[Vigilanteman]

With rare exceptions, those who venture there eventually get polluted and forget the states/people they represent and just represent their own interests.

The only five exceptions I can think of in my lifetime:

1. President Reagan
   
2. Rep. H.R. Gross of Iowa
   
3. Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina
   
4. Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky
   
5. Sen. Carl Curtis of Nebraska

Perhaps there are others, but you are so right that it is a damn short list.

There is also a handful of those in the present congress who could potentially make that list, but we'll have to see if they can stand the test of time. Even Sen. Barry Goldwater got mildly compromised in the end, albeit mildly.

[bestintxas]

yes it is a small list.

Years ago a Texas Congressman by the name of Bill Archer I had thought was that way too. He was Chairman of the House Ways and Means and always did his own income taxes because he wanted to see for himself how the people had to deal with the IRS and its complications.