Dealing With Our Representatives (Ahem)

Although our entire political class conspired against us to grant amnesty without security over our loud protests -- legalization without representation -- at the last moment they looked into their political graves and stepped away. They contrived -- Democrats and Republicans alike -- to create disputes about both substance and procedure to explain their tabling the bill without having to admit they'd actually erred in championing it in the first place.

Not exactly profiles in courage, or candor for that matter, but in the end most of our Senators did the right thing. Reluctantly. We can't expect them to admit they did so out of terror.

How to deal with them? Well, the same way traitors and insurrectionists are usually dealt with-- hang the ringleaders and forgive those who just went along with the mob. National Review Online took a step in this direction a few days ago by assuring Jon Kyl that all, or rather most, could be forgiven if he would just stop pissing us off for ten minutes. Well, he did so. He, and a lot of other Republicans, actually bothered to listen to their constituents for a change (as did, surprisingly enough, a dozen Democrats), and so should be given a reprieve.

Even a welcome-home-good-to-have-you-back slap on the back. Part of what was driving Republicans into the abyss, the NRO letter suggests, was the feeling of many Republican politicians that they had screwed up so very badly they'd lost most of their support forever, so why not double-down and damn the torpedos and charge forward at flanking speed anyway? Letting them know they haven't lost us -- not for good, anyway -- allows us continuing influence over them. "Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose," noted politcal theorist Kris Kristoferson wrote, and we don't want these guys feeling free. We've seen how they handle their perceived freedoms enough times to know it's better to keep them in check.

We also can't really afford to purge them all. Not if we actually want some share of poltical power in Congress.

So, I say: Welcome them back. The crew mutineed a bit, but hell, boys will be boys, and we do need someone manning the rigging and the guns. A lot of angry emails have gone out lately; maybe it's time to offer some concilliatory or even congratulatory ones to those who deserve it (and to remind them they swore to us that "doing nothing is not an option" -- and we expect them, therefore, to do something about security).

On the other hand, there are the ringleaders of the mutiny, including some of our highest officers. As they say, Dans ce pays-ci, il est bon de tuer de temps en temps un amiral pour encourager les autres (it is wise to kill an admiral from time to time to encourage the others).

Graham, Hagel, etc., are dead to us, and they know damn well they're dead to us, and so they are now free to "evolve" in office as their (liberal) hearts may desire. We have as little influence over them as they have influence over us. We both know it, so we might as well act on it before they can do even more damage to the party and our country, damage that maybe we can't undo.

Thank you for your service, gentlemen. The gallows are this way. A short drop and a quick stop.

As for Bush, he's a perpetual screw-up but we need him to finish his term strong the one thing he hasn't (yet) screwed up on -- the War on Terror.

And McCain-- well, he'll self-deport. Once he abandons his presidential bid -- which he, you know, will -- he'll shortly after announce his resignation from the Senate. He's a military guy -- and it's up or out in the military, and he's not moving up.

Sure, he'll play with the notion of a third-party bid until he realizes he pissed off half the Democrats and independents too. And then we'll finally be rid of him.

Except, of course, for his appearances as permanent guest host on Hardball. Pretty much seems like the job he's been angling for anyhow. And it will be annoying to listen to Chris Matthews and John McCain baby-talk sweet nothings to each other, except that no one will be watching.

Kyl Really Wants To Wear The Hemp Necktie: BrendaK tips:

Fox News is reporting that Kyl and Reid are trying "desperately" to resurrect this crap bill for debate by mid-week of next week.

So, no reprieve for Kyl.

I guess not.

posted by Ace at 06:03 PM

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