Republican House Leader Tom DeLay has declared "victory" in the war on government spending. President Bush's 2006 budget outlays stand at $2.6 trillion. Shortly after Republicans took control of Congress in 1995, both houses of Congress approved, and President Clinton signed, a $1.6 trillion budget. "Yes, after 11 years of Republican majority we've pared it down pretty good," Congressman DeLay maintains. If a $1 trillion increase in federal spending means "victory," then you're not playing for my team.

This just illustrates that most of our political arguments are fantasyland material.
Delay is supposed to be conservative yet his performance is anything but. We, the populous, argue theory thinking its real life. In the real world these guys are just humoring us while pandering to our high minded ideals. Delay just and all other politicians play for a team – The Republicans or Democrats. Their point of view pivots on a dime when necessary.

It appears that old Tom might be mathematically challenged.

Rc, I'm afraid you're right.

DeLays comments were undoubtedly ridiculous.

And the reason they get away with it? The vast majority of Americans are asleep at the wheel. More people can tell you who won the last episode of survivor than can tell you who their representatives or senators are. More can tell you the plot of the last "Desperate Housewives" or "OC" than can tell you what bills are being considered in congress.

Those of us who pay attention and participate can scream and yell all we want; we can be ignored for several reasons.

• We make up such a small minority of the voting bloc.
• Roughly 50% of the people who stay informed and active are liberal leaning and 50% are conservative leaning so we rule each other out.
• What are our alternatives? The two major parties have a stranglehold on the political spectrum. Are conservatives going to vote Democrat next time to protest out of control spending?

My representatives probably get tired of hearing from me ("there's that nutcase again...throw it on the pile with the rest of his letters"). Where is the voice of the other 7 Million+ Virginians?

I know this sounds pessimistic and gloomy, but I feel pessimistic and gloomy right now: We have become a nation of Sheep to be herded along wherever the shepherds think we should go.

And all the people said: BAAAAH

Just a thought, maybe he was actually being sarcastic. Taking a shot at those who are unwilling to cut "there" (pork) projects.

Delay is a #$%^&*! IDIOT.

I would need a whole blog to talk about all the dumb... things that come out of politicians mouths. Morons represent us; what does that say about us?

I think that in most cases our elected representatives are mentally capable and certainly on top of the issues. Problem is that they are only interested in the ones that are important to them and not necessary concerned about supporting or doing the business of the people they represent. So, outside of maybe a senior Senator or five who are addled (one bubbler from Mass. in particular) I wouldn’t consider them morons. Not literally anyway.

The biggest roadblock this country faces today is our representative government’s selfishness and playing politics. They will do anything just to stay elected and to keep their cushy, no-heavy-lifting jobs and that includes selling their own country out with little regard for concerns of the majority of their constituents.

The old saying is that people get the government they deserve. And Curtis is right when he says that most people can tell you about what’s happening on some insipid television program but they can’t tell you who their congressional representatives are or what they stand for.

Herein lies the problem.

Politicians being pretty smart realize this. They know they have no fear from an electorate who will cry and moan about things but come election time, will not be engaged enough even to vote.

This kind of electorate certainly doesn’t follow the issues of the day and the foxes are free to do with the chickens as they please.

First, let me say that when you go to the Left Coast for a golf tournament, you miss an awful lot of stimulating email exchanges!

Second, DeLay is living proof of the wisdom of Pogo: we have met the enemy, he is us!

The Republicans should be ashamed of themselves, but I'm afraid they have none.

ASDF,

I agree with your assessment except I see an additional problem that disagrees with your point about pols not fearing an electorate that "will not be engaged enough even to vote."

The problem I have with this is you are assuming a pronounced difference between the two major parties where I think that none in fact exists. Isn't that what many of the recent posts on this site have pointed out? I would agree with you if you are including, and possibly even promoting, the idea of voting in primaries and voting for 3rd party candidates in general elections. Otherwise I just don't see how your average Republican and Democratic candidate differ that greatly *as regards the manner in which they actually govern* as opposed to the claims they make campaigning as regards their political philosophies and principles.

Brian,

I see no such differences. In fact, I am thoroughly disappointed that I don't see differences and that I have to support one party based on the fact that the other guys are more noxious.

Let's put it this way, I would love to see a responsible common sense philosophy adopted by all who are in power. And whoever those individuals end up being, party notwithstanding, would be the people I would choose to support.

I'm not sure if it was unclear in the way I wrote it or if I didn't provide enough detail, but I certainly think that citizens should be conscientious about not just getting out to vote but also understanding what the candidates are selling. Decisions about who the right choice should be depends on facts and information and not necessarily on what party brand a candidate happens to have on his or her backside.

But, the truth remains that most people in this country couldn't be bothered to make any such assessment or bother to make an informed choice. People may complain about how things are, but they typically will not hold the people responsible accountable.

I follow you and agree ASDF.

My point was only that not voting can be evidence of laziness, being uninformed, but can ALSO be a result of not seeing a real choice being presented in the diff btwn Republicans and Democrats. So I was just adding that if by criticizing non-voters you are encouraging supporting actually decent candidates in primaries (regardless of party) and/or supporting legitimately good 3rd party candidates then I would agree that voting should be promoted. I just am not convinced that supporting either major party will cause any change in the status quo, at least under the current rules and system we have of electing people.

"I see no such differences. In fact, I am thoroughly disappointed that I don't see differences and that I have to support one party based on the fact that the other guys are more noxious."

Exactly the point. The extent to which the sheep actually pay attention to government is limited to "What are they going to do for me?". Hence all the outcry about "why didn't the government save me" in the aftermath of Katrina.

The vast majority of the electorate are concerned only with what the government will do for THEM. Both major parties are fully engaged in a twofold battle:

1) Convincing their base that they haven't TOTALLY abandoned their principles and that, therefore, the other party is the "more noxious".

2) Convincing the Sheep that they are the party that will most effectively wipe thier...uh...noses, change their diapers and keep them safe and warm tucked into their beddy-byes at night.

And we wonder why the rest of the world doesn't respect us any more. We used to be the Cowboys. Now we're the sheep. At least we're not French.

There was a good example from this weekend that is pertinent to how difficult it is to pick a party or hand pick individuals of a party to support. Bill Clinton's comments this weekend when interviewed by George Schnofalopagus regarding our sitting President's performance proves how foul most of these people are. And I have to say most in the Democratic party.

Is there anybody with any political common sense or a hint of graciousness (other than Joe Lieberman) in this party?

Here's Clinton, a disgraced former President who spent more time concentrating on his genitals than actively pursuing the affairs of state criticizing a sitting President. This is an unprecedented affair. But, that doesn't stop the Democrats from using any form of negativity as political motivation.

So, we have a party of Clintons(x2), Gores, Deans, Kerrys, Kennedys, Schumers, Boxers and on and on. And they all appear to be irrational nutcases.

So, we have a choice between the scum sucking but sane Republicans or the scum sucking but whacky Democrats.

Scary.

....and speaking of friends, knucklehead Bush II pulls his Father and Clinton onto the public stage and in doing so, gives the Commander in Fornication international face time at the Pope's funeral, tsunami relief and hurricane relief. So, naturally, Clinton takes this center stage opportunity to f$%& him.

I'm sorry to say that the dems are policitally smarter than the apparently slow repubs.