"I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

[captainsblog]

We have a new member of Congress- one who is an old member of Congress, just not for this neighborhood. The post-census redistricting took us out of the old Jack Kemp-Tom Reynolds-Chris Lee dream district for Republicans, where, for the past 18 months, we were represented by moderate Democrat Kathy Hochul. Kathy won a special election after the last incumbent lost his shirt, but she then lost in a close race earlier this month, in a redrawn district made even redder, to our recently deposed Republican county executive, Chris "King" Collins.

Unlike the other Republican from this area who was narrowly re-elected and has moderated his views, the King shows every sign that he is going to march into Washington as the arrogant, bullyish self we knew and hated from his four years of "running Erie County like a business." A Bain Capital business, that is- cutting fully-paid for social services, hiring cronies, and parking in handicapped spots.  This morning's paper brought this report of his calling-out of his personal lawn jockey, Barack Obama:

While attending freshman orientation sessions in Washington this week, Collins was already challenging the logic of President Obama’s call Wednesday for “middle ground” while still seeking tax increases on the wealthy.

“Clearly, I’m disappointed that the first thing he said was that he would raise taxes on the wealthy,” Collins said. “I was encouraged he said we want to reach across the aisle, but the next thing he said is he didn’t want to cooperate.”

“That’s a nonstarter,” he said of the tax hike proposal, adding that tax increases and job creation “go together like oil and water.”

Read that again. This sad, pathetic little man, who hasn't even been sworn in yet, who has negative seniority in the political pecking order of Washington, is already walking up to the uppity you-know-what and telling him what to do.  I can already picture him taking the "YOU LIE!" tactic at the next State of the Union address- assuming the King doesn't try to kick the President off the podium before the speech starts.

Already, though, the Emperor has been caught short of a few choice items of clothing. Here's another report about the King's wacky frat boy Orientation Week: 

A Democratic staffer camped out at this morning’s caucus meeting for Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s big reveal witnessed a panicky exit by a perplexed newcomer.

“When they welcomed Leader Pelosi and everyone stood up to applaud, a frantic new member got up — breakfast plate in hand — rushed over to me and asked, ‘Wait … what meeting is this?!’ I said, ‘This is the Democratic Caucus.’ He said, ‘Oh s—, I’m in the wrong meeting. Where are the Republicans meeting?’” the anonymous tipster said of the mini-drama.

The confused caucuser? Rep.-elect Chris Collins, R-N.Y.

A Collins aide suggested it was all part of the boss’s master plan.

“Congressman-elect Collins believes very strongly in reaching bipartisan solutions to fix this country’s problems. What better way to accomplish that than introducing himself to his colleagues on the other side of the aisle,” the budding spinmeister assured HOH.

If you believe that, I've got a shirtless tweet of Louise Slaughter to sell you.