27-term Michigan Rep. John Conyers’ retirement is a “sad end to a long career.” Hardly. Conyers made a career out of race-focused politics. Leaving the current sexual harassment witch hunt and his wife’s bribery conviction out of the discussion, fifty years is enough.
Category: Term Limits
Terms Limits Needed to Restore Representative Government
Over 90% of representatives and over 80% of senators were re-elected in 2008. Far from being a sign that Americans are pleased with the job they are doing – a voters’ dislike for both houses of Congress is extremely high at the moment – this statistic demonstrate the thesis of this article, that mandatory term…
Of a Congressman and Term Limits
I recently had about ninety seconds alone with Congressman John Culberson, the Republican representative from Texas district 7, which includes the west Houston area, and used the opportunity to ask him about congressional term limits.
“What do you stay to those who believe that term limits are necessary to restore representative government to our republic?” I asked.
How Old is Too Old for Public Service?
Noting the minimum age criteria for the U.S.’s important elected offices, David Harsanyi of the Denver Post wonders if there shouldn’t be a maximum age limit placed on persons in positions of power and holds up one of the Congress’ most conspicuous incompetents as his straw man: An average adult would not trust Sen. Robert…
Another Incumbent in Need of Recall Retains Seat
Thanks to the wisdom of Alaska’s voters, our second term-limits poster boy and convicted felon Ted Stevens will apparently be returning to the senate to start this fall’s lame-duck session. Stevens has held the office since 1968, making him the 7th longest-serving senator at the moment. One can only guess at what the state’s voters…
Incumbents in Need of Recall Retain Seats
Congressman John Murtha recently shot himself in the foot by calling his own constituents “racist” and “rednecks” while campaigning for Barack Obama in Pennsylvania. Despite being one of Congress’ Princes of Pork and his rather dismal view of his state’s citizens, NBC is now projecting that Murtha will retain his seat in the House of…
NYC Caves to Bloomberg
The NY Times says that the New York City Council has changed the city’s term limits law to allow Mayor Michael Bloomberg to seek – and undoubtedly win – a third term. After a spirited, emotional and at times raucous debate, the New York City Council voted, 29 to 22, on Thursday afternoon to extend…
A Hate Letter to the Party System
The American political system is a drag at times like these, when one is about to become disenfranchised in Washington. Barack Obama will have an all-Democrat, all-the-time Congress to work with and, unlike the Republicans’ little train wreck this far this century, they’re probably going to get a lot of their agenda made into law….
Safe Seats? Term Limits are the Answer
The L.A. Times reports that only five of the 153 races in the recent election were true contests. Read the story. Since politicians seem to have adopted gerrymandering as a means of preserving their jobs, there’s only one way to get them out of office: term limits. Incumbents hate term limits, which is nearly enough…