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 Return to Political Animal
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 November 8, 2006
Corruption counted most…. Establishment Washington completely underestimated the role corruption would play in determining yesterday’s vote. Check this out from CNN this morning: “But when asked which issue was extremely important to their vote, more voters said corruption and ethics in government than any other issue, including the war, according to national exit polls.” (Peter Stone, author of Heist, highlighted the trend a few weeks ago.) Most people outside of the Beltway look at our system of campaign financing and high-stakes lobbying as a not-so-veiled form of bribery. An aberration. The problem is that most people inside the Beltway look at it as generally acceptable behavior. And, for more than a decade, GOP chiefs, with DeLay leading the way, have seen it as not just acceptable, but the key to permanent governance. Finally, DeLay and some of his deputies have fallen on their swords. But yesterday shouldn't merely be seen as their obit. K Street will quickly reorganize itself around the new power structure on Capitol Hill (and, unless he ends up in jail, DeLay will enjoy his new life as a lobbyist.) There’s an important, momentous dialogue just waiting to be had – one about who holds power in our democracy and why. It’s the kind of dialogue that gave rise to the Progressive Era and defined a whole new politics in this country. The big question now for Democrats is will they go for it. Will they call for a virtual abolition of our sick system of influence peddling? Or will they tinker with minor reforms that voters neither understand nor, rightly, think will have any genuine effect in the long run? It seems as if the public is more in the mood for abolition than tinkering. Can’t say it often enough: It’s time to think big -- and historically -- on this one. Comments
"But yesterday shouldn't merely be seen as their obit. K Street will quickly reorganize itself around the new power structure on Capitol Hill (and, unless he ends up in jail, DeLay will enjoy his new life as a lobbyist.)" He's gonna have a heckuva problem at that, if we win the Senate. Posted by: Barry on November 8, 2006 at 3:00 PM | PERMALINKAs pointed out elsewhere, the candidates who flipped districts aren't necessarily in the mold of the typical social moderate + big-business-friendly legislators. Though the Democrats' Third Way group was conducting talks with K Street in advance of the election, I wonder how many new members they can count on to bolster their agenda. It really would be something if Democrats start thinking seriously about a governing agenda built around removing the structural components of Washington corruption. Posted by: Patience on November 8, 2006 at 3:00 PM | PERMALINKGetting rid of the payola system would have a lot of non-obvious benefits for Democrats. The current system rewards the election of legislators who spend their time running around raising money and who spend no time pondering legislation. If we presume that the Democrats are better positioned to prosper if the climate is one that rewards judicious legislation and does not reward, as much, skill at raising money, then there's no real reason to oppose overhaul of the system. Posted by: Martin on November 8, 2006 at 3:20 PM | PERMALINKWasn't the "Culture of corruption" meme all but created by the Beltway Dems, and ultimately poo-pooed by the activists who wanted to run on the Iraq war primarily? Posted by: DRR on November 8, 2006 at 4:30 PM | PERMALINKWe all want to point fingers and announce that our side is better than their side, but the simple truth is different. Until there is genuine abd practical campaign finance reform, the grim reality of modern politics will continue to require every member of congress participate in our current system of legalized bribery. I have read that well over 2.8 billion was spent on the mid-term election. I haven't looked at the actual numbers recently, but my impression is that the cost of even a minor house race is well north of $1,000,000 per side. If a new congressman hasn't already started fund raising for 2008 he is already behind. I am afraid last nights election gains for Democrats won't hold if the new congress doesn't end the permanent campaign which is the source of most of the corruption we see in Washignton. Post a comment
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