Dear Congress: I hate you and wish you'd stab yourself with a pencil

Independent of the financial whammy festival we're going through right now, I don't understand why people don't just riot in the streets over how complicated their government is.

I honestly don't see how the average person, even the above average person, can be expected to understand how the federal government operates.

Take the simple case of determining whether or not Congressman Jim Marshall voted against offshore drilling bills, or if he really voted for them, but his opponent, retired Maj. Gen. Rick Goddard, is simply confusing the issue by quoting from irrelevant votes. You tell me, using the example of House Resolution 4761:

6/29/2006 12:26am: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 897 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4761 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Resources now printed in the bill.
6/29/2006 2:45pm:
Rule H. Res. 897 passed House.
6/29/2006 2:56pm:
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 897. (consideration: CR H4830-4875; text of measure as reported in House: CR H4845-4860)
6/29/2006 2:56pm:
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4761 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Resources now printed in the bill.
6/29/2006 2:57pm:
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 897 and Rule XVIII.
6/29/2006 2:57pm:
The Speaker designated the Honorable Michael K. Simpson to act as Chairman of the Committee.
6/29/2006 2:57pm:
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 4761.
6/29/2006 3:40pm:
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole continued with general debate on H.R. 4761.
6/29/2006 4:13pm:
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 897, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pombo amendment, as modified.
6/29/2006 4:29pm:
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 897, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Inslee amendment.
6/29/2006 4:38pm:
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 897, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Tom Davis (VA) amendment.
6/29/2006 4:48pm:
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 897, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Markey amendment.
6/29/2006 4:59pm:
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Markey amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Markey demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
6/29/2006 5:01pm:
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 897, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Bilirakis amendment.
6/29/2006 5:12pm:
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Bilirakis amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Bilirakis demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
6/29/2006 5:13pm:
Mr. Pombo moved that the Committee rise.
6/29/2006 5:13pm:
On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
6/29/2006 5:14pm:
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 4761 as unfinished business.
6/29/2006 6:35pm:
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4890-4892)
6/29/2006 6:35pm:
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
6/29/2006 6:35pm:
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of specified amendments which were debated earlier and on which further proceedings were postponed.
6/29/2006 7:04pm:
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 4761.
6/29/2006 7:04pm:
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
6/29/2006 7:05pm:
The House adopted the amendment as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
6/29/2006 7:21pm:
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 232 - 187 (Roll no. 356).
6/29/2006 7:21pm:
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
6/29/2006 7:31pm:
The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 4761.

Let's just get some walkie-talkies and some firefighters and call it a day.


easiest job I ever had.