Will Rogers once said, “The Nation ain’t safe while Congress is in session”
By Bob Smith, United States Congressman 1983-1995, 1997-1999
As the only truly uniquely American holiday, Thanksgiving gives us annual cause to stop to consider the things for which we can be thankful.
Observing Thanksgiving after a number of years as part of an equally-unique American institution, the U.S. Congress, I thought it might be appropriate to share a personal Congressional Thanksgiving observation with you.
This is the season when we celebrate the political turkey (few real turkeys actually find cause to celebrate). This year, everyone has spent time with the species through an exhausting presidential and congressional election cycle. Now, the fact that I call politicians – and specifically Congress – – “turkeys” is not as irreverent as you may think. No less than Benjamin Franklin insisted that the wild turkey should be the National Bird instead of the bald eagle.
The turkey, he said, was brave and beautiful. And the bald eagle was little more than a mean and perpetually-hungry predator. Ben lost his argument, but his point hasn’t gone unnoticed. I see far more turkeys in Congress today than eagles. And there’s a certain ring of truth in the analogy when you look at some of the activities around here.
For instance, turkeys are kept fenced in for long periods; Congress is kept in session and away from home and family until all hours as a matter of routine, especially in the fall.
Turkeys hold a seasonal appeal to most Americans; our thoughts turn to them in the autumn. So, too, with politicians.
The turkey’s feeding habits are an aspect of the animal’s life that Ben Franklin could never quite justify in his campaign on its behalf. The wild turkey, you see, is a walking trash bin that can be fed anything. Congress is a lot like that.
For the better part of a year, it’s diet is sparse; one or two bills a week. But in the fall, and especially with a campaign adjournment at stake, Congressional turkeys are literately stuffed with legislation that would be indigestible by more selective beasts.
During the last week before the break, Congress’ once and twice a week feeding habits traditionally grow to more than 50 bills, all of which — big or small, good or bad — we’re supposed to gobble down without question. And most of which we do.
Some of this year’s crop of congressional turkeys have, by now, discovered too late that they were simply being fattened for the kill when they gulped down everything the liberal House leaders threw into the yard. They won’t celebrate this year.
Will Rogers said, “The Nation ain’t safe while Congress is in session,” so, in the end, there’s plenty of reason to be thankful that the turkeys are home for a couple of months.
And from one who “survived the cut” this year, I thankfully send my best wishes for a happy and thankful holiday.
Bob Smith was a Oregon Congressman who likely penned this in 1986, just after the mid-term elections. More on Smith here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Smith_(Oregon_politician)
