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Dick Durbin

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U.S. Senator

The Resume

    (December 21, 1944- )
    Born in East St. Louis, Illinois
    Birth name is Richard Joseph Durbin
    Democratic Congressman from Illinois (1983-1997)
    Democratic Senator from Illinois (1997- )
    Senate Minority Whip (2005-2007)
    Senate Majority Whip (2007- )
    Of Irish and Lithuanian descent
    Roman Catholic
    Made comments over prisoner treatment at Guantanamo Bay (2005)
    The Gitmo remark (June 14, 2005): 'If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans have done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime - Pol Pot or others - that had no concern for human beings. Sadly, this is not the case. This was the actions of Americans in the treatment of their prisoners.'>His apology (June 21, 2005): 'More than most people, a senator lives by his words...occasionally words fail us, occasionally we will fail words.'

Why he might be annoying:

    On June 14, 2005, he made a speech on the Senate floor, comparing prisoner treatment in places like Guantanamo Bay to those used by regimes like Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union and the Khmer Rouge.
    That remark was so controversial that not only was he accused of treason (and received nicknames like 'Turban Durbin' and 'Dick Turban' from commentators), but former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was calling for the Senate to censure him.
    He is referred to as 'Dick' instead of 'Richard.'
    Like many politicians and political pundits, he is taking sides in the Hillary vs. Obama speculation over the Democrats' 2008 candidacy for President.
    He was a lawyer prior to entering politics.
    His voting record is very partisan.
    He votes against tort reform. (Can't afford to lose out on those campaign contributions from law firms?)
    Before 1989, he supported a Constitutional amendment to nullify Roe v. Wade.
    He lost every election prior to 1982, including one for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He made a teary apology over the Gitmo remark, one week after making it.
    He read an FBI report and called for investigations into the Gitmo situation.
    His voting record is consistent with the Democratic party.
    In 1989, he changed his position on abortion, even voted for Medicaid funding.
    He grew up poor and had to work his way through high school, college, and law school.
    His political experience includes interning, legal counsel, and parliamentarian.
    He interned for U.S. Senator Paul Simon.
    He supports strong environmental protection, including blocking any drilling of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
    Unlike most senators who just read prepared speeches, he prefers debating his colleagues on the Senate floor.
    His mother immigrated to the United States from Lithuania, and both of his parents worked on the railroad.

Credit: Obscure Anomaly


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 75 Votes: 44.00% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 91 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 171 Votes: 54.97% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 247 Votes: 48.99% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 649 Votes: 48.23% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1152 Votes: 62.93% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 768 Votes: 72.92% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 179 Votes: 79.89% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 3645 Votes: 47.85% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 3889 Votes: 56.57% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 1409 Votes: 68.56% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 6363 Votes: 53.17% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 5182 Votes: 53.20% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 1931 Votes: 58.36% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 1608 Votes: 59.33% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 1657 Votes: 66.02% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 682 Votes: 80.35% Annoying