E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Mark Wilson / Getty Images
Newly elected freshman members of the upcoming 112th Congress pose for a class photo on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on November 19, 2010 in Washington, DC. . This week the new members have been undergoing orientation before taking office in January.
Alex Brandon / AP
Staff members photograph the freshmen class of House members of the upcoming 112th Congress during a group photo on the steps that lead to the House of Representatives, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Nov. 19, 2010.
Alex Brandon / AP
Rep.-elect Cory Gardner, at left and Rep.-elect Scott Tipton, both from Colorado, get their picture taken by a staff member on the steps of the Capitol building in Washington, on Friday, Nov. 19, 2010.
Today the freshman class finally got to have their picture made on the steps of the Capitol even though they arrived in Washington 4 days earlier. Weather prevented the photo from being taken then, but today was sunny and cool – a perfect day for a class photo. This year’s group is the largest of House freshman in more than 60 years, numbering 93. Of those, 34 have never been an elected official before, and only 9 are Democrats. The Senate side has 16 new members, just 3 of those being Democrats.
Leave a Comment:
mmm mmm mmm...thatsa whole lotta red!
Coming soon to a post office wall near you!
Should we be worried that the incoming congressmen are being referred to as "freshman" ? Doesn't this just give the American people the impression that the newly elected congressmen don't know what they're doing and that they are now at the mercy of the upper classmen ? Isn't this just another way of telling the incoming congressmen that you better vote the upper classmens way or your gonna get trashcanned ? Looks to me like this is not only a poor choice in rhetoric but a subtle informal insult to the office of a congressman.
No John, we shouldn't be worried. Every time a new Rep. or Senator is elected they are considered and called a Freshman. If the group were smaller, no one would even notice.
The reason we have so many new people in Congress is because we know that the upper classmen are just followers and do what they are told. They don't think about or read what they endorse with their vote. That makes them pretty much irrevelant to the whole process. Cattle will follow their leader over a cliff. We need thinkers, not followers, in Congress. The next two years will show whether or not the new congressmen will live up to the hope and expectation of the PEOPLE.
Seems as though the American people have spoken. 93 new congressmen. In with the new.. out with the old. I am hoping that there will be some changes in the way Washington gets the job done. The old ways have to be altered. It's encouraging that the new people don't have hooks set in them.. the moment they do, they go too.
How can you say convict..the liberals have stole enough off of the American people and there children. What dont you all understand about STOP spending money and don't raise our taxes. I think the people have spoken and will again in 2012. Elected officials are supposed to serve the people not the people serving the government.
They serve their Lobbyist Masters. Truth is truth.
Why they say and what they do are completely different! Historically, the Republicans raise taxes, create bigger government, and much bigger deficits. It's a fact. Look it up!
Hi Kids--behind the cameras are the lobbyists that you will work for during your tenure here in Washington.
I live in my grandmother's basement!
Believers in the "founding fathers" have won. I counted 6 black faces in the lilly white congress.
Are you saying that blacks didn't get the chance to vote? Or that blacks are afraid to run for congress? Which is it?
Are you saying you have a comprehension problem, or just can't read? Which is it?
You too can run.
What I like is 93 members.
9 Democrats.
Only 1 in 10 ( Actually more!!)
NOW THAT"S A THUMPING!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can SPIN that!!!!!!!
As a more educated response. My observation is based on "fact," as yours is, the childish, who has a reason to prove who's macho, would say, "SPIN that!!!!!!!"
Unfortunately Mosh, your observation is meaningless.
There are far more whites than blacks in America. So, I would fully expect there to be more White people in congress than Black people.
Same thing would apply if I went to any other country in the world that had a similar method for electing a representative government... the dominant race in the country would hold the higher number of seats in the government.
This isn't rocket science and maybe to your chagrin, it isn't racism.
Well thats not the way it works in the NBA sparky, so why should mosh think it should be different anywhere else?
The first of two terms....one in office, one in prison
Just a new bunch of "Prostitutes" who will have to "pay" back the Pimps (Lobbyist) who got them elected. The tons of money was spent to get what the Pimps want; not to serve the interest of the Nation.
Will any of this benefit the working person? NO! Will the CORPORATIONS benefit? YES!
Would you be saying this if the people standing on the steps were mostly democrats?
It's very sad that there are so few minorities in Congress. I'm sure some of it is because it costs so much to run a successful campaign. I'm equally sure there are other reasons as well.
Well, for the GOP, it's becoming a diverse party. I mean, they've got women, Hispanics, African-Americans, Indians, Asians and other minorities. Why, they've even got white males.... and, lots of them.
<Sarcasm OFF>
The cost of this past mid-term election was astounding. I believe it was over $1B, which is horrid. Only those with money or friends with money, need apply. We are a plutocracy... look at how many in both houses of Congress are wealthy? And, look at how many end up being wealthy once they leave office, if they entered when they were middle-class?
All bought and paid for by the EXTREMELY wealthy of America, and other countries, who have their hands in the pie, (so to speak) to do the bidding, of the EXTREMELY wealthy, while paying no attention to the "commoners, except to make them suffer, more.
Chris rock has a great take on the difference between rich and wealthy and it applies to this situation as well as it does to the entertainment industry and pro sports. For the most part, members of Congress are rich not wealthy. The Corporate CEO's and lobbyists who pay for members of Congress and the presidency and such, those are the wealthy ones.
Let's see... why is most of congress white? Because most of America is white? Yep, that's probably the reason. Congress looks like America looks. Mostly white with a sprinkle of black, hispanic, Asian, and other colors thrown in the mix.
Dang it! Here I thought it was becasue the Chinese were buying the Democrats a seat in congress. Ooooppsss, I forgot, they lost even though they took more money from foreigners than the Repubs did. You did get the memo on that didn't you. I mean even CNN finally ran a story confirming that fact.
Why don't these jerks quit wasting time and get to work?
Their work will be to say "NO!" and then get re-elected.
Saying NO is a good thing. Why is it democrats always want to say YES when saying yes only gets us further in debt and closer to socialism?
Borrow/spend.... tax/spend...
What's been the difference between republicans and democrats? I don't think either party has room to gloat.
Go here... you will see that we're not getting out of this mess without taxation and cuts... and a lot of the little pet issues like earmarks mean very very little.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/11/13/weekinreview/deficits-graphic.html?src=tptw
Saying "NO!" to the proper thing, at the proper time, is fine. Being regressive and obstructionist is what it's all about. The GOP has only said "NO!" when they don't get their way, when they refuse to believe that a minority is now President. Where was the "NO!" (from anyone, but especially the GOP) back in the Bush regime when the mess we now have, was made?
If you enjoy being debt free, then why is that just about every recession or depression has been the direct result of poor fiscal policy by the Republicans? Why did Teddy Roosevelt abandon the GOP? Why did Herbert Hoover believe that whomever was going to be President in 1928 was going to be blamed for a major economic calamity? Why did we exit the Reagan and HW Bush eras with a massive debt? About the only 2-term Republican who never had a major recession in his terms was Ike.
And, who were fortunate to be in the White House at the right time to move us out of The Great Depression and successive major recessions? FDR-Truman, Clinton and now Obama.
Try saying "Yes!" sometime and see where it leads you. It is much more positive and enlightening if you say "Yes!" to many (obviously, not all) questions.
And, we have been living within socialism for a long time now. We have Social Security, Medicare, MedicAid, National Guards, local safety forces (fire and police and rescue). When you pay taxes for services, that is socialism at work. Socialism is not a bad thing... it is only bad when it is paired with totalitarian govts and corrupt leaders who don't use democratic methods to lead, but rule with an iron fist. Don't confuse Socialism with Communism. We, as humans, need our independence, our ability to choose our own paths, develop to our own abilities, and live in a society. When you live in a social setting, you have certain responsibilities towards your neighbor and they towards you. That is socialism. Add love, respect and forgiveness and you have the beginnings of a great social setting where anyone can thrive. Being compassionate towards those who cannot help where society has placed them and would love to get out of that hole if given a chance, is a pre-requisite for any society. Without it, you have poverty, unrest, high murder rates, lots of substance abuse and a lot of angry people. Hmmm...
That would likely be because they don't actually start working until January. You know, when the new congressional session starts.
The session may not have started, but they should be somewhere reading...
Advice to the newbies: you'll be incumbents in 2 short years, so don't unpack your bags just yet. Lobbyists will be paying you a call, if it hasn't already begun... will you resist? And, once you start work, how much impact will you REALLY have? Will you be able to work with the other side or just be the opposition? If you become the wrench in the gears, will you blame it on the other side, being just as dishonest as you said your opponent and incumbent was? Or, will you admit to your mistakes? If the latter, will you allow someone else to have a "go" at it since you failed so miserably?
Finally, and most importantly... how do you see the future of our country and how do you define success? Will you have the guts to admit your mistakes and correct them? Or, is this just a way to say "NO!" and be an obstructionist?
Your choice. If your supporters are honest and have accurate memories, you will have to defend your actions at each and every turn in the next 2 years (commonly referred to as the run-up to the 2012 election). If you can continue to bamboozle your constituents and encourage only short-term memory, you may be re-elected. Pretty much a "cake" political job if you only see it as a way to make money.
Nick, let me ask you a rethorical question. I have some poison. Will you drink the poison? No? How about just a little bit of the poison. Still no? How come? Are you the person of no?
What the republicans were voting no on was poison. The democrats spooned it out of their cauldron of overspending, deeper debt and it had the flavor of cramberry - cram it down the throats of the American people.
I'm pretty sure I had an Iraq war crammed down my throat, and its still lodged there. Mission Accomplished!
No to big government, no to taxes, no to spending sounds like a plan to me.
Read my other answers to this.
Saying no to poison is a good thing. However, you are the one defining the poison.
How can you purport to want to live in a country with zero taxes and no big govt? Who will cover the costs of taking care of the people, our defense, our precious military-industrial-complex? The states? Another sort of Federal tax? When the Fed income taxes are reduced, state and local taxes go up or are introduced. Why? Because the states had programs which were solely supported by federal funds. How long would our Interstate Highway System last if not for gasoline excise taxes? If you wish zero federal taxes and no big govt., do we return to the ways of the country during the 1800's? Who paid the way then? How did the govt. have money to operate? Taxes... whether they were income, sales, business, etc, etc... taxes are taxes.
Finally, think of spending as investment in the future. Without spending at this point in time, our future will be bleak for a very long time. High unemployment will continue until all of us "baby boomers" finally retire, likely a lot poorer than if we had worked and contributed to society until of retirement age. With more people being unemployed, those of you who work will have to support those of us who are not being given the opportunity to interview, much less work.
Being so negative and set in your ways, to a regressive point, is certainly not a healthy attitude in a society. Being greedy and not allowing others to have a chance while criticizing them for being "lazy" when they are not given a chance is just not right.
BTW, I am using "you" in the global sense, not personal.
Kalytyra - Who is an avid ACORN supporter would rather have the lefties back in power to get more free handouts from the government. Take a look and see who the real convicts are. Rangel, Jefferson, Waters, Holder, Dunn, Van Jones, Jarrett, and a host of other morons who will no longer have any power to screw the American public.
The newbies better also get the message NO Earmarks, no lies, no corruption. This goes for Repubs and Demorats. The Unions can get ready to take a butt whipping soon as well.
Yes, the unions have had their day. They were the reason so many companies went overseas to find cheaper labor AND lower taxes, courtesy of the greedy governments.
I thought Steve Palazzo from the 4th District in South Mississippi (2nd row, 6th from right)................was taller! Hope he can fill Gene Taylor's shoes! Oh by the way, his campaign theme was....."Let's Fire Nancy Pelosi"! Well guess what and another news flash.....Nancy is very far from being fired as the new Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives! Good luck Mr. Palazzo and welcome to the "Big Game"!
All i see is a big group of idiots. You have to be a complete moron to want one of those jobs. You get no respect and everyone hates you. Have fun guys and gals.
But they get their fat salaries, good benefits (health care you will pay for) and all of the perks from the lobbyists. I haven't even mentioned pensions. Woo Hoo.
I wonder how long it takes from being a smiley naive newcomer wanting to change the world to being a lowlife bribe taking POS looking to change the size of your bank account.
Lotta change... let's hope they stand up to this unpopular and controversial president.
A lot of our problems are a result of greed and stupidity of lending institutions and irresponsible borrowers. What can we expect when the government guarantees bad loans? If we have gridlock the next two years, that is better than what just happened the last two.
biggest turnover of power since WWII,
theres a message there to the arogant Liberal spendthrifts, take heed or you too will be replaced in 2 more..
Obama is 4 and out, which was the best news of all.
Obama isnt out yet. Dont count your chickens dumb syit.
thank god the world is sposed to end in 2012 and if it doesn't i,m voting for the donald so he can kick all thier asses and teach some repect
^ LOL
Donald, Newt, Sarah...Lord have mercy!
Maybe the Mayans are correct about 2012!
A lot of our problems now are a result of greed by lending institutions and stupidity of borrowers. What else can we expect when the government guarantese loans that should never have been made? If we have gridlock for the next two years, that will be better than what we have had the last two years.
I wonder how many of these congressmen newbies were indoctrinated by the Tea Partier. If they don't vote the way the Tea Partier told them so, they will be out in the next election.