Want to Change Congress?

[sarawind]

South Carolina Republicans nominated a tea party-backed Indian-American woman to run for governor and a conservative black man to run for Congress from the former Confederate state. Another incumbent congressman lost. So did a Senate hopeful chosen by Washington Democrats.
Themes of the November midterm elections popped up in the handful of primaries and runoffs held Tuesday in four states, the latest cluster of contests to determine matchups for the congressional elections just over four months away.

It's shaping up to be an unpredictable year with several variables ? from the sluggish economy to President Barack Obama's popularity to lingering resentment over lawmaker votes for the 2008 Wall Street bailout ? affecting races across the country. The one clear element is the electorate's disgust with establishments of any kind; angry voters routinely are casting ballots against candidates with ties to Washington and the national political parties.

2010 themes pop up in runoff results - Yahoo! News

I can see November from my house.

 

[Andy A]

Its shaping up to be a blood bathe for all incumbents regardless of party and rightly so. We still need term limits.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

And don't forget to show the lobbyist the door while we're cleaning the house.

 

[Sheila]

And don't forget to show the lobbyist the door while we're cleaning the house.

Amen sistah! That should be the first order of business.

 

[Rita]

And don't forget to show the lobbyist the door while we're cleaning the house.

.

 

[Andy A]

A word about lobbyists. Sometimes, depending on the subject and the knowledge of it, a lobbyist can supply invaluable information to an elected official. The problem comes when they cease supplying information and instead begin influencing decisions. If there is a way to provide one and stop the other, we could have the best of both worlds but I don't see that happening, so I guess its best to get rid of them and let the elected officials and staffers do their own research. (In many cases, wishful thinking when they don't even bother reading the bills they pass.)

 

[Alicia Leonard]

A word about lobbyists. Sometimes, depending on the subject and the knowledge of it, a lobbyist can supply invaluable information to an elected official. The problem comes when they cease supplying information and instead begin influencing decisions. If there is a way to provide one and stop the other, we could have the best of both worlds but I don't see that happening, so I guess its best to get rid of them and let the elected officials and staffers do their own research. (In many cases, wishful thinking when they don't even bother reading the bills they pass.)

Without the special interest, maybe they would have to actually read what they are voting on.

 

[sarawind]

Without the special interest, maybe they would have to actually read what they are voting on.

Many of them pass the reading and research to their staff. Same problem there as with some lobbyists - staff with agenda.

 

[Here4Good]

Many of them pass the reading and research to their staff. Same problem there as with some lobbyists - staff with agenda.

Yes, everyone - the congressperson and their staff - are all looking for their post-governmental high-paying gig.

Kinda like our former state senator.

 

[futurebeachbum]

Yes, everyone - the congressperson and their staff - are all looking for their post-governmental high-paying gig.

Kinda like our former state senator.

Nowadays, that's the basic reason people run for President. The power is nice (and ages them) but the real payoff happens after they leave office.

For example, Bill Clinton made $200k/year as President. He's earned well over $100 million since leaving office.

That makes 8 years of putting up with power, the Congress and the occasional intern well worth it.