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97-99% of all Congressmen are re-elected. That’s not representative democracy, that’s a farce, and it’s one I’ve elected to cease participating in. I seriously doubt the complexion of Congress will change after election day, save a few seats here and there where an incumbant is not running yet again.

I’m only voting in State and local elections. Voting in a Federal election is about useless, because it’s clear that we are ruled by an elite that allows the mob to have indirect and ultimately meaningless input. Our Federal government is about as free and democratic as the late Roman Republic. Sometimes I think we should just declare somebody King and get it over with. It’s what the People clearly want.

Anyway, the State’s the only place where you can still have a say, but even some (or most) States practice gerrymandering as well, making the entire exercise more of a feel-good measure than anything substantial.

Paul: So you’re not even trying to have your say in federal elections? You have a government which is not living up to its obligations to prosecute even one war effectively (let alone all the other incompetence they have displayed), but you won’t vote to elect members of a body that could, finally, offer some oversight?

There are signs that that old rule of thumb about incumbents won’t hold this year. Why abandon your chance to be part of that change now?

Paul: “97-99% of all Congressmen are re-elected.�

Next month, if 96.5% of the House is returned to office in 2008 (as opposed to 97%), the House will change to Democratic control.

“I’m only voting in State and local elections. Voting in a Federal election is about useless, because it’s clear that we are ruled by an elite that allows the mob to have indirect and ultimately meaningless input.�

In my opinion, all the more reason for the mob to make a big noise. And it truly depends on where you are. In my case, I’ll be voting to re-elect a Democrat to the House who I believe is running unopposed (Rep. John Lewis), and I am amazingly fine with that. That is the sole federal level vote I have the option of casting in November. But even at the state and local level, I intend to practice my “trickle down� theory. In other words, though the problem is federal, my message will be sent with a deliberately broad brush.

“Sometimes I think we should just declare somebody King and get it over with. It’s what the People clearly want.�

Not this people, and clearly not you, either. And there’s a whole lot more than I think you realize.

To think, I was ready to nominate you as a Founding Father, but not if you’re that willing to roll over to King George.

Mary: “you won’t vote to elect members of a body that could, finally, offer some oversight?�

This is what I want right now more than anything. Some simple freakin’ accountability. If “the King’s Men� won’t offer it, then I want people in power in at least one part of one branch of government who will have it subpoenaed. Dragged out into the light of day.

It will be an ugly country wrenching mess. But we need it. And we deserve it (in more ways than one).

Next month, if 96.5% of the House is returned to office in 2008 (as opposed to 97%), the House will change to Democratic control.

That’s still unacceptable. We used to mock countries with these kind of re-election numbers. Still, if the Democrats take control of the House, which I don’t think will really happen, I’d be interested to see how many of these recently passed bills would be mitigated or perhaps repealed. My guess is zero. From where I sit, I see a lot of rhetoric about civil liberties from their side of the aisle, but the Republicans used to go on about “fiscal restraint” and “limited government” themselves, and we see what happened to that.

My guess is that they’ll focus on the President with a lot of hearings and fiery rhetoric to appeal to their base, but will do very little to substantially change what’s become the status quo. They can rail against the President, but what good would it serve? He’s already done the job he was elected to do: put conservatives on the Supreme Court to weaken/overturn Roe v. Wade and tear down the wall between church and state. He’s also expanded the Executive to give it unlimited and unchecked power. The damage is done. Unless they address the substance of what’s been done, instead of roasting a lame duck, then the Republic as we knew it is dead. It’s over.

But I guarantee we’ll still be arguing how to save the corpse even as it continues to decompose.

But even at the state and local level, I intend to practice my “trickle down� theory. In other words, though the problem is federal, my message will be sent with a deliberately broad brush.

I don’t know about that. I’m in a Democratic district, so the Asemblyman is essentially a Democratic shoo-in, but I’ll be voting for Arnold for Governer. If the Democrats would’ve voted for Westley instead of Angeledis in the primary, I would’ve gone with Westley, but the Democrats were stupid and stupidity should never be rewarded. Westley would’ve wiped the floor with Arnold’s ass, but the Party went with one of “their guys” who’s worked his way up the corruption ladder in State politics. I don’t reward good ole boys, either.

Paul: “My guess is that they’ll focus on the President with a lot of hearings and fiery rhetoric to appeal to their base, but will do very little to substantially change what’s become the status quo�

Hearings and subpoenas are a start. It’s the beginning of something resembling “accountability.� Yes, it may take a while to get around to actually waterboarding those accountable, but you’ve got to start somewhere after six years of one party rule. You say they’ve already “done the job,� but they also created the power to undo much of it. And if your alternative is to simply give in and let them keep going, I’m not seeing that as much of an alternative.

But I gather you’re not going to be that one mind I convert. I also gather you’ve managed to procure property in Costa Rica or the Cayman Islands or somewhere.

But I’m stuck here. So, yes, I’ll be the one dragging what’s left of the Constitution across that dangerous truck-filled road and up the hill to the Pet Cemetery.

And when it comes back down … it’s going to want to play with you.

Thank you Reid and Mary! I think that Paul has decided not to exercise his obligations as a US citizen…defending our Constitution and those it protects is our responsibility, each of us. I know that I am not raising three bright, inquisitive, politcally aware and active children (21,14,&8) to “roll over” and neglect this responsibility! The comments from 14 upon reading Paul’s blog demonstrated to me that I am succeeding..”does he live in a cave with other like-minded apathetics?”

Lori and Cody: “I think that Paul has decided not to exercise his obligations as a US citizen … defending our Constitution and those it protects is our responsibility, each of us”

Granted, I have the benefit of “inside info” that you may not have, but I assure you, Paul has done more to uphold and defend the Constitution than you and I and your kids combined. Daily. For longer than your 14 year old has been alive.

So, in my opinion, he gets special dispensation to rant about the abuses against our Constitution, and express complete disgust over the state to which we’ve fallen, as well as our ability to climb out of this hole.

At least, at my place he does.

I’ll be voting for Arnold for Governer. If the Democrats would’ve voted for Westley instead of Angeledis in the primary, I would’ve gone with Westley, but the Democrats were stupid and stupidity should never be rewarded. Westley would’ve wiped the floor with Arnold’s ass, but the Party went with one of “their guys� who’s worked his way up the corruption ladder in State politics. I don’t reward good ole boys, either.

Agree entirely (I did vote for Westley). This year, I might be one of the few people to vote for a Republican for the first time.

But the guys in D.C. should be shipped to Gitmo.

Reid..we plead humbly for forgiveness..;-) .was not intended as slight to Paul…but as more of a lesson to 14 about opinions and how it’s great to share them…even if you’re not percieved as right…right? Also not intended as challenge constitutional value. My husband’s repub..i am not.
i consider myself a rebel to his yankee. i love my red truck but sometimes find the necks ‘round the parts slightly tinted…or would that be tainted? Some of what we’ve been trying to teach our kids includes toleration of differences. When we chose to raise an american-african foster child, we raised more eyebrows than the Beaufort Bridge for tugs! My yankee mom told me that ‘choosing” to live on this small island (Emerald) would be detrimental to my brain…but they even mail the Smithsonian mag here! Thanks for the vent!

No need for pleas or forgiveness. Partially it’s the nature of this medium and it’s lack of context. Paul and I go back about five years. I take his comments within a much larger picture, as well as with the knowledge of what he does every day. When he’s not wasting his time visiting my web site.

I think another part of it is the frustration many feel, and how they react to it and express it. I spoke with someone today who shall remain nameless because they provide a portion of my income, and Boy Howdy, was he fed up with anyone who’d ever been on a ballot.

Lots of folks are so frustrated they think going to vote next month simply isn’t enough. Like dumping a demitasse cup of water onto a raging whole house fire. Some feel the house done burnt down. Others think maybe enough of us with demitasse cups might be able to save, say, the den. Or the dining room. And have a chance to rebuild from there.

I don’t know … except I know it’s the only lever we have, and it only comes every two years. As I told my frustrated client today, I at least want some semblance of accountability. If the Democrats take one house of Congress, take over the chairmanship of all the committees, and start issuing subpoenas … it’s a start on filling the vast Accountability Void that has developed over the past six years.

And if one house of Congress in democratic hands puts a big honkin’ roadblock on the expressway of legislation rammed through by the administration … I’ll take it. Two years of gridlock sounds incredibly appealing right now.

Finally, your talk of Beaufort Bridge and Emerald Isle makes me very nostalgic. I spent many summers of my youth staying with my grandparents at Atlantic Beach. Specifically, around Sportsman’s Pier, which I hear is closing this month. I very much want to come up there before then, but very much doubt it will happen.

Here I am on the pier with my grandfather, circa maybe 1968.

Nostalgia is the reason we’re here. This year, our final destination courtesy USMC, 14 begins high school…just yesterday he began k-garden at White Oak E.S. Many duty stations and deployments later…life’s a beach. One I can see from here, with only the rising cost of hurricane/water/flood insurance in negative relief…my first
time here was in 1967-68, when the tall bridge wasn’t complete yet (if the old brain is working right) and JAX was really more like Swansboro is now.

Then, we didn’t, as children, have the concerns ours do now re: Democracy and who’s translating it… what the Constitution was meant to mean and who’s translating it…Global warming, international genocide,
what Does a comma mean in history, therefore what definition will be applied to the current administration and what the heck happened to Pluto?

(last from 14…who shares a first name with one discoverer).

Change IS progress or progress IS change or the process of…We’ll always have those goofy b/w memories…

That’s how business goes, my friend, and whether we like it or not, there will be deals among nations, friends or enemies. We just have to deal with all of them and survive.

Just kind’a curious, but what happened to that other place of yours Paul?

Regards.

I can’t speak for -Anthony- Paul, but he went on about it at some length on his site a few months back.

Well, Reid linked to that one post. If you’re talking about Sgt Stryker, I turned it over to Sgt. Mom and them to do with as they please.