First Inkling Of Trouble

[hookdown]

Seems like some still don't get it. If they want to go back to the same old party game, then they will be back out on the streets in a couple of years. Too bad Graham did not have to run this year...



http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/44676.html

[LookingForResults]

These idiot "establishment" Republicans, like all Democrats, still define the strongest candidate as the candidate they believe is the most likely to win, rather than the candidate who is most principled and determined to be guided and constrained by the Constitution, who intends to work every day to reduce government spending, and who celebrates and seeks to advance the best aspects of American exceptionalism.

[glm47]

Is Graham gay?

[techman05]

These idiot "establishment" Republicans, like all Democrats, still define the strongest candidate as the candidate they believe is the most likely to win, rather than the candidate who is most principled and determined to be guided and constrained by the Constitution, who intends to work every day to reduce government spending, and who celebrates and seeks to advance the best aspects of American exceptionalism.

Sad thing is that many of our senators and representatives on both sides of the aisle are good people with good motives. No one can stand up for what he believes when the money is coming in from lobbying groups that are telling those in power what they are to do and believe. If you don't play by the rules of those who carry the checkbook, you don't last long.

[Lilfido]

Sad thing is that many of our senators and representatives on both sides of the aisle are good people with good motives. No one can stand up for what he believes when the money is coming in from lobbying groups that are telling those in power what they are to do and believe. If you don't play by the rules of those who carry the checkbook, you don't last long.

Bingo! These naive teaparty extremists heading to washington will learn that very soon!

[brtransplant]

Sad thing is that many of our senators and representatives on both sides of the aisle are good people with good motives. No one can stand up for what he believes when the money is coming in from lobbying groups that are telling those in power what they are to do and believe. If you don't play by the rules of those who carry the checkbook, you don't last long.

If this is true then our nation is doomed to fail. The cost of entitlement programs now in place is not sustainable. We may see a full blown revolution, such as what happened to the USSR when it could not sustain its defense spending. The USA may disintegrate into three or four smaller nations. The west coast and New England may become socialist states and thrive in the way Cuba has for the last 50 years, while the south and mid America remain prosperous capitalist states that thrive as world powers. I could live with that.

[T_Won]

If this is true then our nation is doomed to fail. The cost of entitlement programs now in place is not sustainable. We may see a full blown revolution, such as what happened to the USSR when it could not sustain its defense spending. The USA may disintegrate into three or four smaller nations. The west coast and New England may become socialist states and thrive in the way Cuba has for the last 50 years, while the south and mid America remain prosperous capitalist states that thrive as world powers. I could live with that.

Or maybe the globe will get a brand new currency and start all over?

[hoppinmad]

If this is true then our nation is doomed to fail. The cost of entitlement programs now in place is not sustainable. We may see a full blown revolution, such as what happened to the USSR when it could not sustain its defense spending. The USA may disintegrate into three or four smaller nations. The west coast and New England may become socialist states and thrive in the way Cuba has for the last 50 years, while the south and mid America remain prosperous capitalist states that thrive as world powers. I could live with that.

Yep, good riddance. They (and their kids) can split a duplex with lilfido in some slum somewhere.

[detltu]

Sad thing is that many of our senators and representatives on both sides of the aisle are good people with good motives. No one can stand up for what he believes when the money is coming in from lobbying groups that are telling those in power what they are to do and believe. If you don't play by the rules of those who carry the checkbook, you don't last long.

Sad but true IMO.

I think most of these people go into office with truly good intentions but the system has a way of corrupting people.

[LookingForResults]

Sad but true IMO.

I think most of these people go into office with truly good intentions but the system has a way of corrupting people.

I think you are far too generous in your assessment of candidates. Most enter politics with the idea that it will be a career. And the system doesn't corrupt principled people, unprincipled people corrupt the system.

[JuBru]

Does wanting it be a career mean there aren't good intentions?

[LookingForResults]

Does wanting it be a career mean there aren't good intentions?

For me the short answer is yes. As soon as politics is your career, you begin to make decisions based on what is best for your reelection rather than what is best (long-term) for your constituantcy/state/country.

[JuBru]

For me the short answer is yes. As soon as politics is your career, you begin to make decisions based on what is best for your reelection rather than what is best (long-term) for your constituantcy/state/country.

I would like to hear the long version, because I whole-heartedly disagree. Not every one that goes into politics is in it for themselves, or even to be elected. I will admit I have a bias for this since politics is the career I'm going in An I do not fit your shortened profiles.

[LookingForResults]

I would like to hear the long version, because I whole-heartedly disagree. Not every one that goes into politics is in it for themselves, or even to be elected. I will admit I have a bias for this since politics is the career I'm going in An I do not fit your shortened profiles.

I was thinking specifically of candidates, but ultimately all jobs in "politics" become focused first on reelection when "politics" is your vocation. All the good you hope to accomplish, and all the lofty expectations you may initially harbor as you enter politics are always subjugated to the goal of reelection when politics is your profession. For without reelection (either of yourself or the elected official for whom you work), your career is over until/unless you can find another elected official to whom you can hitch your horse (career) and work to ensure his reelection. Career politicians, by the very nature of the definition, have to be in politics "for themselves" although all will insist that it's the desire of public service that drives them. Many (or at least some) may actually have good intentions associated with their desire for elected public service, but even those must continually make decisions that best ensure their next reelection if their service is to be a career.

Public service is needed, and in fact required, in a well-functioning democracy. But political careers are unavoidably corrupting influence on good government. Political careers always focus on the best short term solution as it affects the next election rather than long-term permanent solutions, the benefit of which may not be seen in the next election cycle.

[glm47]

I was thinking specifically of candidates, but ultimately all jobs in "politics" become focused first on reelection when "politics" is your vocation. All the good you hope to accomplish, and all the lofty expectations you may initially harbor as you enter politics are always subjugated to the goal of reelection when politics is your profession. For without reelection (either of yourself or the elected official for whom you work), your career is over until/unless you can find another elected official to whom you can hitch your horse (career) and work to ensure his reelection. Career politicians, by the very nature of the definition, have to be in politics "for themselves" although all will insist that it's the desire of public service that drives them. Many (or at least some) may actually have good intentions associated with their desire for elected public service, but even those must continually make decisions that best ensure their next reelection if their service is to be a career.

Public service is needed, and in fact required, in a well-functioning democracy. But political careers are unavoidably corrupting influence on good government. Political careers always focus on the best short term solution as it affects the next election rather than long-term permanent solutions, the benefit of which may not be seen in the next election cycle.

We need term limits - not career politicians on Captial Hill.