If I were the Election Law Czar, and could instantly make and implement any law that I saw fit — the very first law that I would pass would be to prohibit sitting US Senators or Representatives from running for President of the US.
If they want to run for President — fine. Resign your seat.
Why? Because Senators and Representative were elected (and are paid) to do their jobs.
NOT to campaign full time. And if you don’t think that campaigning for President is a full time job — then you haven’t been paying attention.
And these days, campaigning starts a good 18-24 months out. That’s 18-24 months of not doing their job.
A divided Senate narrowly confirmed former federal judge Michael B. Mukasey last night as the 81st attorney general, giving the nominee the lowest level of congressional support of any Justice Department leader in the past half-century.
After the bitter contentiousness caused by our last Attorney General — with allegations of war crimes and lying under oath, and the questionable firings of U.S. attorneys — you would think this would be a fairly important issue for all Senators and Congressman to vote on.
You’d be wrong.
Take a look at the list of “Not Voting” —
- Alexander (R-TN)
- Biden (D-DE)
- Clinton (D-NY)
- Cornyn (R-TX)*
- Dodd (D-CT)
- McCain (R-AZ)
- Obama (D-IL)
Notice anything unusual? Like the fact that every Senator who is currently running for President wasn’t available to cast this important vote…
They were out on the campaign trail instead of in D.C. representing their constituents and doing their jobs.
Am I really the only one who thinks this is unacceptable?
If I didn’t show up to important meetings as regularly as these Presidential-hopeful Senators do — I’d be fired. Especially if my boss found out that the reason I was absent was that I was out trying to get another job.
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* Sen. Cornyn — who is supposed to be in Washington representing me — was at home in Houston for a fundraiser with President Bush. This does not excuse his absence in missing this important vote. I have already fired off a letter of disappointment to his office, reminding him that his job is first to represent the people of Texas who voted him into office. Raising money to get re-elected should always secondary to that important responsibility.
I watch C-span a lot and the proceedings of the Senate and House. I’ve seen them vote on one thing and 1-2 hrs later they are a no-show on a vote that they don’t want to be associated with later on the campaign trail, oftentimes involving immigration issues. They don’t get by Malkin though, who follows them like a cat hunting a mouse.
I concur with your assessment.
I know they are all ‘chummy’ and let each other know how and where the votes will fall on any given vote, but your points on fulfilling obligations are well made.
Wouldn’t the easier solution be to shorten the campaign season by legislating that the primaries take place in late spring or summer 2008?
While we’re at it can we end the self-righteous rule of Iowa and New Hampshire by rotating the order of the primaries each election?
We clearly need an election czar, and an accountability czar.
Agreed preston, we need a much shorter election season..please I can’t take 18 months of blow hards promising me the world when we all know they won’t do 1/8 of what they promise. please!! they must really think we want to be lied to for 18 months and are desperate to hear their canned well scripted words. Not me. No, 6 months before the election is enough hot air for me thank you. and what the hell is so important about iowa and new hampshire anyway.? maybe it had some historical significance 100 years ago, but please not in 2007. we need to reform this whole primary process just like we need to reform the rest of government..man one more thing on the list we need to fix. there is not enough time in the day or a lifetime to fix all this…good thing we some really good reality TV to divert us or we would go mad. ha ha…..that and lots of booze.