Hmmm.., things might be turning around already.

[markw]

It's certainly been an interesting eight months.

First, we have this:

"If they could vote to keep or replace the entire Congress, just 25% of voters nationwide would keep the current batch of legislators.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% would vote to replace the entire Congress and start all over again. Eighteen percent (18%) are not sure how they would vote."

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/august_2009/57_would_like_to_replace_entire_congress

Then we have this:

"Driven by intense voter interest in the topic, the almost-certain promise of media coverage and the opportunity to upstage incumbent Democrats, GOP candidates in state after state are holding their own health care town halls — and reveling in the subsequent publicity bonanza.

The health care events are proving to be a boon for those seeking to oust incumbents, delivering the most precious of political commodities."

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/26491.html

Let's just it's not too late to undo what damage has already been done.

 

[Tomorrow]

It's certainly been an interesting eight months.

First, we have this:

"If they could vote to keep or replace the entire Congress, just 25% of voters nationwide would keep the current batch of legislators.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% would vote to replace the entire Congress and start all over again. Eighteen percent (18%) are not sure how they would vote."

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/august_2009/57_would_like_to_replace_entire_congress

Then we have this:

"Driven by intense voter interest in the topic, the almost-certain promise of media coverage and the opportunity to upstage incumbent Democrats, GOP candidates in state after state are holding their own health care town halls — and reveling in the subsequent publicity bonanza.

The health care events are proving to be a boon for those seeking to oust incumbents, delivering the most precious of political commodities."

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/26491.html

Let's just it's not too late to undo what damage has already been done.

All these oligarchs SHOULD be fired...with good cause.

Most of the current Republicans aren't any great shakes, either.

Among a lot of other things, we sure do need short term limits and strident penalties (like life in prison) for any violations of oaths of office, including lying to congress or the American people about anything.

 

[Matt34]

All these oligarchs SHOULD be fired...with good cause.

Most of the current Republicans aren't any great shakes, either.

Among a lot of other things, we sure do need short term limits and strident penalties (like life in prison) for any violations of oaths of office, including lying to congress or the American people about anything.

I'd really like to know in what point in our history the American people lost the ability to truly hold their represenatives accountable.

 

[jeffsg4mac]

We really need a second party. I say second because we really only have one party now called the republicrats.

 

[aberkowitz]

I'd really like to know in what point in our history the American people lost the ability to truly hold their represenatives accountable.

You operate under the assumption that the American people ever had the ability to hold their representatives accountable in the past.

The founders distrusted the general public so blatantly that they devised the electoral system in such a way that didn't allow the public to directly vote for the President or their Senators (and we ended up with the ridiculous invention known as the electoral college). Throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s, political machines ran major cities with such iron fists that candidates barely even needed to campaign to be re-elected.

I'd say the concept of holding politicians truly accountable for their actions was a phenomenon that came out of the Vietnam war and the baby boom generation being pissed off at a group of people sitting in Washington making decisions for them. It's evolved somewhat over the past 40 years, but I think the American people are only just learning how their government actually works and how much influence they can actually have over politics. Never before in history was it this easy to mobilize a cause.

 

[jeffsg4mac]

You operate under the assumption that the American people ever had the ability to hold their representatives accountable in the past.

The founders distrusted the general public so blatantly that they devised the electoral system in such a way that didn't allow the public to directly vote for the President or their Senators (and we ended up with the ridiculous invention known as the electoral college). Throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s, political machines ran major cities with such iron fists that candidates barely even needed to campaign to be re-elected.

I'd say the concept of holding politicians truly accountable for their actions was a phenomenon that came out of the Vietnam war and the baby boom generation being pissed off at a group of people sitting in Washington making decisions for them. It's evolved somewhat over the past 40 years, but I think the American people are only just learning how their government actually works and how much influence they can actually have over politics. Never before in history was it this easy to mobilize a cause.

All true, and I think some elected officials are going to find out what a bunch of pissed off voters can do in this next election cycle. It's going so suck to be them.

 

[markw]

Personally, I think ALL incumbents should be voted out, but yu know that ain't gonna happen. the nly ones that get ousted are those that pi$$ people off enough to make them want them out.

And, with Obama's water just starting to come to a boil, that looks like it just might happen in 2010/12.

 

[highfigh]

All these oligarchs SHOULD be fired...with good cause.

Most of the current Republicans aren't any great shakes, either.

Among a lot of other things, we sure do need short term limits and strident penalties (like life in prison) for any violations of oaths of office, including lying to congress or the American people about anything.

I've been saying Congress needs to be gutted and that goes for all parties. Let them apply for the job and justify their existence.

I think we should drag out the treason club and beat them with it.

 

[highfigh]

We really need a second party. I say second because we really only have one party now called the republicrats.

I thought they were called Indemocrublicans. Hmmm. I learned something. Not sure I want to see what the have as a mascot.

 

[highfigh]

I'd really like to know in what point in our history the American people lost the ability to truly hold their represenatives accountable.

When we, as a country, took what they were handing out, IMO. If the handouts had been refused and people stood up to say they wanted to do things for themselves, we would still have some power.