Annoying HuffPost Trend: Elected Democrats Posting On What's Wrong In Washington

I have been a proud and passionate supporter of The Huffington Post since it was just a twinkle in Arianna and Kenny's eyes. But there is a trend that has grown and grown and grown, that frankly, is one part humor, one part tragedy.

I refer to the trend of elected officials, Democrats, showing up here and giving us detailed accounts of what is horribly wrong in Washington. I am all in favor of them blogging but they might not realize that their posts are parodies of themselves -- namely, what we have here is the foxes who are in charge of the hen house telling us how someone, namely the foxes, are stealing the hens. It is part of the Democrats not realizing they actually have a majority narrative and not realizing that if you have a complaint about oh, say corruption in Iraq, you should speak with the people in charge of the purse strings in Iraq.

That would be the Democrats.

Our first example, funny enough, is Sen Byron Dorgan who has uncovered what the vast majority of the world knows - there is corruption in Iraq. I quote:

The Senate Democratic Policy Committee, which I chair, heard new and disturbing testimony on Monday about corruption in Iraq and its consequences for U.S. troops, taxpayers and the U.S. mission in Iraq.

It might be well to point out that Senator Dorgan has been chairing this committe for well, almost a year and a half - we have seen hundreds if not thousands of stories about corruption in Iraq in that time, but it has finally reached his policy committee - this is not news, this is incompetence.

His title says it all "Shocking Corruption Is Given A Blind Eye by Our Government" Byron, you are our government.

A full read of his article also reveals this tiny little catch - he doesn't suggest that are actually prepared to do anything about the corruption, despite this new and disturbing testimony.

Senator Carl Levin posted earlier this week on Skyrocketing Energy Prices - a post in which he had this gem.

Because the administration has proved itself unable and unwilling to take the necessary steps to provide affordable energy supplies to the American people, it is up to the Congress to try to jumpstart a comprehensive solution to skyrocketing energy prices.

Yes it is up to Congress and it has been up to Congress since the crisis started years ago - but since this Congress has been so busy giving billion dollar tax breaks to oil companies and Senators like Carl Levin have been watering down mileage requirements on behalf of the auto industry, I'm betting Congress is pretty unable or unwilling to take the necessary steps.

But then again, I could be wrong.

Past performance might not be a good indicator of future returns.

But I doubt it.

Comments

[BBackSoon]

You know, as much as I hate Chimp Boy and his band of amoral thieves, I do blame all the elected officials that had a chance to at the least vote against these horrendous laws and budgets, and at the most should have been standing on top of the Capital Rotunda shouting that these actions are wrong and illegal.

Sure they don"t have a clear majority but they still have a majority. I would have more respect for someone that is on the loosing side of most of the legislative votes as long as it was the correct side.

[michellekraus]

James, I wish you had not picked Senator Dorgan as your example because he is the back bone of all that is still good, right and moral in the US Senate. So what do I really think? Yet, I do believe that you are onto something very important and I look forward to your always fastidious due diligence. If the situation in DC is so frustrating -- that lawmakers now take to the online airwaves this is significant. I don't think it's a case of none action, rather I believe that it is a case of extraordinary frustration on behalf of the guys in the "white hats." So, please do not throw out the good guys, rather question the source and dig into the foundation of what is become morally unpalatable in DC for Democratic lawmakers.

[ljmck]

Thanks, Boyce. Three weeks ago Rep. Ike Skelton was pontificating about how appalled he was over the Pentagon's on-air shills "analyzing" the war in Iraq. Why, the man was positively betrayed by something most observers suspected from the early days of the Bush offensive against the American people.
We don't need politicians parading through here as if it's just another campaign stop. If they offer in-depth analysis, fine, but I can't recall any recent posts that haven't been better and more thoughtfully covered by others.

[elbzee]

THANK YOU!
Initially, I was impressed at their efforts to reach out, especially to progressives. But, it quickly dawned on me that they were telling us how THEY had failed hoping we'd automatically blame it on "the other guys." However, once I read Charlie Reeve's article, "The-545-People-Responsible-For-Americas-Woes" it changed my response. So, I again provide the link to this extraordinary article. It points out that everything that's been happening is happening because THEY ALL LET IT HAPPEN. So many of them have held onto their offices for YEARS. There is no excuse left. http://www.liberalsvsconservatives.com/the-545-people-responsible-for-americas-woes-t1957.html Read Charlie's essay. After you do, I suggest you start asking the questions the MSM lacks intestinal fortitude to pose.

[08politicaljunkie]

If the topics of their blogs are not well known issues, I welcome them. But the ones mentioned in your article are old news and I agree with some other commenters when I write "Just fix it! We don't want read more about it here, especially from you."

Additionally, this same thing issue is what I believe hurt Hillary Clinton's campaign initially. She was touting her experience and complaining about what was wrong with Washington. During each of her early speeches and each debate, I compulsively scratched my head and shouted at the television -- "but you are Washington"! And you've been involved for how many years?? And you've had influence for how many years?? To me, she was ousting herself and pushed me to consider her opponents at the time, Edwards and Obama.

[JJeff88]

The article is partly dead-on and partly dead-off.

I agree that many Democratic politicians "talk better than they walk."

But do the math - Until we elect a Democratic president and/or build fillibuster-proof majorities in Congress, all we have is a bunch of de-balled legislators.

Having said that - once a veto-proof Congress and a Democratic president is in place, the responsibility will then shift squarely and visibly to the shoulders of the Democrats and they'd better deliver or they'll quickly become toast.

No doubt there are cynics among us (part of me included) who will predict in advance that the Democrats will screw this up "because they are politicians." Once again, do the math: If we stay with what we've got now (A GOP president and a fillibuster-prone Congress), we have a zero percent chance of accomplishing anything. But if we come in with a big broom and give Democrats and reform-minded independents and Republicans the chance to show us what they've got, at least we've gotta chance.

Then, if things still aren't working out, there will always be new elections and we can keep throwing out incumbents "until we get it right."

[scooperss]

HuffPost's Pick

Agreed. We all know what's wrong in DC.
'

Career politicians who have a sense of entitlement doing anything and justifying it to keep their jobs regardless of the fact that they no longer represent WE, the People.

[LittleBrother]

I agree with Boyce's commentary, and also the comments about the site's editorial control. Stripping out well-deserved criticisms and edgy with because it strikes some blocking software or... well, I've probably said more than enough. Comments about the people behind the curtain are also subject to disappearance. This cripples the discourse in spite of the editorial goal of maintaining a nice, polite, civilized forum.

But it's true about the discredited Democrats posting as "nice cops" here. I was dumb enough to buy in to the lesser-evilism in 2006, and contributed to various Democratic candidates in the vain and foolish belief that they would oppose the present criminal maladministration. So I still get e-mails from the likes of Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer, and James Carville about Fighting the Good Fight.

They are all part of the problem. I delete the e-mails unread, and scroll past the accommodationist apologists when they waste space here.

[InDaZone]

I actually like the elected officials talking directly to us.... and letting us know their opinions. I don't have time to watch C-SPAN all day.

[DatelessNerd]

Terrific post. Progressives are tired of being used for their votes and contributions by a political party whose only saving grace is that "they're not Republicans."

[OrganizersWin]

I second your opinion. Very concise characterization of the national political environment for the last few decades.

What I find funny as well, is how all of the great progressive achievements and contributions in the last half century never came from a major party. The media watchdog groups, consumer safety groups, labor rights and safety groups, petitioners of subcommittees, policy writers, civil rights attorneys, women's rights groups, environmental watchdog groups, regulation watchdogs, union organizers, third party organizers, election watchdog groups, to name just a FEW, come from people... many of which were inspired for the last 40 years by Ralph Nader and the many NOT-SO-Famous others who created ARMIES.... I forgot to mention food labeling, mine safety, air and water quality on that list... ARMIES of organizations, that in turn grew others. And for 30 years, we have had to FIGHT with the democrats as much as the republicans, while the media confused the democratic voter, who thinks that "politicking' their own vote is being sophisticated, and thus inviting constant pandering and lies. "YOU will NEVER go REP... so sorry if I failed last term, vote for me again!" argument is quite old.

[karela]

The reason the democrats haven't been able to do anything to begin to heal the country is a little thing called a fillibuster. Every time they try to pass a law that would help people, the republicans fillibuster and they can't stop them unless they get 60 out of 100 senators. They also can't get anything past Bush without a much bigger majority. Did you know that the republicans had been fillibustering every bill trying to force the democrats to make it illegal to seek relief against telecoms that illegally wire tapped your phones. Do you really want the government to be able to wiretap your phone without a warrant. Do you trust your government that much? You shouldn't. They misused it for political purposes any number of times. So if you want to see your government working for you vote for a democratic president, senate and congress and we can begin to make changes to heal the economy, end the war, rebuild our roads and bridges----you get the idea. Did you know that Dick Cheny's stocks in Halliberton are worse well over 3,000% more than they were before he and Bush took us to war and gave their pet company contracts without even taking competitive bids? Think about it.

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

Unfortunately, the Democrats--and many Republicans--in the Senate are intent on RAMMING an AMNESTY for ILLEGAL ALIENS (principally Latinos) into the teeth of general, nationwide opposition, and, for many, the possibility of endless debate is the only way to block what is clearly an unconscionable pander to "cheap labour" and the very special interests of ETHNICS.....

[Poboy]

I know it may be hard for you to believe, but White people are ethnics too!

You know, Poles, Russians, French, English, Germans, Scotts, Irish, etc.

But you all want to hide behind this crazy ass concept called a "White race."

Well, go right ahead and keep deluding yourselves but know that the "secret" is out.

[tmbetterman]

Amen! Unless you are an American Indian, very much the minority in this country...You are an Alien in this country.

[marignymitch]

It's a trend all right. But bring 'em on, I say! Every time those saintly members of Congress checks into HuffPo they run into a buzzsaw of criticism. It's gotta be a surprise for them, but at least they're exposed to constituents who are fed up the BS.

[BubbaC33]

This just isn't true, some politicians are given a pass on HuffPo.

[TheHandyman]

As Molly Ivins used to say, look at the record, then look at the record, and if you are still confused, look at the record again!. What exactly have the Democan'ts done since gaining their majority? They have held lots of hearings and investigations and what is the results? Anyone care to guess?

These people are pullong another scam. They think that if they convince people that they know about something and are investigating something that it is the same as actually doing something about it. How many people here believe that?

Another headline on Huffpo reads that Conyers has said someone should kick Rove's ass. How about Conyers, the man who has come here numerous times and complained about the administration and sat on Wexler's and Kucinich's move to impeach? What has Conyers, or Murtha, or Kerry, done?

When I trained at Ft. Lewis before being shipped to Viet Nam I was struck by a statue of a soldier upon whose base was inscribed, "Deeds not Words!" What the vast majority of these politicians in DC have in common is the number of words, millions, they put out in comparison to the number of real deeds they put out of a People positive nature. Damn few or hardly any come to mind as being the exact number. Yet the same old dumb as dirt People keep falling for the same old ruse! So who is really to blame here?

[geobushono]

no shit!!
Today for instance, Conyers is jumping up and down shaking his fist, when he should be having a photo-op of rove in handcuffs...
I propose that HuffP use a portion of the HOMEPAGE to keep a running countdown/box score on how many days it takes the Democratic controlled Congress to even VOTE to arrest rove.....it could start today.
The repugs aren't going to throw up their hands and accept progress, we need to jail the criminals among them, and and let the rest of 'em squirm in their seats as they watch the Nation march into the 21st century.

[WAstateliberal]

Well, I agree they do not appear to have done as much, but as Karela correctly notes, simple majorities mean very little in Congress. The rules are the problem. You need a huge majority, not just a simple majority, to get anything done. And you need a veto-proof majoirty. The biggest mistake the Dems made after the 2006 midterms was talking a big game. What they should have said is "this is a great start, but we need more than this. Watch and see how the Republicans will continue to serve as a blockade to progression." Instead, they blustered about how great everything was going to be. Big mistake.

[geobushono]

"Well, I agree they do not appear to have done as much"........RIGHT!
They can embarass the repugs EVERYDAY until the Election. Get up on the Floor and vote, or AT LEAST advocate!! Stop telling us you can't win so why fight.....
The repugs are realigning so they are more in tune with the potential crossover Voters..............THEN they will point out the positions are so similar that it makes no sense to vote Democratic, THEN, our precious dems will scratch their asses and notice they have bedsores.

[Krikkit]

James, let me pose a scenario or two regarding this subject.

An elected official sees something that must be changed. He goes to his fellows and describes his concerns. They weigh their various interests and then, as usual, decide that its just too risky to change anything. Case closed.

OR

An elected official sees something that must be changed. He goes to his fellows and describes his concerns. They weigh their various interests and then, as usual, decide that its just too risky to change anything. Then the first elected official takes his case to the CONNECTED American public, via blogs, YouTube, television, whatever tools are available, and makes his appeal to us. We find his concerns have merit, so much so that we begin to call, write and email our elected Senators and Representatives. The issue is so grave in our minds, in fact, that we tell our congressmen and Senators that our next vote is dependent on what they do next. THE BALL IS NOW ROLLING.

You shouldn't bitch so much about an old guy being savvy enough to recognize a good new USEFUL thing when it comes along. This is the ONLY way our governance can become a two way street. If you prefer not to be bothered, why are you writing here at HuffPo? You could be off blissfully playing video games...

[PioneerKing]

Krikkit:

you sound like one of thise grassroots activist that Obama is going to really need if he becomes president. so please keep reminding folks how real change is made.

[castrochavez08]

If only they used blogs to lead the people on stopping the war, impeachment, the seriousness of the FISA Bush attack, and on and on.

But Krikit and PioneerKing, they do not do that, do they?

No, they use blogs to rationalize endless war funding, they ignore the subject of impeachment or use Rove styled talking points about how it is a bad political tactic.

The Democrats control Congress, they control the agenda, the legislative process and the purse strings for Bush in Iraq.
They have done NOTHING to stop this war.

Boyce is right, and you two are here doing damage control. People are not buying it.

[mikonyc]

thank you pioneerking, finally someone is speaking some sense!

[GreeksBearingGifts]

We have met the enemy, and they are we. Correct grammatically, but a bit affected sounding.

[Krikkit]

Actually, the correct pedantic phrase is "We have met the enemy and we are they."

;-)

[GreeksBearingGifts]

I agree completely. It's hard to be excited about either party. We have met the enemy, and they are us.

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

The Democrats are presently faced with a dilemma on Iraq: Bush has bribed/coerced just enough of the Shiite co-combatants that there seems to be gradual progress. It's likely a facade that make it impossible for Democrats to be the ones that "pulled the plug" and "lost" Iraq. Accordingly, Bush has finessed the issue, at least, until he's on the outside looking in.

Because of their general complicity in the decision to INVADE Iraq, Democrats are reluctant to barrack the efforts and sacrifice so far. Republicans know that they must hold on until a new adm. takes office, or HISTORY will tag them with the responsibility for poss. the worst, foreign policy decision in the modern history of the U.S.

The only way forward is to attack the integrity of the individual, Republican Senators on Iraq and fiscal responsibility as uncharacteristic of "conservative values" while simultaneously dropping any notion of an AMNESTY for ILLEGAL ALIENS, the only issue on which parts of the Republican Party have any integrity.....!

[Krikkit]

Well, don't let something as BORING as politics keep you from more IMPORTANT things. And what might those be?

[mikonyc]

krikkit, you are definitely an obama snob, no doubt about it from your posts.....perhaps you can get a cabinet position!

[Jazzylady26]

Yeah, because what's wrong is all the freaking out of towners who come here after they are elected, who claim to want to fix the problems of Washington, which is their freaking asses, lol.

[booksnmore4you]

Hey, James, you don't get it.

If they speak here they can help create momentum and a movement. If they just speak in congress, most of us won't even know what's going on unless we watch CSPAN 17.5 hours per day.

HuffPo, please give politicians voice here. We need to create real bottom up democracy in the U.S., and giving them voice here facilitates that.

[burnt]

yes... and I believe it's important for the electorate to openly give praise to those who are representing us in ways that we believe appropriate... and to chew their butts when they are laying down on the job. These people work for us. We need to responsibly exercise our freedom to speak out... with praise, suggestion and rebuttal... and yes, sometime condemnation... directly to them.

We are moving towards participatory democracy. We need full and open communication. If you feel they are using any blog for self-serving purposes, call them on it, but don't close the door. They'll come around... or be replaced with political representatives who understand that with these tools, we can see and judge their actions more clearly now and for that reason, they need to willingly be more responsive to us.

This is the start of real change.

[PioneerKing]

as Gil Scott-Heron says "the revolution will not be televised"

[MissinAmerica]

OMG. Do you guys really think that "he's not doing his job" because he took the time to post a blog here("is whining")? Are you kidding me?

Maybe he was friggin frustrated & wanted to let the rest of us know whats going on. The dems have a very small majority that is easily nixed by just a few errant dems crossing over on votes. I can't imagine how frustrating that would be.

Cut the guy a break. Some of like hearing from them, as I do, all the while knowing there may or may not be some spin. Everyone has their own spin.

[zann]

I'm not sure how much time congresspeople actually have for reality. There are about 60 lobbyists per congressperson now, so we know they are steeped in the pre-spun opinions of lobbyistss (yes a small percent lobby for progressive causes).

Can you think of a worse way to learn basic information that listening to other congresspeople speechify? Or a slower and less precise way than to conduct long committe hearings with reluctant witnesses?

We know about all the travel back and forth to their home states, and we've heard rumors of lavish parties, and there's the months they take off to campaign, and the luxury junkets overseas, with corporate screened escorts. Apparently the Rep