David Dreier and the Fall of the House of Voodoo

There are times in history when a political movement becomes a force of nature. For example, after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 within 50 days Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland and Romania had all broken the chains of the Communist era and deposed its henchmen.

Today, the worsening financial crisis has caused a seismic shift in this country and not only has it brought down the house of cards known as Reaganomics but it may also bring down some of voodoo economics' high priests - most notably David Dreier of California's 26th Congressional District.

First elected in 1980 as part of the Reagan landslide, Dreier not only faces a difficult political climate but a dramatically different district which is now one quarter Hispanic and plurality Democratic. Although he won reelection in 2006 by a twenty percent margin, by August voters were evenly split as his favorable/unfavorable ratings were both at 32 percent. This is not a good omen for Dreier, who now faces his first serious challenger in Russ Warner who is surging in the polls.

Dreier could be the poster boy for the failure of the Reagan-Gingrich-DeLay revolution. He was a senior member of the hyper-partisan Gingrich-DeLay Congresses, serving as Chairman of the all powerful Rules Committee during the last eight years of Republican rule. Before any bill can come to the House floor, it must first go through the obscure Rules Committee which sets the terms of the debate - including whether and to what extent amendments will be permitted. As Rules Committee Chairman, Dreier promoted the Committee's obscurity through closed-door and midnight hearings where he pushed the Republican agenda by stifling House debates to the point that nearly half of all bills were considered under closed rules preventing debate.

Dreier again demonstrated his respect for open debate last week when he failed to show and face Warner at the League of Women Voters' candidate's forum. Unlike Dreier, Warner is not a career politician but rather a successful businessman whose son urged him to run upon his return from serving 17-months in Iraq. Warner has succeeded in large part due to strong grass roots support. Having met Warner, I can understand the appeal because he exudes a certain "Jimmy Stewart-like" sense of decency and common sense that is rarely found in today's politics. Who better to challenge a Washington insider who has taken 95 trips to 65 countries but only sponsored two measures that were enacted in 28 years in Congress.

While Dreier is a frequent fixture on Washington talk shows, he has consistently refused to debate his opponents over the years. Dreier does not want a debate where he will have to explain his support for the Bush agenda or answer why he voted to raise his pay ten times and made his lover one of the highest paid staff members on Capitol Hill but voted against a $1,500 bonus for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This race deserves a lot more attention, because Dreier embodies the hypocrisy of the Gingrich-DeLay era, while Warner embodies the spirit of change that is at the heart of the Obama campaign. Warner has nearly matched Dreier in fundraising, but Dreier began the campaign with a $2 million war chest which is only partially depleted. For Democrats looking to adopt a friend in the final days of the campaign, Russ Warner is their man.

For those of you east of the Mississippi, you might consider Victoria Wulsin, who is running strong in her rematch against Ohio Republican Jean Schmidt. Yes, "Mean Jean" Schmidt who gained fame by calling John Murtha a "coward" and who has been called "despicable" by a fellow Republican. Schmidt has continued her erratic behavior, such as falsely claiming that China was drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, and has fallen behind Wulsin, a doctor and public health expert who has made health care the centerpiece of her campaign.

Like the fall of the Berlin Wall a generation ago, the defeat of Dreier, Schmidt and other Republican hatchet-men also would signal the end of a dark era and the promise of a new day. A new Congress with members like Russ Warner and Victoria Wulsin working with a President Obama would be something to celebrate, but first they need your help in the last few days to make it a reality.

Comments

[gezapath]

Good article, and great reference to the Reagan Revolution coattails. I have fumed for decades after Dreier managed a win over the principled Jim Lloyd in 1980.

Dreier's hold on his congressional seat is one of the best examples of Democracy not at work; money and influence are the glue that keeps his leaking intellectual ship afloat. His is an example of absence from duty at home while gallivanting abroad as the undisputed leader in congressional air miles.

Whether you are gay or not should not be an issue; using your position in government to have taxpayers fund your international peccadilloes must be an issue, certainly at a time when so much of Main Street is hurting and with the worst to come.

Ultimately it should be Dreier's pathetically weak congressional record and an almost arrogant disinterest in his constituency that sinks his gravy train. It SHOULD be. Unfortunately, it will probably be the result of Obama's coattails, and the economy, that sends our boy Davey packing.

Regardless, Mr. Warner appears to be a man who will listen to his constituency rather than the pull of money and Special Interests come January. That would be refreshing. Let us hope that is more than a pipe dream and we finally have a candidate that has the backbone to back up his rhetoric.

[Canon]

I hope everyone does all they can to elect Russ Warner. A Warner victory would be a big slash. I'm going to go on actblue and donate today.

[Egghead]

I'm voting for Russ. I want so desperately to see Dreier out, and this may be our best opportunity ever. It's frustrating to have a Congressperson whom you are certain will never, ever listen to you. I get mailings from Dreier's office all the time, saying he's supporting some vile anti-immigration thing or the Fair Tax (TM), and sometimes I actually write back and say, "Hey, Dave. You don't represent my position on this. AT ALL."

I've actually talked to Russ Warner. I'm certain he'll do an excellent job, and he'll represent the people and the people's real best interests. And it's about time!

[callofthewind]

Russ Warner's story is an American success story. He was raised in a lower middle class family. Without family connections or a degree from a prestigious college, Russ Warner worked his way up to a management job in the distribution arm of "US News and World Report". He was then laid off when a larger company purchased the magazine, brought in its own top people and cut jobs. So he decided to start his own business as a magazine distributor. It was a struggle for the first few years, but eventually he built it into the fifth largest company of its type. That took brains, hard work and optimism. Meanwhile, he stayed married to his first and only wife, and they raised a family. He's just the kind of person we need in Congress: someone with ability and real world experience. That's unlike Dreier, who was sent to a pricey private college, worked briefly for a family business, never raised children, and has spent most of his life in Washington. When Congress is in recess, Dreier doesn't even live in the district: he lives in Kansas! He's completely out of touch.

[NattyB]

The diversity of this district is its strength. People in the 26th are ready for and NEED an honest, uncorrupted, forward-thinking representative like Russ Warner who's ready to pay attention to the needs of all his constituents and whose hand is not in their pockets. David Drier's day is done.

[Bennet Kelley - Huffpost Blogger]

Very true. We're a long way from 1980.

[robinsantos]

Russ has what it takes to make a difference!

[Hortonclan]

I am so glad to see an article about Russ Warner, candidate for Congress. I am not in the 26th District anymore, but I can tell you that the foothill communities are crying out for decent representation. And Mr. Warner is absolutely the guy to do that!!
Russ is a thoughtful, decent, hardworking member of his community. He cares about the issues we all care about. David Dreier hardly comes back to the 26th District, no one I know has ever met him!
If you know anyone who resides in the 26th District, encourage them to vote for Russ--It is about time we had some decent representation up here!!

[Bennet Kelley - Huffpost Blogger]

Great comment. Russ is the real deal.

[repentantrepublican]

One could come up with a laundry list of reasons to vote against Dreier. The good thing here is that we have a positive choice. I am not a big contributor to political causes but made an exception for Russ. I urge others from across the country to do the same. With a President Obama and a decent Congress we can start to repair the damage.

[newsstandhelp]

I do not live in Russ Warner's district but I have known and worked with him for over 20 years. He is as honest and sincere as he appears. He would be a breath of fresh air for his constituents.

[ConcernedChula]

Finally! Someone who represents the District and the real people living in it. David Dreier has taken advantage of us taxpayers for far too long. Russ Warner is a breath of fresh air. A real citizen motivated to "give back" through public service.

[pocee]

Drier is an establishment pol who has little respect for the transparency of action a true public servant requires. Mr. Warner will bring respect and accountability by to his Congressional District.

[Bennet Kelley - Huffpost Blogger]

At a time when Americans are tired of the most secretive administration in history and Dreier may pay the price for his own secretive and undemocratic history.

[estab]

Good article about Russ Warner.

[newsstandpromos]

I was in DC when the Reagan revolution happened and it would be great to see Dreier go. Russ sounds exactly like what we need to represent us in DC. A person who knows what life is like for much of America and a strong sense of our country. It's time for the Republicans to account for what they have been up to.

[jeffreyr]

This is a great opportunity to unseat a Republican icon. Dreier represents everything that's gone wrong in Congress -- he's done nothing to promote the interests of his district while enriching himself and catering to the worst parts of the conservative platform: pro-war, strongly against regulation and ethics reform, and a foe to anyone who cares about health, the environment, or the economic problems of the middle-class. Donate to Russ!!! We can win this seat!!

[LANewsGuy]

Like many others in Washington, Mr. Dreier has become of a believer of his own self-importance. While I am not on Russ Warner's team nor connected to his campaign in any way, it is refreshing to see and hear a man who speaks from the heart and still has a ring of truth and connection to people.
Shame on David Dreier for not have recognized when it was time for him to come home and live with the same laws and realities the rest of us have had to --- especially since he was so instrumental in making them happen...or not.

[walloon]

Herr Drier has been increasingly loathed by his constituents for his "lobbyists first" voting record. I know, I am one of them. I actually voted for him. That was then. Finally we have a candidate, Russ Warner, who is salt of the earth and genuinely cares first and foremost about his constituents, not enriching his connections for when he leaves office. Drier must be defeated.

[votersRus]

Thanks to Bennet for another passionate and informed posting. He is on the money about the need to dump Dreier and elect Russ Warner, who has a real chance to win this election. Dreier as head of the rules committee was a petty tyrant who was a tool for Bush and an enemy to all who relish free debate and an open forum of ideas. Dreier went out of his way to make sure only his cronies were rewarded. He did not even allow most Democratic lawmakers to enter a bill so it could be discussed. He is a slick politician who has used bully methods and borderline blackmail techniques to keep his position. We all need to help Russ Warner, and others who will work with President Obama and once again make us a nation the world wants to emulate.