alternative hippopotamus

progressive cyberdadaism from our nation’s capital

February 17, 2006

The Start of Something Promising

by AltHippo @ 10:19 pm. Filed under Uncategorized

There’s a couple of reasons why I think this post by eRobin is important.

First, I think we need to shed the notion that the blogosphere is about commenting on what real journalists say. In this case, eRobin called up the Pennacchio campaign, and got a direct line to the candidate. Here’s the exchange:

eR: I saw the story today onine about the Senate’s refusal to investigate the illegal and unconstitutional NSA wiretapping program running out of the White House. If you were a Senator today, in the minority, what would you be able to do to fight this decision?

Chuck Pennacchio: I wouldn’t get any floor time, but I’d be able to do a lot. I’d put out a press release. I’d hold a press conference. I’d build coaliton of progressive folks in Congress to fight this. I’d go back to constitutents to rally people around the cause. I’d remind them that this war is illegal and that the war resolution is unconstitituional.

I’d shame my leadership for not standing up to defend the Constituion, the right to privacy and due process.

eR: “Shame your leadership”? You’re on the record. Do you stand by that phrase?

Chuck Pennacchio: Yes. Absolutely. The Democrats are running scared, running away from this issue because they’re running away from National Security and ceding it to the Republicans. And the Republicans are beating them up on the very issue the Democrats fear losing the most. Dems are looking to protect their shrinking island of political power, which every day gets further and further from the prospect of regaining control. They’re playing into the hands of Republicans, who, and I’ve said this before, are not content with all power; they want absolute power. And the Democrats are letting it happen. I don’t hesitate to use the word “appeasement.”

The second reason why this is important goes to something further down in her post:

… I called the Casey campaign too. The woman who answered the phone suggested that I use the website to send in the question. I’ve been down that road.

This kind of response has become pro forma. And you know what? It’s not okay. When we’ve reached the point where we acknowledge that a politician is too important to get back to his or her constituency, that’s the point where democracy ends, and the feudal system begins.

What’s irritating in this case is that Casey is still a Senator to be. And he’s not even trying to make it look like he’s a servant of the people instead of a made man.

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hip·po·pot·a·mus n. A notion, perhaps distinct from conventional wisdom, that needs to be verified by reality-based scrutiny.

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