Congress is back in session. Oh, how the speeches are flowing on C-Span 1 and 2. Some of it sounds wonderful. All of it sounds as deeply partisan as the Grand Canyon. But, there are clues that what is to come of it all, may have some real benefit for the American people and their future. Here are some positive things I am hearing in all that 'speechifying'.
I have received reports of Vote Out Incumbents signs being stolen, and I have had one of my own stolen and another one vandalized, ripped to shreds. Those of us who have displayed our Vote Out Incumbent signs must be doing something right. Who would do such a thing as vandalize such a sign except a status quo Party supporter?
I dropped my wife at the airport an hour ago, at 5:30 this morning, to catch a plane for Colorado where her employer needs her for 5 weeks. That meant she had to early vote. We had planned to do this yesterday. 2 days ago, I took her to an urgent care clinic to be treated for a fast onset gastro-intestinal illness. They gave her a shot to halt the vomiting, an anti-biotic to kill the bug, and another med to ease the G.I. cramps. Needless to say, when I asked her yesterday if she was ready to go vote, her pale and drawn face looked up at me like I was crazy, and she said, "No, she didn't feel like going anywhere."
In America, we are brought up believing in the two party system, as the only viable choices on Election Day, and that it is our civic duty to vote for one, or the other Party, and their incumbents and challengers. This is a deeply ingrained form of learning in the American psychology. It worked well for America for two centuries. But, it is not working for Americans today.
Continue reading "Voting Out Incumbents Takes Courage and Faith." »
Party leaders, analysts, and political pundits are trying to make sense of the polling data, but, they simply can't. They want to predict November's race outcomes, but, they can't. The growing anti-incumbent movement is the reason.
Continue reading "Billions of Political Dollars - Impotent." »
We have on our web site a new feature, allowing you to easily write your representatives and inform them that you have taken the anti-incumbent pledge. Doing so, will hasten our process of forcing politicians to address our demands for more accountable and responsible representation. Please click here to send your representatives your pledge. On the same page on our web site, you can also look up the candidates for your districts, and there is a link to register to vote for November's elections if you have not already done so.
With the Delaware victory of O'Donnel in the Republican Primary race, odds makers are apoplectic about predicting November's results. It was a "victory" for the Tea Party and a defeat for the moderate mainstream Republicans in Delaware. There have been more than a handful of such victories for the Tea Party since Primary season began. But, does it portend anything reliable for November's results? The answer is no, and here's why.
Continue reading "O'Donnel Victory and the Anti-Incumbent Movement" »
It would tickle some folks pink if they could vote against everyone else's representatives, but, that is a fantasy. In the real world of America, the only representatives that voters can vote for, or against, are the one's in their own legal residence districts. In other words, the only politicians you can hold accountable with your vote, are your own representatives. Understanding and accepting this Constitutional real world fact, points the way to better government.
Former Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska died this morning in an airplane crash. He lived a full life, and many will say he did much to expand the economy of Alaska through the use of federal dollars. For many Alaskans, Ted Stevens was a heroic political figure. All this true and said, Ted Stevens' way of governing, seemingly appropriate for his time in the Senate, is now one of America's greatest liabilities and challenges to overcome. May Ted Stevens and his way of governing rest in peace. The time for fundamental change is well passed due.
Gallup Poll has public confidence in Congress ranking last place of all major U.S. institutions. Like we needed a poll to tell us, the voters, that.
Put aside the finger pointing. Let's look to a permanent solution to British Petroleum's catastrophe and others which will surely follow if the status quo prevails. The heart of the problem is not difficult to grasp, and the solution rests with the voters.
Continue reading "Voter's Needn't Suffer BP Type Catastrophes." »
Evidence of voters pulled toward anti-incumbent voting is mounting. Years ago, VOID came out strongly for the proposition that the most effective anti-incumbent vote is cast in the primaries, where voter turnout is low, and the anti-incumbent vote carries a lot more weight. The potential for the primary anti-incumbent vote is huge, because voters don't have to vote for the opposition party to vote anti-incumbent. They can vote anti-incumbent in their own party's primary election. Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT) was defeated Saturday, and his defeat marks only the beginning of the primary season.
The objective of Vote Out Incumbents Democracy is to force Congress to act more responsibly as representatives of the American people, present and future, as well as in their role as caretakers of our nation. It isn't much, but, it is something positive to see the U.S. Senate unanimously pass a bill depriving themselves of another pay raise this year. The bill still needs to pass the House, but, the prospect is looking good. The Washington Post has the low-down.
If we keep expressing our disappointment in their performance, and back it up with our votes for challengers instead of incumbents, we leave them no choice but to accept that our votes can't be bought for anything less than responsible governance and representation of the common interests of the American people.
The Democrats in the Congress are displaying incompetence and lack of experience in Congressional leadership, and it is costing this nation its future. Republicans are blocking efforts to rescue our future. The majority of voting Americans in 2008, no doubt hoped that with the election of Obama and a Democratic Congress, our nation's problems would be addressed and solved. The disappointment is everywhere in today's political news coverage.
Continue reading "Republicans and Democrats Killing America's Future." »
Failure in Washington is not an option. America last year finished its long circular journey from 1940 to return to the precipice of national collapse. Unlike 1929, however, instead of taking that next drop off step, we sidestepped along the edge of the precipice, where we still remain today; at the edge.
When health care reform was announced as on the agenda, the majority of Americans were for it. Then came the Republicans and other conservatives to convince the American people they didn't want it. Public support dropped below 50%. Then the Democrats came back with facts and data from the CBO, and over time, nearly 75% polled were for health care reform again, and today, 54% want the Public Option, with 40% not wanting it. Just when the Democrats have the public on their side to pass health care reform with the public option with the majority of the public's blessing, what do they do? Less than 10 of them, including Senate Leader Harry Reid, refuse to put the Public Option in place, creating dissent and havoc in the ranks of Democrats.
Rep. Jack Murtha (Pa.) is but one example of the need to vote out incumbents whose power has corrupted them. The Washington Post, this morning is running a story:
The case appears to be gaining momentum. It continues to fuel questions about the role that Murtha -- chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on military spending -- played in arranging contracts, congressional earmarks and the like for favored companies.
In a reply to a fellow political debater of the Democratic persuasion, over at the WatchBlog web site, I had occasion to recount the fable of the frog and the scorpion as it relates to federal governance in the coming years.
There is an old adage, you can lead a horse to water but, you can't make it drink.
Pres. Obama promised transparency. And in unparalleled fashion, we have it on the White House's public web site covering who is getting how much with tax payer's economic recovery spending. We know how much the banks are getting, the Fed has committed to, and how much GM and Chrysler are into taxpayers for. So, what are voters going to do with this information?
The lines are drawn in all manner of peculiar and gerrymandered shapes around the issue of health care. Seems nearly everyone talking about it is attempting to obfuscate the core issue at hand: For Profit vs. Not-For-Profit health care insurance in America. Incumbents are getting loads of promises, threats, and campaign money for their war chests on this issue.
Sen. Diane Feinstein canceled a campaign fundraiser after the Roll Call published a Lobbyist's invitation to constituents inviting them to attend. The invitation to donate to Feinstein's campaign listed Feinstein's various Committee roles as meal courses on the fundraiser's luncheon menu (i.e. power on the menu to be bought).
This afternoon, at his televised California town hall meeting, Obama said he knows folks are angry about the AIG bonuses. He said he is angry about them. He says blame is flying everywhere, at Treasury, Democrats, and Republicans. He said if folks need to blame someone, blame him. He said, ultimately, I am responsible. I am the president. All well and good as far as it goes. His words, however, don't allude to the depth of the first major black mark on his presidency.
When the electorate, predominantly Republican, will elect a Democrat, rather than their convicted felon incumbent Sen. Ted Stevens, there is hope and reason to work within the Vote Out Incumbents Democracy movement and organization. Congratulations Alaska, on narrowly doing the right thing. We empathize with the only other choice being a Democrat.
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