Hey, is that a soapbox you have there?
Political debate is a great thing, moreover an essential element of our freedom, as is our pluralistic system for electing national and state representatives. If everyone had the same perspective we would be screwed and would repeat the mistakes of our past faster and more often than we do now.
The problem in my opinion is not in the system, it is in the people "we" chose to represent us. Unfortunately, the most common characteristics found in the people "we" chose are selfishness, self-perpetuation, power and greed. The only purpose their respective constituents serve is to elect them and re-elect them to office. Almost completely lacking in Washington is anyone with the moral fortitude to stand up for the SELF INTERESTS of their respective constituents. Further, very few if any elected officials within the Beltway have ever had a real job further distancing themselves from actually understanding what individual SELF INTERESTS really are (hint: they are a good thing that has made this country the greatest in the history of humankind and will bring it back from its current state despite debilitating, seemingly-insurmountable debts being heaped on future generations) That fault lies squarely at our feet, after all "we" picked them.
The party apparatchiks have long since tossed out the notion of presenting candidates whereby we can vote for quality and substance over party politics. Perhaps we have reached a point where the rank and file will have an opportunity to.
While I am at it. Two other points:
Reagan did not guide or set the Republican party on a path away from Conservatism. The leadership of the GOP and our elected representatives (with the aforementioned characteristics) turned left in the misguided notion that 1) more people will like them, 2) they will get elected or re-elected, and 3) the left will embrace them as sensible, bi-partisans. They were wrong on all three accounts. All they really accomplished was further compromising what little principals they had left and reinforcing the fact that they are really all about advancing themselves and not their constiuents.
In my opinion, the definition of torture is watching political hacks try to destroy the lives of bright, dedicated individuals giving their best to defend the country, for purely political reasons and wrapping it all up in some BS legaleze.
A majority of Americans describe themselves as conservative (small "C") in favor of individual freedom and responsibility, smaller government, lower taxes and less government interference in both personal and business affairs. It sounds like Exon falls into this group. When the GOP comes back to its Conservative (big "C") principals (this does not mean pandering to fundamentalists it means being Conservatives as described above) and sticks to them, they will regain the trust of the American people and will have the opportunity to make significant gains in all elected offices. If they continue to eschew Conservatism, they will continue their losing ways.
Next up for the soapbox.
Specter got exactly what he deserves!
I bet his ass is stinging today after taking Reid's strap-on (actually, he probably borrowed one of Nancy's) all night long.
He deserves it, not for finally coming out of the closet and annoucing what we always knew (he's a democat, wow big surprise) but for so many years of lying to his constituents and pretending to be a Republican. His years of seniority shouldn't count for anything because, as he has clearly stated, his dismal senate career has been based on a lie and that he has really only pursued personal gain. He was seeking chairmanship of either appropriations or judiciary, by switching parties, based upon retaining his 28yrs of seniority (oops) He knew that his own expectations for longevity meant if he wanted to reach his personal goals, he would need to change parties. What a great guy and stellar example of the altruism we can find in so many of our elected officials (yes, I am being sarcastic) If you lay down with dogs, you are going to get fleas (and quite possibly fucked)
This dumb ass just scuttled any hope of reelection, he is now a turncoat and a freshman senator, for all intent and purpose. I guess he didn't notice that the Dems in Washington do not believe in honoring agreements (for example subverting the constitution and reams of contract law to give the UAW 55% of Chrysler) He also, if I may point out, reconfirms point #3 of my previous eloquence (no matter what you do as a RINO, the Libs will still hate you)
This sums up the beauty of last night's Democrat gang bang of Specter (from The Hill's Pundit Blog):
"The Senate last night voted to place Specter in junior slots in each of the committees. That it did so by a unanimous voice vote means that Specter, who told the press he would retain his seniority, raised no objection to his own political emasculation."
What the didn't say is that he couldn't speak because the Dems cut his dick off and stuffed it in his mouth.
The only downside I see here is that this will scare Collins and Snow into remaining Republicans instead of jumping ship too.
Ridge is no conservative so I hope he stays in Maryland doing whatever it is he is doing there (more than likely lobbying)
Obama and friends pulling the strings
Well, foes of Obama don't seem to be fairing that well so far. Cleaning up the mess is going to take awhile (Madhoff, Blagogevich, Edwards, Bank of America, Citibank, GM Ceo - cya dude! Federal prosecutors being used more aggressively than usual. Wonder why?
The deal with fiat is a good sign. Chrysler and GM both going by the wayside. Good riddance. So sad to see all the big bankers needing to plead with the Treasury. Maybe in the future the "stress test" won't treat them so rudely.
We have health care put into motion. A soon to be 60 seat majority and control of the house. The Democratic Party is an arm of Obama's White House and his success shows no signs of slowing.
There is no leadership in the Republican party. Dick Cheney is reeling and a perpetual negative for his party. Who will step up, Michelle Bachmann, Cornyn, or Jeb Bush? I doubt it. The party of "NO."
Even Palin is preferable but the media won't give her the time of day and her daughter's boyfriend dumped her after she had his baby. Oops.
Telling Israel that "no one really gives a F" about you and a high speed rail network proposed.
So far a great 100 days!
