The last one on elections for a while


It really is the Incumbent Protection Act
Brandon Arnold has a good point.

Consider that there were 435 races in the House and Senate with an incumbent trying to retain his or her seat.  Only 26 – 6% — of challengers in these races have won.  That’s pretty low for a “throw the bums out” election.  Pending the outcome of three or four yet-to-be-determined races, this year’s 94% incumbent reelection rate appears to be slightly higher than the 90% rate of 1994.

I should note that this figure doesn’t include the three incumbents who were defeated earlier this year in a primary election.  But even one casualty of his primary switched his party registration and managed to hold onto his seat.

The moral of the story: if you’re an incumbent member of Congress and you want to stay in office, there’s a pretty good chance you will be successful.  Just don’t forget to send ‘thank you’ cards to Senators McCain, Feingold, and all the gerrymandering folks who helped make your reelection possible.

Elections are rigged to limit your choices. It's two card monte. Bad enough that the two major parties twist the nomination process so that it's almost impossible to get on the ballot without their "blessing," but thanks to Senators McCain and Feingold the First Amendment is suspended too close to the election.

I still think that is a treasonable offense. Emphasis added.

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

They have sought to quash criticism before an election. That is illegal and unconstitutional.

— NeoWayland

Posted: Sun - November 12, 2006 at 01:34 PM  Tag


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