Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Color me puzzled
posted at 9:14 AM |
Permalink |
I am baffled at the events of the government - federal and a couple of states - in the last few days.
Please tell me how one voter - me, you, anyone - is supposed to have faith in the system and feel that our one vote has any bearing on anything? Sometimes it all seems enough to make a person wonder whether we should pay much attention or even bother to vote.
- Hillary Clinton was sworn into the Senate even though everyone knows she won't be serving as the junior senator from New York on account of her move to the Department of State. I understand that she's actually still a senator and that becoming secretary of state must be approved by Congress before she can take on that role. Of course, Congress that must approve it includes the Senate into which she was just sworn. ( See what I mean?)
- Burris was barred and then admitted and sworn in as one of Illinois' senators but Reid says he's only allowing the admittance to "my chambers" reluctantly. Who made them his chambers?? And how did Reid become the arbiter of all things senatorial? And why wasn't a special election held to fill Obama's vacant senate seat?
- Franken/Smalley was declared the winner in Minnesota's senate race even though more votes were tallied than people who were registered to vote. And, yes, unsurprisingly, another recount is planned and Franken has resisted moving lock stock and barrel to the senate floor but why on earth was he certified with that kind of imbalance without another and more reliable recount?
- Much like Garbo, Caroline Kennedy spoke. She who apparently thought the New York senate seat was hers for the taking if she wanted it. But she was so inane and snotty that Andrew Cuomo has emerged as the front-runner for Hillary Clinton's U.S. senate seat even though he was badly drubbed in the last state election and has hardly any fans or at least none who will say so publicly. Proving one againI suppose, that unqualified women are even less popular with voters than unpleasant political hacks. And why isn't a special election being scheduled to fill Hillary's probably-soon-vacant senate seat? (And why doesn't Paterson just appoint Kerstin Gillibrand - a Democratic, a woman, someone from so-called upstate instead of yet another person from NYC, someone who had lots of enthusiastic support and who has experience (two terms) plus proven ability to win elections?)
Please tell me how one voter - me, you, anyone - is supposed to have faith in the system and feel that our one vote has any bearing on anything? Sometimes it all seems enough to make a person wonder whether we should pay much attention or even bother to vote.
2 comments
The Illinois constitution gives the right to the governor to appoint someone to fill a vacancy from Illinois in the U.S. Senate. When Blago was indicted, the Illinois congress said they would change the law, but they couldn't agree how to do it...so even though Blago was indicted he still has the power. Somebody asked me the other day if I was surprised he appointed someone and I said, "No, I'm just surprised somebody was stupid enough to accept." I'm appalled they are going to let Burris serve. Reid proves once again, with his comments and actions, that he is worthless and self-centered. I think they will all regret letting Burris serve as things start playing out in court...the Blago issue will have a long shadow.
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