Comments on: *Slaps Forehead* http://intelligenceplease.com/2010/01/30/slaps-forehead/ Curiosities from the Buckle of the Bible Belt to the Beltway Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:11:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: George http://intelligenceplease.com/2010/01/30/slaps-forehead/#comment-169 George Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:39:36 +0000 http://intelligenceplease.com/?p=519#comment-169 What you're talking about here is precisely why this is such a win. Anytime the Congress is sent back to the drawing board, it's a win for America. If you want to talk about the more practical implications of the decision (i.e. the way campaign ads are financed within 30 days of an election), consider this: a no-name independent running for office in TN-5 who has a good idea, but cannot self-fund, can now appeal to other sources of campaign revenue. Everyone tends to look at the positive gains of McCain-Feingold - i.e. the perception of a more honest and transparent electoral process - but nobody looks at it from the angle that many of its provisions were incumbency protections - and if you ask me, that was by design. It garnered support across the aisle because Members knew they'd be somewhat insulated from (probably) more qualified challengers. This is another reason this is such a win - regular turnover of the legislature is the best way to disinfect government. I totally understand the populist argument here, and I totally agree with James Madison's expressed worry about the <a href="http://history.hanover.edu/courses/excerpts/111fed.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">"mischief of factions"</a> as written in the Federalist Papers; I just think there are some serious straw men involved in the debate that need to be tossed out. I also think the President has done a terrible job (or masterful job, depending upon one's assessment of his political skill) in framing the debate. He and his political team are responsible for 95% of the misinformation floating around out there about <em>Citizens United v. FEC</em>. What you’re talking about here is precisely why this is such a win. Anytime the Congress is sent back to the drawing board, it’s a win for America. If you want to talk about the more practical implications of the decision (i.e. the way campaign ads are financed within 30 days of an election), consider this: a no-name independent running for office in TN-5 who has a good idea, but cannot self-fund, can now appeal to other sources of campaign revenue. Everyone tends to look at the positive gains of McCain-Feingold – i.e. the perception of a more honest and transparent electoral process – but nobody looks at it from the angle that many of its provisions were incumbency protections – and if you ask me, that was by design. It garnered support across the aisle because Members knew they’d be somewhat insulated from (probably) more qualified challengers. This is another reason this is such a win – regular turnover of the legislature is the best way to disinfect government.

I totally understand the populist argument here, and I totally agree with James Madison’s expressed worry about the “mischief of factions” as written in the Federalist Papers; I just think there are some serious straw men involved in the debate that need to be tossed out. I also think the President has done a terrible job (or masterful job, depending upon one’s assessment of his political skill) in framing the debate. He and his political team are responsible for 95% of the misinformation floating around out there about Citizens United v. FEC.

]]> By: Jon http://intelligenceplease.com/2010/01/30/slaps-forehead/#comment-168 Jon Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:19:43 +0000 http://intelligenceplease.com/?p=519#comment-168 Hi George, long time no see. Hope you're doing well man. But... "If you refuse to accept this as the win for America that it is..." Are you serious? I'll be the first to admit that McCain-Feingold was a failure with regard to it's promised "purpose" but surely you must admit that the idea behind it (limiting the influence of special interest money in D.C.) was and still is as popular and necessary as ever with the American people. There is a silver lining in this SCOTUS decision though, and it's that it puts campaign finance reform back on the table, front and center. The congress will have to give it another go, and (god forbid) maybe they'll get it right this time. Hi George, long time no see. Hope you’re doing well man. But…
“If you refuse to accept this as the win for America that it is…”
Are you serious?
I’ll be the first to admit that McCain-Feingold was a failure with regard to it’s promised “purpose”
but surely you must admit that the idea behind it (limiting the influence of special interest money in D.C.) was and still is as popular and necessary as ever with the American people.
There is a silver lining in this SCOTUS decision though, and it’s that it puts campaign finance reform back on the table, front and center. The congress will have to give it another go, and (god forbid) maybe they’ll get it right this time.

]]> By: Most Tweeted Articles by Libertarians Experts: MrTweet http://intelligenceplease.com/2010/01/30/slaps-forehead/#comment-166 Most Tweeted Articles by Libertarians Experts: MrTweet Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:01:40 +0000 http://intelligenceplease.com/?p=519#comment-166 <strong>Your article was most tweeted by Libertarians experts in the Twitterverse...</strong> Come see other top popular articles surfaced by Libertarians experts!... Your article was most tweeted by Libertarians experts in the Twitterverse…

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