Q For New Congress: "Are We Ready To Air ALL THE DIRTY LAUNDRY?"

[Blackhatjack]

This will be one of the most important questions facing the new Democratic Majority Controlled Congress. And surprisingly, it is not a partisan question.

We cannot air some of the wrongdoing by this Administration, and the roles played by those who enabled it, and 'protect' others from public disclosure. If that tact is adopted, then loss of credibility will follow, and the investigations needed to root out corruption will founder.

If the new Congress takes the unprecedented steps necessary to 'air publicly' the scope and depth of corrupt individuals and their activities, we can put this nation back on the right track and begin to reclaim the democracy that is the birthright of all Americans.

It always hurts to own up and admit to wrongdoing. However there is no other way to deal with it and put it behind us, if we are constantly trying to construct lies and mechanisms that shield individuals from responsibility for present and past egregious conduct.

Sure we all know that the Bush Administration will be painted as one of the worst of all time. What may surprise us in these investigations will be the extent and reach of money that has 'owned' respected officials at all levels of our Government, both elected and appointed.

Will we have the guts to admit this, and do something about it to change the way 'governing' has been done? I hope so. The jury is still out on that question, and the fate of our country may just well hang in the balance depending upon the answers we receive.

If we do take the leap, you will know it by the actions taken to curtail the influence of lobbyists, and the move toward reforms that include strict public campaign finance laws. Do not be mistaken, this battle will be the most intense any Congress has ever faced. It essentially will pit the "true statesmen" with primary concern for the well-being of this country against the "corrupt opportunists" who value the personal gain of themselves and their friendly supporters over duty to country.

Stay tuned.

[Greyhound]

1. I'm scared...

I'm agreeing with you. Did the poles shift last night? :rofl::popcorn:

[Lerkfish]

2. until we forbid campaign warchests and police campaign financing

this problem will never go away.
As long as massive amounts of money are needed to run for office, politicians will have to be millionaires or in the pockets of millionaires.

My draconian solution is to forbid campaign advertising completely, or with a set minute amount that both sides are allowed to spend.

[Blackhatjack]

3. Public Campaign Finance Reform is the Medicine For Many Ills We Are Suffering Today...

There is no reason to believe that limits on campaign contributions will thwart the will of the public, as long as those limits allow for a fully informed voting public, and the opportunity to exercise free speech within our democracy.

We own the public airwaves, and the licensees could be required to provide 'free' dedicated air time to political candidates. Imagine the amount of campaign funds that would NOT have to be raised to get the message out on TV.

We could limit the total amount amount of money available to all candidates equally. We already have a form of this limitation with a big drawback --if you reject matching public campaign dollars, you can outspend your opponent who agrees to the public matching restriction by millions.

We could restrict the time of year in which campaign contributions could be made by any entity or individual, as long as the rule is the same for all candidates.

The bottom line is, our elected representatives would not have to spend a majority of their time trying to raise money for their reelection campaign, and they could concentrate on issues they were elected to address. Combine these limitations with restrictions on 'gifts and contributions' received from lobbyists, and you have the makings of electing 'statesmen' again. Imagine that!

[Vincardog]

6. Roger that. Public financing of elections and the END OF THE LIE OF CORPORATE PERSON HOOD.

Get the corporatist off our backs and out of our government.

[mom cat]

10. I am with you there!

[Blackhatjack]

4. I wonder if this issue will drop off the radar screen of the new Congress? ...

If so, I am afraid we will get more of the same.

[gordianot]

5. No reason to air dirty laundry.

Just report the real news and the laundry cannot stay clean for long. The only thing the Bush Administration produces is filth.

[Quantess]

13. Febreze won't take the smell away

from this kind of dirty laundry.

[Turn CO Blue]

7. Air it all - even Dem shenanigans -- and declassify

It's also time to declassify quite a few things from the last 60 years that need to be brought into the open.

I don't care if a bribe-taker has an R or a D after his/her name -- it's unethical and I want it all brought out into the sunlight. That's the best disinfectant, they say.

[Blackhatjack]

12. You said it -- I believe it -- Who is willing to Do The Heavy Lifting?

You posted: "I don't care if a bribe-taker has an R or a D after his/her name -- it's unethical and I want it all brought out into the sunlight. That's the best disinfectant, they say."

If we fail to publicly air the dirty laundry, all of it, then it will continue to have a negative effect on our method of governing. The only way to rid outselves of the damage that is done by hidden corruption is to make it public, and let the chips fall where they may.

I said before I believe Democrats are in the position to regain power to go with the ethical high ground. However, we need to discipline and take action against our own when they engage in corruption because if we do not they will damage our party, our power, and create in the mind of the public that there is no difference between the two parties.

I think we are trying to do just that by not supporting "Dollar Bill" and his freezer money in LA.

When we take action like that, we will attract better candidates to run for office, since those with problems will choose not to run rather than be called out by their own party.

Sunlight will make us stronger as a party, and will restore the concept of transparency in government, which is vital to a functioning democracy. And while that is not a partisan issue, it certainly holds the key to becoming the majority party that works for the people for a change.

[thingfisher]

8. essentially will pit the "true statesmen"

with primary concern for the well-being of this country against the "corrupt opportunists" who value the personal gain of themselves and their friendly supporters over duty to country.

A gargantuan task indeed. I hope it will come to pass but fear that another box of band aids will be broken out before business as usual returns.

Our country is in a dire situation and nothing but an heroic committment to restore us to a semblance of what we purport to be will suffice. Unfortunatley, control of power is more in the hands of powerful corporate interests and the banking industy who can call the tune. what we need is a war against the coporations who are determining the future of our nation based on thier
rapacious pursuit of profits even to the detriment of the nation.

[tom_paine]

9. That's the big question, isn't it?

I think people like Waxman want the whole enchilada. And they should! Bushevik corruption has nearly reached third world levels.

Nearly. It has to stop. The rule of law has to be imposed at the highest levels. And for God's sake, this murderous, lying, quasi-treasonous Imperial Family has to be purged from us politically. They are a cancer at the center of most of the greatest crimes against America na ddemocracy in general.

Let them flee prosecution to Paraguay like the Pinochets they are.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

11. Well, thanks to KKKarl, these current crop of Dem representatives are probably the

least scandal ridden group to arrive in D.C. for a while.

With corruption at the top of voters' agenda and the relentless attack machine that Rove routinely employs, one had to be confident of one's past history of integrity to compete.

However, these are politicians, who often may ascribe to Machiavelli rather than Thoreau. They bear watching. MKJ