Have you taken The Pledge?

Utah's own Congressman Chaffetz was among a dozen-ish Republican Congressmen to appear and speak at the unveiling of the House-GOP's "Pledge to America."

See the official link at Pledge.gop.gov

To me, I'm reminded of the ancient Roman flea standing atop the wheel of a chariot amidst a stir of dust who says "what a great storm we've incited this day!" (I think that's Cicero could be Pliny - can't remember).

I mean it just seems like a poof of dust. Tall on rhetoric short on new ideas. For example from the second page of the intro; An arrogant and out-of-touch government of self-appointed elites makes decisions, issues mandates, and enacts laws without accepting or requesting the input of the many. Classic campaign season blah blah blah.

Can't you just see lead Pledge author Rep Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) sitting at his writing table late into the night, writing by candle light, trying his best to channel his inner Thomas Jefferson...but for what? It's just all so...so...silly.

Try this one - Trust gets it's own section:

A PLAN TO REFORM CONGRESS & RESTORE TRUST

• We will “read the bill” and require legislation be publicly available at least 3 days before voting on it

• We will adhere to the Constitution and require every bill to cite its specific Constitutional Authority

• We will ensure an open and bipartisan debate on all spending bills

• We will advance legislative issues one at a time and end the practice of massive bills that address unrelated issues.

The ironic thing is I DON'T TRUST THE GOP TO DO THIS. It all sounds good, but will they really do it if they take control? Can they really do it? Rhetoric. All stuff that sounds good in an election then never happens. Sigh...

Side note.

Read the sidebar "Why Chaffetz" in the Trib article. I don't think the Tea Party folks would be very happy with the following: Chaffetz said congressional clout is partially based on relationships, and he has become fast friends with some of the leading Republicans in Washington. He said his speaking role “is an expression that they have gained a lot of confidence in me in a very short amount of time.”

I just don't know if Chaffetz can be trusted anymore now that he's so quickly made friends with the Washington elite. ;)