WHAT REFORM? [Democrats have dug themselves into a hole]

New York Post ^ | Monday, March 25, 2002 | By ROBERT A. GEORGE

[JohnHuang2]

LONGTIME Republican political strategist Rich Galen likens money in politics to water in the ocean: "You can put up dams all you want. Nothing will change the amount; you can only move it around."

That's Galen's reaction to the passage - and expected enactment - of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law.

[JohnHuang2]

Monday, March 25, 2002

Quote of the Day by Alissa 3/25/02

[vannrox]

"...Truth be told, the President is blessed by his enemies. From the moment Bush became our 43rd President, his political enemies have waged a steady, well-coordinated, systematic vicious smear campaign of personal vilification and character assassination.


His enemies have not only attempted to destroy the President politically, but to turn the Bush name itself into a dirty word.


Democrats and their media surrogates would not rest until Bush became, in the eyes of a majority of Americans, a hated pariah -- a dangerous extremist at war against the very core values we cherish as Americans.


Bottom line: Bush is unAmerican -- that's been the essence of the Democrat "message" of hate, paranoia and division..."

[JohnHuang2]

;^)

[Aeronaut]

In short, Democrats have dug themselves into a hole.

How sweet it is!

[JohnHuang2]

I'd have still preferred a veto, but watching this farce go down in flames -- along with charlatan McCain -- in the courtroom is the next best thing =^)

[JohnHuang2]

Gotta run -- see ya later, my friend.

[Congressman Billybob]

I agree with the central points both of the article posted, and John's "2 cents" in response to it. I used a similar anology to "all the water in the ocean" in my latest column, linked below.

I think FReepers will get particular pleasure from my "toothpaste" explanation of money in politics.

We, the First Amendment lawyers, will beat his law in the US Supreme Court. The sad part is, it never should have come to that. The House, Senate and President all failed their sworn duties to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. That was what prompted my column this week, "Does Anybody READ the Constitution?"

Congressman Billybob

Click here to fight Shays-Meehan.

Click here for latest column: "Does Anybody READ the Constitution?"ybody READ the Constitution?"

The nation, as well as Congress and the President, will get a badly-needed civics lesson in that Supreme Court decision. I hope it comes down before November, so it can contribute to the forced retirement of come Congresscriters who place political interests above the Constitution.

[Republic]

I'd have still preferred a veto, but watching this farce go down in flames -- along with charlatan McCain -- in the courtroom is the next best thing =^)

Nice two cents....what a value pack.

Have to say though, I believe the grown-ups in the WH figured this angle of the CFR a long time ago. Bet they figured it out that this slimeball piece of legislation would come back to bit the democrats where it hurts most-their dirty, bottomless pockets.

Perhaps the dems banked on our President breaking his promise to sign CR if it hit his desk (alas--he is keeping his promise! hehe) and are now paying a price far beyond the win of this shallow, ill devised, unconstitutional piece of crap.

My greatest hope is that the FEC is reformed, that REPUBLICANS are put in heavy duty jobs there, ASAP, because the democrats are up a creek with no paddles if they are unable to cheat like they did during the clinton reign of corruption.

[anniegetyourgun]

Sigh. Your wish for pre-Nov decision is something I share, but let's be realistic - it ain't happenin'.

[VRWC_minion]

You might be interested in a push poll I received Friday evening, two days after reform was voted on. It shows how the campaign is going to be played out on the negative side. Apparently the early targets are CT, Iowa, and Michigan. The following is the e-mail I sent to my representative that memorialized the call.

---

Mr Simmons,

This is to advise you about a push poll that was directed to me last night about 9pm in East Hampton. After establishing I was a likely voter, the oldest male and was a republican I was asked who I would vote for. After telling them the republican candidate most likely (because I don't know you because of redistricting) I was asked a series of questions which included (not exact wording) :

1. Simmons voted for 450 million in retro active tax benefits for Enron.

2. Simmons voted against school building.

3. Simmons voted against allowing us to sure HMO's and taking away benefits from elderly.

He then asked me would I still vote for Simmons. I told him his questions were based on flawed premises and that this was a push poll. I was surprised that he didn't tell me Simmons was an ax murderer but yes I will still vote for the ax murderer.

The contact person I was given for this poll is Amy Collier, 215-641-2200 ext 2247. I left her a message telling her the polling company was lower scum than Clinton.

I am angry about this call and am willing to offer whatever assistance I can to you in the upcoming election in East Hampton, please let me know what I can do to help.

---

[GraniteStateConservative]

Bottom line: Bush is unAmerican -- that's been the essence of the Democrat "message" of hate, paranoia and division.

That's been the essence of the message of some here at FR, too, sadly.

[Vinomori]

bump for exposing McCain's refusal to finish up his anger management classes

[Miss Marple]

When I heard Mara Liason going on and on about Bush breaking a campaign promise, I realized that the media would be attacking him no matter which way he went. In my opinion, this is the best strategy that could be used, given that the Senate is bottlenecked and McCain is actively using this issue to undermine Bush and the party as a whole.

Initially I thought he would veto it, and was disappointed. However, someone pointed out that we need to have this go to the Supreme Court while we still have a fairly conservative majority. If a conservative justice dies or retires, we could be in a position to see this ruled on AGAINST us. I think the decision was made to get this out of the Senate and to the court ASAP, and also remove the issue from the fall campaign.

[Redleg Duke]

Target hit, as always. These idiots keep underestimating the President. They just refuse to learn.

Darwin at work!

[The Mayor]

Bump

[deport]

Instead, much to their utter dismay, Bush signaled his intention to sign CFR, throwing Democrat campaign strategy into upheaval. The party had planned to use the issue as a sledge hammer to whack Republicans in the fall. Tarnishing the President's reputation as a bellhop for Enron was pivotal. Now Democrats are worried they're headed for heavy losses in November..........

Yet, Bush will have the last laugh if CNN's preview yesterday of litigation strategy is any indication.

It will be very interesting it seems.......

[eureka!]

Let's hope the 'Rats are in such a state. Great 2 Cents...

[DouglasKC]

I'd have still preferred a veto, but watching this farce go down in flames -- along with charlatan McCain -- in the courtroom is the next best thing =^)

Exactly, this could be the best thing. The Supreme Court hopefully will put a stake through the heart of this issue and kill it once and for all.

[rdb3]

When I heard Mara Liason going on and on about Bush breaking a campaign promise. . .

Thank you, Miss Marple, for bringing this back to my attention. I saw her on FNSunday saying this. It affirmed what I had thought all along, that Leftists will use this as a means to depress the enthusiasm of the base of the Right.

How right I was.

President Bush is playing a political gambit, without a doubt. I couldn't figure out his angle, but I knew something was in the works. In my humble opinion, this bill should not have even reached the Oval Office. The GOP in the House and Senate failed us here because they didn't want to appear as "anti-reform" for this coming election season.

All know that CFR is unconstitutional. McCain, the undercover RAT he is, thinks he is harming Bush by this. But if Sen. McConnell and his legal team get this this before the Supreme Court and have it struck down, Bush will come out smelling like a rose as far as today's body politic is concerned. His signing the bill removes the weapon of his enemies.

But let me be honest here. I don't like it, but I understand that this is politics. Politics is a bloodsport, not a collegiate debating club. What really gets me is when our people hammer, and rightly so, the Right for being "spineless." Yet, when we finally have someone willing to politically take to task the Left, we still complain!

Blaming a politician for being a politician is like blaming a dog for being a dog. And, just as surgery is best left to surgeons, politics is better left to politicians.