Posted on 07/31/2007 5:45:56 AM PDT by bocopar
I must admit to having an initial gut response to CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) and their current attempts to root out nepotism in our nation's Capitol.
According to Josephine Hearn at The Politico, "House members are complaining that their spouses could lose their jobs, their family incomes could drop and, perhaps, the entire pattern of their family lives could change if an ethics reform bill just passed by the House becomes law."
"The bill would bar campaigns from employing a lawmaker's spouse. Its backers argue that employing a spouse creates an implicit conflict of interest, tempting lawmakers to overpay and tipping off contributors that some of their largesse will go directly to the lawmaker's family.
(Excerpt) Read more at blackandright.mensnewsdaily.com ...
I don’t see the conflict in a campaign committee, I do see a conflict with lobbyist jobs for groups appearing before a spouses committee.
Common sense is not common in DC. In fact common sense is probably forbidden in DC as a hate crime.
Not to mention vulgarity. Profanity, vulgarity, crudeness, all are coin of the realm for "progressive" websites like Kos. It is rare to see a post in those places that doesn't use the f-word. Here, and at other conservative sites, it is pretty limited. I know liberals use profanity because they think it makes them look "cool" and grown-up, but all it does is make them look like the foul-mouthed jerks that they are.
BOR’s response was geared toward any right-wing hate site. It was more like a “whatever/whichever” to Lannie’s specificity. BOR is not net savvy.
Then your logic is totally skewed.
O’reilly has gotten much support from FR over the years, and this is a back stab.
You've got to be kidding, he's bashed on here all the time.
I can appreciate the loyalty being show to Bill, however one just can’t sit back, trying to be all objective, and let your base of support be smeared by the likes of Lanny Davis, and lumped in with the Daily Kos.
I expected more from Bill, is all.
Wrong. Politians campaigns are financed by contributors to the campaign, not public tax money. Politics is the family business. Your referance to aristocracy and privilege is just bogus. In a country where there are nine million millionaires, those who make $170,000/yr are just middling civil servants, not aristocrats.
He did not!! Why are you saying that?
I must have missed it. I don’t recall such a comparison.
Taking things out of context can be misleading. This is out of context with the overall story and “O” was right on. Kos basic site is a far left site by the nature of it’s publisher, unlike the FR which is an open form without commentary of site management.
If you value your own privacy rights you really ought to prove to the folks in government that privacy has value.
This sort of legislation should be prohibited anyway because it discourages the poor from seeking public office and hands all the levers of power over to the rich.
Don't you mean bush-leaguers?
I think some of the Buchanan for President “debates” back in the 90’s and some of the discussion about the Catholic priest scandals were rather vitriolic, but they do not come close to sinking to the level of a typical DU discussion about even something as mundane as the weather.
Also, I will agree that no one threatens anyone here like they do over at those other places. No porn either.
I understand that. Like I said, though, BOR is just beginning to learn about and recognize the power of the Internet. I’ve always considered “trying to be all objective” the hallmark of a true conservative. Not in those exact words, perhaps, but certainly weighing the facts before making a knee-jerk reaction.
I think the one thing I would like O’Reilly to be aware of is this:
There is a difference between what conservatives talk about and what leftists talk about. In general, conservatives discuss issues where liberals discuss people. I do read occasionally at dkos. What I have found (again, in general), is that almost every topic devolves into impeach Bush/get Cheney/get Rove. I don’t care what the subject is, halfway through the thread, that’s what it turns into.
The biggest reason for the Dem win in ‘06 was not Iraq, although that’s what they would like us to believe. It was BDS created by Soros and the Clintonistas. Misplaced hatred is very easy to propagate and nurture, especially in today’s youth culture.
Daily Kos and the rest of them used this to go after candidates at every level of government. An example is what is happening in NYS with Spitzer and his staff now being accused of using his power to dig up dirt on Bruno. Regardless of the fact that there is corruption in NYS on both sides of the aisle, their tactics are coming back to haunt them.
Conservatives have not used underhanded tactics to create or dig up dirt for the most part. It is contrary to most of us to engage in this type of behavior and we only do it in self-defense. It has a tendency to put us at a political disadvantage. I believe this is why President Bush got into so much trouble. I think he was focused on what he thought was necessary (I agree with him on some things and disagree on others) and was not good at all at throwing the dirt back.
We, at FR, have tried to make up for some of that lack by going after the top level of the teflon crowd; those we know darned right well are guilty of misconduct, but who seem to be impermeable to indictment. That includes both Clintons.
I’ve seen no/little indication here that FR attempts to go out of our way to dig up dirt on any/all Dems. Maybe not doing so hurts us or maybe it just makes us better than the other side.
I will say that I found one of the best, most comprehensive articles on the history of the health insurance industry at dkos. I shared it with another freeper, who agreed that it was an excellent piece. BUT, that was an analysis of history. If they start discussing healthcare itself, again it devolves into BDS. It is next to impossible for them to stay on topic because they don’t really care all that much about the issues. They simply think that getting Dems into office and Republicans out will solve domestic problems and create world peace.
Sorry my response is so delayed. I had my 3-year old grandson here this morning. ;)
Without taking a position on either side (I think I disagree with you), your statement reminds me of Novak's quote years ago about the Carter administration:
"The trouble is that the White House is a mom and pop operation--and mom's running the store."
On one hand, those that I trust the most, and who know my wishes/faults/peculiarities....are mainly family. They are more accountable to me, and I would hope loyal to me also.
On the other hand...it can send the wrong message.
Excellent points, sageb1
I would add one other thing to this discussion. Conservatives are more willing to hold their own to task for corruption. The left denies and excuses any corruption on their side.
I am discounting the continuing witch hunt by the left as being indicative of wrong-doing by the administration. Even Feingold admitted yesterday that there is no smoking gun. But he is willing to waste the people’s time looking for one.
To me it is subterfuge. They will disallow hring spouses and keep $26b in earmarks for useless pork.
are you saying that bill clinton did not receive a salary?
mary bozo’s hubbie skied into a tree and now she’s a u.s. congresswoman!
Right back at ya: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1873938/posts?q=1&;page=101#183
I saw the segment, BOR didn’t call FR a hate site. Lanny did, but not BOR.
Stop spreading lies.
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