a meaningless word spelled right?
SALI FOR PRESIDENT !
WAY TO GO BILL ! Keep fighting the Hussein-toids & keep America strong. Your fight against illegal immigration elevates you to the highest pinnacle of those who have served this Nation. Thanks again ! No drill,no fence,no sense=Hussein
Better right than re-elected
If you all knew this bill was coming up - back before Sali was first elected how would you have guessed he would have come down on it? Exactly. No surprise here, in fact not really even news - this was certainly not "man bites dog."
Love or hate Bill Sali, he deserves props for being honest and consistent with his views. He would rather be (in his mind) right than popular. He would rather be right than re-elected.
Imagine if your candidate had that strength of conviction.
That's funny because you are
That's funny because you are assuming that he's right. He may be "right" by your own ideological sensibilities, but to many he is off the deep edge and an embarrassment to the state.
Wrong RC
I wrote "He would rather be (in his mind) right than popular."
You may have missed the "(in his mind)" part of it.
I was making no comment on whether he is right or wrong - only of his courage of conviction to what "he" thinks is right.
Please re-read.
I did miss it, sometimes I
I did miss it, sometimes I read these posts too fast. But that being said I'm not one to admire someone or give them props just because they act on what they think is right, especially when they are in a position of power. There's just too much responsibility to too many people. For instance, I think Bush thought he was doing the right thing by invading Iraq, but I certainly don't admire him for following that conviction. I expect more out of my leaders, Dems and Reps alike. Unforunately both tend to be disappointing.
Doing the right thing
I don't "really" disagree...And point taken with Bush.
What I dislike is McCain running to the right to get elected, and Obama running to the middle.
When I vote for a Sali or Minnick or Risch or LaRocco I want to know that they will vote on issues exactly the way I would vote...or 90% of the time,...or 80% of the time.
With Sali, I'll bet that he has voted "right" 95% of the time for the people who like him most. 90% of the time for most Idaho conservatives, and over 80% of the time for most Idaho Republicans.
I think the people who call him names or mock him are people who would never have voted for him from the get-go. He has been very steady to his base - and he will win in November with that, or he will lose with that. He won't flap around and chase votes. I actually like that about him - a man I have actually never met.
Obama's an empty suit
He's so clueless on international policy and geopolitics that he needs 300 Foreign Policy Advisors!!!!! So much for a smaller government.
Obama = "Papers please."
McCain = Iran here we come (we can't let them deliver oil in Euro's)
More of the same futile, detrimental worthless crap...
ad nauseum, ad delirium, ad infinitum and ad yada yada tinkertoy insurgency....yay
I have met him
and never voted for him. He's a jerk! He doesn't have to flap around for votes and he knows it. He has the "R" behind his name and he knows that too. The "R" stands for "render" your arms ( I'm hungery and I'll eat anything I can) I have come to take you over. He's taken us over all right, right over the edge. It won't be the fall that kills us, it's that sudden stop. Just stop doing Bush, Billy, and get off our bus.
Just silly Washy
He has gone where those who voted for him directed him to go, and where he promised to go from the beginning.
There is no politician and no political party that goes where its membership and constituency do not wish them to go.
That's why we have elections. Choices, options, directions, it's a good thing.
Seems as if voting is
more of a waste of time. However, I vote everytime I can. Just pickin the wrong ones I guess. Maybe that's why I would like to beaach slap most of these clowns in office. Guess I need a new membership and constituency. Know where a guy can find a good one?
A fair question
Don't know what works for you but I've lived in several states - Idaho since '92, and I have been in the political majority in all of them.
I know I would be cranky if everyday I read the local news and disagreed with most of what I read. There is indeed happiness in the majority - and it's out there for the finding.
Don't misunderstand, I'm NOT saying you should move....just saying what has worked for me, that's all.
Let the record clearly show
Mr. Tomlin here is a big, big 'Brainfade Bill' Sali fan. He goes where very few GOPers these days fear to tread.
The record?
Not sure where that record is found.
My point was that his voting and his bills sponsored and co-sponsored were consistent with his campaign talk and that is pretty rare these days.
Maybe...
Luxembourg will destroy him in MMA ;-p
MMA
I'm guessing you mean that as a joke, but Rep. Sali is not the MMA'er on this blog.
DUH...
In the same vein of you can't put enough bullets in that to satisfy no one, so chill.
Oh I'm chilled
And it's obvious you don't know who's who.
It's okay.
Damn right.
What about getting the UN out of the US?
I'm not saying if I'm in favor of either but...
Should the US choose to leave the UN, are there going to be a convoy of over-sized loads hauling the UN building from River St in NYC to ... London? Belgium? The Hague?
Didn't Clinton come into office in 92?
Just a few years later we had a surplus for the first time in how many years? Sure is good to have a surplus. Oh, wait that disappered just after the turn of the century didn't it? Who has been running the country since then? Yea but those dems have had control of Congress & have since what year? It's funny how happiness in the majority can somehow be conjured up like magic from paper when the news is all bad.
It's a good thing I'm an American & not a republican or democrat, neither of those seem to care as much about America as Americans do. All the two controlling parties do is call each other liars & fight back & forth for the good of their prospective party while America suffers.
It's funny how so many people disapprove of Congress & the President's job performance & according to some, they're all wrong. I have to imagine a lot of the people who disapprove are either dems or republicans. How do the two parties manage to keep control if neither party can satisfiy the people in the job performance for which we pay our representatives of those parties? Must have something to do with money? Campaign finance maybe. I wonder why these people think our representatives aren't getting the job done? My guess is that they read the paper, listen to the news, or get the information from the internet.
I'm beginning to understand. If you don't believe what the paper, media, & news reports, it's all good. The paper/news must be wrong so if the people who disapprove of Congress & the President job performance would just deny everything in the news as truth, America's doing great. Now Congress has an 86% approval rating & the Prssident 74%.
$4 a gallon gas is good, I'll walk five miles each way to a job, if I still have one. War is good, funerals bring family together? Salmonella? Can't wait to get that. Yep, the majority of things are looking good. Jobs? Never wanted to work anyway. The dollar is down so exports are good. Too bad imports are either lead based toys or loaded with E. Coli & salmonella, not enough inspectors to get the job done but they need pay. Health care costs, who cares as long as the illegal immigrant who doesn't buy insurance can get that operation while I lose the house? It's far better to have cheap labor for agri bussiness who also benefit through a $280 billion farm bill so we can have fresh tomatoes & peppers from Mexico.
Foreclosure, soon I hope, have a tent, it's green, & it doesn't keep me in one place too long. Living in or running to a state with the politcal majority of choice is no doubt easier than facing the truth in the news or reality, & responsibility of a home.
We really need to get the media to print the truth. That would be easier than becoming gypsies or trying to convince all these people they're wrong because they read the paper. My problem is that I read the paper & agree with what I read. I see it in the price I pay for gas & groceries. No wonder I disapprove of Congress & the President's job performance.
Had I only known the trick is to believe just the oposite of what the news reports. Now I'm happy, don't know the truth & could care less, but happy. Now I see how it works, what wonderful life. As long as I'm in a state of the political majority of my choice, I'm in a state of denial, & all is good.
I suppose I guy might get tired of moving from state to state just to be someplace where the party of choice in control. I know I'm tired of listening to some about the wonderful life & the rest of US are wrong, BSali, yada, yada, yada. Only problem is, most people catch on after a while, vote the deadbeats out, & that leaves the die hard in denial looking for another home. Idaho has been controlled by the GOP & money they get through campaign finance for a while now but I get the feeling that may change & the gypsies will move on.
Don't misunderstand, if it's worked in the past, go away, just don't go away mad.
January 1993...don't forget Inauguration Day, swearing in.
Election does not equal installation.
"...tired of listening..."
Maybe you are but you sure aren't tired of writing.
Mtomlin is right, you evidently don't read the other posts or you don't understand the other posts.
No matter - rant on.
Hard to keep up?
Join, get support, can't do or say anything without? One in the same. Try teacher's helper by mailbox. Native? Sounds like the fire dept. could help get that? Living in the past, afraid to look back, live today, or think ahead?
When a teacher or ex, suggests we can't learn from the past it explains why they are no longer a teacher. Never a good one? Hope they weren't teaching history. Funny how one person can refer to the past, it works for them but the next person is wrong using the past as an example. History repeats itself any place but Idaho?
Some run to others for support, unsure of themselves. In their own words, help. BSali sent a letter out suggesting Congress has the same approval rating. Only works with BS? Tired yet? Take a nap. We'll keep it short for the lonely impaired. Would it help in a book on tape? Night light is on, don't worry, boogie man won't. All better?
So show me
Show me where a teacher suggests "we can't learn from the past." I am interested.
Readeth though a broad mind as well as a wide eye!
Challenge only benefits those that allow it.
Well, yeah, might as well run for office, shouldn't they?
If THAT's where it ends?