The Hill Newspaper has an interesting story today about how House Democrats, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, are fuming over the U.S. Senate's tyranny of the tiny minority -- the situation which I mathematically detailed a few weeks ago whereby a tiny segment of the population has the Senate representation to stop anything. The Hill says there is "a deepening frustration among House Democrats, who are irritated with lack of progress in the Senate and are starting to publicly press their Senate counterparts to stop letting Republicans use procedural tactics and instead force Republicans to carry out a filibuster, if that's what it takes."
I (obviously) agree with that, and have said repeatedly that one of the most important methods to counter this tyranny is for progressives to focus a hell of a lot more time on state legislatures where there is no filibuster and where Democrats have, in many cases, more power to pass things. That is apostasy to some in Washington, but it is a mathematical necessity, as the Hill article and the raw numbers so clearly elucidate.
Beyond that, though, you will notice that the House Democrats have not said that Senate Democrats could use the filibuster for the progressive agenda. For instance, Senate Democrats could filibuster any Iraq war spending bill that is a blank check with no provisions to end the war. Remember the whole "nuclear option" terminology in the Senate? That derived from the fact that the filibuster is a sort of mutually assured destruction - that is, both sides can use it if they want. One of the big problems is that only one side seems genuinely interested in using it.
Another huge problem is that Senate Democrats have empowered people like Montana Sen. Max Baucus (D) to chair panels like the Finance Committee -- the most powerful panel in the Congress, which oversees tax, trade and health care policies. The story explains why that is a problem:
"Looking ahead, Democrats in the lower chamber see more unpalatable compromises on issues like tax policy, where they are disappointed to see their goals in the hands of cautious centrist Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.). House Democrats say on tax issues, they are constantly told that nothing can get off the ground unless nine or 10 Republican senators will agree to it. 'Everybody says, 'What can we get in the Senate?'' explains Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.). 'So we have to go over to Max Baucus with hat in hand.'"
Again, Senate Democrats have made a deliberate decision to put Baucus in that position. Sure, he has seniority, but it is the collective decision of the Senate Democratic Caucus to put him in that position. You may recall a few years back that House Republicans installed Rep. Bill Thomas (R-CA) as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee over the more senior Rep. Phil Crane (R-IL). Democrats could do the same -- but they refuse for many reasons, not the least of which is that Baucus and his behavior helps the party raise huge amounts of corporate cash.
So I give Pelosi and House Democrats credit for raising the issues surrounding the tyranny of the tiny minority. I hope it puts pressure on Senate Democrats to get serious, especially considering a new poll out showing that the Democratic Congress's approval ratings continue to plummet. But just remember, there are powerful forces in Permanent Washington that want to preserve the gridlock and that love the tyranny of the tiny minority. Some of these forces are right within the Democratic Party itself, as I will show in my next nationally syndicated newspaper column, out this Friday. Stay tuned.
Cross-posted from Working Assets
We need new blood. We must also fid a way to stop big money from having so much influence.
Look! If you want to make sure that you dont get what you want, vote democratic. These people are not a real political party. They are the tool that the system uses to STALL. They are there to stall the hopes of the people until their spirit and desire evaporates. Republicans and their hateful minions are the systems tool of implementation. Republicans are the party that is allowed to act like a real political party. While their ideas are generally mean spirited and INTENDED to hurt those who they find insignificant, Republicans are at least engaged in an actual shaping of political reality.
This shit is so sad.
While I would NEVER be a republican, I simply can not understand how anyone could be a democrat either.
You get the government that you deserve.
George Bush and Nancy Pelosi almost cant be blamed for lying to you. You let them do it over and over again. At a certain point a person can only continue to take advantage of you, if you allow them to.
I would bet everything dear to me In this life that after the Dems take the white house you will see absolutely nothing important to your life or future be accomplished, just like conservatives are starting to see that Bush gave them nothing worth the cost of what they paid.......and the okee doke keeps rolling on, then the repubs take over and the okee doke keeps rolling on.
Then the dems take over and shout aloud at "proposed" reforms and real governing they will do......HUH???? Governing ???? Leading???
Leading what? Leading who?? Leading where???
Mirror, mirror on the wall.
Who are the most powerful of all?
From HumanEvents 03/20/07:
For it was Pelosi who quietly agreed to strip out of the $100 billion funding bill for Iraq a provision that would have required President Bush to seek congressional approval before launching any new war on Iran.
Why did Pelosi capitulate? Answer: She was "under pressure from some conservative members of her caucus, and from lobbyists associated with neoconservative groups that want war with Iran and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC),"
"Last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi received a smattering of boos when she bad-mouthed the war effort during a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and the Democratic leadership, responding to concerns from pro-Israel lawmakers, was forced to strip from a military appropriations measure a provision meant to weaken President Bush's ability to respond to threats from Iran."
Anyway, some pretty lame stuff has passed the Senate lately with 70 vote victories. The MoveOn condemnation. The let's-do-it-again-in-Iran-not-really-it-isn't-our-fault-if-the-president-is-crazy authorization.
Call your representatives and get this supported!
http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.3835:
The system is being taken advantage of at one extreme end. Thank goodness a president is limited to only two terms. Think of the unthinkable if Bush is allowed a third term.
In a plutocracy, power and opportunity are centralized within the affluent social class. The degree of economic inequality is high while the level of social mobility is low. This can apply to a multitude of government systems, as the key elements of plutocracy transcend and often occur concurrently with the features of those systems.
and his cronies, anyway!!
Seriously, this article is about the leglislative branch, where both parties have sold out, to that "tiny minority" with the big pockets and swollen bellies. It really is a one party deal,
now. Just one big, morbidly obese tent.
Independents, which are estimated to account for 40% of the voting block should really get going, and organize a party, where the peoples' say rules.
Case closed.