COMMENT: I Object! (You Should Too!)
Dear A-Letter Reader:
Like the old Stanback Headache Powders, some say that when you get old,
some folks suffer from 'headache, neuritis and nostalgia.' Forgive me
for a momentary case of the latter.
As some of you know, in my eight years as member of the US House of
Representatives I acquired a reputation as 'the watchdog of the House.'
No less than the NY Times first bestowed that cherished title on me. I got
it because I stayed on the House Floor during all sessions (I had near
100% attendance and voting record) and I objected to anything I felt was
bad for my constituents and/or the American people.
This made me a lot of enemies, especially among the majority Democrats,
who were used to running over minority Republicans. But I knew the House
Rules and used them, forcing unwanted roll call votes, blocking congressional
pay raises and other legislative junk. The ultimate honor came when the
Democrats changed the rules in order 'to stop Bauman.' But of course, they
failed, because any rules can be used.
There's been a whole lot of talk in Washington recently about the 'nuclear
option' planned by US Senate Republicans to counter Democrats and their
filibusters against some of Pres. Bush's judicial nominees.
A 'filibuster' is defined, (if you oppose its objectives), as 'the use of
obstructionist tactics, especially prolonged speechmaking, for the delay
of legislative action.'
Or it can be defined as the exercise of the minority's basic right to defend
itself against the tyranny of the majority.
In the 100-member Senate it takes 60 votes to end a filibuster (that's called
'cloture') and the Republicans, if they all stay in harness, have only 55. So
some want to change the rules and allow a simple majority to end debate on
judicial nominees. Some are even arguing that God Himself wants this rule change.
I don't like Democrats opposing competent judges simply because they think
the individual is too conservative. But even more, I dislike any rules change
that crushes the minority's right to defend itself against the majority in
every way reasonably possible. Lord knows the history of America is a chronicle
of minorities overcoming and eventually changing the minds of majorities.
The pendulum always swings back in politics, and it's only a matter of time
before the Republicans will again be in the minority. And since they're now
indistinguishable from Democrat big spenders and Big Brother government advocates,
that minority day may come very soon.
The Washington establishment cringed in 1939 when Frank Capra released his
classic movie 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'. It was a slap in the face to
the political elite. There was a backlash by some publications and uncomfortable
politicians, but it got cheers from critics and audiences. Jimmy Stewart's
filibuster as an apparently naive and gullible new senator steals the show,
but makes a point current Senate Republicans ignore at their political peril;
absolute power does corrupt -- and a little David on the right side of an issue
sometimes can beat even a giant Goliath. As long as the rules aren't rigged
against him.
That's the way it looks from here.
Bob Bauman, Editor
--- from Sovereign Society daily email
COMMENT LINKS:
* Clash over judicial filibusters nears boiling point.
washingtonpost.com
* Collateral Damage from the Nuclear Option. David Boaz.
cato.org
* Nuclear Brinksmanship.
cato.org
* Congress passed national ID without any real debate.
wired.com
* Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. (1939)
imdb.com |
