The Real Mr. Maverick Goes to Washington

posted at 12:27 pm on December 26, 2010 by Jazz Shaw
[ Congress ]   

If you live outside of Illinois and don’t run national polls for a living, there’s a fair chance you’ve not yet heard of Congressman-elect Joe Walsh. (Ill-8th) This weekend you will find a surprisingly even handed story of his rather improbable trip to Washington, D.C. in the New York Times. The entire piece is well worth a few moments of your time to digest.

Joe’s story is one of an underdog given long odds against his established, moderate Democrat opponent, Melissa Bean. Like many long shots around the nation, he received little or no money from the GOP on the national level, and was viewed as a bit of a toxic package for his close association with the Tea Party and his refusal to “go along to get along” with standard party doctrine. And he’s already found some quick ways to distinguish himself from the pack before he’s even sworn in to office.

Mr. Walsh, 48, will get about $1.4 million annually to run his operation and plans as many as three district branches. He’ll sleep in his office in Washington, while his family stays here in McHenry. And get this: he’s turned down the usual congressional health care, pension and retirement packages.

“I don’t think congressmen should get pensions or cushy health care plans,” he said. His wife is not exhilarated with the latter decision; she has a pre-existing medical condition and is now forced to hunt for a plan.

I know it’s far too early to say, but this is sounding more and more like somebody who actually walks the walk after talking the talk on the campaign trail. Additionally, he’s already staked out some positions which are probably going to make the GOP leadership wish they’d been a bit nicer to him in the early days.

One of the first votes he’ll confront is on raising the federal debt ceiling. Many economists warn that voting down an increase would be a mistake, and the House Republican leadership agrees. Mr. Walsh will vote against it. “On principle and policy, the leadership is wrong,” he said. “This is a teachable moment on my part.”

What is government’s role? “Protect my borders, protect Americans on their streets, keep our highways paved and our environment clean, defend us overseas and help those who can’t help themselves,” he said.

I suspect that somebody will be finding the red carpet being rolled out for the Tea Party caucus in the House. If his votes live up to his claims – and we’re seeing nothing so far to indicate a predisposition toward flip-floppery – this is part of the new generation of congressmen who are going to shake things up and be very difficult for John Boehner to manage or try to keep on the reservation when it comes time for compromise.

Now you can yell at Jazz for being a stupid, wrong-headed RINO even faster than by just leaving a comment. Follow him on Twitter! @JazzShaw

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