Correspondence from Rep. Shays

I'd give him a pass on this one (4.00 / 1)

What was your original question?

And does anyone else detect a trace of bitterness against Madam Pelosi?

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by: Scarce @ Sun Nov 16, 2008 at 16:32:49 PM UTC

Okay, I AM piling on..... (0.00 / 0)

I had emailed him on 9/21 regarding his role on both the Oversight and Financial Services Committees, why it appeared Secretary Paulson was getting a blank check, and expressing my opinion that many strings should be attached to any bailout money.

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by: alanb @ Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 03:23:24 AM UTC

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go for it. self pitying responses to constituents - not so attractive. n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: greenpeas @ Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 13:24:49 PM UTC

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9/21 eh? (0.00 / 0)

How timely.

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by: Scarce @ Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 17:31:36 PM UTC

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"it is not possible to respond to your correspondence." (4.00 / 1)

"While I obviously intended to respond to you,"

He spent a whole lot of words responding and not saying anything.

What a bitter bitter man.

I hope his life takes a turn for the better now, because it seems to have gotten progressively unhappier for him over the last 20 years.

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by: chele @ Sun Nov 16, 2008 at 20:13:09 PM UTC

enough about you, let's talk about me -- vs. a possible rewrite (4.00 / 1)

I can completely comprehend the potential to feel devastated when such a long run in an elected or any position ends.  That the end was not in sight would be a misreading of what was visible in the political telescope.  Anticipating the potential for an unpleasant moment of reckoning and of the need for planning to do other things if the election didn't work out has been at least two years in the making, hasn't it?

I am sure it's a difficult moment, but damn, the  message strikes me as peevish and self pitying,and "look what they (you?) did to me" is at least in the undertone imho.

Maybe constituents who have had to clean out their desks due to job losses precipitated by votes that Shays made on finance industry oversight or other areas should write back and say, "I know how you feel.  I had to do the same thing during the week of XXX, but unlike you, I had to train my replacement for a month beforehand or risk not getting any severance pay."  and so on.

The graceful thing to do would be to resist the urge to wring out an ounce of pain from the constituents or go for the sympathy note back, but rather to explain not in personal terms, but in organizational terms, how a turnover is handled.  "As you know, Jim Himes has been elected to represent the 4th CD, and as part of that turnover, I will be closing my office on Nov 21st.  I am sure REp Himes will value the chance to be in dialogue with his constiuents as I did, and encourage and suggest that you continue this important dialogue with Rep. Himes.  Thank you for being an involved citizen and for sharing your thoughts and opinions with me.  I wish you the best."

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by: greenpeas @ Sun Nov 16, 2008 at 20:38:57 PM UTC

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The lamest of lame ducks (0.00 / 0)

Nice of him to abandon his constituents because not enough of 'em voted in his favor.  God forbid he is useful during his last 2 months.

Connecticut Bob

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by: Bob Adams @ Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 17:10:21 PM UTC

Saw Jim Himes on CNN! Couldn't be more proud! (0.00 / 0)

CNN is broadcasting a film of the Democratic freshman class of the 111th congress.  Saw Jim Himes on the steps, and was very proud to see him there.  Looking back on all those years of getting the truth out about faux-moderate/essential conservative Chris Shays, I was pleased and felt a measure of satisfaction for a job that was completed.

Hope it all had at least a small positive effect.

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by: thomashooker @ Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 17:44:04 PM UTC

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Picture (0.00 / 0)

The freshman class of the House of Representatives for the upcoming 111th Congress, gather on the steps of the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Nov. 17, 2008, for a group photo.
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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by: Scarce @ Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 18:11:22 PM UTC

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Magnified about a gazillion times... (4.00 / 1)

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by: Scarce @ Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 19:01:21 PM UTC

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Lookit, he's there! Jim's really there! YAAAY! (0.00 / 0)

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by: greenpeas @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 17:57:36 PM UTC

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Considering (0.00 / 0)

Chrissy only contacted his constituents in any meaningful way during election seasons, it's hard to tell if he's any lamer now that was the norm.

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by: chele @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 17:59:40 PM UTC

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