issac the dragon
10-13-2007, 12:41 PM
We went to Washington to change the government,” the candidate could admit, “but instead we corrupted it. We demeaned the Congress and our Constitution. We auctioned off earmarks and sold our integrity. We compromised the checks that are supposed to secure our democracy. Instead of legislating for you, we passed separate laws for ourselves — to protect Tom DeLay and shield lobbyists and immunize wealthy government contractors. In the end, we betrayed the credo that binds us all as Americans: that no one shall be above the law.”
With a long look across the ballroom, the candidate could own up and turn the corner:
“We arrogantly thought that we could act like that and claim a ‘permanent majority.’ We dared the American public to stop us, and, well, that’s exactly what they did. Some in our party are still in denial about that. But I’m running for president to say we heard you, we are better than this, and change begins by cleaning up our own house.”
Campaign rhetoric must be backed by policy, of course. This hypothetical, courageous Republican would have to present a detailed proposal for clean government. Serious reform obviously begins with campaign financing, since the relentless drive for campaign donations is what stokes most Washington corruption (in both parties).
Banning earmarks is also a popular no-brainer, a practice that exploded in the Republican Congress. And as the Blackwater tragedy illustrates, reform must address the privatization, graft and abuse in our “military-industrial complex,” to quote a Republican president who took corruption seriously." politico.com 10/ 13 /07
I might vote for a person who gave that speech. But I'm not worried.
With a long look across the ballroom, the candidate could own up and turn the corner:
“We arrogantly thought that we could act like that and claim a ‘permanent majority.’ We dared the American public to stop us, and, well, that’s exactly what they did. Some in our party are still in denial about that. But I’m running for president to say we heard you, we are better than this, and change begins by cleaning up our own house.”
Campaign rhetoric must be backed by policy, of course. This hypothetical, courageous Republican would have to present a detailed proposal for clean government. Serious reform obviously begins with campaign financing, since the relentless drive for campaign donations is what stokes most Washington corruption (in both parties).
Banning earmarks is also a popular no-brainer, a practice that exploded in the Republican Congress. And as the Blackwater tragedy illustrates, reform must address the privatization, graft and abuse in our “military-industrial complex,” to quote a Republican president who took corruption seriously." politico.com 10/ 13 /07
I might vote for a person who gave that speech. But I'm not worried.