Congress, term limits, and broken campaign promises...
The President of the United States is sometimes called the leader of the free world. Yet many people believe that Congress has as much (or more) power than the president. Congress, after all, is responsible for passing the laws that shape our country. Only Congress can declare war. Congress is meant to serve as a counterweight, if need be, to the president. Neither can act without the other’s cooperation.…
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26 - El Bicho
Who dismiss everything they said? Just used that as an example that they weren't always right.
Those percentages you cite aren't mutually exclusive. Approval of Congress as a whole and approval of a voter's representative are not the same thing. I can like the Senators and Rep. I voted for, and dislike the way the entire body is run.
27 - Baronius
We're saying that people vote for their congressman, but disapprove of Congress, therefore they're voting wrong. Maybe the vote is right, and the poll is wrong.
Tom is ok with his life. He's raising his kids; the school system might not be the best, but they're learning. His rush hour commute is a pain, but he's got a job. He's got mixed feelings about American foreign policy. Tom knows that some of his money goes to helping the poor. No one's ever shot one of Tom's family members or friends.
If you ask Tom about Congress, he'll say he disapproves of what they're doing. Why? Because he has a vague sense that things should be better. Because he's never read a news story about Congress doing something good. Because post-Watergate, it's un-American to approve of anything the government does. But Tom basically feels that he's being represented well, and he'll reelect most everyone. The votes reflect Tom's views more accurately than the polls.
28 - El Bicho
Everyone who is in favor of term limits should run for office if they are so committed to the idea of getting rid of the incumbent. If not, their cries ring hollow.
29 - Matthew T. Sussman
"I can like the Senators and Rep. I voted for, and dislike the way the entire body is run."
And when the entire nation holds this to be true, we get career politicians. "Congress is inept, but not my representative!" For example, a lot of people like their rep because he/she brings money into their region. This may not be a reason you like your rep., but it's a common reason I've heard. It's also the same reason most people thought (rightly so) Ted Stevens was wasting taxpayer dollars.
Our nation's youth is illiterate and does drugs and will grow up to be a failure, but not my perfect precious snowflake.
Also, I have considered in the past the task of running for public office here in my hometown. It's something I hope to do in my lifetime, but I don't see the reasoning behind "term limits advocates should run for public office or else their words ring hollow." (See MCH's reasoning why war supporters should join the military).
I could aim low and run for state Congress in Michigan, because they have term limits already. A good handful of state legislatures already do this, including yours, Bicho.
30 - Jet
You know why old gay Barney Franks keeps getting re-elected? You know why ultra liberal Ted Kennedy keeps getting re-elected?
Because they do a good job and their constituants like the job they're doing.
Sore losers=Term limits.
It's the only way an inferior politician has any hope of being elected. Ohio's Howard Metzenbaum was over 80, rich beyond caring, and the butt of jewish jokes, but the man got elected again and again, because he did a good job.
Sore losers=Term limits
31 - Glenn Contrarian
Jet -
I have to disagree. It's like the old saying in show business: "Bad publicity is better than no publicity at all."
I say it's more of a case of people preferring the devil they know, rather than the devil they don't.
32 - Ruby Lee
El Bicho, I really do agree with some of what you say. People who believe in term limits ought to run. The problem with people running for office on that platform is that once they win their seat, they don't want to leave anymore. Congress is a very cushy job. You don't have to get anything accomplished or even show up, and people will be too lazy to vote you out of office. Why not try a two term limit in the senate? That's 12 years. That's enough for anyone.
33 - Ruby Lee
By the way, does anyone really think Teddy Kennedy does a good job? If he had a different last name, he would've been laughed out of Congress years ago.
34 - Jet
Sore loser Ruby. All the people who vote for him are satisfied with his job or he wouldn't be there...
Sorry you don't see the reality in that, but you keep making up excuses as to why you can't understand that concept, and he'll keep getting re-elected.
35 - Ruby Lee
Come on now, Jet, you can't really believe that. Teddy Kennedy is JFK and RFK's little brother. That's it. People vote for him because of nostalgic reasons.
Incidentally, what do you think qualifies Caroline Kennedy for the Senate? Is it:
A) Her total lack of experience with legislation
B) Her absence of any type of public service
C) Her last name
In terms of experience, she's the Democrats' answer to Sarah Palin.
36 - Jet
You just keep believing that Ruby, you poor thing, hundreds of thousands of voters would loudly disagree with you, and that's the only reality (regardless of whether you want to face it or not) that matters.
Oh he could pull the wool over their eyes for a few years if you were right, but not for four decades-and that's an undeniable fact.
37 - El Bicho
"I don't see the reasoning behind "term limits advocates should run for public office or else their words ring hollow."
Because you are passing the buck. With term limits you want more people to take part in the system, but not you. If not you, why should anyone else be expected to step up?
Just because MCH wrote it ad nauseum doesn't mean there isn't some truth to it. I supported the War in Afghanistan, but why should anyone care what I think about it if I am in the back pushing someone else's kid to die and kill for my country? If I am not willing to go, my two cents does mean less than anyone who has already served. For one thing, they know war much better than I do who only has movies and books to go on.
You must not be keeping up on my state because using the CA legislature in any argument weakens the position. The fools running the state have been running a deficit for years and are about to send it into bankruptcy, so terms limits didn't help.
Besides, I wouldn't put much stock into the CA electorate. The state has no money and the foolish majority have bought a light railway system we can't afford. And to show how messed up the priorities are the majority is against gay marriage but think animals deserve more room in their cages before we eat them. Animal rights over human rights, but at least the weather is nice.
38 - El Bicho
"does anyone really think Teddy Kennedy does a good job?"
Apparently every six years the majority of the voters in MA. Since you live in NC, how is it any of your business?
39 - Matthew T. Sussman
Well, you said it's undeniable. Hell, why even bother typing anything after that?
You're arguing a straw man, Jet. Nobody's denying that Kennedy's Massachusettsan constituents (pop: 6.4 million) like him. But Kennedy has power to decide the fate of taxpayer money throughout the entire country (pop: 300 million). If someone disapproves of Kennedy's job, and John Kerry's job, and John McCain's job, and Lamar Alexander's job, and Orrin Hatch's job, and Dick Durbin's job and they don't live in those areas, well, tough shit, move to Canada.
40 - Dave Nalle
EB, we all have a right to be concerned about the quality of the overall representation which we have as a nation in the house and senate. Things Ted Kennedy does can have a lot of impact on people in states other than Massachusetts.
That said, it's perfectly obvious to anyone with even a superficial familiarity with legislative history that whatever his shortcomings, Ted Kennedy has been a successful and effective legislator. He has authored major laws and had a profound influence on other legislators, is influential and widely respected by his colleagues in both parties. And if anything he's an argument against term limits, because despite his very long career in office and amusing personal failings, he remains fairly true to the beliefs which put him there and continues to serve his constituency faithfully.
Dave
41 - Baronius
Matt, the problem you're talking about has to do with federalism. If government were more local, I wouldn't care about term limits. I think most people wouldn't. With a limited federal government, Grand Kleagle Robert Byrd will have very little effect on my life.
Or I guess a better example is Illinois politics. Their governor can be as corrupt as they'll let him, but when it starts affecting the Senate, it affects the rest of us.
42 - El Bicho
Dave, she can be concerned, but unless she has North Carolina and her local politics all cleaned up, she has enough work at home and should focus on that first.
43 - Bailey
The Congress will never agree to placing themselves on a two term limit. Some are commited to serving the people back home but their eyes on their paychecks and retirement packages which far exceed the salary of the people they serve. (Congress doubled their salary a few years ago and at the same time turned down an increase in the min. wage).
There are able and capable people who are qualified to serve in Congress, but it takes $$$ to have their names recognized,i.e. third party candidates who were ignored by the new media this past election.
This is another reason why we need term limits.
44 - Ruby Lee
Unfortunately, I don't have North Carolina all cleaned up, but in the meantime I do think we should all be concerned about what the Congress is doing. Whatever your political beliefs, you must resent the fact that certain congresspersons are continually reelected after doing a very poor job. They may not represent your state, but you have to live with whatever legislation they pass.
45 - El Bicho
We have had term limits in CA for 18 years and the legislature has still driven the state towards bankruptcy. Here's a paper from 2004 that states why the authors conclude "have eroded legislative capacities in unhelpful ways."
You are deluding yourself if you think it's a panacea. We need an electorate that is better informed and active in the process. Anything else is just moving deck chairs on the Titanic.
46 - Jet
Quote: We have had term limits in CA for 18 years and the legislature has still driven the state towards bankruptcy...
El, stop bragging