Lieberman keeps Homeland Security chairmanship

[gdnp]

IMO, we need more "mavericks" on both sides that are willing to put what's right (for the country and their constituents) ahead of blind partisanship.

Unfortunately, this often translates into trading your vote on a bill that you don't give a damn about for an earmark that you can parade in front of your constituents. Local gain, diffused costs.

 

[TheJim]

I think this viewpoint is part of what's wrong with American politics today. Exactly how much "spine" does it take to blindly follow your party? IMO, we need more "mavericks" on both sides that are willing to put what's right (for the country and their constituents) ahead of blind partisanship.

That is fine in theory but the only place that actually takes place is in the movies. My problem is not even those Dems that cross the line to vote against a bill but it is that they will join fillibusters that will prevent the bill from even coming up for a vote. The fillibuster is a noble procedure that unfortunately is too often abused to hid behind than register a vote. That is why party discipline is so important here. There is an agenda that needs to be at least voted on but there are too many Dems that want that are scared to make there opinions known. Yet these same cowards are more than willing to accept the benefits of being in a party from committee assignments to the cash cow that is the reelection fund.