Spoke John Fund, WSJ, and Salena Zito, PTR, on Monday 15, and they were clear that the Evan Bayh announcement was the start of a trend, not the end of one, as the Red State Democrats flee Congress and their own majorities in the Senate and the House. Target Purple. POTUS Obama has created climate change in Washington that is so dangerous to his own party that experienced, cocky, well-financed pols will not risk re-election even with their polls well ahead of challengers. John Nichols, Nation, argues that the Democrats do not need 60 votes in the Senate, just 50 plus in Blue States, with a definite profile for the majority -- a common purpose for legislation rather than the sausage-making of today. What is coming is a wave that will sweep like a tsunami. New polls show Barbara Boxer in danger, and if Boxer can be beaten by a novice (Carly Demon Sheep Fiorina) in the Blue California, then there is no safe seat. Target Blue?
It’s even worse than that. Just today I heard the question posed: “Is this nation governable?” Apparently not (according to some, including our president). What is needed (again, according to some) is to re-think our whole system of governance, its undue reliance on the Constitution and the entire notion of checks and balances, as set forth by the founders, which in the recent past (it is said) has produced nothing but legislative gridlock. Also on the table for re-evaluation is the whole idea of representative government because the people are simply too stupid to make intelligent decisions concerning a whole range of complicated issues - like ‘global warming’, for instance.
Already, the courts and a virtual army of czars are poised to by-pass the legislative branches altogether. This means that agendas and policies can be implemented without voter input. It is my fear that the next Congress (that everyone anticipates with such high hopes) – Republican majorities or not – will be powerless to act in the face of executive power wielded by this president in virtually every area of endeavor. Congress will become a toothless debating club that will either rubber-stamp presidential decisions or not. It won’t really matter what Congress does.
http://peterkoelliker.blogspot.com/
Remember the good old days when Dems and Lefties complained incessantly about Bush TAKING and consolidating power in the WH and Eecutive Branch? Since so many of Bush's policies were actually crafted by Dems (education, prescription drugs, housing, Patriot Act) their biggest complaints came from that evil Bush acting like a cowboy and disregarding the Constitution thru abuse of the Exec. Branch. Those same leftists seem awfully silent now that Obama is showing us all how true power consolidation is done ... Constitution be damned!
also note Paul Krugman's recent indignant comment that a majority vote in the House would be enough to carry the day in any civilized country. The founders were wise men who had studied and understood history.
This nation is ungovernable in its current state. The czars, and activist judges phenomenon has been going on since the Nixon administration. Congress is weak to ask with the please all attempts. Long ago (McCulloch v Maryland) the SCOTUS gave Congress free reign from the N&P clause. This basically gave state & local govts the same free reign. Also, the founders never imagined 300 million people. Also, they never imagined anyone not a white property owning male ever getting a voice.
It's a good thing, being ungovernable. It means we're not susceptable to tyrants. I personally take pride in being ungovernable. Also, who among us is sorry that Congress hasn't passed Crap and Trade, Health Care Reform, or a jobs bill? I would like to see the Ribbono Shel Olom dump another foot or two of snow on Washington every week between now and April. Best thing that could happen for the country.
I told my wife over a year ago when we first entered this free-fall economy: Understand that you and I and millions of other common people like us are the leaders of this country. Understand that the people in Washington and Sacramento are our leaders in name only. This country will stand or fall based on what you and I do.
To hell with governability. Just show me a country full of people that are willing to get up and go to work every morning and build a better tomorrow, and I'll show you our leaders.