Politics as usual

Tom DeLay is practicing Washington politics as usual, more or less exactly the way we civilians always assume it's practiced...

But for DeLay loyalists, the rewards can be generous. Republican legislators say DeLay has a nurturing side that endears him to his team. He has arranged for food to be available to his caucus during late-night House sessions, and several colleagues said he has been invaluable in their campaigns.

DeLay was the first member of Congress to contribute to the congressional campaign of Representative Mark Foley, Republican of Florida, in 1994, Foley recalled. Although DeLay once got "angry" when Foley voted against a trade bill DeLay wanted, the leader is generally understanding, Foley said. "He's the classic country-club manager. He's always making sure members' needs are cared for."

Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Republican of Florida, said DeLay is a "good friend" to many in the caucus. "If you have a difficulty -- political or personal -- he is someone who will not only listen, but will be there for you," Diaz-Balart said.

But DeLay's critics say his biggest weapon is money. Cross the majority leader, they say, and you get no financial help from him. But for those who play along, DeLay can raise lots of money in campaign donations.

That's not representation, certainly not in the House, where voices large and small are supposed to reign in a commons type clamor of ideas. The House as I learned it was created to give equal voice to all the ideas (good and bad) of the nation. The Senate was where the best and brightest were supposed to be sent (with long terms so they could work towards the best interests of the nation rather than dealing with ideological and regional issues) and it was intended that turn over in the house would be very regular.

Do we get representation from the individuals we send to the House of Representatives (on either side of the aisle? Certainly not by those who allow their heads to be turned by DeLay's type of leadership, but that seems to be the rule rather than the exception. It seems that most (all?) representatives play follow the leader in order to be given money so they'll be able to defend themselves at home and come back next term. When everyone does what the strong arming (or domineering) leader(s) recommend in near unison with no negative feedback, you no longer have a working system (representative or otherwise).

It's all about funding and backing by local, state and if possible national pols. Toss in opportunistic funding from other sources (lobbies are more than happy to help out those in need as long as they get the opportunity to change the voice of their new puppet) and you have the ultimate defeat of the peoples interests. It's very difficult for anyone who is not wealthy to survive as an independent voice; something we in the United States seem to rejoice in for some reason.

No solutions here, I'm just whining.