cyranoVR's Journal: Iraq Aid Package "Passed" by Voice Vote

Well I saw this on the Daily Show the other night and I could barely believe it. The Senate "approved" the much vaunted Iraq aid package bill with a voice vote. Why "approved?" Because only a handful of senators were in the chamber at the time of the vote!

I watch CSPAN a lot, so I am aware that voice votes are commonplace in our legislature. However, usually those common voice votes are reserved for small resolutions, not much-hyped $87 billion spending packages!

The analysts are saying that the Senators are avoiding the vote so they won't have to go on official record as against or even for the spending package. Maybe my own analysis is overly-simplistic, but I'll state it anyway: political dialog in this country has degraded to the point that our representatives are too timid to take a position on anything controversial! The risk of an ensuing media smear campaign (*cough*Fox News*cough*) outweighs any concerns of "dignity."

Note that when I say "controvesial" I am refering to issues like spending legislation - not bullshit high-school debate team topics like affirmative action, anti-semitism, abortion, school prayer, etc. That's the easy stuff. It's political fast-food.

On a more subjective note: Bush/Cheney/Rumsfield/Ashcroft have damaged civil public dialog by overtly challenging the patriotism of anyone who questions their policies (such as this spending bill) for any reason.

And yes, I am aware that half the bill is a loan, and that looks really bad too (hence senators staying away from it - it's not just a pro/anti-Bush issue).

The whole bill is complicated and difficult to take a position on. But at the end of the day, there are only two votes: yay or nea. If the bill isn't clear enought that they can pick one, maybe it needs more work?

Bottom line: there should have been a roll call vote!!!

This crap is making me think seriously about voting Green.

yeah

[mekkab]

This crap is making me think seriously about voting Green.

This crap is making me think seriously about voting ANYTHING BUT REPUBLICAN.

P.S.- I'm a registered Green. Yep, I'm a dreamer.

Oust 'em All

[KMAPSRULE]

This crap is making me think seriously about voting Green.

I would love to see current set of democrats and republicans ousted, senate and house term limits imposed, and $0.00 In pay to House and senate elected officials,other than travel expenses, and anytime spent away from Their day jobs salary coverage. We need to get rid of professional polititions and get Representatives that are actually Representative of the population.

Re:Oust 'em All

[Tattva]

If you think things are bad now, try to imagine a bunch of senators that must rely on favors from special interests to feed their children. Think I'm kidding?

You're dreaming if you think that no-salaried positions will attract altruists. It will push them away and all that will be left is the even more unscrupulous.

Re:Oust 'em All

[Safety Cap]

Only allow them to earn the median income of their state (Senators) or district (Reps). Then if the state sucks, they don't get paid. It would then be in their best interests to raise the minimum wage, provide jobs and housing, etc. rather than pander to the wealthy only.

For an even better fix, why not set the number of reps to one of the original calulations [census.gov] instead of being capped off at and 435? Then you'd hopefully have enough people in the house to stand up for stuff instead of rolling over as they di

Re:Oust 'em All

[Tattva]

You have it backwards, Safety Cap. The more representatives, the more cabalistic and mean (small) they act. With 400 rep's, each one doesn't have enough time on the floor and enough of a voice in general to express their views. 100 Senators each can have a sufficient share of the floor for all but the most fast-track legislation.

With 100 senators, at least a few times a year each one's vote can swing a committee or even the floor vote. This forces compromise and discourages partisanship.

With 400 rep

Re:Oust 'em All

[ces]

I would love to see current set of democrats and republicans ousted, senate and house term limits imposed, and $0.00 In pay to House and senate elected officials,other than travel expenses, and anytime spent away from Their day jobs salary coverage. We need to get rid of professional polititions and get Representatives that are actually Representative of the population.

This isn't really practical. The US government is a complicated enough entity that being a Congressman or Senator is pretty much a full ti

Shoe. Other foot.

[Red Warrior]

The risk of an ensuing media smear campaign (*cough*Fox News*cough*) outweighs any concerns of "dignity."

The only change is that now the left is on the receiving end.

Who's Smearing Whom?

[bmetzler]

The risk of an ensuing media smear campaign (*cough*Fox News*cough*) outweighs any concerns of "dignity."

What about the Democrats that voted for the war or the Patriot Act? Now some "other" Democrats are smearing them. Unless these "other" Democrats have become spokespeople of Fox News, and I wasn't aware of it.

I'm not sure it's Fox News reporting that is keeping them from voting. I think it is prejudice in the Democratic party that is scaring them away from voting.

Besides, aren't they there to wor

Stop Wasting Bandwidth

[cyranoVR]

What you have nothing to say about Alpha Wives and Beta Husbands [slashdot.org]? I guess your brain can't shift gears past the political bullshit. This JE is already stale, say something interesting (for once) or go away.