Draining the swamp
Radley has some ideas as to how Pelosi and Reid might begin to "drain the swamp."
[Alan] Mollahan is, to say the least, "ethically challenged." There's no sensible reason for him to retain his seat on the most powerful committee in the House of Representatives. If Nancy Pelosi is serious about "draining the swamp," she'll kick Mollohan off the appropriations committee before she pounds her first gavel.As for [Robert] Byrd, his history of earmarking excesses makes Ted Stevens look like Ron Paul. Earmarking is little more than legalized corruption. It's buying votes. Not only did Robert Byrd perfect the practice, he's the one who put a "secret hold" on a bill that wouldn't have even eliminated the practice, but would merely have added a bit of transparency to it. Democrats who rightly railed against the "Bridge to Nowhere" can't be taken seriously if they sit back and let Byrd resume diverting millions of taxpayer dollars to wasteful pork projects in West Virginia. Harry Reid should remove him from the Senate Appropriations Committee.
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[I]f you're going to change the culture of corruption in Washington, you'd go a long way toward demonstrating your seriousness by starting with your own party.It would also be nice to see the lefty blogs pick up on this, and give Pelosi and Reid the cover they need to do the right thing.
Comments
Well those decisions (who gets the various committee posts) will be the bell weather of whether the Dem Congress is serious about ethics reform, or merely paying lip service to a "pesky campaign issue."
Posted by: JMK | November 10, 2006 03:19 PM
LOL! Reform? You think the Dems are going to rush to make everything nice and fair for Repugs after the abuse they have taken for six years?
Repugs will be rightfully LOCKED OUT of power, not consulted, and not invited to important meetings.
The Repugs took over in '94 promising to "reform" the congress. Yeah, the Dems are going to "reform" it to -- in their own image.
Welcome to reality, Rebecca.
Posted by: Bailey Hankins | November 13, 2006 10:46 AM
Where'd you get "fairness" out of reform.
The Gingrich Congress DID reform the House and did lock out Dems...it was big on reform, not so big on inlusion - two separate issues.
For the Dems to "eardicate the culture of corruption" they'll have to rein in their own pork barrelers (Byrd & Mollahan are but two).
Posted by: JMK | November 13, 2006 07:07 PM