National Democrats Embarass Me
I’ve commented in the past about what national Democrats need to do to keep my support here, here, and here. Basically I encouraged my party to do their level best to not be corrupt greedy incompetent fools like the Republicans they were replacing. I’ve been trying, with ever diminishing success, to ignore the fact that they’ve become everything I was hoping they’d avoid becoming.
Democrats are now trying to push earmark reform in the opposite direction they promised.
“The House Appropriations Committee has decided to insert earmarks into all of the FY08 spending bills during the conferencing committees, instead of during the initial House-only process.
This will prevent lawmakers like Jeff Flake from offering amendments to strip out wasteful pork projects…which is EXACTLY why David Obey, the Approps Chairman, is changing the rules.
Rep. Obey responded to concerns about his actions by stating, “It’s my job to protect the committee.”
Thanks Rep. Obey for betraying the trust voters gave you by putting our party in power. You’ve “protected your committee” and made it easier for politicians in Washington D.C. to raid the national treasury for stupid stupid projects that have nothing to do with the constitutional purpose of our government or the best interest of all Americans
I’m a proud Utah Democrat but I sure hate the smear job our national politicians have perpetrated on our party’s reputation. It is really embarassing to see my party acting worse than the corrupt Republican hacks who were in power before. How can we legitimately argue that America is better off when Democrats win elections? The bozos we put in power in 2006 provide daily evidence in the form of their money grubbing and corrupt policy stands that it makes no difference who wins national elections.
Is it obvious why I tend to avoid national partisan politics more and more on this blog? America loses no matter which party is in power.
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I’m with you, brother. I think I’m painfully disappointed because I had expectations. I didn’t have them with the group before, so, I could just point and say “see? see?” Now, though, it’s through gritted teeth that I mutter “you bastards.”
Comment by JM Bell — May 23, 2007 @ 11:47 am
I was rather hopeful that a Congress filled with Democrats would actually make good on their promises to cut back on lobbyist payoffs, kill earmarks and more clearly define where the war in Iraq will be going. By failing three for three, I think America as a whole is going to deliver a vote of “no confidence” to Democrats in the 2008 election. That leaves me wondering if we’re endlessly consigned to more of the same over-spending, wheel-greasing, lip-servicing Congress we’ve come to know and hate.
That’s why I avoid national politics as much as possible: it makes me angry to know what’s happening and more angry to know there’s not a thing I can do about it.
Comment by Jesse Harris — May 23, 2007 @ 1:07 pm
Mark Tapscott wrote an excellent piece about this issue (new boss same as old boss) today at examiner.com. You’re disgusted with Democrats at the national level. I’m disgusted with Republicans at the national level. Judging by low voter turnout and other signs of apathy, it seems that most of America is disgusted with politics at the national level. I really do believe that it will be people like you, who take the time to thoughtfully lay out their thinking and insights, who will eventually change things.
Comment by Steve Urquhart — May 23, 2007 @ 8:18 pm
Democrats have dropped the ball on several major issues that helped sweep them into office last year, but they have the impossible task of fixing nearly a decade worth of problems in two short years. If they don’t they run the risk of receiving the blame for these problems in the ‘08 election. I don’t think that’s fair since it usually takes a much longer time to find a solution than it does to create a problem.
I do agree with your notion that corruption is cyclical, and I think that a multiple-party, coalition building, system might prove advantageous.
Comment by capitalcarnage — May 24, 2007 @ 9:21 am
I think it’s perfectly fair to hold Congressional Democrats to that high standard… because that’s what they promised. Don’t write checks you can’t cash.
Comment by Jesse Harris — May 24, 2007 @ 9:26 am
Well, if Congressional Democrats did promise to fix things by 2008 then I agree.
Comment by capitalcarnage — May 24, 2007 @ 9:57 am
Sorry CC but Democrats have earned my anger not because they haven’t fixed problems in DC but because they are clearly trying to make it easier for politicians to spend taxpayer money without any actual accountability for the projects they are buying. I wouldn’t be complaining if things were staying the same…at least then I’d be able to argue that they are probably trying to make things better but being stymied by the system. The fact that Democrats are actively making our government less responsive is pathetic and should be embarrassing to all Democratic voters. Rep. Obey and Democratic members of the appropriations committee should be ashamed of themselves.
Comment by Jeremy Manning — May 24, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
I see. I assumed you were talking about the war and earmarks etc. I agree they have dropped the ball on many issues. Such as the ones you listed above.
There doesn’t seem to be anywhere one can turn for an honest representation of fiscal rationality.
What do you think about the viability of a several party system?
Comment by capitalcarnage — May 24, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
As a small “L” libertarian of course I’d love a multi-party system. I’m not well represented by local Republicans or National Democrats I’m not currently a big “L” libertarian because governing coalitions just aren’t realistic in a winner take all political system like that which our constitution set up.
Mr. Urquhart is right that people who really care about what is going on need to speak out publicly and get in closer contact with their political representatives. Our ability to do that is greater now than it has ever been thanks to the internet and I really think we should only support politicians who are open to supporting more transparency in our government and more opportunities for the people to have a say in policies being made. Actions like those of Rep. Obey and Democrats on the approps committee make this less likely and we should all speak out against them when we can.
Comment by Jeremy Manning — May 24, 2007 @ 12:54 pm