Kick Some Political Ass TODAY (and Tomorrow)

You don't need me to tell you that it has been a challenging three weeks since the world started falling apart.  As if the problems on the federal level weren't bad enough, the Iowa legislature is gutting collective bargaining for state employees, including teachers, ended funding for women's medical screenings (damn you, vaginas!), and want to put machine guns in the hands of every 9 year old.

Over the past few weeks we have seen the best and the absolute worst from what elected officials can represent.  On the Iowa Senate Floor, we watched as Senator Nate Boulton stood up for Reproductive Freedom and was consequently attacked by festering pile of human feces, Senator Amy Sinclair (VIDEO).  We've seen the power of the people as we marched to defend immigrants and refugees (ARTICLE).  And let's be honest, it was fricken' beautiful when (former) Senator Kent Sorenson was convicted of corruption and his family had a titty attack all over the media because, you know, the media MADE him take bribes (VIDEO).

So it should be no huge surprise when I preach that we MUST hold our elected officials accountable, regardless on which side of the aisle they sit.  This past Saturday, my oldest daughter, Heaven, and I attended (yet another) public forum that included Iowa State Representative Rick Olson (D-IA-31).  Mr. Olson is a Democrat who has "served" the East Side of Des Moines since 2005.  I use this terms loosely because he leads all the Democratic Leaders in the Iowa House of Representatives in the Most Missed Votes.  From 2009 to 2015, Rep. Olson missed an astounding 226 votes (See them here).  So when Heaven asked Representative Olson about his truly awful voting record (Live Stream Here - 7 minutes in), Mr. Olson was decidedly taken back and instantly defensive.  Well, what did we expect?  It was the follow up e-mail and tawdry banter about this exchange that greatly disturbed me! 

On Tuesday, February 7th at 3:42 PM, Mr. Olson shot off an e-mail to Heaven entitled, "Saturday Forum".  Rick found it necessary to explain in great, excruciating detail, why he often can't find time in his busy schedule as an attorney to vote on matters before the Iowa House of Representatives AND why he couldn't meet with her and my niece last Thursday after the Senate voted to gut family planning funding.  Heaven wanted to (finally) meet her Representative and (of course) he was not on Capitol property.   

What was so incredibly disturbing about his e-mail is the over-the-top condescending tone of the message.  This was my personal favorite line, "Regarding last Thursday, we had caucus at 10:30 A.M.  I went to lunch with Representative Bob Kressig at 12:30 P.M.  He ate soup, I ate nothing." 

Okay, so this guy is a massive baby cry-cry.  Whatever.  I get it, we hurt his teeny, tiny, baby feelings.  What I don't get, is why he felt it was necessary to complain about Heaven while he was in the Public Safety Meeting at 1:00 PM on Tuesday.  By name.  To legislators.  About HIS constituent.  What. The. Hell?  I mean, Really?  Just like Kent Sorenson wasn't forced to take bribes and just like Amy Sinclair wasn't forced to be a flaming shitbag, Heaven didn't FORCE Representative Olson to miss more votes than any other member of the house!  For Pete's sake, the Iowa State Capitol building is on the EAST SIDE of Des Moines!  He could just about WALK to work every day! 

So I hereby declare, REGARDLESS of party affiliation, REPRESENTATIVES MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE!  Yeah, our brash approach may hurt the fragile, baby feelings of our elected officials.  We may rub Donnie Trump and Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell the wrong way when we protest their disregard of the Constitution.  And when our "friends" on the left fall down on THEIR duty to represent the voice of the people, it is OUR job to call them out too! 

IT IS THEIR JOB TO GO TO WORK AND REPRESENT THEIR CONSTITUENTS! 

DO YOU JOB, REPRESENTATIVE - OR WE WILL FIND SOMEONE MORE WILLING TO SHOW UP TO WORK EVERY DAY TO EXPRESS THE VOICE OF THOSE WHO ELECTED YOU! 

Much Love,
Heather Ryan
Pissed Constituent and Protective Mother