Kinky says "Never re-elect anybody"

09-10-2006, 06:15 AM

One of Kinky's campaign slogans is "never re-elect anybody - even me".

Our political system is rife with professional politcal types that spend virtually all their time in Washington and little time in their home states/districts/counties/burgs. They lose touch with the people and issues that originally propelled many into the political arena. Washington is a magnet for the power hungry and corruption that power. Why the hell can't we demand single terms for all elected officials? Along with that, why not limit congress to meet one week per month? The rest of the the time they stay in ther office at home to find out what the real problems are.

Kinky has it down.

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Kinky apparently has lost the hunter vote. But it looks ike you're sticking with him?

mattdavis11 · 09-10-2006, 08:06 AM

Term limits might be a possible solution. To go so far to say that 1 term is enough, is unreasonable. Most freshman members at the state level have no clue as to how the process works. I wouldn't want to see what would happen in DC.

IMHO, it would be complete chaos.

Maybe there should be a legislative process test as a prerequisite to see if a candidate is eligible? It is not as basic as you think.

At the Texas Capitol, freshman don't really count.

Kinky has it wrong.

09-10-2006, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by techweenie
Kinky apparently has lost the hunter vote. But it looks ike you're sticking with him?

Texas had 29% turnout at the last goober election. Doubt that many hunters are voters. The deal is, the guy has beliefs and speaks them. He's not a pussy. He's a big animal rights fan and so am I. Yes - he's still the go to guy.

09-10-2006, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mattdavis11
Term limits might be a possible solution. To go so far to say that 1 term is enough, is unreasonable. Most freshman members at the state level have no clue as to how the process works. I wouldn't want to see what would happen in DC.

IMHO, it would be complete chaos.

Maybe there should be a legislative process test as a prerequisite to see if a candidate is eligible? It is not as basic as you think.

At the Texas Capitol, freshman don't really count.

Kinky has it wrong.

Matt,
That's the story that incumbents always spew forth and it's total bullshyte. If all the congresspeople are relatively new, they will find ways to get things done. The flip side is that they will be forced to concentrate on important issues and not get lost in the minutia. These lifetime pricks are in no way attached to the people. They're power hungry machines whose only lot in life is to be re-elected. If these people know they only have a four or six year term and then have to go back to the real world, they will stay much more in tune with the real world.

Joeaksa · 09-10-2006, 09:49 AM

Have been pushing term limits for years now. It needs to happen and soon.

One stint in govt then get a job, a real job and do something productive for a change.

hardflex · 09-10-2006, 10:55 AM

the beauty of that thinking is that the congressmen and senators would all be lame ducks as soon as they were elected. They'd have much less power, thus, much less attraction for special interest money. I LIKE IT!

09-10-2006, 11:27 AM

One other thing...............

Kill all the lobbyists. Let the reps get info from the people - not paid birddogs.

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

Before killing the lobbiests, I'd lobby for a rider on your term limit bill to make it apply to professors at public universities too. Same theory applies. Let's get successful business/industry leaders from the REAL world in the classroom on a 2-4 year rotation. Now kill the lobbiests.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by cegerer
Before killing the lobbiests, I'd lobby for a rider on your term limit bill to make it apply to professors at public universities too. Same theory applies. Let's get successful business/industry leaders from the REAL world in the classroom on a 2-4 year rotation. Now kill the lobbiests.

I'm with your sentiment, but the reality is that most people *suck* in the classroom. I'm all for eliminating tenure, but enforced teaching is not the way around it.

Lobbiests are the single largest problem in govt. Term limits will only work if they are applied to *everyone* in every state and level of govt. The current ad hoc system effectively penalizes people in term limited positions. The other problem you have is what happens when you find somebody who is really good? Term limits force them out.

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

"never re-elect anybody"

That's been my motto for years. We currently have a political elite that seem to have apparantly been elected for life, and no longer serve for the benefit of the general population that elected them. And even worse rarely to the benefit of the country as a whole.

Actually I would like to see a second term for many of them,.... In prison.

hytem · 09-10-2006, 04:09 PM

The big change in politics in recent times has been the huge cost in getting elected--thanks to the high cost of TV advertising.It's all about TV recognition, and TV is a business--no freebees there. The result is you have to have very serious money behind you to run for any major office these days. That means money which wants something in return. And that puts a crimp in democracy--even more than in the past.
What can be done about this? The politicians have tried to limit campaign financing--but that hasn't worked very well--since there is no way to limit TV expenses, as long as the National Association of Broadcasters screams First Amendment rights. Furthermore, many well-heeled incumbents like the system as it is...

09-10-2006, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hytem
The big change in politics in recent times has been the huge cost in getting elected--thanks to the high cost of TV advertising.It's all about TV recognition, and TV is a business--no freebees there. The result is you have to have very serious money behind you to run for any major office these days. That means money which wants something in return. And that puts a crimp in democracy--even more than in the past.
What can be done about this? The politicians have tried to limit campaign financing--but that hasn't worked very well--since there is no way to limit TV expenses, as long as the National Association of Broadcasters screams First Amendment rights. Furthermore, many well-heeled incumbents like the system as it is...

Each candidate for congress gets $1 mil from public coffers. No more political donations from individuals, businesses, lobbyists, pacs - none. Make them work for the job and find ways to get their message out. Let's see them knock on some doors.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Lobbyists wouldn't be a problem at all if we had term limits (like one term). If pols didn't need lobbyists' help in getting reelected, then lobbyists would lose influence. But as it is, I have no problem with lobbyists, as their profession is part of the 1st Amend. Lobbying has one of the highest ROI's you could spend your money on if you're a business owner. Why should small business owners have to bother tyring to get the gubmint off their backs, when it's easier for them to just pay some membership dues to an association (like the NRA) that has lobbyists and knows how to get things done in DC?

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

I like old Kinky, but term limits have screwed things up in California worse than they were before term limits, which is difficult to fathom, if you have ever been to Cali.

They run for assembly, term out, run for senate, term out, run for statewide office, term out, it is not helping much. You throw out the good with the bad. At least it got that crook Willie Brown out of state government, he can't vote for tax breaks for his private law clients(if you think he would have a conflict of interest, you must be racist)

mattdavis11 · 09-10-2006, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mark Wilson
Matt,
That's the story that incumbents always spew forth and it's total bullshyte. If all the congresspeople are relatively new, they will find ways to get things done. The flip side is that they will be forced to concentrate on important issues and not get lost in the minutia. These lifetime pricks are in no way attached to the people. They're power hungry machines whose only lot in life is to be re-elected. If these people know they only have a four or six year term and then have to go back to the real world, they will stay much more in tune with the real world.

It's not total bullshyte. It be the cold blooded truth. I have seen it day in day out over the last several years. They may be the smartest sob, with the most novel of ideas that has ever been elected, yet you can whip em with the process every time.

I like the idea of term limits, but not just one. Maybe two, max 12 years, any statewide/congressional office. I also like the idea of a unitary primary. Toss that to Kinky if you want.

I like the legislative process, it's been my gig up until this summer. Seeing it in disorder would be a shame, and that is exactly what would happen.

09-10-2006, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mattdavis11
It's not total bullshyte. It be the cold blooded truth. I have seen it day in day out over the last several years. They may be the smartest sob, with the most novel of ideas that has ever been elected, yet you can whip em with the process every time.

I like the idea of term limits, but not just one. Maybe two, max 12 years, any statewide/congressional office. I also like the idea of a unitary primary. Toss that to Kinky if you want.

I like the legislative process, it's been my gig up until this summer. Seeing it in disorder would be a shame, and that is exactly what would happen.

You have to take it a level higher. The freshmen now have to deal with the old guard that's been in place for years. If you have all relatively new people, it's a level playing field. You may like the process, but I call it corrupt and ineffective.

We're supposed to be governed by our peers. In fact we're governed by people who raise themselves above the people.

jdm61 · 09-10-2006, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mark Wilson
Each candidate for congress gets $1 mil from public coffers. No more political donations from individuals, businesses, lobbyists, pacs - none. Make them work for the job and find ways to get their message out. Let's see them knock on some doors.

Well, for one thing, it would be unconstitutional. The Supreme Court has also determined that term limits for Congress require a constitutional amendment just like term limits for President did. Term limits have worked ok at the state level here in Florida, but you can still make a bit of a career out of it. 8 years as a city councilman, 8 as a county commisioner, 8 as a state rep and 8 or maybe 12 as a state senator if you are lucky. If you are really lucky, then you get elected as a county constitutional officer like judge, sheriff, clerk of courts or supervisor of elections where there are no term limits.

Joeaksa · 09-11-2006, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Verburg
"never re-elect anybody"

That's been my motto for years. We currently have a political elite that seem to have apparantly been elected for life, and no longer serve for the benefit of the general population that elected them. And even worse rarely to the benefit of the country as a whole.

Actually I would like to see a second term for many of them,.... In prison.

Bravo! Second the comments above on the lobbyists. They need to go as well...