174 Comments
Feb 7, 2023Liked by Jeff Jackson

Thank you for your newsletter. I like reading your experiences as a new Congress person and what your impressions are. I have never known of a newsletter like this and am grateful to get a bit of an inside and personal view.

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Thank you for being the adult in the room.

We need more adults who understand when they pass through the doors into the chamber, they are no longer Democrats or Republicans, they are Americans representing other Americans, and the needs of the people must come before all else.

Hope you get to meet Angie Craig soon. She's an adult in the room. Tell her I said hi.

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Great update Jeff! Thanks for being forthright and down to earth. And do please watch your back. The same people who have two faces, a public and a private one, are likely to have two ways of dealing with people - a friendly informal way, and a ruthless, public stab-you-in-the-back way. Watch yourself! Work with them in the best way that you can, but do not make the mistake of thinking they are your friends when they have the chance to make political points at your expense. Armor yourself against the public attacks that are sure to come as you gain more influence.

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Excellent newsletter. As constituents, we never get glimpses into the day to day work so thank you for this very transparent approach to reporting on how you represent us each day! Greatly appreciated!

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Feb 7, 2023Liked by Jeff Jackson

Excellent insight and well-written newsletters that are just the right length and tone. Really enjoy your perspective and novel approach to communicating the "inside story" of how the legislative sausage is made -- or at least how some of the factory gears appear to a fresh set of eyes.

Thank you and keep it up!

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In this, an aspirational democracy, the gaps between The People and their representatives have become perilously deep and are widening. As one of your early supporters, I'm encouraged by your communications as, so far, they indicate the hope I've invested in you is well placed. I also hope and trust your words and deeds will have a positive influence on your less honorable colleagues. Thank you.

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Can you run for Senate next week?

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Please keep your message coming. They make me feel like exhaling.

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Want to add my thanks for your determination to remain true to your "not just a politician" character. I want to second Mr. Kirchoff's comment about watching your back, even if you think you have a good read on the folks with whom you are interacting; there are always several agendas being pursued at once. Finally, I wanted to pass on an anecdote credited to Harry S Truman, about his initial experiences in the Washington whirl: "For the first 90 days, I wondered, 'How the hell did I ever get here?' After that, it was, 'how the hell did all the REST of these people ever get here???' "

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I really like these snippets of how things work behind the scenes.

On another front, I wonder exactly what it is George Santos is doing to earn his $174,000 per year, salary, besides justifying his lies and fending off reporters?

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Feb 7, 2023·edited Feb 7, 2023

I am loving this newsletter, which has come as a complete surprise to me (you were exactly right when you said "...you assumed you had no interest in reading a newsletter written by some politician you’d never heard of"!)

I am thrilled to hear your revelation about your colleague whose public persona is diametrically opposed to their actual character. I have never been more cynical about politicians than I am now. I hate distrusting you all, but the constant barrage of aggressive, scheming, divisive public posturing has slowly and steadily eroded my basic faith in politicians-as-human-beings. Stories about the real actual humans comprising our government are so welcome! More, please.

And I love love love the idea of your committee "nerding it out in the corner"!

One quick question: if I am not in your district, is it still cool to contact you with suggestions? Every time I have contacted a politician not directly representing me they have politely but firmly turned me away

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I saw Zoe Lofgren on MSNBC today talking about the work of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. She sounded really excited about it. Congratulations on being involved in what sounds like interesting work.

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Thank you for humanizing everything you're experiencing and for reminding us all to keep our hearts and minds open!

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Thank you for reminding us, Jeff, that Congresspersons are people too! Keep on sharing – we need to hear your perspective.

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So glad you were elected to represent my district and I'm sure you'll do your very best for us despite the grenades thrown by the extremists controlling the House majority. Hopefully, that'll change in 2024. I'm all for compromise and I encourage you to seek working alliances with your political opponents to get commonsense laws passed. However, when it comes to the unnamed anomaly of whom you so eloquently wrote, I simply can't square brilliance with lack of character. Feigned or not. So, please please look both ways before crossing the aisle.

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Thank you for taking time to reflect your experience to folks at home in NC and all over the US. A line an India Aire song, One, has been my guiding light in social interactions: "And we all want the same things: health, love, prosperity and peace' I place this mantle over my heart and hope I find common ground. I hope you continue to find common ground with your colleagues.

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