Lifetime Leeches
Felon Headed For Defeat After All?
Maybe there is a way for a long-term incumbent to lose. First, run as a convicted felon. Second, count all the ballots
November 13, 2008 | Read More
The Bloomberg Backlash Begins
Even with the presidential race going on, one of the more interesting (in a stomach turning sort of way) spectacles in politics this year has been watching New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg shamelessly weasel his way into a possible third term. In the latest Weekly Standard, Fred Siegel deconstructs this power-grab from every angle.
November 9, 2008 | Read More
U.S. Congress: Felons Welcome
You might remember Rep. William Jefferson as the fellow who stashed $90,000 in bribery money in a freezer. That minor stain on his record didn’t prevent his reelection in 2006. And it didn’t stop him again last night. He won 56% of the vote. What in the world would this crook have to do to lose his office? Kill puppies? Cancel Mardi Gras? Kiss Osama Bin Laden on the lips?
November 5, 2008 | Read More
Voters To Corrupt Incumbents: We Can’t Quit You
Some dinosaurs never go extinct, as least not the ones in Congress. Despite this apparent change election, three of the oldest and most corrupt politicians in the country managed to cling to their careers last night. It’s enough to make you wonder: what do these guys have to do for voters to finally wake up and throw them out of office?
November 5, 2008 | Read More
Big Surprise: Politicians Vote To Extend Their Careers
In what has to be the least startling outcome in recent political memory, members of New York city council voted today to give themselves, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, extra time in office.
October 23, 2008 | Read More
The Obama Myth
Everybody on the left is jumping for joy over Barack Obama’s poll numbers and spiking the ball before they even score a touchdown. I’ve got some advice for them all:get ready for a big letdown.
October 15, 2008 | Read More
Bloomberg’s Term Limit Scam Hits A Snag
Michael Bloomberg and the other would-be career incumbents in New York are trying to undo term-limits. But their quest has hit a snag in the form of the city’s campaign finance rules. What are they going to do? Why, change the laws again, of course. Why not? They’re already working to contravene the will of the people on term limits, why not rewrite the campaign finance laws, too? Once you start letting politicians make their own rules, you might as well grant them all permanent rights to their seats.
October 14, 2008 | Read More
Dinosaurs In The Dock
Decades come and go, but the lifers in Washington never fade away. As I’ve said, the only loyalty above party loyalty for our career politicians is loyalty to their government-issued paychecks. And when one of this exclusive fraternity is threatened with expulsion, their peers don’t let a little thing like integrity stop them from defending their right to our money.
October 13, 2008 | Read More
Bloomberg’s Naked Power Grab
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is trying to get around term limits for more time in office. In California earlier this year, we saw a similarly naked power grab. Termed-out state legislators concocted a specious ballot initiative, Proposition 93, to give themselves more time in office. Luckily, the people saw through it and voted it down. But in New York, they won’t have that chance.
October 9, 2008 | Read More
Any Old Fool Could Have Predicted This - Including This One
John Edwards’s old California campaign manager called me recently and said he’d found a letter I’d written Edwards way back in mid-2007. He said I should publish it, because it pretty much predicted the mess we’re in now. I dug up the letter. Here’s a (shortened) version of it:
October 7, 2008 | Read More
