October 5, 2008

59% Ready to Replace Congress? Time to Update My Bumpersticker from 2006

intheyrein_out.jpg

I was ready in 2006. Now the country has finally caught up with me:

Congress was front and center in the national news last week and the American people were far from impressed. If they could vote to keep or replace the entire Congress, 59% of voters would like to throw them all out and start over again. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 17% would vote to keep the current legislators in office.Rasmussen Reports™: The most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a presidential election.
Posted by Vanderleun at October 5, 2008 5:32 PM | TrackBack
Save to del.icio.us

Comments:

AMERICAN DIGEST HOME

"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.

Why is no one talking about RECALL petitions? You don't need to wait until a politician comes back up for re-election - a sufficient number of signatures on a recall petition can remove them from office, or force them to defend their position in a special election. Yes - this applies to ANY government official.

Count me in - I'd be out there collecting signatures to recall Dodd here in CT and loving it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recall_election

Posted by: Galen.Slade at October 5, 2008 5:52 PM

Any chance we can talk the Army into arresting them all and sending them to Guantanamo, institute term limits and then have new election?

Posted by: Hellfish at October 5, 2008 6:04 PM

And yet, will not Jack Murtha be returned?

Posted by: Brett_McS at October 5, 2008 6:13 PM

Why isn't anyone talking about doing RECALLS? You don't need to wait for the next election, you can gather signatures and remove them from office, right NOW... It's the voters most potent weapon against rogue politicians, yet no one has raised the subject.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recall_election

Posted by: Galen at October 5, 2008 6:52 PM

We already removed our incumbent, Representative Chris Cannon, during the primary.

National media spun it as "he payed the price for not toeing the conservative line". This is in fact accurate in that he was not representing his constituents interests well on illegal immigration and federal spending, nor was he exhibiting any interest in or intention of leading his party back to some sort of resemblance of conservative governance.

So we fired him.

What the media MEANT was that he didn't speak in tongues on the floor of the congress, and that he was suspected of not wanting gay and lesbians incarcerated until they could be cured. Oh, and he pissed off the NRA. Sure.

TTBO. It doesn't matter what party they are; if we can get enough of them out, the resulting power struggles will allow the country to begin recovering. Attempt to recover, I should say.

Honestly, though... if the fabric holds through to November 4, I'll be surprised.

The last thing the congress critters will be worried about then is elections...

Posted by: TmjUtah at October 5, 2008 9:39 PM

Well, recalls are somewhat kinder than
rope, noose, lamppost, politician.
Mix well.
Repeat.

But I know that more than a few folks are thinking along those lines, or the second amendment route. I'm about ready to march on Washington DC - next time someone brings up the subject of a bailout bill, I'll be grabbing my pitchfork and heading into that Washington city place to find me a politician. :)

Posted by: Galen at October 5, 2008 10:28 PM

How about reminding everyone of a basic premise of our system of government; i.e., giving them a bit of the civics lesson they are apparently not getting from their public education.

In the House, every member stands for election every two years: no exceptions. If 59% want them all out of there, it's pretty easy to get that done, in the normal course, without recalls or any of that kind of mess. In the Senate, a bit more patience is required, but the same basic principles apply.

Posted by: Everyman at October 6, 2008 6:28 AM

"And yet, will not Jack Murtha be returned?" Of course. Easily. So will most incumbents seeking re-election. As long as I can remember, the Congress has been a hated institution; and, as long as I can remember, most districts vote to re-elect the congressional incumbent. For some reason, the voters can't connect the dots.

Posted by: ELC at October 6, 2008 6:33 AM

Very much like those economic surveys we are so often treated to.

The economy is terrible.

Oh, but I'm doing all right, personally.

A charge to the barricades requires leadership. Without it, the dots never get connected in a meaningful way.

Any volunteers?

Posted by: Everyman at October 6, 2008 6:58 AM

This is a classic mind/brain conflict. My brain says "throw the bums out". But then my mind processes congressional testimony seen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs

Sorry all, but the Republicans seem very reasoned and responsible - exactly the kind of representation I want in Congress. Now, I realize I'm making the case for re-electing the incumbents, which is how the likes of Pelosi, Frank and most others keep getting sent back. But I think the problem is Democrat voters vote with their brains and not their minds!

Posted by: Western Chauvinist at October 6, 2008 7:39 AM

This is why I purchased the domain

enoughofcongress.com

Now if I can ever find the time to do something with it...

Posted by: jd at October 6, 2008 8:38 AM

I get to be *right* about Nancy Pelosi!

I may even act a leetle -smug- about it.

Freeper Dan should do a painting of 'er with a pancake on 'er head.

Posted by: Junkyard Ballerina at October 6, 2008 9:15 AM

I'll finally believe these polls if Americans actually vote this way. If they do--I haven't done the math--but I assume that the Senate and the House would be Republican.

Posted by: Murphy Klasing at October 6, 2008 9:34 AM

My congressman Dean Heller of Nevada always votes the way I want him to. He voted against this terrible bail out bill twice.

Posted by: Duncan Winn at October 7, 2008 10:57 AM
Post a comment:

"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated to combat spam and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.










Remember personal info?