The Political Fish

A disturbing memo circulating among the Democrat leadership was leaked this past weekend by Politico detailing a timeline for the ObamaCare bill, as well as the fact that the American public should not be privy to how the bill gets passed.

Shut up and deal with it America. We will pass it by any means necessary, including subverting the processes put in place.

This type of behavior is telling of the Democrat majorities motivation to remake this Republic at all cost. Its not the crown jewel of ObamaCare…its the power to do what they will no matter what. Its a tempting treat for the majority party and one that cannot and will not be allowed by the American people. We still love our freedom no matter how many freebies you think you can throw at us. Here is the memo published from Politico. You must read it. You must understand what these people are all about. Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) everyone.

The Van Hollen memo also advised members to avoid talking about the process.

“At this point, we have to just rip the band-aid off and have a vote — up or down; yes or no? Things like reconciliation and what the rules committee does is INSIDE BASEBALL,” the memo says. “People who try and start arguments about process on this are almost always against the actual policy substance too, often times for purely political reasons.”

Leadership expects a CBO score on the reconciliation package by today or Monday. No decisions have been made on how the final process will unfold on the House floor, the memo says. So it appears Democrats are still grappling with whether they can use the process to pass the Senate bill without voting directly on the bill. Many Democrats view the Senate bill’s deals and policies as a toxic political mix that they would rather not endorse without first making changes to it.

Finally, the memo recommends staffers put together in-district events during the Easter recess where their lawmakers can highlight all the immediate benefits reform would provide.

Full memo after the jump.

UPDATE: A Van Hollen aide says that the memo went out to the district directors of freshmen and sophomore members who were fielding questions about timing and procedure and were looking for scheduling guidance.

Hi all –

Attached and below are some good resources to get through the health care push next week.

Here is my best guess on timeline but as always this is Congress so it could all change very quickly:

TODAY or MONDAY: CBO will publish final scores on legislative language

THEN: House Budget Committee must approve using the reconciliation process to pass this

THEN: The bill will go to the Rules Committee, rule will be constructed for consideration on the floor, and language will be posted online (on the Rules website) and the 72-hour clock will start. When this happens, we will start to have a better idea on what the process will be.

THEN: A Manager’s Amendment will be constructed that will make some final changes

THEN: The Manager’s Amendment will be posted online and the 72-hour clock will start (this may overlap with the 72-hour clock on the reconciliation language). When Manager’s Amendment is done final process decisions will be locked in.

THIS MEANS: We will likely vote Friday or Saturday. (As you probably saw, POTUS pushed back the departure for his Asian trip from Thursday the 18th to Sunday the 21st; this was not a coincidence.) The Speaker has publically committed to trying to get a vote on both the reconciliation bill and the Senate bill on the same day. They are still trying to work out the final process on this and much of what we do depends on what the Senate Parliamentarian decides. You may be receiving calls about the “Slaughter Rule” and other rumors about what the process will be. Again, please understand: no decision has yet been made on the process for consideration on the House floor.

Key points:

1. I would have your Member’s schedule pretty clear for next weekend. They will either be here or exhausted (or both).

2. I continue to encourage all of you not to get into debates about process and to try and persuade your Member not to get into process arguments either. At this point, we have to just rip the band-aid off and have a vote — up or down; yes or no? Things like reconciliation and what the rules committee does is INSIDE BASEBALL. People who try and start arguments about process on this are almost always against the actual policy substance too, often times for purely political reasons.

3. Finally, I encourage you to study the final attached slide (#14) and give some thought to what your plan is post-vote, especially during Easter Work Period. If your Member is a yes, or might be a yes, I would lay the groundwork for some events to highlight the reforms that will quickly become law – no more donut hole, dependent children covered until 26, insurance access for those with pre-existing conditions, etc.

It was a private memo. It got leaked. And for that, Mr. Van Hollen should be removed from office immediately for openly calling for subversion tactics, and tactics to force legislation without the consent of the governed.

The definition of sleaze in Washington. Representative Chris Van Hollen.

Contact Rep. Van Hollen here. Let your voice be heard. We WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS.

Shocking?

I didnt find myself shocked when I saw this poll from CNN.com, I did however find myself pleased to see that the American public is now fully awake and fully aware of what is going on in this country, and the threat that the Obama regime is posing to the rights of the citizens of the United States. From CNN.com

Fifty-six percent of people questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Friday say they think the federal government has become so large and powerful that it poses an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens. Forty-four percent of those polled disagree.

The survey indicates a partisan divide on the question: Only 37 percent of Democrats, 63 percent of independents and nearly seven in 10 Republicans say the federal government poses a threat to the rights of Americans.

According to CNN poll numbers released Sunday, Americans overwhelmingly think that the U.S. government is broken, though the public overwhelmingly holds out hope that what’s broken can be fixed.

In a separate but certainly not unrelated poll released today by Rasmussen, we see that the Presidential Approval Index has dipped to a -20 in the latest report released today.

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows that 23% of the nation’s voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-three percent (43%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -20. For President Obama, the Approval Index has been lower only once (see trends).

Americans are strongly rejecting anything and everything that Obama is proposing, anything that he says. We have awaken to the reality that elections do in fact have consequences and that the American people will be rectifying this mistake come November of 2010, and November of 2012.

Sadly, the President cannot hear all of the noise.

Convicted felon and disgraced former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is not out of the woods yet. Following his first felony conviction for which he was removed as mayor and put in the Wayne County Jail, the Detroit News is now reporting that Kilpatrick will be brought up on federal corruption charges for his role in a “pay to play” scandal that also involves  his father Bernard Kilpatrick. From the Detroit News today.

For at least five years, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office have been investigating an alleged “pay to play” system at City Hall under Kilpatrick and allegations that contractors wanting City Hall business were directed to hire the former mayor’s father as a consultant.

Now there are new allegations that former Cobo Center contractor Karl Kado, who has been cooperating with the FBI since 2005, not only paid close to $300,000 to the mayor’s father but made about $100,000 in illegal cash payments directly to the former mayor.

In recent months, the federal investigation moved to the heart of Kilpatrick’s inner circle. Kilpatrick childhood friends and former top City Hall officials Kandia and DeDan Milton pleaded guilty to bribery-related charges and agreed to cooperate.

Detroit businessman Rayford W. Jackson, an associate of Bernard Kilpatrick’s who has pleaded guilty to bribery, said in a secretly videotaped conversation with FBI informant James R. Rosendall that Bernard Kilpatrick was receiving consulting payments totaling $45,000 a month while his son was mayor. But Jackson provided no context.

Christopher Andreoff, an attorney representing Kado, declined Sunday to comment on a report that Kado has given investigators detailed statements about payments Kado allegedly made to the former mayor and his father.

Sworn statements say Kado told investigators he made cash payments to Kwame Kilpatrick of about $20,000 each on four or five occasions, with Kado sometimes visiting Kilpatrick’s City Hall office and Kilpatrick sometimes dropping by the Cobo Center, a person familiar with the investigation confirmed.

“I am not going to comment on a report that may be in violation of a court order or a matter that is before a federal grand jury,” Andreoff said.

Kado, who awaits sentencing March 4 on charges of filing false tax returns, acknowledged in his plea agreement that he made illegal payments to at least one unnamed city official other than former Cobo directors Lou Pavledes and Glenn Blanton.

Both Pavledes and Blanton pleaded guilty to felonies and admitted taking bribes from Kado.

Kilpatrick remains a blight on the city of Detroit who is struggling through the worst unemployment in the nation and decades of mismanagement and corruption from city officials.  Kilpatrick served 90 days in the Wayne County Jail last year for his role in the text messaging scandal that brought down his administration.

These new charges will have no connection to more courtroom drama for Kilpatrick, who continues to embarrass his home town, for potential violations of his probation stemming from the text message scandal. Kilpatrick has been wrangling in the court room for the past 4 months over the terms of his probation imposed by Judge David Groner in which Kilpatrick was ordered to pay back 1 million dollars in restitution to the city. Kilpatrick has maintained that he simply cannot afford the monthly payments, all the while misleading the court over income, gifts and more.

Detroit –Former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s failure to make a $79,011 court-ordered payment on Friday has resulted in the judge ordering his lawyers, the county prosecutor and probation authorities to report to him Tuesday morning.

No warrant has yet been issued accusing Kilpatrick of violating the terms of his probation, and he hasn’t been ordered to travel from Texas to attend Tuesday’s session.

In an apparent effort to avoid a confrontation with the judge, Kilpatrick made partial payments today and Friday toward the overdue restitution payment ordered last month by Wayne Circuit Judge David Groner.

Money orders in the amount of $21,175 were delivered this morning to the Wayne County Circuit Court clerk’s office. Kilpatrick also paid $14,048 on Friday, leaving $43,788 still due from the amount ordered on Jan. 20 by Groner.

The partial payments appear to be an attempt by Kilpatrick to avoid charges that he has violated terms of his probation, which could result in jail.

Groner’s order for the lump sum payment came in response to a lengthy hearing where he determined prosecutors presented evidence that Kilpatrick had deliberately hidden income from the court that should have been applied to the $1 million restitution he promised the city in pleading guilty to felony charges stemming from the text message scandal.

Groner also ordered Kilpatrick to make another $240,000 lump sum payment by April.

The federal corruption charges are a part of a wide ranging investigation by the FBI, and will involve and bring down many of the former Kilpatrick administration, as well as local businessman.

And by the way, call it a hunch on my part but I have a hard time believing that Michigan Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, Kwame’s mother, can come out of this clean.

As a Metro Detroit area resident who has felt the pain inflicted upon this area by the narcissistic worm of a former mayor, I would welcome him back quickly if it meant he would be spending the next few years in federal prison.

Note: "I'm leaving Washington because of excessive partisanship" is political-talk for "I'm going to lose in a landslide and I want to get out now."

From the Associated Press:

Media reports say that Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana has decided to not seek re-election.
The Indianapolis Star reports that Bayh is attributing his decision to excessive partisanship that makes progress on public policy difficult to achieve as the motivation for his decision.
Bayh scheduled a Monday afternoon news conference in Indianapolis. The Associated Press left messages seeking comment at his Senate office and for state Democratic chairman Dan Parker, who is Bayh’s  campaign manager.

This is huge for the Republicans and their bid to win back the majority.  The folks at fivethirtyeight.com had Bayh’s seat as the ninth-most likely to change parties this November.   After all, Bayh is quite popular in his home state; he has faced re-election from the voters three times and has claimed at least 62.0% in each of them.

The question is, who will the Republicans trot out as their Senate candidate?  Some believe that Rep. Mike Pence, who I mentioned as a 2012 Presidential Hopeful, could be that candidate.

I would call this a shock poll, except that I am not the least bit shocked. I have been saying now for months that the liberal wing of the Democrat party is nothing more than a bunch of socialists bent on changing the America that has made us great.

Gallup today released a poll that confirms that statement, as far as polling can confirm something at least.

PRINCETON, NJ — More than one-third of Americans (36%) have a positive image of “socialism,” while 58% have a negative image. Views differ by party and ideology, with a majority of Democrats and liberals saying they have a positive view of socialism, compared to a minority of Republicans and conservatives.

“Socialism” was one of seven terms included in a Jan. 26-27 Gallup poll. Americans were asked to indicate whether their top-of-mind reactions to each were positive or negative. Respondents were not given explanations or descriptions of the terms.

Americans are almost uniformly positive in their reactions to three terms: small business, free enterprise, and entrepreneurs. They are divided on big business and the federal government, with roughly as many Americans saying their view is positive as say it is negative. Americans are more positive than negative on capitalism (61% versus 33%) and more negative than positive on socialism (36% to 58%).

Is it any surprise that just about the only bloc that still staunchly supports Barack Obama is the hard left (socialist) wing of the Democratic party? They know where he stands. Unionization, Government Health Care, Cap and Trade….all socialist programs aimed at taking down the free market and installing a level playing field i.e. socialism.

It must have made the socialist left giddy to see our President sucking up to the socialists around the world. Thankfully, the vast majority of Americans (read those of us producers) still believe in the free market, hard work, freedom and prosperity and have decided to fight for it.

From the AP:

A spokesman says Democratic Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, a retired Marine Corps officer who became an outspoken critic of the Iraq war, has died. He was 77.
He had been suffering complications from gallbladder surgery.
In 1974, Murtha became the first combat veteran of the Vietnam War elected to Congress. He wielded considerable clout for two decades as a leader of the House subcommittee that oversees Pentagon  spending. But frustration over the Iraq war led him to call for an immediate pullout of U.S. troops in 2005.
Murtha’s congressional career was clouded by questions about his ethics – from the Abscam corruption probe in 1980 to more recent investigations into the special-interest spending known as earmarks and the raising of cash for election campaigns.

The thoughts and prayers of The Political Fish go out to his family.

Far left wack job Congressman Alan Grayson continues to cement himself as the most over the top loon in the House of Representatives.

Recently we witnessed the Supreme Court shoot down elements of the McCain/Feingold campaign finance law as un-Constitutional in its limitations on free speech and the spending of money in political races. Prior to that however, back on January 13th, Rep. Grayson introduced HR 4431. This bill might also be known as “Business should mind its own business Act”. In keeping with Graysons well known “one fry short of a happy meal” reputation, it proposes a 500% excise tax on all businesses that would spend money in a political campaign. Read it for yourself, I couldn’t make this garbage up.

It would be interesting to see how much money Rep. Grayson received himself via campaign donations from businesses in his district and around the country.

I have a feeling he will be gone in the upcoming 2010 midterm elections. See ya Alan.

Business Should Mind Its Own Business Act (Introduced in House)
HR 4431 IH

 

111th CONGRESS 

2d SessionTo amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose a 500 percent excise tax on corporate contributions to political committees and on corporate expenditures on political advocacy campaigns.

 

January 13, 2010

Mr. GRAYSON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

---

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose a 500 percent excise tax on corporate contributions to political committees and on corporate expenditures on political advocacy campaigns.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 

This Act may be cited as the `Business Should Mind Its Own Business Act’.

 

SEC. 2. EXCISE TAX ON CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS TO POLITICAL COMMITTEES AND ON CORPORATE EXPENDITURES ON POLITICAL ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS.

 

(a) In General- Chapter 36 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to certain other excise taxes) is amended by adding at the end the following new subchapter:

 

`Subchapter E–Certain Corporate Political Activities

 

•  
  `Sec. 4491. Corporate contributions to political committees and corporate expenditures on political advocacy campaigns.

 

`SEC. 4491. CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS TO POLITICAL COMMITTEES AND CORPORATE EXPENDITURES ON POLITICAL ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS.

 

`(a) In General- In the case of a corporation, there is hereby imposed a tax equal to 500 percent of the aggregate of the following amounts:

 

•  
  `(1) The amount of contributions (as defined in section 301 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971) made during the taxable year.

 

•  
  `(2) The amount paid for an electioneering communication described in section 304(f)(3) of such Act.

 

`(b) Certain Determinations Disregarded- For purposes of this section, any court determination that such Act does not apply to one or more corporations shall be disregarded.’.

 

(b) Denial of Income Tax Deduction- Subsection (a) of section 275 of such Code is amended by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new paragraph:

 

•  
  `(7) Taxes imposed by section 4491 (relating to corporate contributions to political committees and corporate expenditures on political advocacy campaigns).’.

 

(c) Clerical Amendment- The table of subchapters for chapter 36 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

 

`subchapter e. certain corporate political activities.’.

 

(d) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to amounts paid after the date of the enactment of this Act in taxable years ending after such date.

Remember that President from the ’90s that was plagued with sex scandals?  No, not this guy.  Think the 1890s.  This guy, Grover Cleveland.

In any event, when Cleveland was running for the Presidency, he had a bit of a… ummm… paternity problem on his hands.  Opponents derided him with chants of “Ma, Ma, Where’s Pa?”  According to Wikipedia (so it must be true), Cleveland responded as such:

Cleveland’s instructions to his campaign staff were: “Tell the truth.^“ [He] admitted to paying child support in 1874 to Maria Crofts Halpin, the woman who claimed he fathered her child named Oscar Folsom Cleveland. Halpin was involved with several men at the time, including Cleveland’s friend and law partner, Oscar Folsom, for whom the child was also named. Cleveland did not know which man was the father, and is believed to have assumed responsibility because he was the only bachelor among them.

As it turns out, Cleveland won the election (twice!).  And supporters of Cleveland turned the “Ma, Ma, Where’s Pa?” chant into a taunt of sorts, adding the classic rejoinder, “Off to the White House, ha ha ha!”

Well, I couldn’t help but think of that little tale of American lore today when one of the worst kept secrets in politics.  Former VP Candidate John Edwards announced he fathered a child from an affair:

“I am Quinn’s father,” Edwards said in a prepared statement, referring to Frances Quinn Hunter, the toddler he fathered with the videographer, Rielle Hunter. ” . . . It was wrong for me ever to deny she was my daughter and hopefully one day, when she understands, she will forgive me.”

Dad?

I find it amusing that he apologized for denying his paternity, yet didn’t exactly apologize for, you know, cheating on his wife.  Who had cancer.  To think, this guy twice campaigned for the highest office in the land, and, more recently, was gunning for a position in the Obama White House.  Now?  His political career is toast.  He’s forever tarnished as a world-class slimeball (which, oddly enough, makes him perfectly suited for his old career: Tort Lawyer).  And his marriage is probably finished, too.

So Mr. Edwards’ story won’t end with a dashing young Presidential hopeful “off to the White House, ha ha ha!”.  Maybe the “off to the Dog House” is a little bit more appropriate.  Ha ha ha!

(Although, you have to admit.  When you live in a place like this… that dog house is probably pretty nice.)

Has it really been one year?

Sure, we all remember President Obama’s inauguration. Two million people crowded the National Mall, he placed his hand on the Bible, Chief Justice John Roberts flubbed the oath of office, Dick Cheney looked like Mr. Potter from It’s A Wonderful Life, Obama gave a speech, and pundits across the radio and television dial hailed the coming of the Golden Age of liberalism.

Let me check my calendar… Yep, that was January 20th, 2009.  One year ago.

So what happened?  Well, let’s recap:

• ECONOMICS – In the middle of the Great Recession, Obama unleashed the $787 Billion stimulus plan.  Obama’s people said without the plan, unemployment would go up to nine percent.  We should consider ourselves to be so lucky.  Conservatives said that the bill would increase unemployment, and sure enough, they were right.  But hey, we did save / create a few jobs in some Congressional districts.  It’s a shame those districts don’t exist.
• FOREIGN POLICY – I suppose Obama’s big Foreign Policy moment came during his speech in Cairo, where he tried to seek common ground with Muslims.  The speech was well-received by both sides of the aisle.  A short time later, Obama showed his support for freedom-seeking Muslims by delivering a rousing speech where he proclaimed that America stood together with the young men and women of Iran who were protesting the sham elections and… oh wait, that last part didn’t happen.  Instead, while Iran was burning, Obama was silent, but at least he did get the chance  to get ice cream.  It wasn’t the first time that ice cream played a part in Obama’s foreign policy, four Gitmo detainees were sent to Bermuda.  And yes, they were allowed to get ice cream.  But no sprinkles!  By the way, the “ice cream diplomacy” should not be confused with the “hot dog diplomacy”, or the infamous beer summit.  Other highlights from Obama’s first year: saying that we would not abandon our missile shield in Poland if Iran continues to pose a threat.  That worked for awhile, until the Russians asked us to change our plans.  We caved to the Russians.  Right after we found out that Iran could build a nuke.
• WAR – I haven’t heard much about it, but I’m pretty sure we’re still in Iraq.  After spending the campaign telling America how George Bush screwed up that war, Obama carried over Bush’s policy.  He also spent the campaign talking about how Afghanistan was the “good” war, then once elected President, he proceeded to dither.  Months after Gen. McChrystal asked for more troops, Obama complied.  Somewhat.  He pledged 30,000 more soldiers, but added a withdrawal date.  In a related note, if the leader of the Taliban said that he was going to train / send more terrorists to reek havoc on the world, but only for 18 months (and then they’d have to stop), wouldn’t it sound like that, I dunno, like he was dealing from a position of weakness?
• TERRORISM – Unfortunately, the terrorists (as a whole), aren’t dealing from a position of weakness.  One-third of the terrorist attacks against Americans occurred in 2009. We saw two attacks on our soil, at Fort Hood and in on a plane above Detroit.  Thankfully, the Detroit bomber was incompetent (much like another would-be terrorist bomber from 40 years ago.  Yes, I went there).  Both incidents happened because America missed the warning signs.  Let us pray Obama can rectify these mistakes in 2010.  As for the “victory over terrorists front”, kudos to Obama for giving the thumbs-up to an operation that rescued kidnapped sea captains from the hands of the Somali pirates.  We sent the right message, and that was the last we had to deal with them.  Oh wait. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t joke about this.  Piracy is no laughing matter.
• HEALTH CARE – And yes, we’ve reached the elephant-in-the-room.  While Americans lacking health insurance is a serious problem, Americans rejected Obama’s solution (e.g., usurping the entire health care system, creating massive new entitlement programs, and basically saddling our great-great-great grandchildren with a debt they could never hope to repay.  And for a more on this disaster of a bill, I refer you to my older brother’s column on the subject.).  Where would Obama be if he didn’t try to usurp one-seventh of our national economy?  Well, for starters, he probably wouldn’t be sitting under 50% in the approval polls.  Second, he probably wouldn’t have lost his filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.  Third, Democrats wouldn’t be quaking in their boots.

So, I suppose that takes us back to today.  January 20th, 2010.  One year ago, Barack Obama entered the presidency with dreams and visions of a New America.  And one day ago, voters from the bluest of blue states got their chance to say they don’t want to be a part of that vision.  Meanwhile, the rest of the country salivates.  On November 2nd, 2010, they’ll get their chance, too.

Ed Schultz, who delivered this little gem to us all on his radio show yesterday, let us know that he is willing to cheat to make sure a Republican isn’t elected to the Massachusetts Senate seat. This is special, and it goes to show just what the Democrats are all about.

I am waiting for the liberals to condemn this statement…I suppose I shouldn’t hold my breath.

He was of course talking about the special election coming up tommorow in Massachusetts between Democrat Martha Coakley and Republican Scott Brown.

Update:

From Andrew Breitbart’s Big Journalism website, here is some more commentary on Mr. Schultz ignorant statements from Ron Futrell.

While we’re at it, Ed should know that if he wants to vote ten times in Mass, he probably can. I’m guessing they have an ACORN chapter there that would be happy to register him and all of his former football teammates (ACORN registered the entire Dallas Cowboys football team in Nevada). If you’re going to say you’d like to vote ten times, why let a little registration issue stop you?  That can easily be taken care of.

I guess this is funny on one level, but Eddie says he’d cheat if he had to, just to keep the “bastards” from winning. I assume he’s talking about Scott Brown as the “bastard” in this case, but there is nothing funny about cheating at the ballot box. As we get more polarized as a nation (in spite of Obama’s promise to bring us together), the last thing we need is to destroy the system of democracy that has brought us this far.  Healthcare is the big issue here with Eddie, so if nationalizing health care is this important, then let’s make it part of the U.S. Constitution, propose an amendment, have Congress pass it and have at least three-quarters of the states ratify it.

The process is clear, we’ve made changes in the past, and we can do it again. Take your case to the people that you say you so ably and enthusiastically represent and let them decide.  Something that changes the entire fabric of this nation to this degree should be decided by the people and, above all, should be Constitutional.

My guess, Eddie, is you don’t want this because you know it would never happen.  You’d lose, and you’d lose bad.  Americans don’t want the Democrats’ healthcare plan – which is why right now they’re running around like chickens who’ve just seen both Farmer Brown’s chopping block and his axe.

We can join hands in this effort, Eddie.  We’ll be on opposite sides, and we both have personal reasons for believing what we believe, but I assume we both love the Constitution and would love to see it work in this case.  You only get one vote though, and that’s not negotiable. That’s constitutional.

One of the reasons why our Founding Fathers opposed term limits was because they wanted the Representatives to always be accountable to the people.  They argued that a “lame-duck” Congressman would act in his own best interests, and not those of his constituents, while he waited for his term to expire.  Now, I am in favor of term limits, but I see the point the Founding Fathers were trying to make.

That being said, I was a little disappointed to see that two Democrat Senators, Chris Dodd (D-Connecticut) and Byron Dorgan (D- North Dakota) have decided that they do not want to face the wrath of the voters in 2010.  Pity.