Non-Partisan

[dnf777]

the vote is not a term limit,the vote is a referendum... it is very hard to defeat an incumbent...How many presidents did Ted Kennedy outlast(46 yrs 292 days)..here is a list of Congress members that have served at least 36 yrs

John Dingell, Daniel Inouye, John Conyers, Dave Obey, Charles B. Rangel, Bill Young, Thad Cochran, Pete Stark, and Don Young.With the start of the 112th Congress, Senators Max Baucus, Christopher Dodd, Chuck Grassley, Tom Harkin, and Patrick Leahy


We limit our POTUS to two terms, why cant we do the same with Congress

You can. It just takes an amendment to the Constitution.
I'm not against them per se, but I just don't think they will address the issues of corruption. In fact, it may accentuate them. You will have more lame ducks, who don't care if they fly in the face of their constituents, and may play right into the hands of corporations and lobbyists who will see that they are comfortable after leaving office. Much like now, except it will occur more often.

[Gerry Clinchy]

Have to agree with Dave ... if there are term limits the lame duck will care even less for the desires of his/her constituents, if that's possible!

OTOH, I also think that 30 years without a job in the private sector removes legislators from the people they represent. Seems like 12 or 15 would be plenty to keep them accountable but not secure for life.

Actually, I think it would be a good thing if eligibility would require 5 years in the private sector ... and proof that they can balance a checkbook! The latter might be some indication that they could also balance a budget?

[Marvin S]

IMO - the best route is to not allow any sort of pension accumulation for time spent in elective office along with a 10 year moratorium (with serious consequences if it happens) on lobbying after serving. Easy to police & hard to make pay .

[dnf777]

Have to agree with Dave ... if there are term limits the lame duck will care even less for the desires of his/her constituents, if that's possible!

... and proof that they can balance a checkbook! The latter might be some indication that they could also balance a budget?

Always good to here that Gerry! Its my sanity check. (or your insanity, either way...good to have company once in a while)

I think your second statement above carries lots of weight, if those issues can be brought to light. All the witch crap aside, I think Christine O'Donnell's financial woes hurt her far more than any witch talk. If I remember, she failed to pay tuition and had her diploma withheld, she had mortgage forclosure issues....Makes one think what she could do with a congressional checkbook! These are ties to the common-man that we can all relate to. Or the threat thereof, at least. Most of us know that if we did those things, we would be in trouble, not running for office.

[road kill]

Have to agree with Dave ... if there are term limits the lame duck will care even less for the desires of his/her constituents, if that's possible!

OTOH, I also think that 30 years without a job in the private sector removes legislators from the people they represent. Seems like 12 or 15 would be plenty to keep them accountable but not secure for life.

Actually, I think it would be a good thing if eligibility would require 5 years in the private sector ... and proof that they can balance a checkbook! The latter might be some indication that they could also balance a budget?

Yeah.....or maybe pay their taxes!!


Just sayin'........

RK

[BonMallari]

with the end of the session of Congress it will mark the first time in 60 years that a Kennedy family member will not be in either the House or the Senate...maybe the family stranglehold on American politics is finally over


also the argument about having lame ducks doesnt hold water, there is a reason we dont vote for ALL the members of congress at the same time...its so we will always have an overlap of incumbent experienced legislators in office...the average member in Congress serves 14 yrs, that's two full senate terms plus two yrs or 7 House terms..if you cant get anything done in that time you need to be excused and replaced..

Just so you know I am non partisan on this subject, John McCain needs to be retired, Bernie Rangle needs to be retired, both have been in office way too long

[dnf777]

Yeah Dave, it's all magic.........


RK

The "magic" was referring to magical thinking that mere term limits will solve the greed and corruption in our government.

We need finance and lobby reform. Anything else is just pi$$ing into the wind.


BTW, Bon's comment on a Kennedy 60 year reign made me think....between the Kennedy dynasty and Bush dynasty, who is the king? Joe Kennedy or Prescott Bush, in terms of their get ? The Bush's haven't held elected office continuously, but held something in Washington DC, be it elected, appointed, or annointed.

[road kill]

The "magic" was referring to magical thinking that mere term limits will solve the greed and corruption in our government.

We need finance and lobby reform. Anything else is just pi$$ing into the wind.

Well, that's your opinion.

Mine is term limits is a bit of "magic" that well help end the greed and corruption and create campaign finance and lobby reform in and of itself.

Of course you wouldn't even begin to take the time and think it through and understand what my point is.

Your too busy trying to insult the content by calling it "magic."

As though some that same "magic" would create campaign finance and lobby reform from very people who have no term limits and benefit from the existing LACK of campaign finance and lobby greed and corruption.

Thinking that the very people who benefit from what is going on would change it is "pissing into a hurricane."
Seems like you like wet pants.


Just sayin'.....


RK

[dnf777]

Thinking that the very people who benefit from what is going on would change it is "pissing into a hurricane."
Seems like you like wet pants.


RK

DING DING DING DING!!!!

Now we're talkin!!

Don't get your hackles up. I'm not trying to insult anybody except the chuckleheads in Washington who are raping us daily.

In the absence of true reform, which ain't gonna happen (as you pointed out) I think that term limits actually will work to THEIR greedy benefit, more so than ours. What if by some miracle, a good guy makes it to congress and does the RIGHT thing? The voter's choice to keep him around will be taken away from you.

[road kill]

DING DING DING DING!!!!

Now we're talkin!!

Don't get your hackles up. I'm not trying to insult anybody except the chuckleheads in Washington who are raping us daily.

In the absence of true reform, which ain't gonna happen (as you pointed out) I think that term limits actually will work to THEIR greedy benefit, more so than ours. What if by some miracle, a good guy makes it to congress and does the RIGHT thing? The voter's choice to keep him around will be taken away from you.

Example????


RK