For those still following the absurdity unfolding around the family of ex-Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., we now have word that his decision to run for reelection (without campaigning) and then promptly resign will cost the taxpayers over $5 million — as if the taxpayers have not paid enough to the family of Jesse Jackson.
Some of us have long been critics of Jesse Jackson, Jr. and his family who have been the focus of corruption and misconduct allegations. Then there was the disappearance of Jesse Jackson Jr. as investigators looked into his use of campaign contributors allegedly to fix up his house and to buy a Rolex watch for a mistress. At the same time, investigators were looking into his wife, who serves on the city council. No one bothered to inform his constituents when their member disappeared and left only speculation for weeks on his whereabouts. Nevertheless, weeks later, Jackson checked himself into the Mayo Clinic and announced that he would still run for reelection even with a diagnosis of having bipolar disorder. He won handily without showing up to campaign in a district that clearly does not give a wit about substantial allegations of misconduct. (Ironically, Jackson took office in a special election after his predecessor Mel Reynolds left office in a sex scandal involving an underage campaign worker). He promptly promised his constituents that he would serve vigorously in Washington. However, once elected, Jackson reportedly demanded a disability pension in return for giving up his seat — essentially holding a seat hostage according to those reports. He then resigned a couple weeks after the election — triggering the need for two special elections.
The Illinois State Board of Elections calculated those elections cost $2,700 to $4,000 per precinct. With 590 precincts in Jackson’s 2nd Congressional District, an election would probably cost around $2,575,000. That comes to $5.15 million for both a primary and general election.
Just to give you an idea of the cost imposed by the Jacksons on the taxpayers, that cost would have save the entire page system. The over 200 years of page service in the House of Representatives was eliminated to save $5 million a year. It is also the equivalent for the federal subsidy for 20 million free meals for poor children.
Yet, again, Democrats are silent in criticism of Jackson or his family in fear of angering Jesse Jackson Sr. We will simply pay millions while Jesse Jackson Jr. has yet to be indicted for the alleged misuse of campaign funds. Keep in mind that the Justice Department prosecuted the late Sen. Ted Stevens (R., Alaska) for the use of lobbyist money to fix his home. The investigations into Jackson and his wife are continuing and Jackson is reportedly trying to reach a plea bargain. In the end, the criminal investigations, special election costs, and other collateral costs will make bring the final tab for taxpayers likely over $10 million even without the possibility of a criminal trial. Of course, common people can go to jail for years for stealing less than $1000, but they are not (it seems) part of America’s ruling class.
Many are awaiting the results of the reported plea negotiations with Jackson and the Justice Department to see if he will get one last deal from a less than grateful American people. [Update: How the dipolar analysis would factor into a criminal case is still unclear. There is an interesting conflict in the original position of Jackson that his illness would not prevented him from running for reelection and resuming his work in Congress. Yet it is likely that the illness will be used as a defense on any corruption or fraud charges. That creates a bit of a conflict. Being reelected certainly gave him a bargaining chip as part of the reported plea negotiations. However, it also contradicted a position that his illness did not make him responsible. By resigning, it would certainly help Jackson argue that the illness left unable to function adequately. It may also end the congressional inquiry into his involvement in an alleged effort to buy the Senate seat vacated by President Obama.
He may have a difficult time on the merits. The test of insanity as a defense is extremely high even with a diagnosis from the respected Mayo Clinic. If he cannot make a direct insanity defense, the most likely impact of the illness would be on mitigation of sentencing. If the case is a strong as suggested, he could opt for a plea and push for leniency on sentencing. The question will turn on his ability to function before he disappeared — with accounts of his schedule and behavior in and outside Congress. Courts commonly have defendants with some form of mental illness, but such illness rarely amounts to an absolute defense.
There is also the problem of others who may have been aware of any of the alleged criminal conduct from his wife to his accountant to his staff. The prosecutors may bring a huge amount of pressure on them to turn and testify for the prosecution if a case moves to the charging stage.]
Source: ABC
Warren Buffett, in a recent interview with CNBC, offers one of the best quotes about the debt ceiling:
“I could end the deficit in 5 minutes,” he told CNBC. “You just
pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more
than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible
for re-election.
The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds)
took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple!
The people demanded it. That was in 1971 – before computers, e-mail,
cell phones, etc.
Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took one (1) year
or less to become the law of the land – all because of public pressure.
Warren Buffet is asking each addressee to forward this email to
a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask
each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will
have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed
around.
Congressional Reform Act of 2012
1. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no
pay when they’re out of office.
2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social
Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the
Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into
the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the
American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.
3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all
Americans do.
4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise.
Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
5. Congress loses their current health care system and
participates in the same health care system as the American people.
6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the
American people.
We could limit corporate money in elections or go to a public funding of elections, with mandatory equal air time for candidates the system would be fixed. this would fix the problems with lobbyists and the revolving door.
Probably impossible.
Jackson’s Constituent Services staff must do superb work, because otherwise why would people vote for such a man like him? Oh, yes, well that’s true. And that’s all?
To nick spinelli: No. Before the districts were redrawn, I was in the 11th district. In the 2010 election, Adam Kinzinger beat incumbent Debbie Halvorson for the seat.
Just think what the Mayo Clinic might diagnose someone like an “Independent” member of Congress. Like that lady who just retired and the Angus guy who replaced her. Bi polar for sure. But Angus, if you are gonna be a bear, be a grizzly.
Jackson fires back with “Ode To Boner:”
Jesse Jr. has been treated long enough at the Mayo Clinic to rule out any diagnosis that he only had Mixed symptoms. So, since he must be seen to truyly have this illness then why keep beating up on him in this blog? Look t the criteria from the Mayonaise Clinic for mixed syptoms which must be ruled out.
Mayo:
“Criteria for mixed episode
The criteria are met both for a manic episode and for a major depressive episode nearly every day during at least a one-week period.
The mood disturbance must be severe enough to cause noticeable difficulty at work, at school, or in usual social activities or relationships; to require hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others; or to cause a break from reality (psychosis).
Symptoms are not due to the direct effects of something else, such as drug abuse, taking a medication or a having a medical condition such as hyperthyroidism.”
The Mayo Clinic would not diagnose this guy with bi polar and treat him if he was just a drug abuser or was taking a medication or being “hyperthyoidism”.
So JT should quit throwing rocks that he is a drug addict when he is bi polar. JT has not given us any coherent reasoning for disagreeing with the bipolar diagnosis and therefore we can say with certainty that government medical insurance dollars have been well spent to treat a diseased Congressman and not some drug addict. Someone who continues to throw such rocks might need a diagnosis himself.
So, I beg of you all, to quit throwing rocks at Jesse and let him retire to obscurity in peace. I will also add that many of those characteristics of bipolar seem to match the normative behavior of each RepubliCon member of Congress. They have delusions that the earth is only two thousand years old, that woman can wish off a pregnancy if they get raped by Jack the Ripper, that dogs should be crated on put on the roof of cars…. It goes on and on.
That last spulling err was Clinic.
Here is some necessary information from the Mayonaise Clinic on their definition of BiPolar Disorder. They rely on the Diagnoistic and Statitical Manual Vol IV. (DSM IV). There is not a damn thing in here about two bears.
Mayor Clinic website:
“The DSM has very specific criteria for manic, hypomanic, major depressive and mixed episodes.
Criteria for a manic episode
A manic episode is a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood that lasts at least one week (or less than a week if hospitalization is necessary). During the period of disturbed mood, three or more of the following symptoms must be present (four if the mood is only irritable):
Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
Decreased need for sleep (for example, you feel rested after only three hours of sleep)
Unusual talkativeness
Racing thoughts
Distractibility
Increased goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually)
Doing things that have a high potential for painful consequences — for example, unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions or foolish business investments
To be considered a manic episode:
The mood disturbance must be severe enough to cause noticeable difficulty at work, at school or in usual social activities or relationships; to require hospitalization to prevent harm to yourself or others; or to trigger a break from reality (psychosis).
Symptoms do not meet the criteria for a mixed episode (see criteria for mixed episode below).
Symptoms are not due to the direct effects of something else such as alcohol or drug use, taking a medication, or a having a medical condition such as hyperthyroidism.
Criteria for a hypomanic episode
A hypomanic episode is a distinct period of elevated, expansive or irritable mood that lasts at least four days, and is different from the usual nondepressed mood. During the period of disturbed mood, three or more of the following symptoms must be present (four if the mood is only irritable):
Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
Decreased need for sleep (for example, you feel rested after only three hours of sleep)
Unusual talkativeness
Racing thoughts
Distractibility
Increased goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually)
Doing things that have a high potential for painful consequences — for example, unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions or foolish business investments
To be considered a hypomanic episode:
The mood disturbance must be severe enough to cause a noticeable and uncharacteristic change in functioning.
The episode isn’t severe enough to cause significant difficulty at work, at school or in usual social activities or relationships; to require hospitalization; or to trigger a break from reality (psychosis).
Symptoms do not meet the criteria for a mixed episode (see criteria for mixed episode below).
Symptoms are not due to the direct effects of something else such as alcohol or drug use, taking a medication, or a having a medical condition such as hyperthyroidism.
Criteria for a major depressive episode
To be diagnosed with a major depressive episode, you must have five (or more) of the following symptoms over a two-week period. At least one of the symptoms is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure. Symptoms can be based on your own feelings or on the observations of someone else. They include:
Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, such as feeling sad, empty or tearful (in children and adolescents, depressed mood can appear as constant irritability)
Diminished interest or feeling no pleasure in all — or almost all — activities most of the day, nearly every day
Significant weight loss when not dieting, weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day (in children, failure to gain weight as expected can be a sign of depression)
Insomnia or increased desire to sleep nearly every day
Either restlessness or slowed behavior that can be observed by others
Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day
Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, or a suicide attempt
To be considered a major depressive episode:
Symptoms don’t meet the criteria for a mixed episode (see criteria for mixed episode below).
Symptoms must be severe enough to cause noticeable difficulty in day-to-day activities, such as work, school, social activities or relationships with others.
Symptoms are not due to the direct effects of something else, such as drug abuse, taking a medication or a having a medical condition such as hyperthyroidism.
Symptoms are not caused by grieving, such as after the loss of a loved one.
Criteria for mixed episode
The criteria are met both for a manic episode and for a major depressive episode nearly every day during at least a one-week period.
The mood disturbance must be severe enough to cause noticeable difficulty at work, at school, or in usual social activities or relationships; to require hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others; or to cause a break from reality (psychosis).
Symptoms are not due to the direct effects of something else, such as drug abuse, taking a medication or a having a medical condition such as hyperthyroidism.
Diagnosis in children
The same official criteria used to diagnose bipolar disorder in adults are used to diagnose children and adolescents. However, bipolar symptoms in children and adolescents often have different patterns than they do in adults, and may not fit neatly into the categories used for diagnosis. While adults generally tend to have distinct periods of mania and depression, children and adolescents may have erratic, rapid changes in mood, behavior and energy levels.
It’s often hard to tell whether these are normal ups and downs, the results of stress or trauma, or signs of a mental health problem other than bipolar disorder. To make it even more difficult, children who have bipolar disorder are frequently also diagnosed with other mental health conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or behavior problems.
Although bipolar disorder can occur in young children, diagnosis in children preschool age or younger is especially difficult. The current criteria used for diagnosis have not been proved in young children, and a wide range of issues other than bipolar disorder can cause mood and behavior problems at this age.”
-end of Mayonaise version of Bi Polar.
The “symptoms” are symptomatic of people who run for and become elected to Congress. Grandious ideas (yesterday the comlaint was that he sponsored legislation that would put some universal declaration of human rights proposals into our constitution–How Grand!). Delusions of grandeur: thinking he could walk out on the Floor of Congress and Speak to the Congressmen and women and also to the whole Nationl Such grandeur.
It is obliquely apparent from the definition that a patient must have both a “manic” episode (meet the criteria for a manic episode) and some evidence of a depressive condition every single day for at least a week.
Jeso, all of Congress is nuts. And two polar at that.
I think that we all owe a debt of gratitude to the Mayonaise Ckine for publishing this very important body of information.
“Yet, again, Democrats are silent in criticism of Jackson or his family in fear of angering Jesse Jackson Sr.”
Ooooh, we better not “anger” the Senior Moron of the Jackson family. But will criticism of Junior anger the Rev. Al Shrapnel?
I say go ahead with the public denouncement and prosecution. If the jackson family makes a fuss about it, they will get over it or they will not. Either way it doesn’t really matter in the long term.
Dr. King was a highly Honorable man. Jesse Jackson is in my opinion just an opportunist and a charlatan who I lost respect for decades ago. Eventually people will forget about the Jackons as being the pillars of civil rights and Dr. King will endure because he was genuine and a distinguished example of being true to his cause and the cause of justice.
But you did vote for him, rwille?
“He won handily without showing up to campaign in a district that clearly does not give a wit about corruption or special dealing.” Please know that some of us who were gerrymandered into the new 2nd district care very much about corruption and would never have voted for Jackson.
It seems to me that a planet that is bi polar would be fair and balanced. So, are you saying that Jesse Jr. is fair and balanced? Is he half grissly? Are obth sides of him arctic polar bears? Maybe the polar thing is just some pseudo tab that one puts on someone who is really a psychotic person or one who has a lesser diagnosis on the DSM IV.
mattcarmody1 1, November 23, 2012 at 1:06 pm
If you don’t already have a copy, get Frank Zappa’s Broadway the Hard Way, an album that lambastes the Republicans of Reagan’s administration, Tammy & Jim Bakker, and Jesse Jackson. The song Rhymin’ Man is hysterical. The whole album is funny and seen in hindsight right on the money.
Zappa, Lennon, and Phil Ochs are three men whose voices and minds I sorely miss.
=======================================
Indeed.
But don’t sell the Jackson’s short either:
(Beatles).
There is a skip between Jesse costing us millions for a new election and us paying HIM millions. Is this not this faux paw rather shallow for a constitutional scholar. And by the way, what is Bi Polar?
I think he should have to fork over what’s in his campaign account ….. I’m not silent….
Nice article , want to know more about this topic.
how to buy a house
If you don’t already have a copy, get Frank Zappa’s Broadway the Hard Way, an album that lambastes the Republicans of Reagan’s administration, Tammy & Jim Bakker, and Jesse Jackson. The song Rhymin’ Man is hysterical. The whole album is funny and seen in hindsight right on the money.
Zappa, Lennon, and Phil Ochs are three men whose voices and minds I sorely miss.
“A plague on both your houses”
Dems have adopted the Repub creed, “Never speak badly of one of our own.” That’s one of the reasons why we need more political parties.