[I cannot think of a name]

“harming Washington’s ability to do the basic, necessary work of governing”

Your definition and my definition of “necessary” is completely different.

[sunmars]

I sense a common Dem talking point coming through today, first Gov Perdue, says we should suspend elections, now this bozo.

What are the dems planning.

[barmag25]

Funny how this was released about the time when Bev Perdue said the same thing.

[GatorGirl]

It’s a good thing we are not a Democracy. Whew!

[RobbyS]

Obviously Orzag either does not understand the thinking of the Founding Fathers or he does not approve of it. Ironically, the Constitution aims to prevent “efficient” government and “democratic” government by establishing checks and balances.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

[Eldon Tyrell]

Note that we didn’t have this “problem” two years ago - when they were stealing us blind.

He needs a punch in the face.

[throwback]

He doesn't really mean that the problem is that the government has become inert, rather that the liberal agenda has. If the mass of government began to swing back the other way, reducing spending, regulation, and government reach, that would be government dislodged. I'm sure that is not the type of government activity that would please Orzag. Like an object in motion, the government is now experiencing no velocity because the force of freedom must first overcome the Leftist momentum and then move the government back the other way.

[redgolum]

Wow.

Seems like we have a few calls for tyranny.

[crazyhorse691]

The libs embrace Democracy...until it no longer suits them. Just thought I would never actually hear them say out loud what they have been doing for years. The scariest part is that I have no problem envisioning drooling libtards nodding their heads in agreement.

[GeronL]

The Gov of NC and the columnists of the NY Times agree. This was to be part of a new meme from the left it seems.

[DustyMoment]

I’m always suspicious of ANY former administration ‘officials’ who leave and turn on their former boss.

While I don’t disagree with Orzag’s ideas here, I am suspicious of his motives. What’s going on behind the scene to make him write this??

Inquiring minds . . . .

[arthurus]

Orszag doesn't include the Congress in "the government." To him the "government" is the Executive Branch alone. The legislature serves primarily as an obstruction to the smooth running of "government" and should be replaced by a Bureaucracy that answers only to the President and probably not much even to the President insofar as staffing the bureaucracy and the details of its functioning are concerned. His ideal government is one designed by Franz Kafka.

The Republicans already accept much of these ideas in that Republicans will not "clean house" in the Departments and Bureaus when they get the Presidency. They allow the Bureaus to function, largely in near open opposition to the Republican President while Republicans just wring their hands and say "what can ya do?" Democrats make cleaning house their first order of business.

[ilgipper]

Orszag, you douche, the damage was done when there was NO gridlock. The American people overwhelmingly voted FOR gridlock to stop the massacre of our economic future.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

That's why we are not a democracy.

That's why we are a representative republic.

Or were, until Democrats manufactured so many fraudulent votes that they can steal close elections at-will.

[gusopol3]

Beck nailed this two years ago

[PeterPrinciple]

I agree, we need less democracy and more republic............

[philman_36]

In an 1814 letter to John Taylor, John Adams wrote that “there never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” That may read today like an overstatement, but it is certainly true that our democracy finds itself facing a deep challenge...
Hey, Peter, you dolt, you've got a problem. America is not a democracy and was never founded as one.
From John Adams, well before 1814...
Epilogue: Securing the Republic John Adams to Mercy Warren 8 Jan. 1776
Pray Madam, are you for an American Monarchy or Republic? (what?! why didn't he ask her if she were for a Democracy?) Monarchy is the genteelest and most fashionable Government, and I dont know why the Ladies ought not to consult Elegance and the Fashion as well in Government as Gowns, Bureaus or Chariots.
For my own part I am so tasteless as to prefer a Republic, if We must erect an independent Government in America, which you know is utterly against my Inclination. But a Republic, altho it will infallibly beggar me and my Children, will produce Strength, Hardiness Activity, Courage, Fortitude and Enterprise; the manly noble and Sublime Qualities in human Nature, in Abundance.

And that last sentence is why all of these politicians and bureaucrats, like you, keep calling us a democracy instead of the Republic we are. They don't want people to develop the characteristics outlined above that a Republic produces.

[philman_36]

In other words, radical as it sounds, we need to counter the gridlock of our political institutions by making them a bit less democratic.
It's a shame you can't just read the rest of the article there and read his solution.
Here's the rest of the article so it can be read in full...
This article appears in full on CFR.org by permission of its original publisher.

[philman_36]

This is interesting...
THE PROBLEM WITH such commissions is that, like automatic stabilizers and backstop rules, they reduce the power of elected officials and therefore make our government somewhat less accountable to voters.

So that's what he wants...to make our government "somewhat" less accountable to voters instead of completely unaccountable.

That comes about if Mr. Dunham wins reelection so get those marching shoes on, Democrats of America! Place that shackle about your own ankles 'cause the Democrats know you blindly will.