Politics As Usual

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
doubting you really live in Detroit. Weird that.

Remember I'm a black woman.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Why does it matter if a senator shows up for every vote? Surely it's not necessarily a good indicator of senatorial competence.

a pattern of not showing suggests a dereliction of duty.

avoiding votes on controversial issues, regardless of expected outcome, shows an unwillingness to take responsibility.

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
a pattern of not showing suggests a dereliction of duty.

avoiding votes on controversial issues, regardless of expected outcome, shows an unwillingness to take responsibility.

I agree that, as a general matter, it's shitty to skip actual policy votes merely to avoid going "on record" on something.

On the other hand, the FMA exists solely to force people to go "on record" on a wedge issue. You think this is a good thing for American politics? A valid use of the constitutional amendment procedure? The GOP floats a vote with no hope of passage, and you're complaining that Dems have gamesmanship counter-measures, like "Sorry, I'm campaigning to replace the nation's chief executive, and this vote is bullshit?"

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch

On the other hand, the FMA exists solely to force people to go "on record" on a wedge issue.

You think this is a good thing for American politics?

What's bad about having politicians take positions. The people should know what they're getting

A valid use of the constitutional amendment procedure?

as valid, or invalid, as any of the 100s of proposals that go nowhere

The GOP floats a vote with no hope of passage, and you're complaining that Dems have gamesmanship counter-measures, like "Sorry, I'm campaigning to replace the nation's chief executive, and this vote is bullshit?"

do you think the timing was designed to coincide specifically with a KE campaign event or simply to occur in an election year? If the former, cite please; if the latter, see answer to first question

[Say_hello_for_me]

Can I just say, that (the thread title) is an excellent reference to a famous Chicago crime (the lipstick murders of the '30s or whatever, up on North Pine Grove -- for ya yuppies reading this).

Hello

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
Can I just say, that (the thread title) is an excellent reference to a famous Chicago crime (the lipstick murders of the '30s or whatever, up on North Pine Grove -- for ya yuppies reading this).

Hello

Nice motto. I like the Nirvana version best.

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
What's bad about having politicians take positions. The people should know what they're getting

One's record should be based on how one votes on what our government should do. We don't hold votes in the Senate on "Tina Fey: Hot or Not?" Not to go all Sebby on you, but a senator skipping such a vote would be a fucking hero in my book.

Maybe the voting public decides on candidates based on how they interact with Barbara Walters, but that doesn't mean the nation's business should be conducted for show. If there were no condemnation of "Let's get them to vote 'nay' on this!" nothing would ever be accomplished in D.C.

as valid, or invalid, as any of the 100s of proposals that go nowhere

Bullshit. The 100s of invalid proposals don't make it out of committee because someone has the pride to say, "Jesus, I didn't run for office so we could vote to authorize Tennessee to sink gambling riverboats from Missouri." This is somewhat different.

do you think the timing was designed to coincide specifically with a KE campaign event or simply to occur in an election year? If the former, cite please; if the latter, see answer to first question

Frankly, I don't think the FMA was designed to be a wedge issue for the Presidential race; I think it was directed toward close House seats, but I profess ignorance about Rove's grand strategy here.

If you think the Senate floor is an acceptable place to play a grand political game of "Gotcha!", why don't we make Kerry and Bush go on MTV and discuss their underwear and tattoos? There's all sorts of stupid shit Americans need to know about their candidates. That's what town meetings and debates are for. (The fact that Bush sucks in these venues is noted in passing.)

Don't get me wrong --- I really don't mind hearing Kerry take a position on this. But remember this thread started with a condemnation of Kerry for skipping the vote, as a sign he dodges "responsibility." Now you're saying his vote would have been merely a useful way to "have him take a position." You're not even seriously defending the notion that anything more than political gain was at stake. Sounds to me like skipping the vote was exactly the right thing to do.

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
We don't hold votes in the Senate on "Tina Fey: Hot or Not?"

Hot.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
Bullshit. The 100s of invalid proposals don't make it out of committee because someone has the pride to say, "Jesus, I didn't run for office so we could vote to authorize Tennessee to sink gambling riverboats from Missouri."

Maybe 1 in 100 dies from someone having pride. the rest die for political reasons.

Sounds to me like skipping the vote was exactly the right thing to do.

What about the others he missed pre-candidacy.

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
Hot.

not

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by sgtclub
not

Partisan fuck.

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
Partisan fuck.

He likes them pneumatically blonde.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
He likes them pneumatically blonde.

If you want friends, you should be friendly

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
If you want friends, you should be friendly

I am much more than friendly.

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
He likes them pneumatically blonde.

wrong again, I just like them pretty.