Posted on 06/15/2006 9:51:48 PM PDT by coffee260
So many stories and reports talk about the politics and mystique inside the beltway of Washington, D.C. For the majority of our population, it is unknown what is meant. As a Marine officer, I spent some time in that environment and I think that I can help explain it. There is no mystique; it is liberalism at the extreme. I recall a former Marine officer who had spent four years in the Corps and risen to the rank of First Lieutenant, and a few years later was elected to Congress. He attended a reception at the commandant of the Marine Corps quarters. He had been a lieutenant and now he was in the presence of the commandant. The commandant referred to him as "sir" as was proper since he was a congressman. This congressman was thrilled that he had been a lieutenant and the commandant called him sir. That feeling probably lasted for the first two years of his tenure, if that long. The elite inside the beltway include the diplomatic corps, senators, congressman and congresswomen, political advisors, the lobbyists, and the media. The day starts by reading the Washington Post, because anyone who is anyone must know what the latest scandal or rumor is. What happens inside the beltway is how the world operates, as far as they are concerned. The rest of the country is merely "fly over" country that must be tolerated. If one wants to read positive stories about himself in the Washington Post, or be invited to the best parties, he must be enlightened about abortion, rehabilitation of criminals, education, welfare and all the other government subsidies. No one is more informed than the elite -- or so they think. Unfortunately, too many of them have never really had a job that caused them to appreciate how the economy works, what taxes do to ordinary people, why government education is in turmoil, why crime in major cities is a problem and numerous other concerns that the typical American confronts on a daily basis. Listen to what they say: reduced taxes are bad, public education is good; judgmentalism is bad, abortion is necessary and we are destroying the environment -- to name a few. Their answer to all of these concerns, when they realize that they are concerns in election years, is more government. Too many of these elite do not have a clue. Today, we have the ability to go on the Internet and use Google or other search engines to find what our representatives have said about such issues as immigration, taxes, abortion and Iraq and how they voted. They live in such a bubble that it escapes them that Americans can learn the truth. I find it fascinating that so many of our reps have not learned this. Tom Daschle found out the hard way. For years, he went to his home state and spoke conservative and in D.C., he voted liberal. That served him well for years, but time ran out with technology and the Internet. When the public becomes aroused about a certain issue, politicians seem to listen. Illegal immigration is the latest issue and the "inside the beltway" crowd merely think that the public does not know what is good for it. Listen to the politicians. Most are either in safe seats or they are not up for reelection for years. Those senators who must face the voters this year are voting against illegal immigration. Gee, I wonder why. In the House, again those who are in safe seats could care less what their voters think, but those in contested seats are concerned and voting differently. The sad truth is that once they win their seat, they forget about the voters for another 18 months. I suppose the best analogy is that the people who work inside the beltway are like addicts. Power, adulation and notoriety are so alluring. Each time that I returned to the D.C. area, I could not believe how biased everything was. I saw this as a totally different world. My experiences and background asked how could people who were educated and in positions of authority think this way? They live in a dream world and the media along with their staff supports it. They truly believe that they know what is good for us better than we do. As far as they are concerned, we need them to ensure that we arrive at the proper decisions.
Donald Myers is a retired Marine Corps colonel who lives in Spring Hill and writes columns for Hernando Today.
6 years makes it all Bush's fault.
I saw him regularly and spoke about such things as his commitment to life, faith, family values, tax hardships for the one-wage family.
I encouraged people I knew to donate their money to his campaign and even talked one couple into having an event for him at their home. Marilyn Quayle (Dan was still V.P. at that time) was the "star" attraction.
Many people came and donated $$$$$ to this man.
We fought off liberal Republicans in the Primary and a liberal Governor in both the Primary and General election.
He was elected by a nose.
I can honestly attest that his going to D.C. was the worst thing that could have ever happened to him. Not only has he worked and voted for many projects for which I am violently opposed, he wants to use his "stature" as a conservative to propel him to the Presidency.
When I last wrote/faxed/and emailed this man, I told him that in no uncertain terms would he ever get my vote again, but that I would again work tirelessly to defeat him in another Republican Primary (though the Bush White House/Karl Rove will strongly go to bat to keep him where he is.)
The name of this turncoat who has "grown on the job" while he has forgotten completely why he ran in the first place and whom, exactly he is supposed to represent - none other than Sen. Sam Brownback, scourge of the people.
Yes you're right about it taking 50 years. I should have made clear that I only started following politics closely 6 years ago so my frame of reference doesn't go that far back.
It goes back at least 100 years. Some of the worst things that have happened, the Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Ammendments, and the Federal Reserve Act, occured between 1910, and 1920.
Your issue is really with K Street in Washington DC. Senator Brownback is merely responding to the local reality there. K Street is the locale in DC where all the lobbyists hang out. They provide access to the funds a Senator needs to obtain re-election...and will impede his access if their bidding is not done...
Shutting down K street and making ALL congressional personal and professional financial relationships, 100% transparent, as part of the deal of public service, would put and end to this chronic mis-representation.
Sounds about right.
Attended a meeting chaired by a state politician, and I publically chewed his a$$ out for not upholding the law.
I could see he was boiling inside, but he didn't know how to reply because the law was on my side. After the confrontation he glared at me the whole meeting. Thought about asking him to step outside into the parking lot to discuss car pooling, but I wasn't sure whether or not there was a law against squashing insects.
Hi
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