Commentary: Washington is a sucker bet

[NineseveN]

This is an interesting commentary.


http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/...t19/index.html

Commentary: Washington is a sucker bet
By Jack Cafferty
CNN

Jack Cafferty is a commentator for CNN's "The Situation Room." He's also the author of the new book "It's Getting Ugly out There"

Jack Cafferty says the priority of any politician is to get re-elected.


NEW YORK (CNN) -- Guess who said this:

"I think that the country, after the last couple of years, has a bias in favor of change -- I think probably starting with Hurricane Katrina and coming through Baghdad and the whole sense of too much spending."

Democratic Sens. Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama?

Nope. It's a Republican.

It's former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, speaking to "The National Journal" about why he thinks Democrats are poised to walk off with the big prize in 2008.

Gingrich cites a lack of enthusiasm in the Republican conservative base and a stunning level of intensity in the anti-war left. He says when you add it all up, the odds are probably 80-20 in favor of Democrats winning the '08 presidential race.

Of course we have to remember that Gingrich may run himself.

Part of the reason he's painting such a dire picture is no doubt to convince Republicans that if he gets into the race the odds will improve in the Republicans' favor.

Gingrich says one of the things lacking in the GOP field is a candidate capable of forcing Clinton or Obama to defend the failed bureaucracies of Democratic administrations past. The problem, as Gingrich sees it, is no Republicans are calling for dramatic change.

On the contrary, it seems like former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani -- who is leading the GOP field in most polls -- often sounds like President Bush.

But Gingrich is onto something. I, too, sense a strong bias in favor of change. The problem is that whether a Democrat or Republican is our next president, and regardless of who controls the Congress, we are unlikely to get any meaningful change. And that's because there is very little discernable difference between the two parties anymore.

Oh sure, they fuss at each other about abortion, gay marriage, flag burning -- all the wedge issues -- but if you look at the big picture, it's all pretty much the same. And it's not pretty.

Both major parties are consumed by the obsession of getting into power and holding onto it. Don't kid yourself: The No. 1 priority of any politician is being re-elected. Because if he's not re-elected, he's out of business. And that's where we get into the real similarities between Republicans and Democrats.

Because of the way we fund campaigns, lots of money is required. That money comes from big corporations and special interest groups that usually have an agenda at odds with the general welfare of Mr. and Mrs. Taxpaying American citizen. And once their guy is elected, well, it's payback time.

The immunity these people have crafted for themselves over time allows them freedom to pursue their own agendas at the expense of yours. No term limits, no independent ethics oversight, and campaign finance laws that invite corruption. What do they care if you don't like the way they run the country? There isn't a hell of a lot you can do about it. And they know it. And they take full advantage of it.

So don't kid yourself as we roll toward the next election, no matter how much change we think we're voting for, the odds are that you and I will continue to lose.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer.

[WhiteFeather]

A Constitutional question for someone.


Can Hillary Clinton “legally” become the President of the United States of America without an amendment to the Constitution?

Under article 2 section 1 the president is described only as male, natural born, over 35 years of age, resident of 14 years in country. Specifically describing the person to hold the office of president using the male term “he” or “his” over 3o times in that same Constitution including the 25th amendment that was last changed it in 1967.

This is the most amended section of the Constitution with 3 chances to make a woman eligible to be president.

Or have they trashed this country so bad mentally that no one cares about what the Constitution says today. Maybe if you think your vote really counted to elect a president you should re-read electoral college process because unless you were an electorate your vote really didn’t count, the popular vote don't count for nothing it’s a cruel joke to lie to yourself thinking your vote counted. Maybe that is why Hillary will be elected as President. Read the owner’s manual for the Republic it’s the Constitution and understand it, get involved in this republican form or government or get ready to have socialist / communist one, think not read the 10 planks of the communist manifesto were almost there, except for the resets button on the Constitution the 2nd amendment we would already be there because of ignorance, apathy and stupidity
Fight for the future, Activate or abdicate, the choice is yours.


Article II. - The Executive Branch
Section 1 - The President
The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice-President chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows:

Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.

(The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State having one Vote; a quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two-thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice-President.) ](This clause in parentheses was superseded by Amendment XII.)

The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.

No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.

(In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.) (This clause in parentheses has been modified by Amendments XX and XXV.)
The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Section 2 - Civilian Power over Military, Cabinet, Pardon Power, Appointments
The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.

Section 3 - State of the Union, Convening Congress
He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

Section 4 - Disqualification

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Amendment XXV - Presidential disability and succession. Ratified 2/10/1967.

1. In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.
2. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
3. Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.
4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.

[brewguy]

good question.


Since when do they care what the constitution says? I'm serious here, they do what they want with no reguard to it.

[NineseveN]

...

Masculine pronouns were also used to refer to 'mankind' in general, or for when the desire was to be gender indifferent. See Webster's.

Current:
2. used in a generic sense or when the sex of the person is unspecified <he that hath ears to hear, let him hear — Matthew 11:15(Authorized Version)><one should do the best he can>



From 1828:
4. He, when a substitute for man in its general sense, expressing mankind, is of common gender, representing, like its antecedent, the whole human race.



Or, go to http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/he

he1 /hi; unstressed i/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[hee; unstressed ee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation pronoun, nominative he, possessive his, objective him; plural nominative they, possessive their or theirs, objective them; noun, plural hes; adjective
–pronoun
1. the male person or animal being discussed or last mentioned; that male.
2. anyone (without reference to sex); that person: He who hesitates is lost.
–noun
3. any male person or animal; a man: hes and shes.
–adjective
4. male (usually used in combination): a he-goat.
[Origin: bef. 900; ME, OE hé (masc. nom. sing.); c. D hij, OS hé, OHG her he; see his, him, she, her, it1]

—Usage note Traditionally, the masculine singular pronouns he1, his, and him have been used generically to refer to indefinite pronouns like anyone, everyone, and someone (Everyone who agrees should raise his right hand) and to singular nouns that can be applied to either sex (painter, parent, person, teacher, writer, etc.): Every writer knows that his first book is not likely to be a bestseller. This generic use is often criticized as sexist, although many speakers and writers continue the practice.

Aside from that all though, it's probably a bit off-topic anyway.