So, What’s Up Congress? Is There Any Courage Left in Washington
Congress will shortly return from a holiday break and none too soon. The very hot Presidential election has buried some of the challenges that have been glossed over by this Congress, Yes, there is an economic package, but there is hardly a stir over issues that simply cannot wait for the next President.
Some important examples: There is still no conclusion of the investigation of the dramatic overcharges by contractors in Iraq. How about it Democratic – controlled Congress- are you afraid to go after the corporate criminals?
Where is the oversight on the horrible treatment that many wounded veterans, physically and emotionally, are receiving at veteran’s hospitals. This is a national disgrace, isn’t it?
Instead of spending all that time on sports steroids, how about unearthing the truth about the greed on Wall Street that caused the mortgage scandal that has sent our economy into a dive? Some of the biggest brokerage houses were involved.
What happened to the investigation of oil prices and the exorbitant profits by some of the bigger companies during this time of oil inflation?
And whatever happened to the probe of our relations with Saudi Arabia? One of Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee’s more controversial positions is a call to break ties that with that regime. It’s a little far out, but it is certainly worth a debate.
The bottom line to all of this is the clear fact that this Congress remains asleep at the wheel, unable to tackle the issues it was elected to attack.
Certainly, George W. Bush’s Presidency has been uninspiring on the major issues facing this nation. But the 535 members of the House and Senate have not exactly been profiles in courage,
Three U.S. Senators are running for President. Let’s hope the winner has the guts to light a fire under a timid and tame Congress.
Comments(12)
Larry, I assume that this is a rhetorical question. Congressman with the courage of conviction? Not in my lifetime.
#1 Priority is re-election. How do they go about that?
1) Build a war chest of money. All money accepted, thank you. Private interests and businesses make up the vast majority of fund raising. They are now beholden.
2) Party allegance. Voting on party line. Voting on buddy bills. Voting on pork barrel legislation. Don’t break ranks. Don’t make waves.
3) It’s all about looking like your busy without actually doing anything. Press conference, bogus investigations, partisan dialogue, etc. You only act when the public outcry becomes so strong that you are afraid that you will be voted out of office.
4) Parochial interests first. Get something for your district. You can go back to your constituency and beat your chest.
These people couldn’t get courage from the Wizard of Oz.
Cynical, you bet.
Answers:
1) One term elected officials. No more pensions, salary increases, opulent lifestyles, lifetime members (Byrd, Kennedy, O’Neil, etc.) These are public servants, this is not a country club.
2) More scrutiny by the press. The press has become as jaded as most Americans. We expect so little from Congress that we are rarely disappointed by them. The bar is too low.
3) More active role by citizens. Call your Congressman. Flood their office with calls. Get involved. We have no one to blame but ourselves.
Congress is like kids. If we aren’t involved, they will behave badly
congress is a disgrace.They investigate
nonsense and expect the american people to just sit back and agree with them,How can we agree with them when they can not agree with each other.I’m for term limits also,they get elected and then sit on their(bottoms) and coast for the rest of their terms,
After this election is over,I don’t think I will ever vote again.I am disgusted,discouraged and fed up.
Pelosi and Reid are making one bad call after another. How did these two end up as the leaders of the House and Senate? Surely there are Dems with a better read on strategy, who might actually advance the party’s agenda. They’re wasting their opportunity to show that Democrats are poised to lead and provide direction.
Rick, Pat, Leo,
You are all disenchanted enough to begin making the difference. Vote them out. We have a term limit provision in place now – it’s the election. The problem is that it’s always the OTHER congressman that is no good, never mine. None of those folks are in there by executive order, we put them there and we have the right and the obligation to displace them when they become ineffective.
BTW, Pelosi and Reid are there by virtue if seniority.
I’m with Rick…they are the poster children for why term limits are neccessary. 2 terms for Senate, 3 terms for Congress. And cut back on the pension perks for those terms.
Larry , you know why congress is so timid and unresponsive? The media scrutiny has made our leadership gun shy. They won’t act until a poll has been taken or an idea has been run up the flagpole for indications of which way the political winds are blowing. Making a simple mistake can be career ending if enough press is given to the matter. Look at Hillary and her plagiarism accusation. If it has legs she will beat it to death using the media coverage. Who can work in that kind of atmosphere? I want our representatives in government to have fun and enjoy themselves. You know, like the creative minds at Google and Yahoo. Let’s get rid of all those desks in the Senate and replace them with foosball and pool tables. Maybe put in a juice bar and gigantic screen TV. That way everyone on the floor can interact and not be restricted by their political affiliation. A healthy exchange of ideas may occur. What have we got to lose?
I say let’s get on this right away, but first let’s take a poll and then run it by some constituents to see if this has any merit.
I agree with both Larry and formerly Jim (#4). They suck, and it is our fault. Term limits are built in by way of having to be elected to another term. I like to be able to ratify an elected official that is doing well, and fire one that isn’t. If Nutter does half the job I think he will, then I want him for the next 30 years.
I am so tired of “they” this, and “they” that. There is no “they”. It is us, for we put them in office, we keep them in office. Sometimes I think people don’t vote or vote their party line because they like to complain. The buck doesn’t stop with elected officials, primarily because it is our buck, and subsequently our responsiblity. People really need to realize that, otherwise it will continue to be a government of the few, by the few and for the few.
Formerly Jim, it’s not seniority. The Speaker of the House is elected by the representatives. And Byrd from West Virginia has been in the Senate longer than Reid has. Someone in Washington D.C. elected these tone-deaf “leaders” to their leadership positions
Leo,
Sorry about the speaker. I was asleep at the wheel there. Most of the plum positions are the result of the seniority system. Freshmen don’t get much. You seem to get credit and better committee spots by weathering elections.
And Byrd may be beyond seniority.
You’re right about the “leaders”. They are beyond tone deaf.
It’s time to clean House (and Senate)!
I get a kick out of the people who just think Congress will snap its fingers and things happen. I also get a kick out of the people who assume that everybody’s voting on party lines. Talk about uninformed statements! The Democratic majority in the Senate is in the hands of a man who hasn’t voted all year because of a brain hemmorage, and another (Joe Lieberman) who isn’t a Democrat and they are lucky that he is even caucusing with them. It’s not a majorith that they can do anything with. In the House, the Democrats had to run non-traditional candidates (not party line walkers) in order to get a majority there. If everybody voted the party line, than the Democrats would be able to run their investigations, and they would be able to vote against the President. The Republicans are voting the party line, but the Democrats aren’t, hence the stalemate.
Gridlock. Republicans couldn’t do anything (except tax cuts) when they controlled both houses. Democrats haven’t done a thing since they regained control (except stimulus package).
Too much partisanism. Not enough pressure to act. Too much inertia and indifference. Congress has fallen and it can’t get up.
The Majority Strategy: Don’t do anything that might jeopardize the presidency. (that means don’t do anything at all). Once we win and take control of congress and the white house, then we’ll do whatever we want.
The Minority Strategy: Don’t do anything that might jeopardize the presidency and lesson our chance to control congress once again. (that means don’t do anything at all). Once we win and hold on to the white house and possibly take control of congress, then we’ll do whatever we want.