Reply #10: Like many freshman GOP senators, Rick had no problem ignoring...

[ReadTomPaine]

Senate decorum rules implied or otherwise and boldly pushing the debate to the right as far as he could back when he was the new guy on the street. It seems it's just Democratic Senate freshman, with rare notable exceptions, who don't want to "rock the boat" or upset their "friends across the aisle". They seem to find all sorts of new ways to compromise themselves, the party and the platform. Many are quite up front about saying they don't want to hurt their careers, as if careerism is either an option for new Democrats or a worthwhile pursuit even if it was available to them.

And yet, good old Rick is better connected, more powerful and better financed than almost every one of them, despite the fact he's done everything we've been told a Senator shouldn't or couldn't do. Hardly being rebuffed by his colleagues, he's often mentioned as one of the most influential members of the Senate. Once again, the rules don't matter for a Republican. When, I wonder, will Democrats also start to write their own rules? We won't take back the government until we want it more than they do. Not one minute before. And it's pretty clear - most Dems clearly don't want to win as much as the GOP. They are happy with a hill soapbox to yell from, a check in the mail every two weeks and a seat in the back of the bus.


Here's an appropriate shot of Rick: