Who knew that Trump mentioned Jaime Herrera in his inaugural speech?

I was stunned yesterday when President Trump singled out our own, utterly-worthless-to-date congresswoman; not by name, of course, but by political genre'.

You remember it, don't you?

Finally, we must think big and dream even bigger. In America, we understand that a nation is only living as long as it is striving. We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action, constantly complaining, but never doing anything about it. (Edit: I added the underline)

(APPLAUSE)

The time for empty talk is over. Now arrives the hour of action.

(APPLAUSE)

We're screwed.  Herrera, who has accomplished absolutely nothing since she parachuted back in here almost a decade or so ago to first, waste our representation in the Legislature and then, to waste it in Congress; has ignored us, ignored our issues, voted more like Moeller than Gingrich and who, up until last week, had gone around six years.... SIX YEARS... without holding an open, FCFS town hall meeting.

Her decision to bail on our president while she sounded like Patty Murray in the process is going to result in this district paying the price for her political shortsightedness.

What has happened here locally during her less than mediocre tenure?

Have our cross-river transportation problems been addressed?

How about our homeless veterans issue getting solved?  How about the fact that veterans have to pay more for medications at the Veterans Administration hospitals than at Fred Meyers?  How about any efforts to reduce federal spending?

These are but a few of the many issues where Herrera has failed us. In fact, her only area of competence to date has been showing a talent for getting reelected by making her constituents actually BELIEVE that she's doing something.

Those of us watching with any knowledge of the political system understand her brilliance at making her constituents confuse motion.... with action.

Will Jaime take the President's remarks to heart?  Given her political cowardice in bailing on her... and correspondingly, this district's... political support of the President, is there ANYTHING our cardboard cutout of a congresswoman can do to get White House help in addressing our issues?

Does she even know what the issues are, given that she doesn't live here or, for that matter, even own a house here?  Think in terms of the ubiquitous phrase "absentee landlord."

I was no particular fan of Brian Baird, even though Herrera was.

 “Not once have you heard me criticize Brian Baird’s performance in Southwest Washington,” she told the (VBJ) editorial board. “Linda Smith and Baird both have an independent streak.”

And that's a shame because when it came to his politics and political leanings, there was much TO criticize.

Where Baird was to be admired... and I do admire him for this... is he worked his ass off.

Almost any week of the year, he would fly back here from DC and face the crowds in "first come, first served" open town hall meetings where he would take on all comers... even when they were pissed at him.

Yes, Jaime finally showed up.  But I fear it's too late given her leftist political cowardice.  And I continue to believe that our years of suffering through the very thing President Trump was referring to... "empty talk" and no action is what we will have to suffer through as long as we are unfortunate enough to have her "representation."

Footnote:  When Herrera was first running for this job, this is what she had to say about the CRC:

Q: Columbia River Crossing: Our congressional delegation warns that the window for securing federal funding for a new I-5 bridge over the Columbia is rapidly closing, and that the region’s failure to reach consensus on a bridge design and the local funding match could kill the project. Do you believe a new crossing is essential to the growth of Southwest Washington? If so, what would you do to break the political gridlock? If not, what if anything should be done to improve the existing spans?

A: If elected, I’ll do everything in my power to make sure the federal government bears the lion’s share of responsibility for completing the Columbia River I-5 Bridge. No one needs to convince those of us who live in Clark County today the need for this project. The interstate highway carries 135,000 cars each day and is a vital artery for freight, meaning jobs in Southwest Washington depend on it. What won’t work is jamming through one plan that lacks local consensus. As a state legislator who represents Clark and Cowlitz Counties, I’ve spent countless hours listening to locals, officials and business leaders discuss this key project. I’ll use my position as this region’s federal representative to bring these interests to the table and secure the federal resources to get it done.

All lies, of course.

She's brought nothing together and secured zilch to "get it done."

It's just damned shame that she hasn't done anything EXCEPT listen.  And when I was picking up that PoliSci degree, I was sure they taught me there was quite a bit more to the job of serving in Congress than merely "listening."

There was also the "doing" component.

And I have yet to see any of that sort of thing from her.