I like the idea of reading the constitution before every session.
I like the idea of requiring each bill that is passed to demonstrate what area of the constitution sanctions it.
I also like John Boehner better than Nancy Pelosi. I disagree with some of Boehner's proposals, but he strikes me as a decent guy, and generally sincere in his political stances. It was touching the other night during the State Of the Union when he allowed himself to become emotional when President Obama paid tribute to his rise from 'sweeping floors in his father's Cincinnati shop' to speaker of the house.
I am often critical of republicans and republican ideas, so I wanted to make sure I wrote about a few points of agreement and approval.
Hopefully, I'll be able to add to this list quite a bit over the next few years.
I like the idea of requiring each bill that is passed to demonstrate what area of the constitution sanctions it.
I also like John Boehner better than Nancy Pelosi. I disagree with some of Boehner's proposals, but he strikes me as a decent guy, and generally sincere in his political stances. It was touching the other night during the State Of the Union when he allowed himself to become emotional when President Obama paid tribute to his rise from 'sweeping floors in his father's Cincinnati shop' to speaker of the house.
I am often critical of republicans and republican ideas, so I wanted to make sure I wrote about a few points of agreement and approval.
Hopefully, I'll be able to add to this list quite a bit over the next few years.
Hmmmm. You don't suppose someone who cries as easily as Boehner might be on the verge of a nervous breakdown? Crying at inappropriate times is certainly one of the symptoms.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm curious as to why you would think a high degree of emotion would be a good quality in a political leader?
But whatever. Its your kids' future. I have no stake in it. You trust Boehner...lets see how that works out.
Lodo, all I said was I like Boehner better than Nancy Pelosi. I didn't say I trusted him or supported him. The democrats could have done a lot better than Pelosi, and the republicans could have done a lot worse than Boehner.
ReplyDeleteAs for Boehner's emotionalism: we're all emotional animals. In fact, a public figure who seems unable to show emotions would be of more concern to me than someone who gets a little sentimental from time to time, as Boehner does. There are plenty of good liberals in the public sphere who get emotional from time to time. Alan Weiner, Al Franken, Joe Biden...it doesn't disqualify them for me at all, it just shows me where their hearts are.
Actually, I can't think of any political discussion that we've had wherein the lion's share of your argument wasn't based in emotionalism (and the first part--about boehner being on the verge of a nervous breakdown--is clearly intended to trigger a fear response). In fact, what is that last line in your comment (about my kid's future), but an emotional appeal? I didn't interpret that as a sign that you were somehow emotionally volatile or incapable of reason. There's nothing wrong with your feelings, as long as you understand them.
Give me a weeper over a repressed John Wayne type anytime.
Actually Spence, it is precisely my emotionalism that disqualifies me for any position that requires immediate, quick-thinking in which someones life might be affected (effected?). I would not only be a terrible candidate for political office or mamagement in my field; but also for fatherhood or any kind of long-term relationship where I have to deal with humans.
ReplyDeleteThus my occupation (investigator) in which I work alone; and my writing hobby (ditto).
But back to Boehner's behavior, it is nothing short of bizarre. Whether its calculated to illict an emotional response from church-going, speaking in tongues Christians (most probable explanation) or a genuine emotional outpouring (Republican + sincerity? = ...I doubt it); I don't like it and think its uncouth for someone in his position. This is not a policy disagreement I have with him. Its just a fact that hyper-sensitivity is sign of mental imbalance and when you cry over the need to repeal the Estate Tax...you've got issues!
I have definite policy disagreements with Boehner, but I'm not too concerned about the crying. If it's for show, I'm unfazed: politicians have been doing it for years. If he's a little more sentimental than we expect our elected officials to be, then so be it. I already mentioned some other overtly emotional politicians that I totally respect (I should mention that I messed up Anthony Weiner's name in the first comment: I meant to mention both Alan Grayson and Anthony Weiner, and jumbled their names together instead.)
ReplyDeleteSo, emotions aren't a deal breaker for me.
Spencer you are alway looking for some bright spot in a pile of crap. I admire that in you, and I hope your enthusiasm for these people is right. I don't think they will live up to your expectations. You can't shine shit.(Except on a Mythbusters episode.)
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't call what I have 'enthusiasm' Willie, but I have to look for common ground where I can find it, if for no other reason than to prevent myself from turning into a partisan ideologue (which is the definition of boring).
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I enjoy about this blog is that it is very hard to pigeon hole Mr Troxell.
ReplyDeleteNow a few thoughts on Mr. Boehner.
If my son's judo coach broke into tears every time I dropped him off I would find another dojo.
He famously used to hand out checks from the tobacco lobby on the house floor when his collages voted the right way..
some highlights of his voting record.
Voted NO on regulating the subprime mortgage industry. (Nov 2007)
Voted YES on restricting bankruptcy rules. (Jan 2004
Voted NO on modifying bankruptcy rules to avoid mortgage foreclosures. (Mar 2009)
Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation. (Nov 2007)
Voted YES on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman. (Jul 2006)
Voted YES on making the PATRIOT Act permanent. (Dec 2005)
Voted YES on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. (Sep 2004)
Voted YES on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance. (Sep 2004)
Voted YES on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration. (Jun 2003)
Voted YES on banning gay adoptions in DC. (Jul 1999)
Voted YES on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions. (May 1998
Voted NO on enforcing against anti-gay hate crimes. (Apr 2009)
Voted NO on expanding services for offendors' re-entry into society. (Nov 2007)
Voted NO on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons. (Jun 2000)
Voted YES on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime. (Jun 1999)
Voted NO on maintaining right of habeas corpus in Death Penalty Appeals. (Mar 1996)
Voted YES on making federal death penalty appeals harder. (Feb 1995
Voted YES on more funding for Mexico to fight drugs. (Jun 2008)
Voted NO on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism. (Sep 2001)
Voted YES on prohibiting needle exchange & medical marijuana in DC. (Oct 1999
Voted NO on $40B for green public schools. (May 2009)
Voted NO on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects. (Nov 2007)
Voted NO on allowing Courts to decide on "God" in Pledge of Allegiance. (Jul 2006)
Voted NO on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges. (Mar 2006)
Voted YES on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror. (Nov 2001)
Voted YES on requiring states to test students. (May 2001)
Voted YES on allowing vouchers in DC schools. (Aug 1998)
Voted YES on vouchers for private & parochial schools. (Nov 1997)
Voted YES on giving federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer. (Mar 199
Voted NO on supporting democratic institutions in Pakistan. (Jun 2009)
Voted YES on cooperating with India as a nuclear power. (Sep 2008)
Voted NO on deterring foreign arms transfers to China. (Jul 2005)
Voted NO on regulating tobacco as a drug. (Apr 2009)
Voted NO on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program. (Jan 2009)
I wouldn't let this yahoo sign out a butter knife without supervision.
I'm just sayin....
Let’s see. I think I agree with Boehner on these items:
ReplyDeleteVoted YES on allowing vouchers in DC schools. (Aug 1998)
Voted YES on vouchers for private & parochial schools. (Nov 1997
Voted YES on making the PATRIOT Act permanent. (Dec 2005)
Voted YES on requiring states to test students. (May 2001)
And could imagine coming to the same conclusion that he did on these issues:
Voted NO on $40B for green public schools. (May 2009)
Voted YES on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime. (Jun 1999)
Voted NO on maintaining right of habeas corpus in Death Penalty Appeals. (Mar 1996)
Voted YES on making federal death penalty appeals harder. (Feb 1995
Voted YES on more funding for Mexico to fight drugs. (Jun 2008)
Voted NO on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism. (Sep 200
Voted YES on cooperating with India as a nuclear power. (Sep 2008)
Voted NO on deterring foreign arms transfers to China. (Jul 2005)
Voted NO on regulating tobacco as a drug. (Apr 2009)
I would have to read up on these particular items to see where I stand on them:
Voted NO on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects. (Nov 2007)
Voted NO on supporting democratic institutions in Pakistan. (Jun 2009)
So, overall, not terrible. The anti-gay stuff and the pro-state religion stuff is icky, and a deal-breaker for me, but there’s room to compromise on some of the other issues.