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Watch Out for John Cornyn: He's the New GOP Elephant in the China Shop

Submitted by meg on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 4:00pm.

Analysis

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS
by Meg White

Is Sen. John Cornyn the new Sen. Mitch McConnell?

Now that McConnell has the whole Congress and the executive to wage a polite war against, it's possible he gave over his role as government obstructionist to Cornyn. Where McConnell comes off as a "shrewd parliamentary tactician and a ruthless partisan warrior," Cornyn looks more like a pouting child who would rather make everyone miserable than get anything done.

Where McConnell rose to become Senate Minority Leader through a measured mastery of delay tactics and sneaky maneuvers, Cornyn is just going on a whine rampage lately.

Cornyn has stood in the way of a lot of Democrats in recent weeks -- most notably Al Franken, Hillary Clinton, and Eric Holder -- in a manner that makes me think he just likes the way he looks in a roadblock costume.

In Clinton's case, he held up her confirmation hearing only to vote in favor of her appointment, in a move called "as hollow as it was vitriolic" by the Austin American-Statesman. He was also one of the hypocrites who voted for Bush & Co. to have access to bailout money, but voted to try and block Obama from it.

Unlike many of his Republican colleagues, Cornyn seems to be determined to fight Democrats and the Obama Administration just because he doesn't like them, and not on any principle. Or maybe this behavior is just part of a quid pro quo for his being named chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee for the 2010 election cycle this past November.

Now, Cornyn has always been a right-wing wacko of sorts. His close ties with fellow Texan and former President George W. Bush are well-known, and to say he's in Big Oil's pocket would be an understatement. Plus, any man who would compare gay marriage to wedding a box turtle clearly has some critical thinking issues.

For a real visual of the junior senator from Texas' self image, watch this bizarre campaign video from his most recent reelection bid, in which he calls himself "Big Bad John," that guy who's "doing the Lord's work for Texas."

Just like the clearly scripted nature of the above political ad, I suspect Cornyn is trying to recast himself by standing in the way of the functioning of the Senate. Or maybe he's just playing the role of "Big Bad John" because that's what the Republicans think they need right now. Either way, someone should let him know that his petty is showing.

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS

Blueprints

Submitted by Captain Jessie on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 9:47am.

It is republicans like Cornyn who are responsible for the destructive, recessive economy we are in now. And it will be republicans like Cornyn who will attempt to keep us there. Wasn't it that scum, Ken Blackwell, who advised republicans to fight Obama's stimulus plans with the objective of regaining republican power in 2012? That alone, tells us the republicans do not plan to cooperate with Obama. They've all received their blueprint copies and the plan is to follow it to the letter.

'CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL SHALL SURELY BE DAMNED'

Submitted by josephconrad on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 12:06am.

If every there was a CLEVER THOUGH IGNORANT 'RED-NECK' RACIST READY FOR RETIREMENT in the Senate, it's CORNYN. In all his years in office, he's done little more that obstruct Positive solutions to Negative, Destructive problems the GOP & its WEALTHY OLD WHITEBOY 'Handlers'. A truly vile, vitriolice empty-headed BIGOT, Cornyn done nothing to be true Senator in theclassic sense. Instead he's chosen to continue Racist, Cracker ways living in a Mint Julip Past. Like so many senators from the former Confederacy, he refuses to join the Present or participate in the Future - unless it contain the Hood, the Rope and the Mint Julip. Given his temperment, he needs to be quietly sedated and confined to his divisive, Racist Vacuum sealed off from the Senate. There's no question his Cross & Hood mentality has had its day. He needs to retire to his plantation with the rest of his Redneck Hunchbacks and leave government to the few Americans with a sense of the Future.

Cornyn and that other jackoff, Inhofe

Submitted by willymack on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 11:47pm.

Are the best reasons for the House to dissolve and de-certify the "republicans".

Big Fat Ego John

Submitted by IAmJoaquin on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 10:44pm.

Weird Al Yankovic should have a go at this one. Instead of "Big Bad John" I can hear " Big Fat Ego John" The man is obviously full of himself.

Busting On Texas...

Submitted by mckathiki on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 10:18pm.

...and all Texans just because Bush, Delay, Cornyn, et al come from here isn't fair. Every state in the union has a few asses representing them in Congress or elsewhere. Why is it that buzzers aren't calling Pennsylvanians names because of Specter or blasting Tennesseans over McConnell? I think we should take the time to make an informed comment rather than creating more division with all the funny, easy, smart-assed disses. That said, this is the kind of man Cornyn is: for a couple of years he ignored every letter I wrote (as one of his constituents) to him about several issues. Then he was challenged last year by a good man, Rick Noriega, who almost had a chance to beat him. Suddenly, Cornyn answered every missive I sent to him - of course, his answers were always directly opposite to what I had requested and ignored the concerns I voiced. But he needed to appear to be a Senator who gave a damn about the people of Texas. The truth is that he belongs bag and parcel to the oil companies and has his head so far up the butts of the good ole boys who run this state that he would not be able to see the difference between right and wrong if you gave him a flashlight. He is obviously playing for a big boy position now with his obstructionist crap but he better think twice because his tactics will backfire and give us the ammunition we need to work to defeat him. He and Hutchison are terrible "representatives" who have nothing to do with the people they're supposed to work for. If you think Bush was bad then just hide and watch these two.

You Have to Admit - Between Bush, Cheney, Gonzalez. Delay,

Submitted by drprodny on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 12:07am.

and Cornyn, your beloved state appears to be nothing more than a Banana Republic, where torture and legalized murder are the norm.

You want the rest of America to stop busting on Texas? Then put some f&*king Progressives in power there, and burn the Right Wing Bush Nazis down!

Wow...

Submitted by mckathiki on Sat, 01/24/2009 - 8:37pm.

...that's just mean. My state is not a banana republic, and torture and legalized murder...well, wtf are you talking about? I live in the 3rd safest city of its size in the country even though Juarez, Mexico (now there's a place where torture, murder and depravity are terrorizing the people)is our sister city. Bush is not a native Texan - he's an elite, eastcoast, carpetbagging silverspooner. Cheney was born in Nebraska and has been a DC powermonger for many years. Have to admit that DeLay is native but politicians like him are a dime a dozen in every state. And Gonzalez, born in San Antonio, is a clueless chump, but Texas doesn't have an exclusive on them. What about John Yoo, born in South Korea, grew up in Philly, an architect and defender of torture? I could spend a bit of time countering but what's the point. We are working hard to turn things around down here but you're making a mistake to presume that the rightwing Bush nazis are all in Texas - they are all over the country and several of them in the Senate and House right now are doing their best to stop any change. I just think that "progressives" should be a little bit nicer to each other and stop with all the generalized bashing based on whatever. It's easier to blame Texas for Bush and Cheney, than it is to accept the fact that the citizens (progressive, conservative, apathetic, you name it) of this country ALLOWED everything done in the past 8 years to happen. So, have a nice day, drprodny - it must be nice to live in Shangra-La.

Protect Texas!

Submitted by Demetria on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 9:40pm.

Of course he has to protect Texas. Remember, that village in Texas now has their idiot back.

Just The Most Public Face

Submitted by neoconned on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 8:46pm.

Sen. Cornyn has to begin grandstanding about how he's defending Texas from Obama because Texas is rapidly joining Michigan as an economic basket case. When a state goes to that sorry place, the Republicans don't stand a liberal's chance in neocon hell of retaining power unless they can successfully divert attention into some silly social issue that has no bearing on the fiscal follies the GOP revels in. If Cornyn was a real Texan, he wouldn't have to resort to bald-faced obstructionism. Let's all be glad that he's not!

Cornyn My Stool

Submitted by jarjarbush on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 8:33pm.

Why do Republicans hate America and all it has stood for for decades? The oath of office that every elected official takes, mandates they will defend this nation against all enemies foreign and domestic. It is past time to address calling these domestic terrorist exactly what they are and to bring charges against them. From Phil Gramm for his legislative undermining of the economy, to Rush and Ann for the treason in their writing and verbal anal leakage. From Cornyn and Vitter and McConnell who seek to undermine our manufacturing base for the sake of union busting. For the Bush Crime Family for crimes too numerous to mention but to include the busting out of the US Treasury as sure as Tony Soprano himself were busting out a sporting goods store.

Buzzers in Texas

Submitted by Colleen Clark on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 7:57pm.

All Buzzers in Texas should write to Cornyn. It's not usually possible for non-constituents to
write to Senators or members of Congress. And also start to find someone good to run against him whenever he's up for reelection.

Colleen Clark
Cambridge, MA

Buzzers everywhere

Submitted by banjobailey on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 8:39pm.

While it is true that is not usually possible for non-constituents to write to Senators or members of Congress, this is not a usual time. One CAN contact them through phone,e-mail, or snail mail. Snail mail is especially regarded by the Congressional offices because they figure that if ONE person is writing through snail mail, it represents some 2000 others who felt the same way but didn't sit down to write a letter. Snail mail, therefore, becomes more effectual than a quick phone call or e-mail. Even a postcard counts for them. I say this based on my own experience with Congressional people who have told me these things. Snail mail really is the best way to make an impact.

Big Bad Jerk

Submitted by Chrisdutch on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 7:41pm.

Sadly, a stronger campaign against him last fall would have sent this clown packing. Sometimes I think Rahm Emanuel doesn't know how good he has it.

Big Stick Time

Submitted by banjobailey on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 7:36pm.

Yes, it is already time for the "big stick" and WE ARE the BIG STICK. We should, all of us, swamp Cornyn's office with messages and let him know we are fully prepared to fund his opponent's campaign against him next time in Texas. And, we should keep it up. Let him know WE are the 'oversight". AND, we should, right now, be swamping Arlen Spector's office with those same messages since he is acting as the crime family's consiglier and delaying the confirmation of Eric Holder for Attorney General. WE are Obama's political capital and WE need to "keep his back" quickly, constantly, and loudly.

oh he does have principles

Submitted by daphne on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 7:30pm.

His principles are to hate Democrats and to block them whenever possible.

What's wrong with the people of Texas?

Submitted by SpikeHeels on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 6:36pm.

Texans gave us two Bushes and Tom Delay. We still have to put up with a$$es like Cornyn and Hutchison. Texans are fond of saying that they live in the only state that can legally secede from the USA and sometimes I really wish they would exercise that option.

Do you think this would have anything to do with it?

Submitted by lapdogs on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 6:36pm.

http://www.nrsc.org/blog/blogitem.aspx?id=721

Please tell this maximus bs

Submitted by rdn on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 5:59pm.

Please tell me this maximus b.s. doesn't work!! When he passes away they will be able to bury him in a shoe box if they give his corpse an enema.

Its Big Stick time!

Submitted by Ken duerksen on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 4:38pm.

Doesn't Obama have enough political capital - supercharged by the remarkable public response to his inauguration - to smack this petulent little aggie into irrelevance? His overtly nice treatment of his vanquished colleagues across the aisle up until now should provide adequate cover for a harsh public spanking of Cornyn by our new president. ...and Obama is eloquent enough to make even dumb-ass Republicans realize that the Texan's obstructionism for obstructionism's sake is NOT what the country needs right now.

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