your jacket is. Red or Blue..
Politicians are always on the take. Just wonder how may don't get caught to the ones that do? I imagine it's kind of like seeing cockroaches in the daytime. If you see one in the daylight you know there are another thousand in the wall...

Busted

we ned to start hanging these thiefs....

Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutly, or something like that.

I notice that most corruption comes after the incumbents have been in power a good while. Another reason to toss the rascals out every now and then.

I agree that corruption crosses the aisle and takes in members from any and all parties. What I think is funny is how cheap most of 'em sell out for. I actually admire Duke Cunningham in a kind of perverse way. At least he knew what he was worth to the lobbyists and took every penny. If you're going to be corrupt, you might as well extract full value.

I think our members of congress and the senate need to be drafted. If you really want the job your motives are suspect right off the bat. Kinda like jury duty. Should have a clean slate, no recreational chemical addictions. Proof of financial status to the point of not needing govt. entitlements to function in society. Speaks and reads the English Language. Cash flow in the draftees life is monitored for bumps on the income curve or buying power during public service and for 5 years after release.
Fun prequisites, will step on allmost everyones toes. Discriminating, I hope so. The word just implies judgement.
Any issue that cannot be adjudicated by the house or the senate is automatically put to the vote of the people. IF the people don't vote they incur an automatic 10% surcharge on their income tax. All issues that can be called "pork" are subject to 60% voter approval.
eeeyahooo

Sard,

This is getting terrible. I'm likin' your style on this one.

Sard: I'm with you on this. One has to ask why any cantidate would spend millions on a job that will never pay them that much.

It pays plenty. After you're out of office.

Dave,

There's two kinds of pay that matter to the type of person who persues these offices: power & wealth. Of course, if one possesses power, it's a lot easier to gain wealth.

Let's see here.... 1 dem down and I can't count that high for the reps so far. I guess we'll have to even up the score when the Dems take control of the house back.

One dem down???? That was a good one... Must have only one finger on your left hand?

So, you are trying to say that one party is more ethical than the other??? If so you really need to take the blinders off. Neither party has an ethical leg to stand on and toss stones that's for sure. I agree what some other have said and most of the incumbents need to be gone and get some new blood in there.

A few years ago I was so pi$$ed that I actually went down the ballot and voted against EVERY incumbent, didn't matter what party they were in. I just wanted them all gone..

PMartin I think you misunderstood what I was getting at. The way I see it, the dems are fighting hard to expose corruption in an attempt to get the power back. Once this happens (not written in stone, but likely) the republicans will definately follow suit and do what they can to dethrone the dems. Remember Clinton??? It's how politics works (besides the money part of it). The republicans aren't going out of their way to expose corruption at this point, they'll use that tactic when they are the underdogs. The recent dem exposed for corruption was a catalyst for them to enforce laws that protect them under special circumstances from being searched, whether by warrant or not.

The real issue here is not that a Democrat was finally busted for doing what almost all politicians do, but that the FBI searched his house and office, which is a violation of the separation of powers, why do you think the republicans are coming to his defense??

im pretty much with sard....or put a maximum income of say one million dollars or you cant run.......maybe if the people actually needed their income from the senate or executive branch, they would work like they needed the income........ most of these guys would get a raise if they got impeached....

both parties are corrupt, but lets not forget that this is the most corrupt administration to ever run the country......that is not my opinion, it is fact....

Where are you going to find a candidate who would be a great president AND has led a perfect life to date so as to get past the dirt diggers ?

I know I have made enough mistakes that I would be "well done" on their grill in no time, any of you know someone with a perfectly clean record and whatever else it takes to get elected, let alone do the job ?

Remember I said drafted. No perfect people, they too are suspect. Most of the dirt diggers would be out of business or have to become papparazzi.
Aunty M if I was Segundo I would annex Mexico.
Then I could send all the Border patrol, that I didn't assign to the Coast Guard, North to seal the Canadian border. All former citizens of Mexico would automatically become citizens of the United states. The various states in Mexico would acquire the status of states of the Union. I would also bestow statehood on Puerto Rico. (slight smile)The current Navy ordnance test range there would be moved to just off the Cuban coast. That would reduce the flight time and fuel expenditures of the Navy Aircraft units. I would offer Fidel favored nation trading status with the U. S. for a few simple changes in his operational stance.
There are several problems I have not addressed and I suspect I don't really need to address them. However, there are some valid arguments for Annex option. It would take the pressure off the ANWR for one. It would dramatically reduce the need to risk dying in the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico for the seasonal laborer and eliminate the illegals in a stroke. I'm sure the expansion of HEW and HUD would make a lot of bureaucrats so happy they would just pee on their shoes.
Well there, you have it. Over simplified of course. But bandwidthe doesn't allow me to really spell it all out.
BTW I would appoint Lupo and Itchy' Federal Marshals to facilitate the peaceful transition of the new Southern States into the Union and to keep the well known tendency for corruption at a reasonable level.They would also be tasked with stopping the flow of drugs North. The drug cartels are to be handled with extreme prejudice.
Oh I almost forgot. Oregonian, you will become the technical advisor to the new states to show them the advantages of adobe and straw bale building materials over wood.

If I have your word you will use the most efficient form of freight and folk moving methods the job is yours. That alone would clean up our air considerably. Of course the positiion will become very unpopular. I would direct you to disallow high school students to drive to school. They will be required to use public transportation. And a driver's license will only become available when the high school diploma is earned.
Couple of side benefits. A secondary school doesn't have to occupy 100 acres of real estate to facilitate a student parking lot. Our dependence on foreign oil would also be reduced not to mention the reduction in auto insurace rates. Maybe even a reduction in teen pregnancies may result from the parking lot elimination.
You would also be tasked with creating a protocol for the administration of the veterans medical service and employment assurance agencies.

sard- im with ya on this one....

SARD fer PREZ!!

Wow! We don't see eye to eye on a lot that matters, but apparently we have more in common than previously revealed.

This forum is doomed! TK's gone. Rory rarely posts. Sard was a closeted common sense guy. What's to argue about anymore? Who can we bash?

ill go get the beer

Aw shucks. No really I don't believe even rabid partisan voters have to call each other names to have fun. My old alcoholic Uncle Paul used to tell me that if you get your jollies from another's pain, you're sick. I agree with him, I just relapse now and then.
Heck, post your heart cloaked in levity and it will fly.
I know you will be shocked lupo, but my favorite koolade is Pacifico or San Miguel. Not Star or Pearl.