Comments on: Why Kicking the Bums Out is Not that Easy http://donklephant.com/2006/02/20/why-kicking-the-bums-out-is-not-that-easy/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:03:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Paul Silver http://donklephant.com/2006/02/20/why-kicking-the-bums-out-is-not-that-easy/comment-page-1/#comment-6850 Paul Silver Tue, 21 Feb 2006 16:00:50 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/02/20/why-kicking-the-bums-out-is-not-that-easy/#comment-6850 Redistricting will help soften up the stranglehold of incumbents. So would open primaries. So would an organized independent/centrist community that can raise significant money for candidates so they do not have to pander as much to donors with extreme agendas. Redistricting will help soften up the stranglehold of incumbents. So would open primaries. So would an organized independent/centrist community that can raise significant money for candidates so they do not have to pander as much to donors with extreme agendas.

]]> By: Amy http://donklephant.com/2006/02/20/why-kicking-the-bums-out-is-not-that-easy/comment-page-1/#comment-6835 Amy Tue, 21 Feb 2006 04:23:38 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/02/20/why-kicking-the-bums-out-is-not-that-easy/#comment-6835 I don’t think he has ever cared about civil liberties – he sees his job as protecting us, not protecting our liberties. I don’t think he has ever cared about civil liberties – he sees his

job as protecting us, not protecting our liberties.

]]> By: reader_iam http://donklephant.com/2006/02/20/why-kicking-the-bums-out-is-not-that-easy/comment-page-1/#comment-6818 reader_iam Mon, 20 Feb 2006 21:46:20 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/02/20/why-kicking-the-bums-out-is-not-that-easy/#comment-6818 Well, I'm not willing to let voters off the hook that easy. Polls going way back indicate that, in deed, it's the OTHER guys' bums they want kicked out. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/09/corruption.poll/index.html?section=cnn_topstories" rel="nofollow">Remember this poll?</a> Even in the context of that week's news focus, you got the same indication. At the time, my cynical blogging reaction was simply that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Even without redistricting machinations, I think we'd be faced with the same strong bias toward incumbency. The same "but how we do it here is fine" attitude sort of underpins both realities, I'm thinking. Well, I’m not willing to let voters off the hook that easy. Polls going way back indicate that, in deed, it’s the OTHER guys’ bums they want kicked out.

Remember this poll? Even in the context of that week’s news focus, you got the same indication. At the time, my cynical blogging reaction was simply that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Even without redistricting machinations, I think we’d be faced with the same strong bias toward incumbency. The same “but how we do it here is fine” attitude sort of underpins both realities, I’m thinking.

]]> By: Alan Stewart Carl http://donklephant.com/2006/02/20/why-kicking-the-bums-out-is-not-that-easy/comment-page-1/#comment-6817 Alan Stewart Carl Mon, 20 Feb 2006 21:33:42 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/02/20/why-kicking-the-bums-out-is-not-that-easy/#comment-6817 Actually it's good NEW pork barrel politics as earmarks have really taken off in the last decade. But you're right. Earmarks sound benign. Maybe we should call them pig ears? Actually it’s good NEW pork barrel politics as earmarks have really taken off in the last decade. But you’re right. Earmarks sound benign. Maybe we should call them pig ears?

]]> By: probligo http://donklephant.com/2006/02/20/why-kicking-the-bums-out-is-not-that-easy/comment-page-1/#comment-6813 probligo Mon, 20 Feb 2006 19:57:51 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/02/20/why-kicking-the-bums-out-is-not-that-easy/#comment-6813 ASC, Why perpetuate the euphemism of "earmarks"? Be honest about it! It is good old pork barrel politics. Vote buying. The shades of the "rotten boroughs" of old England (on a grander scale). The major problem with politics in NZ (and I have no reason to believe that the US differs in any way) is that you and I, the common and garden voters, have no say at all in the selection of the candidates we are expected to vote for. At least MMP gives me the chance of supporting a good individual candidate while still supporting the party of my choice. ASC,

Why perpetuate the euphemism of “earmarks”?

Be honest about it!

It is good old pork barrel politics.

Vote buying.

The shades of the “rotten boroughs” of old England (on a grander scale).

The major problem with politics in NZ (and I have no reason to believe that the US differs in any way) is that you and I, the common and garden voters, have no say at all in the selection of the candidates we are expected to vote for.

At least MMP gives me the chance of supporting a good individual candidate while still supporting the party of my choice.

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