democrates promised openness and transparency

[remaxjon]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/06/...rks/index.html

The democrates promised a more open and honest congress but its the same thing as before.

Did your district report its earmarks?

[RedskinsDave]

Anyone who thought business as usual would change is naive.

[Spence]

This is an important issue. If we can't get rid of earmarks [and, to be honest, budgetary discipline does not depend on that since earmarks represent a small percentage of federal spending], public reporting of earmarks is the least we can expect. The compromise is better than what we had before, but nowhere near where we ought to be. Public reportage of earmarks is a real issue. Like I said, it's not as if earmarks are busting the budget, but I don't see any reason why legislators shouldn't be forced to acknowledge and defend their earmarks. Then the voting public can render its judgment on those earmarks. [I doubt it would result in much turnover, though, since the voting public typically loves federal spending in their own neighborhood and hate it everywhere else.]

I commend those legislators who publicly divulged their earmarks. Those that did not should do so without delay.

[remaxjon]

not one district in MD or VA reported its earmarks.

[shally]

Originally Posted by remaxjon

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/06/...rks/index.html

The democrates promised a more open and honest congress but its the same thing as before.

Did your district report its earmarks?

which is why the latest polls (abc ?) show that the public holds the congress and dems in even LOWER regard than bush.. i didnt think that was even possible

[lakewinola]

Originally Posted by shally

which is why the latest polls (abc ?) show that the public holds the congress and dems in even LOWER regard than bush.. i didnt think that was even possible

I heard that they were close but that W was still lower, care to post a link to this poll?

[Ibleedburgundy]

Originally Posted by shally

which is why the latest polls (abc ?) show that the public holds the congress and dems in even LOWER regard than bush.. i didnt think that was even possible

Meh, no matter what, people aren't going to approve of congress. Hell, most Americans have no idea what congress is working on at any given moment.

[akhhorus]

Originally Posted by shally

which is why the latest polls (abc ?) show that the public holds the congress and dems in even LOWER regard than bush.. i didnt think that was even possible

Congress has always had low poll numbers, I can't recall it every being above 40%(even during the Tip O'Neill years when he had 100+ majorities and legislation just flew through) and its a poll about both parties in congress.

[BurgundyNGold]

Originally Posted by Ibleedburgundy

Meh, no matter what, people aren't going to approve of congress. Hell, most Americans have no idea what congress is working on at any given moment.

That's because Congress doesn't have an idea of what it should be working on at any given moment. Assuming they're working at all.

[Spence]

Originally Posted by shally

which is why the latest polls (abc ?) show that the public holds the congress and dems in even LOWER regard than bush.. i didnt think that was even possible

Actually, the polls indicate disapproval of Congress is mostly due to Republicans not liking someone else in charge and Democrats not liking that their party hasn't ended the Iraq War.

[shally]

Originally Posted by lakewinola

I heard that they were close but that W was still lower, care to post a link to this poll?

sorry it took me a moment to find the article

it was in the june 18 edition of washington times on line

http://www.washingtontimes.com/natio...5222-5077r.htm

and even if you feel that the numbers are not accurate, i think it is hard to dispute that the dems in congress have wasted an opportunity to seize the upper hand and demonstrate leadership and are seen as no better than bush

[shally]

Originally Posted by Spence

Actually, the polls indicate disapproval of Congress is mostly due to Republicans not liking someone else in charge and Democrats not liking that their party hasn't ended the Iraq War.

you might be correct.. but i think it is more basic than that.. it is that congress has descended into the same kind of political morass (no confidence vote of gonzales ?? why waste anyone's time with this stuff?)
that they were supposed to have gotten beyond.
add to it the usual pork projects and it is still business as usual.

[shally]

Originally Posted by shally

you might be correct.. but i think it is more basic than that.. it is that congress has descended into the same kind of political morass (no confidence vote of gonzales ?? why waste anyone's time with this stuff?)
that they were supposed to have gotten beyond.
add to it the usual pork projects and it is still business as usual.

and were they not elected with a mandate to end the war ? we have discussed it, so there is little reason for us to rehash it, but i think they has missed an opportunity

[Ibleedburgundy]

Originally Posted by shally

and even if you feel that the numbers are not accurate, i think it is hard to dispute that the dems in congress have wasted an opportunity to seize the upper hand and demonstrate leadership

Totally agree. Dems had big mouths as a minority, now it's time to lead and they are not putting their money where their mouth was.

and are seen as no better than bush

Whoa there! Let's not go crazy.

[Spence]

Kudos to Barack Obama, who has voluntarily released his funding requests [aka earmarks] for this year appropriations. [You can read the full list here.] He is also calling on all other presidential candidates who have made funding requests to do the same. They should. This is the openness and transparency you wanted, Remaxjon.