In a stunning move sure to rattle cages on Capital Hill, a House Republican single-handedly worked hard to reverse a crucial bill that his own party passed back on March 11, 2003.
Now-disgraced Ohio Representative Bob Ney and North Carolina’s venerable Representative Walter Jones could not be reached for comment. They were the men who spearheaded the important legislation to change food products in the House Cafeteria to Freedom Fries and Freedom Toast.
In a daring and bold move that went unnoticed until about a week ago, which many archconservatives will surely condemn as audaciously unpatriotic or brand as an in-house one-man mutiny, someone recently renamed them while no one was watching. And the beautiful part is almost no one realized until after it was too late!
The party traitor turns out to be Rep. Vernon J. Ehlers of Michigan. Republican Ehlers replaced Ney as Chairman of the House Administration Committee and took it upon himself to singlehandedly reverse his own party’s leglislation. On first glance it would appear to be a gross misuse of power, but as chairman of the department that oversees all congressional cafeterias, Ehlers can apparently name anthing, anything he wants.
As of a few weeks ago the food products are "officially" now known again as “French” fries and “French” toast. Of course the laughable part is that the change actually took place in some cafeterias way back in January.
One must ask if it was a plot. Could Ehlers have secretly implicated Ney in the bribery and corruption scandal that sent lobbyist Jack Abramoff off to jail so that the Ohio representative would lose his chairmanship?
Could all of this be an in-house Republican Party coup in order to swipe the crucially important power over cafeterias (so important to our national defense and well-being) and give it to Ehlers?
So far all concerned are trying desperately to hush up this late-breaking scandal and it’s only been reported in USA Today and the Washington Times.
This reporter has hopes of bringing news of a congressional closed-door investigation into the matter very soon. Stay tuned…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Clavos
The horror! The horror! These vicious power plays on the Hill have got to stop!!
Of course it would be a Representative from Michigan who would lead such an insidious attempt at a coup, only such a rebellious hotbed of sedition as Michigan could produce such a nefarious revolutionary...
The horror!!
2 - Jet in Columbus
I know Clavos I know-And in an election year too!!!!! To Quote EO-Eggsactly!
Carus deus, quis have ego commissio?
Jet
3 - RJ Elliott
The battle over freedom fries/toast will continue...have faith in that, my friends. And unlike the French, we will NEVER SURRENDER!
4 - Jet in Columbus
This article is meant to illustrate how little this republican congress has actually done and to show how trivial and petty they can actually be by paying vital legislative attention to things like "Freedom" Fries instead of national problems.
Despite the way it's worded this is an actual news story! See links in the last lines of the article.
Carus deus, quis have ego commissio?
Jet
5 - Jet in Columbus
"Never give up-Never surrender!" Where have I heard that before?
6 - Mark Schannon
Hey, the French are now our friends. Together we solved the Israel/Lebanon crisis. Wow. Thing what we could do if together we went after something really important, like male pattern baldness.
In Decaf Veritas
7 - Clavos
Thing what we could do if together we went after something really important, like male pattern baldness.
What's important about that? (he says, while running comb through full head of [grey] hair) :>)
8 - Jet in Columbus
But but Mark... Where would that leave Captain Piccard?
Indifference Voracious
Jet
9 - Jet in Columbus
Clavos 7-Except for a bridge to nowhere in Alaska, extending tax breaks for the rich, passing tax cut legislation for the middle class and poor that won't take full effect until they're long gone, and kissing the relitious right's ass, what has this republlican led congress done, except leglislate the name of french fries, when a House Chairman could've done it without a floor vote?
10 - Clavos
Well, they certainly haven't addressed male pattern baldness, which, to Mark at least (and Capt. Piccard), is important.
Seriously, since I'm not a republican, you won't find me being an apologist for them, though I have voted for some (and some dems) in the past.
11 - Jet in Columbus
Clavos-The Christian right's leaders all wear toupees so it's not on their agenda.
12 - Clavos
Jet, In a nutshell, that's what's wrong with partisan politics.
En mi opinión...Tú millaje podrá variar.
13 - Jet in Columbus
I remember a time when politicians shook hands after an election and worked TOGETHER for the good of the nation-instead of the good of their party
14 - Jet in Columbus
Clavos #12-Indeed...
15 - Dave Nalle
In the interest of clarity, I don't believe any legislation was involved in turning them into Freedom Fries or in turning them back. All it required was a statement of policy from the committee chairman passed on to the food service. No legislation needed and likely no formal vote either.
Dave
16 - Jet in Columbus
From this week's Newsweek Page 19...
**** "Our relations are definately much more important than potatoes. French fries are back in the Capital, back on the presidential dinner menu, and our relations are back on track" French Embassy spoesperson Agnes Vondermuhll, on a congressional vote that officially restored "freedom fries" to "french fries" ****
I mean if it says it there in print in Newsweek, who am I to argue. Also the original bill was "sponsored" by two representatives. If it wasn't voted on, why were two needed?
silly me
17 - Glen Boyd
In the immortal words of Mr. George Clinton (no relation to Bill by the way):
"Do Fries go With That Shake"?
Another home run for you Mr. Jet. Yer on quite the writing roll these days...
-Glen
18 - Jet in Columbus
Thank you Glen, it's the only way to distract myself from my own problems. I've got to make 15 job applications by monday and I haven't even left the house, because depression won't let me go out the front door for fear of strangers after the beating.
It sucks being me today
19 - Dave Nalle
Jet, R. #16, I think that Newsweek was mischaracterizing that 'vote'. At most it was a committee vote with no formal legislation involved.
Dave
20 - Jet in Columbus
Okay I'm wrong-Does that distract that they had better things to do than name food?
21 - Jet in Columbus
Okay Dave, I'll try googling to settle this. I still say the whole thing sounds like a satire instead of a pathetic fact and reflect os a congress that's done practically nothing that wasn't self-serving
Carus deus, quis have ego commissio?
Jet
22 - PAdit
Merci l'amerique!
vous nous faites bien rire, so go on!
23 - Clavos
pas de quoi, padit.
A votre service!
24 - Jet in Columbus
"TISH!!!!!" that's French!!!!.... I think?
25 - Clavos
Oui, M'sieu, eet ees Franch.
Padit, he thank, how you say, Amereeca for make heem laugh hard. I tell heem you welcom, at your serveece, non?