Posted on 04/30/2008 11:05:36 AM PDT by Dr. Zzyzx
I recently wrote to Utah Senators Orrin Hatch and Robert Bennett, voicing my disapproval that they voted against the DeMint Amendment, which would put some constraints on earmarks.
Bennett never bothered to answer, but Hatch did. He went on for two or three pages defending his decision. He said that earmarks are a very small part of the national budget and went on to say that the real budget-breakers are Social Security and Medicare. He then said they needed some kind of reform. I wrote the following in reply:
"I [have] had several opportunities to hear you speak. I believe that each time you spoke, you would remind the listeners that it was because you held a great deal of seniority that you should be returned to Washington.
In concluding your letter to me, you wrote the following: "This pressure [Social Security and Medicare costs] will not abate without some kind of major reform in these programs."
Senator, the Constitution of the United States tells me that Congress holds the purse strings. You are one of the most senior, and influential senators in the United States, if you are not the man to introduce such bills and amendments, then I ask: who is?
It would give me unending pride to see our senior senator from Utah continually introducing legislation to reform these laws--it may make you unpopular with your fellow senators, but it would earn you the respect of America. You might be defeated and bloodied by your efforts, but you would know that you made an honest-to-goodness effort to make a difference. The status quo is broken. We need true, courageous leadership to move it in a different direction."
I am weary of buck-passing politicians who spend their days fiddling while Rome burns. I am an advocate for the new organization I saw yesterday. D.R.I.P. -Don't Re-elect Incumbent Politicians.
Meanwhile, I await Senator Hatch's reply.........I don't hold out high hopes.
I’m with you. I used to believe that incumbents brought experience and power to their states and constituencies, but our very own Trent Lott showed me how wrong I was. Look at all the good he did Mississippi in the end (/s), and bailed when it was no longer personally fruitful for him to remain.
President Bush tried to reform Social Security. IIRC, Republicans (Hatch too?) who controlled both Houses at the time, completely scotched that reform effort. Why did they derail that effort? As usual for Republicans, because they were scared it would be used against them in the 2006 elections. So, Republicans - as usual again - played nice with Democrats, and played it safe, and got waxed in 2006.
And now we have the world champion of Rat azz-kissing senators running as the Republican nominee for President.
Yes, and Hatch and the whole lot, even my guys from Georgia, are far to leaky buckets to place too much faith in. They spend all their time looking for a mirror and trying to locate the ‘pulse of the constituency’, as it were....
I've believed for sometime that the Clintons and their left-winged network had the goods on Hatch to keep him in line.
(Probably some pictures of him doing something weird with a poodle.)
since this thread is largely about "constraints on earmarks" = let's not mention that McCain DOESN'T take home the bacon in the form of earmarks - nada, not one, ever. And yet the people of Arizona return him year after year. (No possibility they know him better than the rabid McCain haters out here that NEVER but NEVER acknowledge one thing on the plus side for him)
Look up just the money amount of the earmarks hitlery and obamama brought home this year. No problem there, right...not a word against them.
Some Freeper needs to post a thread that is solely for bashing McCain - to make the bashers day - All that would need to be typed for the thread is: McCain.
Maybe that would help keep every other thread from being taken up with McCain bashers - NO MATTER the subject of the thread
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