US Senate – Deliberations or Desperate Housewives?
Hamilton or Madison in Federalist No. 63, speaking of the Senate
Thus far I have considered the circumstances which point out the necessity of a well-constructed Senate only as they relate to the representatives of the people. To a people as little blinded by prejudice or corrupted by flattery as those whom I address, I shall not scruple to add, that such an institution may be sometimes necessary as a defense to the people against their own temporary errors and delusions. As the cool and deliberate sense of the community ought, in all governments, and actually will, in all free governments, ultimately prevail over the views of its rulers; so there are particular moments in public affairs when the people, stimulated by some irregular passion, or some illicit advantage, or misled by the artful misrepresentations of interested men, may call for measures which they themselves will afterwards be the most ready to lament and condemn. In these critical moments, how salutary will be the interference of some temperate and respectable body of citizens, in order to check the misguided career, and to suspend the blow meditated by the people against themselves, until reason, justice, and truth can regain their authority over the public mind?
And, yet, today we have another debacle in the Senate. The public may, again, be “misled by the artful misrepresentations of interested men†for the want of political gain over the idea of rational deliberations.
The Senate was supposed to be a place where instant decisions were discounted as the current whim of the people. Clear deliberation of the facts was the order for the Senate especially on important national concerns.
Today we have another theatrical show being played out on television. The result of this show will provide the public with far less than Dancing With The Stars and may be on par with Desperate Housewives.
UPDATE
via Drudge
The Politico reports
Leaders are instructing Democratic lawmakers to blitz their states with anti-Bush messages as the Senate gears up for an all-night debate on Iraq withdrawal, according to an internal memo provided to The Politico by a Democratic official.
Aren’t the REPS thankful that they didn’t invoke the “nuclear optionâ€?
Harry Reid insisted on the 60 votes when he was Minority Leader and now acts like the REPS when he is Majority Leader.
Caution, elite children at play!
