Any candidate who is looking at federal office will find it becomes extremely difficult to do both jobs," said Rep. Dave Clark, R-Santa Clara, who will resign next week to run for Congress.

You know, I haven't looked at the job description for a Utah state legislator, but I'm pretty farking sure it doesn't include blowing off that job to try to get one in D.C.

"Any candidate who is looking at federal office will find it becomes extremely difficult to do both jobs."

This is the closest I've ever seen a member of Congress come to admitting, "Yes, we're whores...but not for you, voting public. You can get serviced elsewhere."

edmo: So they're mad because they're not allowed to be out drumming up cash when they're supposed to be at work?

Apparently they aren't even allowed to just accept random cash, regardless of whether they're trying to get it, while in session, which would seem a bit harsh to me, especially since the guy is apparently a normal middle class dude rather than rich career politician, which makes me wanna support him. However, it sorta makes sense to me that there needs to be a clear, bright-line rule, rather than create some sort of administrative/enforcement monstrosity by creating complex rules.

On a side note, wouldn't it be swell if Federal candidates had this too?

I just farking love when I click a link on Fark from my cell phone and I get redirected to a mobile homepage and not the article.

EvilEgg: I hate when mobile sites take you to the homepage. Look you lazy web developers, it's not that hard to send me to the mobile version of the article.

Spoiled goddamned baby.

EvilEgg: I hate when mobile sites take you to the homepage. Look you lazy web developers, it's not that hard to send me to the mobile version of the article.

Then browse with a real computer.

Emposter: edmo: So they're mad because they're not allowed to be out drumming up cash when they're supposed to be at work?



On a side note, wouldn't it be swell if Federal candidates had this too?

Sadly we wouldn't have any GOP candidates for President left.

But Rick Perry.

casual disregard: deadcrickets: Sadly we wouldn't have any GOP candidates for President left.

You think the democrats would like this any better? What about Obama?

fatandolder: casual disregard: deadcrickets: Sadly we wouldn't have any GOP candidates for President left.

You think the democrats would like this any better? What about Obama?

What do I care about them? All the massive corruption lately has been in the party I left: the GOP.

This is one big reason that those who wish to filibusterer should be MADE to filibuster. you want to block this law? That's fine. you stand there in the well of the senate and read the phone book, or bible, or poetry, or the Aeneid, or whatever will fill the time. but what you don't get to do is FUNDRAISE.

Vote Quimby!

Karac: Any candidate who is looking at federal office will find it becomes extremely difficult to do both jobs," said Rep. Dave Clark, R-Santa Clara, who will resign next week to run for Congress.

You know, I haven't looked at the job description for a Utah state legislator, but I'm pretty farking sure it doesn't include blowing off that job to try to get one in D.C.

I was gonna make a Sarah Palin joke, but I have a feeling people wouldn't get it.

EvilEgg: I hate when mobile sites take you to the homepage. Look you lazy web developers, it's not that hard to send me to the mobile version of the article.

First World Problems.

Can we get this ban at a national level? Please??

Can we make that a federal law? If we're not going to have publicly funded elections, at least we could limit how much and how often these assholes can raise money WHILE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THEIR farkING JOB.

"I am a middle-class, blue-collar American worker," Wimmer said, adding that he can't afford to not campaign during session.

Yeah, I don't think state-level legislators getting ready to run for Congress get to claim that.

rjakobi: Karac: Any candidate who is looking at federal office will find it becomes extremely difficult to do both jobs," said Rep. Dave Clark, R-Santa Clara, who will resign next week to run for Congress.

You know, I haven't looked at the job description for a Utah state legislator, but I'm pretty farking sure it doesn't include blowing off that job to try to get one in D.C.

I was gonna make a Sarah Palin joke, but I have a feeling people wouldn't get it.

Does the joke reference basketball?

sourgrapes.jpg

They should do their jobs, yes. But with all the money in politics now the only thing this serves to do is protect Congressional incumbents. We already have gerrymandered districts creating safe seats, and as a result increasing partisanship. Keeping challengers from running only exacerbates things. Nobody in Washington has done their job well enough to run unopposed.

/Term limits, publicly financed elections, and independent districting, please.

One guy

Bloody William: Can we make that a federal law? If we're not going to have publicly funded elections, at least we could limit how much and how often these assholes can raise money WHILE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THEIR farkING JOB.

I'm sure the actual result would be a legislative session lasting upwards of 12 hours.

fatandolder: casual disregard: deadcrickets: Sadly we wouldn't have any GOP candidates for President left.

You think the democrats would like this any better? What about Obama?

Obama makes his money selling christian children to the muslins for defilement in their satanic ceremonies. He doesn't need to campaign.

Bloody William: Can we make that a federal law? If we're not going to have publicly funded elections, at least we could limit how much and how often these assholes can raise money WHILE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THEIR farkING JOB.

Well, it would be nice if we could get legislators who could be trusted enough to actually stop fundraising long enough to actually show up for the job in the first damned place. Or, you know, at least not violate House ethics rules before you can even be sworn in.

Link (new window)

The very fact those yahoos were even seated in the first place after pulling that stunt is evidence enough of how fundamentally whacked our political process is.

Gosling: "I am a middle-class, blue-collar American worker," Wimmer said, adding that he can't afford to not campaign during session.

Yeah, I don't think state-level legislators getting ready to run for Congress get to claim that.

I don't think a legislator at any level counts as "blue collar".

So they have to choose between doing the job they were elected to do or doing some fundraising for a job they want to move on to? Makes sense to me.


deadcrickets: fatandolder: casual disregard: deadcrickets: Sadly we wouldn't have any GOP candidates for President left.

You think the democrats would like this any better? What about Obama?

What do I care about them? All the massive corruption lately has been in the party I left: the GOP.

People like you piss me off. How can you possibly claim all the corruption is on one side unless you're a blindingly partisan tool?

Fast & Furious much? Solyndra and other green lighted going bankrupt "green" companies much? The Democrats have plenty of corruption on their plates as well. Not to mention the fact that both parties just took the Constitution and threw it into the shredder. Stop being a partisan hack and open your eyes.

Brubold: So they have to choose between doing the job they were elected to do or doing some fundraising for a job they want to move on to? Makes sense to me.


deadcrickets: fatandolder: casual disregard: deadcrickets: Sadly we wouldn't have any GOP candidates for President left.

You think the democrats would like this any better? What about Obama?

What do I care about them? All the massive corruption lately has been in the party I left: the GOP.

People like you piss me off. How can you possibly claim all the corruption is on one side unless you're a blindingly partisan tool?

Fast & Furious much? Solyndra and other green lighted going bankrupt "green" companies much? The Democrats have plenty of corruption on their plates as well. Not to mention the fact that both parties just took the Constitution and threw it into the shredder. Stop being a partisan hack and open your eyes.

welcometofark.jpg

apoptotic: rjakobi: Karac: Any candidate who is looking at federal office will find it becomes extremely difficult to do both jobs," said Rep. Dave Clark, R-Santa Clara, who will resign next week to run for Congress.

You know, I haven't looked at the job description for a Utah state legislator, but I'm pretty farking sure it doesn't include blowing off that job to try to get one in D.C.

I was gonna make a Sarah Palin joke, but I have a feeling people wouldn't get it.

Does the joke reference basketball?

2 of them. And a basketball bat.

Brubold: . Stop being a partisan hack and open your eyes.

I agree with this sentiment. However, the Solyndra thing is really weak ass sauce. I would focus more on

OBAMA PASSING THE FARKING DEFENSE BILL

DarwiOdrade: Let's just outlaw all political fundraising, period.

Unfortunately, the people doing the bribing are the ones who make our laws now. I do think your suggestion is the right solution, but I don't think there's any way to make it happen.

rubi_con_man: This is one big reason that those who wish to filibusterer should be MADE to filibuster. you want to block this law? That's fine. you stand there in the well of the senate and read the phone book, or bible, or poetry, or the Aeneid, or whatever will fill the time. but what you don't get to do is FUNDRAISE.

Most of our current issues could be resolved if the senate required a filibuster to actually be just that.

It would force compromise and allow legislation to pass, it would also cut down on the use of appointments as hostages to legislation

casual disregard: Brubold: People like you piss me off. How can you possibly claim all the corruption is on one side unless you're a blindingly partisan tool?

Fast & Furious much? Solyndra and other green lighted going bankrupt "green" companies much? The Democrats have plenty of corruption on their plates as well. Not to mention the fact that both parties just took the Constitution and threw it into the shredder. Stop being a partisan hack and open your eyes.

I have a feeling this is a waste of time, but I'll bite as far as my opinion goes.

To me, the Democrats are at best distasteful yet are (barely) tolerable. They have plenty of bad ideas but sometimes get it right.

To me, the Republicans actively seek to dismantle wide swaths of the government (often portions that were formed by past Republicans, very puzzling) and bark about how they love liberty and how they want government out of our private lives yet immediately turn around and pass bills that would restrict the liberty and invade the private lives of people they don't like. They have nearly all horrible ideas and when they get it right once in a blue moon it is often for the wrong reasons.

The Constitution Party of the past was created as a third party for the lunatic fringe that believed the Republicans were way too liberal. The Republican party of today has become a parody of the Constitution Party; they have been driven so astoundingly far to the right that there is nowhere left to go. I would have been a Republican if it weren't for the Republican Party.

There's actually a reason for that--it's still something being followed up on by anti-dominionist researchers, but suffice it to say that (particularly with "Tea Party" candidates) there have been a non-negligible number of GOP candidates of late that have had links in past with the Constitution Party--almost as if there was some sort of campaign by Constitution Party-linked candidates to take over the Republican Party from within.

(And yes, the founder of the Constitution Party--Howard Phillips III--was part of the original Religious Roundtable that pretty much planned the takeover of the GOP by dominionists...in the early seventies. He basically split because he felt the GOP was taking too long to become the American Theocrat Party.)

And yeah, this gambit has been playing out for a while--some researchers saw this coming as early as 2007...when the dominionist wing threatened to jump ship en masse to the Constitution Party if they didn't get an ideologically acceptable candidate. (This, incidentially, is why Sarah Palin was put out as a GOP vice-presidential candidate--she was literally a peace-offering to the Jesus Camp Faction.)

LouDobbsAwaaaay: DarwiOdrade: Let's just outlaw all political fundraising, period.

At the very least it should be taxed on an incredibly steep slope, with something like 85% taxed above $50K on any donation from a single person or organization. If you want to buy a congressman, prepare to fork over several times as much to the US treasury for the privilege.

/Also the NASCAR rule for senators, requiring jumpsuits sporting ads for all of their large contributors.

I liked the idea of making all donations anonymous. A corporation can therefore donate to their favorite candidate, but the candidate doesn't know who is donating to him, making it much harder for the candidate to knowingly vote for things the corporation or group favors.

Great Porn Dragon: There's actually a reason for that--it's still something being followed up on by anti-dominionist researchers, but suffice it to say that (particularly with "Tea Party" candidates) there have been a non-negligible number of GOP candidates of late that have had links in past with the Constitution Party--almost as if there was some sort of campaign by Constitution Party-linked candidates to take over the Republican Party from within.

Really want to go tinfoil hat and all, keep in mind the folks bankrolling, advocating, publicizing and leading the tea party had connections to the business plot through parents/grandparents, were known Nazi sympathizers and provided the party with funding and materiel, and eventually reformed under the John Birch society before ending up with a large number of appointments, elections and installations in positions of extensive political power during the Reagan administration.

It's a bitter pill to swallow, but making a cogent argument over the last 30 years the Republican party has been hijacked by neofascists via a combination of propaganda and ideological purging is almost too easy to make.

potterydove: EvilEgg: I hate when mobile sites take you to the homepage. Look you lazy web developers, it's not that hard to send me to the mobile version of the article.

Then browse with a real computer.

do you really want him using a laptop while he drives?

Bucky Katt: DirkValentine: Brubold: . Stop being a partisan hack and open your eyes.

I agree with this sentiment. However, the Solyndra thing is really weak ass sauce. I would focus more on

OBAMA PASSING THE FARKING DEFENSE BILL

if the sauce is weak you should add more spicey mustard

Don't forget the arugula

that bosnian sniper: Great Porn Dragon: There's actually a reason for that--it's still something being followed up on by anti-dominionist researchers, but suffice it to say that (particularly with "Tea Party" candidates) there have been a non-negligible number of GOP candidates of late that have had links in past with the Constitution Party--almost as if there was some sort of campaign by Constitution Party-linked candidates to take over the Republican Party from within.

Really want to go tinfoil hat and all, keep in mind the folks bankrolling, advocating, publicizing and leading the tea party had connections to the business plot through parents/grandparents, were known Nazi sympathizers and provided the party with funding and materiel, and eventually reformed under the John Birch society before ending up with a large number of appointments, elections and installations in positions of extensive political power during the Reagan administration.

It's a bitter pill to swallow, but making a cogent argument over the last 30 years the Republican party has been hijacked by neofascists via a combination of propaganda and ideological purging is almost too easy to make.

Oh, the linkage with at least Birchers is well known (and there's some good evidence for the paleofascist linkage, but that's less well documented and some of what is available is from less than reputable sources--probably the Business Plot stuff has the best firm linkage)...was mostly speaking primarily of the Constitution Party (which used to be known as the US Taxpayer's Party until a lot of press came out about its connections to the militia and racist-right movements--when that happened, they rebranded) in this context.

(And yes, the Constitution Party linkage IS especially notable; they're probably the only political party that has had actual "Christian Patriot" militia recruitment drives at their national convention. It's honestly not too much of an exaggeration to state that the Constitution Party is, and was, the political wing of the militia movement--including dominionist terrorist groups like the Army of God.)

In some states, there are even hints in the state platform that the state GOP convention has been heavily infiltrated by at least Constitution Party sympathisers--for example, compare the national Constitution Party platform to the 2010 Texas Republican Party state convention platform (scrubbed from the Texas GOP site itself, but anti-dominionist group Texas Freedom Network has fortunately archived a copy). In some instances, they are literally identical; in others, the Texas GOP platform actually manages to go even more extreme.