I'm ready for my public Ledge flogging

[DavidMn]

Oh boy, this is worth than a Catholic confession. Hold on, lemme get the strength to get this out. Ok, here it is:


I voted for one REPUBLICAN


His name is Jim Ramstad and he represents the third district of Minnesota which includes Hennepin county. Jim is a wonderful man and personal friend who DOES NOT follow the party line. In fact, he was recently cited as the Republican in congress with the second most votes against Bush policies.

I must tell you a personal story with regards to my friendship with Jim. I used to work at a gas station in a town called Wayzata near my home. Jim would come in every weekend on his returns home from congress and we'd always chat aboiut things. He didnt like Tom DeLay that's for sure! Anyhoo, one time I was talking with him about how the only time I'd been to Washington I'd never gotten a chance to see the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution. SO he gave me the number of his secratary in D.C and told me to call her and they'd set things up. now I know mos congresspeople will do some sort of favor for a constituent that writes and says theyre coming to D.C. Jim went way above the acll of duty. First of all, I got a tour of the FBI, which was fascinating. Second, a VIP tour of the White House in which his chief of staff and a secret service agent escorted myself and one other couple on a peraonal tour. That was cool because We didnt have to wait in the long lines outside. Finally, and this is the real kicker, on my last day there he told me to meet him at his office at 11:45 A.M for a special surprise. I was eager with anticipation as I arrived. First thing when I walked into his office he introduced me personally to all his staff as his friend David from Minnesota. The came the surprise. He said Let's go to lunch. SO I was like where are we going. He said You'll see. We proceeded to walk into a private side entrance to the Capitol building and entered the MEMBERS ONLY DINING ROOM!!!! I was completely floored. You wont believe who sat at our table as we ate lunch. here's the roll call:

Hilary Clinton
Tom Daschle
Arlen Specter
Barney Frank
Paul Wellstone

SO after we finished lunch he had one mero surprise for me. We went out onto the front steps oif the Capitol where a photographeer was waiting to take our picture. I truly wish we could all have a representative as decent and kind as Jim Ramstad. That's one reason I keep my voting up there instead of Austin. And as Paul Harvey says, "Now you have the rest of the story."