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niyad

(132,583 posts)
45. "the distinguished gentleman"
Tue Jul 29, 2014, 09:45 PM
Jul 2014

this movie was made in 92--and even more relevant today:

. .



Synopsis

A Florida con man named Thomas Jefferson Johnson uses the passing of the longtime Congressman from his district, Jeff Johnson (who died of a heart attack while having sex with his secretary), to get elected to the United State Congress as a freshman Congressman, where the money flows from lobbyists. Omitting his first name, and abbreviating his middle name, he calls himself "Jeff" Johnson. He then manages to get on the ballot by pitching a seniors organization, the Silver Foxes, to nominate him as their candidate for office.

Once on the election ballot, he uses the dead Congressman's old campaign material and runs a low budget campaign that appeals to name recognition, figuring most people do not pay much attention and simply vote for the "name you know." He wins a slim victory and is off to Washington, a place where the "streets are lined with gold."

Initially, the lucrative donations and campaign contributions roll in, but as he learns the nature of the con game in Washington D.C., he starts to see how the greed and corruption makes it difficult to address issues such as campaign finance reform, environmental protection, and the possibility that electric power companies may have a product that is giving kids in a small town cancer.

In trying to address these issues, Congressman Johnson finds himself double-crossed by the Chairman of the Committee on Power and Industry, Rep. Dick Dodge. Johnson decides to fight back the only way he knows how: with a con. Johnson succeeds and exposes Dodge as corrupt. As the film ends, it appears likely that Johnson will be thrown out of Congress for the manner in which he was elected, but he defiantly declares, "I'm gonna run for President!" then breaking the fourth wall.

. . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Distinguished_Gentleman

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

This should piss everyone off.... [View all] Playinghardball Jul 2014 OP
Of course if they're not there they can't fuck it up any worse either. hobbit709 Jul 2014 #1
agreed. stage left Jul 2014 #10
Kick... Agschmid Jul 2014 #2
K & R. n/t FSogol Jul 2014 #3
k&r one_voice Jul 2014 #4
But, this IS THE WORK THEY ARE DOING, DONT WE GET THAT YET? randys1 Jul 2014 #5
I just don't understand why they are still refereed as the tea party............ wandy Jul 2014 #17
Think of it this way... Crash2Parties Jul 2014 #31
British government ordered Massachusettes Bay Colony to buy the tea. ieoeja Jul 2014 #59
They see their job as riding the brakes on progress, and in that sense... Beartracks Jul 2014 #61
K&R.... daleanime Jul 2014 #6
k&r for the truth, however depressing it may be. n/t Laelth Jul 2014 #7
They should be payed by the hour Dragonfli Jul 2014 #8
No, not by the hour. Pay them piece rate (number of bills signed into law). PADemD Jul 2014 #26
and you think Crash2Parties Jul 2014 #33
And at the Federal minimum wage too. 47of74 Jul 2014 #54
considering what they are likely to pass if they DO work hfojvt Jul 2014 #9
It is too bad we can't fire the idiots. NOW, not just election time. R or D, this is disgusting. Paper Roses Jul 2014 #11
The only thing that bothers me in your post (and it doesn't OFFEND me) Jackpine Radical Jul 2014 #20
But... butterfly77 Jul 2014 #63
But everyone else is lazy. Enthusiast Jul 2014 #12
They are out FUNDRAISING! That's their full time job, seriously. This is when big Donors Dustlawyer Jul 2014 #13
Not only the time, but YOUR taxpayer money to fund the suit. Tell that to prospecive voters nt Bernardo de La Paz Jul 2014 #14
Looks to me like they are worried. Let's give them lots of things to worry about like JDPriestly Jul 2014 #15
That doesn't piss me off nearly as much as how fucking dumb Americans are that they Liberal_Stalwart71 Jul 2014 #16
The average American is woefully lacking in knowledge of reality. Jackpine Radical Jul 2014 #22
Their only goal is to OBSTRUCT as much as possible. lpbk2713 Jul 2014 #18
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #19
They are scheduled to 'work' only 97 days the entire year!! oldandhappy Jul 2014 #21
And somehow they managed to squeeze 15 Obamacare-repeal bills in there somewhere jmowreader Jul 2014 #44
pay them by the hour, like lawyers, but at $10.10. pansypoo53219 Jul 2014 #23
I'd pay them the current national minimum wage which IIRC is $7.25/hr. Louisiana1976 Jul 2014 #43
While they're gone ChazInAz Jul 2014 #24
+1 Scuba Jul 2014 #38
well, they only get $175,000/year + expenses and staff rurallib Jul 2014 #25
+ graft. NorthCarolina Jul 2014 #58
Nice work...if you can lie cheat steal and buy your way in. SammyWinstonJack Jul 2014 #27
Sweet "work hours". Inkfreak Jul 2014 #28
I'm on my dinner break from a 15 hour day. progressoid Jul 2014 #29
Ah, yes....the August "recess" -- that lasts through most of September and October... MADem Jul 2014 #30
K and R...everyone in this country should see this...EVERYONE...no text Stuart G Jul 2014 #32
Telling.... think Jul 2014 #34
It's amazing they have the nerve MaggieD Jul 2014 #35
I know they usually take all of August off Terra Alta Jul 2014 #36
Too late, I've been pissed off for a while already. Scuba Jul 2014 #37
This OP is misleading Capt. Obvious Jul 2014 #39
yet america elects them over and over and over....what thee fuck???!!! spanone Jul 2014 #40
Someone please alert Mitt! "The Takers" have been tracked down! Arugula Latte Jul 2014 #41
Worst. Congress. Ever. sakabatou Jul 2014 #42
Totally agree yuiyoshida Jul 2014 #47
"the distinguished gentleman" niyad Jul 2014 #45
People forget the Pelosi Congress JohnnyRingo Jul 2014 #46
...and they are not even in a union. L0oniX Jul 2014 #48
It's completely criminal. Rex Jul 2014 #49
Sue the President Aerows Jul 2014 #50
They should only get part time salary. nt Ilsa Jul 2014 #51
Fuckin sacks of shit Blue Owl Jul 2014 #52
Yep libodem Jul 2014 #53
+1! Enthusiast Jul 2014 #55
Boehnor has to go!!!!!!! Major Hogwash Jul 2014 #56
nice work if you can get it... Javaman Jul 2014 #57
The schedule was much the same when Democrats were in control. JayhawkSD Jul 2014 #60
Damn right! butterfly77 Jul 2014 #62
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